Chapter 20
Kincade helps M into the car and they drive towards Skyfall after saying their farewells to the MacKenzie siblings.
"Well that was interesting."
"Yes...you and Callum...what happened when you got ahead of us dolly?"
"I should ask you the same thing about Katrina?"
"She finally told me...the truth that I always knew anyway."
"Callum told me the same...and he asked me to have casual relations with him after he kissed me."
Kincade's eyes open wide in shock. "Why that slimy bastard...how dare he...I otta hit him the next time I see him."
M laughs, "why Kincade?"
"He has no place asking you for...that...with no pretence of a...well it's ungentlemanly."
"Callum understood from our conversation at the restaurant that I didn't want a relationship so he was just offering...stress relief...I think."
M chuckles as Kincade turns a bright red. "Still he should have left you alone...he kissed you...unwanted no doubt."
"Yes but it was short and just a demonstration of his feelings for me apparently. What I really want to know is what went on between you and Katrina?"
"We spoke...she told me she was sorry about lying all those years but her father would have killed me and it was safer to have him live in an illusion and love his grandson rather than have him hate everyone."
"It does make sense but you were robbed of a son...and that is difficult."
"I had Jamie and I kept tabs on Katrina through James until he died."
"Really...he stayed in contact with Katrina?"
"Oh yes he got her a job in London and made sure she had a good flat and help with the boy."
"He never told me anything about that at the wedding and we did speak of Katrina. James Bond hid his sweetness from the world in many ways didn't he? That or did he believe Andrew was the father? "
"James would have cared for the child regardless because of how close the families were and he thought it was either mine or his brother's child and Katrina was his sister-in-law, therefore he was the uncle no matter who the boy's dad was."
"I can't believe that Callum knew all this time and didn't tell you."
"He was told not to by his sister...that is good enough for me lass. What about this mess with Callum?"
"I was trying to insinuate that you and I...well...I apologize, but I thought it would motivate Katrina and push Callum away."
"It worked fine on Katrina lass but Callum is very determined. This will not go well with the lad."
"That is why we are not going to mention it and I will not mention that you have just officially become a father. I am good at keeping secrets."
"Yes, well sometimes they come back to haunt you dolly."
"Yes...yes they do. I can think of a few that have caused me a great deal of pain."
"That they can lass...that they can."
"Oh and the MacKenzies know, or heavily suspect that I am dolly from long ago. Callum just thinks that I am hiding the information from my children. I don't know what to do about that? If you are going to help at Skyfall and get into a relationship with Katrina again do you think they can be trusted it the truth of the matter comes forth?
"Yes I do. He may be a smarmy bugger at times but when it counts he can be relied upon."
"One thing is certain Mr. Kincade, I do not want James to know I came here 40 years ago with his uncle."
"The boy will not take that well. I have seen his jealous side and it looks dangerously like murder."
"It has been murderous Mr. Kincade but nothing I can speak of. You and Katrina? After all this time...it is nice and I want to see the two of you getting your chance at a relationship."
"I do not know that there will be a relationship between Katrina and I but yes I agree that Callum at least will have to know that Skyfall is some sort of Military base. He is too smart to fall for all these lies for long."
M sighs, "I thought as much also. I need to brief with Tanner when they come back and meet with all the members of Q branch to see where the plans are headed. I hope we now have a good connection to London up and running."
"I will help Maggie with dinner and see if any more work needs doing around the estate. Are we going to go for dinner tomorrow at the MacKenzie's? I can understand if you don't want too what with Callum's quick hands and all."
"I can handle him. If you want to go for dinner and James is still away, we will go. I think you need to spend as much time with Katrina as you can, after all the time family prejudice stole from you two years ago."
"Aye...we had something. It was a shame but I do not regret the life I've led. Do you regret not saying yes to James' proposal back then dolly?"
"No...but I am beginning to regret saying no to James now. I also regret even considering the idea of retirement. I still have a lot of life left to give and if Skyfall is my base, because I am M...then I should continue to be M and the mistress of the house."
"That would mean saying yes to the boy's proposal at some point dolly."
"Yes...yes it does. I will wait for the time to be right and for him to actually ask again. The first attempts were clumsy and later just a matter of public conversation with my children and you Mr. Kincade."
"James asked you all those years ago...how did that go lass?"
"It was spur of the moment when I was playing with Jamie on the floor...he clasp my hand and before he said anything he stopped because he saw the shocked and panicked look on my face."
"You were always for another...I remember Charmian and Monique mentioning that yours must be quite a man for you to resist our James."
"Yes he was. Nigel came to my door with flowers and this ring in hand and the moment I opened the door he dropped to his knees. I was just so glad that he came back to me that I knocked him over with my exuberance."
"How could he not. You have always been an amazing woman dolly."
"No more dolly...that name is getting me into trouble again."
"You don't worry about Callum. I will handle him if he becomes too physical with you again M. I will not have the boy beside himself in anger because I let another man paw at you."
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M is in the bunk house with Kincade and the 6 members of Q branch and two security agents, making final notes about the bunk house and main building.
Judi, Tanner and Ryan return by 4 and Maggie brings out tea for them. M and Kincade come in with the MI6 crew. The crew hovers around nervously looking at the snacks and food Maggie has spread out in the dining room.
M sighs and rolls her eyes. "Come on then have some of Maggies wonderful food...sit be comfortable because this is what it may be like if you are stationed here."
