Chapter Text
Train Ride
"Here you go sir" A waiter said while giving James a menu.
"Thank you" James thanked him politely before taking a look at the options available.
He was on a train headed to Montenegro where the hotel he would be staying at was locate. As he was looking at the food options in the menu, a tall and beautiful woman walked into the cabin he was occupying. She made her way to the table he was sitting at, threw her purse on the window seat before sitting herself down right across from him and smiling.
"I'm the money" She announced with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
James checked her out appreciatively "Every penny of it" He replied with a smile of his own.
Sherlock Holmes was an extremely beautiful woman. James was not hiding the fact that he was checking her out. She was wearing black dress pants that hugged her form perfectly and she had paired those with a black dress shirt that showed just the right amount of cleavage. Her curly black hair was pulled back in a high ponytail with some stands covering the sides of her beautiful face, framing it perfectly. She had opted for a natural makeup look and around her neck she wore a beautiful white gold necklace with a little sapphire decorated violin hanging from it.
"Sherlock... I do hope you gave your parents hell for you that" James joked, her name was unusual to say the least.
Sherlock smiled at his remark but did not comment on it, "Thank you" She thanked a waitress that handed her a menu. "Our boss sends her regards" Sherlock said while flipping through the menu.
"She sent them with a lot of style" James was still staring at her with an appreciative look in his eyes, Sherlock face was doted with a small smile, "Not that I mind, but why are you here exactly?" James asked.
"I heard that Montenegro was quiet lovely this time of the year, and let's face it you are going to nee my help" Sherlock explained with a serious look on her face.
"You said earlier Our boss sends her regards, care to elaborate on that Miss Holmes" James wanted some answers, he was not expecting to see her so soon after their first meeting and especially not on a mission.
Just who exactly was she?
"Special agent Holmes" Sherlock corrected him.
"I beg your pardon?" James looked surprised but not shocked.
"I's special agent Holmes double-o 7" Sherlock repeated while maintaining eye contact the whole time.
"That... explains a lot" James said with a look on his face that told her he was putting all of the pieces he had been missing together.
'How about we focus on the mission? Ten million dollars have been transferred to your account in Montenegro with the contingency of five more if the representative from the treasury deems it appropriate" Sherlock informed him.
Sherlock cast a serious look towards James, "I do hope you understand that if you lose our government would have directly financed terrorism" She added while leaning forward on the table to maintain better eye contact.
The smile fell from James's face and it was replaced with a frown, he kept looking at Sherlock with a calculating look on his face, Sherlock broke eye contact first to look back at her menu, "What looks good?" She asked.
-----
The waiter was taking away their empty plates, a half full wine bottle and their glasses remained on the table, James reached forward to refill their glasses starting with hers.
"I've heard whispers around the services before I left to come here that you are the best player we have" Sherlock remarked with a soft voice.
"I am good at the game because I understand that in poker you never play your hand but the man sitting in front of you" James matched her soft tone.
"A game of odds, probabilities and good old bluffing" Sherlock mused while sipping on her wine.
"You've heard the term" James pointed out with a small smile.
"I personally don't like playing cards, my mind is too quick for it, and counting cards happens to be illegal in casinos" Sherlock explained.
"Counting cards huh? Aren't you full of surprises?" James asked.
"It's not my fault! My brain just does it" Sherlock defended herself.
James concealed his laugh with the motion of taking a sip of wine. "For someone who doesn't enjoy playing cards you seam oddly excited to be attending a high stakes poker game" James remarked curiously.
"It's not the game that excites me, it's the thrill of knowing that I will be able to read and deduce every single player on that table with just one glance, they've already lost they just don't know it yet" Sherlock explained.
James had to admit to himself that her confidence in her abilities was inspiring, "Every player including me?" He had to ask.
"Dinner tonight has told enough about you already" Sherlock replied.
"Oh really? Like what?" James challenged.
"You are smart, a decent judge of character, a quick thinker and you have an amazing taste in wine" Sherlock replied simply while holding her wine glass up.
