Chapter 6

Tanner arrives at the office to see Eve at her desk. "Thank you for the roses Bill. They are lovely."

"Where did you get off to with James last night?"

"A new sushi place he wanted to try."

"I see and did he see you home?"

"Why yes, Mr. Tanner he did and he dropped me at my door. We are just friends after all. Why? Are you jealous?"

"Jealous?"

"Yes, of me and Bond?

"I will admit that I have been in the past but not now."

"Why?"

"Because if Bond slept with you, it would absolutely destroy his chances with M. Even with the massive temptation of a night in your arms, my dear, I don't think he would do it."

Eve smirks at him. "Who did you spend the evening with Bill?"

"I took a special lady out for dinner, since you dumped me to go with Bond. And no I am not jealous of you and Bond."

"Are you jealous of Bond and M?"

"What? Come on now Eve. You've let Bond get into your head about all this nonsense."

"Bill, I know that the two of you are friends, but I'm a little concerned with how you drop me to go to her. It's like she has you under a spell."

"Eve...I did not drop you...you got impatient and left me there."

"Yes, well after an entire weekend of you looking after our boss I was lonely and I thought you would be more motivated and excited to see me."

"Eve. You don't think that I would...with M?"

Eve shrugs. "I don't know what to think anymore. You didn't even have to say who you went to dinner with last night, I just knew it would be M."

Tanner looks at her and nods. "I was with her last and helped her to her car, so yes it was logical that I would ask M."

M buzzes for Tanner, he leaves her and enters M's office, effectively ending the conversation before it can evolve into an argument and hurt feelings.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Bond enters Eve's office. "So are you going tell your man about this weekend?"

"No, not yet and I'm not sure I'm going to at all. James, I will try my best to convince M she needs a weekend away."

"You and Tanner still on the outs? As for M, you never heard this from me but have medical call her down and request it. It may help get the stubborn woman out of the bloody office for a change."

"I will do that now. I am ready for a break. You be good in there James and don't rile her up too much."

"Would I do that?"

"You and I both know you more than like to get her hot under the collar. I've seen you smirk enough times when she yells at you."

"I will be a good boy, now you run along and get things moving for this weekend. Beg M to go as a friend. For a girls only weekend, if Tanner says no. Anything to get her out of London and on neutral ground."

Eve departs and Bond knocks on M's door.

Come.

Bond hears her say loudly. "Good morning M, Tanner. I trust you both had a pleasant evening?"

M looks up from her seat sternly. "Down to business 007. I trust you read the file and know what is expected of you?"

"Yes, go to Paris and ensure that our man is brought into custody."

"Yes and do not kill him. I need to question him."

"This is a bit of overkill then, sending me to not kill someone and bring him back, alive. None of this sounds overly taxing for my skill set M. Are you sure you are not just trying to get rid of me?"

"Bond."

"Well, if you really don't want me around you could fire me or transfer me to MI5."

"Tanner could you excuse us for a moment. Just wait in Moneypenny's office."

"Yes ma'am. I will be just outside the door." Tanner looks pointedly at Bond when he says it.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist Tanner. I will keep to my own."

Tanner glares at Bond. "Be sure that you do Bond." Tanner leave the office and closes the door.

"Now that you've got me alone M...what do you want to do with me?"

"007 refrain from your flirtations, you know they have the opposite effect on me. I want to talk with you seriously for a moment."

"Alright. Go on."

"Bond, I cannot have this sort of thing going on here in the office. It is bad enough that Tanner and Eve are having a relationship. I cannot have rumours of impropriety swirling around the two of us. Do you understand this?"

"Yes M. I do. I can be very discreet if you want me...as something on the side."

M tosses her hands in the air. "I give up! Bond, you and I cannot be."

"Why? Other than the job, why not? I told you no one will know beyond the five of us."

"Five! Who else knows?"

"Better make that six."

"What?"

