Chapter 7
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Seven weeks later
Ever since finding out that they will not age Peggy and Howard, with the help of Azzuri and their family back home, have been doing everything they can to find answers about their remaining priorities.
It's early morning, on a beautiful morning in Wakanda, and Peggy, Howard, and Azzuri are all standing together at the airport, by a small, but very advanced, jet.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Azzuri asks, as he looks between Peggy and Howard in concern.
"We agreed, it's the best plan we've got," Howard comments.
"If we are going to prove Leviathan framed us then we are going to need someone inside of Leviathan to tells us where to find what we need; that's Michael," Peggy explains.
"We need to find him, and Peg's the only one who can get through to him when we do," Howard explains. "We can't do that from here," Howard reminds Azzuri.
"I know you two are more than capable of protecting yourselves, but if you leave Wakanda's borders, I can't protect you," Azzuri says worried. "I can give you supplies, and resources, and a sanctuary if you need it, but you'll be on your own," Azzuri says, looking between his friends in worry.
"it's not the first time, and it won't be the last," Howard comments.
"Azzuri you have done so much for us, and we will always be grateful, but this is how we move forward, this is what we have to do," Peggy admits.
"I know, I just wish I could do more for you," Azzuri admits.
"You've done more than enough Pal," Howard says, before hugging his friend.
"Do what Peggy says," Azzuri whispers to Howard as they hug. "She comes up with better plans," Azzuri reminds Howard.
"I know," Howard says amused, as they break apart, and once they do Peggy and Azzuri hug.
"Thank you," Peggy once more says as they hug.
"Look after yourself," Azzuri says, as he kisses Peggy's cheek.
"Of course," Peggy says, as they break apart.
"Protect each other," Azzuri says, looking between Peggy and Howard.
"Always," Peggy answers.
"And know you will always be welcome in Wakanda," Azzuri assure them.
"We'll be back, maybe sooner than any of us think," Howard says, and once he does Peggy and Howard head onto the jet that Azzuri is letting them use, and within minutes they are flying out of Wakanda.
Two Weeks Later
Ever since leaving Wakanda Howard and Peggy have gone back to fighting to stay one step ahead of all the people who are after them while trying to track down Michael.
Having only just managed to slip away before being arrested by Interpol Peggy and Howard once again find themselves at a safehouse where they are going through the intel they have.
"When was this report from?" Peggy asks Howard curious as they are currently reading a report that was found by their friends back in America.
"Um, four days ago; June 16th," Howard explains, after checking something and once he says the date Peggy realizes what that means.
"It's been a year," Peggy says, looking up from what she is doing to look at Howard.
"Wow, it has," Howard says, as he also stops what he is doing. "I never thought we'd be on the run for this long," Howard admits as he figured that they would have had it all figured out in a couple of months at the most.
"Me either," Peggy admits. "We need to end this," Peggy says, her voice full of determination.
"We will," Howard says, believing that. "We'll find Michael, and help him, that's the first step," Howard says.
"If he can be helped," Peggy mutters.
"Peg, what are you saying?" Howard asks confused.
"Look at just what we know he's done, everything in this report, and the others like it we have received. Maybe the best way for us to stop Leviathan would be to stop him," Peggy explains, and as she does Howard knows exactly what she means by that.
"Peggy, he's your brother," Howard reminds her.
"My brother, my Michael, was a good man," Peggy says, tears coming to her eyes. "He liked to drink, and tease me, knew I was meant to fight before I did," Peggy tells Howard. "The brother I knew wouldn't do these things, and he would have never shot at me," Peggy explains.
"That's exactly why we need to help him," Howard admits. "When Doctor Fennhoff did his thing to me it felt as real as this conversation," Howard admits. "He played on my regret, my shame, and if it wasn't for you he would have gotten me to kill hundreds of thousands of people," Howard reminds Peg. "Peg, I don't know how your brother got caught up with Leviathan, but neither do you. What I do know is that he deserves a chance to explain himself, and you deserve to get your brother back if you can," Howard explains.
