Hey everyone this chapter took a while but it's longer than normal so that's probably why. Let me know what you think. Thank you. Enjoy :)
"We call it the Stark special, custom-designed to his exact specifications." The jeweler Gramps uses when he's in New York said.
"Are you saying Howard Stark buys a bracelet for every women he's..." Peggy started not wanting to finish that sentence.
"Oh, no." The jeweler tried to assure her but she wasn't buying it.
"Yes. He considers it a parting gift to commemorate their time together." I said remembering how Gramps had described his procedure to get rid of a one-night stands.
"Mr. Stark demands only the highest quality diamonds, the highest karat of gold. Any girl would be lucky to wear such a fine piece. Would you like to try it on?" He asked Peggy.
"Oh, thank you very much. I-if we could just see the list, we'll be on our way." Peggy said.
"Anything for friends of Mr. Stark." The jeweler said before pulling out a list.
"Oh, it's shorter than I thought it would be." Peggy said.
"Turn the page." I said.
"Spoke too soon."
"How could he possibly meet this many women?" Peggy said astounded at all the names she saw.
"Well, the Academy Awards is a very busy time." Jarvis said as Peggy started crossing off names.
"What are you doing?" Jarvis asked.
"A large portion of the women on this list are well-known actresses, models, and socialites, publicly established for several years." Peggy noted. "They can be disregarded."
"Well, I wouldn't dismiss her." Jarvis said pointing to a name.
"You think Ginger Rogers is a Russian assassin?" Peggy said confused.
"You should have seen her eyes when I escorted her from Mr. Stark's villa. The darkest gates to the abyss." Jarvis said shivering at the memory.
"We still have a few to cross off the list," I said counting the names.
"You better get started then." Jarvis said.
"Aren't you coming?" I asked.
"I thought I might sit this one out, actually." Jarvis said as we got to the home of the first person on the list.
"I need you to positively identify these women. Stop dawdling and come along." Peggy said not happy with having to do this in the first place.
"I-it's just that with Mr. Stark's tendency to, um... Prematurely evacuate? When... when he ends a relationship, he prefers to do so by proxy, and that proxy is me." Jarvis explained.
"Ugh." Peggy groaned.
"Sufficed to say, these encounters could be disagreeable." Jarvis said.
"That'd be an understatement." I said.
"We're not having dinner with these women. I just need to see their wrists." Peggy said.
"You're looking for the bracelet?" I said confused.
"Not quite... the girl in Russia had scars on her wrists from being cuffed to the bed. If my theory is correct, our spy will have those same scars." Peggy said.
"By girl you mean the ten year old that shot me?" I said.
"Yes, She had similar training the spy we are looking for would have." She explained.
"Surely you could devise a way to see these women's wrists without involving me." Jarvis said trying to worm his way out of this.
"Maybe, but it would be more complicated and less fun. Come along, Mr. Jarvis." Peggy said walking up the stairs to knock on the door.
Five scorned women later…
"Oh. No, I haven't seen Howard Stark, and I don't want to. He's a no-good, dirty, lowdown... Snake, as if he could buy me off with a trinket. I'm not that kind of girl. If I did that, if any girl did that, you know what people would call her? A floozy, that's what. He should be shamed. He should be judged, and so should you for helping him. Tell him if I ever see him just scatting about town, I'm gonna... Show him the business end of this!" She said slapping Jarvis.
"No." Jarvis cried.
"Ohh!" Peggy and I said as we watched
"Well, Mr. Stark would seem to have an unfortunate attraction to violent women." Jarvis said rubbing his cheek.
"I imagine they were far less violent before they met him. Ida Emke is next." Peggy said.
"Yes, a dancer he met at a charity auction, I believe. Hmm. No, maybe the caterer. His variety is staggering." Wow even Jarvis was having a hard time of keeping track of everyone Gramps spent the night with.
"According to this, she's close-by." I said looking up the address book Jarvis had provided.
"Lets get this over with, shall we." Peggy said walking down the block.
"Miss Emke?" Peggy called out as she knocked on the door. "No one home. What a shame. Shall we?"
"Uh, I'll keep an eye on the hallway." Jarvis volunteered.
"Knock if there's danger." Peggy said as she snuck in through a window.
We stood there standing guard watching for danger but other than a nosy little boy no one looked our way.
"Who were you talking to?" Peggy said as she came back.
"A future mafioso. Did you find anything useful?" Jarvis asked.
"Ida's long gone. The room's completely empty, but she's definitely our girl." Peggy said.
"How do you know?" I asked.
"Uh, scratches on the bedposts. Remember, the Russian girls were handcuffed to the beds from a very young age." Peggy explained.
"Are you suggesting she's still doing it?" Jarvis asked.
"That must be a very hard habit to break." Peggy said.
"That's really creepy." I said.
