A/N: Day Three of Birth Week! Two weeks ago I got to cosplay as Peggy at school (best day ever) and my choir director had us do barbershop tags. I turned to my friend who loves Captain America as much as I do (maybe even more) and I told her it was ironic I was dressed as Peggy when Steve was in a barbershop (out of all the things from CAWS that's one of the things I remember). And then this happened. There are some reference to Agent Carter, but not too many.
Disclaimer: I really don't want to say Disney…
Fermata
"Come on Peg, let's have some fun! A night on the town is exactly what you need."
Peggy sighed and faced her roommate. "Angie, I'd just like some peace and quiet."
She looked into the mirror and pulled out a tube of red lipstick. "I hate to do this, but you owe me."
"What do I owe you?"
"I got you a job at the diner and I got you accepted into the building. You owe me something. It's not all that bad. There's that cute barbershop group performing tonight. Why don't we watch them?"
Peggy laid her book down and got out of her bed with a hurmph. "Fine, I will, but only for you. And after this I don't owe you anything. Do we have a deal?"
Angie beamed. "Of course English. Maybe you'll find the one."
Peggy scoffed while she shuffled through her dresses. "There is no such thing as the "one". I'll find someone eventually, quit my job, have two children and care for my loving husband every day. Just like every woman dreams of."
Angie placed her hands on her hips. "What's wrong with you Carter? You seem extra snarky."
She pulled out a red dress and laid it on her bed. "I've had a bad day."
Angie's look softened. "Are your headaches back? You might want to check that out at the doctor's."
Peggy unbuttoned her blouse and slipped it off and her skirt before putting the dress over her slip. "I'll be fine. Don't worry about me so much. I can take care of myself."
Angie frowned. "Margret Carter, don't ever say that. I know we're both independent women, but everyone needs someone to rely on."
Peggy got out a tube of her signature red lipstick and coated it on. "I guess you're right."
Angie smiled. "Great, now we need to go or we'll miss them!"
Peggy grabbed her small purse and smiled.
-o-O-o-
Peggy was sipping her drink and listening to the jazz band on the stage. Angie sighed. "I wished someone would ask us to dance."
Peggy looked out at the near empty dance floor. "Doesn't look like many people are here tonight."
Angie just shrugged her shoulders and grabbed her drink. "Well that's how life goes."
The band finished their piece and the small audience clapped. Peggy's vision began to blur and a sharp, intense pain stabbed her head. She winced and bit down on her lip, not wanting Angie to notice. She lightly touched her forehead; she knew it wouldn't assuage her pain, but she wished her cool fingertips would. She faintly heard somebody singing and it grew louder. Suddenly a voice boomed out over the others, crisp and rich and deep like the lingering of a cello. Peggy felt her headache dissipate to a dull throb and she looked up to see who was singing. There were four men singing on the stage. The lead was a tall, chiseled blonde. A well built red head was to his left. An athletic looking man with black hair was to his right and then Peggy casted a glance at the last man, the one with the beautiful voice. He was at least a head shorter than the others and couldn't be over 100 pounds soaking wet, yet his voice outshone the others. His brilliant blue eyes lit with joy as he sang.
Her eyes twinkled in admiration and the corners of her lips were slightly turned up as she listened.
"Peg o' my heart
I'll love you don't let us part
I love you I always knew it would be you
Since I heard your lilting laughter
It's your Irish heart I'm after."
The blue eyed man gave the group a richer tone and added depth.
"Peg o' my heart
Your glances make my heart say
How's chances come be my own
Come make your home in my." The group held out the note and then quickly cut off. A quick intake of breath filled the empty void before they sang the last chord. "heart!"
Peggy clapped as the four men left the stage. Angie looked over and grinned. "You seemed to enjoy them. Tell me who was it? The redhead, the lead or the one with dark hair."
She took a drink from her glass and shook her head. "Neither."
Angie made a face. "The scrawny one? I mean he's got a nice face, but other than that he's got nothing."
"Don't be so harsh. He probably has a good heart. And his singing was...," She picked up her glass and stared fondly down at it while she twirled the glass.
Angie gave her a conspiring smile. "You're smitten."
She sat her glass down. "I am not smitten."
Angie leaned back in her chair. "Say what you want, but you're smitten."
