I'm in This with You Til the End

Chapter 8 – I'll Always Find You

Author's note: All right guys, you've been waiting for this one…it took longer to write because it is longer, and I don't like leaving loose ends hanging. Thank you for reading and for your patience!

Warning: slight crude language in this chapter.

…

Jack stealthily moved down the stairs with his rifle aimed in front of him. There was growing commotion as he reached the top of the stairs to the bottom floor, leading him to pause and hide behind the banister.

Through his scope, he saw a large leather cladded man who he knew was Panther right away from his cocky authority. "Burn it down," he ordered. "I don't want any trace back to us. I will get Miss Carter, and take what is mine!"

"Yes sir!"

He's going to burn down the inn? Where's Peggy then? He thought.

And there is Daniel, Rose, the rest of his back up approaching…he has to warn them. They would all be walking into a fiery inferno in a matter of minutes if he doesn't warn them. But then again, his best chance of taking out Panther would be now, and then—

He raised his weapon and aimed at Panther's disappearing back, ready to pull the trigger, when his weapon was suddenly knocked out of his hands, and a wire wrapped around his neck. He grasped it just in time before it completely strangled him, but he felt his body dragged backwards and then shoved forward against the nearby wall.

"Watch your back, agent," a voice said behind him.

Jack gasped for breath, but he immediately recognized the voice belong to the guard who ousted him and Rose earlier at the third floor. The sneaky bastard.

"I knew something was off about you earlier," he continued.

Jack struggled against him, but he couldn't budge: with the wall he was pressed to and the guard against him, he could only submit his body to the actions of his captor. His only goal in this hold: survive.

"You SSR have a way to taking away talent," he continued. "It's a shame that Peggy Carter was recruited by you first. She would've been a very—satisfying recruit to our Panther's ranks. We would've worked her very well."

Sickening anger surfaced in Jack's mind. Friend or colleague, past or present, he hated hearing such vulgar language about Peggy. Yes, he's given his share of demeaning thoughts and remarks to her, but after—after—

After she had saved him (again) from Vernon's assassins in his trip to California those years ago, he felt he was given a second chance to make up for his sins prior. A second chance to appreciate a colleague, his savior, a remarkable woman…

…who is now married to one of my best friends, he thought with some sadness.

It didn't matter that she never shared the same sentiment towards him that he had once grown to have for her—once, is the word he emphasized. Once too late, after she and Daniel got together. Jack couldn't morally harbor those feelings anymore—she's another man's wife, let alone his friend's wife. He could just be a good friend to her and Daniel—that's the most important thing.

And that's why he took up this case of following them in this investigation…especially since it had ties to Peggy's days in New York.

Jack tried plowing his feet into the rug to trip the guard's feet out, but the lack of circulation was getting to his brain and body. He felt himself weakening, and his thoughts started getting looser and looser.

"But don't worry, once we're done with you, I will be sure to help the boss recruit Agent Carter personally."

"Why do they all talk so much?" a voice resounded behind them both.

The guard turned and found Rose who punched her fist across the guard's head, effectively knocking him out. His body slumped away from Jack, and Jack was free, panting for desperate breath.

Daniel reached and helped him to sit, checking him over. "You okay?"

Jack coughed and rubbed his neck. "Yeah," he rasped. "Just…need some air."

Daniel nodded and saw Rose dragging the unconscious body into a nearby room, tying him up in the process. He chuckled, amused at Rose's antics, but turned right back to Jack.

"She's not upstairs," Daniel said. "There was one room that Panther was there, and maybe Peggy too, but long gone. They've taken her somewhere else."

Jack pushed himself to his feet and said, "They're planning to burn this place down. We have to find her and get out."

"Wait, what?"

"You heard me, kaboom? This inn? We're been made, and they're trying to stop any trace of us finding them, starting with this inn," Jack said, grabbing his rifle from the ground.

"But they're all still here, from the sound of it," Rose said. "If they really are planning that, they would've left already."

"And this means that Peggy is still here," Daniel supplied.

Just then, they all heard a gunshot coming from the floor below.

Daniel's went wide. "Peggy!" he cried, hurrying forward to the stairs.

…

(meanwhile)

"Going somewhere, my dear?" Panther asked, stepping closer to Peggy.

