Peggy dropped down behind the car, her hand firmly pressed against her arm. Jack followed a moment after, and other agents dropped behind the vehicles around them.
For a moment all was silent. Then the bullets rained down on the other side of the vehicles, like deadly hail digging its way towards them.
"Are you okay?" Jack asked worriedly, looking at her white shirt changing colour to crimson red beneath her hand.
"Peachy," Peggy answered coldly as she tried to catch a glimpse of the assailants on the other side of the car without taking another bullet.
"Peggy, please," Jack pulled her down and closer to inspect her wound.
Peggy looked around at the other agents, happy they were too busy to notice his obvious concern, which was far from the normal Chief-agent level, "Jack, not now. Not here."
Jack noticed her nervous looks towards the other agents, realizing that he would not have reacted like this, if it was not for their relationship. Normally, as long as she was standing, he would let her be. But it was different now. He couldn't stand the sight of her being hurt. He was putting her wellbeing over the team.
Peggy sat back up and pulled out her gun, ready to give their assailants a bit of their own medicine.
Her jaw strong. Her eyes steely. Her sheer willpower giving him goose bumps.
And he remembered. She would never change. And he didn't want her to. She was going to get hurt. She already had been many times. He had as well. But they were both still standing. This woman was so strong that she could take a bullet and still take on the world. And he was lucky enough to be by her side. So instead of pulling her down by nursing her wounds, he should stand beside her, help her be strong like she had helped him, and face the world with her.
Jack pulled his own gun, "All right fellows, let's give then a run for their money!"
-.-.-.-.-
Peggy walked out from the doctor in the SSR. Another few stitches to add to her collection. Another scar.
But it didn't matter. They had caught yet another gang of terrorists and probably saved a lot of people.
She stepped into the elevator and let out a breath. Right now, she just needed a hot shower. She truly envied the men and their locker room.
The elevator almost shut when a hand grabbed the door and pulled it open again.
Peggy couldn't help the smile when Jack smiled at her from the opening and joined her in the small space.
"How are you doing?" He asked gently.
"I'm fine, Jack, you don't have to worry," She smiled at him.
"Got a new, sexy scar, huh?"
Peggy blushed slightly at that. Just a year ago she would probably had given him a black eye for that comment, but their relationship had quickly evolved, and surely it had also started taking on a more physical character.
Further, Jack had made a major change in his behavior. Not just towards her, but women in general. She was his only "sweetheart" now, and the word was never said in a degrading manner, but only in pure affection.
"Jack, I would prefer you didn't talk like that in the office," She said, but still grabbed his hand to let him know her affection despite her words.
"I know," he said and turned to stand straight in front of her, "But you know what? I don't care."
Peggy was a bit surprised by that and was about to protest, but Jack placed a finger on her red lips.
"Not because I don't respect your wish anymore, but because I don't care what they think. I don't care if we both have to quit the SSR. If they don't see what I see, that we make each other better and stronger, then they don't deserve us. God knows, they haven't deserved you for a very long time. So I don't care. I don't want to hide any more. I want to show everyone."
Peggy couldn't help the tears filling her eyes. Jack was being so sweet. She wanted to kiss him until the fedora flew off his head. Maybe the doctor had given her too much painkiller?
"Okay. No more hiding," She smiled at him, but couldn't help to quickly add; "But we don't have to rub it in their faces, do we? We can just unhide it and let them figure it out… Okay?"
"Okay," Jack gladly agreed, "And I am taking you home, whether you want it or not."
They left the elevator hand in hand. Though Peggy had agreed to unhide their relationship, she was still relieved to find the telephone area empty. The office would have figured out much too quickly if the ladies had found out so soon.
-.-.-.-.-
Jack insisted on walking Peggy to her front door even though her legs were perfectly fine.
"Well, this is me," Peggy said shyly. Why did this man have this power over her?
"Yes, it is," Jack concurred with a crooked smile, clearly sensing her sudden awareness of their situation.
"So…" Peggy said, suddenly lost for words.
"Let me help you with this one," Jack sent her a dashing smile before leaning in for a kiss.
Just then, the door opened, and they jolted away from each other as per reflex.
"Well, hello hello", Angie sent them a smile, definitely not sorry for interrupting.
"Hi Angie," Peggy tried to keep her voice levelled, though she couldn't hide her irritation.
"Hi English. And agent Thompson. Are you chauffeuring for you agents now?" Angie looked curiously at Jack.
"No, we just had a long day, so I decided to take Peg-Carter…" Jack started trying to explain, but Peggy put a hand on his arm to stop him.
"Angie, Jack drove me home because he is my boyfriend and… that's what boyfriends do," Peggy ended awkwardly.
Jack stood straighter, prouder, and put his arm around Peggy in appreciation.
Angie looked between them, "I knew it! About damn time, English!"