Chapter 20
For all of her teasing Peggy about preparing as if it were for D-Day, Sharon had really planned as if she were leading a team to storm the beaches of Normandy with Nazi guns blazing. A fleet of ten helicopters filled with paramilitary troops followed Jake in the quinjet as they made their way to the directions given in Stark’s coordinates. When Peggy had noted it, Sharon had only shrugged, mentioning that they didn’t know what sort of fight these Extremis soldiers were going to put up.
As it turned out, it wasn’t much of one at all.
The aircraft pad was not big enough to accommodate all of the air support, and so Jake landed the quinjet on the one flat and stable space he could find, freeing up space for the others to land in waves. Already, the scene before them was one of chaos. Fires burned in various areas across the island, which was filled with a jigsaw puzzle of shipping containers, cranes, and indeed the wreckage of the Roxxon Norco. They had witnessed several large explosions on their way to the site, prompting fears of what they would find when they landed. No sooner had Jake touched down on a relatively stable site than Peggy was scrambling out, followed closely by Banner and Sharon. She rushed down an uneven set of metal steps down to where the worst of the carnage seemed to be, fires still burning beneath a make-shift Christmas tree made of large, colorful lights.
“Stark,” she called, half-frantically over her comm device. “Tony?”
Below, she could see a couple, who she presumed to be Stark and Pepper. Her earpiece crackled as one of the figures waved. “Peggy! Down here!”
She clambored down, the other two following behind, ignoring the acrid smell of burning rubber, metal and chemicals, as she rushed up to the pair. Stark looked like hell, his clothes half torn off, his face battered, and he was favoring his right leg as if he injured it, but the relief on his face was apparent from even where Peggy stood. But it was Pepper she was most concerned about, clad in only an athletic bra top and pants, shaken, terrified, and looking decidedly apologetic as Peggy rushed up.
“Peggy, I’m sorry, I didn’t think…”
“It’s okay,” she quieted the other woman, surprising herself and Pepper by reaching out for her for a relieved embrace. The other woman didn’t resist, tearful as she wrapped her arms around Peggy, gratefully.
“Be careful,” Stark gently murmured, a hand on Pepper’s shoulder. The other woman nodded, pulling away quickly. “Killian gave her the Extremis serum. She’s still getting used to it.”
Peggy regarded Pepper with horror. “Oh, no…”
“I’ll get it out,” Stark assured them both, with a confidence that belied the physical state he was currently in. “I mean, I figured it out once before when I was drunk, I think I can get her better.” His smile for Pepper was besotted as he ran a hand across her long, blonde hair. “It’s what I do, I fix stuff.”
“Pepper,” Banner exclaimed, greeting the other woman much as Peggy had. She was just as enthusiastic in meeting his embrace as she had been Peggy’s, relief palatable among them all. Peggy and Stark watched them, fondly, for a long moment, before Peggy returned to the topic at hand.
“Betty and Maya Hansen are working on the formula as we speak. If you put your insight in there with them, you probably will be able to come up with something faster.”
Stark’s relief darkened into a scowl. “I'm hoping Maya Hansen is going to be facing jail time for what she’s done.”
“No doubt, but I am sure she will be willing to assist in reversing the Extremis process, if for nothing else it would maybe lessen her sentence.”
“Who says she should have a lighter sentence?”
Peggy could understand that sentiment completely. “Not that I disagree with you, Tony, but I think you will find that like many other scientists, she was trying to do something good and right in the world and it didn’t end up that way. I’ve been reminded quite a bit the last few days that even the best of intentions can go horribly wrong. Let her help put things to right, at least.”
He wasn’t thrilled with the idea, but he at least for the moment relented. “Yeah, yeah, I get your point, learn to play well with others.” He shrugged in a self-deprecating sort of fashion. “You’re right, I can’t do this all by myself.”
“Did I hear you finally admitting that someone else was right,” Pepper cut in, disbelief evident.
Stark smirked at her, clearly too happy with the outcome of it all to be bothered with annoyance. “Yeah, well, call it a Christmas miracle.”
It was Sharon who cut through the good-natured relief to the heart of the matter. “Where is Killian,” she demanded.
Stark blinked at her, before waving lazily at the fire burning not far from them, the remnants of at least one of the explosions they witnessed from the air. “He’s in there, somewhere, hopefully burned to ash. It was the craziest thing, Peggy, you should have seen it, so I had the Mark XLII attach itself to Killian, then blow up, which should have done the trick, but the bastard still made it out of that. But Pepper here did this crazy martial move off my knee, took down another suit, and…”
Sharon cut him off mid-story, annoyance clear. “So Killian is dead?”
“I haven’t seen him rise up again,” Stark assured her. “You’ll have to get your fire teams in here, maybe a forensic specialist to poke through the ashes. Pepper blew him up pretty good.” He wrapped an arm around Pepper’s shoulders in obvious pride, kissing the top of her head.
Pepper, for her part, looked more horrified than proud. “I have never done anything that violent, ever! Like, I couldn’t even fish because I felt too bad for them. But I have to admit…it kind of felt good being the hero for once, saving Tony, and blowing that bastard to kingdom come.”