"I'll knock on a few doors, see if any of the neighbors know where Ida may have gone. In the meantime, see if you can track down the owners of the building. They may have a paper trail on her." Peggy planned out. "Meet me back at the automat, and let's move fast."
A Few Hours Later-
"Any luck?" Jarvis asked said greeting us at the Automat.
"Miss Emke paid on time, always in cash, and left no forwarding address. I hope you were more successful." Jarvis said.
"Unfortunately, no... she was the perfect New York neighbor. No one saw or spoke to her. Half the people I talked to didn't even know the apartment was rented. So what next? Miss Carter?" Jarvis asked. Peggy was looking around and was being very quiet.
"Quiet." She said. "Procedure 791... Isolate the suspect and remove civilians from harm before attempting arrest."
"I'm sorry." Jarvis said thinking he might have misheard.
"What's happening?" I asked.
"The man at the counter is Agent Messner from Washington, D.C. The man behind me is Agent Reese." Peggy explained.
"SSR agents?" I asked and she nodded.
"I need you to find a way to block the front door so that no one else can come in. I'll do the rest." Peggy said to Jarvis.
"I'd love to." Jarvis answered before getting up.
"Nora get ready" Peggy said before standing up and going to a man looking at the sandwiches. "Oh. 10 cents for a cup of coffee, if you can believe it."
"Get her!" One of the agents said.
"Hold it right there!" Another called out but we were on the move.
"I can't hold it forever!" Jarvis called out.
I blocked a punch and then flipped a guy over knocking him out. Wren's training was starting to pay off. I saw a guy about to sneak up on Peggy. I jumped onto a table and jumped over. I jumped onto him and wrapped my legs around his neck and flipped him over. I nailed the landing. I finally managed to do the roundabout.
"That way, Miss Carter!" Jarvis said to Peggy looking over to the back exit.
"Stop. Right there, Carter. No sudden movements. Ah. Those idiots from D.C. didn't believe me when I said you'd be hard to grab." Jack said.
"What's happening, Jack?" Peggy tried to pass off as innocent.
"Witness places you with Brannis the night he died, there's a photo of you in the club the night Spider Raymond was killed, and here you are with your best friend, Howard Stark's butler and his cousin. Thought you were in Europe by the way.
"Got cold." I answered.
"I-I think there's been a terrible misunderstanding..." Jarvis said.
"Stuff it." Jack said keeping his gun aimed at Peggy.
"You've got it all wrong." Peggy said.
"Then turn yourself in." Jack replied. "Come to the office and tell me all about it."
"You know I can't do that." Peggy said.
"Sweetheart..." Jack started in a condescending tone. "Look around. You don't have a choice."
"I'm so sorry, Jack." Peggy said before knocking him out. "The Dublin House, 79th Street... Meet me there."
"Meet you there? Where are you going?" I asked.
"There's something I need to get from the Griffith." Peggy said.
"That's a horrible idea. It's the first place they'll look for you. What could you possibly need?" Jarvis said.
"Steve's blood." Peggy answered.
"Go!" I said.
Jarvis and I ran in the opposite direction and got in the car.
"You ever been to the Dublin House?" I asked.
"Not since I had to pick up Mr. Stark the morning after St. Patrick's day." Jarvis answered.
"How is Grandpa doing?" I asked.
"I haven't seen him." Jarvis said before fixing his collar.
"Yes and I still believe in Santa Claus." I retorted.
"I'll take it you're still mad at him." Jarvis asked.
"Not mad as much as I'm disappointed." I answered.
"I have seen Mr. Stark lie and use more women than I care to admit but you are one of the few people who he truly cherishes. His methods may have been questionable but he had his reasons." Jarvis said.
I sighed. "I know. Like I told Peggy. I had a year too cool off and think it out. Given everything that happened and what I was going through I can see why he might have thought it was a good idea not to tell me." I admitted.
"You are doing better. I have to admit I was a bit concerned." Jarvis said.
"You mean with me showing up out of the blue and puking up pills. Yeah I scared a lot of people." I said. "Then I hit rock bottom."
"What was rock bottom?"
"I slept with my first crush the night of my godson's baptism and showed up at my best friend's apartment at three in the morning crying."
"Oh." Jarvis said awkwardly.
"Yeah. Rock bottom." I repeated.
"We're here." Jarvis said slightly relieved to be out of the car. It might have been a bit of an over share. Then again he's probably dealt with worse working for Gramps.
"This is the Dublin House?" I asked.
"No, This is my home." Jarvis said. Okay not expecting that.
We walked into the apartment building and took an elevator to the top floor.
"Darling I'm home." Jarvis called out.
A red head woman walked over to the living room and gave Jarvis a kiss and a hug.
"You're just in time for lunch, Oh and this must be Nora. It's so nice to meet you." She said pulling me into a hug. She was a hugger.
I was just frozen where I stood. Anna Jarvis, Nana, the woman who raised me was standing in front of me.
