I'm in This with You Til the End

Chapter 3 – Good Bye

…

(a little earlier)

It was clear there was no other option. It wasn't a problem that she could usually outsmart or punch her way out of. No, this was the one time that Peggy Carter didn't have a solution to the problem.

She would have to betray her husband in order to save him—him and all other hostages.

With all the strength she had left, Peggy raised her head and stood up.

"Have it your way," she replied, looking aside, anywhere but the man in front of her. She then fiercely glared straight into the Panther's eyes. "Release him and everyone else immediately. If I do not see everyone is well, our deal is off."

Panther nodded, pleased. "Anything for you, my dear." He tried to touch her face but she turned away. Undeterred, he motioned the guards and they started packing out. "You heard the lady. Release them all. Get movin'!"

With that, she fell to the ground exhausted, not caring if some stray tears dropped from her typically strong face.

The Panther furrowed his brow at her, but quickly covered it up with a smirk of triumph. He finally had what he had always wanted: Peggy Carter.

...

Peggy waited in front of the incarceration facility, standing as confidently as she could. It was about half an hour later since their release, and Panther walked up to her, waving the transmitter device in his hands and smiling.

"All released, per your favor, my dear." For once, Peggy seemed to believe her adversaries.

Almost.

She glared at him. "The deal included the hostages and my husband."

The smile disappeared from his face. With a dissatisfied grumble, he radioed in, "Bring him out."

She felt—she needed—to let Daniel know that she will be fine, and she needs to know that he would lead on all right without her. As long as he was going to be all right, she will be all right—she will deal with the Panther on separate terms later after Daniel was released.

She recalled the days when she first reunited with Daniel in her first trip out to California. The scandal of Madame Masque's atrocious crimes and cover ups tested Peggy's and Daniel's then uneasy relationship. They worked together like they have never done before, closer, and trustingly. It wasn't long that Peggy had permanently relocated to California to work with Daniel and SSR LA, rapidly boosting the bureau's morale and efficiency.

The one phrase that had kept Peggy going, in all her difficult times since relocating, was what Daniel promised her in the midst of the Arena Club's investigation.

"I'm in this with you til the end, Peggy."

His surefire assurance and unwavering love for her inspired her in her toughest days, and he has made good on his promise, sticking with her through thick and thin. He is the strength that she never knew she needed, the support that she has always welcomed though didn't expect, and the inspiration as a good man she treasures dearly in her heart.

(flashback)

Daniel lovingly gazed into her eyes, with the amount of affection that not even a blind man could miss. In his pristine tux, he stood handsome ever, and as they exchanged vows, her eyes couldn't help but water.

"I'm in this with you, until the end, Peggy," he finally finished, and adding, "The end and forevermore." He brought her lace-gloved hand up to his lips and kissed them gently, lingering on her ring finger.

Peggy couldn't help but blink back joyful tears as she nodded, quickly turning to a warm mush in front of her soon-to-be husband and the wedding guests. She could hear sniffles of her friends and family, and she didn't miss how the priest was smiling widely at the lovely scene.

When then announcement came, "You may now kiss you bride," Daniel didn't hesitate. With a sudden bout of grace, he grabbed her and dipped her down before kissing her, as if they were on the dance floor. It caught Peggy off guard, but she eagerly returned the favor, wrapping her arms around her new husband's neck.

This was definitely the best day of their lives.

(end flashback)

She blinked back uneasy moisture that was forming around her eyes while unconsciously flexed her ring finger, gently caressing her wedding band. Guilt, shame and a barrage of other hopeless emotions evaded her, and she tried her best to think more of the fond memories they've built together as husband and wife.

(flashback)

"Oh really?" Daniel asked, putting his book down as Peggy got into bed with him.

"I find it hard to believe that Angie would just drop her entire Broadway cast job just to move to Pasadena, working a similar diner job that she used to in New York. But she is in love, and she is happy. I'm happy for her," she answered, snuggling up to him.

Daniel chuckled as he leaned closer to Peggy. "Well, love can have you do some very silly things sometimes. Listening to your heart is one thing, but following it is another. Some people respond in ways that they think what they heard, but it comes out differently."

"Is that what you did, Daniel? Did you listen to your heart and follow it as you meant to be?"

He leaned down to stroke her cheek. "You wouldn't be here beside me if I didn't. [kissed her forehead] I love you."

"I love you more."

"I love YOU more."

"You want to wager?"

Daniel propped his head on his elbow towards her, grinning down at her playfully. "Who says I'll lose?"

Peggy feigned innocence, "Daniel, there isn't one thing that you can do to convince me—"

"We'll see about that," he smirked. Peggy recognized the mischievous glint in his eye and grinned back. With that, Daniel reached down and threw the blankets over the both of them, and started convincing her how much he loves her.

There wasn't much sleep between the two for the rest of the night.

(end flashback)

Her thoughts quickly switched off as she saw the door in front of her open. There walked Daniel Sousa, confused and bruised, but otherwise okay. His normally neatly pressed shirt and pants were torn and disheveled in different areas, and his hair a curly mess. He darted his eyes around in a suspicious manner, seeing Panther off in the nearby distance taking a smoke while his goons had their weapons drawn. His gaze finally settled back to Peggy.

He dropped his crutch and stumbled over as quickly as he could to her, pulling her immediately to him. She eagerly complied and wrapped her arms around him in return. "Daniel..." she sighed in relief. She felt Daniel's arms wrap around her tighter as they relished in each other's presence for a moment before Peggy stood back, worry all over her face as she realized how severe his injuries are. She brushed his face and gently examined his split lip.

"Daniel…oh my god. What did they…? [glances him over and starts fussing] Where else? Where else are you hurt—?"