Peggy felt a quick stab of pain in her forehead. "I'll be right back. I need to get some fresh air." She grabbed her purse and maneuvered around tables so she could slip outside. The brisk air chilled her face and she sighed. New York might not have the cleanest air, but air is air. She closed her eyes and leaned slightly against the building, telling herself to take just a minute. She felt someone tug on her purse and her eyes flashed open. A short, reedy man was sprinting down the sidewalk with her purse in hand. "Hey, stop!" Peggy set her face in a frown and ran after the theft. He turned into an alley way and she sprinted around. She had her fist pulled back to punch him when someone else sprinted from a doorway and tackled the man against the wall.
Her savior wasn't able to keep him against the wall and the mugger easily freed himself. "What's a little punk like you thinking you can fight someone like me?"
She recognized her savior as the skinny man from the barbershop. He had his noodle arms up and fists preparing to fight. "It's not right to steal from a woman."
The mugger rolled his eyes and slung the purse farther up his shoulder. "I've had enough of you, you self righteous bastard." He pulled his arm back and punched the other man in the nose, knocking him onto the ground. He laughed and tipped his hat towards Peggy before making to leave.
Full of rage and not caring if she was harming a civilian, she punched the man in the face, stunning him with her strength. She brought her knee up and caught him in the gut before kicking him to the side. He ran into the wall and she wrapped her arms around his head to keep him in place. "You will never steal again and you most certainly will not harm him again."
The man frantically nodded and Peggy released him with a shove. He threw her purse at her and ran off.
Peggy shoved her purse back up her arm and went over to see how the man was doing. He stirred when she leaned over him and gently touched his face, which was a good sign. His blue eyes fluttered open and he looked at Peggy. "Did you get your purse back?"
Peggy sighed with relief and helped him gently stand up. "Yes, are you quite all right? Is there anywhere I can take you?"
The man held his nose and tilted his head upwards. "Yeah, Brooklyn. If you can get me a cab I can make it there the rest of the way."
Peggy shook her head. "You fell back there pretty hard on your head. Someone needs to stay with you and keep you awake incase you have a concussion."
"You don't have to do that," said the man.
Peggy helped walk him slowly out of the alley. "Well you're not getting much of a choice. You can barely walk on your own. You're stuck with me." She hailed a cab and looked over at the man leaning on her elbow for support. It was going to be a long night.
-o-O-o-
Peggy used her elbow to open the door to the small apartment. "Here we are. How's your nose?"
The man lifted his hand away from his nose, revealing the blood crusted skin underneath. "I think it will be fine, but it's going to leave a bruise."
She nodded and opened a door that luckily turned out to be the bathroom. She grabbed a washcloth and ran warm water on it before she handed it to the man. "Clean up with this. It's going to be a long night. Do you have any tea?"
"I have coffee."
She sighed. "I suppose that will have to do." She prepped the coffee, her hands mindlessly doing a task she was used to. She opened a cupboard to find a few plates before opening another to find mugs. Peggy grabbed two, one slightly chipped, and waited for the water to heat up.
The man came up from behind her with the bloodied rag in hand. "You don't have to do this; I'll be fine."
Peggy turned around to look at the man. "It's my fault that you were injured. I should have solved the problem, but I was too shocked at the beginning."
The man laughed lightly, the deep chuckle causing Peggy to smile. "Here I am with a beautiful woman who can clearly take care of herself and I don't even know her name."
She smiled. "Carter, Peggy Carter."
The man grinned. "A peg o' my heart, only it's an English heart."
The water came to a rolling boil and soon the coffee was made. Peggy poured to cups and brought them over to the table to sit with the man. "I still don't know your name."
"I'm Steve Rogers."
Peggy frowned. "I've heard that name before. What do you do for a living?"
Steve blushed. "I draw for comic books. The business isn't as great now that the war is over, but it's still afloat."
"It's still a job. I take it you never went over seas to fight if you we here on the home front."
He gripped his mug. "Yes, but it wasn't from lack of trying."
Peggy gripped her mug to incase its warmth. "How many times did you try to enlist?"
"I stopped counting after five."
"What happened after five?"
Steve looked down at his mug and sighed. "It's a long and crazy story. You wouldn't believe me."
Peggy leaned back in her chair and sipped on her coffee. "We have all night. Try me."
He set his mug down onto the table. "When I went to the World's Fair with my friend, Bucky, I tried to enlist again. It was there that I met Dr. Erskine who said-"
"Dr. Erskine?