"Q knows, and your driver will know and any bodyguard you happen to have will figure it out. Although, you will no longer need a bodyguard with me around. Apparently Tanner subs in nicely from time to time now also. By the way, are Tanner's gun qualifications up to snuff?"

"Yes and no, I will not need you in that way. As bodyguard or anything else."

"M why are you fighting this attraction so hard?"

M remains silent pondering the question and then sighs deeply leaning back in her chair. M rubs her temples and closes her eyes. "I can't James. It is all too soon."

"Nigel?"

"Yes."

"How did it happen M?"

"Heart attack...in bed."

Bond looks at her, his mind suddenly flooding with inappropriate images of M and her husband cavorting under the covers.

"I am sorry M. I know I was out of country when he died and I wish I could have been here to help you."

"Thank you James. I know you would have."

"You have always known haven't you?"

"Known what?"

"How I feel about you."

M regards him and looks like she is about to say something, but she pauses. A few moments pass as M attempts to formulate her response.

"I felt as though you had a crush. Something like one would with a headmistress or a friend's mother. I never would have dreamt you felt as strongly as you claim."

Bond frowns. "Claim? M I have done much more than claim to be attracted to you. I thought I was being very blatant."

"Really James? How would I know you were serious with the way you…"

It is incredulous to Bond that she has deluded herself into thinking that he could NOT feel so strongly for her. "Don't M. That is just for work and you know it!"

"Fine! I had an inkling that you were more than just flirting with me but I never thought it would go anywhere. I was married. Is that good enough for you?"

"Yes, and you were. I respected that you were married, but I could not help myself. I still flirted but I knew your personal sense of loyalty would never allow you to stray, unless that was a norm for you, or you were under the influence. In fact, I asked around when I first joined. Aside from a few outlandish rumour about you, that I investigated and determined to be false, there were no lovers to uncover.

M looks perplexed. "You What! And what bloody rumours?"

"It was long ago M and those that gave it voice are gone now. I interviewed them rather forcefully in the locker room after the verbal diarrhea they spewed in training."

M looks at him amazed as she remembers back to his first years at MI6. "Your insubordination charge...it held you back two years?"

"Yes but it was worth it."

"I never liked that man, nor his assistants and he was not as good a trainer as he let on." M says looking annoyed.

"No he wasn't."

"What did he say?"

"Why so curious M? It was over 10 years ago."

"It eats at you, when you know someone has been speaking behind your back."

Bond smiles at her curiosity. "Are you sure M?"

"I don't really care one way or another but you brought it to my attention so you must have wanted to tell me on some level."

"Yes well, he said you always took the best trained 00 agents to bed...to encourage us to do better and strive for that particular reward. This was apparently the extra incentive of having a female M. He smirked and insinuated that he was the best, because he was the trainer of the weak new recruits. Further claiming that he'd been called upon many times to service you, at work in your time of need. I made sure any comments of the like, stopped that very day."

"I am so glad I fired that man and his team."

Bond smiles. "I broke his fingers for you also. Not to mention a few back eyes for any of the other recruits who boasted similar claims."

M smiles and begins to laugh. The sound is like angels singing to Bond's ears. Perhaps there was hope for him yet.

"Well, all things considered James, you will not break into my home any longer and we will take whatever this evolves into, slowly. I would like it to become a deeper friendship, I hope you will be happy with that. I am sorry I stomped on your heart. I had no idea you felt that strongly, sex is one thing but love?"

Bond noticed that M said that sex was one thing but love another...could that mean that a sexual relationship without the declaration of deeper feelings was what she was looking for?

"Yes love M, unless you are just looking for sex. I will be happy to service you in any capacity."

"James. Be careful. This was just starting to go well."

"M it will be a pleasure to call you a friend and I already consider you a partner. We work very well together M and I am your best."

"You are also my most humble agent it appears."

"Really?" Bond says enjoying the casual flirtations she is allowing him.

M looks at him rolling her eyes. "As if that were even remotely possible."

