His tone sharpened of its own volition as he asked the landlady, "Can you do something about this?"
Hearing the word "Gam-Gam" come from Thompson's mouth twenty seconds later was the end of the straw for Daniel, though, and with a final pat on Angie's head from Thompson, they all left the emotional wreck of a girl alone in her room. As soon as they did so, Daniel realized exactly how he'd come across in that room, and he started mentally kicking himself because he hadn't been that horrible at any of the other first meetings he'd had… nor had he ever been so instantly drawn to the soulmate. He'd let his fury at Peggy get in the way of that... but maybe he could come back soon and try to find a way to make it up to the pretty girl?
He and Thompson made quick work of dispatching Ms. Fry and the four agents with them, and then Thompson had to add salt to Daniel's wound by commenting, "You know, I kind of feel better now that you've managed to be a bigger jerk then me to one of our soulmates."
"Shut up, Thompson," Daniel growled, staring straight ahead as they searched the place for Peggy.
Thompson stepped up beside him, glancing over to look in Daniel's eyes before he realized, "You really like Angie don't you?"
"She just…" Daniel faltered. "Yeah. Seems to me like she'd be more of an open book – which is kind of nice, considering this whatever with Peggy and her lies."
Thompson hesitated and Daniel could see him debating something before the blond said, "Good for you, then. You should come back later and ask her out."
"What if she's the only other girl we've got besides Peggy and you end up alone?" Daniel asked, pointing out, pretty sure that was what Jack had been considering.
Thompson shook his head. "I don't think that's going to happen. I'm not cutting Peggy out of the equation yet; something else is going on here."
"Russia changed you two, didn't it?" Daniel asked shrewdly. "You like her now."
"I never disliked her."
Daniel rolled his eyes, feeling like a grade school girl as he replied, "You know what I mean."
"Yeah," Thompson half-smiled. "I know."
"And I'm right?"
"You are," Thompson admitted without blinking – or looking at Daniel, but, hey, the confession was still progress.
"Then let's go find her."
And find her they did. Then they arrested her… and cleared her name, along with clearing up the entire mess with Stark and his emptied vault.
It was late – very late – by the time Dr. Fennhoff had been arrested… and no one particularly cared but Edwin Jarvis, least of all Mr. Stark himself, Edwin realized dismally as he stood beside his employer. The genius was staring shrewdly across the air strip, studying a trio in the darkness. Following his line of sight, Edwin paled guiltily when he recognized Agents Carter, Sousa, and Thompson.
"What's going on there?" Mr. Stark asked him curiously.
"I believe they're talking," Edwin drawled.
"What are they to you?" Mr. Stark queried, not putting up with what they both knew was evasion of the real question.
"Agents Carter, Thompson, and Sousa."
Mr. Stark wheedled, "Jarvis… are they your soulmates?"
Edwin opened his mouth to lie but thought better of it. His boss would eventually find the truth out one way or another. Mr. Stark took his silence as an answer in and of itself, saying jovially, "I thought so, you lucky dog! You've got two of the prettiest brunettes I know!"
Edwin flinched, finding a way out of the conversation by saying, "Speaking of a brunette, I'd best get home to my wife."
Mr. Stark chuckled, knowing exactly what he was doing and letting him get by with it this time as he said, "Sure, Jarvis; let's go. But you are going to have to tell Anna about all of this, you know."
Edwin flinched again and climbed into the driver's seat without a word.
"What are you thinking so hard about?" Daniel asked, hesitantly touching Peggy's shoulder.
She frowned, replying quietly, "Angie, actually. I owe her an explanation or twenty."
"Do you want me to go with you when you when you talk to her?" he offered impulsively, not at all sure that he would even be welcome, all things considered.
Peggy opened her mouth to decline, but before she could Jack said quickly, "You should let him." She shot him a questioning look and he revealed, "He's got it bad for her, sweetheart."
"Third strike; you're out," Daniel murmured, looking pointedly at Jack.
"What?" Peggy asked.
"That's the third time you've called her 'sweetheart' since we were at the automat."
"You've been counting?" Jack scoffed. Daniel made a face and Jack turned back to Peggy, saying, "He's just bitter because he hasn't gotten to see Miss Martinelli again yet."
"Are you that enamored?" Peggy asked Daniel with an amused smile.
"It's a good solution of sorts for the public eye," Jack pointed out to her. "Jarvis and Anna, Daniel and Angie, and me and you."
"You two are together now?" Daniel asked them with raised eyebrows.
"Sort of, kind of, working on it," Jack replied.
"Okay. Second question is what makes you think that we'll ever meet Mrs. Jarvis? Mr. Jarvis seems like he doesn't want us anywhere near her."
"I'm going to start working on it," Peggy replied lightly.
"Besides, we wouldn't have words from her if we weren't going to eventually meet her," Jack added.
"Fair enough." Daniel turned to Peggy and brought them back to point, asking, "So, Angie?"
Peggy considered him for a moment, a small smile that he couldn't interpret playing about her features before she admitted, "I'd be glad to have you there, Daniel, but this is something that needs to be between Angie and me first. I, ah, get the feeling that I'm going to be seeing a side of her that… would not make a good impression, a side that at this point I alone deserve from her. Right this moment, I am finding a bed and I am passing out until further notice. When I wake up, I am going to get Angie alone, and we are going to have that talk." She smiled weakly, requesting, "Wish me luck, boys."