Peggy Carter knew she on the verge of being considered petulant, but after the day she'd had, she truly did not care.

"Mr. Jarvis, I assure you, I'm fine."

"I beg to differ, Miss Carter."

"It's just a temporary inconvenience. I will be fine."

"The fact remains I found you asking a fire hydrant for directions," Edwin Jarvis informed her, his voice floating down to where Peggy sat on the couch, and she swore she could hear a smirk in his voice. "That doesn't lend much credence to you being fine, no matter how much you wish to convince me otherwise."

"Oh, do shut up, Mr. Jarvis."

Jarvis chuckled softly. "As I've reminded you before, Miss Carter, you must allow others to help you when you require it."

Peggy groaned. "I despise asking for help."

She heard Jarvis sigh.

"Yes, we are well aware of that. Now, tell me, how long did your scientists say the effects of this condition will last?"

"Another ten hours, most likely," Peggy grumbled. "I suppose I should be thankful Thompson had the dial set at the midway point. I can't envision spending twenty-four hours in this damned eternal darkness."

"That's a touch dramatic, don't you think?"

"No."

"Would you like me to wait and explain the situation to Miss Martinelli?"

"No," Peggy muttered. "I'll do it."

"What time will she return home?"

"What time is it now?"

There was silence for a moment and then Jarvis responded. "It's 7 p.m."

Peggy nodded. "She should be home within the hour."

"Would you like me to stay until she returns?"

His concern was touching, but truth be told, Peggy was tired of the hovering. All she really wanted was to stay on the couch until Angie returned and then spend the remainder of the evening with the young woman by her side. She wasn't quite sure how she was going to explain her current predicament to her friend, especially since she knew Angie worried about her being injured in the line of duty and this particular incident only served to legitimize her concern, but she figured she would come up with something. For now, she simply wanted Mr. Jarvis to leave her be and allow her some solitude.

"Thank you, but no. I'm merely temporarily blinded," Peggy reminded him. "I'm certain I can manage to refrain from accidentally killing myself during the hour until my roommate returns."

"Very well, Miss Carter, if you're sure, but if you need anything, please don't hesitate to call."

"Thank you, Mr. Jarvis," she responded again, this time with genuine gratitude. "I do appreciate everything you've done. You truly are a good friend."

The silence that greeted her heartfelt statement most likely meant the butler was blushing from the tips of his ears down to his toes, and her hunch was confirmed when her friend squeaked out a flustered, "Of course, Miss Carter. Goodnight, Miss Carter," which was quickly followed by the sound of his coat rustling from the nearby chair.

Peggy leaned back against the couch and listened until Jarvis' footsteps receded from the room and into the front hallway. A moment later, the front door shut with a thud, and Peggy groaned, dropping her head to the back of the couch. She was finally alone. She smoothed her hands up across her face until her fingers threaded through her hair to rub at her scalp, trying to ward off the headache she felt forming at the back of skull.

The entire situation was rather embarrassing and more than a bit annoying, she mused. Leave it to Thompson to manage to gain the upper hand even in his defeat. She shook her head. The man was bloody infuriating.

Reaching down, she fumbled at her shoes, until her fingers eventually found the buckles. She unlatched one, then the other, before kicking the offending items across the floor. Flexing her toes, she moaned in relief as her earlier words to Mr. Jarvis echoed in her head. Angie would be home in an hour. Surely she could manage for at least that long.