Alternative No Time to Die ending (happy ending)
Alternative No Time to Die ending in which the nanobots were programmed for Q, but Bond survives and Q-branch takes care of them.
Because James Bond doesn't die and we know that; Q could have done something to deactivate those nanobots and we are completely sure about it.
Also, we needed to do something with that Bond / Madeleine thing (sorry for the ones who like them).
Green rated (just a bloody long work).
Bond didn't expect to see white as the first thing his eyes caught when he woke up; he had always expected hell to be dark and cold (because there was no place in heaven for him), but in that moment he felt rather relaxed and warm.
His body wasn't actually responding to his commands (not that he expected to still have a body after what had happened) and his limbs felt dizzy and slow, as if he had been frozen in time.
He gained the sense of his body gradually, in what felt like hours to him but what probably less than a minute.
The situation became even stranger as he realised to be lying over a soft surface, something light and gentle caressing his hand. It was then that Bond saw the person sitting on a chair next to the bed he was resting on: Q looked like he hadn't slept in ages and was looking down on the mattress as he held Bond's hand, struggling to keep his eyes open.
He was alive, Bond realised with an enormous and frightening confusion.
He wasn't supposed to be alive, and Q wasn't supposed to touch his hand.
In instinct, Bond tried to pull his hand away from Q's, giving a low groan in discomfort at the realisation that he couldn't move as fast as he had planned to. Damn the morphine.
He saw Q freezing at the small flinch his hand gave and actually tried to talk as the quartermaster gave the agent a tired and relieved smile.
Despite his huge effort, all that came came out of Bond's mouth at first was a soundless gasp, words not forming.
At the second attempt, Bond was becoming restless, startled by not being able to communicate with Q.
- Hey, there's no need to panic: you're in the hospital - Q tried to reassure him, but Bond's concern was a totally different one.
- You... don't touch my hand - the agent managed, aware of how weak his voice sounded.
The small smile Q gave should have reassured Bond that everything was alright, however he moved away as the quartermaster reached for his cheek.
- It's deactivated, it does no harm - Q explained softly and Bond gave a relieved breath.
Q knew about the nanobots, knew they were for him, and Bond would have kissed him right away for saving the situation and being so incredibly smart. Closing his eyes for a few seconds, Bond let himself seek the familiar coldness of the quartermaster's hand, giving a content sound as he felt him caressing his cheek.
- I'm okay. You are okay - Q whispered, tracing circles all over Bond's cheek.
Trying to take a better look at Q, he attempted to sit up or at least get into a better position, but froze when Q got immediately alert.
- Don't move! You broke your back! - he warned him and Bond stopped moving immediately.
With a loud puff, he went back staring at the ceiling, but actually reached for Q's hand.
- And you're missing a leg - the quartermaster muttered, getting the agent's attention immediately.
- I'm missing a leg?! - Bond asked, more surprised and startled than he had ever thought he would have been.
Q nodded and grumbled in affirmation, resting his free hand where Bond's right leg should have been.
- Yeah, it was... badly damaged - Q explained.
Blinking a few times as he observed Q's hand sink in the in the blanket with an uncomfortable expression, Bond closed his eyes at the realisation that there actually was no sign of his right leg.
- We're planning on a prothesis - Q said and the agent recognised his attempt in making him feeling better.
- How am I even here? - Bond asked as he opened his eyes, keeping his confusion and nervousness from getting his voice harsh.
- You never took a direct hit: the building collapsed below you...you were saved by the rubble - Q explained, looking down again as he did so.
Bond did not answer, conscious about how lucky he had been (for umpteenth time) and was likely running out of said luck.
- The nanobots could be deactivated - Q muttered, playing with Bond's fingers.
- Why didn't you tell me? - the agent asked, knowing by how the quartermaster raised his eyes that he had definitely said the wrong thing.
- Maybe because I didn't know. Do you think I would have let you get yourself killed? - Q snapped raising his voice.
