Chapter Text
THIS IS SET AT THE START OF AGENT CARTER
A flash of light and loud bang occurs. Suddenly, Peggy Carter, Howard Stark, Jarvis, Anna Jarvis, Angie Martinelli, Daniel Sousa, Jack Thompson, Chief Dooyle and the rest of the SSR appear together in a white room with no door.
“What the hell just happened?” asked Sousa. Everyone is looking around, stunned trying to understand where they were. Peggy’s hand instinctively reached for her pistol, cleverly concealed under her skirt only to find her holster empty.
“Who do you work for,” she said to the walls. Maybe this was some evil plot from a left-over hydra group. Alas, she got no reply. At least not a verbal one.
“Peg, look here,” said Daniel, nodding to what seemed to be a note and a stack of films. “That wasn’t there a minute ago.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Peggy responded as she walked and picked up the note. “To those gathered, I am sure you are all wondering why we have brought you from going about your day to a room with no means of exit -”
“You can say that again,” Howard interrupted but was quickly silenced by the glare from Peggy.
“To be honest there is no clear reasoning for this,” she continues to read “maybe we want to ease some of the pain that is to come and could be prevented, or maybe we are doing this for our own enjoyment. What we do know is that you have to finish these films in order to return to your lives. The films will be a mix but first they will cover your past before moving into what is to come. Happy watching. PS- we may be sending more people to join you.”
“Then lets start,” said Thompson in the bored tone he could muster.
“I beg your pardon,” replied Peggy.
“Lets start,” he said slowly, as if talking to a toddler.
“Come on English, where’s your adventurous spirit, huh? Besides the quicker we watch the quicker we get out of here.” Angie asked. “But, I don’t actually know many of you – obviously I know Peg and oh my gosh, your Howard Stark – a pleasure, but who are the rest of you?”
“yes I do suppose introductions are in order, I’m Agent Daniel Sousa.”
“Agent Thompson of the SSR New York”
“Edwin Jarvis and this is my wife –“
“Ana Jarvis” Ana cut him off, “lovely to meet you” she said with a smile.
“Obviously you all know, I am Howard Stark and this is the beautiful Maria,” he gestured to the lady standing beside him.
“And I am Angie Martinelli, do you know these people English?”
“Yes Angie, before we start I think I need to come clean about my true job.” To Angie’s confused look Peggy continued, “I don’t really man the telephone. I am an Agent for the SSR or the Strategic Scientific Reserve. I worked with them during the war where I met Howard and have ever since. Look Ang, I’m so sorry, I cannot tell you how many times I wanted to tell you but I could never risk your life like that.”
“Hey, its alright Peg, I get it, top secret business and all that. Besides, I cant say I’m all that shocked, your office hours where always too strange. ” Angie reassured her, “So should we get started?”
“Lets” said Sousa as he went to put the first film in.
Suddenly a voice boomed through the room. “Sorry, we changed our mind, we don’t want you to start with any of the films provided. We will show a nice little selection we put together of clips to introduce some guests before we send them in to watch the other films with you.”
“Who are you,” Peggy quickly asked.
“We cannot say,” the voice responded, “but I assure you we mean no harm.”
“yeah right,” Peggy muttered but none heard as the film had begun.
(The scene in Captain America the First Avenger when Peggy first talks to the recruits) The camera pans down a line of soldiers, pre-serum Steve Rogers is shown.
Peggy gasps, “what’s wrong Peg?” asked Angie.
“Nothing, nothing, I just knew that man.” Peggy responded.
Peggy is shown introducing herself, she says she supervises all operations for this division.
“Supervisor, but I thought you did secretary work,” said Thompson.
“I am an Agent, Thompson, not a secretary,” Peggy replied, “no matter how much you treat me like one.” She muttered.
“But you never said you supervised a division –“
“hum yes, you never asked for my history did you, or read my file. You just assumed I was a secretary.” Peggy replied.
Hodge cheeks Peggy.
“How rude.” Said Ana
“I quite agree Mrs Jarvis,” said Peggy, she smiled softly remembering what can next.
Peggy punches Hodge.
“ooooh” a collective groan goes up from the men.
“Damn Peg, your right hook hurts.” Howard commented.
“Speaking from experience Stark?” asked Thompson.
“Yes he is, and I hope he learnt his lesson. Now please if we have any hope of getting through these movies before the next century you would all, kindly, shut up.” Peggy replied though she still smiled at the memory of Colonel Philips when he came on screen.
Colonel Phillips introduces the Captain America Experiment.
“Damn that guy is scrawny.” Thompson commented.
“yes, he was,” Peggy laughed, gaining weird looks from her male colleagues.
