I'm in This with You Til the End

Chapter 7 – Believing in What You See

Author's note: Thank you for your patience! This chapter was a little longer to write, but hope you enjoy it! As promised, more action…more buildup to our finale…

…

"Sir, she's taking an awful long time in there," one of Panther's henchmen said. "I've never seen any woman take so long in a shower before."

Panther sat giddily on the bedside, bouncing his bare feet around. "Relax, she needs her beauty treatment. It'll all be worth it later, you'll see. [stood up] Actually, you will not see. Get out of here; I don't want a show."

"But sir—"

"No buts!" he yelled. "I've waited too long for this to fail, traveled too far to let her fall through my fingertips now just because of you curious onlookers. Get out!"

The rest of the men hurried out at their flanking with Panther shutting the door after them, locking it before hurrying back to bed. He smoothed the surface of the bed and sighed in excitement. His clothes were already strewn everywhere to get into his bathrobe while his waited. Victory was palpable, and he finally was achieving what he had strived and traveled high and low for. It was his chance to impress Peggy Carter, his chance to finally live out his sick, sadistic dream.

Another few minutes passed, and not a beat of difference came from the pattern of water splattering down in the shower. Panther started getting nervous. What could she be doing?

He got up and knocked on the door. "Miss Carter? Are you all right? I hate to bother you, but you are taking quite a while in there."

No response.

Worry and nervousness crept into Panther's mind. She couldn't have fallen…he would've heard it. Unless…

He pounded on the door this time. "Miss Carter? Are you in there? Open up!"

His only response was running water, and this time, he didn't wait. Panther broke the door down and he didn't like what he saw.

The shower stall was empty, and the bathrobe Peggy once wore was shed on the ground.

Anger course through his veins as Panther punched his fist on the marble counter—the pain awoke him from his delirium. He glanced around and saw no window, no hole in the ground, no missing panel.

His men suddenly rushed in. "Sir, we have a probl—"

He grabbed the nearest guy and yelled in his face. "No kidding, we have a problem! Where did she go?"

"I—"

He dragged him and kicked him onto the bed, throwing punches at him in frustration. "How can this happen? There's no window, no missing tiles…you let this happen! You [punch] didn't [kick] secure [punch] the place!"

That guard slid to the ground in a bloody pulp before he was dragged up again. Panther looked at all the other fearful men and yelled, "FIND. HER. NOW!"

"Yes sir!"

Panther was seething. He could not believe that he was outsmarted (but at the same time, he was impressed…THIS is the Peggy Carter he has heard of). Last he checked, he saw her go in, and nothing was out of the ordinary. He suddenly looked up and frowned.

The ventilation system.

He ran outside and screamed at the other guards standing by all the other rooms. "Secure the cellar. Make sure no one goes in or out!"

He ran back into change into his gear and hurried out. He will not fail in his plans.

…

(meanwhile)

Peggy carefully guided herself through the vent, and it became increasingly harder to maneuver, let alone quietly. Unlike commercial building vents, these were much narrower even for her petite figure, and they were extremely dusty due to the lack of care after the vacancy of the inn. Her clothes tugged at the corners, and breathing became difficult without coughing and possibly giving away her location.

Then there was the issue that she was on the third floor. As she came to the stairway, she peered out of the ventilation entrance and paused.

Uh-oh.

The vent would take a vertical drop down as it went to the walls again to approach the second floor. How was she going to do that? And with men were standing everywhere outside by the stairwell too, dropping out is not an option?

She leaned down and reached her arms to measure the width of the shaft. She saw a dim light at the bottom of the closed abyss and determined that the bottom shouldn't be too far down…judging by the outside, it seemed like the size of Howard's Stark's mansion where she stayed when she first moved out here. It was large, but not too large for her to handle.

Peggy took a deep breath and closed her eyes, saying a silent prayer. There was a good thing about narrow vents…she could use her arms and legs to prop herself to slowly slide down, but not so fast that she would fall.

And that was what she did. She went in head first; the first second was terrifying, but afterwards, her arms and legs were able to slow her sliding down until the last several inches, and she was down. She just needs to repeat this until she gets to the ground floor, or a place where there is an unsecured exit. Hope was returning to her chest and she smiled.

Thank you Daniel, she thought. I'll find my way back to you. I'm coming.

At that moment, a sound of yelling resounded through the hallways of the second and ground floors. Peggy froze. Could she have been found already?

She had to hurry. She had to get to the end of this shaft and get out, SOON.

She pushed herself as fast as her arms could carry her.

…

(a little earlier)

Jack carefully lifted the door of the cellar within the inn open and peered out into the hallway of the inn's first floor. He silently gestured to Rose to follow and whispered, "We're clear."

Rose nodded and propped the door open for Jack to climb up first before she does. They crept along the hallway and silently gestured to go up the stairs. As soon as they did, they were met with some other armed guards who halted them in their path.

Jack spoke before any of the guards could protest. "Boss said he needs us securing the roof," he said authoritatively. "We had to secure the back first."