"I think that might be impossible," Peggy admits. "I want answers, Howard, I do, but if I have to stop him, keep him from hurting anyone else, I will," Peggy says, without a shadow of a doubt in her voice, and because Howard isn't sure what to say the two of them just drift into silence.
Six Weeks Later
Since their conversation about Michael, and stopping him if necessary, Peggy and Howard have been going around Europe, following leads on both Michael and Leviathan. While it has seemed like they are one step behind both Peggy and Howard feel like they are getting closer.
As they have realized it is the easiest way to travel, though it does present some complications, Peggy and Howard are flying in the jet Azzuri gave them. While Howard is flying Peggy is in the co-pilot seat, though Howard is the one who is controlling the plane.
"You really think we'll be able to land that close to the structure?" Peggy asks surprised.
"In this jet I can," Howard answers. "What is this place again?" Howard asks curious.
"Daniel and Jack say it seems to have been used as a stash house. A place were soviet agents can stock up on the supplies without going back home," Peggy reveals. "They got the location through a spy they pressed," Peggy explains.
"And if the intel is right about the firefight yesterday, he'll need supplies," Howard realizes.
"Exactly," Peggy says. "This could be our chance," Peggy explains, not saying what kind of chance it is as she knows they're not exactly sure yet.
"We'll make it ours," Howard says, and the two of them drift into silence.
A little while later Howard has hidden the jet, which thanks to the Wakanda tech he is able to hide to a degree, and he and Peggy are disembarking, and as they are Peggy is handing Howard a gun.
"Peg, you know how I feel about these things," Howard comments, as he reluctantly takes the gun.
"Yes, for someone who has spent most of the last fifteen years creating weapons you are strangely against them," Peggy comments, as that doesn't make complete sense to her. "But Howard, considering everything I would rather you have one, just in case," Peggy explains. '
"I know," Howard responds as they approach the building.
Once Peggy and Howard get to the door that will lead them into the building Peggy and Howard look at each other and Howard gives Peggy a look which clearly says 'your lead', and so she nods, and once she has her gun draw, the two of them head into the house.
Over the next few minutes Peggy and Howard search the house, and just as the intel said they realizes that it is clearly a stash house as there are a lot of supplies, supplies that Peggy and Howard both think they may obtain for themselves.
"Nothing," Peggy says, once they finish searching and Howard can hear the disappointment.
"Maybe he hasn't come here yet," Howard comments, trying to think of a logical reason.
"Maybe," Peggy says, and as she does, she and Howard hear something. "Did you hear that?" Peggy asks, hoping it isn't just her.
"Definitely, it's a car," Howard says, and once he does both, he and Peggy hurry over to a window.
At the window Peggy and Howard look down and watch as the car pulls up and a few seconds later, they watch as Michael steps out.
"Told you so," Howard says, not being able to resist the opportunity, which causes Peggy to roll her eyes at him.
"Come on," Peggy says, and they both head downstairs, purposely being as quiet as possible.
Watching carefully Peggy and Howard watch as Michael walks into the building, and once he has closed the door he came through Peggy and Howard move out from where they were, Peggy being the one to move first.
"Hello Michael," Peggy greats.
"You," Michael says. "Who are you? Who do you think I am?" Michael asks, feeling confused, as ever since the last time he saw Peggy he has been wondering about her, but something told him not to mention her to anyone, so he hasn't.
"You are Agent Michael Carter, I am Peggy Carter, your sister," Peggy explains, and as she does Howard starts to walk towards Michael, because Michael is focused on Peggy he doesn't realize, Peggy does and wonders what the hell he is doing.
"What?" Michael says confused. "No, I'm Nikola Rancova, a loyal solider of Leviathan," Michael says, almost like he is saying it to make himself believe it. "I don't know you; I've never known you," Michael says, pulling his gun, and pointing it at Peggy.
The second he sees the gun, before either Carter Sibling can react, Howard moves and stabs Michael with a needle, and pushes the plunger, which causes him to collapse.
"What did you do?" Peggy asks shocked, as she hurries over, wanting to check on both Howard and Michael.
"It's a serum Azzuri's team and I came up with. It will keep him knocked out for about ten hours," Howard explains.