"So you were the supervisor of the Captain America Project Peggy,” Sousa asked.
“Yes I was,” Peggy said distractedly.
The next scene is short clip of Peggy watch Steve get the serum injected in him.
“THAT WAS CAPTAIN AMERICA” Krzeminski exclaimed. “How? He was so tiny!”
“He was, along with asthmatic, and suffered from high blood pressure, heart trouble, scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, to name a few.” Said Peggy.
“How was he Captain America?” asked Krzeminski.
“Because he was a good man,” replied Peggy.
The scene changes to Peggy and Steve being told about Bucky’s capture and Steve looks up from the map of the Hydra base camp. Peggy follows Steve to his tent and tries to convince him not to walk to Austria to save Bucky. They go outside and Steve says “you said I was meant for more than this, did you mean that.” And Peggy responds “every word of it.” And then says she can do more than just let him go, she can help him.
“I’m sorry, but who is Bucky?” asked Sousa.
“Oh,” laughed Peggy, “he was Steve’s best friend. They grew up together in Brooklyn.”
“And what did you do to help Rogers?” asked Thompson.
“I think you mean what I did,” cut in Howard.
“I organised for Howard to fly us in as close as he could so Steve could jump.” Peggy clarified.
The scene cuts to Peggy talking with Colonel Philips in the tent. Peggy gets told off for letting Steve go.
“Ohhh Carter you were in trouble” Thompson sang.
“Gosh, you sound like a three year old. Act your age Agent.” Peggy lectured.
Men start running outside towards some commotion and Colonel and Peggy follow. A large group of soldiers march into camp lead by Bucky and Steve.
“Oh my sweet lord!” squealed Angie, “He did it! And that power walk… Besides the point, of course your gut was right Peg”
Steve salutes Philips and tells him some of the men need medical attention and he tries to surrender himself for disciplinary action.
“What did I say, he was too good.” said Peggy when the men murmumured on how they would never.
Peggy comes close to Steve and tells him he was late, he response that he couldn’t call his ride. Bucky calls for a toast to Captain America and Peggy and Steve have an intense stare off.
“Are you sure you don’t have just a small crush Carter,” Thompson teased.
Peggy just had realised what the rest of the film would entail and was dreading it already. The comments on being Captain America’s girl had quietened down recently and this would do nothing to help that. At least now it will be 100% fact. No more would be left to the imagination and speculation of her colleagues. Although she did like keeping her story with Steve private, it was still raw and she didn’t want to open that wound back up. It was tough as it was to see him on that screen and not be able to talk to him again.
“Say Peg, is that Bucky guy single?” asked Angie.
“Dead I am afraid love,” Peggy replied, thankful for a change in subject.
The scene changes to Steve and Peggy pouring over a map and talking with Colonel Philips on the plan of action to take down Hydra.
“None’s perfect my ass,” Thompson said, “that guy just recited what would take weeks nay months to gather that much information and her only got a quick look at their plans!” Thompson exclaimed in awe of Steve’s strategic thinking. “And he has brains not just brawn, what can’t he do?”
“Fly a plane,” deadpanned Peggy, “not without crashing it.”
Steve is at the bar trying to recruit the Howling Commandoes. They all agree and Steve goes to get another round. Bucky and Steve sit at the bar and have a little heart to heart.
“Aww how sweet” comments Maria Stark, who up to now had been silent. Peggy who clearly forgot about her presence jumped slightly and hummed in agreement.
“They were as close as brothers, closer even.”
The men fall silent as Peggy enters in a red dress.
All the men (except Jarvis) wolf-whistle.
“You clean up nice, Carter” Thompson commented eyeing her current outfit of her typical sensible pantsuit.
“Stop it all of you,” Peggy said, irritated. She as much as she wanted these scenes with Steve to be over, she liked seeing him again and she knew as soon as they were over, her colleagues would only tease her more.
She delivers her message and says she is waiting for the right partner. She and Steve don’t take their eyes off each other.
“English, you have a lot of catching up to do,” Angie said. “Is this why you never liked that Captain America Program – it is isn’t it! Oh but you will have to tell me all about this.”
“And I will Angie but not right now…” Peggy trailed off gesturing to Thompson and Sousa.
“oh right” said Angie, disheartened for a moment before bouncing back up.
Bucky talks about being invisible and Steve says Peggy might have a friend.
The room chuckled and then again when Angie responded to Steve saying “Oh boy she definitely has a friend who would be only too happy to fill a spot on a double date.”
The scene changes to Steve talking to a secretary who is flirting with him and he is very awkward.
“Shit.” Peggy said. “I messed up.”
“what do you –“ Sousa said but stopped when Peggy raised her hand to silence him.
