"Hmmmmm," sighed Daniel as he he gently held Peggy's head so this her lips were tantalisingly close to his.
"Hmmm yourself," laughed Peggy as she softly placed her lips against Daniels.
"What time is it?" Daniel groaned as Peggy gently nestled her head into the crook of his strong neck. The movement of her hair against his bare chest tickled Daniel, but he didn't move. Instead he remained in the exact position they were in; determined to enjoy every moment that he could with Peggy in his arms.
"Almost 7.30," Peggy purred as she stared at the alarm clock that she was certain would ring to life in mere moments.
"How long have we got?" Daniel said as he moved slightly in the bed; just enough so that he could see her perfect face staring up at him. He smiled a little as Peggy looked away somewhat; for a woman who was so incredibly strong, she was more self-conscious than she would ever let anyone know. Nonetheless he smiled, for in the space of just one day, he had experienced something that he had given up hope of ever experiencing. He knew that he was in love with Peggy and had been for quite some time. When she was in New York and he was in LA it had become easier for him to move on; to pretend that he didn't think of her every moment of every day. But the second that he saw her standing in his office, all of those feelings had come flooding back; it was almost like he had had amnesia for months but seeing her made all of his memories and all of his feelings came flooding back.
"Probably about two minutes," Peggy said, as she smiled back at Daniel. His hair was tousled slightly; not the usual combed style she had grown accustomed to. He looked handsome.
"Two minutes? Oh well then.." Daniel said but before he finished the sentence, Peggy had pulled him close to her. As their lips met, Peggy closed her eyes and enjoyed his soft kiss. Every touch of his hand, every graze of his lip made Peggy feel something incredible. Daniel saw and liked her for what she was; in fact he saw things in her that even Peggy didn't see in herself. When the two lost contact after Daniel's move, Peggy felt genuinely sad; loathe as she was to admit it. While Peggy was exceptional at her job, she did not have friends, nor did people respect her; Daniel gave her that. He made her feel important and valued for simply being her; something only her work had done before. She may not have realised it all those months ago, but she did now; she couldn't let him leave. Not again.
"Come on Peg, you're killin' me here!" Daniel faux complained as he begrudgingly pulled away from her embrace.
"Sorry! Go, get to work," Peggy said as she jokingly pushed him out of bed. Peggy couldn't help but watch as a very handsome Daniel stood up and began to put on his suit.
"Eh!" Daniel joked as he caught Peggy watching him. He mimicked Peggy's signature finger twist; an action that achieved quite the giggle.
"I don't think so Chief!" Peggy giggled as she sat too got up out of her bed and covered herself with a robe.
"So you get a peak and I don't? Hows that fair Miss Carter?" Daniel said as he flirtatiously placed his hands tightly on Peggy's waist.
"I'm afraid so Chief. You have work to do. And you need to leave before Jarvis or Anna see you," Peggy said as she quickly kissed Daniel's lips, grabbed his hand, and pulled him towards the door.
As she opened her door, she carefully peered outside to ensure that the two would not be found out. She knew that both Jarvis and Anna would be incredibly happy that she had decided to stay a little longer, but she had only decided one day ago, and so she had had no time to formulate a plan about what she was going to do about a job let alone about Daniel.
"Alright, coast is clear," Peggy said as she pushed Daniel towards the door.
"Hey Peg-" Daniel had began but he wasn't quite sure what to say. Thank you for last night seemed too crude but bye seemed meaningless. How could you tell someone how truly happy you were without scaring them off; Peggy was a woman so scared of losing something that she would rather isolate herself than have something to lose. Whatever was going to happen between the two of them needed to be at her pace, and Daniel was fine with that; he just didn't want her to feel like he wasn't interested. Nevertheless, he needn't have worried about his lack of vocabulary, for Peggy reassured him with a prolonged, perfect kiss.