"Uh, Hi. It's nice to meet you too." I said.
"Nora, this is Anna, my wife." Jarvis said.
"I've heard so much about you. It's good to finally put a face to the name. It's not everyday I meet one of the few people Howard's related too. " Anna said. "Are you alright?"
"She's had a long day." Jarvis said.
"Uh yeah, Sorry." I said snapping out of it.
"Well you two are just in time, our other guest is waiting for us." Anna said.
"Other guest?" I asked.
We walked over to the kitchen and sitting at the table was Gramps reading the paper.
"Jarvis what's the word on the street?" Gramps asked.
"SSR is after us. One of your former one night stands is actually a Russian assassin and now we're all on the lamb." I said.
Gramps put the paper down and looked up. He cleared his throat and said, "Nora it's been what, two weeks?"
"About a year actually." I said.
"Really? I could have sworn it hadn't been that long." Gramps said.
"It's easy to lose track of time when you're I don't know, running from the authorities or working." I said.
"Or making lunch for that matter. Why don't you all get settled? I'll bring the goulash out in a second." Nana said.
"Why don't I help you dear?" Jarvis said noticing we needed to clear the air.
"So how you been?" Gramps said.
"I'm good." I said. "You?"
"Still on the lamb so I could be better." He answered.
"So last time we saw each other I edited out a couple of details." Gramps said.
He was already forgiven but that doesn't mean I wasn't going to make him work for it.
"A couple?" I said.
"The entire story." Gramps admitted. "And I was wrong to do it but I did it for the right reasons."
"What gave you the right to make that choice?" I said raising my voice slightly.
"The fact that you were mourning and tried to off yourself Nora." He said whispering harshly.
"He was my soul mate Gramps not just some lab rat." I argued. Okay maybe I wasn't as over it as I thought I was.
"I know. I should have told you and I was going to tell you. I never used that vial not because I couldn't do it but because I kept hearing your voice in the back of my head telling me how wrong it would be." Gramps argued. " I wanted to tell you but you were unstable and I wasn't going to push you over the edge."
"Do you even regret lying to me?" I said.
"Honestly? No. Because I did it to protect you. And if I had to do it all over again I would. We're family kid you can hate me all you want but at the end of the day we're all each other's got." And with that I couldn't be mad anymore. Because at the end of the day what wouldn't we do for family.
I didn't say anything instead I hugged Gramps. I took him by surprise.
"I forgave you months ago, I just needed to make sure you did it for the right reasons."
"Then why did you…"
"I wasn't going to let you think I let it go that easily." I said.
"You were going to make me grovel?!"
"Of course. I was going to make it worse and give you the cold shoulder for another day but the way these time jumps are going I wasn't sure I was going to have that much time." I said.
"So one year…" Gramps said.
"Yeah, we have a lot to catch up on." I said.
"Looking forward to it. Dinner and Drinks after this is all over?" Gramps asked.
"Sounds great." I said. And at that moment Anna and Jarvis walked in.
Lunch was great. I almost cried at how amazing Nana's goulash was. It was even better than I remembered it was.
After lunch we said our goodbyes and made our way to Dublin House.
"So what happened after you left." Gramps asked.
"You remember that chat we had about what we were going to do after?" I asked.
"Yeah, Oh." Gramps said.
"Yeah, I joined the army. Had a couple of close calls but it worked out. I finally met Wren." I said.
"You met Wren?" Gramps said.
"First day on the front lines. He was different than I thought." I said.
"Different how?"
"He was kind of a jerk. He made two grown men cry. He had a bet going I wasn't going to last a day."
"I can imagine how that worked out."
"It worked out in the end. He got me through the six months I wasn't talking to Dad and…"
"You went six months without talking to your Dad?!"
"Yes, he was dealing with something and if I told him what I was going to do he would've stopped me and I really needed to go so I did."
"God, Nora."
"It gets worse."
"There's more?" He asked.
"I came home at the end of my time with the army right before Christmas and didn't tell him. So he hadn't heard from me and didn't know where I was until he showed up at the ranch and saw me there with Wren."
"Oooooh."
"We talked it out. There was yelling, there was bantering but we worked it out in the end. I asked Wren to move in. He agreed. I blackmailed the secretary of state to save him from a creepy general and we now live and work together." I said.
"I missed a lot."
"Yeah Aya's timing has gotten better." I said.
"Aya?"
"The time stone. Aya's its name."
"It has a name?"
"Yup."
"Okay I'll say it again, your life is complicated." Gramps said.
"It is."
Jarvis walked into the room looking a bit worried.
"I have just received word Ms. Carter has been arrested." He said.
"Crap." I said. "What do we do?"
"There's only one thing left to do." Gramps said. "It's time I made amends with Peggy."
"How?" I said confused.
"Jarvis, You should probably call Anna and tell her you're going to be home late." Gramps said.
After faking a confession Jarvis was off and we were stuck in hiding.