Peggy gulped, taking a step back. Words would not come to her mouth, and in darting her eyes around, she knew she was surrounded.

There was no way out.

"What, cat got your tongue, hm?" he continued, making more advancement on her. "I must say, you're good. You did real well at first, trying to convince me you've come to terms about us. About everything. But it was all a play, wasn't it?"

She looked away and fumed, not caring if Panther and his men saw. Her cover was blown anyways; what did it matter anymore?

"It was a nice distraction, Agent Carter," he said, crossing his arms and smirking. "You underestimate me."

At the nod of his head, two guards grabbed her arms and led her way from the exit to the outside of the cellar. They held her still while he approached her. Peggy struggled against their strong grip, and Panther invading her personal space made her pause and glare at him.

"Don't fight it, Agent Carter," he said. "You won't win. I admire how much you're resisting, but no one [brushes her face] can resist me."

She spat in face before kicking him straight in his gut, making him double over in pain. A split second later she used that distraction to maneuver one of the men at her arms forward to the front of her, using him a shield while another one of the men in front of her fire a gunshot at her direction, effectively shooting one of their own instead. The guard fell, and the assailant on the other side of her arm jumped and loosened his grip on her, letting Peggy shove him straight into the shooter and knocked them both down.

"I SAID NO SHOOTING!" Panther yelled in a pained voice from below.

Finally free, Peggy started to run towards the exit, but the other men read her mind. They crossed her path, and she didn't hesitate to disarm them one by one.

It wasn't until someone grabbed her hair from behind that she immediately stopped. Her scalp was in pain, and she had to grab on to prevent being torn away—literally.

Her head was turned and Panther faced her again, angry. "You want action, I'll give you action."

He slapped her across the face, and while that did sting, it didn't faze Peggy. Panther then grabbed her shoulders and shoved her against the nearest wall, eying her with extreme determination.

He will not win, Peggy thought to herself, breathing calming breaths. I won't let him win.

…

As they quickly descended the stairs, Rose caught a glimpse outside of the hallway window. "Look! Mr. Jarvis is here with the back up!" she exclaimed.

Relief flooded Daniel's mind. They both paused to see that there were two cars outside in the distance behind the inn. Mr. Jarvis was tinkering with a metal contraption in the car to cause distraction it seemed.

Daniel turned to Rose. "Jack and I will draw the men out; Rose, be ready to intercept them to the cars for arrest. I'll get Peggy."

She nodded and headed off to a different direction of the men while they drew their weapons. The first floor was completely empty except for lingering voices coming from the cellar. Jack motioned Daniel to stay back while he crept closer to the unmanned entrance.

They both peered through the entrance to the dimly-lit cellar and saw Panther giving Peggy an audible slap across her face.

Daniel jumped go forward, but Jack stopped him, shaking his head. He jerked his head to Daniel towards a wall panel above them, likely one that controls the building's electrical power. Cutting it would give them enough time to get into the cellar without notice, and perhaps, give Peggy enough time to get away from her captives…maybe even a chance for Jack or Daniel to grab her?

Jack reached in and cut the power quickly, and they heard the confused cries from the cellar.

"Get them back on!" Panther's voice yelled. "Search the premises for intruders!"

A group of footsteps ascended to the panel, giving the perfect window for Daniel and Jack to sneak in unnoticed. They used the outside natural light to guide themselves to a behind a stack of old boxes a little ways away from Panther and readied themselves with their weapons.

It was that moment that the power came back on (damnit that was too quick!). From their location, Jack and Daniel both gave each other the look—how could they draw out the rest of these men? They're too fast for their sake.

Daniel knew they had to think fast. Seeing Panther's hands on Peggy made his blood boil, but he knew couldn't be rash. He wanted to badly to raise his rifle to shoot all the men in the room, but he remembered his priorities: get Peggy safely out first.

He saw Jack however start to raise his rifle up in anger, but he stopped him. "Don't."

Jack threw off his hand, furiously whispering, "You're kidding me right? That jerk had you tortured and is now trying to man handle your own wife—"

"You think I don't see that? You think I don't feel anything when he touches her? But our job is to first get her out safely. If you shoot and by deflection it hits her, what happens then?"

