The day was fairly chilly for early September. The sun was hidden behind thick clouds and a fairly noticeable wind was blowing around the whole city. For Lieutenant Peggy Carter, however, that was not the most important thing right now. She and her team were standing next to their armored van, discussing the best possible avenues of approach.
The call came in at 10:30 AM. A robbery gone sour on a gas station outside town. One possible casualty, three armed robbers and at least five hostages. Peggy and Captain Dooley both guessed it was supposed to be a simple snatch and grab, but now it evolved into a full-fledged siege. Civilian lives were at risk. And that is why she was here.
"The plan is simple, gents." she cleared her throat and spoke. "Me and Dugan enter through the deliveries and clear the back offices. Sousa and you, Thompson, stack up on the service entry to the shop and wait for my signal. Barton is already set up" - she pointed at a roof of a house behind them. They could see the barrel of the standard issue Remington 700 peeking out "... and will provide overwatch and survey the main hall. Understood?"
The three men nodded in acceptance. They worked together long enough to know that Peggy did not put up with nonsense or dumb questions, especially during pre-breach briefings. In the station, banter was allowed in moderation. Now there was no time for joking around.
"Good.", she responded, "Comms on Channel 4 for the whole team. Check weapons and ammo, we move in one mike" she added, brass checking both her MP-5 and her Glock, putting the sidearm back in the hip holster. She looked around and the men followed suit with their equipment. Their faces and body language spoke for them – they were focused, ready to follow orders, and maybe a bit thrilled. They have all seen combat in one way or another, and over two years of service in her team also hardened them.
"All ready? Let's move." she ordered with a commanding tone. They quickly formed their pairs – Peggy and Dugan, Thompson and Sousa. The team quickly moved behind all the parked police cruisers that marked the perimeter border. Soon, they split – Thompson and Sousa set up before the side door to the main shop, while Peggy and Dugan continued their advance towards the delivery area. Both with weapons raised, checking every corner, ready for everything.
"Entry Team, this is Hawkeye, over" sounded the radio. Peggy let out a quiet sigh, hearing the code name Barton came up with recently. While fitting, it still sounded dumb to her. She signaled Dugan to ready up to open the delivery door. He moved up and checked the lock. After that, he gave her a thumbs up. Unlocked.
"Hawkeye, this is Entry Team, report, over." she responded, now crouching with her left knee touching the cold concrete.
"This is Hawkeye. I see three suspects in the main hall. One AK-47, one shotgun, one Uzi. No visible body armor. At least three hostages, over."
"Damn", Peggy said to herself. For some gas station robbers they sure were armed to the teeth. She quickly regained composure and responded.
"Entry Team to Hawkeye. Understood, await further instructions, out."
She nodded at Dugan and quickly joined him. He opened the door and immediately jumped to the left. She followed suit, checking the right. Empty.
"Room clear", whispered Dugan.
"Move up", she retorted "the back offices are right behind that door."
"Roger that", he said, quickly marching up to another door. For a few second they stood still, listening. They heard a faint moan coming from behind the wall. That one possible casualty, most likely. She nodded at Dugan, and he opened the door, moving to the left. She, again, checked the right. She then saw the source of the moan. There was a woman sitting on the floor in the office corner. The shirt she was wearing was bloodied, and Peggy saw at least two bullet wounds – one in the shoulder, the second one in the chest, just under the right breast. She quickly pressed the send button on her radio and reported.
"TOC, this is Entry Team. We have a wounded civilian in the back office. Two gunshot wounds to the arm and chest. Notify the EMTs, over."
"This is TOC. Roger that. Out", Dooley's voice coming in a bit more distorted than she was used to.
The woman raised her head. Peggy met her gaze. It was filled with pain, suffering and sadness. She heard the faint moans and wheezing in her voice. She quickly put her hand on her healthy shoulder and whispered reassuringly.
"Shhh, don't worry. You will be OK. Just hang on..."
Suddenly, she heard a loud noise from the shop up front. Not good. She immediately radioed Barton.
"Entry Team to Hawkeye, what is going on, over?"
"This is Hawkeye. A suspect just fired a shotgun into the ceiling. Don't know why. Over"
"Roger that. Prepare to take him down on my mark. Sousa, Thompson, prepare to breach, flash and clear on my mark. Over and out."
"This is Sousa. Roger, out"
"Thompson, Roger, out."
"This is Hawkeye. Roger, out."
"Move up, Dugan" she said, with a tone that could kill were it weaponized. "Breach, flash and clear on my mark".