"There's something you need to know" Gramps said.
"Please tell me there isn't another vial or sample of the serum somewhere." I said.
"No, during the three months you were gone after you got turned into a toddler I worked nonstop and I came up with some of my best and worst inventions." Gramps said.
"Worst?"
"The army was short on men and wanted something to keep the men we did have awake for days so they could keep fighting so I came up with midnight Oil. It was a gas that was supposed to do just that."
"What do you mean supposed to?" I asked.
"It didn't work. Instead it caused heightened symptoms of sleep deprivation like…"
"Anger, hallucinations and psychosis." I finished.
"Right, I decided not to hand it over but McGinnis had other plans. My lab was raided and the gas and the plans for it were taken by his men. The used planes to release the gas over Finow. They wanted to help the Soviets by evening things out but instead the soldiers went mad and killed each other. It was a blood bath." Gramps said taking a drink. "I got there the next day and McGinnis was covering everything up. He tried to get me to go along with his side of the story instead I punched him and ended my contract with the military except for y work with the SSR."
"That explains why the Russians might have a bone to pick with you." I said.
"I never wanted any of this to happen. After I got back I built my safe to make sure it never happened again but by the look of things it didn't work out."
"I didn't but we're going to fix this. It won't bring anyone back but it will make sure this never happens again, we just have to figure out who's behind all of this."
Then out of nowhere there was a transmission on the radio.
"Breaking news, Massacre at the Cinema Theater. The entire audience of one of the theaters main functions has been killed. Authorities believe it was a side effect of a gas leak that led to violent hallucinations. Please be aware. If you suspect any leaks please evacuate the area and alert the area."
"Gas leak?" I asked Gramps.
"We have to go." Gramps said grabbing his jacket.
"Where to?"
"SSR, it's time to end this."
We took a taxi to the phone company and took the back entrance.
"Ivchenko has a plan. He brought us into Russia. He tricked us into bringing him into this country. There's something specific that he is targeting. We just have to find out what it is." We head Jack say.
"The target is me." Gramps said getting everyone's attention. They aimed they're guns at us. "Hey!"
"Get your hands up. Get your hands up!" Jack shouted.
"Told you." I said I said putting my hands up.
"What kind of welcome is this?" Gramps said.
"How the hell did you get in here?" Jack yelled
"You know who designed the SSR security system? Yeah, the same outfit that secures the White House." Everyone just glared at him. "Exactly. They stink. You should have hired me. I know. You missed me."
After Gramps was formally arrested and me for aiding and abetting we were taken to the conference room. Gramps was going to help the SSR but he was going to annoy them a bit first. I can see where Dad and I got him from.
"You're guilty." Jack said.
"How about looking wrong?" Gramps answered. I had kind of zone out around the second time Jack left to take a breather.
"As of this moment, you're under arrest, Stark." Jack said.
"You know, I could help you with that." Gramps replied. [Smacks table]
Jack lost it and smacked the table. "Roger Dooley is dead. Ray Krzeminski is dead."
"Along with a theater full of innocent people. Stark Industries... That's all on you." Another guy added. By the looks of it he was Daniel Sousa. Peggy had mentioned him briefly.
Gramps just started chuckling. I elbowed him and gave him a look.
"You got something funny to say about that?" Jack asked.
"I know. That's why I came back." Gramps said before starting to tell them the story of Finow.
"That's everything there is to know about the battle of Finow." Gramps said.
"I really don't care about some old war story." Jack said.
"Well, you should. 'Cause all those deaths are on me, too. The gas is called midnight oil." Gramps explained.
"You designed a poison gas, Howard?" Peggy asked a bit outraged.
"No! Well, not intentionally. The army wanted something that would keep soldiers awake for days at a time, but it failed. Caused symptoms similar to sleep deprivation..." Gramps started.
"Anger, hallucinations, psychosis." I elaborated.
"If you knew all that, why use it in Finow?" Peggy asked.
"I didn't. My lab was raided. They took my samples, my research, all on the orders of general McGinnis. The next day, they dropped it on the Russians to help them take Finow. I flew there afterward to see with my own eyes. What those men did to each other, you can't imagine." Gramps said.
"We don't need to imagine. We saw it in that theater. I experienced it myself." Daniel said.
"And you survived?" Gramps said.
"From what I read in your files it's been known to cause asphyxiation." I said.
"Guess that explains my sore throat." He said.
"It also explains our voiceless friends. Someone performed laryngotomy procedures on these men. I expect it was Dr. Ivchenko or, as he's also known, Johann Fennhoff." Peggy said.
"Who?" Gramps and I said at the same time.
"A psychiatrist with a specialty in hypnosis." She answered.
"Must be how they got to Dooley. And if he can control the chief, we're all at risk." Jack pointed out.
"No. This time, I'm taking the risk. This Fennhoff obviously wants to punish me, so... let's give him what he wants." Gramps said.
