So much for tomorrow, huh? Sorry. Just so you know, while I would never intentionally hold a chapter hostage for a review, getting them (as well as favs/follows) really does encourage me to write.
Thank you to all the people who have followed/favorited/reviewed this story since I last updated
Hey remember how I had the Black Widows/Docs kidnap Howard? Yeah I forgot about that too until now. So guess who we're starting with!
"What else can I tell you? You know everything!" insisted Howard.
"You claim to be so…innocent. You are not, you are responsible for the death of my brother and dozens of Russian soldiers," said Ivchenkov.
"And how many people would you have killed, had you succeeded with your plan to attack New York City? Thousands. I may not be innocent, but I'm a better man than you!" bit back Howard. Lucy lunged forward and slapped Howard across the face.
"Be careful who you insult, Mr. Stark," she hissed.
"What are we doing here anyway? Why drag me all the way back to Russia, it's not like there's anything left of the massacre that happened. I am sorry for it, very sorry. It was never supposed to happen, but the only thing I did was invent it. The General stole it from me and used it recklessly,"
"But he's already dead, and someone has to pay," said Ivchenkov.
"What about the other plan you and Zola were cooking up? Don't you need me for that? He was asking me about Mark 15," said Howard.
"Tell me how that works again,"
"If I had the prototype with me, I could fix it so that we could extract the super soldier serum from the last vial of Steve Rogers' blood. If I had the serum I could recreate it."
"That was Zola's plan, I care nothing for it. I only care about you,"
"Look I'm flattered but Doc you're really not my type. If you don't care about Zola's plan, why bother breaking him out of prison in the first place?"
"I didn't. We were placed in the same cell, he took the opportunity to leave when Lucy and Dottie broke me out,"
"I see you two have just become the best of friends," said Howard.
"I see you haven't yet lost your sense of humor. Soon," said Ivchenkov.
"So, Michael Carter, how old are you?" asked Pinkie.
The Howling Commandoes and Michael and Filip were sat on a plane, two benches facing each other. Michael and Filip on one side, the Commandoes squashed on the other.
"I don't know exactly, obviously old enough to fight. I don't have many memories though they are coming back slowly. I'm hoping my sister will be able to fill in the blanks,"
"These memories you have, they're of your sister?" asked Dugan.
"Yes, one when we were children, and one from many years older. I was in uniform, she was celebrating her engagement," said Michael.
"Peggy didn't have a fiancé," muttered Jonathon to Dugan.
"Not one we knew about anyway," muttered Dugan.
"Excuse us?" asked Filip,
"Do you have a name? Of your sister, that is," asked Dugan.
"Margaret Carter, but I called her Peggy," said Michael.
"He already told you her name," pointed out Filip,
"Sorry, I…" said Dugan,
"They are trying to see if my story is changing. My sister's name is Margaret Carter," said Michael again.
The Howling Commandos exchanged glances with each other.
"What? Does that mean something to you folks? We've been upfront with you because we need your help, can you help?" asked Filip.
"Can we help? What do you think this plane is, a hindrance?"
"Do you know my sister?" asked Michael, handing over the newspaper
"Yes," answered Dugan after a moment.
"You do? How?" asked Michael.
"It's a long story, we better let Peggy tell you," said Dugan.
"Very well, I appreciate the help you and your men are providing me and my friend," said Michael.
"Anything for Peggy,"
Michael stood up and held his hand out to Dugan, who went to shake it when there was some turbulence. Michael lost his footing and fell, his head hitting the bench he had just been sitting on.
What was it people said, 'you're life flashing before your eyes?'
Michael woke up an hour later,
"There you are, you are you feeling?" asked Pinky,
"I remember everything about my life…and I have the most dreadful headache," said Michael trying to stand up,
"Easy now, you hit your head pretty hard there Michael," said Filip.
"Have we landed?" asked Michael, ignoring Filip and standing, rather unsteadily, on his feet.
"Yes, about five minutes ago. Ready to see your sister?" asked Dugan,
"Absolutely," said Michael.
Angie and Peggy were standing in a gun range.
"Like this?" asked Angie, standing and pointing her gun at the target.
"Perfect! Now focus, take a deep breath and pull the trigger when you exhale.
Angie fired, the bullet hit the side of the target nowhere near the center.
"Practice it'll get better," said Peggy.
Daniel walked into the range.
"Starting her with the hard stuff, huh?" he asked, smiling.
"Start hard, make it easier as we go. Weeds out the weak in the beginning and gives a higher chance of success," said Peggy.
"Well leave Angie to practice, I need you back at the SSR," said Daniel.
"Yes, Chief," said Peggy, smiling.
"You know you don't have to call me chief, especially when it's just us," said Daniel.
"I like too, you've come far Daniel, you deserve to be appreciated," said Peggy.
"Ugh get out of here already! Let me practice in peace!" said Angie, Peggy chuckled.
"Pretend the target is someone you don't like, a rude customer for example, I find that helps," said Peggy before leaving with Daniel.
"Who did you pretend your target was when you were learning?" asked Daniel.
"I saw the target as various men I was around who treated me poorly because I was a woman. It changed every time," said Peggy.
"Is it bad I almost wanted you to say Fred?"
"When I broke it off with him, I sent him a letter, didn't even do it in person. He responded in kind and wished me well, apologized for my brother. He was very nice about everything. If anything he deserves to hate me for the way I left him," said Peggy.
"What is he doing now, do you know?" asked Daniel,
"My mother told me he found some nice girl to marry, they are living happily in a country estate in England. I think she wanted me to know what I was missing. She never approved of my choice to join the SOE," said Peggy.
They were back at the SSR, Wallis came running out to meet him.
"Chief, Carter, the Howling Commandoes are here," he said.
"Did you call them?" asked Daniel.
"No, I would have told you if I had. Maybe something happened on their side of things," said Peggy.
Peggy, Daniel, and Wallis walked inside the SSR to see a group of men crowding around Peggy's desk. Upon hearing their entrance, the group turned around. In front was Michael. Peggy was frozen in shock, Daniel looked at her worriedly.
"Peg? Peggy are you alright?" he asked. Daniel looked back at the group and watched as one man stepped forward.
"I know, I owe you an explanation," he said.
"This can't be real," said Peggy, starting to cry.
"It is, I promise you, I'm here," said Michael, he held out his arms and Peggy fell into them.
"Peggy, who is this?" asked Daniel. After a long moment Peggy broke away from Michael, still keeping hold onto him as if to make sure he wouldn't disappear.
"Daniel Sousa, I would like you to meet my brother. Michael Carter,"
Michael stuck out his hand and Daniel shook it.
"Wow, I'm sorry but it was just the other night Peggy told me you had died," said Michael.
"I think everybody needs explanations, how about we do them over a few drinks. I brought bourbon!" said Dugan, holding four bottles in the air, two in each hand.
I'm way past offering explanation for how late these updates are. Sorry.
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