A/N- Hey guys my exams are FINALLY over (yayyyyy), and so I'll be updating more frequently now. I hope you like this chapter. Please review, your opinions are extremely important to me. Another A/N at the end of the chapter.

A few days had gone by since what the workers of the SSR had labelled as the "Thompson-Carter Blowup". While it was true that neither of them were at each other's throats anymore, they were not speaking to each other either. Neither of them was interested in giving people another reason to gossip, since the whole office was already abuzz and every one had their own ludicrous version of the fight.

Meanwhile, things were still gloomy on the case front, since none of the two men had said anything of importance. Smith, who had been coerced by Thompson into confessing to his involvement, had no other substantial information to offer. He was merely a pawn in this game and had clearly helped Leviathan only because he was desperate for cash and later because he couldn't back out.

The other man, however, had been faced with Thompson's extreme methods of interrogation that morning, and had had his face beaten to pulp. Ultimately, he had said just one sentence, "They will come for me". It had been impossible to get him to speak beyond that since he lost consciousness soon afterward.

Peggy and Daniel, who had both witnessed the interrogation, had been shaken by it. It was not that they had never seen Thompson's way of interrogating, but there was something different this time. This rage inside Thompson, this anger, was something neither Peggy nor Daniel had witnessed before. If they were honest, it looked like Thompson's anger was misplaced, it was almost as if he was punishing that man for something he hadn't done, almost as if Thompson was venting out his frustration and the man simply happened to be in the way.

Peggy had been unable to witness the interrogation for more than 15 minutes and had walked out of the room. Daniel, who stayed for the whole interrogation, came out looking a bit unnerved. Outside, he was greeted by Peggy in the break room.

"Is it over then?" she enquired, holding a hot cup of tea in her hand.

"Yeah, looks like it." answered Daniel, moving ahead to get himself a strong cup of coffee.

"What happened? Did the man say something or did he pass out finally?" she asked sardonically, "I know Thompson can't have stopped because he felt pity for the man"

"Passed out" replied Daniel, taking a sip of his coffee, before adding, "I have witnessed Thompson's effective methods of interrogation before. I know that man was no saint and Thompson's just looking for information, but today was just…"he faltered, not knowing exactly how to phrase his thoughts.

"I know what you mean" she nodded.

Just then, Jack entered the break room looking all sweaty, with his hair messed up and tie loosened, and said, "I am thinking we might release Smith today, doesn't look like he'll be of any use. I've told someone to get his release papers ready. I want the other one to be locked up again, Sousa, I'll get him to open his mouth tomorrow" while he poured himself a cup of coffee. The moment he moved his hand, Peggy saw the knuckles on his hand, bruised blue and black, some on the verge of bleeding.

"Oh my god, Agent Thompson, your hand…You need first aid" she exclaimed, setting aside her cup and grabbing hold of his hand.

Just as she had touched his knuckles to inspect the damage, Jack jerked away his hand, and said, "I already have a mother Carter, you don't need to baby me. Go massage someone else's hands, perhaps Howard Stark's. Bet he'd love that." and with that he left the room.

Daniel, who had been standing silently, was surprised to see Peggy's eyes fill up with tears. He had never seen this woman cry. Her face couldn't mask the hurt she had felt at Thompson's words.

"Peggy, are you alright?" he asked her, concern evident in his voice.

"I am sorry you had to see that Daniel. And no, I am not fine…. I don't know what I did wrong Daniel, we were getting along fine and then he suddenly…suddenly became like this" she finished, trying to stop the tears that were on the verge of spilling. She hadn't meant to lose control, she was used to Jack's snarky comments from time to time, but she didn't know why this one had hurt the most.

"Peggy, I know this is hard for you and I can see why this must have upset you but I think Thompson's just jealous" replied Daniel gently, handing her his handkerchief to wipe the tears she was desperately trying to hold back.

"Jealous? I don't understand…" said Peggy, looking dumbstruck.

"Peggy, I think the reason Thompson's been acting this way is probably because he has some feelings…some unresolved romantic feelings for you. I mean he's been this way ever since he found out you were dating Stark" he said.

"I am not dating Howard, why is no one believing me when I say that" she blurted out.

"Oh" said Daniel, looking surprised, "Anyway, my point is, he cares for you Peggy. I think he just doesn't know how to show you that and maybe the idea of Stark and you together was difficult for him to accept"

"Look Peggy, I know that you know I like you, but… no wait, hear me out" he said, because Peggy was about to interrupt.

"You're beautiful and intelligent and a wonderful person, Peggy, and it's hard not to fall for someone like you. And yes, until recently, I did harbor some romantic feelings for you, you know that, but when I saw what you and Jack have, I thought I want something like that with someone, the heat, the adoration, the humor, everything." He said.

"Oh Daniel I am so sorry if I did anything to make you feel bad but I was just…not ready" started Peggy before Daniel put up a hand to stop her.

