Chapter Text
She was dreaming when the car hit a bump in the road. Much to James’ annoyance, she jerked awake calling Tanner’s name.
“Tanner’s fine,” said James, as if they’d been chatting. “Anyone who is a distance from you is safe right now.”
It came out a lot harsher than he intended, and he knew she felt it. She didn’t comment, however, and merely looked out of the windows.
“How long have I been asleep?”
“About an hour.”
“Where are we?”
“Deepest, darkest nowhere,” answered James. “Are you all right? Need to stop? Need… anything?”
“I’m fine, thank you, OO7.” She shifted uncomfortably in the seat and pulled the blanket up to her chin.
James cranked the heat up a little. She glanced at him but said nothing.
“Still some way to go,” she murmured.
“Yep,” he said.
She seemed to be nodding off again. Peace filled the car; a companionable silence unfamiliar to James. His mind was wondering when she said something he didn’t quite hear.
“What?” he asked.
She huffed into her blanket. “I said I don’t have a gun.”
James smiled. “Oh. Well I do. And there’s more where we’re going.”
“So there is weaponry at the house?”
“Yes. Mind you, you did sell it, so it might be a Starbucks now.”
“Oh shut up. You were dead.”
“There was no body. You know better than that.”
M scowled at him. “Don’t you lecture me. They said you would have been washed out to sea. Very difficult to find the body. It’s your fault for skulking about on an island, playing around and drinking yourself into a mess rather than calling me. I should have fired you.”
“You had your chance. I know I failed those tests. Had to wonder if the mission was to get Silva or to eradicate me.”
“Don’t be absurd.”
“How am I being absurd? You lied to me. Why?”
“Because even at your worst you’re still my best. That’s why. Now shut up so I can get some more sleep.”
She tried to curl up as much as she could, shifting away from James.
“How did your husband ever live with you?” asked James light-heartedly.
It wasn’t taken light-heartedly. M was suddenly very alert and sat bolt upright to challenge him. “If you ever so much as allude to my husband again I’ll kill you with my bare hands. I’ve told you again and again, this is my job, James. It bears no relation to my personal relationships, and you’ve no right to judge my character based on my professional conduct.”
“And I’m just your agent.”
M sat back in her seat and faced away from him.
“That’s right,” she said, the slightest tremor in her voice. “Just a pawn in a big game headed by the evil queen of numbers. I honestly couldn’t care less about you.”
James eyed her suspiciously. She quietly cleared her throat, refusing to look at him.
“You’ve gone out of your way for me a great deal, for someone who’s only interested in protocol.”
“Only because you’re my big gun. I am fighting a war and I need good weapons.”
James hit the brakes and swerved into a lay-by, causing M to lurch in her seat a second time.
“What the hell are you doing? Bond! Stop driving like a maniac.”
He turned off the engine and turned on her, forcing her to look him in the eye. “For the record, ma’am, I don’t believe a word of what you just said. You’re just aggressively trying to contradict what Mallory said.”
“What are you talking about?” spat M.
“You’re sentimental about me,” stated James simply.
Her nostrils flared, her eyes reflected his.
“OO7, get this car back on the road this instant or I shall slap you so hard you wake up in the Shetland islands.”
James quietly removed the keys from the ignition without taking his eyes off her.
“I need to pee,” was all he said before deftly exiting the car and disappearing into the dark bushes.