"Enjoy your day," she whispered as she held his cheeks in her hands. With that, she stepped back into the bedroom and closed the door; a sign that Daniel took as a hint to leave. Hastily. And so he did. He walked along as quickly as he could, however as he tentatively closed the Jarvis's front door behind him as he left, he realised that he had no ride home; he and Peggy had called a cab from the office. Nevertheless, he knew that if he was seen by either of the Jarvis', Peggy would kill him. Just as he was about to turn around and knock on the Jarvis's door, a tax I cab pulled up into the driveway and rolled down the window.
"Mr Sousa?" The driver asked.
"That's me. Thanks," Daniel said with a chuckle; Peggy really was rather brilliant.
Peggy had neither needed nor wanted a man to give her any validation. She had never relied on anyone else to tell her how to live her life or to make her happy; she did that all on her own. But she couldn't deny that once she decided that she wanted Daniel, she had a huge smile on her face. He was kind, generous and brilliant but more importantly he liked her for being her. He didn't want her to change; he simply wanted her. Peggy heard the gentle hum of the engine of the tax I that she had called when Daniel was sleeping, and smiled to herself that they had got away with it. Peggy didn't have a plan; she just knew that she didn't want everyone to know about her and Daniel. At least not yet. Not until they had had the conversation themselves.
Knock. Knock.
"Miss Carter? May I come in?" said Jarvis.
"Just a second!" replied a very worried Peggy as she quickly scrambled to the bed and quickly wrapped the covers around herself and her nightgown.
"Come in!" she called. Jarvis promptly entered the room with Peggy's breakfast on a tray, and was soon followed by a pale but otherwise healthy Anna.
"Oh! You shouldn't have!" Peggy knew that her friends were delighted that she had decided to stay but this really was quite the surprise.
"Don't be silly. It's not everyday our friend decides to stay with us," Anna said as she joined Peggy at the edge of the bed and gave her friend a hug.
"Thank you, but Anna you should be resting!" Peggy chastised. She had only been discharged from hospital yesterday morning.
"Oh please, I was restricted to that hospital bed for weeks. I have had quite enough rest," Anna assured her.
"Besides, how else would I find out about the reason you decided to stay," Anna teased.
"Now, now Anna, the relationship of Mr Sousa and Miss Carter is none of our business," Jarvis said however the moment that the worlds left his lips, he realised his folly.
"You and Chief Sousa? Finally?" Anna said with such elation that she almost spilled Peggy's tea. The sweet woman was so delighted that her friend had opened herself up to some happiness that all she could do was wrap Peggy in a warm embrace. What Anna didn't see, however, was the very angry look that Peggy shot a very apologetic Jarvis; apparently she and Daniel hadn't quite got away with it.
"Well, its very early days," Peggy began but Anna was much too excited to listen.
"Now you listen to me Peggy Carter. He's a wonderful man and truly perfect for you. You'd be a fool to let him go," Anna said as she gripped Peggy's hand. The two woman stared at one another. Both had known unbearable loss; Anna would have to deal with hers, but Peggy had the chance to find happiness again and Anna couldn't let her throw that away.
"Now, come now Edwin, and allow Peggy eat her breakfast in peace," Anna said. She held her hand out so that Edwin could help her up from the bed, which he did dutifully. The two left the room, arm in arm, and Peggy was left alone to eat her two poached eggs on toast and enjoy her cup of 'proper' English tea; thankfully Jarvis was insistent on. While she was enjoying her meal, all Peggy could think about was Daniel. He looked truly happy, and was Peggy, but would he be quite as happy when Peggy told him that she was unsure about what to do? If she stayed she would lose the job that she had dedicated her life to. But if she left? If she left, she would lose the first person who had made her feel something after Steve. Did she love Daniel? She wasn't quite sure. She loved how Daniel made her feel; safe without being misogyny, he wanted her to be her. But if she loved him, truly loved him, then she wouldn't be considering leaving again, would she?
Knock. Knock.
"Come in!" Peggy called as she carefully set down the delicate looking china mug.
