Chapter 7 Peggy/Howard A rescue
WARNING: non-con!
Howard's *point of view*
*MEMORY*
She was gorgeous, thick curly dark auburn hair, beautiful deep chocolatey brown eyes, plump soft pink lips that I was aching to kiss. Her face was smooth, her complexion creamy. Her smile turned my knees to water. Her voice was like music to my ears, and her words were sweet and kind.
She had a perfect figure, ample butt, perfect boobs, nice hips, lovely curves.
Unfortunately, she was troubled. Every time I looked at her, I could see something akin to fear in her eyes, like she was constantly looking over her shoulder. Like she feared something bad would happen to her. Truthfully, I feared that myself.
I wanted to protect her. I wanted to ask her to be my girlfriend, but my social anxiety impeded me at every turn.
I hadn't felt like this since I was dating Whitney Frost… and she did something unforgivable to me. Ever since I developed feelings for Peggy, my social anxiety had been worse than usual.
I was worried about going through the same thing I went through at the hands of Whitney Frost.
I had endured a terrifying ordeal at the hands of that girl, and I had never truly got over it. It had taken me a very long time and a lot of talking therapy with a dear friend to get to a point where I could actually function properly again.
Peggy and I had had an awful row… I confronted her about Steve, and she yelled at me. I yelled at Maria – She was the one who told me to confront Peggy in the first place.
Furious and devastated with the state of things between Peggy and me, I went to California for 8 months to shoot a film that I had written and was directing. That made me feel better.
When I returned to New York, I was able to go back to work properly. Fortunately, Peggy was still working for the SSR, and she was still as gorgeous as ever. When I got back, I called her into my office and apologized to her. She admitted that I was right, Steve had been hurting her. I spent time getting to know Peggy better… I knew Steve was still hurting her. It just about killed me to know that and not be able to do anything about it. Maria and I started our relationship again, I apologized to her for yelling at her. We weren't really dating, she and Obie had had an argument, and she had backed off and given him some space, much the same as I did with Peggy. We used each other to make our soulmates jealous.
I was determined to fix the mess, so I asked Maria, Obie, and Peggy to lunch, and we fixed our differences. Maria, Obie and I decided to work together from then on to help Peggy… I was worried sick about her… I knew that bastard was hurting her, and yet I couldn't do anything to help her. Maria and I discussed it privately at great length.
"If she is acting skittish or not herself tomorrow, Howard, we call in the ASIC"
"OK"
Maria's *point of view*
2 weeks later, after work, Howard and I were having dinner, Spaghetti Carbonara, garlic bread and salad.
I was almost finished mine, Howard had barely touched his. His deep brown eyes were stormy. I could feel his concern and consternation. I think he had something to say, but he didn't have the appropriate social skills to utter the necessary words.
I hadn't intended to do this yet, but I had no choice… I knew how Howard felt, and I knew that if I didn't cut the ties we shared he would never feel comfortable enough to move things on with Peggy, and he might lose her.
Howard's *point of view*
Maria's long, gentle, fingers touched my cheek, causing me to jump and drop my fork. I had been lost in thought, worrying about Peggy.
"Howard…" she said, "Yes?" I replied, smiling weakly at her.
"I think we should… end things between us just now." she whispered, her thumb stroked my cheek as she spoke. "What? Why?"
"Any fool can see how you feel about Peggy Carter." Maria whispered, and I blushed, "You love her, and you want to be with her and I wish to avoid holding you back from that"
"I'm not as smitten with Peggy as you are with Obie" I returned.
"Touché"
"If you're sure about this then, maybe it is time… I mean… Peggy won't wait forever… not with Steve being so… I'm worried about her, Maria, extremely worried. You heard what she said this morning about Steve not wanting her to work. You heard what she said when I asked her if he hit her."
"We can help her if the time comes. I'll see you soon, OK? We can still be friends"
"OK"
I walked Maria to the door. She gave me one last hug and left.
"Edwin?"
"Yes sir?"
"Put the rest of the spaghetti in the fridge, and I'll eat it tomorrow."
