I'm in This with You Til the End
Chapter 9 – With You
Author's note: I had several ideas on how this chapter should go, but in the end, I chose this one. Hope you like it!
…
Mr. Jarvis screeched his car to a halt in front of the emergency room of LA General Hospital before leaping out of it, yelling towards the doors, "Please, someone come help!"
Daniel was in the back of the car cradling Peggy in his lap, repeatedly trying to wake her during the ride over, but to no avail. Her usually rosy cheeks were pale, and her palms too cool to the touch, worrying him beyond belief.
She just fainted, she just fainted, that's all, he thought. But why are her hands so cold?
The physical exhaustion and emotional wounds from the day's events must have been too much for her. Each time he thought of that, he wanted to destroy Panther. He vowed he will use every resource the SSR has to make sure Panther is rightfully punished for his crimes.
He gently propped Peggy up to a sitting position to lean against him as Rose jumped out and started easing her out, while a stretcher and nurses hurried over. Daniel impatiently nudged her out for the nurses to move her onto the stretcher, while he instantly jumped out and followed.
"What happened?" asked a doctor, who came out and quickly took her pulse before rolling the stretcher with the others.
"She lost consciousness," Daniel answered. "We were finishing a case and about to head home and she just collapsed."
"A case?"
Daniel whipped out his badge, "Daniel Sousa, SSR. This is my wife, Agent Peggy Carter. Please, help her!"
"Don't worry Mr. Sousa, we'll find out what's wrong and help her," one of the nurses assured him.
"Does she have any prior medical history?" the same doctor asked.
"No," Daniel answered, grasping Peggy's hand. "Very healthy, served in the war, and no recent injuries—" He stopped mid-sentence.
The medical staff noticed the pause, but kept on moving while Daniel's eyes widened, almost letting Peggy's hand fall out of his grasp.
"Except maybe from some today," he continued, recalling how Panther had violently shoved her around and slapped her.
"And you look roughened up too," the older male doctor noted. "You'll have to be treated too. Did you say you both just got back from a case?"
Daniel almost forgot about his injuries until the doctor brought them up. "Yes, but I'm fine. Please, help her!"
They finally arrived at an examination room before the nurses stopped them. "I'm sorry, you can't go any further. Please wait out here. [turned to Daniel] Sir, come with me to have your wounds checked."
It was about an hour later before Daniel sat impatiently in his seat after being tended to his wounds. When he saw Peggy's doctor walk by giving him a weary glance, he sat up straighter about to motion to ask what was going on, when he saw him motion another doctor to come along with him.
He turned to Jarvis in his seat. "Was that another doctor?"
Jarvis shrugged. "I don't know…a second opinion, perhaps?" He noted Daniel's concerned face and assured him, "I'm sure the doctors are helping her, Chief Sousa. We have to be patient."
Daniel couldn't help but wonder: what are the doctors hiding? No one was able to give him any more information as they sat and waited. And prayed.
And that's what Daniel did; he rested his head on his clasped hands together and prayed.
…
The doctors didn't let Daniel or anyone enter her room for hours, leaving Daniel worried sick. He clasped his hands together and thought hard…what could've caused his usually energetic wife to collapse? And what kinds of tests were the doctors running that were taking so long for a prognosis?
"Mr. Sousa?"
His head shot up, as did Mr. Jarvis's, as they rose to their feet. The words tumbled out of Daniel's mouth all at once. "Yes, how's she? Is she okay? What happened?"
The doctor smiled briefly before it disappeared. Daniel's heart clenched. "She's been awake briefly and we helped her sleep again. She really needs rest. The stress and dehydration are really not good for her and the baby—"
"Wait, what?" Daniel's face paled. "Baby?"
The doctor chuckled and shook his head, extending his hand out. "Congratulations, Mr. Sousa. Your wife is pregnant."
He took a step back and leaned on his crutch, with Jarvis hurrying to hold him up.
"She's—we're—we're going to have a baby?"
"The tests we just conducted all show to be so."
Happy tears graced Daniel's eyes as he hugged Jarvis with all his might. "Peggy's pregnant! I'm going to be a father!"
Jarvis was equally as excited. "Congratulations, Mr. Sousa!"
