Jack was interrupted by a soft groan behind him, "Peggy?" Daniel asked immediately.
Peggy's head felt like it had been split in two. She could feel dried blood from where she had been hit in the face. She hoped her nose hadn't been broken, it would be a pain to reset after being in that condition for hours. It only took a single shake of her wrist to confirm Peggy's suspicions that she had been handcuffed.
"You alright, Carter?" Jack asked. His tone was rough, but Peggy had become accustomed to hearing the genuine concern underneath.
"Other than being handcuffed to a chair in an unknown location?" she asked, "I think my nose might be broken."
"I wouldn't be surprised, you took one hell of a kick."
"Is there a reason everyone remembers last night except me?" Daniel asked.
"I'd assume it was the gun to the back of the head," Peggy replied.
"That would explain the headache," he deadpanned. At least there was a reason for the short term memory lost. The last thing he needed was another way for him to be inferior.
"So I assume Thompson informed you of everything?" Peggy asked.
"Until we were interrupted," Jack replied.
"Forgive me," Peggy deadpanned.
Daniel was certain that they would be tortured at some point, but right now he couldn't think of anything worse than listening to their bickering for however many days they would be here.
"Where was I?" Jack said.
"You heard the gunshot," Daniel said.
"Right, there was a gunshot downstairs…"
"If she went and got herself shot," Jack muttered as the elevator made its descent three floors down. Daniel and Jack both drew their guns, "We aim to kill," was all Jack said before taking a cursory look around the hallway.
On Jack's signal, the pair slowly walked out of the elevator. They walked the length of the hallway, but they couldn't hear anything, not even the familiar sound of Peggy's heals on the linoleum.
"She isn't here," Daniel commented as he re-holstered his gun. It was clear that there was no real danger, to them or to Peggy. Which begged the question, why had Peggy lied to them?
"Carter!" Jack yelled, "Where are you!"
"She's gone, Jack," Daniel said, "Accept it, she played us again."
"Then who shot the gun?" Jack asked, "Carter isn't one for melodrama. She would have just left."
Daniel couldn't think of a retort for that. He took his gun back out and followed Jack's lead. Of course, it became clear that Jack had no idea what he was doing either. After everything that had happened with Leviathan, both Daniel and Jack wanted to trust her. She had proven herself to be a competent agent, and good friend. But it was becoming hard to trust someone who hid everything from you.
"Maybe she is gone," Jack said as they walked down the next staircase. He was just about to suggest they turn back when they heard her voice on the floor above them.
"What the hell are you doing here?" she hissed as she ran down the flight of stairs to meet them.
"Saving your ass," Jack replied.
"Does it look like I need saving?"
"A bit, yeah," Jack said.
Peggy sighed before turning to Daniel, "Leave." She said.
"Peggy…"
"No, I need you to be the rational one," she said, "I have no doubt that whoever is here works for Leviathan. If they have no use for you, they will kill you."
"Why are you so certain we'll get killed and you won't" Jack asked.
"You think that I consider myself a better agent than you?" she asked disbelievingly, "If I survive this, it is because they want me to, Thompson. I am under no delusion that I can beat whatever Black Widow they sent after me."
"So you want us to stand down while you get yourself killed?" Daniel said.
"Now you're understanding me," Peggy said humorlessly. She turned to Jack, "You remember what I said to Dugan when he tried to stay with me in Russia?"
"This is a bit different-"
"Do you remember?"
"He said that Captain America would tell him to do as Peggy says," he mumbled.
"I think now would be a good time for you take that message to heart."
There were many times when Jack or Peggy mentioned Russia, and Daniel had resigned himself to the fact that he would never know what happened. But the more they talked about it, the more confused he got. Daniel always figured that Peggy had saved his life at least once since he was more respectful towards her when they got back. But he never thought that Peggy had nearly sacrificed herself for the mission. It was so like her to give herself up in place of someone else.
Before Jack could say anything else to convince her, she suddenly shoved Jack down the remaining few stairs. Without warning, Daniel was pushed back against the hand rail of the staircase. It took a few moments for Daniel to regain his bearing and for him to notice the series of bullets that were now embedded in the wall just where they had been standing.
Daniel turned to see four people, not the three Peggy had counted, standing over them.
"I lied," Peggy said as Jack stood back up, "The fourth one was so quiet, I didn't realize she was there."
Jack looked embarrassed and angry that Peggy had saved him again and pointed his gun at one of the men.
"Surrender now and we won't kill you."
Daniel almost laughed at how weak his bluff was. It was four against three, and Daniel would even be counted as half.
Their assailants obviously thought that was funny too, since one of the said something in Russian before giving a hearty laugh.
"I suppose I have no choice but to let you fight with me" Peggy said as she walked up a few steps so she was in front of Jack and Daniel.
"I have to warn you," Peggy said with confidence, "That we are the best agents the SSR has to offer. We took down another Black Widow and your psychiatrist without much trouble."
The woman looked at Peggy with a sickening smile, "Dasha had not completed her training" she said with a thick accent, "Now you will deal with a real assassin."
Without any further warning, she launched herself at Peggy, who seemed to be ready and easily jumped back down the staircase until they were fighting on even ground. Daniel and Jack gave each other a glance before the other men began firing at them again.
For now, they had to trust that Peggy was holding her own while they became engaged in their own battles.
A.N. The flashbacks should be done by the next chapter, and then the plot can actually get going. I also super hate this title, so if anyone has any suggestions, I would love to change it