"What are you talking about?" I said not liking the look in his eyes.
"I'll be the bait. The SSR just needs to set the trap." Gramps said. I really didn't like this idea.
"Yeah. Something public. Real showy." Daniel said.
"Well, that's the only way I do it." Gramps said with a smirk.
Three hours of putting this 'press' conference together we gathered outside the phone Company's office. Why no one thought this was a weird place for this press conference I will never know.
"How's that look?" Gramps asked.
"Like a nest of spiders with very short legs." Peggy retorted.
"That's good enough. Hey, Peg, you got any powder? I want to cut down the shine." Gramps said shooing away his stylist.
Peggy sighed. "I don't like this, Howard. It's too dangerous."
"I agree Gramps." I said.
"Don't waste your breath, Miss Carter, Miss Stark. I've already wasted mine on the subject." Jarvis added.
"What is that?" Gramps asked as Peggy handed him a vest.
"It's body armor for your protection." Peggy answered.
"It's junk. Where's my stuff?" Gramps said throwing the vest aside.
We went down to the lab. I followed after Gramps trying to keep him out of trouble.
"What are you people doing? These are highly volatile materials. This... This is photosensitive. This should be kept in the dark. This... This should be kept cool." Scientists around the lab grunted. "And this. This is fine now." He said moving an object into a drawer.
"Howard, what are you hoping to accomplish with this ridiculous press conference? There are other ways to get Fennhoff into the open." Peggy said.
"Name one. No, name three. There it is." He said ignoring us. Peggy cleared her throat getting his attention.
"Stops a .50-cal round from 100 feet." Gramps said proudly.
"Unless you're planning to put it on your head, it won't be enough." Peggy deadpanned.
"Can you please stop bringing up way he could be killed." I said frustrated. "Have you guys forgotten that his life is tied to mine? He dies I'm never born and I kind like life. Its starting to look up at the moment." I said.
"I trust you two keep me safe." Gramps said
"You're punishing yourself." Peggy added.
"I'm redeeming myself. I have enough blood on my hands. I don't need yours, as well. I've had to go through my life not caring what people think of me, but I do care what you two think. And after everything you said to me last time, I thought..." Gramps started.
"Gramps…" I said feeling guilty.
"Howard, I was angry. That doesn't mean I want you to die." Peggy said frustrated about how easy going Gramps was about this.
"Well, that makes three of us. But you know and I know that this is my fault." Gramps said remorsefully.
"General McGinnis stole midnight oil and used it recklessly. He is at fault. Can you not see that?" Peggy tried to reason with him.
"I need to fix this. Otherwise, I won't be able to live with myself." Gramps said making me sigh.
"You're mad." Peggy said.
"As a hatter." Gramps retorted making Peggy scoff.
We got Gramps ready and we were out front. I stood by Peggy and listened in as we kept watch.
"After a thorough investigation, we have concluded that Howard Stark is innocent of the theft and sale of weapons to foreign enemies. All charges against Mr. Stark have been dropped." Jack said as people took pictures. "We owe Mr. Stark a tremendous debt of gratitude, and his assistance in our current investigation is invaluable. "Hero." He said coughing a bit as Gramps told him what to say.
"He is a hero." I heard Gramps say over the coms
"He is... a hero for all Americans." Jack said having a hard time saying the words.
"Are the rooftops covered, Agent Comden?" Peggy asked.
"Mr. Stark will be working in concert with the SSR..." Jack said.
"All clear." Agent Comden said
"They're here somewhere." Peggy said.
"To bring those responsible for this crime..." Jack said.
"I know it. To justice." Gramps whispered.
"Humbled by his genius." No. No. "Brilliance." Gramps said
"Humbled by his brilliance." Jack put together annoyed at Gramps' behavior.
"Hmm. We are humbled." Gramps said.
Jack had had enough and ended his introduction "Here's Howard Stark."
"Mr. Stark, have all your weapons been recovered?" One man asked.
"Is it true that you were hiding at the residence of Barbara Stanwyck?" Another reporter asked.
"For too long now, the name Howard Stark has been dragged through the mud. Today is a day of reckoning for anyone who doubts..." Gramps started before someone tried to shoot gramps but missed since he was pulled out of the way.
"Who's got eyes on the shooter?" Jack asked.
"It's coming from above. Get him out of here." Peggy said.
"Police car in the back alley. This way. Go!" Jarvis said pulling Gramps away.
"They're shooting from the hotel." Peggy said. I looked up and saw something resembling a gun pointed down at where Gramps was.
The gunshots stopped and we went to regroup.
I saw Jarvis but no Gramps.
"Jarvis where's Gramps?" I asked.
"He's been taken."
"By who?" Peggy asked.
"It was a woman blond blue eyes. She had the scar on her wrist." Jarvis said.
"Dottie."
"Your neighbor." I said remembering the blonde who injected me with that weird toxin that made me hallucinate.
