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Jul. 1st, 2023 07:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
0_0_7There was a sharp crack of gunfire that made the comm squeal in Q branch. The Double-0 in the field grunted, then began to pant, and continued making familiar sounds of effort as he ran full bore.
"Report," M barked in his ear.
"He ran," Bond replied, as if that should be obvious.
"Can you catch him?"
There was no answer. For a few tense moments there was only measured breathing, Bond's rhythm driving him on. On Q's screen, the small dot that indicated the agent moved north, then northwest, then vanished entirely in the middle of an intersection.
"I'm in the sewer," he said simply.
The announcement gave Q time to find him.
A moment later, there was an explosion and the comm cut out entirely.
M looked at Tanner and Q, Moneypenny...only looked at Q.
"Get me satellite," Tanner barked at Q's underling and a moment later there was an image of a smoking crater where Bond's signal had been. The smartblood monitor blinked OFFLINE. That didn't mean dead, but it certainly wasn't good.
"Bond?" M said. "Report."
Silence.
"Double-0-Seven, report," M repeated.
Silence.
"Keep the comm open," M finally said, then stalked out of the room.
"Report," M barked in his ear.
"He ran," Bond replied, as if that should be obvious.
"Can you catch him?"
There was no answer. For a few tense moments there was only measured breathing, Bond's rhythm driving him on. On Q's screen, the small dot that indicated the agent moved north, then northwest, then vanished entirely in the middle of an intersection.
"I'm in the sewer," he said simply.
The announcement gave Q time to find him.
A moment later, there was an explosion and the comm cut out entirely.
M looked at Tanner and Q, Moneypenny...only looked at Q.
"Get me satellite," Tanner barked at Q's underling and a moment later there was an image of a smoking crater where Bond's signal had been. The smartblood monitor blinked OFFLINE. That didn't mean dead, but it certainly wasn't good.
"Bond?" M said. "Report."
Silence.
"Double-0-Seven, report," M repeated.
Silence.
"Keep the comm open," M finally said, then stalked out of the room.
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Date: 2023-07-07 02:40 am (UTC)"Eve was offering to stay in your place," Q said. "Don't see why we should all be miserable though."
Eve gave him a look, as if to say she knew Q just wanted more time with Bond
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Date: 2023-07-07 03:59 am (UTC)"I'm certainly not driving home now," he protested petulantly. "I was going to put on my pyjamas and call it an early night..."
Moneypenny gave him a pointed look.
"It's more trouble than it's worth. I'll stay, and tomorrow we'll get Q a detail when we figure out who may have done this. It's perfectly fine," he assured her.
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Date: 2023-07-07 12:00 pm (UTC)Q had a sneaking suspicion Bond was going to find a way to be his detail.
"It's fine, you know he won't sleep anyway," Q said, rolling his eyes a little. "I, however, really need the rest."
Eve softened a bit at that. "Let me bring in the last of what I got and I'll get out of your way. Go to bed Q, I'll feed the cats and set up their litter before I go."
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Date: 2023-07-08 12:34 am (UTC)"Let me slip on some sweats and I'll carry something," Bond offered, wandering to the bedroom intended for the Detail.
Moneypenny looked at Q.
"I'd lock my door, if I were you," she told him, then went to collect what she'd brought.
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Date: 2023-07-08 12:49 am (UTC)Q sighed, watching her go, then going to James, who was getting dressed.
"How are you going to convince M that you should be my security detail then?" he asked. "I assume that's the plan after all."
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Date: 2023-07-08 01:06 am (UTC)"Why would I be your detail, Q? I'm sure M would rather I look into who attacked the Quartermaster," he said.
In fact, when M put him on Q's detail, as he indeed intended, he'd be sure to protest.
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Date: 2023-07-08 01:13 am (UTC)Q raised a brow, then turned when Eve returned with the cat beds and the litter, moving to help her set it all up. Beta and Glitch were all over her right away, purring and rubbing against her legs.
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Date: 2023-07-08 01:42 am (UTC)Bond carried his assigned load and then offered Moneypenny tea and nibbles, but soon enough she bid them both goodbye, gave Q a knowing look, and left.
Bond yawned when he locked the door, securing them for the night.
"You'll be set for a bit," he said. "Until we can get to the bottom of what's going on..."