The doctor smiled again, but with a more serious tone, he continued, "Now, I don't know what she encountered in her mission work today, but starting now, she cannot do any more vigorous physical activity. Do not let her be exposed to as much emotional and mental stress as possible. Over exhaustion in all forms is very dangerous for her and the baby. For the foreseeable future, she must rest and limit her activity."
Daniel knew that would be hard to tell Peggy to do, but with the knowledge of the baby, it shouldn't be an issue. "So she didn't have any other injuries? She's okay? Can I see her?"
"She's still recovering emotionally, and thankfully, there were no other injuries. And yes, you can see her, but she's still sleeping. Only a few people at a time."
…
Daniel sat at Peggy's bedside with her hand in his. He gently rubbed circles on her hand as she slept and he watched her peaceful breathing, adjusting the blankets over her every now and then.
Until a couple hours ago, he learned he is going to be a father. He was overjoyed, thankful, excited…and also guilty.
Because if he had known earlier that Peggy is pregnant, he would have never, ever let her take today's mission alongside him. He wouldn't have let her and their baby be exposed to such danger, and tremendous emotional trauma for Peggy.
Had he noticed signs from before the mission? Nothing of the typical symptoms he's heard of at all…no morning sickness, no exceptional tiredness, emotional changes…
But then again, Peggy usually is good at nudging aside any physical discomfort even if there was some…
The only thing was her fainting spell after they reunited, but he chalked that up to the overwhelming events of earlier in the day.
Then his mind took a different turn in his thoughts. What if Jack and Rose didn't get there in time, and he himself was killed? Even if Peggy was able to escape unscathed, then she would've had to raise their child alone as a single parent.
He will have to properly thank Jack and Rose later for their timely rescue.
He shifted his eyes down to her belly, eying where their baby is growing. Each time he thought about the baby, he couldn't help but smile. They were planning to start a family sometime in the future, but this was a serendipitous early surprise.
A thin moan suddenly came from Peggy's lips, and Daniel instantly jerked out of his thoughts, his attention fully on her.
"Daniel…?" she whispered.
He held her hand up and kissed it, then gently stroked her cheek. "Peggy, I'm right here."
She slowly opened her eyes and blinked at the white light blinding her eyes. They landed on her husband, who looked tired, but overjoyed to see her awake. "I'm so glad," he said. "How are you feeling?"
Peggy just stared at him with a soft smile on her face, not answering him. Daniel looked a bit confused and examined himself.
"Peggy? What is it?"
She released her hand from his grip and slowly reached up to his face, pausing at a couple of the cuts and slight bruising from the day's earlier events on his face.
"Peg?"
She dropped her hand down and answered, "I needed to make sure that you're real, and that it wasn't just a dream."
Daniel smiled in relief and held her hand again to his face, softly kissing it. "And now?"
She nodded. "You're really here. [looks around] Where are we?"
"You're in the hospital. Do you remember what happened?"
She closed her eyes and thought for a moment. "You had just found me. We were standing with each other, and I was so happy that you're all right. And…that's it."
"That's when you collapsed," Daniel answered. "We brought you to LA General right after that."
"We?"
"Jarvis, Rose, and I. We—"
She tilted her head to him. "Mr. Jarvis? Wasn't he part of the hostage group? How did he…and Rose—?"
He nodded. "You have Rose to thank for that. And Jack. They were the ones who saved me from the facility earlier. The shots you heard? They were from Rose and Jack shooting the guards around me, and then trying to go after you."
She nodded in relief; that's what didn't add up earlier. She felt so thankful for the turn of events, though... "Jack? Jack Thompson? How…?"
Daniel nodded again. "Let's just say I'm thankful that he's here this time. Otherwise, we wouldn't be here right now."
She closed her eyes and replied, "He was going through your office again, hm?"
He laughed. "Exactly what I guessed and exactly what he did. [more serious tone] But in all seriousness, I'm very, very glad he was there. He actually has dealt with Panther before in New York."
Peggy looked confused. "New York?"
Daniel sighed. "You were his ultimate target, Peggy. You've been tracked ever since we were in New York together and ultimately out here. He was willing to anything to have you."
She tried to sit up. "This…explains a few things. That horrid monster…he knew too much, how the inn looked, the targets he used against me…how does he know so much?"