“I’m sure you will see,” Peggy said bitterly, “I should have trusted his inability to speak to women.”
The secretary kisses Steve and Peggy walks in on them fuming. They walk together as Steve tries to convince her it was nothing but Peggy wont listen. Steve asks her is she and Howard have been “fondue-ing”
“This priceless Peg!” Howard chuckled, “Please tell me you educated his sweet innocent mind with the true definition of fondue."
“What’s this about fondue,” asked Sousa.
“A long story,” Peggy replied.
Peggy walks away from Steve. Howard talks Steve through some weapons and he picks up the shield. Peggy enters and asks Steve about his “unfinished business”
“Jeez Carter, no need to be so bitchy,” Thompson commented.
“Excuse you,” exclaimed Peggy, turning to face him.
“I didn’t say you were a bitch just that you were acting catty –“ but he didn’t get to finish his sentence as Peggy punched his in the face.
“Kindly shut your trap,” said Peggy.
Peggy draws a gun and fires at him. Howard and Steve are stunned.
“Damn Carter” says Thompson.
The scene changes to Peggy and Colonel Philips watching a film reel of the mission. Steve has a compass with Peggy’s picture in it.
Peggy smiles. “How sweet of him” says Ana Jarvis.
The scene changes to Steve chasing Schmidt and his shield gets stuck in a door then a fire machine chases him. Peggy guns down the man. Steve goes to kiss her then she reminds him of the mission.
“I have to say Agent Carter, you surprise me.” Thompson said, “I feel I should take back my comment on you being a secretary. Clearly you fought alongside Captain America, not just as his beau.” His jaw still ached from moments before and could only pray he did not set her off again.
“Thank you, Agent Thompson,” said Peggy, “I am afraid your validation means little to me though.”
“Yeah I deserve that,” said Thompson.
Steve chases after the Red Skull’s Plane. Colonel Philips tells him to jump in to the car as they chase him and Steve prepares to jump. Peggy stops him and kisses him.
“Short and sweet, Peggy, I like it,” says Angie. Peggy lets out a rare blush at her co-workers getting to see her kiss someone.
The scene changes to Steve flying the plane, he get in touch with the command centre and Peggy is on the other side. Peggy tries to find him, a safe landing and he says it is not possible.
Everyone is on the edge of their seat, despite all knowing the outcome. Peggy seems distant, as if she is reliving all this for the first time. Howard is uncharacteristically perfectly still. No knee-bouncing or nervous jiggles. The room is silent. Peggy tries to problem solve. Steve says he needs to put it in the water. Steve says Peggy this is my choice. Peggy has silent tears rolling down her cheeks.
Steve puts the compass back up and tilts the plane down. He says he needs a raincheck in that dance. Peggy plays along and then Steve cuts out and she breaks down.
“Oh English,” Angie says, “she goes to comfort Peggy.
“Um Agent Carter, I think I speak for all of us at the SSR when I apologise for all our teasing. You clearly are, as much as it pains me to say it, a competent Agent. It was wrong of us to jest about your past relationships when we didn’t know anything. Peggy wiped her eyes and blows her nose on her handkerchief, patting Angie’s arm in silent thanks for her comfort.
“As I said earlier,” she says.
“I know, my validation means little to you.” Thompson responds.
Peggy lets out a watery chuckle “precisely”
“You really did love him English, didn’t you?” asked Angie.
“He was my right partner,” Peggy nodded much to Sousa’s resignment.
The scene opened to Bucky and Steve on the train. Bucky drops off the train and is presumed dead.
“This is going back in time,” said Peggy.
“Was that when he…” Angie trailed off. Peggy didn’t need to speak, just her sad smile answered Angie’s question. “Poor Steve, I can’t imagine he took that lightly.” Peggy just shook her head in agreement.
The scene changes to Peggy walking through a boomed bar. Steve is sitting with a drink and turns to acknowledge Peggy.
“This was after Bucky’s death?” clarified Angie to which Peggy nodded.
Steve starts to talk about the serum and how it effects his cells. Peggy sighs know how much pain he is in.
Peggy sardonically laughs to herself. Watching Steve in pain is no easier the second time around.
Steve says he can’t get drunk.
“Aw, I wanted to see a drunk Captain America.” Howard complained.
“Why?” Scoffed Peggy, to which Howard could only shrugged.
Peggy says his metabolism burns 4 times faster and it was thought he wouldn’t be able to get drunk. Peggy says it wasn’t his fault. Steve denies that.
“You really think that would convince him it wasn’t his fault Peg?” Howard scoffed, “He is stupidly stubborn.”
“No, I didn’t,” Peggy said indignantly, “but I had to try.”