Jack watched his friend closely and hated to admit it, but Daniel was right. This was such a personal score to settle, and give the same situation, Jack doesn't know if he could be as level headed as him. He was about to respond when they heard Panther speak.

"I'll have to remind you about out agreement, dear," he said, brushing her face. She closed her eyes and turned away from his face, trying again and again to push him off her. She was so close to getting out of this place that she could taste it; she had to keep fighting, she had to stay strong.

And just then, a number of men came through the cellar again, freezing Panther's actions. "Boss, just as you ordered, we set the holding facility on fire. There will be no traces of your presence there."

Peggy's face paled, and she stopped her movements. The facility where Daniel was at is now gone….? She can't even go back there and get him…or what remains of him?

A stabbing, burning pain burst in her chest. "Why?" she yelled from her position. "Why did you have to do that?"

Panther was furious at the interruption. He shook her shoulders with such force that it shocked her. "So THAT'S where you were planning to go. You're still trying to go back to your husband? Still? After all that's happened—"

"Yes," she announced as strongly as she could. A new surge of energy came with the devastation that flooded within her. "Who wouldn't? You threatened me, you kidnapped me, and worse of all [tears building in her eyes], you had my husband killed! [threw his arms off her] Our agreement is no longer valid. The agreement was that if I go with you, you would release the hostages and my husband unharmed. You instead had him murdered, in cold blood. My duty is not to this bloody agreement, but to my husband alone. I wanted to see him off properly. And now you [shaking voice]…you…you can't even grant me this last thing that I can do for him!"

She voice rose to a screaming level at the end, and she couldn't hold the tears and helplessness anymore. Peggy clamped her hand over her mouth to stifle her cries, but they did little to stop her shaking. Her body ached, and nausea came back full force.

There was nothing left in this world to her.

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

To her, Daniel was dead, and she couldn't even go back to collect his body as she originally planned, let alone get out of this hell hole. The one last thing she could do for him was snatched away, and there was truly nothing left for her.

Pain tugged at Daniel's heart achingly from his position from Peggy. A single tear slipped down his face as he watched his wife deteriorating before his very eyes. He's never seen Peggy so emotional, and it scares him.

She thinks I'm dead, he thought. She thinks…that's there's no more to fight for…

He had to let her know that he's alive, that he's there for her…but how? He eyed Jack, who shared the same desperate look on his face: how?

Panther grabbed Peggy's hand from her mouth and pulled her towards him. She couldn't stop her crying, though it was now silent. "Yes, I did those things…and more. I will rid him from your mind, and make you mine!"

He grabbed her and slammed her against the wall and tore her blouse, smothering himself against her body. Peggy struggled, but not wholeheartedly. Tears continued to flow down her face, and her form stilled. She allowed herself to be willed against her, and she felt Panther grab her pants…

BANG.

BANG.

BANG BANG—!

BANG BANG BANG—!

Daniel stormed up and started shooting, starting with Panther. Two shots landed on Panther's shoulders, causing him to release Peggy immediately. She fell against the wall and slid down to the ground, gasping for breath.

Jack cursed under his breath for Daniel's sudden change of mind's movements but immediately supported him, jumping out and shooting the remaining five or so guards in their shoulders, so they may drop their weapons. He hurried to fight the rest of the less injured ones, and Daniel hopped to where Panther was still closely residing to Peggy.

He swung his crutch ferociously at Panther's face, successfully knocking him a couple feet away from Peggy before using it again to strike his gut.

"KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF OF MY WIFE!" he raged. He never wanted to shoot Panther for fear of Peggy getting caught in the crossfire, but when he saw Panther's touching her…he snapped. He summoned his courage and prayed she wouldn't be caught. It was the only way to stop him before things got any further.

Jack then stepped up beside him and announced, "We're the SSR, and you're all under arrest!" Jack yelled, his rifle aimed at Panther once more.

Familiar voices and a blur of motions whizzed across Peggy's vision as she leaned against the wall. She looked around for her saviors, all sounding familiar, feeling familiar…but no, it can't be…?

Daniel at that point dropped down to Peggy and grasped her loose hand while her other gripped her torn blouse.

"Peggy, oh god Peggy, are you okay?" he asked, desperately.