"The same let's go see if there are any clues at the hotel." Peggy said.
"This rifle was rigged to fire itself. They're long gone." Daniel said.
Peggy picked up the gun and looked through the "Strange."
"What's that?" Daniel asked.
"Either Dottie's a terrible shot, or this gun was never supposed to kill Howard. It's aimed well above the podium. It was a diversion." Peggy said
"Diversion from what?" Daniel said.
"They weren't trying to kill Howard. They need him for something." I said.
"So, now we got to tell the whole world we're chumps." Jack said frustrated.
"They've been planning this whole thing since the beginning." Daniel said.
"No, they couldn't have."
"Could they?" Jack asked.
"Kidnapping Howard couldn't have been part of their original plan. They didn't know he was here until the press conference." Peggy said.
"So if they don't want him dead, what do they want?" I asked.
"Howard said Fennhoff wants to punish him. Whatever they've planned, it must be a fate worse than death." Peggy said.
"We need to determine what his next target is. The movie house was a test. So they got to be planning something bigger. Statue of Liberty? Empire State?" Daniel said.
"What day is it?" Peggy asked.
"May 8th. V.E. Day." Jack answered.
"They're going to hit Times Square." Peggy said.
That made everyone start to move. Everyone was on the phone calling everyone they could think of. If we were back in my time I'd be hacking traffic cameras and intelligence websites.
"Car's near 42nd and 9th. No Stark." Jack said.
"This isn't good." Daniel said.
"No, it isn't." Peggy answered.
"Guy at the coffee shop saw a blonde forcing a man matching Stark's description into the back of a black Sedan. They were last seen heading west towards Lincoln Tunnel. I radioed their descriptions to Port Authority..." Daniel elaborated.
"See if we can snag them at the tolls." Jack ordered.
"They're trying to leave the city. Why?" Peggy asked.
"Maybe we were wrong about the target." Daniel asked.
"Just talked to every muckity-muck in the city, trying to call off the V.E. day celebration. They won't do it." Jack said.
"Already 100,000 people packed into Times Square. We won't have enough time to evacuate." Daniel said.
"He could have stashed those canisters anywhere. The gas was designed to be deployed by air." I said.
"Which is why we shut down all the airports..." Jack said.
"And every private airfield in the area." Daniel added.
"I think I know where Dr. Fennhoff is headed." Jarvis said
"Where?" I asked.
"If his intention is to place blame for the attack on Mr. Stark, would it not be most effective to use one of Mr. Stark's own planes?" Jarvis suggested.
"That'd be a good idea." I said.
"He can't. We confiscated them all." Jack said.
"Not all." Jarvis said.
"Hmm?" Peggy and I said at the same time.
"There is another vault... Considerably larger than the first." Jarvis explained.
"How big?" I asked.
"Large enough for say three to four planes." Jarvis answered.
"That explains a lot." I said, "We need to move."
One car ride where every possible speed limit was broken later we got to the hanger. Just as we were getting there a plane was getting ready for take off.
"Howard!" Peggy yelled trying to get his attention but it was too late.
"What now?" I asked.
"How long until he reaches New York?" Peggy asked.
112 minutes. Maybe less. Maybe we could talk him down." Jarvis asked.
"You think he'd listen?" Daniel asked.
"Chief did." Jack answered
"Radio room?" Peggy asked.
"Second floor of the hangar." Jarvis answered.
"I need someone to take one of those planes up." Jack ordered.
"Why?" Jarvis asked.
"Shoot him down with a plane full of poisonous gas?" Peggy said not believing how reckless Jack was being. "You'd have to do it over the water before he reaches land."
"Geez. Well, I-I'm not your guy. I never flown a plane before." Daniel said.
"Likewise." Jack said.
"I have." Jarvis said.
"Mr. Jarvis, I cannot ask this of you." Peggy said.
"Mr. Stark would want to be stopped by any means possible." Jarvis said.
"We have little time. Help him get off the ground." Peggy said. We ran up to the radio room and tried to see of we could contact Gramps.
"Signal is still holding strong. Changing course to bearing 2-6-9." We heard, as we got closer.
"Focus, Howard. You're doing very well." Doctor Fennhoff said.
"Hands up." Peggy said as we walked in.
"Ah, ah, ah, ah. Lose the gun." Dottie said as she pointed a gun back at us.
"Move away from the radio slowly." Peggy said.
"Peggy, it's so swell to see you. Isn't this fun?" Dottie said back. And then they started throwing punches.
"Howard! Howard, it isn't real!" Peggy said when she was close to the radio.
"Go." Dottie said to Fennhoff. "I used to be so jealous of girls like you. I would have done anything to walk like you, to talk like you. But now... I can be anybody I want." She said throwing a punch I blocked before I kicked her back. "Oh, I've got a great idea."
Peggy managed to take advantage of the distraction and punched her but she blocked the hit.
