Chapter 22
The entire family follows them out of Skyfall as they take their bags to leave. Olivia is grateful for the week away and promises to write.
Charmian makes plans to visit her in London the next time she comes to see James. Hugs and kisses are exchanged and Jamie has to be pulled from Olivia's arms by Andrew.
Andrew takes advantage of her being free to lift her in the air and spin her like he did upon meeting her.
Monique is visibly sad and hugs James whispering in his ear. Charmian hugs Olivia and whispers to her.
"We all hope you will come back someday Olivia."
"I promise I will."
Kincade smiles at her and gives her a small hug as James is quickly tiring of the time it is taking to get her out of their arms, into his car and on the way.
"London is a long drive dolly...if my family would only stop showing you all the love they neglect to show me."
They all laugh and allow Olivia to take her seat. They wave good bye for a long while as the car drives up the drive past the kirk and out of sight.
"Well dolly...that went well considering you and I never had much time to spend alone."
"Not for lack of trying."
"No...how could I resist."
"Are we going to be able to be civil to one and another at work?"
"What do you mean dolly?"
"Do you want me to play jilted lover for your ego James."
"No...in fact I will tell anyone who asks exactly what happened."
Olivia looks at him slyly. "And what did go on...according to you Mr. Bond?"
"Nothing sexual unfortunately but it was the best trip home I have had in an age. We drank, made merry and had a fun in the wilds."
"So that is all?"
"Yes...I do not embellish and lie Miss Jenkins."
Olivia laughs. "I for one had a wonderful time and I thank you for introducing me to your family."
"They thanked me just as much for bringing you. They love you dolly...Charmian a little too much and don't get me started on the boy!"
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James Bond was true to his word and the rumours about their trip to Scotland were squashed...even by Mary.
Within a week of returning to work M called Olivia into his office.
Olivia had no idea that James was so close to M.
Needless to say...James told M all about the serious young woman whose talents include charming a house full of stubborn Scots and making every man around her do whatever she likes without even the hint of an offer of sexual reward.
M looked over some of Olivia's work and was impressed enough to set her on some jobs for him directly.
As Olivia left M's office James was outside flirting with Miss Moneypenny.
"Oh James! How are you?"
"I am perfect how are you dolly?"
"Dolly?" Moneypenny asks.
"My nephew called her that...the boy would not let her go for a second while he was awake. At least it gave my poor sister-in-law a break."
The three of them laugh. "So are you planning on redecorating that office when you become M...Miss Jenkins."
"I think it is fine the way it is now James. Considering it is brand new. It will be a lot of years before it becomes mine."
James winks at her as he moves to the door. "Keep those stubborn eyes of yours on the prize then. Oh and has the man returned yet?"
"The 15th."
"I will call you on the 16th then."
"James...do you never quit?"
"No...just ask Miss Moneypenny."
James enters the office leaving Olivia looking at the unimpressed face of Miss Moneypenny.
"I think I will be keeping an eye on you Miss Jenkins...as M is doing now, at James' request."
Olivia meets the woman's gaze and repeats what Monique said to her at their first meeting.
"It is better to be his friend than to be his lover...he needs more female friends he cannot hope to lure into his bed."
"Really? Why aren't you full of insight into 007."
"I just lived with him and his family for a week...his sister in law told me the same thing the very first day and they are words of wisdom."
"And he is calling you on the 16th why?"
"That is between him and I Miss Moneypenny. Good day."
Moneypenny watches in shock as the small woman leaves her office. She has a feeling that something more than an innocent trip to Skyfall happened over the last week.
Lucky girl...Moneypenny plans to keep her eyes on that woman...just as M is.
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James smashes the chair into the blonde man as he kicks out his leg at the other one. A shot rings out but misses as James' foot hits his arms.
It is fast and furious as he smashes the blonde's nose so hard he crumbles to the ground.
The other man grabs him as they wrestle for dominance.
Bond has his gun arm and smashes it into the wall. Bond takes a blow to the body and a forehead to his face.
Again Bond smashes his hand into the wall until the gun falls.
They continue to hit and punch each other. The assailant ends up on his knees as Bond leaps on the floor for the gun.
At that moment the Blonde man comes to and reaches up above his head for a knife sitting on the counter behind him. Bond hears the scrap of the knife and reaches his arms up behind him as he lies back down on the floor.
A shot rings out and the man slumps as the knife hits the floor harmlessly.
Bond instantly pulls the gun down towards his feet as the other man moves to lunge for him. Bond shoots him in the face.
James jumps to his feet...looking around for a mobile...they have none on them. He leaves the small rural home and heads for the car. It is bloody pitch dark out...he stumbles towards the outline of a car on the dirt drive.
The drugs are still coursing through his system...his head feels like thunder. He finds a mobile in the glove box...no signal and barely any battery life left. These two thugs were hardly ready.
