Chapter 8 The attack
*Memory 5*
Peggy's point of view
A few weeks after we became super soldiers, Howard and I had sex for the first time.
"Are you absolutely 100% certain that you really want to do this?"
"I'm absolutely certain I want to do this. I've wanted it for a while, but I wanted to be patient and not rush it".
"All right… have you ever done it before?"
"No, I was saving myself for someone special… my soulmate."
"OK… I'm going to have to prepare carefully then".
Howard sent Edwin to get some supplies and when he returned, Howard and I went upstairs. Ana had drawn a hot bath, she had laid out clean pyjamas for us and changed the bed.
We shared the bath, got into our pyjamas, Howard pulled me into his arms and…
Back in the room
"Thank God the door closed! I didn't need to see my parents… doing it!"
"Oh Clint!"
Howard's point of view
*Memory 6*
About 2 months after our first time, we went to Malibu to the house I kept there. I was working on a film screenplay and Peggy was working on her tan…
After dinner the night we arrived, I proposed and Peggy accepted.
Edwin, Obie and I were going over the new opening scene for the film when a shrill scream took us out of the moment.
"That sounded like Peg"
"Actually, sir, I think it was Ana"
We ran outside…
"Peggy?"
"Mr Stark she's over there, she's badly hurt"
"Thank you, Ana. Call an ambulance… and the police and Dr Carbonell".
"Of course sir"
I ran to Peggy's side. She was bawling her eyes out.
Maria came running
"What do I do?"
"Talk to her, reassure her"
"Peg? Hey… it's me… you're OK… try to calm down… look at me. You're OK, I promise. I know you're scared, but being this upset is only going to make you feel worse. I need you to try to match your breathing to mine…"
She tried really hard to calm down, but she couldn't.
"Feel really sick"
"Mr Stark… we found something in the bushes, a fedora hat, light grey tweed… a pair of "
When the police came, their line of questioning was entirely inappropriate.
"Can you describe your attacker?"
"About Howard's height and build, brown eyes, blond hair, White Boston Red Sox baseball cap."
"Did you recognize him?"
"Yes"
"Who was he?"
"I think it was Jack Thompson"
"You think? How certain are you?"
"I don't know, I know it was his voice but… I didn't see him properly. He was speaking at me in a low voice, he said that he blamed me for what happened to him. He never got selected for a research project... he blames me... he called me a novelty act."
Peggy broke…
"All right, officers, I think it's time for you to leave. You've upset Ms Carter more than enough" I said firmly, pulling Peggy closer.
The next day, while Peggy was still sleeping, the police came back and hauled me down to the station for questioning. They did the same with all of us… until finally Agent Sousa put his foot down.
"I know Peggy wouldn't lie about this, she's not that kind of girl. From what she said, it does sound like Thompson… I suggest instead of harassing the victim, you concentrate on trying to find her attacker" he said sternly.
For the next several months, Peggy was very unsure of herself, she wouldn't leave my side for very long, and she jumped at small noises.
She was just starting to get her confidence back a little when something very unexpected happened that set her back a long way.
In the room
"Was it Thompson?"
"Yes"