Bond immediately regretted saying those words in the moment he saw the tears in Q's eyes, tears that he was desperately trying to hold back; Q was tired, stressed and had probably been too worried recently.
He should have never made him feel accused like that.
- Come here - Bond said gently, using that bit of mobility he had gained to try and draw Q closer.
The quartermaster didn't protest, lowering himself next to Bond and only hesitated in the moment the agent wrapped his arms around him; not worrying for his own broken back, Bond got Q to lay on the hospital bed with him, the younger man immediately relaxing with a shaking sigh.
- I'm sorry: it wasn't your fault at all - Bond whispered, feeling Q shudder in his arms.
- M knew about it - the quartermaster muttered, his voice breaking at the end of the sentence.
Bond gave a displeased groan.
- He thought you would have died even if he had told us - Q continued.
By that moment Bond was boiling in rage: M going without mentioning said detail and Q suffering because of the consequence of it were enough for him to develope a murderous sentiment towards his boss; however, Q was more important than that in that moment, he was more important than anything else.
He would have dealt with M in a second moment.
- He was wrong: I'm here and I'm not leaving - Bond assured Q, running his fingers in his curls (he had had the chance to learn how much Q liked that).
- Don't make a promise you can't keep - Q groaned and sniffed, but didn't move.
- I'm serious - Bond replied.
- What about Madeleine? - Q asked then, and Bond had to admit to have been caught off of guard.
- ... I'll talk to her - the agent decided, to which Q have a hum, not sounding convinced.
Bond didn't force the argument any further and was about to ask Q when was the last time he had slept (even thought he knew the answer) when somebody knocked at the door.
The quartermaster immediately pulled away, back on his feet, and Bond damned his lack of strength when Q slid away so easily.
The door opened slowly and Madeleine entered the room, Mathilde in her arms. Bond didn't miss Q's sharp sigh, immediately turning to look at him and realising he couldn't reached for his hand.
- I'll leave you. Get better soon, Bond - Q quickly said, turning to leave immediately.
- Q - Bond called, but the quartermaster didn't listen.
- Q! - Bond tried again, but the quartermaster had already left.
- He's not going to wait for you in eternity -
Time had passed and Bond was struggling with the prothesis, but he still had not talked with Madeleine. It wasn't easy, he had found out, every time he had tried to bring up the argument something had stopped him.
- He has waited far too long -
Bond puffed at Moneypenny, knowing that she was utterly right.
- You need to talk with Madeleine - Eve said, to which Bond stopped walking (in his umpteenth attempt to learn how to walk on his new leg).
- It's not a nice argument - he replied.
- Just be honest - Moneypenny grumbled.
- And what should I say? "Look, I've been fucking my quartermaster and was too naive to admit that I had loved him even before you and me met"? - Bond snapped.
- Yes, actually - Moneypenny answered, to which Bond gave an annoyed look.
The woman grumbled loudly.
- Simply tell her that you misunderstood your feelings for her - Moneypenny said.
- And how do I explain what happened with Q? - Bond asked.
- She's probably already noticed - Eve replied with a shrug.
Bond gave a grumble in agreement, sitting down on a near chair with a puff.
- But I don't want to leave Mathilde - he admitted and found Moneypenny looking at him with a soft smile.
- You don't have to - she replied and Bond stayed silent, looking down.
- Just talk to her - Moneypenny said.
Bond gave an absent nod, already feeling too anxious about that. He had never been good with words.
He took the chance the next time Madeleine came to pay a visit, and luckily Mathilde wasn't with her.
- We need to talk - Bond told her, suddenly serious.
- I think so too - Madeleine agreed and surprised the agent with that statement.
Bond desperately searched for the right words, not knowing where to start; there were lots of thing he could have said: tell her he didn't love her as he had thought, admit what had happened with Q, beg for her to not get mad (probably the worst choice of words ever); there was so much he could have said.