"I am not accusing you Peggy, honestly. Don't take this the wrong way but I am glad I gave up on you Peggy, because…well, I met someone. Someone special" said Daniel, a small smile appearing on his face.

Peggy gave him a small smile and said, "Sometimes it feels wonderful to be in his company, he acts like the perfect gentleman, and then he goes and does something like… well something like this. I just don't know what might set him off. I don't even know how to describe whatever it is that we have… or had" she finished.

"Look Peggy, what I am trying to say is that you may not know what it is that the two of you have, but it's something special. Whatever it is, I think you should sort it out, because frankly speaking, I can't have any more of this perennially angry Thompson and mopey and emotional Peggy" he smiled.

"Daniel, I don't know what to say" she said.

"Say you'll sort it out, even if it means being the first one to concede" he said.

"Alright Daniel, I will, and thank you for …this" she smiled, and quickly gave him a one armed hug that was nothing but a friendly one. "And I hope I get to meet this woman who seems to have captured your heart, Daniel" she said as she hurried out of the room to finally face Jack.

Inside his cabin, Jack Thompson was looking for something to stop the searing pain in his knuckles and the pounding headache. His thoughts were filled with anger and frustration and longing… yes, now that he was honest with himself, he knew he had feelings for Peggy, he definitely felt a longing for that woman who drove him mad on so many occasions but whose smile could make his day. He had been aware that his feelings for Peggy Carter had changed ever since that night at the diner, but how much, he hadn't realized until he was confronted with the possibility of her being with another man. He had tried to nurse his bruised ego by trying to take Lisa on another date, and it had just been as great a debacle as the first one.

Throughout the date, while Lisa talked of nothing but herself, he truly began to appreciate his conversations with Peggy, how she'd laugh at what he said, how she had a witty comeback on the tip of her tongue, how wonderful she looked even after being huddled in an alley all day and having fought a man twice her size.

At the end of the date, he was convinced that things could not possibly work out between him and Lisa and had made that perfectly clear to Lisa, even when she had tried to kiss him. Any red blooded man would have given in to a willing woman like Lisa, but his mind was too muddled with the thoughts of Peggy. So when Lisa had come on to him suddenly, he quickly backed off and let her know, gently he hoped, that he was not interested in her. He thought she took it surprisingly well, before she started crying really loudly and slapped him and walked away, muttering things about men who lead on innocent women and then discard them suddenly. Well, he thought, at least it's over, whatever the hell that was.

The last few days he had avoided any sort of contact with Peggy, trying not to picture her with Stark. He didn't want to treat her the way he was, but every time he saw her he felt that longing, and anger at her, for not feeling the same, for dating Howard Stark. His anger saw the worst of him when the man they had caught refused to co- operate and the result was the passed out man and Jack nursing his bruised knuckles.

He had been touched by Peggy's concern, and would have let her take care of his hand, but then he didn't know why but he was possessed with the same rage he felt every time he thought of her being with Stark, he saw her as someone who was pitying him, and to avoid all that, he had jerked his hand away, to get away from the woman who didn't want him, to avoid falling for her more than he already had. He had thought they had something, but now he felt like a fool to have expected anything. He was angry, yes, but he was also mad at himself for reacting the way he had. He felt terrible for having treated her the way he had.

I need to stop being a jackass to her. She didn't do anything wrong ,it's no her fault that I've developed feelings for her, he thought, as he looked for a roll of bandage to cover his wound.

She entered his cabin, ostensibly under the guise of getting him to sign some official reports, but her real purpose was to clear out the misunderstanding between her and Jack. She really didn't want to fight anymore. She didn't know whether what Daniel said was true, if Jack had any feelings for her, and if she was honest to herself, the mere thought made her heart race.

She had acknowledged that she felt something for the man, especially after she had had her little talk with Maria. He drove her mad, made her want to punch him right in the face, but he also made her laugh, and he was so smart and goddamn charming when he wanted to be. He made her feel a mixture of emotions she hadn't felt in a long, long time, not even for Steve. Well, if that's not a reason to go and make up, I don't know what is, she had thought wryly.

Her heart beating fast, she knocked on his door, and asked, "May I come in Chief?"

Jack, who was rummaging through the drawers, suddenly turned around, a long roll of bandage in his hand.

"Carter" he said, his tone surprised, "What do you want?"

"Umm", Peggy stammered, "I just wanted your signatures on these files, but if you're busy, I can come back later..."

"No, it's uh alright I'll sign 'em. Let me just get this thing sorted out" he said, clearly having difficulties tying up the bandage with his left hand.

"If you don't mind, I could help you with that" she said, unsure of what had caused him to suddenly become so mellow.

Maybe, he doesn't want to fight anymore either, she hoped.

"Uh yeah sure Carter, if you want to" he replied, taking a seat while Peggy came in and stood right next to his desk, and motioned for him to hold out his hand, which he did.

"Why haven't you put any ointment on it?" she asked sternly, "Simply bandaging the wound won't do, it's bleeding already"

"I uh… forgot" he replied with a sheepish smile on his face.