Peggy talks about Steve having respect for Bucky and allowing for the dignity of his choice.
“But that helped,” Peggy said.
Steve says he is going after Schmidt and won’t stop. Peggy says he won’t be alone.
“Wow, he really was Captain America.” Said Krzeminski.
Then the voice spoke again.“Up until now the events show have been from the past. These will be in the future for you but the past for us and those who we will send in shortly.” The viewers were all confused, there was lots of muttering as they tried to work out what the strange voice meant. All except Howard of course who was full of questions.
“So where does that place us?” Howard asked, “where are we on the timeline? How many timelines are there?”
“I am afraid we would not stop talking if we went down that route of conversation.” The voice responded.
“Am I the only one curious as to who these people that will join us are?” asked Angie. Peggy mentally kicked herself for forgetting about the identity of the newcomers. She had been so preoccupied with memories of Steve. She took a few deep breaths and turned her attention to the conversation at hand.
“You will see in good time, just two more clips I believe,” said the voice.
The scene changes to a bunch of men in a blizzard in the Arctic. They have found a plane, machinery is cutting through the ice to find get inside. They search the plane. Then they find Captain America’s shield.
“He is, I told you Peg. HA. He’s out there,” Howard said through strange laughs, he wasn’t making much sense.
“HOWARD,” Peggy shouted, drawing him out of his nonsense jabbering, “he may be out there but he is frozen solid. He…” she trailed off, trying to maintain her composure. “He couldn’t have survived the crash let along be frozen in ice.” She finishes resignedly.
The scene opens with a baseball game playing and on a close up of Steve’s eyes. The camera starts to zoom out to reveal Steve in a clinical room. He gets up and tries to work out his surroundings. A woman enters his room. Steve asks where he is, continuously. He realises the baseball game on the radio was from 1941 and starts to get mad. Two armed men enter the room, he fights them and busts out of the facility.
“Who are they? When is this?” Peggy spews out, trying to make sense of what is happening. “Presumably they are in our future, which means Steve survived by some means and they found him?” Peggy concluded. “But what will they do to him, he can’t be safe with someone random agents,” she rambled, thinking out loud until the film cut her off.
He ran out of the building and down the street. There are all these ads and new cars around the place.
“Holy shit that’s the future alright,” said Angie.
“Incredible,” said Howard.
“No flying cars though, sir” said Mr. Jarvis.
A man with an eyepatch talks to him. He apologises and breaks the news that he was asleep for 70 years.
“No…” said Peggy, “impossible.” She said not believing what that would mean for right now. Right now she thought, he is sitting under the ice waiting for us to come for him. He waits another 70 years. How, how did he survive those 70 years? Could the serum really… Once again she was cut off by the film.
Fury asks if he is going to be OK, he responds with yes but he had a date.
Peggy chuckled her sad laugh, “I am sure I would be dead.”
“Whooowa,” said both Thompson and Sousa, “don’t say that about yourself.”
“Think it through, I will be 87 in 70 years. That is old and I’m an Agent. Hate to break it to you boys but this isn’t the business you get in if you want to reach the retirement home.” Peggy said.
“So now,” the voice spoke once more, “I think you are ready to meet the others.”
There was a loud thunk from behind and everyone turned to look. Two broad shouldered men hunched over from the impact of their fall, stood to attention, taking in their surroundings like, well, only soldiers would.
“Who are you?” Peggy demanded.
“Peg?” Asked the taller of the two, “How the.. what the… where are we? When are we?” The man said as he slowly walked towards the gathering, the other man trailing closely behind.
“How is that, you can’t be…” Peggy trailed off as he approached her. “How do I know you aren’t an imposter?” she asked him. “We watched, they (she waved her hand around the air) made us watch you wake up from the ice but how do I know who you really are?”
Slowly he reached into his pocket, still in shock at what was happening, and pulled out a small gold compass. “You know this went down with me, you know it is one of a kind.” He said before moving to hand her it. Peggy backed away forcing the man to throw the ornament. Peggy popped the seal and opened the clasp to the same sketch Steve did of her all those years ago. “oh” she gasped, raising her hand to cover her mouth, “oh” she breathed out as she rushed to him. “Steve,” she whispered before wrapping herself around his torso. Steve stood rigid for a second before melting around her, burying his nose in her hair. “Peggy,” he whispered back. “How are you here? How are you so young?” he asked, pulling back to look at her face. She just shook her head, trying to process everything that has happened in the past few hours.
“So how did you survive?” asked Angie. “We watched Ang, he was frozen, the serum must have –“ “No,” Angie cut Peggy off, “how did you survive.” She said pointing to the man behind Steve. “Because we watched you fall off a train Sergeant Bucky Barnes.”