"Miss Carter, i'm so sorry to disturb you but.. i'm afraid there has been an accident," Mr Jarvis began. Upon the terrified look that had spread across Peggy's face, he felt obliged to continue.
"It's Chief Thompson. It seems that he was shot-"
"What? Shot by who?!" Peggy asked as she frantically pulled some clothes from her wardrobe and dressed herself in her bathroom.
"As of yet, i'm afraid that that is unclear. Chief Sousa is awaiting your arrival-"
"Daniel is there? What if the shooter-" Peggy said as she emerged from the bathroom and stormed towards the front door, with Mr Jarvis following quickly.
"He told me to assure you that there were armed guards at the door to Chief Thompson's room. He is, and shall remain, perfectly safe, Miss Carter" Jarvis explained as he grabbed his keys.
"Oh thank you!" Peggy said as she gratefully patted his forearm, grateful for the lift.
"How is Chief Thompson?" Peggy asked as she settled herself in the seat of one of Starks replacement cars.
"I'm not sure. Daniel seemed rather more irate than usual on the telephone so I dare say he is not good," Jarvis explained as he hurried to the hospital. The car chugged and spluttered somewhat as Jarvis struggled to get used to the knew vehicle that Howard Stark had gifted him; Jarvis was not a huge supporter of change. Nevertheless, he and Agent Carter arrived at the hospital in sufficient time. As Peggy got out, she noticed that Mr Jarvis remained firmly in his chair.
"You aren't coming?" Peggy asked as she stooped down to ask Jarvis.
"I'm afraid not. I would prefer to return to Anna, if you don't mind."
"No, no! Of course! Please thank her for the breakfast," Peggy assured.
"I can assure you Miss Carter, she was more than happy to do so. Please telephone if I can be of further assistance."
"Of course," Peggy said with a smile before she closed the car's door. She turned to stare at the hospital; one that had become all too familiar. But the blistering heat of the sun as it bounced agains her skin caused Peggy to enter the building quicker than she wanted. Once she had asked where exactly Chief Thompson was being treated, she hurried to the room that held her boss and her.. Daniel. For a man that took such pleasure in using his strength, Peggy had never seen Chief Thompson look so weak. His parlour was horrifically pale and he had so many tubes and wires attached to him that Peggy feared injuring him further just by getting near to him. Daniel, however, didn't seem quite so worried. As Peggy stood at the window and stared in at the injured man, Daniel was sat beside him, reading him the newspaper. The happiness that Peggy saw in him this morning had gone entirely; now he looked sad. Despondent. When he looked up and saw Peggy, he immediately folded up the newspaper, spoke to an unconscious Jack, and met Peggy at the door.
"Peg! Hi," Daniel said as he surprised Peggy with a hug. While she wasn't quite expecting it, she could tell that Daniel needed it; he held her a little too tight for a little too long.
"How is he?" Peggy asked as pulled away slightly, well aware that the two agents at the door had noticed the length of their embrace. Daniel seemed to notice that Peggy was somewhat uncomfortable and took just a little step back.
"Not good. The doctors- the doctors aren't sure when or even if he's going to recover. The bullet, it pierced an artery and he lost a lot of blood," Daniel explained as he held the door open for Peggy to enter, which she did.
As she lifted a chair from a stack in the corner and set it beside the one that Daniel had been sitting on, she got lost in her thoughts; listening to the gentle bleeps of the machines that were keeping Chief Thompson alive.
"You okay?" Daniel asked as he took the seat beside her.
"Me? Fine. How are you? I know that the two of you knew one another for quite some time," Peggy asked as she shifted in her seat to face Daniel.
"Honestly? I don't know? I mean, I know the guy was an ass but… he gave me a chance. Do you have any idea how many people turned me down or how many jobs I didn't get because of this?" Daniel asked as he held up his crutch.
"You were injured in the war, Daniel. That is nothing to be ashamed of," Peggy soothed as she reached to touch his hand. The feel of her hand in his soothed Daniel almost instantly.
