Chapter 10
Peggy waited somewhat impatiently for the door to open. It had been a week since she had heard from Don and she was growing concerned. She had called his apartment multiple times but she had not been able to reach him and she assumed that he had taken the phone off the hook. She had attempted to reach him again that morning, and after yet another failed attempt she decided to go see him and make sure that everything was all right.
After a few minutes and several rings of the doorbell, the door opened. "Peggy?" Don said wearily, "What are you doing here? Why aren't you at work?" Peggy was surprised by Don's appearance. He looked like hell. He had answered the door wearing pajamas and his bathrobe and it looked like he hadn't shaved in about a week. Peggy couldn't decide if a Don was sick or just hungover. She assumed it was the latter. Peggy was relieved to see that Don was at least physically okay, but her relief quickly turned into rage. She suppressed her anger in order to find out what was going on. She replied testily, "I'll tell you in a minute. Can I come in?" Don opened the door widely and Peggy walked in.
Peggy's heart sank when she saw several empty bottles of liquor lying around Don's apartment. "I'm sorry about the mess." Don said apologetically as he walked into the kitchen with Peggy following close behind. "Can I get you something? I think I have coffee around here somewhere." Don said as he began rummaging around in his kitchen. Peggy shook her head, "No thank you, I'm fine." Don found the coffee and began preparing himself a pot. He cleared his throat before speaking again. "So Peggy, you never explained why you are here and not at work. Are you playing hooky?" "No, I quit yesterday." Peggy said flatly. Don stopped what he was doing and stared at her, astonished. "You did what?" Don exclaimed, "Have you lost your mind? What possessed you to do that?" "I couldn't work there anymore Don, not after what that man said to me." Peggy said adamantly. Don shrugged, a gesture which drew Peggy's ire. "What, was that not a good enough reason? Should I have waited for him to throw money in my face and then quit?" Don's eyes flashed, "So what, Peggy? Did you come here to tell me you quit, hoping for validation? Well congratulations...you just made the dumbest decision of your life." Don said sarcastically. What little patience Peggy had vanished at this point. "Why are you being such an asshole Don? I came here because I was worried about you. I know you said you needed time to think things through, but you also said you'd call and you never did. I tried to reach you myself but evidently you took your phone off the hook. What if I had been one of your children Don? What if there had been an emergency?" Peggy paused briefly, letting her words sink in. "It's been a week Don! I convinced myself that you were in trouble and apparently I was right. What are you doing to yourself? You've been doing so well and I was so proud of you. But it's obvious that you've been on some kind of bender. Don, I care about what happens to you. I don't know...maybe I shouldn't. Maybe I should just leave you to your own devices but I can't do that. You are too important to me."
Don scrubbed his hand over his face and sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry I didn't call. I needed some time to sort things out. What you need to understand is that I couldn't bear for anyone to see me like this, especially you. That job was everything to me. I sacrificed time with my kids for it, my marriage...and for what?" Don closed his eyes and hung his head. Peggy frowned, unsure of how to proceed.
"Don listen to me." Peggy began, "I understand that you are upset. But you can't keep going on like this. You matter too much to too many people, myself included, for you to continue to kill yourself like this. Do you know that I half expected to come here and find you hanging like Lane Pryce?" Don looked up alarmed. "You lost your job, it's not the end of the world. You'll get another one, you said so yourself."
Don clenched his jaw and took a deep breath, trying to control his emotions. "I appreciate your concern Peggy, really. But I don't think you could possibly understand how I feel." Don said irritably. "I was fired from the agency I helped build. I was given a second chance begrudgingly and I put up with their ridiculous rules, hoping that they would eventually realize that I was essential to the agency, but that never happened. Then I threw it all away when that son of a bitch Lou was mean to my girlfriend." Don said bitterly.
"Don the writing was on the wall...you know as well as I do that this was coming regardless of whether you punched Lou or not. The partners were just looking for a reason to fire you and as usual they made someone else do the work for them. They never wanted you to succeed. They used you to win Burger Chef, and now Lou gets to take the credit for our work! Don that agency barely resembles the one you built. It makes me sad to think about how much it has changed...nobody cares about Creative anymore. All they care about is that stupid computer." Peggy said bitterly. Don grimaced, but had to acknowledge the truth in what Peggy was saying.
