Bound By Purpose

Agents Carter and Moore

I was up all night drowned in my own thoughts and crazy ideas. I wish things were better, that Bucky and I were okay, but in war nothing goes perfectly. This morning was rough as well. I had reached the briefing early with Peggy to find that they had started early. We were both furious to find this out. No one would take the time to let us in either. My two best friends are in there and I've come to find out that my father is on on it as well. Facing him after he left me doesn't sound like the greatest father daughter reunion but it was bound to happen sometime.

 So now we sit and wait outside like criminals waiting to hear our fate from a jury. Peggy is outside with me, but she is much calmer. I suppose it didn't surprise her that they started early without us. I've been pacing back and forth while she calmly waits in the corner. "Aren't you angry about this Peg?" I say stopping in front of her.

"Well it hardly surprises me... Who do you think kept us out of it?"

I sigh. "It was my dad." I don't know it for a fact but it makes the most sense. "Sorry I dragged you in with me. Sometimes I wish he could let go." There's a slight squeak behind me so I turn. The door has been opened. Peggy hops to her feet as a scrawny young man's head peaks around the door. 

"Agent Moore? Agent Carter?" I'm confused so all I can do is stare. They let that random soldier in but not me?

"Yes. That's us? What's wrong?"

"Captain Rogers demands your presence before continuing." I look over at Peggy confused, but she steps forward quickly. I'm taken aback at her quick movement but recover gracefully as I follow behind her. 

"Soldier what's this about?" I ask as he holds the door open for me to enter. We are in a longer hallway now. We begin to walk as he attempts to answer our questions.

"Captain Rogers was against starting without you but the Colonel Phillips and Corporal Moore were adamant about leaving outsiders... outside."

"What changed their minds?" Peggy asks.

"Not for me to say Agent Carter, but it seems the Captain needs some spies."

"But it's a destruction mission..." I say confused..

He looks around the empty hall. "I really can't say." He pushes the door open wider and invites us in. We reach the next set of doors where some guards stand. "Look I don't know what he needs from you exactly but he wanted you two so I listened." The guards put their arms on the door. Looking at Peggy I smirk a little before turning to the doors opening. The eyes of 20+ men are on us. Scanning the faces as I walk into the room I find Bucky and then Steve. Steve stands as we stop in front of him and salute. He dismisses it at once. I can see a small grin forming as he turns to address his men.

"Alright gentlemen obviously we came to a conclusion that these two women are of value to the mission. Two agents who need no introduction from me." Steve extends a hand to two empty seats which we graciously take. I try to avoid eye contact with everyone especially my father and Bucky, but Peg stares them all down until they look away. "Agents Carter and Moore will accompany us to the first base here in Austria." Steve points to a spot on a map that is clearly marked. "We will send them in with a small team while we work to clear the weapons factory and prepare to detonate it. We have gotten intel of a base in the Alps but the exact location is unknown. That..." He turns directly to us. "That is the knowledge you are seeking out, however any information on other sites, weapons, locations, anything that we can use to our advantage you find and bring in. As soon as you're clear we blow the structure and then we meet back up." 

I turn my head to see Peg's face. I can tell there's excitement under her stern look. Turning back to the group I speak for the first time since entering the room. "I think I can speak for both of us in saying that we are willing to do this." I watch my father push back angrily from the table and go over to the far wall to stand. I stare after him but quickly turn my attention back to Steve. 

He's nodding at us as he finishes his briefing. "We're headed out tonight." With that everyone at the table pushes away to leave or to talk. I gently squeeze Peggy's arm and smile before getting up and moving over to my father. "You know we haven't spoken since before I took the first mission." I say as I approach him. He says nothing, instead he lights a cigar and puffs. "I don't understand you. You've trained me my whole life for something like this. You used to support me in everything. Where has the respect gone father?"

"I never wanted this for you." He says taking a puff.

"Too bad, it's the hand we've been dealt." I start to turn away but he grabs my upper arm rather aggressively. 

"I'm sorry I just won't watch my daughter march away on a suicide mission." He takes another puff and then lets go.

I raise my voice causing some to look our way. "What is with you? I went through every level of training the S.S.R. offers... Passed with flying colors. They obviously trusted me enough to give me my position."

"Tell me how this is different from the first time? You almost died."

"But I didn't." I reply snarky. 

 He rolls his eyes. "You're not trained for this." 

"You're the one who trained me!" I yell. Somewhere deep down I know that he trained me for a mission like this. "All those years hidden in the basement away from mother's eyes. You taught me how to be a spy, how to fight. Then I went on I went through every level of training the S.S.R. offers... Passed with flying colors and..." He raises his voice next.

"I never taught you to be reckless! To be absent minded about your own actions!" I take a step back. He has never yelled at me with such anger, such disappointment in his voice. He leans in so no one hears his next words "Your actions could have gotten men hurt. I heard what Sergeant Barnes did, who knows what he went through, because of you. The night you gave the S.S.R. Steve instead of James was the first time you disobeyed orders."

"You can't blame the doctor's death on me." I raise my voice again. "That is not on me!"

He leans out again. "I raised you to follow orders and to be loyal to your country. Evelyn what have you become?" Not even letting me retort he begins to walk away. 

I yell after him. "You taught me how to make my own decisions and how to make my own life!" He doesn't say another word as he closes the door behind him. I let out a huge breath and notice that those left in the room are indeed looking at me. I smooth my jacket down and turn back to the table. Bucky is leaning against it. He very calmly makes his way over to me and wraps his arms around me. He strokes his hand over my hair twice them kisses my forehead. Then he kneels down till we're eye level, and puts his hands on each side of my face.

"You're ready for this. This is your choice and your life and by god I know your gonna do great at whatever you choose." He watches as I stare off after my father, scared that he might be right. "It's different this time." He continues. "You'll have backup and communication." I know he doesn't want me to go but he'll support me in anything.

"I'm not afraid if that's what you're implying." I say pulling his hands away from my face.

"Honestly it was more of a reassurance for me." I smile at this.

"I won't get hurt this time. I promise." 

He runs his fingers across my cheek and under my chin and all of a sudden I'm a kid again. He would often do that when I was sad about something. He then stands up and leaves a kiss with a goodbye before meeting up with Steve and leaving the room.

We ship out tonight but I am already as ready as I can be.