I'm in This with You Til the End

Chapter 5 – Meaning

…

It was as if her whole life with Daniel flickered before her eyes.

As he reached down to grab her blouse, Panther's eyes looked into Peggy's now dull, faded ones. She stared at him with tears still in her eyes, not from fear about his impending actions, but from her grief in time lost with Daniel. It was as if her body didn't feel anymore, and her mind was on overdrive.

Her permanent move to California…

Their first kiss…

Their first date…

Him surprising her with a dinner he made at the Stark residence…

Him proposing…

Her jumping into his arms…

Him picking her up and twirling her around on their wedding day…

Each time he holds her…

How he taught her to take time and gaze at the beautiful stars…

How she almost punched him after he snuck up from behind to surprise her for their anniversary….with flowers…

How he kisses her…even out in public…

How they both bumped heads with each other while cleaning under the table of their new home…and turning it into a full out makeout session…

How witty he is when confronting issues…

How they discussed starting a family…

The thoughts wouldn't stop. She imagined it was her sweet Daniel reaching down to her, like each time he would place a kiss on her forehead to bid her good morning or good night. His image suddenly faltered when Panther grabbed her blouse and started yanking it out of her work pants.

Peggy screamed.

She couldn't do it. No one, even if it was to a willing choice as an attempt to save Daniel, should place his hands on her. The more logical part of her mind urged that she could at least try to keep that honor to her husband alone.

She couldn't follow through with her end of the agreement…not if it can be helped. She needed to focus…she needed a plan. Images of a bloodied, battered Daniel plagued her mind, but they also awoke her mind. She has to honor her late husband, and to start, she has to get out of Panther's grasp and back to the incarceration site as soon as possible. She could at least bring Daniel's body back and bury him properly with the help from the SSR and the war division of the government. Daniel deserves that. She could be comforted knowing that at least she could preserve his legacy in that manner, even if she couldn't save him.

But how can she shake off Panther?

Panther had stopped in his actions when she screamed, and while she maintained her look of devastation towards him, she pleaded, "Please…not here."

He was definitely not amused. "I've waited long enough—"

"It's too filthy," Peggy interrupted, using her hand to cling to her blouse. Her tears of shame were not shed, and she kept them at bay with a new purpose: use her emotions to manipulate her adversary (and hopefully he'll buy it). "I do not want a crowd such as these watching. At least grant me that much dignity." Her mind felt lost, but at the same time, it was rededicated to one purpose now, and she refuses to fail.

Panther considered it a moment and released his hand, but he help the rifle trailed to her head. "All right my dear. I did say I will give you a better life. And that's what I will do." He lowered the rifle but pulled out a pair of handcuffs in place. "But this doesn't mean you get to forget our agreement." With that, he pulled out a pair of handcuffs and snapped them on Peggy's limp wrists, eying her tired form carefully.

…

Daniel sat eerily quiet in the back of the car with Rose while Jack navigated the routes towards Panther's getaway truck. The lead time was already too large for comfort, and they had few leads to begin with. Raw, worried emotions were showing in Daniel's eyes, so much that neither Jack nor Rose want to make one wrong move or comment to disturb him.

Jack radioed in again. "Jarvis, I need eyes on that truck. Black armory. Where are we on that?"

"Sources are saying that there were three sightings of that same description, but none heading towards the Basin…what shall we do?"

"Where are the sightings?" Rose asked.

"One sighting towards the financial district, one heading towards the beach side, and one at an empty hangar, ma'am."

Jack made a face while driving and glanced back at Rose and Daniel, who also looked puzzled. Time was ticking, and they had to think fast.

"Chief Sousa?" Jarvis' voice asked. "Chief Thompson? Rose? Hello?"

A few more hopeless seconds passed, and Daniel pushed himself from his seat urgently. "The beach side…head towards the beach side!"

"The beach side?" Jack asked.

"This is the only area where there are inns and hotels," Daniel reasoned, cringing at the words coming out of his mouth.

