A/N: This is part 2 of the Monster Within story. If you haven't ready Part 1 or the Interlude, then you might want to read them first. This like part 1 is finished but will be posted one chapter a week. I hope you enjoy.

Steve sat in the chair next to Peggy's bed. It was hard seeing her like this. She was weak; her time spent out of the hospital bed was getting shorter and shorter.

"You should be proud of yourself, Peggy," Steve said looking at the pictures of her large family. She kept them close keeping them on her nightstand. Their names were written under all their faces.

"I have lived a life. My only regret is that you didn't get to live yours." She said following his gaze. "What is it?" She asked seeing the slight frown on his face.

"For as long as I can remember I just wanted to do what was right. I guess I'm not quite sure what that is anymore. And I thought I could throw myself back in and follow orders. It's just not the same." Peggy laughed at that.

"You're always so dramatic. Look you saved the world. We rather mucked it up." Steve smiled at her.

"You didn't, knowing that you helped found S.H.I.E.L.D. is half the reason I stay." She grabbed his hand. He had to be careful; her hand was so fragile. He didn't want to hurt her with his powerful grip.

"Hey, the world has changed, and none of us can go back. All we can do is our best. And sometimes the best that we can do is to start over…" She started to cough, and Steve handed her a glass of water.

"Peggy." He said getting her attention.

"Steve." She whispered out.

"Yeah," He leaned in closer, so he could hear her.

"You're alive," Steve had to fight back the pain that filled him at her words. "You came back." She had again forgotten that he had returned.

"Yeah, Peggy." He whispered out trying to calm her down.

"It's been so long." She said through tears. Steve's heart tightened at the words. He had left her when he went down in that plane.

"Well, I couldn't leave my best girl. Not when she owes me a dance." He said holding back his own emotions. There was a knock on the door. Looking up Steve saw the nurse motioning at her watch. Visitation time was over, and he had to leave. Taking Peggy's hand in his, he kissed it then quietly left the room. Hoping that the next time he saw her, she would remember but knowing she probably wouldn't. So, Steve would continue to wait for the right dance partner. He had lost the one he had planned on when this nightmare started.

Jennifer sat in the pilot seat of the Quinjet doing her best to stay focused. The team was talking in the back about what they need to free the hostages. It had been a long week of testing before she was told she was going on this mission. Rumlow grabbed her shoulder causing her to shift slightly hitting an alarm. She quickly shut it off checking to make sure everything was alright. Steve turned at the sudden commotion she had caused.

"Jennifer, I didn't pick you for this mission for the fun of it. We just needed a last-minute pilot. Now focus and let the rest of us do our jobs." Jennifer glanced back at Steve and Rumlow.

"Keep your men from distracting men, and it won't be a problem." She growled out at him, not liking his tone. Steve shook his head and walked back over to talk to Natasha. This was the first mission Steve had let Jennifer be a member of his team. To be honest, he didn't really have a choice. Jennifer knew that Steve was stressed. He had gone to see Peggy before the mission. It was hard to think of her having dementia. She had gotten to know Jennifer over the years. This because Jennifer was a victim of the pursuit of the serum. She had once explained to Jennifer that part of her wished that can of worms had never been opened. The invention of it led to others trying to recreate it. Jennifer had done what she could when she first saw the change in Peggy. However, it wasn't her area of study and had to leave it to another doctor. Jennifer visited her on occasion in real life and by other means. It was hard because of her condition, but it seemed to help her a little. Unfortunately, the last time she tried to visit Peggy she grew very agitated, and her doctor asked Jennifer not to come back.

The signal on the screen showed that they were nearing their destination.

"You do anything fun Saturday night?" Natasha asked Steve causing Jennifer to roll her eyes. Natasha had told her what her plan was. Jennifer didn't think she was going to start so soon.

"Well, all the guys from my barbershop quartet are dead, so no, not really." Steve shot back at her.

"Coming up on the drop zone Captain," Jennifer called trying to rescue him from Natasha medaling.

"You know, if you asked Kristen out, from statistics, she would probably say yes," Natasha said enacting her plan.

"That's why I don't ask." Steve deflected preparing to jump.