His face came into Peggy's line of vision, and her eyes went wide. She shook her head in disbelief, backing frantically against the wall she was lying against. "No…you're not real. You're not real! You're dead! A ghost!"

She didn't know what to believe anymore. She heard the shots, she didn't see him standing in the same spot when she was whisked away…how is he here?

"You're not Daniel. You're not him! I failed him…I couldn't even give him the proper good bye…" she cried, staring at the she-thought imposter in front of her.

Daniel reached out his hand and Peggy shrunk back even further, clutching her shirt in fear. His heart sank. The trauma of the past few hours have compromised Peggy's emotional state in a manner so greatly that Daniel has never seen before, not even through hearing the stories of when she lost Steve Rogers. He was desperate to get her back.

"Peggy, it okay," he said, reaching to her face. He was relieved that she didn't flinch away when he brushed some wisps of hair away and stroked her cheek. "It's me. I'm here. I'm real. I'm fine, see?"

She felt the familiar warm sensation make contact with her face, and it slowly felt more and more familiar. His voice…his kind, handsome face…all look like Daniel, her Daniel, her loving husband. She hesitantly released her vice grip on her torn blouse to cover her shaking hand over his on her face. Her eyes never left his, and tears shimmered in her eyes again.

This is Daniel, her Daniel.

This is her husband.

Her Daniel, her husband, is alive and well, and right here kneeling in front of her, by her side.

A small smile tugged at her bruised lips and she felt herself becoming whole again. Her heart screamed at her mind, and an overwhelming sense of jubilating relief erupted from her chest.

"Daniel…?" she asked, her voice breaking.

He nodded vigorously while a smile emerged on his face too. "It's me, Peggy. Remember what we said before? We said that we're in this together until the end. It's not our end yet, Peg."

She nodded with a watery smile, sobbing, "Oh my god, DANIEL!"

All doubts flew away and they both threw their arms around each other, hugging each other with all their might. They both cried tears of liberation and joy, not caring about a thing in world surrounding them in the cellar.

Peggy's felt her sanity restored, her heart fixed, and her mind refreshed. A million pounds of weight lifted off her heart and being, and she couldn't be happier. The events didn't make sense in her mind, but she thank the Lord that he kept Daniel safe, and that whatever happened, he was with her right now, safe and sound.

Jack watched the exchange between Daniel and smiled in relief. His heart wrenched when Peggy barely recognized Daniel at first, but he knew; because of their deep connection and love to one another, that Daniel could so effectively bring Peggy back from a mental meltdown. It was worth going through the trouble and ridicule across the country to bring them back together, and keep them safe.

From the corner of Jack's eye, he saw Panther prop himself up and scurrying not so silently out of the cellar, accompanying with some of his still conscious guards. "Hey!" he yelled. "Stop!"

One of the guards swung a surprising punch at Jack which knocked him off course enough for them to escape.

"STOP!" Jack yelled, following suit.

He followed Panther and his men out but froze at the sight of the outside, shrinking back into the door and letting them free.

Because standing right in front were Mr. Jarvis and Rose, smirking.

"And now that's far enough," Mr. Jarvis said, activating the switch of the contraption of on the floor.

The blast of the jitterbug sent a wave of unsurmountable pressure at Panther and his men, sending them flying to the walls of the inn, knocking them all out unconscious (while also shattering a few windows in the process). The rest of the backup SSR agents surrounded them and started invading the inn, ready to do arrests.

Jack came out from the door and walked over to Mr. Jarvis, who hurried to his side.

"Nice toy, Jarvis," he said.

Mr. Jarvis nodded his head and frantically asked, "Mrs. Sousa? Where's she? Is she all right? And Chief Sousa?"

Jack smiled and nodded towards the direction of the cellar. "She's shaken up but fine. Go ahead and see her. I'll take care of the cleanup." With that, he walked off, leaving Mr. Jarvis and Rose to hurry to the cellar, where agents were already arresting the other men and coming to Daniel and Peggy's aid.

A warm, relieved smile graced Mr. Jarvis's features as he saw Daniel and Peggy still hugging each other, despite the other agents coming to their aid. Both he and Rose rushed to their sides, eager to see their well-being.

"Peggy?"

