A/N – Not a very long chapter, but we're getting closer to getting Peggy and Jack together! This is a mix of both – the case and their personal lives. Btw, I wanted to know if you guys are okay with the title or should I change it? Please let me know! Another A/N at the end of the chapter... please read. As always, I hope you like this chapter!
The next day, Peggy arrived at her office in high spirits, having spent the previous day relaxing and having a good time with Howard. As she entered the office building where the elevator was, she came across Jack, who appeared to be talking to a young woman, who had recently started working as the phone operator. Peggy had come across this woman, but hadn't really talked to her. The woman was petite, with curly blonde hair, and a very squeaky voice, that was all that Peggy had observed about the one. Currently, she seemed to be conversing with Jack, one of her fingers twirling a strand of her hair. All the signs pointed to the fact that the woman was clearly trying to flirt with Jack- the posture, her manner of speaking, her physical closeness to Jack. Suddenly, Peggy had the mad and irrational desire to go ahead and ask that woman to keep a little distance between herself and Jack. Honestly, she is standing wayyy to close to him. Jack didn't seem to be very interested in the conversation though, he was avoiding eye contact with the woman, looking as if he couldn't wait to get out of there. This cheered Peggy, if only slightly.
Both of them, however, had failed to notice Peggy there, and she made her presence known by a slight cough. They both turned to look at her.
"Good Morning Chief, I see you're very busy in the morning" said Peggy, in a tone that suggested she was insulting him, even if it was indirectly.
"Morning Marge, didn't see you there. I was just talking to Lisa, she's so very interesting." Said Thompson, with a smile plastered across his face.
The woman, Lisa, turned to look at Peggy with a rather big smile on her face and said, "Hello Agent Carter, I've heard a lot about you. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise" said Peggy, trying to keep her tone friendly, but failing to do so, since Jack seemed to be standing even closer to that woman now, with a rather broad smirk.
He said, "Why don't you tell me more about your dog tomorrow night at dinner Lisa? I'd love to take you out to dinner and a movie, if you wish"
"Oh that would be wonderful Jack! I thought you'd never ask again. " said the woman, blushing a little, yet looking ecstatic.
"It's a date" smiled Jack, and said, "I have to go to work I am afraid. I'll see you tomorrow Lisa" and then went ahead inside the elevator.
"You coming Carter?" he asked.
Peggy, who had been silently standing there, trying to keep a smile plastered on her face, when on the inside she was burning with jealousy, said "Umm..Yes of course Chief" and hastened to join him.
While she was quite annoyed at how Jack had openly ignored her in front of that woman, she hadn't missed out on the word again. Her mind was full of questions and she was expecting answers, so she said, making an effort to keep her tone light, "So, given how she used the word again, I assume you've been out with her before?"
"That's not your concern, is it Peggy?" answered Jack, without looking at her.
"I thought we were trying to be friends here. Why, otherwise, would I be concerned about you going out with some blonde on a date? Who you date doesn't bother me at all." she said coldly.
Thompson, who had not failed to notice her tone replied back harshly, "Yeah well, the fact that you went out with Stark doesn't concern me either, Peggy."
" I wasn't out on a date with Howard!" she retorted.
"Yeah whatever Peggy." said Jack, trying to sound as if he didn't care at all, as he stepped out of the elevator, leaving a rather indignant Peggy behind.
An hour later, Peggy was looking into some papers when she was greeted by Daniel, who had a stack of papers in his hand.
"Hey Peggy, I was just about to go interrogate the big guy again. I tried yesterday, along with Thompson, but he didn't utter one word. So I am going in for round two. So I was thinking you might go for Smith's interrogation, he didn't say anything either yesterday but I think he might crack. What do you say?" he asked.
"Yes of course, I'll go right now to the interrogation room" said Peggy, glad to have an excuse to get away from the paperwork.
As she entered the interrogation room, she saw Smith sitting on the chair with his hands cuffed to the table, and Jack on the other end of the room, right in the middle of saying something.
"Carter, what the hell are you doing here?" he asked.
"I was under the impression that this was my case Chief, so naturally I did not expect anyone else to do the interrogation on my behalf." She replied, trying to keep her cool.
"Okay so now you care about the case Carter? Are you sure you're free or do you have more dates to go to?" he asked acidly.
"I think I have made it pretty clear that I wasn't out on a date yesterday. And even if I was, I don't think my private life has anything to do with this investigation.", she replied coldly, before continuing, "Now do you wish to go through with this interrogation alone Chief or would you be kind enough to allow me the pleasure of your company during this interrogation?"
After a brief pause, where Jack considered in his mind, the pros of having Carter during the interrogation, he said "Alright, you can stay"
20 minutes later both Peggy and Jack were still trying to get Smith to speak. While the young lad hadn't opened his mouth yet, he looked like he was on the verge to do so.
"Tell us who are you working for, Smith, and we might be able to get your prison time reduced. If you decide to co-operate with the SSR on this investigation, you will be rewarded for it" said Jack.
"And let me make it clear that you are being charged with taking part in actions against the United States and will be punished most heavily. You're not a Russian Smith, you need not sacrifice yourself for them." said Peggy.
