Q

[0_0_7]

His first leg of China had been warm. He'd landed in Hong Kong and had enjoyed the warm air, but soon enough he got to work and the weather wa the last thing on his mind. He'd broken into the facility without incident but before he could complete the mission half the Chinese army, it seemed, came down on him. Caught red-handed all Britain could do was disavow knowledge and leave Bond to his fate.

Bu M was a better man than that and three days later Bond was being covertly traded. The double o was in much worse shape than the man he was traded for. They did try to clean the blood off on the plane and by the time he landed in medical Bond had been triaged and was being examined.

M made the call to not tell Q right away even though he knew the boffin was going out of his mind waiting. Bond needed to be examined and debriefed and when they had some answers it was Moneypenny who came to Q to break the news.

"You've got to understand, Q...this may be the end of him. He may not come back from this. It's his mind, you see..."

Comments

[quartermaster_q]

"If you like- But I think we both know you'll not be able to let this go," Q said with a soft smile.

[0_0_7]

Bond sighed. "No. No, I can't. But how will I know if I'm memorizing iles or if I'm getting actual memory back? This is something I've never done- to my knowledge- so I'm in the dark."

[quartermaster_q]

"I don't know- Perhaps you ought to see someone. A doctor, I mean- One you could trust. Perhaps we could invite Hannibal out here to see you," Q suggested quietly.

[0_0_7]

"I'd trust him," Bond nodded. "And I think that might help. Yes...yes, let's do that. Can you contact him?"

[quartermaster_q]

"No, I'll secure the line, but you should reach out to him- I think it might do you some good to take a bit of control back," Q said honestly.

[0_0_7]

"I'll do it," Bond promised. HIs boots crunched in the snow, but then he stopped altogether and looked around. Up. Behind them. And when he was sure it was just the two of them and the birds he pulled Q in. He kissed him lightly, but more importantly he embraced him and held him close.

"I love you."

[quartermaster_q]

"I love you too, James," Q assured him quietly, his embrace mindful and tender.

"You'll tell me if you get tired, wont you? I don't want you wearing yourself out," he said, and though it might have sounded like a request, it was definitely an order.

[0_0_7]

"If I was intent on wearing myself out, it wouldn't be out here in the cold," he murmured, smiling to himself before ghosting a kiss against Q's cheek. There was the smart charm he'd been lacking for days- proof he was beginning to feel more like himself in spite of everything.

[quartermaster_q]

"Oh, planing on saving some of that energy for the bedroom?" Q teased gently, flashing a smile and stealing another kiss.

[0_0_7]

"I might be," he replied, and may as well have answered a resounding yes. But he was in no rush and the walk through the woods and then back to the cottage was leisurely.

[quartermaster_q]

Q was content to wander, Bond's hand in his as they made their way through the woods. Soon enough they were heading back into the cottage though, where Oberon had settled in near the fire, in hopes that a fresh one would be lit.

"Are you cold, handsome?" Q asked the cat, letting go of Bond's hand and moving to put a fresh log on.

[0_0_7]

Bond went to the kitchen area and opened a cupboard, hoping a bottle of good scotch would appear. Instead, he took a glass and poured some water, then swallowed a pain pill. Oberon was quite content to be treated like royalty and Bond watched Q with warm affection.

"Have you ever thought of children?" he asked.

[quartermaster_q]

"I haven't," Q admitted, putting the fire guard back in place once the fire was lit. "Well, not seriously anyway. I've never been in a place in my life where it seemed plausible."

[0_0_7]

"Watching you with that cat, I wondered," he chuckled. "You'd be quite a father, I'm sure."

And then he let that drop and turned on the kettle to brew fresh tea to chase away the chill.

"I need some news. Get on your secure connection and tell me what's going on in the bloody world..."

[quartermaster_q]

"No. We're going to lay in bed, sip our tea, and enjoy the fire," Q replied, shaking his head. "That's an order, double-o seven."

[0_0_7]

Bond growled in frustration, then huffed a sigh.

"Alright," he grumbled, but the lack of contact really was beginning to wear on him. He was no good at being on holiday when it came right down to it.

[quartermaster_q]

"Don't sound so grumpy, I intend to help you relax," Q laughed quietly.

[0_0_7]

"I'm relaxed. I'm so bloody relaxed," he sighed. Bond set about making tea and then reached back to rub his back. He'd stopped pissing blood but his kidneys were still sore, still bruised. He was so impatient- he hated being gentle with himself.

[quartermaster_q]

"Oh, I can tell, double-o seven," Q said flatly, moving to help Bond with the tea. "So very relaxed, clearly."

[0_0_7]

"I want to do something, Q. I want to do something and my body isn't ready. And there's no telly or scotch so my usual avenues aren't around, either. And I'm sure I'm driving you mad," he said apologetically.

[quartermaster_q]

Q moved to stand behind Bond, gently rubbing the other man's shoulders, then pressing a kiss to the back of the other man's neck

"You're not," he promised. "If you want telly, I'll get you telly, alright? But you're right, you're in no fit state to be doing much of anything. If you were, you'd have shagged me up against the wall by now," he teased gently.

"Finish making your tea, I'll set up a monitor with a news feed for you, alright?"

[0_0_7]

Bond turned and caught Q before he could get away and he pulled the man close. He didn't really care about tea or telly. His fingers moved lightly over Q's wrist, the thin skin over the delicate bones was so alluring.

"Maybe the wall is a bit ambitious," he said. "Maybe we should take the tea to bed, hmm?"

Not as smooth as usual but the painkillers were kicking in so he wasn't completely himself.

[quartermaster_q]

"I was joking," Q said gently. "You're not strong enough for that- At least, I don't believe you are, and the medication makes you a little- Well, you know."

He pulled away then, looking away, not wanting Bond to see how much it hurt- Not just to turn him down, but to deny himself what he wanted. He craved Bond- But not like this. Not so broken and lost. It was selfish, Q knew it was, but he didn't want it to be like this, drugged and weak. What he craved was their passion- Their fire.

"I'll sort that telly out."

[0_0_7]

Bond was crestfallen but he was in no shape to push anything on Q. He sorted out the tea and by the time Q had the telly figured out Bond was well under the influence of the painkillers. No passion, no fire, only the softly blurred edges of the world and no pain. He sat down on the sofa and settled into the corner.

It wasn't a full ten minutes before he was asleep.