WALKING DISASTERS | Jack Thompson

29.

THEY BEGAN A SEARCH FOR HOWARD while Jack tried to get the authorities to shut down the VE Day celebrations. Sera was forced to sit out of the search after she popped her stitches chasing after the car and had bled through her shirt (again). A medic was dealing with her while Peggy and Jarvis kept her company.

Daniel walked up to them. "Guy at the coffee shop saw a blonde forcing a man matching Stark's description into the back of a black sedan. They were last seen heading west towards the Lincoln Tunnel. I radioed their descriptions to port authority, see if we can snag them at the tolls."

"They're trying to leave the city," Peggy said. "Why?"

"Maybe we were wrong about the target?" Daniel suggested.

Jack walked up to them. "Just talked to every muckity-muck in the city trying to call off the VE Day celebration. They won't do it. Already a hundred thousand people packed into Times Square. We won't have enough time to evacuate."

"He could have stashed those canisters anywhere," Daniel said, as the doctor finished stitching Sera's wound once again.

"You need to be careful," the doctor said. "Tear those stitches again and there won't be much left for me to work with."

Sera nodded as Jack seemingly took note of what was said. "Thanks, doc."

"Back to the more important stuff. The gas was designed to be deployed by air," Sera said, wincing as she rolled her shirt down.

"Which is why we shut down all the airports," Jack said.

"And every private airfield in the area," Daniel added.

"I think I know where Dr Fennhoff is headed," Jarvis said, sounding sheepish.

"Where?" Peggy asked.

"If his intention is to place blame for the attack on Mr Stark, would it not be most effective to use one of Mr Stark's own planes?" Jarvis asked.

"He can't," Jack said. "We confiscated them all."

Sera let out a quiet, "Oh, no."

"What?" Jack asked.

"Not... all," Jarvis said awkwardly.

"Hmm?" Jack asked.

"There is another vault," Jarvis explained. "Considerably larger than the first."

"That's definitely where they're going," Sera said, getting to her feet. "We have to get there before the plane takes off."

"Whoa, whoa, you're not going anywhere," Jack replied, catching her arm. "You got stabbed, Sera. You've popped your stitches already. You're out."

"Excuse me?" she asked, whirling round to face Jack and raising her eyebrows incredulously. "I think you'll find that I am not out, Agent Thompson. In fact, I am very much in because this is my brother we're talking about."

"And we'll find him and bring him home," Daniel said.

Sera shook her head. "This is ridiculous. I'm fine."

"Raise your arms above your head," Jack instructed. "Go on, do it."

"I can raise my arm just enough to punch you in the jaw."

"Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself. Again."

Peggy looked between Jack and Sera. "We don't have time for this."

"Yeah, so I'm coming with you," Sera said. "And I won't take no for an answer."

"You're so stubborn, you know that?" Jack asked.