Smith opened his mouth for the first time, "You do not understand. This is bigger than all of us. You cannot stop this, none of you. Yes it is true that I am an American, but I have seen how blind I have been, to trust the government. You can torture me all you want, but I am not saying a word" he finished.
"Oh we don't want to torture you Smith. I was just going through your file, to check what else have you lied about. Turns out, not much. You have family living in Jersey, don't you? A widow mother and a younger sister, now what was her name" he paused to look into the file lying next to him, "It's Lyndsey, isn't it? Now how old is she? 14? Wouldn't it be unfortunate if she were to magically disappear? I mean, given how her dear brother has been conspiring against America, she must have known too. I think it's time to bring her in." said Jack.
For the first time, Peggy saw a look of terror cross the young man's face.
"You wouldn't!" exclaimed Smith, "It's against the law. You cannot torture my family for this"
"Oh that's funny. I don't remember you being concerned about the law while you were helping the Russians, Smith." Said Jack, "Now I don't want to do this Smith, but you've left me no choice" he said, as he stood up.
"Come on Carter, I think we're done here. Unfortunately, we're going to have to make things a little more personal for Smith here." said Jack.
Peggy wordlessly rose to join him, her mind trying to process whether Jack actually meant to carry out that threat. She hoped not, but who knew? All they needed was Smith to tell them what he knew and then they'd be done with him.
Just as they were about to leave the room, Smith spoke up, fear evident in his voice, " Please, don't do anything to my family. They have no idea about any of this. Please, I beg you! I'll tell you everything I know" he pleaded.
"We're listening" said Peggy, as she and Jack both returned to their seats and began another round of questions.
After about an hour of interrogating Smith, they thought they had all the information they could get from him, even though most of it was fruitless. Smith had told them, how after the death of his father, he had been forced to provide for the family, and how one day, when he had been working a lowly job he was approached by a man, who asked him to deliver a package, and promised to pay him a huge amount for doing that. Smith, in desperate need of money, agreed and did as he was told. In return, the man paid him handsomely. That was not the end of it however. Soon, this man began to call Smith again and again for his services, and eventually let him in on some secrets. The man showed Smith, how important it was to destroy America, which had created so much trouble in the world, especially for the USSR. He explained how it was crucial that the US fall down, so that the USSR could come in and claim it' s rightful place and lead the world into a new era. Most importantly, the man promised dire consequences if Smith refused.
Just as they stepped outside the room, Peggy asked the question that had been on her mind throughout the interrogation, but which could be answered only by Jack.
"Chief, you were not seriously considering bringing in his 14 year old sister in the SSR, were you? I mean, that would be just…. Unacceptable, right?" she asked, afraid of what he might say.
"I only did what I had to do to get him to speak, Carter. And last I remember, I ran this office and I think that I should decide what's acceptable and what's not." retorted Jack, and left without another word.
Sometime later, Peggy was in the break room, pouring herself hot water for her tea, when Jack entered the room. Refusing to acknowledge her, he went straight ahead and made a strong cup of coffee for himself.
Peggy decided to start the conversation, "I cannot believe you would stoop so low, Chief" she said quietly, and added, "it's just wrong, And from what I know about you-" she was saying, when Jack interrupted her.
"Well, maybe you don't know me Carter. I don't think we know each other at all, as a matter of a fact" he said sourly, before adding, "Of course, we can't all be morally incorruptible like Cap, or your new love Stark."
"Oh for heaven's sake Howard is not my lover" exploded Peggy.
"Of course, you wouldn't know since you were too busy paying attention to the interesting Miss Lisa, this morning" she added scathingly, " I hope you have fun on I hope you have fun on your date tomorrow, and do tell me how interesting her dog was" she said, before leaving the room.
"Oh you bet I will" said Jack and left the room too.
The rest of the day was spent by both Jack and Peggy trying to avoid each other at all costs, and Daniel, always quick on the uptake, knowing that this had something to do with Thompson's jealousy of Stark.
He hadn't heard all of what had gone down between Peggy and Jack this morning, but since he had been about to enter the break room himself, he had caught the last part of their conversation. He knew it had to do with the fact that Jack believed Peggy was dating Stark, when she had vehemently denied it.
Well, looks like Peggy isn't happy with him either. He had heard her mention the name Lisa during that conversation. He didn't know who that was, but it looked like Jack was taking her out on a date. It was evident that Peggy hated the woman, the way she had spat out her name. Maybe she's jealous of the woman. Maybe that's what this is all about. Peggy has feelings for him too, concluded Daniel, sadly. Why else would they be acting like this? Clearly they both like each other, they just don't want to admit it, not even to themselves, he thought.
Well, it certainly seemed like it was the time to let Peggy Carter go for good, because she wasn't his to keep. I will not be the one to go after a woman who seems to be attracted to another man. I will not be that man, thought Daniel.
A/N PART II- Oh my god I really need to study for my finals, but I don't want to abandon this story in the middle! I am afraid if I leave it now, you guys wouldn't be interested in reading it if I update after my exams! I just don't know what to do! I guess this was the wrong time to start writing a fanfic but I love writing it! This is such a mess! Can anybody suggest a solution? I am desperate!