"Yes ma'am" he answered. She rolled her eyes, but lead the way to the door. Dugan took the spot to the right, his shotgun already aiming at the hinges. Peggy crouched behind him and pulled a flashbang from her vest. She reached for the send button.
"Prepare to execute on my mark"
"Three"
"Two"
"One"
"MARK!" she shouted, louder than she was expecting to. Then, things seemed to go into slow motion.
First, she heard a loud crack and the sound of shattering glass. This was followed by a thud and a cry of pain. Tango down, she thought to herself. Then, she heard an explosion coming from the right side. Thompson and Sousa. And finally, she saw Dugan shooting the upper door hinge. She quickly pulled the pin from the flashbang and threw it just as her squad mate kicked the door down. The grenade streaked through the air before hitting one of the Mountain Dew bottles on the shelf and falling lower. Then, she heard two loud explosions. It was time.
"Move, move, move!" she exclaimed, darting through the door and immediately turning left. She saw Sousa and Thompson enter to her right, guns up and ready to fire, shouting as loud as they possibly could.
"NYPD, drop your weapon and hit the floor!" she shouted at the closer assailant, the one with the AK. He was still blinded and possibly deafened, his gun pointing at the floor. She quickly ran up to him and kicked him in the hand, forcing him to drop the weapon. Then, she tackled him with a combination of a kick to the knee and a twist of his arm. The next thing she heard was her radio.
"TOC to entry team, what's your status, over."
She sighed quietly and returned to her suspect. Soon, both his twisted arms were joined behind his back with simple plastic cuffs. Raising her head she saw Thompson securing the second suspect, while Sousa checked on the one shot by Barton. She reached for the button.
"Entry team to TOC. All suspects neutralized. Hostages accounted for. All clear, over."
"TOC to Entry Team. Roger. Out."
"Dugan, get the hostages out of here. Sousa, what's the status on the perp?" she said with a sense of urgency, her voice calm and collected. Dugan nodded and began to lead some of the civilians through the front door.
"Doesn't look to good" she heard Sousa's voice, filled with uncertainty "but I still think he can make it. Get the EMTs in here." The last part said through the radio.
"Just another day at the office, isn't it, Marge?", she heard Thompson, imagining the smirk on his face.
"You have no idea." she fired back, smirking herself. "All right boys, pack up. Our job is done here."
The ride back to the precinct was rather uneventful. As everybody unwinded, some jokes were cracked, as well as some shoulders were nudged, but outside of that everyone felt relieved and proud of their job today. The Captain ordered them to return and wait for him in his office, as he wrapped up the field work. After changing from their tactical gear, the whole team proceeded as ordered, settling back in the chairs of Captain's office.
"Hey, Barton." asked Dugan, "Have any plans for the evening?"
"Why you asking?" he answered with an interested look on his face.
"I'm going for a drink with some of the patrol guys, so I was thinking..."
"Thanks for the offer, but Laura wanted to go to the cinema today with the kids and I already got the tickets."
"OK then." retorted Dugan, with resignation in his voice "And you guys?"
"I have a date tonight, so not really." answered Thompson.
"A date?" Peggy chimed in "What girl in her right mind would want to date someone like you?"
"My guess is I just got lucky." he said, with a hint of sarcasm and smugness in his voice. Peggy smirked, but did not continue.
"I'm busy with the new furniture, so not really." said Sousa.
"And you, Pegs?"
She looked at him coldly. Dugan gulped. I think I understand that whole "gaze at the abyss" thing right now, he thought to himself.
"Firstly, you do know my feelings about that nickname." she answered, her voice lowered and her accent even more pronounced "Secondly, do you even remember what day it is tomorrow? I thought everyone knows what I want to do then."
He quickly looked at his watch and then it clicked.
"Yeah, I'm sorry." he apologized "Simply forgot to check. It won't happen again."
"I surely hope so, Sergeant Dugan." she retorted, heavily accenting the last two words.
Their conversation was then interrupted by the doors opening. They all quickly stood up as the Captain walked in.
"At ease", he said in a friendly tone.
They all quickly sat back down as the Captain summed up the whole odeal. Two suspects were in custody, one in the hospital, in a critical state. All six hostages were rescued, the wounded one also being transported to a hospital in a stable condition. He congratulated them on a job well done and then dismissed them home. Peggy was given the task of preparing a full action report for next week. She groaned quietly, but she knew someone had to feed the bureaucracy monster.