The guard looked at him questioningly but let Jack and Rose aside to continue through the second floor. Jack and Rose smirked inside their masks; if there is one thing Jack was especially good at, it was to command attention when attention was due. They continued their trek and scanned the second floor quickly for any visual clues for where Peggy may be, but nothing stood out. No special noise, no adjusted doors, nothing.

When they reached the top of the third floor, they were stopped again. Jack repeated his charge, but the guards looked him over closely. "Didn't Boss tell you guys to stay behind to clean up at the facility?"

Jack was not deterred. "Clean up was taken care of."

The guard stepped closer to face him, giving him a smirk before repeating. "You sure? Because I heard of how he didn't order a cleanup."

Jack gulped, and Rose bit her tongue to keep silent. Still, he put on his bravado and chuckled. "And you know how he doesn't like to fail to impress Miss Carter. This is extra credit, boys—you can learn something here."

The guard stood inches away from Jack's masked face and stared at him for a moment before laughing. "All right. You have a point. [to his face] Boss warned us that he knows what this Peggy Carter is capable of, including [jabbing Jack's shoulder] hiding some friends to help her. That, my friend, is something you can learn."

Jack chuckled again. "A feisty one, she seems. I'd like to meet this Peggy in person if the boss is available."

The guard stood back to his post with the rest of his comrades and spared a glance at them laughing again. "You would." With a wave of the hand, the guard's comrades raised their rifles and aimed it at Jack and Rose, who stood back, shocked. "Especially if you're the SSR."

Rose, who was silent the whole time until now, let out a little yelp. Jack cursed under his breath and raised his hands in surrender. He knew this was the floor that Panther was at and likely Peggy too, judging by the tight security around the floor. He did his best to not let his eyes betray the now nervous emotions he felt, knowing that Peggy and their lives were at stake.

"I'm sorry you feel that way," Jack said. In a perfectly timed move, he and Rose both grabbed the rifles out of their opponents' hands so fast they didn't have time to react before Jack and Rose knocked them out.

Jack hastily reached into his back belt and threw an activated can of tear gas, distracting the rest of the five or so men remaining on the floor. The men coughed in annoyance, fighting the sting from their eyes and lungs. That was long enough for Jack to throw a vase into the hallway window before rushing to an unmanned room, whose post was suddenly vacated from the gas exposure.

They both closed the door behind them quietly and quickly, peering out the peep hole.

"Hurry, they went out the window!" they heard one of the men say. Footsteps pounded the hallway, and coughing was still audibly heard.

"Get them!"

"Find the boss! We have to alert him!"

More muffled yells for Panther and finding Rose and Jack were heard. Rose shook her head in amusement and loosened her mask. These guards were pretty aloof, but that still works to their favor. Jack slid down the door in relief. "I thought we were done for," Jack said, pulling down his mask.

"I thought so too," came a voice from in front of them.

They both froze and glanced around, realizing that this was not a bedroom that they rushed in. It was a disguised utility closet, with cleaning supplies and towers of shelves filled with linens. Jack pulled out his rifle and aimed it at the direction of the voice. "Who is it? Come out, or I'll shoot!"

"Relax," the voice came again, and appeared Daniel Sousa. He trudged forward from behind one of the linen's shelves. "It's just me."

"Sousa? I thought we told you to stay back to wait for backup!" Jack exclaimed.

"You did, and I already contacted them. Now, our search for Peggy? Let's get going—"

Jack pushed him back. "And just how do you think you're going about doing that?"

"If I was able to sneak up here to the third floor without any special disguise, don't you think I have a plan?" Daniel answered.

Jack and Rose stood back. "Yes, how did you get up here? And without being recognized?" Rose asked.

Daniel smiled and motioned to the back of the room, where there was a sliding door.

(flashback)

Daniel pushed the door connecting the cellar to the inn up slowly, peering around at the same time. No one was in sight.

Even if the main boss was upstairs was upstairs, wouldn't they have some men down here standing guard?

Whatever. No time to think of this. He needs to think…where would Peggy be? Where would Panther have taken her?

Of course he knew. He just didn't want to think it…upstairs. In one of the bedrooms.

He quietly moved to the bottom of the stairs and noticed the guards of the second floor already standing at the top of the stairs. He couldn't go up the easy way; he would be shot dead as soon as he started limping up the stairs. There's no way he could climb the vents without noise of his crutch.

Think, Daniel, think, he thought.

But this first floor is so small…it's just the reception, desk, stairs, and….

Oh!

The laundering area! Where dirty linens and sheets are handled! He quickly made his way over to the small side room and yes! There is a dumbwaiter inside!

He hurried to unlatch the doors and slipped in before closing it. Unfortunately he had to manually operate it; otherwise the electrical motor would catch attention. He operated the motor as quietly and quickly as possible, praying that no one notices on the other side of these doors.

It seemed like forever, but he managed to reach the top (third) floor. When he let himself out, he found he was inside a utility and linens closet.

Perfect, he thought. Now, for a distraction…

And just as he thought that, he heard voices coming from the outside hallway.