- How long have you two been having an affair? - Madeleine suddenly asked, which caused Bond to stiff on the bed he was sitting on.
But she wasn't mad nor accusing him of cheating, the agent noticed thanks to a scan of her expression and posture. Indeed, she was more relaxed than him, almost resigned.
- Since I came back to London - Bond admitted.
Madeleine didn't answer, probably expecting some words from him. And so did Bond: he expected himself to talk, but no coherent thought was forming.
- Listen... it's just that, this...I'm sorry: it's not working, between you and me - he eventually managed, to which Madeleine nodded.
- It's evident: I don't trust you and you don't trust me. At least not as we should - she agreed.
Bond sighed, mentally thanking Madeleine for being better with words than; she had always been better at articulating thoughts.
- Could we try and he friends? - Bond asked her carefully.
- Yes, that's a good idea - Madeleine answered, smiling slightly.
Bond returned the smile and reached for her hand, caressing the soft skin of her palm.
- I'm sorry, for everything - he muttered, eyes locked on her hand.
- I forgive you. You're not a bad man - Madeleine murmured, returning the gentle caresses.
Bond found himself smiling thankfully, knowing that (even if she didn't trusted him) Madeleine for sure understood him.
- Can I ask you one last thing? - the agent questioned, his heartbeat raising in anxiety.
- Yes, but don't forget to breathe in the meantime - Madeleine said and chuckled.
Bond actually smiled at that, still focused on her hand.
- Can I still be Mathilde's dad? - he eventually asked, afraid.
Madeleine didn't answer right away, and that was scaring Bond more than anything he had ever faced so far. She looked out of the window for a moment, not a single reaction from her, nothing that Bond could read to anticipate the answer.
- She likes you. I think we could manage that - Madeleine decided.
- But do you want to? - Bond asked and Madeleine nodded.
- Yes, I've got nothing against it - she assured him with a smile.
- You're an angel - Bond immediately told her, not being able to help his bright smile when he leaned to give Madeleine a thankful hug.
She accepted the affection, stiffing in surprise before relaxing as she returned the hug.
- You'll be happy with him - she said, after they had parted.
- You think so? - Bond asked.
That was something he had hoped himself: to be finally happy with someone. Every time, it either ended up horribly or didn't turn out to be what Bond had thought; he had hoped to be finally at peace with Q and would have done anything for it to turn out right.
He just hoped that his effort would have been enough.
- I see how you look at him. You're relaxed around him - Madeleine answered and Bond could do nothing but nod.
Bond went to Q's house as soon as he was allowed out of the hospital.
His walk was still sloppy but he managed it with a good amount of insistence and nervousness (because there was nothing worse than not being able to walk properly).
It took him five minutes to rang the bell when he got to Q's house, five minutes in which he stared at the door with short breath, completely motionless.
- Nice to see you again, Bond - was Q's greeting, together with one of his sharp smiles.
- May I come in? - the agent asked and stepped inside when Q moved to the side.
The house was still as tidy as he had left it, not a single thing had been moved, nothing had changed aside Q's mood: he looked defensive, alert, as if expecting to be attacked by Bond.
- Your things are still here, if you'd like to collect them and take them away - the quartermaster eventually broke the silence.
- I don't need to - Bond answered, getting more and more nervous since the discussion had been started.
- Then, enlighten me about your intentions, because I'm not a mind reader - Q snapped, crossing his arms to his chest.
Bond sighed, measuring his words carefully.
- I talked with Madeleine - he started.
Q seemed to relax gradually, listening to Bond with his full attention.
- And...we agreed on the fact that it wasn't working - he explained and Q nodded.
- So, you two are over? - the quartermaster asked.
- Officially - Bond affirmed.
He tried to read Q, noticing how he seemed to dwell on the agent's words with a thoughtful expression that didn't make Bond feel better at all.
- How do you know it's going to work? - Q asked, his voice low and relaxed, not defensive anymore.