As she walked out of the precinct, already in her civilian clothes – sneakers, jeans and a coat over her T-Shirt, that also concealed her gun and badge she had attached to the trouser belt – Peggy suddenly felt really tired. Her small flat was not too far from the station, but she had a sudden craving for a coffee, preferably with some snack to boot. She walked down the street, exchanging a few hellos with other officers. After a few more meters, she saw a café on the other end of the street – the L&L. She heard good opinions about it in the station and the fact that it was right on her way home helped too. She crossed the street and entered the establishment, sitting down in one of the booths. It was only 2 PM at that time, so she managed to get in just after lunch break. This meant that the café was fairly empty. She was flipping through the snack menu when she heard a very friendly sounding voice.
"Welcome to the L&L. How can I help?"
Peggy looked up and saw the waitress standing over her, smiling. She was of medium height, with brown, curly hair and full, blue eyes. Peggy suddenly felt more relaxed as weird warmth spread through her.
"I'll have a coffee and a BLT, please." she answered, smiling herself now.
"OK, no problem." the waitress answered, "Nice accent, by the way. English, am I right?"
"Yes, London, to be exact." Peggy said, looking at the name tag at the same time. Angie. She thought. Will have to remember that.
"Never been there, sadly, plane ticket prices and all that" Angie answered, "but I'd love to see the West End and all that... OK, let me just get you your stuff, English, and then we might talk a bit more"
"Sure", Peggy answered, prompting the waitress to move back to the bar. Did she just call me "English"? Soon, she returned, coffee in one hand and a plate in the other. She placed them in front of Peggy and then slid into the cushion opposite her.
"So, what does a cutie like you do here?" Angie asked, curiosity beaming from her. "Tourist? Work?"
Instead of answering, Peggy grabbed the right side of the coat and pulled it back slightly. Angie looked and then gasped, noticing the holster and the badge.
"I'm so sorry, Officer..."
"Just call me Peggy, Angie." she said, smiling "And I'm after hours, so don't worry, I won't be arresting no one." she smirked at her.
"A cop with a sense of humor? That's a rare treat." Angie answered "But since we now know you're an Officer, what do you do exactly?"
"Not much" answered Peggy. Why am I lying? "Mostly paperwork. I'm more a desk jockey than a street cop". She stopped, thinking. Why did I just say that? It's not like I'm with the CIA and have to lie to people about what I actually do...
"English?" she suddenly heard "Everything OK?"
"Yes, I'm just a bit tired. Long shift and all that." she answered, quickly regaining composure. "And do you do something else than just work here?"
"Well," Angie began, with a sigh "outside of shifts here it's mostly auditions, casting calls and all that. I just work here to pay the bills. You know, girl's gotta eat."
"I can bet you will land something big soon." Peggy said, confident.
"Yesterday, I had an audition. They threw me out after two bars." she said, with a hint of anger behind her voice. "I know I have talent. It's just those fatheads being deaf and blind, I guess."
"That's why I'm saying you will be successful. I'm sure of it". Peggy saw Angie smile again.
"Hey, miss!" a loud voice rolled through the café "You work here or what?", a man said, snapping his fingers at Angie.
Angie rolled her eyes and stood up. "Duty calls." she said, with a sigh.
"Sorry for distracting you." Peggy apologized quickly. Angie looked her in the eyes and then put her finger in front of her lips
"Shut up, English, you talk too much.", she smirked and then turned to face the jerk customer. Peggy herself cracked a half-smile, taking a sip from the mug and a bite out of the sandwich. Soon, a few more people came in, so Angie was busy again. Peggy finished her meal, drank the coffee and paid, leaving a fairly generous tip. Then she stood up and left, crossing the gaze with Angie as she walked out. She saw her smile and then wave her hand. She smiled back and exited the café. Back on the street, she turned towards her apartment.
On the way, she thought about the whole day. Suddenly, her thoughts drifted back to that fuzzy feeling she felt when she saw Angie. It was quite refreshing and nice at the same time, as she hadn't felt that for a long time. Not since...
Steve.
And then Bucky.
"Oh God."
She said quietly to herself as she reached for the key to her apartment. She quickly opened the door, entered the flat and put the keys on the kitchen counter. She locked the door and then sat on the couch in the living room. She sighed deeply, suddenly feeling a single tear traveling down her cheek. She wiped it off and moved to the kitchen, keeping her emotions in check. She reemerged a few moments later with an open bottle of beer. She took a large gulp before cracking a look at her phone. She focused on the date.
September 10th 2014
13 years pass tomorrow.
13 years from the moment my world fell apart.
A/N - My first ever stab at fan fiction. Reviews, suggestions and constructive criticism more than welcome. I intend to make this a multi-part affair and not just a one-shot with a cliffhanger.
The main change from the established universe is that Sousa is not disabled here. He is still a war veteran, though (background of the whole team will be explored later).