"OK"
I retired to bed for the evening. Edwin brought me a steaming mug of hot chocolate. I was reading my bible when he came in.
"Thanks Edwin…" I said around a yawn
"Goodnight sir"
"Goodnight Edwin"
I lay back after my hot chocolate. I closed my eyes and immediately the nightmares began… my father murdering my mother in front of me, my brother dying in Vietnam, and then… worst of all… the night Whitney Frost took my dignity… I awoke with a gasp. I got out of bed and took my cup downstairs to soak it.
"It didn't work, sir?"
"No it didn't Edwin, it was worth a try."
"Perhaps a bath, some lavender bubble bath?"
"We can try that tonight… I'm going for a swim."
I went upstairs and got my trunks and went for a swim… and then a long soak in the Jacuzzi. I spent most of my time in the water trying to force the memories of the dream out of my mind. Once I'd had my fill of the pool, I got out and went to the Jacuzzi.
"Sir it's 7am"
"Thanks Edwin"
"Your breakfast is on the table, along with your mail. Mr Stane called, he asked if you would call him back"
Edwin had made me an Egg in a hole sandwich with bacon and cheese, a mug of very hot, strong coffee and a little bowl of granola with yoghurt and raisins.
"I thought a hearty breakfast would behove you this morning, sir, after the nightmares."
"Thank you, Edwin…"
When I finished my breakfast, Edwin brought the mirror over, and I used it to examine my face while I wiped it with a napkin.
"I'm going for my shower, I'll call Obie when I get out, and then I need to go to the office."
"Of course sir"
I had a rapid shower and found my clothes sitting on my bed. Deciding that I wanted to look smart just in case Peggy was in the office, I dressed and combed out my hair. Once I was dressed, Edwin drove me to the office and went to run some errands for me. While I was at my desk, I called Obie
"I was hoping you would be able to meet me for lunch and go over the new designs"
"I'm meeting Peggy for lunch today. I'm in the office tomorrow morning, and we can review them then."
"OK"
"In fact, let's have a breakfast meeting."
"OK"
9:20 am at the office…
I glanced at my watch.
I glanced at the clock on the office wall and then at my watch again. I walked into my office and checked the time on my clock…
"Everything OK Howard?" Maria asked and I jumped.
"Not exactly. Have you seen Peggy this morning? She's more than 20 minutes late, this is not like her at all… unless the clock is wrong. She's usually very prompt and she's an absolute stickler for the clocks being right."
"I have not seen Peggy this morning, and the clocks in this office are never wrong."
I walked past the typing pool, to the Reception desk. Angie, the girl on the desk, grinned at me.
"Good morning Mr. Stark" she said cheerfully
"Morning Angie. Have you seen Peggy this morning?"
"No, sir, I haven't…"
I walked downstairs.
"Stark, what are you doing down here?" snarled a voice
"None of your business, Rogers." I replied, my voice brittle like ice. He couldn't look me in the eyes…
That's odd. I thought. We don't get on, but he can usually look into my eyes. Did he do something? Did he do something to Peggy? So help me God if he's hurt one hair on her head, I will go through him!
The office door opened, and Daniel Sousa popped his head round the frame. Jack Thompson was right behind him.
"Howard… are you OK?" he asked
"Daniel, have you seen Peggy this morning?" I countered
"No sir…" he replied
"What about you, Jack?"
"No, sir, I haven't heard from or seen Peggy since our last mission together."
Panic flooded through me.
"She's not marked down for annual leave, and she's not called in sick… she's not on a mission… this is very unusual for her, she's normally right on time, and she brings breakfast for everyone." said Maria
If you're so worried about her, give her a call" said Jack
Colour rose in my cheeks, my brow began to sweat, butterflies the size of flying foxes began to flap around in my stomach. "If I do that, she'll know that I… Ummm… never mind, I'm sure she'll turn up… eventually" I muttered, whispering the last part
"That you what?" Asked Daniel "Isn't it obvious Sousa?" sneered Rogers
"No, not really" Daniel replied, shooting Rogers a glare.
"I'd love to hear your theory, Rogers" said Jack Thompson. "Stark has a crush on Peggy Carter," said Rogers in a tone that suggested he was talking to a tiny and unintelligent child.
