"Captain Rogers, remind me what S.S.R. means."
Steve gulped and exchanged looks with Peggy before answering.
"Strategic Scientific Reserve, Sir."
"Very well," Colonel Phillips said, in a condescendent tone. "Did you hear that, Agent Carter? The first S is for 'strategic'. Did you know that?"
"Yes, Sir," Peggy answered, ignoring the mocking tone.
"Well, Agent, in case you didn't know, the meaning of 'strategic' doesn't include running around with a bunch of crazy soldiers. In fact, I would say it's just the opposite."
"But, Sir..."
"Shut up, Rogers. I already accepted your crazy commandos thing although it means putting many of my best soldiers in extreme danger. But I won't risk Agent Carter after all the trouble I've had to get her to work here."
Peggy opened her eyes wide at those words, but didn't speak. Steve dropped his head to the evidence that they weren't going to succeed.
"Now go and try to do something useful, you two."
"Yes, sir," they said in unison. They flushed.
Collonel Phillips rolled his eyes, but said nothing.
The Howling Commandos' first mission would start in 10 hours. Steve knew it was stupid to count the time. Still, he did. He walked around the training area. He climbed a wall, jumped down, clung to a rope. He looked at his watch. 9 hours, 57 minutes to go. He kicked a stone.
"Shouldn't you be sleeping?"
He turned around quick as a flash. Peggy was sitting on a bench, smiling at him. He relaxed a little.
"I've never been good at waiting," he confessed. "I prefer the action."
"So do I," she said quietly.
She looked downhearted, and Steve remembered, too late, that she was going to stay in the base while he and the Commandos were on the mission. He cursed himself for his lack of tact.
"Im sorry," he said. "I wish you could come with us, you know, but.."
"Strategy," she completed. "I know." She made a pause, trying to find the right words. "I see the logic, I know I will be helpful here, but... there is a part of me that just wants to be out there, fighting with you."
"I know the feeling," Steve smiled, "and I wish I could help you."
Peggy smiled back.
"Right now, I just feel like throwing things," she confessed, half joking.
Steve didn't laugh. Instead, he stood up with a pensive look.
"I think I've got just what you need," he said. "Just wait here."
He went into the barracks and came back after a few minutes, carrying something round. Peggy squinted to see what it was and muffled a squeak when she recognised it. Captain America handed Peggy his shield with an exultant smile.
"Here, now you can throw something properly."
Peggy took it with trembling hands and gave Steve a doubtful glance.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked.
Steve laughed.
"Come on, Agent, you know it's not going to break, don't you?"
Peggy blushed and smiled at the same time, remembering the four shots.
"Besides," Steve insisted, "you've taught me many things on our training sessions. It's time you learn something from me, or I'll start to think I'm completely useless."
"All right then," she accepted. "Give it to me."
"Do you see that tree?" Steve pointed his finger towards a big oak. "Try to hit it."
Hesitatingly, Peggy hold the shield and swung her arm. Then, with a quick movement, she threw it. The shield flew a few yards and then fell down without reaching its objective. Peggy cursed in a low voice and went to pick it up while Steve tried to hide a grin.
"I'll try again," Peggy said decidedly.
Steve stepped back as she oscillated her arm again, this time in a wider arc. Peggy used all her strenght and launched the shield again. This time it flew further, but hit a different tree and bounced back in an odd angle. Steve jumped and catch it in mid-air.
"Okay," Peggy admitted, "now I'm the one who has lost her dignity."
Steve didn't bother to hide his smile.
"Don't worry, we'll solve it," he promised, giving her the shield. He stood behind her. "You just have to feel the shield, as if it were a part of your arm, see?" He fetched her arm and moved it in a slow circle. "And then just trace the curve in your head before letting it fly. It's just like drawing a section of a circle in the air. Like this... Now!"
Both his and her arm moved together, and Peggy let the shield fly at the moment Steve said. It cut the air at full speed, tracing a perfect arc. Peggy heard a crashing sound and closed her eyes. She opened them again when he heard Steve's laughter and saw the shield embedded in the oak he had pointed. She let out a cry of joy.
"Congratulations," Steve said, proudly patting her back. "Now you can substitute Captain America whenever it's needed," he added, winking.
"Sure," Peggy joked, in a dramatic tone, "You can count on me to save the world on your absence, Captain."
A/N: Okay, this is the end of the first part (there are two more, but they are shorter). I hope you guys like it! Please let me know what you think. And again, thanks for reading :)