James's smile brightened at the last part "Do you think this a good plan?" James asked, he still had this calculating look in his eyes, like he wanted to ask about something else entirely.
Sherlock leaned back against her seat and crossed her arms against her chest, "While poker is a game of odds and probabilities, one can't forget that luck is a major factor, for that reason alone I do not think this is a solid plan" She explained.
James considered her answer for minute, "Yet you don't look the least bit concerned" he finally stated.
"I don't have the need to be concerned Mr Bond, you see the success of this mission does not correlate with the poker game" The way she said that sounded like she was about to let him in on a secret.
It sparked James's interest, "Then what does correlate with the success of this mission special agent Holmes?" James asked.
"The combination of both of our skill sets" That was a statement. She said it as if it had been obvious. Something he should have know the moment she sat down in font of him. James said nothing, he only smiled at her. Sherlock could tell that there was something still bothering him. She was about to ask him about it but he spoke before she could, "Why didn't you tell me?" James asked, all traces of friendliness were wiped from her face.
Sherlock didn't need to ask what he meant by that, she knew he was going to ask about it, and she was honestly surprised and a bit grateful that it took him this long to ask about it, "It has nothing to do with you... I... just... I just don't really talk about it... my last mission was successful, but... the price for that success was far too great, it left me in an immensely dark place that I barely managed to escape from" Sherlock had a far away look in her eyes and James was looking at her with a hint of understanding and respect.
After all they were part of the same world and he knew the toll their job could take on an individual. Every decision, every move, came with sacrifice. It was all part of the game, "May I ask what happened" James doubt she would tell him, but it was worth a shot.
Sherlock stared at him for a few seconds, and whoever said that the eyes were the window to the soul, he or she must have had Sherlock on their mind because it was only now that James noticed how expressive her eyes are, "Maybe one day I will be able to tell you all about it, but that day isn't today" there was a sense of finality to her answer that James had t respect.
Sherlock grabbed her purse before standing up "Good evening Mr Bond" James who was also standing gave her a small nod in acknowledgment "Good evening Miss Holmes" And with that she left the cabin they were in.
-----
Montenegro
As soon as they reached their destination, they found a car with a driver waiting for them, "Hotel Splendid sir?" The driver asked James.
"That's right" James confirmed as he stepped aside to let Sherlock, who was wheeling a small suitcase pass in front of him. She handed her suitcase over to the driver and got in the car. James waited a few seconds for a man to hand him an envelope, he thanked and paid him before getting in the car himself.
The envelope contained two passports and a paper with last minute details about their cover story. Sherlock leaned towards James a bit to try to read the paper, "It's just last minute details" He explained as he carried on reading.
"Apparently we are very much in love" James said with contemplative look on his face.
"Are we now?" Sherlock decided to indulge him.
"I'm mister Arlington Beach, professional gambler and you're miss Stephanie Broadchest-"
"I am not_" Sherlock exclaimed while jumping for the paper in James's hand.
"-You are going to have to trust me on this one" James scolded while moving the paper away from her.
"Do I?" Sherlock asked incredulously.
James ignored her and carried on reading. "We've been involved for quiet a while hence the shared suite" Sherlock caught on to what James was trying to do and decided to take control of the narrative.
"But my family are faithful Catholics hence the tow bedroom suite" Sherlock put emphasis on the tow bedroom part of her sentence.
"I do hate it when religion comes between us" James said with a smile.
"You are going to be giving me a lot of trouble Bond, aren't you?" Sherlock had a resigned smile on her face.
"As I told you before, I do like a challenge" James said with smirk that quickly dissolved into a serious look, "But you should know now that I would never force anything on you' He said seriously.
Sherlock met his eyes and smiled, "even thought I know you wouldn't, I still would like to see you try" There was a little bit of a threat in that last part.
The car ride carried on smoothly after that as they settled into a comfortable silence. As they were nearing their destination Sherlock turned to look at James, "We're seriously not going to stick to that nonsense, are we?" Sherlock asked with a horrified look on her face.
"Of course not, who do you take me for?" James looked almost offended at her question.