"Maybe, but they didn't see it like that. To them, I was a liability. But to Jack? To Jack I could do something. Be something. He gave me a chance Peg, when nobody else would," Daniel explained.
"Well, thank god he did," Peggy said. She had never experienced a kind Jack Thompson, so she couldn't imagine that. But as she stared into Daniel's eyes she realised that he had, and he was hurting; and in that moment, all Peggy wanted to do was ease his pain. She wanted to hold him in her arms and make him feel better but she couldn't do that. There were two, very intrigued young agents staring at them both through the window. For this reason, Peggy gently removed her hand from Daniel's and placed them upon her lap. Daniel shifted in his seat, somewhat hurt that Peggy didn't feel comfortable enough to even hold his hand, but in that moment, he couldn't think about them. He had to think of Jack and find whoever had hurt him.
"What are you thinking about?" Peggy asked as she noticed the pensive look on Daniel's face.
"Nothing," Daniel began, but Peggy's unrelenting gaze reaffirmed that she was not one to drop a subject.
"Its just…. I don't know. Don't you think it's odd that Jack comes out her to work on a case that we have been working on for weeks, but he is the one that gets shot?" Daniel asked.
"Well, it is odd. But to be frank, if the choice was out of us three, i'm rather glad it was him," a surprised Peggy quipped.
"I didn't mean that," Daniel said with a laugh. Despite the comment painting a rather negative light on his old boss, at least he was sure that Peggy didn't want him hurt?
"I mean, he was closer to the big leagues than we were. Maybe someone at the top thought that he was getting too close?" Daniel explained.
"That makes sense. Maybe Vernon-" Peggy began, but before she was able to finish her sentence, the machines that Jack was attached to began frantically bleeping.
"Daniel!" Peggy said the second she noticed that the bleeps the machines were making became significantly more frequent and high pitched.
"What is happening?" Daniel asked as he bolted from his chair and moved to be by Jacks side.
"I don't know," an exasperated Peggy explained.
"Peggy!" Daniel called as the noise became even more rapid.
"I'll get help!" Peggy said before she raced to the door and screamed for a nurse. Her haste alarmed the two guards that had been stationed at Agent Thompson's door, and so at her bequest, the two sprinted to grab a nurse. Once Peggy saw a nurse hurrying her way to the door, she returned to Daniel's side while nurses began poking and prodding Jack. Peggy pulled Daniel towards the window, to allow the nurses to do their job but as she held his hand, she noticed that he was shaking.
"Daniel, he'll be fine," Peggy whispered.
"We don't know what," Daniel said, as he gripped Peggy's hand with such force, he was was hurting her. The scene unfolded before them for several minutes; nurses shouted at one another and they unhooked then re-hooked Jack to countless machines before the incessant bleeping began to dissipate and slowly return to normal. After a couple of moments of steady noise, the nurses left without further explanation and Daniel returned to Jack's side, his hand still visibly shaking. Peggy didn't know what to do; she couldn't leave Daniel, not when he was in such shock, but she didn't want to intrude on this time with his friend. With that thought she slowly began to edge her way towards the door.
"Stay," Daniel said, as he broke his gaze from the machines that Thompson was attached to.
"Of course," Peggy said, as she returned to the seat beside Daniel.
"Daniel, are you sure you are alright?" a concerned Peggy asked, as she gently placed her hand over Daniel's shaking one. The gesture affirmed for Daniel what Peggy meant, and as he looked to her, he was somewhat relieved to see real concern in her eyes.
"I'm fine," he said, as he tried to muster a reassuring smile.
"Daniel are- Are you sure there is nothing else trouble you? Please… Tell me," Peggy asked as she gently brushed her thumb reassuringly against Daniel's hand.
"The war," was all Daniel said, while he fixed his gaze firmly on the floor.
"What about the war?" a confused Peggy pushed.