Fuck! I thought the other person I don't want to know about my feelings for Peggy knows about my feelings for Peggy! I don't want Peggy to know yet, though, after the other night… I think she's probably figured out that you have been having inappropriate thoughts and dreams about her, and I bet she doesn't feel the same.
"You're a creep, Stark, I bet you she's figured out that you've been… relieving yourself with her in your mind!"
"No I haven't, grow up Rogers" I snapped
"You're blushing!" he said
"I'm not, I'm fine." I retorted
"Your brow is all sweaty… your face is flushed and…"
I ran out of patience with The Star Spangled Man With A Plan.
"Rogers, get your ass to your desk and stay there. I don't want to hear one squeak out of you for the rest of the day. Do you understand me?" I snapped
"I'm going on a mission, I only came to the office to get a couple of things"
"Well, collect your bits and pieces there and be on your way."
Steve gathered his belongings and left. I felt relaxed. My mind, however, was suspicious.
Did he do something? Did he do something to Peggy? Is that why he can't look me in the eyes? Is that why she's late? So help me God if he's hurt one hair on her head, I will go through him!
"Howard, are you sure you're OK?"
"I'm fine, Daniel… just concerned about Peg."
"Wait a minute…" said Jack, "Why did you get angry when Steve called you out on blushing?"
"I don't like that man, at all! There's something about him that just doesn't sit right with me. I think he knows something about what happened to Peggy, or he did something to her… I don't like being suspicious, but I am"
"Want me to go and follow him and interrogate him?"
"No… Thank you, Jack, but no… that won't be necessary. I am going to call Peggy right now and see if she's OK." I dialled Peggy's number… the phone rang 12 times… and no one picked up.
"No answer…" I felt my stomach clench
"I think she's in trouble"
Daniel saw the look on my face, and he stumped over to the nearest chair and sat it behind me. I collapsed into it.
'Howard, I know you told Rogers that you don't, but I'm going to ask you again because I think you lied to him because you don't trust him and obviously after everything that's happened, I understand why. Do you have a thing for Peggy?" he asked softly,
"Yes. I do. You're right, I do not trust Rogers one bit. Peggy and I had dinner on Tuesday, Maria and I broke up last night… mutually and in fact, Maria took the lead, we weren't really dating, we were just kind of… keeping each other company while our soulmates figured things out. Maria was the one who arranged Peggy and I to go to dinner. I'm too insecure to do it myself… I mean, after everything that went down between Whitney Frost and me… I'm not as… comfortable around women as I used to be… I don't want to think about that. Peggy is… well, she's a war hero, and she's pretty and smart and funny, but boy is she SCARY when she's angry! Jarvis said her nails are sharp… I had planned to take Peggy to lunch today and ask her out properly, but…"
"Oh"
"Daniel, Jack, please do not breathe a word of this to anyone. Maria knows, but no one else does, and since Peggy and I both value our privacy… and if Rogers finds out…"
"Of course not, Howard," said Daniel. I looked into his eyes, he was sincere.
"Absolutely not" said Jack, "Whatever you and Agent Carter do on your time, is your business. I have to go… I'm going on a mission"
"Good luck"
"Thanks Howard"
"Howard, I am going to help you find Peggy."
"We need Maria… Obie… Angie… Rose… and Edwin and Ana Jarvis. They're the members of the Abusive Spouse Intervention Committee… I think Rogers has something to do with this… did you see how smug he looked?"
"Yes I did… don't worry Howard, we're going to get to the bottom of this."
I called an emergency ASIC meeting…
"All right… we will split into pairs and go and look for Peg… Maria, you and Daniel will stay here. Obie, I want you to stay by the phone… one of us needs to do that… Edwin, you and I are going to check the apartment building. Ana, I want you and Rose and Angie to go to the diner… the park, the laundromat, and the deli."
"Sir, might I suggest that when we check Ms Carter's apartment building, we check the grounds and the gardens too?"
"Of course Edwin, good idea"
"I'll let Patrick know that there's a situation afoot"
"Thanks, Maria."