"And how exactly is that going to help?" Peggy asks angrily.
"It will allow us to take him back to Wakanda. We're you can talk to him without the guns, where Azzur's people can tell us what is medically going on with him, and where we can get our answers," Howard explains. "I didn't know for sure that it would work, that's why I didn't tell you I had it," Howard admits as he didn't want to get Peggy's hopes up.
"You still should have," Peggy admits. "Let's get him to the plane," Peggy request, putting aside her anger for the moment as she knows they have bigger concerns, and together she and Howard work together to get Michael to the plane.
A couple of hours later Peggy and Howard are on the plane, with Michael who is still unconscious, flying back to Wakanda, for the first time in a while there is an awkward silence.
"Are we really going to spend the entire flight back in silence?" Howard asks, as he cannot handle the silence anymore.
"I have nothing to say," Peggy responds, an edge to her voice.
"Your tone, and the look on your face tells otherwise," Howard comments, knowing that because he knows Peggy so well. "It's a long flight to just simmer in anger," Howard comments.
"What were you thinking?" Peggy asks angrily.
"I was trying to help you! I didn't want you to have to shoot your brother, or for you to be shot by him!" Howard explains.
"You could have been killed!" Peggy exclaims, and as she does Howard realizes something.
"Wait, are you angry that I didn't tell you I had the serum or that I used it on him myself?" Howard asks, trying to make sense of the exact reason why Peggy is angry with him.
"Howard, you're a scientist, not a solider!" Peggy explains. "You know what Michael's done. If he had realized what you were doing, he could have killed you! And as you've pointed out more than once we may not age, but we can certainly die!" Peggy says angrily, and even though he is supposed to be paying attention to how he is flying Howard turns to have a look at Peggy.
"Peg, I know you don't need anyone's protection, that you can handle anything, it's one of the reasons I love you, but I also knew that you would never forgive yourself if you had to shoot your brother," Howard admits, looking straight at Peggy, who like Howard has realized exactly what Howard said. "I don't see what I did as putting myself in danger, because I knew that you had my back, that you'd protect me if needed; I thought, considering the circumstances, it was the best plan I had to save you from pain," Howard admits.
"You should have told me what you were thinking," Peggy says.
"So, you could have talked me out of it?" Howard asks.
"No, talking you out of anything when you've made up your mind is impossible," Peggy says, knowing that all too well. "You should have told me, so that we could have come up with a plan together, that's what partners do, and we're partners Howard," Peggy reminds him.
"Yeah, we are," Howard confirms. "I promise to talk to you next time," Howard comments.
"There better bloody not be a next time," Peggy comments.
"Come on, Peg. You know damn well there's going to be," Howard says with a grin.
"True," Peggy says, looking amused. "Howard, there are many things about you that drive me crazy, things that are reasons why I love you, this reckless but willing to do the right thing part of you fits into both categories," Peggy admits, and as she does she and Howard exchange smiles, both knowing exactly what has just happened for the first time during the conversation.
As they exchange smiles both Peggy and Howard lean forward and kiss, after a few moments they feel the plane go into a dive and so they quickly break apart.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry," Howard says as he quickly corrects.
"Maybe you should focus on flying, making sure we get to Wakanda in one piece," Peggy suggests.
"Maybe you should stop distracting me then," Howard says, with a teasing smile, and so Peggy just rolls her eyes and shakes her head at him.
After the rest of the flight proceeded in a much better way than the first half of the flight Peggy and Howard have touched down in Wakanda. As they had to radio ahead Azzuri is waiting for them, just like they expected, even though it is quite late.
"Welcome back," Azzuri says, as Peggy and Howard walk up to him. "Everything is the same as you left it, and I have arranged for two medical teams to look after your brother, determine what has happened to him," Azzuri explains to Peggy.
"Thank you," Peggy responds gratefully, as the medical team head into the jet.
"I had food prepared, I assumed you would both be hungry," Azzuri explains.
"You assumed right," Howard admits, as the medical team lead Michael of the plane and Azzuri gestures for Peggy and Howard to follow him, which they do, and they head into the building together.
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