"Good, it's pointless anyway, he already knows you're coming" Sherlock said.
"Yet he decided to play me anyway" James pointed out.
"He's desperate" Sherlock concluded.
"Or overly confident" James added.
-----
James and Sherlock finally reached their destination. They got out of the car and made their way inside the hotel and to the front desk, "Welcome to the hotel Splendid, your name sir?" The receptionist asked with a smile.
"James Bond you will find the reservation under Beach" James announced, he was looking at Sherlock the entire time.
The receptionist placed a form on the counter for them to sign, Sherlock reached forward to grab the pen as she quickly went over the content of the paper before signing her name at the bottom.
"Thank you and please enjoy your stay" The receptionist said with a smile as she took back the paper, "Oh we very much will" Sherlock said with a smile of her own.
She made her way to the open elevator with her suitcase, James followed her but he didn't get in with her, "You know if my brother were her, he would be going on a rant about how reckless we are and how we could jeopardize the entire mission" Sherlock said that with the best Mycroft voice she could manage.
"You have a brother?" James asked surprised yet curious. Sherlock faked an exaggerated annoyed facial expression "Unfortunately I have two" Sherlock replied.
"Oh, so you are a middle child, that explains a lot" James shot back. Sherlock gasped loudly, "What is that supposed to mean?" She was offended. James was saved by the elevator doors closing effectively separating them.
"Mr Bond this was left for you" James turned at the sound of his name, it was the receptionist and she was holding a package for him.
"Thank you" He thanked her as he accepted the package.
When he opened it he found a car key and some papers in it. He made his way to the parking area where he found a beautiful brand new Aston Martin DBS, James smiled to himself as he checked out the papers that were inside the package -he really does love M like a mother- he leaned over to check the glove compartment of the car. It opened like a tray, the first one contained medical equipment and the second one contained a gun with a silencer attached to it.
They had a few more things to do before getting the show started.
-----
Sherlock stepped into their suite and made her way to one of the two rooms that were in it. The room was beautifully decorated, it was specious and well lit. She made her way to the queen sized bed and sat on it. Sherlock had promised herself three years ago when she walked away from the service to never look back. Yet here she was. And if she wanted to be honest with herself she is not regretting her decision so far.
She was excited to see James in action, she could tell that he would be brilliant. It was rare for her to encounter someone who matches her energy so well. She likes to test boundaries, break rules, thread dangerously, and so far James has proven that he lives by those things too.
Mycroft must be furious right now. She could imagine him yelling at all of his men, the ones that were supposed to be watching her. Her brother keeps forgetting that she is trained to disappear anytime she wanted anywhere she wanted. It's about time that her brother understood that he can't control her life, even if he is doing it out of love.
She stood and went to open her suitcase, she had to get changed, James will be back shortly, they had a meeting to attend.
-----
James and Sherlock were on their way to a small café near their hotel. They were meeting an envoy from the treasury and the person who was going to be their contact here should they need any quick assistance. They were making small talk during the ride which came to an end when they reached their destination.
As soon as they reached the steps that lead to the outdoor sitting area of the café a middle aged man in a black suit and a young woman in a white ensemble came up to them. The man put his hand out and introduced himself. "I am Manthis, I'm your contact here" the man - Manthis- turned to the woman about to introduce her but she beat him to it.
"Vesper Lynd, the representative from the treasury" She was looking at Sherlock with an air of annoyance.
"Shall we find a table and get to business?" Manthis asked, and before they could answer he was making his way to an empty table.
James leaned over to Sherlock to whisper in her ear, "Lynd doesn't seam to like you very much" He whispered softly.
Sherlock smiled to herself before whispering back. "Maybe it has something to do with the fact that her job was taken form her and given to me" James looked surprised at that.
"She was supposed to be in your place" He asked with raised eyebrow.
"Disapointed Mr Bond?" Sherlock asked.
"Not in the least" James shot back with a smile.
"Come on then let's get this over with so that we can get started with the real fun" Sherlock said while taking James's hand and leading him to the table that Manthis picked for them.