Bond goes back in to search their bodies more...find the car keys. The problem is he has no idea where he is?
The car is too old to have GPS built in...there is no modern display...hopefully there is a compass. The car turns over...¾ of a tank and he is facing North.
Good...he will head East. If he is still on Skye he will eventually hit the sea.
More importantly...where did White go? How far is that Bastard from Skyfall?
If White touches a hair on M's head...he will burn him in alive in a wicker man on the moors in front of Skyfall.
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M and Kincade sit in the, game room that has become part of MI6 operations centre at Skyfall.
The lines of communication are open and Q branch sends updates every hour...nothing has been found.
Kincade plays billiards with M to distract her. Tanner and Judi have taken a long walk out around the house and Tanner promises to come in and man the station within two hours.
Kincade doesn't expect they will be getting much sleep tonight. Ryan went to bed earlier, under protest and promises to call for him to man the station for a few hours.
Tanner and Judi come into the room. "Mum..anything?"
"No. Q branch sends updates on the hour."
"Judi...take your mother to bed and stay with her. Kincade you go to sleep too. I will wake Kincade in two hours. M you can get 6 hours of sleep and then you can do two hours. Ryan can take over from Kincade and then your son can intrude on you and Judi to take the 5-whenever."
"Since when do you give me orders Mr. Tanner?"
"Since when do you not delegate this mundane chore to others M? Just because he is your lover...doesn't mean the protocol changes."
Kincade has to smile at the lad. "I agree M...time for you ladies to get some sleep. We will all take turns."
M is reluctant to leave but Judi pulls her out of the room down the hall towards the stairs.
"You do not have to babysit me Jude. If anything I thought you might be stealing off to meet with Tanner anyway?"
"I hate having a master spy for a mother!"
"I know."
They enter the master bedroom and close the door.
"Do you object?"
"No...but do go easy on him dear. Tanner is very important to the day to day operations at MI6 and I cannot do without him."
"What are you suggesting mother?"
"Don't toy with him...like you did with so many in your youth."
"Well isn't that the pot calling the kettle back."
"How would you know...anything about it?"
"I spent some time discussing this very thing with Fiona today. Mum they have pictures of their father's wedding that show a woman who looks remarkably like you with James' family and Mr. Kincade. Care to explain?"
"I have no comment."
"I knew it! And no I didn't see the photo or confirm anything...with you that would be dangerous so I kept my big mouth shut and so did Ryan. You told the two of us earlier this week that you and dad broke up for two weeks and that you came to Scotland for a friend's wedding."
"Yes."
"So you were here?"
"Yes."
"Kincade knew the minute he saw you get out of the car."
"Yes."
"Does James know?"
"No."
"You are not going to tell him are you?"
"No and neither are you or your brother. Infact do not say anything to Ryan about this...I will deal with it if he asks me directly."
"What about Kincade?"
"He will not say a thing."
"Wow...no wonder the poor man had it bad for you so quickly. He remembered you from when you were all young."
"Yes."
"So why can't James know?"
"James didn't know his uncle was an agent. All that he know is that the DB5 was his and that he died when he was only 7."
"His uncle was James Bond."
"Yes and to top this complete fiasco off he was 007. He even asked me to marry him while we were here."
"So James Bond drove you here in the same car 40 years ago and asked you to marry him?"
They get into bed still fully clothed, pulling the covers up as they lean against the headboard still deep in conversation.
"Yes. But it is not what you think. I agreed to come as as friend...we had never been together socially because of your father."
"But you broke up and he went to France for a week."
"Yes and I came here."
"There is likely a far deeper story than you are telling. Someday I want to hear it. With Kincade and even Mr. MacKenzie and his sister to back it all up."
"We will not be pulling Callum and Katrina into all of this...they may have to find out about Skyfall becoming a secret government installation only because he is the lawyer and a close neighbour. Not to mention...Kincade and Katrina may continue their long lost relationship."
"Really! Kincade fancies her more than you? That is something."
M swats Judi's arm. "Be serious. Those two have always loved each other but have been conspired against by family, distance and time to keep them apart."
"Wow...so romantic. This place holds so many romantic secrets."
"Go to sleep now Judi...5 am will be awful."
Judi clicks off the light.
"Goodnight mum. And thanks for not telling me not to see Bill. I really like him."
"Good but take it slow...please."
"But mum...he's a really good kisser."
M sighs in the dark and pats Judi's arm. "Yes...I know."
Silence…
Light clicks on…
"Shit! You made out with my boyfriend didn't you! Oh my God that's right! James told me about South Africa mother..."
"Judi...turn out the light."
M rolls over with a smirk on her face trying not to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.
James Bond had better be on his way home with a bloody good explanation for why he hasn't called.
To be continued….