As it turns out, Moneypenny's estimation was a little bit off. R doesn't get to return to work for nearly four months. Most of that time spent holed up in his flat or with his doctors as he got some physical therapy to be able to not have a limp when he starts being able to walk on his leg again. He still does a lot of work from home, working on programs or schematics. Emails are sent back and forth between him and his employees and once a week or so someone comes by with papers and proposals for him to look over.

He's not entirely alone though. Moneypenny visits frequently, there is an elevator in his building so he is able to leave, and a few others from Q-branch come to visit the young man while he's out of action. He manages to hear second hand and a week late about what happens with the Casino Royale incident and Vesper. R's heart goes out to Bond when he hears about everything, but he keeps to himself, not reaching out to the agent. He wanted to keep things professional, so the only thing he does is ream out a few of the techs when he hears about the defibrillator's wire coming off. How they could allow such a design flaw when it could have cost an agent's life, is beyond him.

And after that, he hears about Quantum of Solace events after the mission is completed, as well as the attack on M. That prompts him to start working on a better program to do background checks on their agents and employees. There must have been something suspicious that people should have seen, or so R thinks. He is mostly frustrated with being at home, by this point, knowing that he could have assisted MI6 much better if he had been behind a computer in Q-branch helping with the mission rather than sitting on his butt. The only real advantage that he can see to this whole situation is that he has gotten a little more muscular over the past few months. He's not defined or buff by any means, but he has had little else to do and the exercises are supposed to be good for his leg. Things like swimming, which has allowed him to keep his svelte form.

While he is glad to hear that Bond caught the person responsible for Vesper's death, R remains unsure what to say about it, if anything. Even though they did agree to a professional relationship, he feels he should at least say something when R reads the mission report for that. Grabbing his phone a week after they caught Yusef Kabira, the young man decides to go with something a little more cheeky, and very much like him.

Congratulations on your recent successes. Haven't seen an inventory. I hope you're returning your equipment in one piece. -R

Putting his phone aside, R gets up from his couch to hobble to the kitchen in order to get himself some more tea and grunting a bit as he realizes he's out of tea in general, and ran out of the good type Bond bought him a while ago. Looks like he's going to be going to the shops later.

By the time he returns with a small tray holding his mug, the glass teapot Bond gave him, and a few biscuits, R can see the light flashing on his phone indicating that he has a message.

I brought most of it back. -B

R can't help but chuckle a little, both at the abbreviation of his last name and because of the agent's obviously evasive reply.

In one piece? -R

Won't lie to you. Your minions are not as patient as you. -B

Yes, I learned infinite patience, especially for overbearing, overgrown children known as double-ohs. -R

Possibly everything but children. Not a child. -B

R takes a deep breath as he reads the screen, surprised at how fast the agent can text, but perhaps that really shouldn't be as surprising as it really is. That was a bit of a jab, calling Bond an overgrown child, because it wasn't really true and now he wonders sadly if the older man was ever really allowed to be a child. With what he knows of the agent – which is still very little – he had some tragedy when he was younger that forced him to grow up much faster than any child should. Something that he can certainly relate to.

Glancing back up at Bond's previous message, he arches an eyebrow for a moment. "Minions?" He asks out loud because it surprises him so much, and so he forms another text.

Minions? The employees of Q-branch are not Minions. -R

Not normally. They are rabidly loyal. Won't let anyone take your position, even temporarily. -B

Well, that's rather sweet of them but unnecessary. Was reassured by M that my position is being held. -R

Doesn't matter. You could tell them to do anything. They would. -B

Interesting. Thank you for the information. -R

Hope to see you back soon. -B

Not to worry. Another few weeks and I will be making your life miserable again. -R

Glad to hear it. I'll make sure to have something suitable prepared for your return. -B

Staring at his phone for a few moments, R decides that he's not really sure how to take that and spends a little time chewing his lip as he tries to figure it out, but he finally shakes his head and put his phone aside when a group of emails come through that he has to deal with. It's nothing world ending that he has to deal with right away, but he knows how quickly these things can build up so wants to get through them when he can.

The next time his phone goes off, R recognizes the number and picks it up. "Good afternoon, Miss Moneypenny. I hope you're not calling with any emergencies." He notes, putting his phone between his head and shoulder as he tries to finish up an email that he was in the middle of.

"No, nothing like that." Eve reassures. "Just wanted to see how you were doing. A bit bored over here, so wanted to chat. Things are fairly quiet for once. At least for us lower agents." She jokes a little with some amusement in her tone.

"I am sure that is an exaggeration, Moneypenny, I would hardly consider you a lower agent." R reassures, though he is a little distracted as he finishes up his email, finally taking the phone back in his hand and giving his friend his full attention.

"Yeah, yeah. So when are you coming back, then?" Eve asks with some eagerness to her tone.

"A few more weeks, I think. It all depends on how I do at my evaluation next week. They want to make sure that I can stand and that there isn't any more pain. Which I told them there's not. I'm climbing the bloody walls." R grumbles a little as he glances around his flat for a few moments, already know there are a few things he wants to rearrange though he never spent enough time there to find out how inconvenient it was, before.

"Well, be sure to follow their directions or you might be off even longer. It'll be alright. If you want, I'll come 'round tonight, and we can watch some tellie or something." Eve offers with a bit of amusement. "There's a new movie that's come out I think you'll like. It's got that actor you like in it."

Feeling himself blush a little, R clears his throat slightly. "I don't know what you're talking about. But some company would be nice. I'll order take away." He offers as he glances around his apartment. "Come round at 5. And bring the movie, we'll see how well you think you know me." he says with some amusement as he gets up and limps over to the kitchen to start himself some more tea, smiling a little as he looks at the pot that Bond gave him, which has gotten heavy use over the last few months.

"Yeah, sure you don't. Alright, I'll see you at 5. Order pizza, with those garlic knots I love. I'll bring wine." Eve says with a little smile. "Take care. Ta."

R sighs, shaking his head as he looks at his phone after he hangs up before he goes about cleaning some of his flat, thinking about Eve and his conversation with Bond. It may have just been texting, but it was intriguing nonetheless.

Abrupt ending, but I needed to move on and I've been working over the last few paragraphs for like a week. I need to get R back in the game with the flirting and the hot agents. :D Hope you enjoy it!

Reviews/Comments welcome!