AN: Carterwood is my new drug. Please leave a review.

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JUST ONE MISSION

"If they want a communist, I'll give them one." She watched the man across the desk run a hand through his dark hair, a sigh slipping across his lips. She bit back a smile, she almost had him convinced and if her plan was going to succeed she needed Sousa onboard. She leaned across the desk her dark hair falling across her shoulders. "The Federal Bureau of Investigation just walzed right into the SSR and took every single bit of evidence we had, Daniel."

"Meaning someone high up in the ranks wants this shut down. Peg," he paused leaving her name hanging in the air before he continued, "this isn't your standard murder case anymore," he said throwing a hand out to the side, his brows furrowing.

"It never was, Daniel." Peggy insisted. "Dottie breaks into a bank to steal a pin, the very same pin we find in the car of Wilkes' attackers. That isn't a coincidence."

"If they declare you a communist you'll be wanted by everyone, not just the FBI. The SSR will go after you as well. There won't be anywhere to hide, and no one to help you seeing you don't want anyone else than me to know." He took a step closer to where she stood, his dark eyes locking with hers.

She let her eyes drop towards the floor. "We can't trust anyone, Daniel. This is far bigger than we expected."

Shaking his head he pursed his lips into a thin line. "Then who will help you? Jarvis? Mr Stark? Even they can't help you out without being branded communists."

Smiling for the first time she straightened her back, and looked up to meet his gaze. "Actually, I think I might know someone who can help with that…"

~o~

The walls were cold and as she let her fingertips draw invisible patterns on the coarse , grey surface. She smiled to herself as her fingers traced the outline along a pair of maroon lips. Lifting her finger, her eyes trailed the invisible nose she had drawn. She tilted her head and pressed her finger against the wall once again, just hard enough for her to feel the stone grind against the skin of her fingertip. Adding the final touches to the painting she sat back and admired it. Her masterpiece - Peggy Carter. She let her eyes trail the invisible outline of the SSR agent she had been sent to kill earlier that year. A rush of adrenaline surged through her as she thought of their last encounter. She had always loved a challenge, something that forced her to rethink her strategies, something that made her feel inferior. It was a feeling beyond anything else she had experienced. It stirred something to life inside her, a strange thunderstorm of emotions . Rage, frustration, curiosity, excitement...She ran her hand across the wall. Passion.

Black Widows weren't supposed to have emotions. They were trained to be better than that. Headmistress told them it would weaken them, making them vulnerable to their enemies, the ones who sought to destroy their home country.

Dottie smiled. It didn't feel like they made her vulnerable. Remembering the rush as she swung herself at Peggy, her heeled boots digging into the SSR agent's stomach sending her flying across the room. In that moment Peggy was her equal and Dottie marveled at the agent's ingenuity - hiding in the vault. Dottie hadn't seen that coming and it thrilled her to know there were still things in this world that could take her by surprise. Biting her lip she lowered her gaze. It was the second time Peggy had gotten the upper hand on her. She rubbed the backside of her head feeling the large swelling of a bump. Knocking her out with a coin bag. Dottie smiled. She was clever that one. Now it only remained to see if Peggy was clever enough to figure out the plan that had been set into motion.

~o~

The room was lit by a single lamp that swung lazily every time the prison block's door rattled behind Peggy's back where she sat. Staring into the small space in front of her she adjusted the black rimmed glasses she wore before gently brushing her fingers against the silk top making sure she didn't look scruffy. She frowned mid brush. Why did it matter anyway? She was sitting in prison not at one of Howard Stark's fancy dinner parties. She gave a small shake of her head as if to clear her mind and placed her hands on the thick wooden table, lacing her fingers together as she waited.

"Miss Beckman?" A voice behind her rasped followed by a series of coughs. Turning her head to the side she saw the older guard who had let her in. "Your credentials checks out, it'll only be a minute now."

"Thank you," Peggy smiled curtly and watched him take his place next to the door. The man reminded her of a potato with his bald head and neck that wrinkled at the edge of his collar. Biting back a smile she returned her gaze to the table in front of her, so far the plan had worked out marvelously. She threw a quick glance at the guards counting them silently. This better work out. If not, she adjusted the papers that lay spread out in front of her, we'll have to improvise.

The rustling of chains caught her attention and she looked up to see Dottie look back at her with her piercing eyes. The corners of Dottie's mouth gave twitched in a barely visible smile as she no doubt tried to figure out what was going on. The guard gave the spy a hard shove forcing her to sit down.

Waiting until the guard had stepped outside Peggy watched Dottie observe her with a curious, almost mesmerised stare. Her dark hair was drawn back into a simple pony tail and the usually powdered face and red lips looked pale, but somehow Dottie still managed to pull it off with style. Maybe it was the way Dottie slowly tilted her chin upwards, as her lips curled into a coy smile.

"You changed your hair again," Dottie said, her voice taking on a silky tone.

"Yes, it comes with the work," Peggy smiled.

"I like it," Dottie gave a small nod in approval. "So, Miss...Beckman," Dottie leaned forward her eyes twinkling. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Thompson said you asked for me." The rumour of Jack's failed interrogation of Dottie had spread like a wildfire through the SSR. Biting back a smile she couldn't help but give herself a pat on the back. She knew Dottie wasn't scared of Thompson, or any man for that matter. Peggy knew exactly what Dottie was scared of; failure, and she knew Peggy was the one thing that stood in her way. Peggy didn't think like a man, she wasn't blinded by a worldview where men were the only ones capable of killing and plotting the end of the world. That was why she could pressure Dottie, because she, just like Dottie knew how to manipulate people around them and how to hide in plain sight.

"He told you?" Dottie's face lit up. "I didn't think he would." She tilted her head to the side. "I thought maybe his throat might be a bit too sore."

"Nothing someone like Thompson couldn't handle," Peggy replied before reaching for the papers in front of her. As she did something flashed across Dottie's blue eyes, the spy's mask slipping if only for just a second. Keeping herself from frowning Peggy pushed the paper towards Dottie.

"These are the papers for you transfer to Westfield State Farm."

Dotties eyebrows knit together in a deep frown. "You're offering me a transfer?" She could see Dottie look towards the guards outside then back at Peggy where she sat, a calm smile settling on her lips. "Let's be honest about why you're here, Peggy."

Peggy raised her eyebrow not giving anything away.

"You need my help."

She knew Dottie would figure this out sooner or later. She may play the dumb farm girl who'd just fallen out of the wagon, but Peggy knew that was nothing but an act.

"I can get you out of this place and moved to a much nicer prison, and who knows in ten years you might even get to see the sun again," Peggy leaned forward wearing her most serious expression. "The only thing you have to do is help me with one mission."

Dottie mirrored her movement and leaned in closer as if to whisper something secret to her, stopping inches away from Peggy's face. Not moving away Peggy quirked her eyebrow at the spy where she sat.

"Well?"

"What makes you think that I would help you?" Dottie asked studying her with speculative eyes.

"Besides the fact you get to spend some time with me?" Peggy teased only to be surprised by the look that crossed Dottie's face.

"Last time we spent time together I ended up," Dottie's gaze slid to the side as she pursed her lips, "here."

"What if I promise not to hit you on the noggin with a moneybag again?" Peggy fired off her most charming smile.

"Scared of a rematch?" Dottie asked her eyes lingering somewhere that wasn't Peggy's eyes.

"I told you," Peggy shifted on her chair, "I'm not afraid of you."

"Huh." Dottie breathed, her breathe skittering lightly across Peggy's lips. "And what exactly do you need me to do?"

"What you do best," Peggy leaned backwards. "Infiltrate."

TO BE CONTINUED...