That was a sentiment that Peggy could well understand. “If I have not told you this, I will now, you are a brilliant leader, a strong woman, and Tony is very lucky to have you.”
“I second all of that,” Stark replied, tiredly.
Sharon was ignoring all of them, already on the comms calling for fire and paramedics for Stark. As she handled that, Peggy turned to other matters at hand. “Where is the president?”
“Safe,” Stark grunted, looking about the scene as if expecting him there. “Rhodes got him while I handled Pepper. I’m guessing the Secret Service is right behind SHIELD?”
“They said they were.” Peggy guessed there was a whole contingent of Secret Service, FBI and US military waiting for Rhodes and President Ellis. “What happened up there?”
“My theory, Rodriguez didn’t call anybody, which may mean he was in on all of it. When I got there that one asshole, the one who Happy spotted, had already spirited him off and taken out most of his Secret Service detail. The rest he ejected from the plane. Between Thor and I, we got them all to the ground safely, but the rest of the president’s security didn’t make it.”
Peggy could already see the scandal this would cause, particularly around the president’s security and the capture of Rhodes’ suit. “Rhodes said they desperately wanted their own Iron Man. That didn’t work out for them.”
“Well, if they stopped hiring idiots and psychopaths to work as their military contractors…”
Out of the darkness above, Thor appeared, landing not far away, windblown and looking supremely satisfied. “Your president is secured and it appears we have won the day.”
Stark silently held out his hand for Thor, who took it, gladly. Meanwhile, Sharon coordinated her team efforts. It seemed that for the most part the Avengers' work in all of this was done.
“So,” Pepper asked into the quietude that fell on all of them as they regarded the scene of Killian’s destruction all around them, “what does this mean for all of your distractions, Mr. Stark?”
A silent conversation passed between the two as Stark regarded her, before landing on some decision with a firm nod. “I’m going to shave them down a little bit. JARVIS? Hey!”
He tapped the earpiece in his ear. “You know what to do!”
Whatever the AI said was lost to the rest of them as a fleeting, hesitant expression flickered over Stark’s face before he sighed, looking to Pepper. “Screw it, it’s Christmas. Yes!”
High above them something popped and exploded, showering the sky like fireworks, as one after another explosions lit up the darkness over the ocean. Sharon, caught unawares, turned wildly, then spun to stare at Stark accusingly. “What in the hell?”
“My suits, Agent Carter, no enemy fire.” He shrugged a little sheepishly. “I…err…perhaps should have warned you first.”
“How many of those do you have up there,” Peggy marveled, staring at the starbursts lighting up above them.
“Too many,” Stark replied, glancing at Pepper with a hopeful expression. “Okay so far? Do you like it?”
Pepper’s answering grin beamed as brightly as the explosions around them. “It will do,” she replied, wrapping her arms around him, a private moment of joyful reconciliation between them, as Stark closed his eyes, holding her as close as his injuries allowed.
Peggy looked to Banner and Thor, both of whom were politely turned away to give the couple their own private moment. For her part, the realization that all had ended as well as it could have possibly done left Peggy feeling far more relief than she could say. Both Pepper and the president were alive and they could return to their loved ones for Christmas. The man who had caused so much anguish and heartache for so many others was now gone, neutralized by the very serum he had sought to weaponize. And for all of his missteps and arrogance in the face of this crisis, Stark would live to see his friend wake up. He would be able to rebuild himself and his relationships, hopefully on stronger foundations with the wisdom he had gained from the experience. Perhaps that was in itself a Christmas miracle, Stark finally internalizing the simple truth that no man is an island, no matter how brilliant he is. No matter how strong, or capable, or smart any of them were, they all needed the people who loved them best to be able to do what they did.
Perhaps it was a bit of irony on the world’s part that, at that very moment, Peggy’s phone buzzed in her pocket. Pulling it out, she saw a message from Romanoff, saying they were finally out of their deep cover and had just gotten the news from Cassandra, asking if they were still needed in Miami. Implicit in the message was worry over what was going on. She knew that both Romanoff and Steve would need an explanation, but she kept it simple, replying that the situation was under control, that both Pepper and the president were safe, and they would be heading out soon to let Sharon’s team handle the wrap up. Her only message for Steve was to ask Romanoff to let him know she was safe and that she would let him know when she was heading home.
Steve, she presumed, was well and whole. One more moment of relief.
“So, what do we do from here,” Banner asked the obvious question, as Sharon began directing SHIELD personnel in securing the area and starting their investigation.
“Go home,” Peggy sighed, the adrenaline of the week already beginning to ebb, as aches and pains she hadn’t noticed before started to make themselves known, as did her tiredness.
Thor looked as if he was all too happy to oblige that. “With any luck, I will be back to Jane before the sun rises in London.”
“Best sort of Christmas present,” Banner assured him, clapping Thor on his broad shoulder. “Be safe heading back there, in case you really do run into a fat guy in a red suit riding a sleigh with reindeer.”