"Ohh! Maybe I'll be an SSR agent next. What do you think of that?" Dottie said while Peggy was panting. "I thought you'd be better." Peggy got frustrated and shoved her through a glass window knocking her out.
"Fennhoff's escaped the radio room." Peggy told Daniel.
"We'll get him." Jack said.
"Dropping to 2,000 feet." We heard Gramps say over the radio.
"Gramps It's Nora." I said.
"Nora! I found his signal! I'm almost there." Gramps said sounding very excited.
"Gramps no, you have to listen." I said starting to freak out.
"I'm gonna bring him home, Nora." Gramps said sounding so happy.
"Gramps you've been brainwashed. He's trying to get you to release the gas over New York." I said trying to snap him out of it.
"Don't worry about that, kid. There aren't civilians where I am." Gramps said truly believing what he was saying.
"Gramps, can you hear me? You have to come back." I said.
"I know this sounds crazy, but that... that guy, Fennhoff, he actually helped me. He... he showed me how to do this. I'm bringing Cap back, kid." Gramps said.
"Grandpa, turn the damn plane around. Come back, and we can talk about this." I said.
"I can't do that. Done talking." Gramps said.
"N-no... wait." I said.
'Nora calm down, remember what Wren taught you. Deep breath clear you're mind. You know how to get through to him' I head the stone say.
"Miss Carter? Miss Carter, I have Mr. Stark's plane in my sights. We are one mile from land. Miss Carter, should I take the shot? Miss Carter! Miss Carter! Can you hear me?! Miss Carter! Please! Answer me!" I heard Jarvis come through on the other radio.
"No, we need more time." Peggy said
"We don't have more time!" Jarvis said raising his voice.
"Do not take the shot until I tell you, Mr. Jarvis!" Peggy said adamantly.
"Gramps I need you to listen to what I'm about to say. Steve is gone. He died over a year ago." I said.
"There's something up ahead. It's him! I can fix this!" Gramps said happily.
"You don't have to fix anything. There's nothing to fix." I said.
"Kid, all I've done my whole life is create destruction. Project rebirth was... He was the one thing I've done... That brought good into this world." Gramps said and I swear I think he was crying.
I started tearing up. "Grandpa... I know that even though you two didn't get along all the time that you loved him. I loved him too. Always have always will but this won't bring him back. Grandpa, we're the only family each other's got in this time. You're my rock. You and dad are the one of the few people that kept me going. Steve's gone and… He's not coming back. We have to move on... All of us. And as hard as that is" I said choking back a sob, "At least we still have each other. Us Starks have to stick together."
"Nora? He was good before I got ahold of him, huh?" Gramps asked tearfully.
"Yeah, he w... he was." I answered wiping tears away. "Where are you?"
"Apparently, flying a plane... to Manhattan. I guess you can explain that to me once I land." He said confused making me chuckle.
"Mr. Jarvis, he's all right. Stand down." Peggy told Jarvis.
"Thank goodness. Tell Mr. Stark to follow me back." Jarvis said relieved. "I'll bring him home."
"You were gonna shoot me out of the sky?" Gramps asked.
"Well, I thought that was what you would have wanted." Jarvis said.
"No! No, it's not. And for future reference, under no circumstance would I want anyone to shoot or otherwise hurt me. You got that?" Gramps said making us chuckle.
"Your point is amply made, sir." Jarvis answered.
"Aw, you're all right, Jarvis." Gramps said.
"As are you, sir."
"I owe you another one, pal." Gramps said to Peggy.
"To be honest, I've stopped counting, Howard." Peggy said making me smile.
Grandpa and Jarvis got back about a half hour later. Doctor Fennhoff was locked in a trunk until they could figure out another way to shut him up. Biggest surprise of the night me not having to use my powers once. Wren may be an ogre and strict with his training regimen but it was working. He was definitely getting a thank you when I got back.
"We'll keep Fennhoff in Custody before we transfer him to Max tomorrow." Jack said. "You four are free to go."
"Good to know I won't be the first in the family with a criminal record." I said.
"I need to find a new place to live. I don't think Miriam will be welcoming me back to the Griffith anytime soon."
"Does this mean I get my money back?" Gramps asked.
"You got it back this morning had to make you getting you're name cleared look convincing." Daniel said.
"Hey kid I still owe you a night out on the town…" Gramps said.
"Isn't it a little late to get reservations?" I said.
"Let me worry about that." Gramps said.
'Go Nora, you both need a night out. I'll send you back from where I got you after you sober up.' Aya said.
"Let's go then." I said.
We hopped in a car and we got to a restaurant in downtown New York. We both looked like we had been through hell and we got some looks for it but we were too tired to care.
We started drinking and taking shots before we got tired of the restaurant and went to a bar.
"So tell me about Wren." Gramps asked.
"You want to talk about my housemate?" I said.