She felt Daniel's grip on her wrists gently tugged her attention away from his injuries and back up to his face. He held a very uncertain stare while remaining silent, and it started to unnerve her.

She switched on her perfect smile that Daniel always says that could "light up the stars". It masked all her hidden pain and the truth underneath. She brushed up and down Daniel's strong arms and spoke.

"Daniel, I am so glad that you are all right. When you get back, you must remember take of your bruising (brushes his cheek) first thing before anything else. Take a good rest to let your wounds heal. And—"

She suddenly stopped short of her speech as Daniel's hard gaze intensified, grasping her now trembling arm.

"What did you do?"

Peggy stood and stared, at a loss of words. Surely, he didn't find out...

"Peggy, what did you do?" he asked, firmer this time. He glanced to his right, where the Panther stood, looking away and seemingly bored.

She bit her tongue to keep her tears back. She could not let Daniel know, otherwise he will never leave here alive. Instead, she threw in her best weapon...her facade, her smile. "What do you mean?"

"Don't pretend you don't know, Peg," Daniel lowly whispered, fear settling into his eyes. "I don't want you to do anything stupid because of me. I won't be able live knowing—"

Peggy placed a finger on his lips, effectively silencing him and smiled even wider. "Daniel, everything's taken care of," she replied. "Panther has willingly stopped his tirade of hostage-taking."

"But at what price?" Daniel demanded, fearing where the conversation was going.

"What do you mean?"

"He wouldn't so willingly give us up without getting what he wanted or something even better in return. What did you promise him?" he asked desperately.

Shame clouded her eyes, but she blinked them off before Daniel noticed. "I didn't give him any information about the SSR, or our national secrets—you don't have to worry."

"No, I'm not talking about that," he continued. "You promised him something better than the SSR, better than his vendetta—"

"I only persuaded him to rethink his ways," she answered, knowing that was quite the vice-versa. "It worked, and everyone's free."

"But what about you?"

"I—" she paused, avoiding Daniel's eyes of hurt and tears that gathered. "I need to take care of the cleanup first. Don't wait for me. When I'm done, I'll come home." She knew that there was a good chance she couldn't make good on her promise, but she had to try.

"The agents back in the office can take care of it once we contact—"

"I have to be the one doing it," she interrupted, despair leaking into her voice. "There—there are some things that only I can do."

Daniel felt defeated. He knew that Peggy was hiding the truth, and in all the times that he was able to draw the truth out of her, this was not one of them—the one time he needed to know her well-being, the information was refused from him.

Seeing that he could not pull the truth out from her, he let his determined demeanor take over. He knew Peggy had the impossible hardship in her position to arrive at this outcome, and he had no choice but to respect it. Tears started seeping from his eyes.

"Peggy, I—I love you," he whispered, brushing her now paler face.

At that, she couldn't hold them in any longer. She grabbed Daniel and hugged him with all her might, letting the tears fall. She regained some composure to steady her voice. "I'm in this with you til the end, Daniel," she replied, biting her lip. "I love you too."

She could feel Daniel's grip on her tighten. "Til the end," he repeated. "I'll wait for you."

Peggy blinked through her tears. She refused to acknowledge it, though all parts of her mind pointed that this may very well be their end. Still, she nodded in her husband's embrace, feeling that words no longer could be formed in her throat without her cries breaking through.

Silent sobs racked Daniel's body, and he felt his wife's hair and neck dampen from his tears. This couldn't be the end. They promised each other this, in person and in vows…the end came too soon. They had just started their lives together and had so much to do: have kids, raise a family, pursue other adventures outside of the SSR, etc.

I've failed her, he thought. I failed our family.

He had to be strong for her. She made the hardest choice and knowing Peggy, she wanted to make the choice knowing that the other party is okay, and that her choice wasn't in vain. And he has to do what he has to do…stay strong.

He felt wetness on his neck, and he knew that Peggy was crying too. He needed to stay strong for her. She smoothed his back as a replacement for the lack of words. She knows that Daniel had an idea of what she did; he's a smart man, and nothing gets past him easily. She just hopes that he'll forgive her one day.

After a few more moments, Daniel felt Peggy loosen her grip around him, and he felt his heart drop. No, too soon! He wanted to hold on longer, just a little longer, but she knew that it was time. As she let him go, her face was cast down, sniffling, and she refused to look at him: she didn't want to see the disappointment or looks of despair on her husband's face before she left. She'll just leave him at that, and concentrate on the fact that he is okay, and he will leave here okay.

Two guards hurried to escort her as Peggy turned to walk towards Panther's car. She clamped her hand over her mouth to stifle the cries coming from her. She didn't want to look back—she couldn't, because it would destroy any resolve to stay away, and run towards her husband. She had to keep going forward. With the guards behind him, her going forward was the only way to ensure Daniel stays alive.

I'm sorry, Daniel, she thought over and over. I'm so sorry.

She felt so numb in her mind that she didn't feel Panther gliding an arm around her waist as she entered the armed car. She sat down between Panther and another man with a rifle out on guard.

Panther oh so kindly offered her his handkerchief to dab her eyes, but with her vision cast down, refused to acknowledge him.

"I made good on my promise, didn't I my dear?"

No response. Panther nodded and sat back. "I know it was difficult to let go. But this is now ended, and you can start again with me. I will give you a better life."

Still no response. As the armored car started to drive away, tears flowed more rapidly down her cheeks.

Til the end, Peggy thought. Til the end. The end.

Her thoughts were interrupted with three pronounced gunshots outside.

Peggy's head flew up as she scrambled from her position in the car, fearing the worst.

"Daniel? DANIEL—!"

She looked up just in time to see the car round the corner, but didn't miss the fact that two masked figures in dark clothing standing over where Daniel once stood, weapons drawn…

…

Author's Note: Sorry to leave it there you guys! What do you think has happened? Find out next!