"I guess not. I will call you on Friday once I accomplish the mission M."

"Very good. Send Tanner back in please, and Bond be careful, come home safe."

The look they share conveys a great deal of emotional restraint for both of them.

Bond is happy they now have an accord and M is reasonably impressed by his new found restraint.

The other night M could not have imagined Bond calmly conversing with her privately. M's well aware that Bond's modus operandi is to overwhelm a woman with passionate kisses and go in for the kill.

M is not that kind of woman. No, M will never make it that easy for anyone, not that she thought it would ever happen again after Nigel.

Before Bond leaves the office, he rounds the desk and kneels before her and takes her small hand in his.

"M, I want you to consider taking a vacation to recuperate properly. I will ask Tanner and Eve to look after you...in a friendly capacity. Please be careful on this ankle." Bond taps her knee with his fingers and keeps them there. Tracing gentle circles on her knee and thigh.

M looks down at the path his fingers make on her trousers, thinking about how they would feel…

"Bond, you were leaving." M locks eyes with him realizing suddenly how close he is to her. She can feel the heat radiating from him.

The smell of his cologne permeates the air between them. This is how he does it. This is why he is her best agent. Dear lord, this is why she wants him so...she knows it is wrong but she does.

"I was but I wanted to give you a kiss on the cheek. Is that acceptable?"

"Yes." M mutters almost breathlessly.

Bond leans in slowly to put his soft lips on her cheek. He lingers smelling her perfume and feeling the softness of her cheek.

M has aged so incredibly well, her cheekbones are beautifully well defined and the wrinkles she does have do not take away from her beauty. If anything they accentuates her loveliness.

James pulls away with some outer power he did not think he possessed. He stands and walks to the door, pausing enough to look back at her and wink.

M harrumphs, as her face flushes red and looks back down at her work.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"But M you need the time."

"Eve did Bond tell you to enlist the help of the doctor?"

"Well yes, but he's right. You and I can go with Tanner. I have a two room suite booked in Devon and Q has created an even better mobile command centre for you than Tanner had last weekend when you were first injured."

M sighs and shifts the papers on her desk. Tanner enters her office. "I suppose you're involved with all this too?"

Tanner look confused. "With what M?"

"Eve trying to get me to come away with you this weekend."

"I was not aware we were going anywhere at all?"

"It was a gift from M remember Tanner."

"Oh yes, that. Slipped my mind."

"I upgraded our suite to one with two bedrooms so M can come too."

Tanner smiles, "that is a lovely idea! I will be the envy of the town with you two beside me. What about the doctors M?"

"Oh Ms. Moneypenny's on top of that already Tanner. I'm being encouraged to go. I am working on using just a cane now as it is."

"That is fantastic M. You're healing quickly." Tanner adds.

"By the weekend I should be up to a mile or two a day they say, with the aid of the cane until I heal completely."

"If you should get tired M, I know Bill will carry you. Won't you Bill?"

"Yes, of course I will."

"I hope there will be no need for that. I do insist the two of you go out and enjoy yourselves without the old boss tagging along."

Tanner frowns, "M we won't leave you alone."

Eve smiles, "no M. We will make sure there is someone with you at all times for protection." Eve winks at Tanner who looks confused.

Eve has something planned, Bill can tell. It likely has something to do with Bond returning around the same time that they plan to leave.

"Fine. We will borrow a company car. That should be big enough for the three of us and our luggage." M says.

"They are big enough for four even M. And no need for security, Tanner and I will be armed and Q is already searching for any domestic threats." Eve says.

M looks at her smiling secretary somewhat confused, but a call comes in and forces her attention elsewhere and back to work.

Tanner and Eve leave her office as the call comes through.

