OTA

[quartermaster_q]

Q had managed to remain out of the field for a bit now, confined to his lab and Q branch, quite happily. In fact his world, as a whole, had been delightfully calm. He and Bond had spent the holiday abroad, doing things the office didn't need to know about... And he'd returned to London uncharacteristically chipper.

Today he was at a cafe not far from the office, hiding behind his laptop as usual- However, he seemed slightly less closed off than usual. Where he usually blended into the background, or made a point of not engaging with the world, today.... Today, however, he seemed interested, watching people pass by out the window, and even occasionally glancing up to see who was coming and going in the cafe.

In fact, he was so engaged with the world, that he didn't notice his laptop screen flicker strangely before returning to normal.

Comments

[just_hex]

Hex nodded enthusiastically, not thinking for a second of what Danny would think of it.

"Bang on!" he said. "Id love to apply for that."

[quartermaster_q]

"No need, I'll put a file together and pass it onto the right person. I'd expect a call in the next week," Q said, hoping he was making the right choice. ...Hex was a good man though, someone to trust. He needed more people he could trust at six.

[just_hex]

"You're the best, Q. You've done so much for me. Can I do anything for you?" he asked earnestly.

[quartermaster_q]

Q was silent for a moment, looking down at his hands, then taking a deep breath. His back was to the lone security camera, no chance of lipreading. CCTV outside the window was still pointing at the atm. Laptop was closed, his phone was secure...

"Do you have your cellphone on you?" he asked.

[just_hex]

"Of course," Hex replied and pulled it from his pocket to hand it over. He thought nothing of it at all. Q hadn't even asked for it, and yet he handed it over.

[quartermaster_q]

Q took it and began to tap away, before turning it over and removing the back so he could look inside. After a moment of poking around he removed something, showing it to Hex before dropping it into his almost empty tea cup.

A beat later he was closing it up, rebooting it, and then switching it off.

"That's better. We can speak freely now. Have you noticed anyone following you? Has Danny said anything about people following him? I ask not because I'm worried, but just so I should know if I should be. As far as I'm aware no one is currently interested in him, but I only have so much reach. For all I know, five is still very interested, not to mention other intelligence agencies."

[just_hex]

"I haven't noticed anyone. No. And if he has he hasn't said anything to me. I'd...I'd like to think he'd tell me..." he said, trailing off. He looked into Q's cup and his expression faltered a moment, giving away the fact that he knew there were things Danny didn't tell him. And he didn't ask.

[quartermaster_q]

Q noticed, and he gave Hex a moment to breathe and think before speaking again.

"I am the one person you can trust in regards to Danny Holt," he said calmly. Not 'me and Bond', not 'James and I', just him. Just Q. Bond might bend a bit, but Q felt- Well, empathy, he supposed. Not for Danny himself, but for the situation the young man was in. He worried often about losing Bond to the job- Now more than ever. He felt inclined to do something to ensure Hex didn't have to suffer pain like Danny had- Or Alex, for that matter.

[just_hex]

It took him a moment, but Hex nodded.

"Danny's not well. I mean, of course he's not...but sometimes he goes on benders and he'll say things and I don't know if he means it....if he's serious, or if he's just paranoid. He has good reason to be, but I don't know if it's real," he confessed quietly.

[quartermaster_q]

Q nodded, then made an offer he knew Hex might not like.

"I can keep an eye on him, if you want. ...Or, I could have him detained long enough to get him clean."

[just_hex]

"No. No, no, no...I mean it's kind of you to offer, but no. We'll work it out. Him and me. Against the world," he said just as their tea came back to the table.

[quartermaster_q]

"Alright, that's fine. You do have resources though, don't be afraid to use them should you need them," Q replied.

[just_hex]

He knew Danny would never forgive him if he agreed to have him snatched just to get him clean. He wouldn't even entertain the idea.

Still, he said, "Thank you, Q," and then he set about sugaring his tea.

[quartermaster_q]

Q nodded, leaving it at that. It was an offer, nothing more, Q wouldn't pressure Hex.

"You're living with him now, correct?" he asked, even though he obviously already knew.

[just_hex]

"I am. His mate Scotty, erm, died. He left Danny his house and his, well, everything. I left Jenna at Spencer's and moved in with Danny and it's been brilliant. Christmas was brilliant. The only downside is that it's a bit of a longer walk to the tube stop nearest," he said.

[quartermaster_q]

"It's somewhat secluded," Q said, pointing out what he saw as a flaw. Secluded was only good when you were off the map. Danny and Hex, however, very much were not.

[just_hex]

"It is," Hex nodded. He watched Q for a moment, then followed with, "That's...bad?"

[quartermaster_q]

"It gives quite the advantage to anyone watching you. No nearby neighbours, less cctv..." Q pointed out, not nagging, just stating facts.

[just_hex]

Hex nodded as he listened. He could see Q's point. He'd known it all along, really. He'd known it even when Scotty had been alive.

The waitress brought him his sandwich and he offered her another smile, but it didn't touch his eyes. It was just reflex.

He looked back to Q.

"I'm sure you have a suggestion?" he asked as he picked up his food.

[quartermaster_q]

"Security cameras. Something hidden. I can assist in setting up something secure," Q replied.

[just_hex]

"I think I could get Danny on board for that," he said with a nod. "I've got money, still. It's drying up a bit since I haven't been making videos..."

[quartermaster_q]

"If you get the job at six, you can pay me back," Q said, his own subtle way of saying he'd foot the bill.

[just_hex]

"You're so kind to me, Q. I don't know what I ever did to earn you. You're a real mate, yeah?" he replied softly.

[quartermaster_q]

Q shrugged, not wanting to seem too soft or touched by Hex's words.

[just_hex]

The lack of a reply didn't bother him and he was too busy devouring his sandwich to say anything else. It was three large bites before he took a sip of his tea to wash it all down.

"So tell me about your wedding," he said, turning away from security and Danny in general.