Steve gave her a puzzled look. "You knew him?"
Peggy felt the room spin and she gripped the table to keep herself steady. "Yes, he was a member of the SSR. Like I am."
"You're a member of the SSR?"
Peggy swallowed. "Yes, I am. I remember reading the file on Dr. Erskine. It always pained me about his death because I was suppose to be there. I was late coming over to the States in the beginning. I was supposed to be here sooner, but was delayed. I was placed in charge of bringing the test subject, but Dr. Erskine insisted on bringing him himself. If I had been there I'm sure I could have prevented it, but who could have predicted Stark's machine would malfunction. It was the perfect moment for the assassin. I just wish I could have convinced-." Peggy looked at Steve.
"Convinced him of what, Miss Carter?"
She steeled her nerves and slammed a hand on the table. "You."
"Me?"
"You were the test subject. Steven Grant Rogers. Steve Rogers. The files said you died when the machine malfunctioned and Project Rebirth was scrapped after the loss of Dr. Erskine. How can you be here?"
Steve's eyes widened and he gripped the table nervously. "The agency didn't want anyone to find me. They thought I would be kidnapped in an attempt to continue the experiment. They held me in a facility for a few months before letting me return to Brooklyn with a team in charge of watching me. After a couple of months the watches stopped. I guess they kept me dead on their files incase someone checked. You're the first person from the SSR that I've come into contact with since then."
Peggy sighed. "That might change."
"What might change?"
Peggy grimaced at the way his innocent face looked at her. If he knew. "I'm currently on probation by the SSR. My review is tomorrow and then they will decide if I stay an agent or if I'm dismissed."
"What did you do that was so horrible you might be fired?"
"I don't want to talk about it." Her cold glance struck Steve. An awkward silence enveloped the two. The cars outside honked and the few people still out talked as they walked past. Steve yawned, causing Peggy to yawn. "Stop that, you can't fall asleep. And I certainly can't either."
"Sorry."
Peggy didn't know if he was apologizing for yawning or for prying into her business. "It's all right."
Steve stood up. "I'll be right back."
She raised an eyebrow. "All right."
He left the room leaving Peggy to get a better look at the small kitchen she was in. It was seemingly bare, the fridge old. It was odd. She had never been in a man's place before. He came back with a sketch book. He sat down, flipped to a page in the book, pulled something out of his pocket and began to draw. "What are you-"
"Don't move. I'm drawing you." Peggy was taken aback. "Just settle into something natural and comfortable."
She relaxed and watched as he worked. He was hunched over the sketch book so she couldn't see as he worked. Every now and then he looked up at her taking in some detail. He was so concentrated it enthralled her; the way he was taking her in with his blue eyes made her wonder. The soft scratch of charcoal over paper filled the silence. She smiled lightly and felt her eyelids grow heavy. The soft scratch of charcoal over paper. The warmth coming feebly off the coffee. Soft scratch. Coffee. Steve. Soft scratch. Coffee. Steve. Steve. Steve...
...
...
"Agent Carter, what are you doing?"
"I have to. It will save everyone."
"No it won't; it's not what we thought. We were wrong."
"Wrong?"
"Yes, now please, Agent Carter. Peggy, you have to believe me."
BANG
Peggy woke up to warm arms encircled around her and her instincts kicked in. She quickly took an arm and twisted it around towards his back. "Agent Carter! It's me, Steve!"
She looked down at her "attacker's" face and saw that Steve was turning slightly pale. "I'm dreadfully sorry. It's a natural habit of mine." She released her grip and Steve cradled his arm when he received it back. "I told you to keep me awake."
"I thought it would be rude to let a women stay up when she obviously needed to sleep. I didn't mean to frighten you, but the sun is coming up and I thought you might like to go home."
Peggy looked out the window and saw pink light peeking over the horizon. "Yes, I should be making my way home."
"Would you like me to walk you to wherever that may be? I'd rather not think of a woman out on her own at this time of day. It might not be good for your reputation."
Peggy took her ice cold coffee and dumped it down the drain. "I can manage, but thank you for the kind offer." She walked away towards the door and almost opened it before she turned around. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
She left the small apartment and briskly trekked down the stairs before ending up on the sidewalk. She didn't feel like catching a cab this early in the morning after the night she had. Peggy didn't know what to make of Steve. She also didn't know if she should tell the SSR she knew of his existence.
