The Rise of the Phoenix (Marvel/Captain America/Agent Carter)

Chapter 16 - Continue On

"Badge!" I yelled to Jack who was halfway down the stairs.

"Damn it!" I heard him say to himself making me smile as he ran back up the stairs, grabbing his badge from the nightstand and kissing my cheek as I chuckled and shook my head at him.

Seeing I had another two hours before I had to be at work I grabbed my bag and coat and began to head to the Automat. As I approached I saw Peggy leaving.

"Peg!" I called over to her, fastening my pace.

"Not now." She said stubbornly, continuing to walk away from me.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked and quick as a flash she spun back around to me, clearly enraged by something.

"You knew. You told me the same thing he did about that device, before we'd even found it. You knew what it really was." Wonderful, she'd opened it and found the blood.

I sighed, "Listen, Peg, that blood can't get into the hands of the SSR."

"I understand that, but you should have told me." She was keeping her voice low so we didn't draw attention on the street, but I could tell she'd rather be screaming.

"I know, I don't know why I didn't."

She stopped walking and turned back around to face me. "You lied to me because you've spent far too much time around Howard Stark." Peggy turned away again and continued on her way as I still continued to follow for some odd reason, "You shouldn't have left him, you two are perfect for each other." She declared which did get me to stop as she powerwalked away. I sighed, knowing she was right and that I should have told her, but just like Howard and even just like Peggy I felt the need to protect that blood. It was the only thing left and it could hold the cure and solution for many things and if there was one person who could figure it out, it was Howard whether I was there to help or not.

After my coffee I headed to work and an hour into my shift I received a call from Jack.

"Is everything alright? You never call me at work." I said.

"Yeah, everything's fine, but I have to go away for a few days with a couple of the guys and Carter. We've got a lead."

"Don't suppose I'm allowed to know where?"

"Russia." He surprisingly answered.

"That sounds... dangerous." I stated, suddenly getting a little nervous.

Jack chuckled, "I'll be fine, but we're heading out right away so this is the only goodbye I can say."

"Don't say goodbye, I hate goodbyes."

"Then what would you like me to say?" He asked in a soft voice.

"Nothing out of the ordinary."

"Alright... how about, I'll be working late the next few days so I may not see you?"

"That works." I said smiling, "Hey how come Peggy is going with you?" I asked, thinking that was a little odd considering her job parameters. She was probably the most qualified, but that doesn't mean Dooley would have let her go.

"She made a deal with the Chief. If she could get the 107th to join us, she could come." Jack explained.

"The 107th? They'll be there?" I was suddenly very excited, even though I wouldn't be the one seeing them. I missed the guys, all of them.

"A-huh."

"Say hello to them for me, tell Dugan I'll open him up a tab if he stops by New York some time."

"I wasn't aware you were on first name basis with the 107th... or that you were drinking buddies." I sensed a hint or jealousy in his voice, but I couldn't tell if it was because I was friends with them or because he wanted to be friends with them.