"Too shy, or too scared?" Natasha called not letting him off that easily.

"Too busy." He called just as he made the jump.

Jennifer waited for the team to land on the deck before she passed the controls off to the copilot. She prepared to jump on another part of the ship away from the rest of the team. So, they wouldn't see her leaving the plane.

"Cap won't be happy about this." He called out to her before she jumped.

"Yeah, but he is never happy when it comes to me," Jennifer said jumping out. She like Steve had no shoot. She plummeted toward the deck of the ship turning her eyes black. Right before she hit the deck, she blinked herself out of the world. In an instant, she flashed back in landing on the deck with a thud. She tried to stand up, but her head was pounding. Jennifer rolled to her side slowly getting up. She had to steady herself with the railing taking a small step forward. It had been Fury's idea that she could blink herself out and in for the drop. She had spent most of her testing this week trying to get the timing down. It had worked, but the pounding headache made her wonder how well. Jennifer shook her head; she had to get to the engine room. She was to meet Natasha there. Natasha had another mission to complete and couldn't waste her time clearing the engine room. Jennifer made her way across the ship as quickly as she could. It was hard as one of the orders was to go unseen. She slipped up behind a man with a gun who was about to spot Steve. He was clearing the lower part of the ship. She stabbed the man in the lung lowering him to the ground to lessen the noise. Ducking into the engine room, she started taking out the men. Natasha was overhead doing the same, but she needed to get to the computer system. Fury wanted her to get some information about the ship unknown by the team. Jennifer knocked out two more men, then call up to Natasha.

"You go on. I've got this you need to complete the mission." Natasha nodded and left the room leaving Jennifer to take on the rest of the men.

"Natasha, what's your status?" Steve called over the comes. "Statius Natasha?" She switched over and asked Jennifer on their personal channel.

"Hang on." Jennifer spun around and knocked out the last guy. "Okay" Natasha switched back the main com channel and told Steve.

"Engine room secure." Jennifer walks to the entrance to watch for enemies. She could hear the countdown that Steve was giving in her ear and did her best to stay focused. Fury had told her that she would be going on the mission after she perfected the drop. As far as everyone thought she was here to be a pilot nothing else. Jennifer had to get back on the plane before anyone saw her.

"Natasha, Batroc's on the move. Circle back to Rumlow and protect the hostages. Natasha." Steve called over the coms. Jennifer sucked in a breath. She was close to them than Natasha. Jennifer could go help, but that could compromise the mission. She slammed her hand on the wall running in the direction Steve indicated. Natasha would have a cow if she could see her, but Jennifer couldn't risk any hostages getting hurt. She ran around the corner and slammed into Batroc. He pressed her hard up against the wall. Clamping his hand hard on her mouth. She pulled her left knee up hitting him in the chest. While shooting him with a quick burst of pain. Causing Batroc to loosen his grip for a second. Jennifer uses the opportunity to shove him off her and pull out her knife.

"I was sent by a friend project insight," He said in French. Jennifer stared at him for a second before he backhanded. She hit her head knocking her out cold.

Jennifer felt someone shaking her gently. She slowly opened her eyes and was greeted by Natasha bending over her. Natasha held her finger in front of the lips signaling for her to be quiet. She had soot all over her face, but when Jennifer opened her mouth to ask if she was alright, Natasha stopped her.

"Steve is checking in with Rumlow you need to get to the jet before he sees you," Natasha said, Jennifer stood up and sucked in a deep breath when the world started to spin slightly. "Are you Ok" Natasha grabbed her arm to help steady her.

"Yeah." Jennifer shook her head and made her way to the jet. It had landed on the far side to ship. Steve was standing on the ramp. He spotted her come around the corner, and she could see his ears turning red. Accepting her fate, Jennifer slowed her pace and walked up to him.

"Cap." She said giving her best smile.

"Next time follow orders, or I won't pick you for a mission." He said folding his arms across his chest.

"As if you had a choice. My orders came from higher up than you." She shot back causing his left eye to twitch.

"Get on the jet someone can look at your head." Jennifer lifted her hand to her head and pulled back when she felt warm blood on her fingers.

"It will probably scar anyways. Don't worry I won't fly home." She said heading up the ramp.