Her feet carried her back to her apartment as the rest of New York was waking up to a new day. She took the steps two at a time up to her apartment door and had her key out when Angie came out of her apartment. She grabbed Peggy by the wrist and pulled her into her apartment. "Where were you all night? I had to lie to Mrs. Griffith and say you received a telegram about a sick relative. You never came back. You had me worried English."
Peggy sighed wearily and placed a hand on top of Angie's comfortingly. "When I stepped outside a man tried to steal my purse. Then Steve-"
Angie raised an eyebrow. "Steve?"
Peggy grimaced. "The man from the barbershop group."
"The one who looked like he couldn't lift a sack of potatoes?"
"Yes. He tried to retrieve my purse, but he was knocked to the ground. I managed to get it back, but I wanted to make sure Steve didn't get a concussion since he fell fairly hard on his head."
"Peg, I'm sorry. Are you alright."
"Perfectly fine." She looked at Angie's clock and frowned. "Though I need to change if I want to make it to my appointment on time."
Angie grew concerned. "What appointment? What's wrong Peggy."
"Nothing, it's just for the headaches."
She bit her lip. "Alright. I'll see you later tonight."
-o-O-o-
Colonel Phillips threw the file onto his desk and sat down. "We both know the charges against you Agent Carter. Why do you think we need to keep you in the SSR and not ship you back across the Atlantic."
Peggy took a deep breath. "Because I offer expertise that other agents don't have."
"Where was that expertise in Germany?"
She bit the inside of her cheek and apologized to Steve. "I found Steve Rogers."
Phillips sat up in his chair. "Rogers was confirmed dead when Stark's machine blew in on itself. There is no Steve Rogers anymore."
"I saw him. I checked his file and confirmed it."
Peggy watched as Philips eyed her. He leaned forward and grabbed his phone. "Get me Stark."
-o-O-o-
"Long time, no see. How ya doing."
Phillips groaned and glared at Howard. "Just shut up and listen. You and your team told me that Steve Rogers died. Agent Carter here says she saw him. What the hell aren't you telling me Stark?"
The smile melted off of Howard's face. "So it did work."
"What worked?"
Howard sunk down into the chair next to Peggy. "When Rogers was pulled out of the wreckage he was dead. No pulse. Or we thought. When we carried him out he started to breathe again. We rushed him to a lab and started testing. Apparently the serum had started its work before the machine malfunctioned; however instead of turning him into a super solider it kept him from dying and fixed a hell of ton of other things. The others insisted on keeping him under surveillance to make sure he wouldn't die on us. I was the one who eventually pulled the plug on that. We didn't tell anyone because we didn't know if he was going to last a week or years."
Phillips ran his hand down his face. "Stark, do you know how stupid you sound right now?"
He ignored Philips, deep in thought. "It might just work..."
"What," asked Peggy.
"There was one tube of serum left. I pocketed it to analysis it when I had time. I've never gotten around to it, but if you give me some time I might be able to recreate the experiment."
"I thought you were an engineer," asked Phillips.
Howard gave him a dazzling smile. "Among other things, yes."
"Just go get started on it. I don't want to see your face here until then."
"What about me, sir," asked Peggy.
Philips leaned forward in his chair. "If you bring us Rogers consider the charges dropped."
Peggy nodded. "I won't let you down, sir."
-o-O-o-
"They want me to try the experiment again?"
"Yes, Stark has tweaked his designs and promised there will be no mass chaos this time."
Steve tapped his fingers on the tabletop. "What's the point of having a super solider if there's no war?"
Peggy looked down at her tea. She had no idea of what they would do with him once he was injected with the new serum. "I don't know. They're just very eager to continue the project."
Steve looked at Peggy. "What would you do? If you were me." Peggy looked at Steve. Skinny legs. Noodle arms. Shorter than her without heels. "I trust you Agent Carter." The kindness he treated her with. His fighting spirit.
"We thought we were done fighting after the First World War. Who's to say there will not be a third."
Steve looked stoically at his coffee. "Tell me when they need me."
"Of course."
-o-O-o-
Peggy sighed as she walked up the steps to Steve's apartment again. Today was the day. Howard and his team unlocked the way to duplicate the serum and the Vita-Ray machine was easily rebuilt from Howard's schematics. She approached Steve's door and faintly heard him singing through the door. Slow and carefully measured, his deep voice sent shivers across her body. She let her hand hover just outside her door so she wouldn't interrupt him so she could make out what he was singing.