It was Rose and Jack.

(end flashback)

"You left as soon as we did, didn't you?" Jack asked.

"Soon enough. Now, we're wasting time! I'll search for Peggy while you and Rose fend off any guards that may stop me."

Jack chuckled. "Those dumbasses are already rushing to the bottom floor after we broke that window. We're covered."

"I'll go with you, Chief Sousa," Rose said. Daniel was about to protest, but she continued. "You're injured. You need back up in case we have surprises, and I have a few more weapons on me than you do at the moment. You focus on finding her. [turns to Jack] Chief Thompson will find Panther and stop his men while Mr. Jarvis arrives with backup."

Daniel nodded. Since he has let Rose come on occasional missions, he has seen her shine in leadership and tactical skill, much like Peggy had seen in her during the days of securing uranium rods in the Isodyne case. He's very fortunate to have her on his side.

"She has to be on this floor," Jack said. "Security detail here is much tighter and different than the second."

"And that's where we'll start," Daniel said, adjusting his gun.

Jack simply nodded. "I'll go first. [pulls on mask] Let's go!"

He opened the door and hurried out, with each of them having their weapons drawn. The hallway was empty and all the doors were closed. He hurried down the stairs while Rose and Daniel started opening door by door.

Peggy wasn't in any of the rooms. Hell, these rooms seemed untouched except for the change of linens.

There was a chance, a slight chance, that Panther may have escaped with her already, but they have to check all options.

After the 7th or 8th room, Rose stood aghast at the entryway to the room in front of her. She stood a second too long, because Daniel noticed right away and hurried to her. "Rose, what is it?"

She looked up and Daniel went past her before it registered in her mind to stop him. She called after him. "Chief, wait! Don't go—"

Daniel rounded the corner and into the room before stopping short in his tracks. His eyes widened and mouth fell open.

Black silk bed sheets were rumpled all over the bed, and the comforter was thrown aside. Pillows were ruffled, and men's clothing strewn everywhere. Disbelieving, he stepped into the room and noticed a discarded woman's bathrobe on the bathroom floor.

He wanted to throw up.

Daniel grabbed his head and started breathing heavily. "We're too late," he whispered before shaking his head. "We're too late! He got to her already!"

He fell to his knees in distress and slammed his fists on the bed, yelling in anger. Rose just stood back and watched in sympathy. She knew Daniel didn't blame Peggy—he would only blame himself, and himself only. And that's what infuriates her…he should blame Panther, blame the circumstances, but no, he chooses to blame himself.

Sometimes, she doesn't know if that is because he is a noble man for chief, or because he takes too much on as chief. Or as a husband.

Daniel wiped a few frustrated tears from his face before fighting to regain his composure. He never felt so crushed in his life. He had thought his low was when he lost his leg in war and the subsequent recovery to a normal life, but no—this felt so many times worse. Now, he isn't dealing with physical pain (which he feels he could handle); this is raw, untainted emotional torture and guilt. He felt he failed Peggy, he allowed her to take a fall for him and all others involved—he couldn't protect her. How is he as a husband, to allow her take a fall that she should never have to take? How is as a chief, to allow of your best agents sacrifice herself?

How will he ever face her again?

He turned in his position to Rose, who was still watching him and keeping an eye out for any unwelcomed guests.

Daniel refused to lose hope. There's got to be a sliver of a chance that things aren't what they seem. He pushed himself up, knowing that he had to continue to go forward, not dwell on what could have happened. He owes Peggy that much.

What else has Panther done with Peggy? They're not here…where else would they take her?

Unless Panther has no more use for her, in which case…

No.

"This is just evidence of struggle," he said, calming himself down as best as he could as he spoke to Rose. "There was struggle. It doesn't mean anything. We need to find her. Now."

Daniel marched towards the door and continued searching each room. He can't let Panther do anything to Peggy.

He will never forgive himself if he does.

…

Peggy tugged her hands around the bars of metal in front her. Success! She finally arrived at the larger opening of the bottom of the ventilation shaft in the cellar, and she tugged her whole form forward, pushing open the metal bars to the inside of the cellar.

She let out a few quiet coughs and sat back for a moment before getting herself together. The whole escape through the vents was not foreign to her in previous missions, but her head felt dizzy and sick from the whole trek. She shook her head in effort to rid of the nausea again.

At the same time, she was also feeling the relief of escape and dread of what is to come. She's going to be able to escape, but it is to go back to collect Daniel's body. Her mind tried to shut itself down in grief again, but she fought against it.

I'm almost there, Daniel, she thought. Please help me. Please let me get out so I can come to you and bring you home.

She was just about to start climbing the exit to the cellar when she heard the door behind her swing open, and footsteps thundering in.

Peggy stopped in her actions and turned around in uneasiness.

There stalked in Panther with eyes of fury, flanked by his armed muscle men by his side.

She wasn't fast enough.

…

Author's Note: Sorry guys to leave you hanging! The next chapter will have what we've been waiting for…if I had merged that together with this one, it would've been way too long. And always, thank you for reading and your reviews!