Jack didn't need to be told twice. He swerved the car and around and slammed on the gas towards their new lead. Every now and then he would peek at the back to Daniel, and find himself growing uneasy. Daniel is one of the most level-headed, courageous men he knows, and despite their differences over the years, Jack considers him a valuable colleague and even more valuable friend. He has never, ever seen him so worried, angry, and on edge about anything he has done before.

Then again, when it is something to do with Peggy, Jack knows Daniel can never keep still. Her life is his life, and when she hurts, Daniel feels it mounds more than others can comprehend. Their deep love and dedication to one another, especially after getting married, is an example for all couples to admire, but also to empathize as well…especially during times of trial. Especially on days like this, where all circumstances are against her and him, which are so uncertain and frightening.

He glanced back again and saw Daniel suddenly closed his eyes and opened them in exhaustion. "How did you find us?" Daniel finally asked.

Jack glanced in the mirror and shook his head. "You just concentrate on resting. You'll need your strength later to get Peggy."

Daniel rolled his eyes. "You were snooping around my office again, weren't you?"

Jack snorted, "You call it snooping, I call it saving your asses."

Rose jumped in. "It's my fault. I had shown Chief Thompson to your office for a meeting while he is in town, and he found your case files. Apparently, he's had dealings with this Panther man before."

"Let's just say this jerk has searched high and low to find you two, especially Peggy," Jack said. "He's started with the New York office where he's heard of where she was from, and somehow a trail of breadcrumbs led to you out here. He was willing to use any means to draw you out, even if meant to blow up an entire city. Some call it desperation – I call it sick obsession."

Daniel leaned back and rubbed his face. It seems that Peggy is always in danger and always a target for so many evil doers. He knows she doesn't need protection, but at the same time, he can't help but to dedicate his need to protect her. If anything happens to her…he didn't want to finish that thought. He couldn't finish that thought. They've come so far together, and he will not let their story end on such an attempt to save him. He couldn't let a psychotic pervert best them, and he sure as hell will not let Peggy think there is no more hope with them.

After all, they did promise to be with each other….until the end.

"Step on it Jack!" Daniel ordered, praying that he was not too late.

…

(meanwhile)

Panther led Peggy out of the vehicle and maneuvered her to the entrance of the vacated inn. It was empty, but had a beautiful cream color to the outside with light blue trimmings. Peggy stopped in her path to look up at the structure and couldn't help but think of things past.

(flashback)

"What about this color?" Daniel asked.

Peggy glanced over from her sofa in Stark's mansion with a bunch of other color samples in her hand.

"Too dark," she replied. "I'd like our home to be a more welcoming color…not a guise of a secret agency."

Daniel laughed. "You do realize that we work at a secret agency, right?"

She smiled. "Yes dear, but I'd like to not be reminded to our jobs all times of the day."

He got up and moved to sit next to her, chuckling. "This is coming from the agent who was married to her job since the war?"

Peggy swatted his arm and smiled again. "Oh stop, I'm not that bad."

Daniel looked away playfully, "Well, sometimes I'm not entirely sure…"

She looked up and grabbed his face to kiss him…hard. When they broke apart, he was flushed, but nodded. "Okay, I take that back."

She gave him another gentle kiss before pulling another color sample out. "How about this one? A warm, bright cream color. It certainly adds a hospitable touch, and how beautiful it will look when we make additions to it!"

Daniel agreed. "I like it. This color it is."

She smiled excitedly. "Our new home!"

He nodded. "Our new home indeed. [brushes her neck] But remember, my home is wherever you are, Peggy."

Peggy blushingly smiled and tucked herself under Daniel's neck. "Me too, Daniel. Me too."

(end flashback)

"How do you like it?" Panther asked, stopping beside her.

She mentally shook herself from her reverie and sadly looked away. "It's lovely," she softly said.