"Mr. and Mrs. Sousa? Are you both all right?" Mr. Jarvis asked.

They released each other for a brief moment to examine each other, chuckling at each other's bearings while they glanced up at Jarvis and Rose, nodding. Daniel helped Peggy up and quickly shrugged off his damaged blazer to cover her up. This brought new tears into Peggy's eyes and she began to sob again.

"I thought…I thought…" she stammered.

"You thought I was dead?" Daniel finished for her, empathy on his face.

She nodded and looked downward to her feet. "I heard gunshots. I tried to see if you were the target, and I suspected that you were. But all I saw were two masked guards standing where you were. I really thought…thought…"

Tears flowed down her face again and she shook in her cries. Daniel pulled her into his embrace in support and comfort, smoothing her shoulders at the same time.

"I thought that at least if I went with him, you have a chance of leaving their alive, and whatever happens later, it's later, or I'll find a way back. But I don't know how I'll ever face you again—"

He looked pained. "Peggy…"

"I couldn't do it," she said, lifting her face to face him. "In the end, I couldn't agree. I'm yours Daniel, only yours, and no one else's. I couldn't let him touch me."

Daniel felt torn between admiration and emotional turmoil to his wife in front of her. No words were able to describe the helplessness and courage he felt illuminated by her in her struggles to find him and protect her. The lengths of what she was willing to do for him in either scenario were nothing less than noble. "Peggy, come here. I'm so sorry, darling. You've been through so hell these few hours. [soothe] I'm here. I'm safe. We're going to be okay. I'm not going anywhere."

She only nodded. "I thought I lost you. I thought…this was our end. I couldn't believe it …"

Daniel brought her face to his and shook his head. "No, Peg, it isn't. Our end is many, many years from now. And I'll be with you til then, and forevermore. Remember that."

Her tears slowed, and Peggy smiled a relieved smile as she fell in to her husband's arms again. She bit her tongue and felt the remaining tension and doubts inside of her flee from her body. She soaked in her husband's warmth and scent as she melted into his embrace even more. Never had she felt so relieved to be in Daniel's arms, and she could feel her form soaring in lightness and happiness.

Daniel contently wrapped his arms around his wife tightly, almost as if he couldn't believe that she was there with him, safe and sound. He certainly was thankful for Rose and Jack for picking up the bread crumbs in his office to save them. Otherwise, their reunion now would never exist.

"Peggy," he breathed, smoothing her back and neck. He took everything about his wife: her soft skin, curves against his body. Never will he let go again, never will he let her go use her own life as a bargaining chip in the name of this job. Never will he let her go without her knowing how much he loves her.

The euphoria felt between Peggy and Daniel was palpable. The elation was taken to a new level and suddenly Peggy wasn't standing anymore. She sank down even further into Daniel's arms, and her world turned black.

Daniel suddenly felt a shift of weight in his arms so sudden that he stumbled backwards a bit, feeling that Peggy's relief had reached a laughably adorable level. Bit his senses kicked in when he realized Peggy wasn't responding.

"Peggy?" he asked. He gently shook her and found she was limp against his form. "Peg?"

He pulled her away to examine her face and wellbeing, and saw that she was unconscious.

"Peg!" he yelled, shaking her. Rose and Jarvis rushed over.

Daniel gently lowered her to the ground, him kneeling and holding her in his lap.

"Mrs. Sousa?" Jarvis asked. "Agent Carter?"

"Peggy?"

Daniel gently shook her shoulders. "Come on, Peg. Peggy, wake up!"

They checked for any visible wounds on her and could not find any. Frantic, Jarvis said, 'Chief Sousa, we must take her to the nearest hospital. I'm afraid…"

"Let's go!" Daniel cut him off, pushing himself up. He lifted Peggy's arm in one hand while his other manned his crutch, and let Jarvis take the other side. Rose helped them both, and propped Peggy to be carried in Jarvis's arms bridal style as they hurried out of the inn and to the car.

…

Author's Note: Ahhh! They're finally reunited! I hope you enjoyed it. And if you're wondering why I address Peggy both as "Mrs. Sousa" and "Agent Carter", I'm keeping personal life and professional life separate.

What do you think happened to Peggy? Find out next! Thanks for reading!