"Peggy my heart
I love you don't let us part
I've loved you since I met you
Since I heard your lilting laughter
It's your English heart I'm after"
She knocked on the door and Steve stopped singing. She heard his footsteps before he opened the door. He smiled when he saw it was her. "Hello."
"Are you ready?" He gestured for her to come in and she walked in and sat down in her usual chair. "I wasn't really able to sleep, but I tried to."
Peggy saw he had drawings and sketch books scattered across the table. Stubs of charcoal and pencils sat in small heaps. She picked up one of the top sketches and recognized it as the view outside of Steve's window. She was about to grab the one underneath it when Steve's charcoal and graphite covered hand stopped her. "Those aren't finished yet."
She withdrew her hand and looked at the man on front of her. "All right then. The SSR wanted me to go over a few issues and make sure you understand."
"I think I'm good. I understood the risks last time."
Peggy let her fingertips brush the edge of one of his sketches. "They wanted me to remind you that if the experiment is a success that you will not be allowed to go back to your previous life. They already have a cover story for you and a place out in Washington D.C. to relocate you."
Steve looked out his window at the skyline from Brooklyn. "I understand."
Peggy nodded. "Then we can leave." He gathered the drawing together and placed them into a bag before leaving it on the table. "They will come for your belongings once the experiment has been conducted."
Peggy headed towards the door and Steve followed close behind her.
-o-O-o-
"There's our man," exclaimed Howard with a grin. He clapped Steve on the back a bit too hard. "How have ya been?"
"The same. You?"
"Better than ever. I assume you remember how this goes?"
Steve looked at the machine. "It's not something you can forget." He pulled his tee shirt off revealing his skinny chest, each rib visible. He approached the machine and laid down onto the padded surface.
Howard turned to face Peggy. "You might want to go behind the glass."
Peggy raised an eyebrow. "And guaranteeing an assassin's chance of escaping? Not on your life."
Howard sighed. "We took care of that by only authorizing you and Colonel Phillips to be here. If you won't leave at least help me."
Peggy crossed her arms and nodded. "What do you need me to do?"
He gestured over to where Steve was lying. "I just need you to prep Rogers and the machine. Strap him in and give him a shot of penicillin, then insert the serum tubes. I'll take care of the rest."
Howard went over to check the readings on the machine and Peggy walked over to Steve. "How are you feeling?"
Steve looked up at her with his blue eyes. "Honestly, I'm terrified."
She grabbed the blue tubes of serum and carefully inserted them into the appropriate spot. She pulled on the straps, making sure they taunt enough to hold Steve in place when the machine stood up, but not too loose as for Steve to slip loose. With a last tug she was satisfied and she picked up the syringe. "You ready?"
He nodded and she buried the needle deep in his shoulder. She depressed the plunger and the antibiotic rushed into Steve's system. She placed the syringe back on the tray as Howard came over. "Are you ready Rogers?"
"Yes," he said calmly. Howard walked back to his controls and Peggy was about to join him when she felt Steve's arm grab her wrist. She turned around and looked at him. "Peggy, don't let Stark hold back."
She patted his hand. "I won't."
He let her go and she joined Howard at the controls. He picked up a pair of goggles and handed then to her. "Put these on Carter. It's about to get bright." The machine up righted itself and clicked ominously into place. He pressed a button and she watched as the electric blue serum rushed out of the tubes and into the machine, into Steve. Howard grabbed the dial and began to slowly twist it; the amount of Vita-Rays increasing. The machine grew brighter and cackled with energy and as Howard approached fifty percent she heard Steve begin to shout out. Peggy remained stoic and didn't do anything.
"Peggy! Peggy!"
She bit her lip before running down towards the machine. "Carter you're going to kill yourself," shouted Howard.
"I don't care," she shouted back over her shoulder. She ran up towards the machine and placed her hand on the glade window. "Steve, are you alright in there?"
"I don't know if I can handle anymore of this Peggy."
She bit the inside of her cheek and strummed her fingertips against the glass. "You can. I know you can. I believe in you."
He let out a choked scream from inside. "Tell Stark to hurry up," he panted.
She raced back up to the machine and pushed Howard out of the way and turned the dial all the way up. "What are you doing?"
