Nothing about James Bond belongs to me. I am merely borrowing the characters. :)

This is yet another idea I had during work and it wouldn't leave me alone until I wrote it. And it has turned into more than a one-shot once again. I don't seem to be able to write one-shots very well, lol. I hope you all enjoy it!

Despite their age differences, Q and 007 got along rather well, much better after the new Quartermaster helped with the Silva situation. There is a trust and a connection there. They even became tentative friends. And at first it even seemed like Q was happy, he always came into the office with a small smile on his face, pleasant to his employees, with a quick wit and comeback for every one of Bond's quips. He didn't exactly strive to leave early, but he didn't make excuses to stay either. His easy attitude meant that while he kept himself a bit distant from most, he made friends with Eve and Bond, even if the friendship - which is more like a truce - is more tentative with the mysterious 007.

Unfortunately nothing lasts forever, and two months after the young man is promoted to Quartermaster of MI6, the mission load gets a little heavier, and more demands are put on Q's time after they somewhat recovered from the loss of the old M, and settling into some of their new accommodations, though some renovations are still going on. Q starts to seem less happy in the morning, and one day he comes in before any of his staff, and no one sees him out of his office until noon, even if they know that he's inside because his lights are on but the glass is opaque. That usually indicates that Q is working on something sensitive and doesn't want to be disturbed, or he is working on a project. When he finally emerges, he looks tired, and a little distraught but no one questions him. Everyone has tough times afterall and none of them are on a good enough terms to think they can pry into their Quartermaster's life. Once they stop seeing him come in, in the morning, or leave at night, they start to get worried.

Q's second in command, R - a bright young man who knows how to make a lovely cup of tea, looks good in a suit and knows his computers - takes the initiative. Bond is out on a mission so he approaches Eve with his concerns about his Quartermaster, asking her not as a subordinate about his boss, but asking Eve as a person concerned about another person. He doesn't consider himself Q's friend, but he does care about his boss' well being. And maybe he has the tiniest bit of a crush on him, but that would be unprofessional, so he never lets even an inkling of his unprofessional admiration shine through.

Hearing all of this from R and knowing that the younger man would not approach her if it isn't worrying, she reassures him that she will go down and talk to him. And so she does, picking up some of his favorite danishes from the shop down the road on her way in, and bringing one of the frothy mocha latte's she notices he occasionally treats himself to. Her code overrides his door and she slips in, smiling at the young man behind the desk. Luckily not many people are in this early, and it worries her a little that Q is, since he never was before. "Good morning." She says as she puts the take away cup and the paper bag down in front of him. A small glance around the office has her concerned one she sees a box of tissues that wasn't there before, and the tired, somewhat depressed look of the young man in front of her. Everything clicks together and she sighs, face shifting to a more sympathetic expression. "Oh, Q..." She says softly, before perching herself at the edge of his desk. "Do you want to talk about it?" She asks in a concerned tone as she continues to watch him.

"Thank you, Eve." Q says almost absently, not looking up at her from his desk, glancing at the pastries with disinterest but he does reach over and pick up the cup, putting both hands around it as if to keep them warm before he takes a tentative drink, letting out a little sigh. "Bloody spies." He mutters, though it's surprisingly good-natured. "Do I want to know how you knew about this?" He asks as he indicates the cup. Knowing he needs to eat something, Q finally reaches into the bag and pulls out one of the danishes, picking little bits off of it and eating them slowly even if his stomach churns a little at the food.

Realizing that he is not going to get out of this 'meeting' without talking, Q runs a hand through his already messy hair and sighs, staring at the danish as he continues to eat it. "I was.. dating someone, did you know that?" he asks, glancing up at even for a few moments. "Well.. I was living with him, as well. I was so glad when he wasn't considered a security threat when I started working here at MI6." He says softly as he gives Eve a little glance, then focuses back on his food, it's easier to talk when he doesn't have to look at her. Taking a slow, deep breath, Q is rather proud of himself when his voice doesn't break. "A week ago, I went home earlier than usual, I was happy that I would be able to surprise him. And there he was.. with someone else. In our bloody bed. I didn't see it coming at all. I kicked him and his little rent boy out, packed up my things, very narrowly decided not to burn the flat down, and moved out that night. I do admit to calling for an MI6 driver to help me get my things out of the flat. I spoke to M about it so he could take it out of my pay, I didn't have any other way to securely move my things." He explains, then he shakes his head a little. "I.. thought things were going well. But who was I kidding? Things never go well for me for long." He says as he lifts the cup to his lips again to take a drink of the sweet coffee, staring at it and trying not to look as pathetic as he feels right now. He takes a slow, deep breath. "I'm sorry, Eve. You can assure M that my personal problems will not affect my work." He says as he finishes a pastry and then sets the plate aside so he can get to his keyboard, trying to go back to his coding problem.

Sighing a little, sadly, Eve puts a hand on Q's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Q. It's hard, maintaining a relationship and still working here. But he sounds like a bloody sod and you're too good for him anyway. Have you found a place to stay?" She asks, a little worried about the young man who has been through so much and yet didn't think to talk about it to anyone, he's just been taking the burden on himself.