"Yes, hello. Yes it has been a long time and no I have not been avoiding you since our last dinner. I cannot this weekend...why...well that is hardly your business now is it. Well if you really must know I am going away this weekend. Yes, with a friend. Listen I'm up to my ears trying to get through work to leave early. To Devon and I am recuperating just fine and I will try not to be too suspicious of how you know of my injury to begin with. Perhaps dinner next Friday. Yes I know. I look forward to it Arthur."

M hangs up and sighs. Damn if only Moneypenny had been able to divert that call. Arthur is not one for restraint, when his curiosity is peaked.

M likes the man and always has but he was a friend of her husband's and that makes her feel strange about his wanting to date her. Not to mention he is one of the very few who knows what she does, and this is what he is using to plead his case.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Friday morning arrives and M is driven into work. Her cane and luggage in the car with her. they will be leaving early but M still has reports to sign and missions coming to a close.

Bond will be returning at some point today. He is not expected until the evening flight, she checked. M knows he would push to come with them to Devon and she would be fighting herself not to wait and let him come.

It is easier to avoid the situation completely by having Bond arrive home after they are already gone. The doctor and Eve are right, she does need time away. Time to think on all that has happened since Nigel died.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Eve looks at Tanner. "He will have to meet us there."

"Eve are you sure we shouldn't warn M that Bond may be coming?"

"No, James wants to surprise her and if she knows, she is likely to feign illness or something else to get out of having to face him."

"M does like to avoid conflict in her personal life. Therefore, her children rarely visit, which is sad."

"Oh would this be the cute daughter, with the infectious laugh you once told me about?"

Tanner blushes and shifts from foot to foot. "Yes...I may have mentioned Judi once or twice before you and I were dating."

"I see. So the attraction does not fall far from the tree where you are concerned Mr. Tanner." Eve says with a knowing smirk.

"Eve, come on. You and I have something special, something real and that is all just fantasy."

"And here I hoped I was your fantasy woman."

"Oh you are Eve, more that you could possibly know."

"I will go grab M's bags and take them all down to the car. We should be able to clear everything up and leave after lunch."

"Good. I can't wait to get there. I have hiking brochures and places to take M. She even says she will try to walk without the cane for part of it, she has been around the office."

"Good and the fresh air will do her good."

M exits the office with her coat and cane an hour later. "Are we ready Ms. Moneypenny."

Eve looks shocked. "Yes ma'am. I was not expecting you this fast!"

"No, well I finished my stack of paperwork and made all my calls. I say we disappear while there is nothing going on."

Eve smiles. "Good, let's go collect Tanner and leave."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

The traffic is annoying but they manage to crawl out of London towards the sea. As they approach the hotel Eve asks for Tanner to stop.

"I need to pop in the drugstore for a second. I forgot the ummmm...sunscreen."

Tanner nods and stops the car. "We will wait for you."

"No go on ahead and help M get settled. I will walk the rest of the way." Eve exits the car and goes into the shop. She watches Tanner drive away as she makes her call.

"James, you got in?"

Yes, are you there yet?

"Yes we just arrived and I hopped out to make this call...and buy some sunscreen."

I am hopping a train now and will be in Torquay within 4 hours. I will be there around 9.

"Good I will try to arrange a really late dinner by having tea shortly."

Watch out for her Eve. Keep your eyes on everyone.

"We will Bond. Stop being so paranoid. She looks like she's Bill's mother hobbling around on a cane. Once she changes out of her suit she will look like the average gran."

We both know that there is nothing average about that particular gran.

"Yes, yes, you and I know that but the rest of the seaside will be oblivious. Goodbye Bond. We will see you for dinner."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Tanner helps M out of the car and helps the doorman with the bags.

"Will you be fine while I park the car?"

"Yes, don't fuss Tanner. I will be fine. I will find a seat in the lounge."

Tanner leaves to park as M enters the hotel and looks around the nice open lobby. Many families are walking through with children coming in from the beach.

To the right is a bar and restaurant, M decides to take a look. There sitting at the bar is a very familiar smirk on a familiar face.

Damn and blast! What the hell is he doing here?

To be continued…