"What Steve told me to do."
The machine flashed brightly before whirring to a stop. Howard and Peggy ran to the machine and he pushed a button to open it to reveal a taller and stronger Steve Rogers covered in sweat. He was breathing heavily as the two undid the straps to let him go. He looked down at Peggy and cracked a grin. "I think it worked."
-o-O-o-
Peggy looked around the apartment and smiled appreciatively. "The SSR did a good job."
Steve smiled and rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess they did. How have you been the last couple of months?"
She sank down into a plush armchair. "Busy. I was obtaining information about a new group, Leviathan. In fact it's why I'm here." She threw a file on the coffee table and Steve picked it up. "They want us to go to Russia to find out what they are doing."
Steve flipped through the file. "Why us?"
Peggy's smile faded. "Remember when I said I was on probation by the SSR."
"Yes."
Peggy looked into Steve's eyes and took a deep breath. "When my team infiltrated HYDRA's inner sanctum I was the one who found Red Skull. My task was to grab the Tesseract and to kill him. They trusted me with the job because they did not believe anyone would suspect a woman." She paused to take another deep breath, refusing to cry. "I was able to kill Red Skull, but I lost the Tesseract to another agent. A Russian woman. We lost half the team and the rest of HYDRA's agents were able to escape. The only reason we won the war was because somebody else stole the Tesseract from them."
Steve walked over to Peggy and enveloped her with his arms. "You did your best Peggy. Don't worry, we'll retrieve it."
Peggy placed a hand on Steve's chest and gently pushed him away. "Yes, well, I think I am quite alright. We leave tomorrow."
Steve frowned. "Where are you staying?"
"I assumed I would be able to sleep on your sofa. They want us to be on a plane early so it will save time if we start from the same place."
"No, sleep in my bed."
Peggy gestured towards the sofa. "Steve, there is no way you can fit on the sofa."
He laid down on the sofa, his head and feet hanging off the sides. "See, I fit."
Peggy grabbed her bag and walked towards the bathroom door. "When I come back you had better be gone."
Steve gave her a cocky smile. "We'll see Agent Carter."
-o-O-o-
Peggy rolled restlessly on the sofa and looked on at the time on her watch. 1:43. She sighed and sat up, knowing there was no way she could fall back asleep. She shuffled into the kitchen and found the Earl Grey that Steve promised he would keep on hand for her. She set a kettle on the stove to boil and leaned against the counter while she waited. She tapped her fingers against the tile, making a soft clicking noise. The water was quick to boil and she placed the tea strainer over the cup and poured the hot water over the tea leaves. She breathed the sweet scent in and sighed. As she was about to bring the cup to her lips she heard a groan coming from Steve's room. She frowned and placed her cup down on the counter and inched slowly towards the door. She heard a muffled scream and opened the door carefully. Peggy padded towards Steve's bed and noticed the pained expression on his face. "Steve...Steve!"
His eyes fluttered open and he stared at her in embarrassment. "What are you doing in here Peggy?"
She sat herself on the edge of the bed and looked towards Steve. "I couldn't sleep and heard you from the other room. Were you having a nightmare?"
He sat up revealing his bare chest. "Yes...it's happened before. They started after the first experiment when the machine caved in and I...died. I thought they might get better after the second one since it went well, but they've only gotten worse."
Peggy grabbed his hand. "I understand. I get headaches and have nightmares about Germany frequently."
Steve reached out his arms and wrapped Peggy in a hug. "Aren't we a pair?"
"Yes, but we should at least try and get some sleep." Peggy tried to escape Steve's embrace, but he held her back.
"Could...could you stay?"
Peggy gawked at the words that had come out of his mouth. She hid her expression quickly, only letting it be seen for a second. "As long as you stay on your side."
Steve nodded and turned to the right and snuggled down under the covers. Peggy scooted as far left as she could, but it couldn't hide the fact the super solider was right there.
-o-O-o-
Peggy landed breathlessly next to Steve; the early morning long gone for the dark night. He looked ahead around a corner and waved Peggy over. She kept her gun close and clung against the wall. "Do you remember where Stark said it was."
Peggy checked her gun and nodded. "Third bay door. Labeled 2C, the plane is taking off today to fly it God knows where. You ready?"