Peggy came over and stood in front of Don who was leaning against the kitchen counter. Don was staring at the ground and Peggy gently grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her. "Don, listen to me. I know you're upset with the way it happened, but for what it's worth I appreciate that you defended my honor...again." Don furrowed his brow in confusion. "Again? What are you talking about?" Peggy grimaced. "Years ago, when we worked all night on Samsonite, Duck came into the office drunk looking for me. He saw me with you and he assumed that we had been screwing and he called me a whore. You punched him and the two of you got into a fight in the creative lounge." Don shook his head angrily at the memory. "Those men had no right to insult you like that. You got where you are based on talent alone, nothing else." Peggy smiled gratefully and touched Don's cheek. "And you have always been my champion. I know I haven't always shown it, but I have always appreciated it." Don took Peggy's hand from his cheek and placed it over his lips and kissed it reverently. Peggy's eyes filled with tears. "I love you Don and I need you to be around for a long time. Please don't ever shut me out like that again." Don took Peggy's hand and squeezed it tightly and looked her straight in the eyes. "I won't, you have my word." Don said sincerely. Don drew Peggy into his arms and hugged her tight, resting his chin on the top of her head. "I love you, Peggy."
Don released Peggy from his arms after a few minutes. Peggy wiped away the tears that had fallen. "I did have another reason for coming that I'm really excited about." "Oh?" Don exclaimed, "I'm intrigued, go on." Peggy took a deep breath and began. "Don, I've decided to start my own agency with Pete and Stan...and you if you're willing." Don was stunned. "Jesus, Peggy. I don't know." Peggy smiled. "Come on Don, do you need me to convince you how good it will be? Just picture it...you and me working together on Creative every day." Don shook his head. "Peggy it's not that simple. We need clients, and cash flow." "Pete has clients, and you know how eager he is. Stan is very hungry too. He couldn't wait to give Lou the middle finger on his way out the door!" Don laughed, imagining that scenario, but he still wasn't convinced. "Peggy I don't know. Would those guys even want to work with me? I'm damaged goods." Don said sadly. "Are you kidding?" Peggy exclaimed. "Stan really respects your work, and Pete loves you...he's your biggest fan!" Don was amazed. "Jesus, Pete Campbell." "We can work out the finer details later, but please say that you'll join us. You know it'll be great!" Don thought for a moment, then he broke into a broad smile. "Okay, I'll do it." Peggy threw her arms around Don and hugged him tight. "Thank you Don! I promise you won't regret this!" "I hope not!" Don said with a wry smile.
Peggy cleaned up Don's apartment while he took a shower. "Leave the beard please!" Peggy called to Don as he headed into his bedroom. Don furrowed his brow in confusion. "Really? I thought you didn't like beards." Peggy smiled, "I like you in a beard. Come on Don, for me?" Peggy asked sweetly. Don gave her an odd look. "Okay, have it your way."
A little while later Don emerged from his bedroom freshly showered and dressed casually, wearing a full beard. Peggy grinned and walked up and stood close to him and touched his face. "Do you still like it?" Don asked. Peggy grinned. "I do. It's hard to explain, but you almost look like a different person with the beard You don't look like Don anymore...you look like Dick. Plus I think it makes you look very sexy." Don grinned. "I have to say that hearing you call me by my real name is such a turn on." Peggy was surprised. "Really?" "Yes." Don said emphatically. "So much so that it is all I can do to keep myself from picking you up and throwing you on my bed and fucking you right now." Don's eyes bored into hers and Peggy's stomach fluttered. "Well Dick, I will certainly not stand on your way." Don immediately swept Peggy up into his arms and gently placed her on his bed where they made love.
Afterwards, Don pulled Peggy close to him, enjoying the warmth of her body close to his. "Peggy," Don said suddenly, "I think we should move in together. I don't want to live here anymore and I need you around to keep me in line. What do you say?" Peggy was floored. "Are you serious?" Peggy asked. Don nodded. "Completely. I would ask you to marry me, but that has never ended well for anyone. Maybe someday in the future. I hope you know that I am completely committed to you. I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else. What do you say we give it a try? I just want to be with you forever Peggy." Don said affectionately. Peggy couldn't believe her ears. "Where would you want to live?" Peggy asked, Don smiled, "Your place would be fine. It may be a dump, but it feels like home to me." Peggy laughed. "It feels like a home when you're there too. I would love to live with you Dick!" Don smiled and then kissed Peggy full on the lips. "Thank you, Peggy. You have made me very happy!" Peggy smiled warmly. "You have made me happy too, Dick." The couple held each other until they fell asleep.