Living in Howard Stark's house was pretty nice. Jack could not remember ever having slept in a bed so soft, and he had definitely never had a butler before. Though Jarvis obviously disliked him – not that he could blame him after the interrogation in New York – Jarvis still treated him respectfully, as would be expected by a butler, except for the occasional sarcastic remark.
Jack probably did not make it easy either. Though he was getting quite comfortable in the luxurious surroundings, he didn't want anyone to know.
Still, Peggy seemed to look right through him. Even if she did not say anything, he could see her looks of disapproval when he made comments against Stark or his household, but it was mixed with a hint of disappointment, as if she knew better. And it bothered him.
He tried to avoid her but she kept insisting on following him around the house. Always in the corner of his eye, except for the couple of hours a day when she had to sleep. It was growing tiresome.
Talking about tired, he could tell that the lack of sleep was wearing on Peggy. She was trying not to show, and her spirit almost made up for her lack of energy, but he knew her well enough by now to know. Her fuse was definitely getting shorter by the day. So was his. It started feeling as if he had exchanged one cage for another.
One afternoon, they spent, as many others, launching in the library, reading from the large selection of Stark's first editions. They were sitting on opposite sides of a book case, both needing to keep some distance to each other. They had already snapped at each other several times this day, and if looks could kill, Jack would have been dead thrice by now.
Jack was counting the days for his next doctor's visit, hoping that the doctor would clear him for flight home. He could fully walk and was off his medication. There had been no sign of the assassin and they were almost convinced that it was a desperate attack on the SSR.
Suddenly, he heard a bump from Peggy's side of the bookshelf.
"Marge?" He asked curiously but got no answer.
Not being able to focus on his book anyway, he rose from his seat and went around the bookcase. He expected to find Peggy reading and took a relaxing stance against the bookcase, ready with a sarcastic remark to whatever had made the sound.
Instead he found Peggy sleeping, launching on a chase longue. Her book was laying on the floor next to her, obviously the source of the bump. He had never seen her sleeping before. He just stood there and watched her. Her face was softer and in a way more feminine, when she was not keeping up her tough façade.
He realized that his staring was becoming awkward and turned to leave, when Peggy made a sudden move, her face instantly worried and her muscles tightening. She moved again, this time a single whisper leaving her lips; "Michael."
Whoever Michael was, he was not bringing sweet dreams to Peggy. She tossed and turned some more. Jack was debating whether to leave her alone or to wake her. What right did he have to interfere? What right did he have to leave her in the nightmare?
Another toss and Jack went to her side, gently shaking her arm and whispering; "Peggy, wake up."
His touch woke her immediately. She looked confused at him for a second before reality dawned upon her. She took in a breath and sat up straight.
"I'm sorry, I must have fallen asleep," She said and stood, trying to get away from the situation.
"Happens to the best of us," Jack said knowingly, sending her half a smile.
She smiled stiffly back, knowing what he was referring to but still ashamed that she had fallen asleep despite all her speeches about keeping an eye on Jack and getting him safely back to New York.
Before Jack couldn't help himself, as his mouth formed the question on his mind; "Who's Michael?"
For a moment, Peggy's face went pale but she quickly gained her posture. She didn't have to ask how he knew the name. Her dream was still vivid in her mind.
"Michael was my brother. He died in the war," She stated as matter-of-factly as she could.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Jack said sincerely, understanding how memories like that would bring back nightmares, "I didn't know."
"I asked to have the connection between our files removed," Peggy explained, "I didn't want anyone to use it against me once I got seriously involved in the war."
"You entered the military together?" Jack asked, assuming she did not want enemies to use her living brother against her.
"No. I entered when he died. Actually, he recommended me for the position. He saw something in me that no one else did, not even myself."
Jack had never seen Peggy this honest and open about her past. She was always rejecting to talk about her life before or during the war. Maybe, because people normally asked about Captain America instead of about her.
Peggy was surprised at how Jack listened truly interested in what she was telling. She had not experienced him this sincere since he laid in the hospital bed pumped on pain medication. Since moving into Howard's home, he had reverted to his good, old, pain-in-the-ass self.
"You know, you have been pushing yourself too hard on this case, Carter. You should take a day off, heck just six hours to get some decent sleep," Jack tried to lighten the mood.
"Well, as soon as you get safely to New York, I can go back to a normal day rhythm. Until then, I will make sure that we do not lose another Chief of the SSR."
Her words moved Jack more than he could explain. She did not just say that out of duty, but because she had already lost too many people in her life. Her brother. Steve Rogers. Probably many others that he did not know about. He knew that he had been treating her differently for being a woman in a man's world. Woman or not, her losses had been as great as anyone else's.
"I can manage for a couple of hours. From now on, you get six hours of sleep, even if it means that I have to hang around Jarvis while you do so. And – You will go out to night."
"Go out?" Peggy asked surprised, for a moment misinterpreting his words.
"Yes. You and Daniel have a thing going on – Yes, even I can see that – But you haven't spent any real time together since I got shot. You should go out, be merry, or whatever kids do nowadays," Jack sent her a bright smile.
Peggy mentally smacked herself for her initial interpretation of Jack's remark and for the weird sinking feeling in her stomach when he explained his actual intention. She thought about what Jack had said and had to agree that he was fully capable of taking care of himself by now plus there were still agents stationed around the mansion.
"Alright, I guess you can take care of yourself for a few hours," She reluctantly agreed.
"Is the high-and-mighty Peggy Carter saying that I am right?" Jack teased.
"I am saying that you, for once, is talking sense," Peggy tried to shoot back, though falling a bit flat.
"Then go call Susan and ask her out." Jack waved her off.
Peggy sent him another look of disappointment, clearly disapproving of his remark, before she left to call Daniel. For every step they made forward in this… Friendship, or whatever it was, Jack always made sure they took one step back again.
Jack ran a hand down his face. It was becoming more and more difficult to keep up being the asshole.
