I own nothing.
x-X-x
Peggy sighed to herself as she turned over in bed again. She tried once more to go to sleep but rest was proving impossible. It would have been easy to blame the trouble on the hotel bed, but that wasn't it. She couldn't blame the TV either, she had turned the volume down but continued to watch the images of the astronauts on the moon. Turning on the lights she pulled herself out of bed and slipped her floral robe. It wasn't her favorite, but it was one she didn't mind when traveling. Hotel rooms were always so blissfully cold.
She knew what she wanted… needed to do…
"I'd like to make a long distance call." She told the operator. Peggy would never explain why she knew the number by heart, but she did. It was a long shot that he would still be in his office, but she just had a feeling.
"Nan, I told you I would be working late tonight!" Came his clipped tone from the other end of the line.
"Ted?" Peggy managed after a few moments of silence.
"Peggy?" He stammered, pulling his legs down from the desk so he could sit up straight. The curtains were still open, the lights from the street shining through, the only other glow came from the television. His bottle of vodka and pitcher of juice sat empty on the corner of his desk. "Hi."
"Hi."
"What… uh… hi."
"Hi." She laughed softly.
They both fell into silence, simply acknowledging that they were listening to each other breathing.
"It's something else, isn't it?" Peggy finally spoke.
"Yeah. You're watching?" He asked, glancing back at the television.
"Yes. We're at the hotel… presentation tomorrow."
"Right. Are you ready?"
"No. Don just decided that I should be the one to do it, I haven't been able to get back to sleep since."
"You'll be fine." He said weakly. "Brilliant, like you always are under pressure... Stop biting your lip."
"How did you-?"
"I just know."
"What the hell were you doing with Sunkist?" She demanded suddenly.
"Wha—what do you mean?"
"Ted, you turned off the engine mid-air and pointed out areas perfect for burning wreckage."
"I'm tired, Peggy." He sighed pitifully, his shoulders sinking despite the odd sense of comfort that came from speaking to Peggy.
"Tired? Or suicidal?"
"I'm not suicidal I just… I don't know. I want to feel something again."
"Can't feel anything if you're dead. Except stupid for doing something so… stupid."
"You really do need some sleep."
"Ted!"
"Would you care?"
"What?"
"If I did do something so stupid, would you care?" He asked timidly.
"Yes." She answered quickly. "I've spent the last year trying to pretend that I don't care. But... Ted, we can't get into this right now."
"I miss you." He whispered.
"I miss you too." She managed, trying hard to keep her tears at bay. "I have to go."
"Peggy—"
"We'll talk later. Just promise me you won't do anything else stupid."
"Okay… I promise. Knock 'em dead tomorrow."
"Be alive tomorrow." She pleaded.
"Yes."