Steve gripped his shield close and checked the gun in his holster. "Yes." The two snuck around and hid behind crate boxes. With a quick glance the pair snuck in through the open doors and into the hangar where the jet was tucked away. A guard came round the corner and Steve threw his shield effectively knocking the man off his feet. "Do you think the Tesseract is already on the plane?"
A man came in through a pair of doors carefully carrying a clear box with the glowing Tesseract inside. "There it is," whispered Peggy. She waited on edge for the man to enter the plane.
"Now," said Steve and they ran forward towards the open hatch and climbed inside. The man was just inside securing the box inside. He turned around and Peggy shot him in the neck. He fell to the ground in a crumpled heap.
She stepped over him to reach the Tesseract. "That was for my teammates." She unstrapped the box and tucked it under her arm.
"What do you think you're doing?"
As a reflex Steve swung out with his shield, but the blonde woman darted away. The woman glared at them. "You won't be getting away easily." She pulled a knife from her sleeve and threw it at Peggy who dove to the left, making sure the Tesseract didn't hit the floor. The woman hit a button from inside the plane an alarm sounded off. "Give it to me."
Peggy shot at her, but missed. Guards started to pour out from doors. "Steve, do you know how to fly a plane?"
"On it," he rushed towards the controls and started the plane up.
The Russian spy ran towards Peggy and kicked her down. She pulled out a small dagger and smirked. "I thought you were better than this Agent Carter."
Peggy sat the box down and pulled the woman down and soon had her pinned to the floor. The plane raced forward launching the women towards a wall. She slammed against the metal interior with a thud and the jostle gave the other woman an advantage. She pulled out a gun and began to shoot at Peggy. The first three missed, but the fourth one hit Peggy in the shoulder. She grimaced. "I thought you were suppose to be a better shot?"
The woman gave her a death glare before aiming right for her heart. Before Peggy could even blink Steve's shield zoomed through and the bullet ricocheted into the Russian's stomach. She gasped and fell to the floor from shock. Peggy grabbed the box the Tesseract was in, but with a scream the women reached up and smacked it from her hand, exposing one of the sides to the box. The woman touched the Tesseract and screamed as she turned to just blue wisps. Peggy gaped in shock, but picked up the Tesseract, open side up. She rushed over to Steve who was piloting the plane. "Thank you for saving my life."
Steve nodded. "I'd do anything for you." Suddenly the plane rocked to the right and smoke came pouring in from the left. Steve braced himself against the controls and tried to keep the plane level. Peggy pulled her communicator out and hoped would work. "Howard are you there?"
"Hearing you loud and clear Agent Carter. What's wrong?"
The plane rocked again and Steve readjusted his controls. "We're being shot at. I think one of the engines is down."
Steve turned to Peggy. "I have an idea, but I need to know if you're okay with it."
"What is it?"
"We've both seen what that thing can do. If we can't have it, nobody should be allowed too. You know what I'm saying don't you."
Peggy looked at Steve and nodded. "I trust you." She held the communicator up. "Howard, we're putting her in the water."
"Don't do that-"
"Don't argue with me Stark. If we crash over land there's still a chance the Russians will be able to retrieve the Tesseract." Peggy paused to hold back her tears. "I'm sorry." She tossed the communicator to the side and strode close to Steve. Peggy looked towards him and before she knew it he kissed her. She could taste her own tears on his lips, but he kissed like he sang: deep and soulful. They broke apart and stared at each other before Peggy laced her hands in between his and the blue water rushed into their view.
...
...
Beep
Beep
Beep...beep...beep
She felt something warm holding her hand rubbing circles into her skin. She opened her eyes and Steve was sitting there; bandaged up, but alive. Peggy tried to sit up, but Steve gently laid her back down. "The doctor said not to over exert yourself."
Peggy blinked and looked at her surroundings. The hospital room was a drab grey and tubes were stuck into her skin. "What happened?"
"Stark found us from the radio signal. They sent their fastest plane out there to find us."
"And the Tesseract?"
"Sitting at the bottom of the ocean."
Peggy closed her eyes and smiled. "Good."
Steve pulled a piece of paper out and unfolded it before handing it to her. She carefully took the paper and recognized it as a drawing of herself, specifically the day she met Steve. He looked sheepishly at her. "I finally finished it."
She looked at the drawing then Steve before giving him a brief kiss. "I love you."
Steve ran his hands through her hair and pulled her close. "I do too Peggy. I do too."