"I want to know what type of person my granddaughter is living with." He said.
"Wren's… complicated. He was a tough nut to crack. I thought that when I met him he would he as easy going and friendly as he was when I met him in the future but apparently he grew into that person after knowing me for years. I thought he hated me but no matter what he always watched out for me. I can't tell you the number of times he pulled me out of the way of a gunfight or teleported me away from an explosion."
"Sounds like quite the guy." Gramps said.
"He is. Puts up a tough front but he does care. Great with kids. You should see him spoil my godson." I said laughing. "He started training me. Said I was slacking off with my powers. He was right, I can lift almost half a ton now."
"Wow, that is a big improvement." Gramps said. "So you two are just friends?"
"Why does everyone keep asking that? We are friends and nothing more. Maybe a bit of sibling affection but nothing more." I said.
"Uhuh. If you say so. Everything you said when I was in the plane…"
"Yeah, I meant it. Steve meant the world to me and he meant a lot to you but what's done is done. You can't cry over spilled milk and you shouldn't let it take over your life." I said.
"Are you ever going to let go of them."
"It's a little hard when their names are on you're wrists. I'm just taking it one day at a time. I can't lie, there are days where whenever I hear their names or think about them makes me cry but it's getting better. I have a lot of things to distract myself with." I said.
"If I could do something to make you happy again you know I'd do it in a heartbeat right?"
"I know but from now on no more secrets. Even if you think you're doing it to protect me don't. I'm a big girl gramps I'll deal with my feelings." I said.
"You're not the kid I met in Philips' office two and a half years ago" He said.
"We've both changed a lot but lets change the subject before we both end up crying." I said. "A toast to family, because at the end of the day that's all we've truly got."
"To family." Gramps said clinking our glasses before chugging our drinks.
The rest of the night was a blur. There were drinks laughs and me helping Gramps add another name to his list of conquests.
I woke up the next morning with a mind numbing headache and a churning stomach. I was in some hotel room still dressed in last night's clothes. I got up and walked to the living room.
"Good morning." I heard Gramps say.
"Morning." I groaned.
"I ordered the usual." He said.
"Yay hangover food."
"Jarvis dropped off some clothes for you." Gramps said.
"Oh wonderful. I don't think this outfit can take another day." I said grabbing the clothes and going to freshen up.
I put on the polka dotted A-line dress and went back out for breakfast.
"I'm heading to Los Angeles at the end of the week." Gramps said.
"You finally going for it?" I said.
"I could use the sunshine. I'm thinking of giving Peggy the penthouse at least until she decides she doesn't want it again."
"Sounds good. Better than living under Miriam's watchful eye." I said with a smirk.
A little while later Jarvis came by and I decided to tag along for the tour of Peggy's new home.
"I imagine you're looking forward to some peace and quiet. At the very least, having both feet on the ground." Peggy told him.
"Yes, I've allowed several of my duties to fall by the wayside of late. My next project is... is quite engrossing... A complete and total overhaul of the kitchen spices." Jarvis said with a small smile.
"Mm, fascinating!" Peggy said faking enthusiasm.
"But should you again find yourself in need of my services, I would be honored to assist you at a moment's notice, Miss Carter." Jarvis said.
"Thank you, Mr. Jarvis. Uh, w-where is Howard? I haven't heard from him." Peggy said.
"He's trying to get his inventions back from the SSR" I said
"Well, let's hope next time he builds a better vault." Peggy said.
"Actually, he decided to destroy everything." I said very happy with the progress we made.
"Really? Well, that surprises me." Peggy said.
"He continues to believe that no government... even our own... can be trusted with those particular inventions. Especially... this." Jarvis said handing me a vial of blood. The vial of Steve's blood.
"Gramps is giving me this?" I asked.
"He is under the impression that the sample of Captain America's blood was lost when he was under Dr. Fennhoff's control." Jarvis said.
"So you're giving me this." I said.
"I owe Howard Stark a great deal, but he does not own my integrity. I am quite certain there is only one person in the world who knows what to do with this... You, Miss Stark."
"Thanks Jarvis. Well if you excuse me I only have a bit of time left before I have to go back home and I have to make one last stop." I said before leaving.
After a subway ride and walking a few blocks I made it to the Brooklyn Bridge. It was everything Steve and Bucky said it would be. No matter what I would always love Steve and Bucky. And I knew that one day I would see Steve again but I couldn't keep holding myself back until that happened. I have a life to live and I'm done putting it on hold.
I uncapped the vial before dumping the blood in the water and throwing the vial away. And with that the chills started and I was glowing.
When I opened my eyes I was back home.
"You're back." Wren said surprised and a bit relieved.
"Yeah just had to go clear the family name." I said.
"Must be quite a story." Wren said.
"Yeah I'll tell you later for now we have a picnic to get too." I said smiling.
"Let's go then." Wren said smirking. He put a hand on my shoulder and we were off.