A small smile broke on Peggy's face, glad to see this man smile, "Wait, I'll get it. Or do you have it in your office" she enquired.

"Top left drawer" he replied, pointing towards a small cabinet in the corner of the room.

She got the ointment, and pulled up a chair next to his and sat down. He hissed the moment she applied it to his knuckles, and she said in a playful tone, "Is the Chief of SSR afraid of a little pain?"

"Ha! I am made of steel, Peggy. Taken much worse than this, I don't have to tell you that" he smiled.

"So am I back to being Peggy?" she asked looking into his eyes, expectantly, and before he could reply she added hesitantly, "Look, I don't know what I did, but if I have hurt you in any way then I want to apologize…I really didn't mean-" when Thompson cut her off.

"No Peggy, it wasn't your fault, I was being an idiot. I am the one who should be apologizing" he said, deciding to just let go of the anger, and try and win her back, if only as a friend.

"How about you accept my apology and then I'll think about accepting yours" Peggy said, with a half-smile.

"No need to get a high head about it" he replied, trying to hide his smile. "You won't be getting any apologies from me in the future so you better appreciate this one"

"How about you just don't do anything worth apologizing for? Oh wait" she laughed, "That's not possible"

"Yeah yeah less talking more working Peggy, my hand's not gonna bandage itself" he said, trying to sound stern.

"Aye Aye Captain" she said and got back to applying the ointment.

Just as she was bandaging his wrist, he hesitantly asked her, "So uh... how was your dinner with Stark?"

"Oh it was wonderful" she said, and his heart sank.

"He took me out to meet his new girlfriend Maria, she's absolutely wonderful" she added looking directly at him, trying to make it clear once and for all that she wasn't dating him.

So she isn't dating that buffoon, he thought happily as his spirits rose.

"Speaking of which, how was your dinner with Lisa?" she asked, now avoiding eye contact, "Did you have a good time with her?"

"Well it turns out her dog isn't that interesting after all" he smiled, "And there is only so much that a man can handle when the dame won't even let him open his mouth. It was an unmitigated disaster. She literally slapped me at the end of the date…Not too hard" he added after seeing the scandalized look on her face.

"So, do you… regret going on that date" Peggy asked, still avoiding eye contact.

"Well surprisingly no. It was an eye opener of sorts…made me realize a few things" he replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Oh…like the fact that girls can slap you if you annoy them too much" she laughed.

"Well that too, but it made me realize the kind of gal I want should be someone with whom I can hold a decent conversation with, someone who is interesting and smart" he said, holding her gaze.

Peggy, who was long done with the bandage, still had Jack's palm in her own, could not look away from him, and said, "Well, let's hope you find her someday Jack"

"I think I may have already found her" he replied, his tone serious, looking directly into her eyes with such intensity that she dared not look away.

"Have you? Is it anyone I know" she asked quietly.

"Yeah I think you know her pretty well. Works at the SSR, is great at her job, intelligent, beautiful inside and out… She's also got this accent, ya know…British dame." he replied, now taking both of her hands in his.

"Jack..." she began, her expression a mixture of nerves and excitement, but he cut her off.

"No, Peggy, let me say this while I still have the courage to say it." he said, his attention caught by her tempting red lips and how appealing they looked right now. Trying not to get sidetracked, he began, "I really-", when there was a knock on the door and both of them sprang apart immediately.

"Uh Chief, " said the new junior agent, looking awkward, "I am sorry I can come back later if you're busy right now" he mumbled.

"Uh.. no.. what is it?" said Jack, trying to keep his cool but on the inside he was so mad at the man standing at the door for having interrupted the moment.

"I was just here to tell you we released Smith just a few minutes ago, like you told us to. And the other guy has been taken back to his cell, like you ordered." he said.

" Yeah that's alright. Who did you send to accompany Smith?" enquired Jack.

"No one" replied the Agent, "We were just outside the building when his sister appeared and said she's been planning to come here to ask when he was going to be released. I wondered how she knew where our office was but I figured Smith must've told her. So, when she heard we were letting him out she said she'd drive him back to the house"

"Wait…Agent, Are you telling me that his 14 year old sister came by the SSR office with a car?" Peggy asked suspiciously.

"14 year old sister?" he said looking incredulous, "No she said she was his older sister, looked like she was in her late 20s."

"WHAT?" echoed both Peggy and Jack at the same time.

"Smith does not HAVE an older sister" she exclaimed, looking at Thompson, whose face mirrored her horrified expression.

A/N II-How do you like the cliffhanger? Let me know guys, I'd really appreciate your reviews! And I am sorry I haven't really incorporated a few suggestions from you guys and I hope you're not too mad about it (they were really good ones), but I had this whole idea of how this story was going to go and I thought I'd rather not mess it up. And since i absolutely adore Daniel, I couldn't bear the thought of having to suffer through the whole Peggy-Jack drama so I thought I'd find someone for him. I hope you like what I've been writing. Let me know what you think.