82.
Brooklyn, New York City
27th June, 1946
Peggy goes to the L&L Automat, but this time, she doesn't invite Isabel. She leaves the girl sleeping in bed, exhausted from their experiences the night before. Peggy takes a seat with her coffee and isn't even surprised when a man slides into the booth right behind her. She turns slightly, recognizing the back of Jarvis' head. He's got his own cup of tea and a newspaper on the table.
"I'm sorry to appear callous, but is there any way it can be traced back to you?" He asks quietly.
"The body was gone when I got downstairs. The man, he survived. No doubt we'll see him again. God, I feel terrible."
"Why, Miss Carter?"
"Isabel didn't deserve that. It was silly of me to get her involved in the mission. It was silly of me to come to her at all. I've known her years now, she's my friend. I also know what she's been through, loosing Steve and Bucky. I came to New York and I knew no one. I needed a place to stay and she offered me one, and I took her offer. I thought it would work out fine. I thought I could offer her company, maybe begin to fill or at least distract her from that void she's got in her heart. But I forgot that I seem to have a habit of losing the people closest to me."
Jarvis doesn't speak, but he does shift in his seat.
Peggy sighs. "Perhaps losing is too nice a word. I get them killed, or nearly killed."
"Miss Carter…"
"When Howard came to me, I was damn happy to see him. I'd been wallowing in it all since the war, wondering why no one would give Agent Peggy Carter a shot. So, I grabbed the chance, but I nearly mucked it up. Not only for me, because I would have lost my friend. But I nearly got Isabel killed by dragging her into it."
"Miss Carter, I've seen your war record, as I have seen Miss Barnes'. She knew what she was getting into when she accepted your offer to accompany you to that club. As for you, you are a credit to your profession. If the men in your office can't see that, then they're fools."
Peggy looks down at her hands, her eyes fogging up. She blinks rapidly and is surprised when Jarvis hands her a napkin over his shoulder.
"You were trying to do something good, in helping Mister Stark and helping your friend readjust to her new life, and I believe you are accomplishing it."
"But will it be worth it?"
"I don't think we'll know that until the job is truly done," Jarvis says easily.
Peggy takes a deep breath. "Where does your wife think you are right now?" She asks, changing the subject.
"One of Mister Stark's more amorous admirers has refused to vacate his penthouse. I am presently supervising her extraction."
Peggy breathes out a laugh. "I imagine that's quite believable."
Behind her, she hears Jarvis cough at his mouthful of tea. "You have no idea."
Peggy looks down into her handbag where the egg is sitting, nestled between her possessions, the bomb still remaining inactive, thankfully. "We need to know where this came from. But I can't exactly walk into the SSR Headquarters."
Jarvis leans back, looking at her over his shoulder. "I may know a gentleman."