“And here you said that you didn’t believe in such mythical tales,” Thor teased, taking his hand. “Enjoy your holiday, Banner. The same to you, Peggy. Give my well-wishes to the captain when you see him.”
“Happy Christmas,” Peggy wished him as he moved just far enough away to swing his mighty hammer freely on his wrist, until it got enough liftoff to propel him into the night, much to the awe of the random SHIELD agents who happened to be about, unaware of Mjölnier’s abilities. Sharon watched him go, too, now at a point where she could turn her attention to the group once more.
“Stark, I’ve got medical on the way for you. You should probably get checked out,” she said, giving Stark the same sort of look that Peggy often gave him when she expected an argument and was in no mood to put up with it.
That clearly didn’t stop him from trying. “I’m fine, nothing that a good night’s sleep and a bottle of Advil won’t fix.”
“He’s not fine,” Pepper insisted, pulling away from him enough to gingerly examine the bruising and bleeding on his face. “He’s going to need stitches for this and probably will need his leg looked at.”
“It’s fine, Pep, just a sprain.”
“Mmmm, and yet I don’t believe you,” she retorted, smoothly, expertly managing Stark’s tendency towards brushing off his own well being. “Agent Carter, he’ll take that medical when they get here.”
Sharon didn’t look as if she had been planning on giving them the option, but was all too happy to allow Pepper the chance to handle him. “How about for you?”
“I am fine! No cuts, no bruises.” She frowned down at one of her arms. “I suppose that's the Extremis in me. There’s nothing we can do till they figure out a way to get it out of me.”
“Just keep an eye on you to make sure you don’t go hot,” Stark warned, perhaps hugging her a bit tighter. “You aren’t going to like it, Carter, but I think I should keep her at the tower for the moment. Betty is there, she’s working with Hansen, and there are facilities enough to keep Pepper contained, if necessary.” Implicit in this suggestion was that Stark hoped they wouldn’t be necessary.
Sharon looked as if she wished to protest, but looked to Peggy, before finally giving in. “Right, for now I’ll remand Miss Potts to the Avengers care, with the caveat that I get to interview her for my case.”
“Deal,” Stark said, before glancing to Peggy. “If that is alright with you, Director?”
Peggy simply nodded in agreement. It solved several issues, including where the pair of them would be located now that their house was gone. “Do you need the rest of the team, Sharon?”
“I will need statements from everyone, but…” She sighed, glancing around as her team began its work. “Go home, I think the Avengers are done for now. I know where to find you.”
“Come on,” Pepper ordered, tugging Stark gently towards where a paramedic team was coming towards them. “Let’s have them look you over. Maybe we can get a ride to New York?”
“We can wait,” Peggy assured her.
“Let me help you out,” Banner offered, moving to help Stark limp over to the medical assistance. “This, at least, is an area of science I am qualified in.”
“Yeah, yeah…you did good on the suit, though,” Stark said, as the three of them headed over to get Stark treated.
Peggy watched them go before turning to Sharon. “You got this handled?”
Her niece took a deep breath, nodding confidently, offering her a small grin. “I got it. Thanks for everything you did. It feels good to know that at the end of all this horror, it came out with a happy ending.”
“We can’t win every battle, but the ones we do win feel good,” Peggy acknowledged. “You’ve got this. I’m sorry for the ways in which I made it difficult.”
“Yeah, well, you were doing your job. I suppose I forget sometimes the things I admire the most about you are also the things that often put you at odds with others.”
“That is a fair assessment,” Peggy chuckled, recalling all her run-ins with Phillips and the SSR. “I shouldn’t have put you in that kind of spot, though. It wasn’t fair.”
“Thank you,” Sharon replied. “So, are we good now?”
“We are,” Peggy affirmed, moving to embrace her, briefly and tightly. “Happy Christmas.”
Sharon returned the sentiment. “Merry Christmas to you, too!”
They pulled away, each smiling soppily but not caring.
“So, you’ll be at family Christmas in a couple of days?” Sharon’s pointed glare reminded Peggy, disturbingly, of Sharon's mother, a lovely and kindly woman, who was also equally formidable and whom Peggy didn’t wish to cross.
“I’ll be there, with Steve even. He and Romanoff are heading back from whatever mission they were on even as we speak.”
“Finally,” Sharon muttered. “Wonder what they were up to that was so hush-hush.”
“Something for Fury,” was all Peggy would say. “I’m just glad he’s coming home.”
“Wish him Merry Christmas for me.”
“I will,” Peggy assured her, glancing to where the quinjet sat. “So what about Jake? You want me to send him back here when he’s done?”
Sharon flushed, but lazily brushed it off. “He’s a grown up. He can make his own decisions.”
That he was, and Peggy was not about to meddle any further. “All right, let me go assist Pepper and Banner with corralling Stark, then we will get out of your way.”
“Thank you,” she called, just as one of the SHIELD agents walked up, demanding her attention. Peggy left her to handle her team, not without a small sense of pride at Sharon’s ability to manage the situation. Watching her surprisingly made her think of Michael, of how much she missed him, and how proud he would be of his granddaughter and the agent she was becoming.
It was time to go home.