Panther seemed satisfied with her answered and tugged on her cuffed hands. "Then I'm sure you'll like the inside. Let's go," he gruffly said, dragging her in while his guards followed behind.

She had no choice but to follow suit. Focus, Peggy, focus, she thought. When she went in, she took a mental note of the small lounge area before the main stairway to the rooms upstairs.

Great, so much for a wide escape, she thought.

He led her upstairs to the top (third) floor to a double door room. Peggy's heart was beating fast, and she felt nervousness creep up on her quickly. There was no easy escape she could see from their brisk walk up the stairs, and she was approaching their final destination quickly. She needed a distraction…but there were too many armed guards behind them. She wouldn't make it out alive.

As Panther pushed the doors open, she bit her lip to prevent tears from falling. It was a lovely room, yes, filled with simple yellow and blue flowers for wallpaper and matching colored sheets on the bed…it reminded so much of her and Daniel's bedroom at home. It was as if God was playing a cruel trick on her…taking away Daniel, and using every single means to torture her with her memories of him.

She had stopped in her tracks to take everything in, and Panther watched her carefully, not failing to notice the return of her tears. He couldn't tell if she was impressed or upset (that ignoramus).

"I made a beautiful—"

"This will not do," Peggy interrupted, speaking as strongly as she could.

Panther frowned. "What?"

She hardened her face and faced him. "You said you wanted to give me a better life. You call this better? This low quality wallpaper and [shakes the sheets] raggedly sheets? As Panther, I expected with your money you can buy mansions of beautiful silks and other decorations. What is this?"

He stood back rubbing his head. "Well, I had just picked these—"

"I want them changed. Now," Peggy ordered. So what if he will think of her as an ungrateful, materialistic woman. She needed to sell her case and get these men away.

"All right, all right," Panther conceded. "I will change them. But what—"

"Silks. Velvet. Net," she answered. "Nothing like THIS [shaking the comforters]."

He stood up and back out, eagerly nodding. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry my dear. I will have these mended immediately. [turns around to guards] Get out! Let's go!"

He leaves promptly, leaving Peggy to collapse to the bed in sadness, but in relief. At least she got rid of them for now. She turned her attention to the bed spread, gently stroking the comforter that rested along her cheek.

Focus, Peggy, focus, she told herself.

But she couldn't.

The silent tears began to fall, and the guilt returned.

She couldn't shake off the fact that Daniel died thinking that she was going to betray him, but she knew…wherever he is now, he would look down at her and understand. At least he's no longer in pain, she thought, smiling to herself. I'm sure he's enjoying how he's able to walk and run without hindrance in heaven.

As soon as she's done here, as soon as she's able to recover his body, she can bring him home.

Home.

Home was where Daniel was. And he's no longer here.

Maybe she will join him.

They did promise each other, that they would be together until the end. This was the vow they made to one another, and if this is the end, she will join their endings together.

She tearfully laughed at her state of mind. Mr. Jarvis was right those years ago. Everyone I care about around me dies, she thought. It's about time I join them, to stop this madness from occurring anymore.

Peggy didn't know much time has passed, but a sudden sound of an ignition cutting grabbed her attention. She instantly shot up in her position in bed.

Focus, Peggy, focus, she thought. You will have time to mourn him later. You have to get out of here first, and then go back to the facility.

She pushed her up from the bed and silently peaked outside the door. Panther's armed guards were present. A quick look at outside the window also confirmed more of them on the floors directly below…and Panther was back.

Oh no, she thought.

She couldn't go out from the front; she couldn't go out from the window or the back. As soon as Panther's back, game over. What can she do?

She rushed to the bathroom and peered around. She needed more time, and that was coming down quickly.

Suddenly, she spotted a robe hanging on the door. She glanced towards the shower and an idea came to mind.

She finally has a plan.

…

Author's Note: I know this chapter was longer than the others….I couldn't find a good place to stop it. What do you think Peggy's plan is? More to come…thanks for reading!