Maggie smiles with pride as the crew introduces themselves to her. Jack, Frank, Jessica, Tracy, Clark, Robert, Daniel, and Steven are the assembled security and Q branch technicians. Maggie does not quite know how to take the group nor what is going on here.
M see's her confusion. "Maggie these are some of my employees from the department of Natural British Resources. They are updating the availability of internet and mobile transmission. We have been going over the facilities of Skyfall and will be using this as our Scottish base thanks to James."
"Oh I see...amazing. Will you be needing my services?"
"I am not sure yet but definitely when we are here. As for this crew...some will be returning to London and others will come depending on who is needed."
"It is nice to see all the lovely updates to the old house ma'am and I am glad that it will be in use for Mr. Bond and his family also. It will be lovely to hear the pitter patter of little feet eventually also."
Judi almost chokes on her tea as Ryan smiles. "Are we not enough pitter patter for you Maggie?"
"Oh you...Mr. Ryan...you are young but not the chaos I am referring to."
"I will bring my daughter next time just to make you happy dear lady."
"See that you do and yours too Miss Judi...and hopefully more in the future."
Kincade interrupts and offers to take Maggie home. The diner is on the stove for later and Kincade promises to help Em serve the lot.
Once they leave M turns to her staff.
"I understand that this situation is unusual but the townspeople will not know of my position and our purpose. There is a level of casualness that will occur while I am here. You will still refer to me as M...they believe my name is Emma...shortened to Em. Mr. Kincade is the only one who knows that this is an MI6 operation, keep it that way."
The teatime guests all say "yes ma'am" stand and file out back to work around the house.
Judi and Ryan look at each other and then to Tanner who just smiles.
"Is that what it is like working with her Tanner?"
"Yes Ryan."
M frowns at her children. "Really...how did you think it would go?"
"Well I did not expect to see looks of abject terror on the faces of adult professionals just at the idea of sitting for tea with you mum." Judi says.
M levels her best icy glare at her daughter and turns her gaze to Tanner.
"Well...report Tanner. What was the afternoon like for you?"
Tanner clears his throat and begins to give the details of their ride including the lay of the land and questions that Kenna and Fiona asked him specifically."
Ryan and Judi look taken aback. "We didn't realize we were suppose to document everything that happened." Ryan states.
"That is fine...and why it was imperative that Tanner accompanied you while I was with Kincade."
"Christ mum...do you ever just have a casual conversation...enjoy anything in life without planning several steps ahead and getting ready to use any and all information for your benefit?" Judi exclaims.
"No...it is my job and in case you were unaware I am creating a secret MI6 base here...therefore it is only logical that I know what the neighbours are up to."
Judi stands up from the table with Ryan and begins to clear the dishes. "I'm going to get cleaned up and take a nap after cleaning this. I'm tired after that ride."
"Thank you dears. Tanner I need to speak with you in the den and we will test out the new communications centre."
"Fine M...Judi, Ryan. I will see you later." Tanner says almost nervously as he hands his dishes off to Judi and accidentally touches her hand. Tanner becomes almost clumsy in his nervousness and he hopes to hell that M does not notice.
Ryan just smiles knowingly and M frowns as she grabs Tanner's arm and pulls him down the hall.
"Mr. Tanner is there anything more you wish to report to me about what happened today?"
Tanner began to flush red and fidget like he normally does when he has something would rather not tell M.
"Out with it Mr. Tanner."
"M...it is all just innocent flirtation but I believe that Ms. Fiona has eyes for Judi and Ms. Kenna was very inquisitive about Judi's relationship with James."
"I see. Did they say anything else?"
"Something about some old pictures that they want to show us sometime. Nothing that would denote that they know we are SIS and creating a base."
M nods. "That is something at least." She will deal with cold hard facts not the small often blurry images of 40 years ago.
"Contact Mallory and Q, I want an update on James."
Tanner nods and moves to the computer to create a link with London.
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Light and sound come through in fading periods of consciousness. James' head is pounding the sound of rain echos through.
James manages to register that he is seated on a chair just as he feels a prick at his neck and fades out again...Olivia...is his last conscious thought.
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"What do you mean you lost contact!"
I had a link on the mic system Bond was using to gather evidence against Clare Dower and Mr. White but then nothing.
"Mallory I want agents at that farm ASAP. Bond has been missing without contact since this morning...at least 6 hours. I want him found!"
M are you sure you are not jumping the gun a bit. James has gone that long before without contact.
"Mallory you will have to trust me on this...instinct. He would have texted me by now, or called."
Fine we will have a crew there within a couple of hours and get back to you as soon as word comes in.
"Thank you Mallory. The information that Q received...was it inflammatory?"
Yes it was. Clare is on her way to London for morning meetings, do you want us to detain her?
"No...not until all our ducks are in a row and White is in custody."
Very well M. We will be in contact soon.
"Q your people have been reporting back to you on what is needed for Skyfall?"
Yes M and I am creating an expense list for the remodelling.
"Very good. Am I to expect any deliveries of supplies soon?"
Two days and more equipment will arrive and be assembled by the time you are ready to come back to London.
"I want updates on the men sent to find Bond...as soon as you get them Q, Mallory."
We will M.
The connexion severed and M looks at Tanner with a furrowed brow. "I do hope he is all right...I have a bad feeling about this Tanner."
"I will go speak with our security and give them updates. I will have them patrol the grounds."
"I doubt there is much for us to worry about here, but do what you think is wise Tanner."
To be continued…