The SSR was buzzing as Agent Carter walked through the door. Peggy hadn't yet taken notice, as many of her co-workers had a tendency to be quite juvenile on a regular basis. As she sauntered in, however, she did take notice of the small gathering of agents gathered around Krzeminski's desk.
She was used to seeing the usual group of agents, namely Sousa and Thompson, hanging around his desk. Krzeminski seemed to usually keep them amused with stories of him juggling his personal life between his wife and girlfriend. Today, however, seemed different. Most of the agents in the office were hovering over his work station, leaning toward what looked like a radio. Thinking this quite odd, she quietly approached his desk.
"If only someone would help me!" A woman cried desperately over the radio. There was music playing in the background, cluing Carter in that it was just a radio show.
"Ha! What a helpless broad! I guess they did their homework." Krzeminski remarked with a snide look on his face. Excluding Sousa, the other men surrounding the table laughed.
"Done their research on what?" Carter inquired.
The men jumped at her voice. They hadn't realized she had joined their group, and honestly many were embarrassed that she was able to slip by so unnoticed. One of the agents turned down the radio, and the rest dispersed back to their regular duties. Carter stood her ground, and only raised an eyebrow at the three men remaining at the table.
Sousa was the first to respond, "There's this stupid new radio sh-"
"There is a radio show featuring you, didn't you know?" Krzeminski quickly interrupted.
One eyebrow raised, Carter turned up the volume of the device.
"I'll be back before you know it, Betty!" A low voice shouted, "These Nazi's won't know what's coming!"
"Oh, Captain America! You're my hero!" Cooed an airy voice actress.
Music overtook the voice actors as the episode concluded. Peggy was red in the face. Whether it was from embarrassment or anger, she didn't know. However, she cooled her expression quickly, as to not allow her discomfort to show to the surrounding agents.
"Help me!" Krzeminski mocked.
"You would be the type to tune in to this drivel, Agent." She replied sharply, turning towards her desk.
"Alright, break it up ladies. Get to work. Turn that radio off." Chief Dooley said sternly.
The agents moved back towards their work stations, and began sorting through files for today's tasks. Carter worked on autopilot, distracted by her ire for that radio show. While she knew that her relationship with Steve hadn't been an official secret, she was surprised by how quickly it had been incorporated into the storyline. Obviously, the portrayal was skewed for the benefit of the audience; the notion that a woman could have the military record that she had earned would obviously violate the public's delicate sensibilities. Peggy found it both unnerving and demeaning that all her fictional persona could do was cry out for help and lead Captain America into some sort of mess.
Carter readied herself as she left the office. She resolved that she would show everyone in this office what she was capable of. Soon she would get the opportunity to work on a case in much greater depth than just pushing papers and acting as the office secretary.
Unbeknownst to her, Howard Stark had just come back to one of his homes to find his baddies stolen. Anticipating the worst, he began to hatch a scheme which would rely upon the help of a brilliant investigator. Someone who would be able to keep a secret and go against official command for the greater good. Someone who had a history with both him and the S.S.R. Someone like one Agent Peggy Carter.