We went to the apartments… a door-to-door enquiry proved fruitless… although, the door to Peggy's apartment was open. I was just beginning to panic when Edwin said
"Sir, we're not done yet… we still have the gardens at the back and the grounds at the side and the front to check"
"Go ahead, Edwin, I need to make some calls. I'll meet you down here in 15 minutes."
"OK"
I raced back to Peggy's apartment… I called the office from the phone
"We haven't found her yet, Edwin is searching the grounds right now…"
"Howard, don't panic, we'll find her… I'm on my way"
"All right"
Maria and I hung up… I glanced out of the back window and saw Edwin signalling frantically up to me. I checked the bedroom one more time, just in case we'd missed something, and what I found by Peggy's side of the bed made my blood run cold… a small glass, with a white residue and a few drops of liquid in the bottom, sat on the night stand. It was apparent that it was Peggy's side of the bed because of the pale pink nightdress that sat on the top of the pillow I left the glass and the nightdress where they were, but, I couldn't get the image of either object out of my mind.
Edwin was still trying to get my attention from downstairs.
I flew down the stairs and out to the back garden.
"Sir, I found Agent Carter. She is badly injured… we need medical help at once."
"HOWARD?"
"Out here Maria"
"Have you found her yet?"
"Yes…"
"What is that smell?" Maria gasped, covering her mouth and nose
"I would guess at ammonia… but that would mean" I said… and then the image came together…
"Edwin stay here with Peg. Maria, come with me"
We ran upstairs to the apartment.
"Look" I said pointing at the glass and the nightdress…
"Oh my"
"Whoever hurt her drugged her and… from the smell of things downstairs…"
"I'd say you're right…"
I called Dr Turner… he came and examined Peggy… we took her to the clinic. I stayed with her. When she woke up, she was extremely discombobulated, and I did something I would never have had the guts to do otherwise… I hugged her…
"Easy… you're all right… we're working on figuring out who did this"
"It was Steve… I broke up with him because he wanted me to go to Chicago with him. I refused, so he beat me and then he…"
Her voice quivered. "He's been doing… that… for some time."
"That explains the glass with the residue… the front door was open when I found you… and I found the glass…"
"That means my suspicion was right, he has been drugging me…"
Peggy was about to be discharged when she started feeling a lot of pain… as it turned out Rogers had been violating her on a nightly basis for around 9 months and had 'planted a seed' Peggy had no symptoms of pregnancy at all until she delivered. She begged me to give the little girl up for adoption.
"I know of the perfect couple…" I told her.
I took the baby (who I named Jane Elizabeth Foster because Peggy didn't want to be involved. Foster was my mother's maiden name) to Obie and Maria.
When I got back to the hospital, Peggy was curled up on her side facing the window… her dark brown eyes were very stormy indeed.
"What happens now?" she asked
"What do you mean?"
"I mean… I received an eviction notice… and then… Dooley fired me. I'm homeless, and I'm jobless and… and…"
"WHAT? I'm going to deal with that son of a motherless goat personally."
Peggy sighed and made herself even smaller
"Oh" she murmured, "it's like that, is it?"
"Peg… I don't understand"
"Daniel told me how you feel… or felt… about me… I don't blame you for getting over me so quickly… I mean, I'm disgusting now… damaged and used and… YUK"
"Peggy… I still feel the same way as I did about you… I backed off because you've been through a horrible ordeal and… I thought it was better to give you some space. I'm glad Daniel told you because I couldn't have done that… they don't know why, but I have severe and crippling social anxiety… Maria thinks it might be because of my rotten childhood, but…"
"How can you still feel the same after the appalling way I've been used and abused?"
"Because you're special to me… you're incredible… I've had a thing about you for a long time."
She looked up at me and in a trembling whisper she said
"I've…" and then she blushed. I sat on the edge of the bed next to her and slipped my arms around her
"You've been through a terrifying experience…"
"I know"
"If you want to be more than friends, we should take our time"
"I feel safe with you Howard… I've never felt safe with anyone before"
"Peg, I don't want to scare you but… I think we are soulmates…"