Bond remained silent as the quartermaster exposed a weak side of the situation, something that the agent himself had wondered.
Could he be sure? He had lingered on said question for days and some answers had come to him, enough to give him a little bit of the confidence he seemed to have lost together with his right leg.
- It took me years to acknowledge that I was in love with you. It was different from other times, I didn't recognise the feeling - Bond started, feeling Q's gaze locked on him.
- Let me get this straight: you've been in love with me for years? - Q asked.
- Since the Gallery - Bond answered, to which Q pinched the bridge of his nose.
- And you didn't realise? - the quartermaster asked.
Bond shook his head in shame, knowing how ridiculous it sounded but knowing he had to be completely honest with Q.
- You left Madeleine, because you actually weren't in love with her - Q said, searching for a confirmation from Bond.
- It wasn't going to work: I didn't love her enough to trust her - Bond affirmed.
Q seemed to think about and then nodded slowly, sighing and letting his guard fall.
- I feel safe with you, I know I can always count on you. I trust you with my life - Bond continued.
- I'd be an horrible quartermaster otherwise - Q chuckled, influencing Bond in laughter.
- I'm sorry I made you feel like a replacement. It wasn't really like that - the agent said, reached for Q's cheeks, cupping his face in his hands.
- It hurt, James - Q muttered and Bond's heart gave a painful beat.
- It hurt when you left, when you went back to her...when you acted as if nothing had ever happened - Q continued, his voice sounding as painful as what he was feeling.
Bond claimed Q into his arms as he couldn't stand watching his hurt expression a second more, sighing happily at the feeling of finally holding his thin figure in his arms after a long time. The quartermaster wrapped his arms tightly around Bond's neck, resting his head on his shoulder.
- I didn't know how you felt about it - the agent explained, aware of the fact that it wasn't a good excuse.
- I felt great. It felt great to finally have you - Q whispered, caressing the short hair on Bond's neck.
- I really want this to work - Bond murmured.
- I really want it too - Q whispered in return, giving a heavy sigh before he spoke again - Are you really sure this is what you want? - he asked.
Bond understood that question, having had a past of disastrous romances made such a doubt totally legit; he couldn't blame Q, he didn't trust himself with it either.
- Yes, Quinny: this is what I want - he affirmed, pulling away the necessary to place a kiss on Q's forehead - I want you, your cats, your horrible cardigans... - Bond continued, smiling happily once Q laughed.
- James Bond, you're a disaster of a man - Q said with a smile and Bond could do nothing to complain.
Cupping Q's face in his hands again, Bond leaned to kiss him, losing himself in the feeling of those soft and thin lips that he had missed so much. It was a gentle kiss, despite how both of them were hungry for it, it was a kiss full of apologies, full of "I've missed you"; it was the most real emotion that Bond had ever felt, and he wanted all of it.
It was like coming back to life and now something finally made sense in his existence, at last there was something he couldn't doubt.
Q was the first to pull back, both of them gasping for air but smiling happily at eachother. Bond adjusted Q's glasses, which went askew in the kiss, gently pinching his nose and laughing as Q chuckled.
- I think there's something you need to know - Bond told him.
- Oh, my: what did you do this time? - Q asked, the smile fading.
- Nothing you don't already know - Bond chuckled.
- I am co-parenting, with Madeleine. You obviously had to know, because it might happen that I take Mathilde over - Bond explained and didn't expect the excited smile that came in response.
- Really? - Q asked, looking far too pleased with it.
- You're happy? - Bond asked, surprised.
- Yes, I adore your daughter - Q answered.
Bond leaned to kiss Q's cheek with a bright smile, giving him a gentle squeeze in his arms.
- I'm glad you seem to be okay with it - he said.
- I'm totally okay with it - Q assured him.
They stayed like that, trapped in eachother's arms, not having any intention to break the contact any soon; for the first time, Bond was at ease with himself, nothing would have brought him to leave that wonderful man ever again.
He really had all the time in the world.