"The bleeping. That fast bleeping, its.. I just remember waking up to it that's all." Daniel stopped after that, however Peggy needed significantly more information than what Daniel had provided.
"Waking up where?" Peggy asked as she held Daniel's hands in her.
"At the hospital, after this," Daniel said as he pointed to his injured his leg.
"Oh Daniel-" was all that Peggy could muster. She remembered the war all too well; even more than that she remembered the people that it took. For years she had felt that everyone at war had come home damaged, be it mentally or physically. However, what she had never considered was that the two ailments were not mutually exclusive.
"It's fine. It doesn't affect me much. At least, not anymore," Daniel explained. He hadn't told anyone about how he used to count the bleeps all night because the pain in his leg was too unbearable to allow him to sleep. He had never told anyone about how those bleeps alerted everyone in one ward to when a comrade had died. He hadn't told anyone about how Daniel would do anything and everything to ensure that the bleeps coming from his machine were steady. They tormented him. But with Peggy's hands in his, somehow Daniel felt safe enough to tell her. It was like her hands assured him she was safe; he was safe with her.
"You don't need to hide it Daniel. Fear. Not from me" Peggy explained as she longed to ease the pain she saw had spread across his eyes.
"You know the same applies to you, right?" Daniel explained.
"Don't be silly; you should know I don't feel fear," Peggy joked. As strongly as she felt about Daniel, she had never been one for 'moments', particularly in front of an audience; she was more a woman of action than words. Thankfully, Daniel laughed along with her and the moment that they had shared had passed.
"You should go. I think that you've spent enough time in hospitals," Daniel said as he gently grazed Peggy's cheek with his hand. He did not fail to notice her worried look towards the door, however as opposed to rejecting him entirely, she took his hand into hers and smiled; while it may not be ideal, it was progress.
"It is you that should get going! You have a unit to run Chief," Peggy said with a mock salute.
"Fair point. Will I see you later?" Daniel asked as he slowly got up and grabbed his crutch.
"Possibly," Peggy flirted as she reclined in the seat the had found comfort in.
"You're a tease Peggy Carter," Daniel called. Peggy couldn't help but smile, for even as he headed towards the door, he never once took his eyes off her.
"Off you go Chief Sousa," Peggy retaliated, well aware that she too couldn't quite take her eyes off him. The two maintained their gaze before Daniel finally left the room. It was in the stillness of the room that Peggy began to contemplate what was happening. Daniel was right; this must have come from the top. But who? Vernon was dead and Whitney had been consumed by the Zero Matter. Peggy knew that key to the whole case was quite literally in the key; something that she would know more about if she ascertained more information in New York. But that would mean leaving Los Angeles. While Peggy was slowly mulling over every possibility in this case, a nurse entered the room with little trolley.
"Excuse me ma'am. I am going to have to ask you to leave," the rather rude nurse demanded. Peggy was initially taken aback by the woman's utter lack of manners, however she felt obliged to do as the nurse said.
"Of course," Peggy said, with a slightly raised eye brow and a particularly pang of anger. Just as Peggy left the room, the nurse reappeared and hurried down the bleak hospital corridor. Peggy took this as a sign that she could re-enter, but the moment that she entered the room she realised there was a problem.
"Oh my- help!" Peggy called. The two guards that had been standing at the door raced in and awaited further instruction, which wasn't particularly helpful.
"The machines! Get that nurse!" Peggy screamed. She called for further help but could nothing but watch as numerous nurses frantically attempted to re-attach the machines that had been detached from Jack. Peggy had no idea what the affect of this would be, but the way in which the nurses forcible removed her form the room told her it was not going to be good. She stood and watched in the window, for what felt like hours, as the nurses worked desperately to revive Jack but somehow Peggy knew that this would be to no avail. The man that had been her sparring partner had turned a horrendous pale grey colour and the machines that he had been attached to where now blasting a single incessant, unrelenting bleep. Jack Thompson was dead.