With a vague motion, Q indicates the two suitcases that are sitting back by the wall, previously unnoticed. "Everything else is in storage. I've been staying here, sleeping on my couch, using the showers. Perhaps I should have checked into a hotel, but I have too much to do, I haven't been able to be bothered. Perhaps I'll merely continue living like Bond, out of my suitcase without a place to call home, it would keep me from having to look for a new one." he says with a little laugh, but there's no humor in it. A heavy sigh follows as he picks out the other danish, his stomach now making him realize that yes, he is very hungry, thank you very much, and when was the last time he ate, anyway? He can't seem to remember.

"No. You absolutely will not." Eve says firmly, not about to let the young man start living a life like that, or become so incredibly jaded because of one jerk. "You know, 007 should be back from his mission today. Maybe you two can go look at flats together. Since you both need one, and despite appearances, I think he will be quite sympathetic if you told him." Eve smiles, putting a hand on the young man's shoulder and giving it a squeeze. "Give me a call when you're ready for lunch, alright? My treat." She says before she leans over and kisses the top of his head, seeing Q very much like a younger brother she never had. She also mentally resolves to make the cheating boyfriend's life a living hell once she finds out exactly who it is. Leaving the younger man to his work, Eve returns to her desk, and already starts pulling up listings of 'approved' flats and houses in the area, figuring that she should at least get a list together for the two of them and set up some appointments so that they can't back out of it. What Q needs is a few days off and something to distract himself, and this sounds like just the thing. Plus she knows that M will insist Bond take a week off after this last mission, minimum. It will be good for the both of them, she decides.

Q spends the night in his office again, using the showers in the locker rooms to at least get himself cleaned up and presentable, taking the time to drop some laundry off at the cleaner's before he returns with a large tea and a few pastries. He did manage lunch yesterday with Eve, but he forgot about dinner so he became quite hungry this morning. The memory of yesterday's danishes went a long way to convince him to stop by and pick up a few more. They're sugary, and fatty, and no one questions it or even tells him how unhealthy they are because the minions all agree that their boss needs to gain some weight. When he gets back to his office, it's to find a certain double-oh stretched out on his couch, a box on his desk. "Good morning, 007." he says calmly as he goes and puts everything down on his desk, and opens the box Bond brought his things back in, sighing a little. "Sometimes, Bond, I wonder if you are trying to deliberately blow my budget." He says as he looks at the broken bits of the equipment.

Making a small sound and then slowly sitting up, Bond looks over at Q, still looking impeccable in a crisp gray suit, a few scratches showing on his face but otherwise seeming to be relatively uninjured. "My dear Quartermaster, I made extra sure to come back uninjured, isn't that enough? Your equipment was an unfortunate sacrifice to that goal." He says as he walks over, invading Q's personal space a little as he perches on the edge of the desk, one leg resting on top and the other lightly bracing itself on the floor.

A small sigh is given, and Q slides one hand under his glasses as he rubs his eyes. "I am glad to see you back uninjured, Bond. For once. However, I would appreciate if you could do both." He says quietly in a rare moment of honesty before he lowers his hand, scratching his cheek before he sits down in his chair.

And now Bond knows that something is wrong, because Q is honest and doesn't have a witty comeback or some snide comment to make. A small frown crosses his face, and he sighs. "Eve tells me she arranged for us to look at some flats." He says quietly as he looks at Q, trying to lighten the mood a little. "M approves, so I'm afraid there's no getting out of it." he says casually as he looks over at the desk of the younger man, noticing all the little differences from the last time he was in there, starting to formulate a hypothesis about what happened, and the conclusion makes him frown briefly.

Knowing that there's no getting out of it, and that he cannot even use work as an excuse since R is more than capable and it has been inordinately slow recently, Q sighs a little, and he nods, holding a tablet out to him. "This is the list of houses and flats she has arranged for us to go look at. I have no bloody idea why we have to go alone, but the agents are all expecting us both. I quite got the impression that if we did not show up together, Eve would know about it. From the sound of what you just said, that would get both of us into trouble with M. How unfortunate." He says before he adds, "I imagine you'll want to drive, and I have at least a few hours' work that I want to get done before we go. Please go occupy yourself until then." He says wearily, making a dismissive wave with one hand.

Smirking a little while accepting the tablet, James nods a little. "I'll just wait over here, then and peruse our choices." He says as he walks back over to the couch and puts his feet up on the coffee table before starting to flick through the list that Eve provided them with. A part of him is intensely curious about the young Quartermaster. Knowing that he is more than capable from having Q in his ear on missions, 007 is nonetheless curious about the young boffin. He is very young, and very mysterious. They have banter and if he's not mistaken, a little flirtation over the comm, but it's so hard to tell. Normally he can tell if someone is interested in him, but the only flirting that ever seems to happen is when Bond is halfway around the world with only the posh, precise voice in his ear.

For a few moments, the agent allows himself to look at the young man with his tousled hair, cardigans and slim pants. Q is intelligent, competent, normally with a sharp with that keeps Bond on his toes. Never one to judge a person based on their gender, James has to admit that he is intrigued physically about the slim man as well. He is, however, more than content with a friendship with him, or whatever it is that has formed between them in the last few months. Finally, he turns his attention back to the tablet, pushing those thoughts back for another time. At least this will allow him to know a little bit more about the boffin, even if it's just about the places he likes to live.