Daniel gently pushed her down. "I don't know, but I'm setting up a taskforce with Jack to find that out once and for all. I promise you, he will not get away for causing so much pain for us and so many other innocent people. But now for you: you have to rest."
Peggy smiled lovingly up at him. "I can do that. I feel much better now, now that this is finally over. [tried to sit up again] But we have to wrap up the case, and I want to make sure Panther gets his punishment that he deserves."
"And he will, believe me," Daniel vowed. "I'll make sure he gets what he's coming to him, and much more. But you hon', really, you have to lie still and rest." He carefully adjusted the blankets over her for her to lie back down.
She gazed up at him confused. "Daniel, I'm not an invalid. I can sit up and rest at the same time."
He was about to comment when Mr. Jarvis peered through the door, gently knocking before coming in. "Chief Sousa? [eyes open wide] Mrs. Sousa! You're awake! I'm so glad! How are you feeling?"
"Exhausted and peckish," she answered, earning a chuckle from Mr. Jarvis. "I'm so glad you're all right, Mr. Jarvis. We were so worried."
He nodded. "I have Chief's Thompson and Sousa to thank for that. But now, I shall bring you some sustenance. And, I'll let Rose you're awake," Jarvis said, exiting the room. She couldn't help but notice a gleeful skip in his step as he left.
Daniel bit his lip to prevent a laugh and smile from exiting his features, but he couldn't bring himself to hold his gaze at Peggy. She of course noticed it right away and shifted her head towards him, sitting up slightly. This time Daniel relented, putting some extra pillows behind her to prop her up comfortably before shifting the blankets higher.
"Is something the matter?"
He shook his head. "Nothing. Just Jarvis acting like himself."
She furrowed her brow. "Daniel, I can tell when you are not telling me something."
He finally nodded. "Okay, at least lie back, and get comfortable."
"Is there something wrong? An injury? Oh dear, I must have—"
He silenced her by placing a finger on her lips. "I'm afraid you'll be pulled off active duty mission for a while, Peg." A grin spread across his face.
"I've suffered through much worse injuries and conditions than this—"
Daniel cringed, recalling the times of getting shot or that one time getting impaled in his recent memory. "Yes, but this is not due to any injury. Not…well, none that you sustained at least…"
"Daniel, this is nonsense. [pushes to get up] I will have to ask the doctor—"
He gently held her back and kissed her forehead, effectively stilling her movements, before giving her a warm smile.
"You have to be still for a while, otherwise, how will our baby have a chance to grow?"
"Our—[eyes widened]—what?"
Daniel grinned. "You're pregnant, Peggy. We're having a baby."
"I'm—I'm with child?" she squeaked in a small timid voice. She turned her gaze downward and reached a hand down to gently feel the currently flat part of her belly. "I'm going to be a mother…" she declared, a tearful smile shining on her face as she turned to him again. "Daniel, we're going to be parents!"
Daniel released his grin and gently cradled her face, planting a passionate kiss on her lips that Peggy eagerly returned. As they let go, she guided Daniel's hand with hers down to the curve of her belly, intertwining their fingers together and gazing down at where their baby is growing.
"Thank you Peggy," he whispered.
"Thank—why?"
"Thank you for this. You will be handling the most demanding mission in the next seven months, and I promise to be by your side every step of the way. This includes no more active duty missions…you have to focus on the baby inside of you."
Though motherhood was bound to happen sooner or later for Peggy, it didn't really occur to her that this meant no more field work for a quite a while. She felt a little disappointed, but she also welcomed this new chapter of motherhood awaiting her…
Her and Daniel together.
"Am I at least allowed to advise back in the office?" she hesitantly asked.
Daniel chuckled; of course Peggy would try to negotiate. "Per case basis."
"Yes sir, Chief!" she saluted, earning a chuckle from Daniel. She threw her arms around him and he happily did the same.
They stayed like that for a while, joyfully exchanging ideas for raising their baby, from names, to habits, personalities, who he/she will look like more, etc.
And of course, they would be in this together…not just til the end, but from the beginning. And that's what this is for Peggy and Daniel…a new beginning.
…
THE END
Author's Note: That's all, folks! I love happy endings. Thank you so much for reading and your comments! Look out for more #PeggySous stories, and happy reading!