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Date: 2023-07-08 01:47 am (UTC)"Hopefully by tomorrow we'll at least know what caused the explosion, that's a start. ... Right now I just want to go to bed," Q admitted.
Glitch and beta were inspecting their new beds, but eventually both climbed into one, curling up together. It was enough to draw a small smile from Q.
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Date: 2023-07-08 02:04 am (UTC)He let Q enjoy the moment for a few before putting out the light.
"They have the right idea," he said. "Let's do that, too..."
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Date: 2023-07-08 02:12 am (UTC)Q nodded catching Bond's hand with his own and tugging him into the bedroom.
"I do feel safer with you here," he admitted.
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Date: 2023-07-08 02:19 am (UTC)"I'm glad of that," he said, moving to settle in bed first while Q took of his glasses and such. He made sure he left just enough room for the Quartermaster to fit in against him.
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Date: 2023-07-08 02:22 am (UTC)Q settled right into place, as though he lived there, as though it was simply his place.
"I love you, James," he said softly.
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Date: 2023-07-08 02:25 am (UTC)"I love you, too," he promised softly.
And that much was true. Whatever other madness drove him to extremes, he did love Q. Beyond reason.
"Sleep," he whispered, then kissed him softly.
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Date: 2023-07-08 06:03 am (UTC)The next morning, things felt relatively normal. He fed his cats, washed his hair, headed into the office... In Q branch Tanner already knew what was going on, debriefing him about what they'd found back at his home. He told him that they'd managed to salvage some things, his safe, some personal items... Oh, and they'd found the source of the bomb.
Not an accident then, definitely planted. ...And Mallory wanted to speak with him.
It had been an hour now in M's office, and there were two theories currently driving the investigation. It was either an enemy of the crown, or someone from Q's past. Either way, he was to have a security detail back at the safe house. M had tried to push for a full time detail, but Q had pushed back, insisting he couldn't live or work like that.
M's favorite suspect was another hacker from his past, a man with a record that included things like arson. A man who'd ended up serving some of the time Q hadn't. It made sense, honestly, and Q promised to remain on his toes until the man was caught.
"Who's my detail then?" Q asked.
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Date: 2023-07-08 09:27 pm (UTC)The door opened and Bond walked in. He carried a folder like he might use it to behead M.
"Bond," M said, both an answer and a greeting.
Bond didn't even look at Q.
"Babysitting?" he asked sharply.
"Protection," M answered.
Bond huffed, quietly put out.
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Date: 2023-07-08 09:50 pm (UTC)"A double-o seems a bit unnecessary," Q said, glancing at James, then back at Mallory. "Williams isn't on assignment."
Mallory gave him a look, and Q went silent. "Bond will be accompanying you to and from work, and remaining with you at the safe house until further notice."
Q hesitated, then dared to speak up again. "What if I have errands to run, or..."
"Well then we get to see how James reacts to being inside a Tesco," Mallory said flatly.
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Date: 2023-07-08 10:01 pm (UTC)Bond looked genuinely upset.
"You think I've never done the shopping, M?" he said, despite the fact that his bank statement said he had a standing order that was delivered next-day.
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Date: 2023-07-08 10:03 pm (UTC)M simply returned to his work. "You're both dismissed."
Q left the moment M said the word, trying to ignore the look Eve was giving them both.
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Date: 2023-07-08 10:07 pm (UTC)Q walked away and Bond opened his mouth to protest, only to be shut down and dismissed.
He caught up with Q at the lift.
"We'll make the best of it," he assured him, knowing well they were being recorded.
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Date: 2023-07-08 10:25 pm (UTC)Q, for his part, looking like he was having a bit of a crisis- Which wasn't an act. They both knew he wasn't very good at that.
When he did finally speak, all he said was, "I need to get back to my office."
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Date: 2023-07-08 10:30 pm (UTC)"I'll meet you to escort you home," he said. "Don't worry, Q. I'm not as bad as you've heard."
His smile said otherwise.
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Date: 2023-07-08 10:38 pm (UTC)Q looked him over a little, then nodded.
"I'll see you later, double-o seven."
The lift opened, and Q nodded politely before heading off to his office, where Tanner was already lingering in the hall ready to meet him, no doubt to discuss the tests they'd run the day before on the new quick acting poison Q had helped develop.