AN: Dedicated to kkbeatlesfan. This work was written as a challenge set to the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack. Each chapter begins with a song lyric (whatever was playing at the moment I randomly turned the volume on) and is the same length as the song, e.g. 3:27 means 327 words, not counting titles or time/date information.
Come and Get Your Love (3:27)
Los Angeles
February 1947
"What's the matter with ya?" Jack Thompson pulls his arm away from the nurse with a yelp. "I have been pricked, prodded, and poked enough. I got a chest wound; my arm is fine."
"You damn well near died from that chest wound. Let her give you whatever injections you need. That's an order," a crisp voice demands from the doorway.
He looks up with a pained grin as the nurse leaves. "Aw, if it isn't Agent Carter. Taking some of that vacation time to visit lil ol' me? Marge, I'm touched."
Peggy Carter crosses her arms and huffs impatiently. "Chief Thompson. We were hoping you would at least get out of this city before bringing another catastrophe down on us."
Jack chuckles. "I tried. Figured out who shot me yet?"
She sighs. "We were hoping you could tell us. Daniel hasn't found anything. Half the SSR is looking though."
His eyes narrow. "Daniel?"
Peggy rolls her eyes. "Yes, Daniel."
"You're stayin' for him, aren't ya?"
"For the weather, actually."
"Sure, sweetheart."
She bristles. "I'll have you know—"
He waves off her complaints. "You'll be good for each other."
Peggy smiles. "I don't expect much to come of it. He's headed to New York."
"Why?" Jack asks in surprise.
"Someone needs to fill in for you, Chief."
"No they do not!" He attempts to sit up and groans.
She's giving him that no-nonsense look again, and he can't help but groan in frustration.
"It wasn't my decision."
"Damn. Shoulda known he was after my job. Went out here too easy."
She leans against the door and snorts. "I would like to think he had at least one important reason to stay here. He's not the ambitious one."
Jack rolls his eyes. "We're all ambitious. That's why were in this business. Even you, Carter. Don't flatter yourself. That desk may as well be a ladder, straight to the top, and even Sousa's not that big a fool."