A/n: I apologize in advance for the long chapter lol

1946- Present

The next morning at 7 am, Peggy knocked on my door three times, each one very staccato. I opened the door and greeted her with a smile, ready for our next day of work. "I'm glad we could walk together," she said. I smiled back and we left the Griffith.

On our way we talked about little things, including her asking me about my life back in Miami and what it was like. "Well, it was quite warm. Most of my clothes I brought up here probably won't be very helpful when winter comes round," I said.

"I'm not entirely sure you won't freeze to death." Peggy and I laughed and made out way into the SSR building. I hadn't told her about anything too specific before I moved to Miami. That part of my past was not something I wanted to dive into at the moment. I also decided against talking about last night, because the moment I said something about hoping she felt better, her expression turned sad and stoic. Something went down, and I figured she would need more time to figure it all out.

Once we were in the offices, we bid each other farewell and got to our desks. Sousa was going over some things on the Stark case when I sat at my desk. Which reminded me about yesterday evening and my run in with the (in)famous Howard Stark. Instead I focused on my pile of files that I had to get through. For lunch I decided to head out and do a bit of shopping. My head was buried in those files for so long, I half expected words to be literally everywhere.

I got some nice work outfits and ended up dropping the bags off at the Griffith. I couldn't even imagine the chief's reaction if I had brought my shopping bags into work. For starters, I mentioned I was leaving due to 'personal reasons' which usually did not include shopping. In my defense, I needed a damn break.

The rest of the day was uneventful on my end. The chief came back from a trip to Germany (I had no idea that was a thing) and him and Thompson spent some time in the office going over things. Most likely related to the Stark case. Near the end of the day I started to get a killer headache so I decided to head on out, and bid a goodnight to Peggy and Sousa. Back at the Griffith I ran into Dottie, and asked if she could let Angie know that I wasn't feeling too good and that I would be skipping dinner. She seemed extremely cheery over that question, and happily agreed.

Once in my room I slipped on a lounging dress and sat on the comfy looking chair to read some of my book. After reading a few chapters, I decided to go to bed early and hope that would get rid of my headache. As I started to fall asleep, I heard someone playing some very loud jazz music. It wasn't unwelcome however, as it helped me fall asleep even faster.

~~

The next morning I got up later than normal, meaning Peggy was probably already on her way to work. I'd see her at work so I didn't find it to be too big of a deal. I got ready for work quickly, opting to leave my hair down rather than spend more time trying to put it up, and wore a new outfit I got from the store yesterday. It took me only half an hour to be ready after I woke up. My headache was gone too, so I just decided to go straight to work.

As I walked out of my apartment, I saw Angie walking out of hers. "Good morning Angie!" I greeted, and she turned and gave me a smile. "Why aren't you at work this morning?"

"I'm consumed with ennui. Work isn't appealing to me," she said. I nodded and waved goodbye and set off for work. There were a few other girls in the lobby that I also waved goodbye to as I went out the front doors. I tried to tell Miriam goodbye but she just gave me a glare as I passed. She was one woman I just could not figure out.

Despite waking up late, I managed to get to the SSR building in good time, even arriving a minute earlier than usual. When I walked in, agents buzzed about whispering about something that happened. At my desk, there was no pile of files. Something was definitely up.

Sousa sat at his desk trying to piece things together on something else. "Sousa, what's the fuss all about?" I asked as I sat down.

He looked up at me, very clearly unaware of my presence before that. "Oh well there was this typewriter thing that has to do with the Stark case that magically started typing last night. It's pretty wild," he said as he kept working on what was in front of him. I nodded and decided to busy myself with stuff at my desk.

I was busy when I heard the elevator ding again, and looked looked up to see Peggy walking in. She also looked confused at the bustling work environment. Sousa had gotten up to put something elsewhere and met up with Peggy. "Daniel, what's going on?" she asked and the two of them walked back to the conference room. I ended up staying at my desk since I was new and had no previous information about this case.

My phone rang as I was sitting there, and I picked it up quickly to answer it. "Hello? Jones speaking," I answered into the device. I didn't quite know for a fact yet if I was allowed to answer with anything relating to the SSR because the phone lines may or may not be entirely secure. I didn't know.

"Hello? Tiffany?" the other person asked. I recognized the voice immediately and sighed (very dramatically, too). Out of all the people that could have called me, it was him. "Tiffany, I know you are there just please talk to me."

"Why? I have nothing else to say to you, Joseph. I thought you would figure out that I really don't want to hear from you ever again. How'd you even get this number anyways?" I asked, getting to the really important question. If he could get to it then that means anyone could, and that's not a very comforting thought.

"Chief Campbell gave it to me when I asked if I could speak with you." I was silent, waiting for his full explanation. "Okay, so maybe I lied a bit saying I had information to share with you. In case you haven't figured it out-"

I cut him off, finishing his sentence, "You have nothing for me. Great, thanks for dampening my day. Never call this number again." I didn't wait for a reply, instead slamming the phone back down. I took in a breath and put my elbows on the desk, and then my head in my hands. That call really did not make my day better by any means. People continued to hustle around the room while I just sat there trying to forget about Joseph.

My silent moment was interrupted when I saw Sousa, Chief Dooley, Agent Thompson, and Peggy exiting the conference room, the latter two arguing about something to the Chief. I brought my head out of my hands to watch the group. Dooley called for them to stop their arguing and the three made their way into his office. Sousa came over and sat back down at his desk. He started to get back into the work he was doing before he got up earlier.

I looked at Sousa and raised an eyebrow. "What are they fighting about?" I asked him.

Sousa looked up at me and ignored his work for a moment. "Well, long story short: a team is going to Russia for the Stark case and Peggy wants to be on that team."

"Based on the arguing, Thompson disagrees?" Sousa nodded and I let out an 'ah' noise. We both looked over at the office to see them all talking. Based on facial expressions and hand movements, it wasn't the most calm and civil discussion. "I bet Peggy will get her way. She seems like a skillful person and based on her background in the War, she might be extremely useful in Russia," I commented. Sousa also turned to looked at the office.

"Yeah, I think she'd be pretty good on the team," he said, then turned back to me. "But I have a hard time believing that the Chief is going to send a woman out there." I raised both of my eyebrows in warning this time, and Sousa immediately understood what he said. "N-not in that way! I just- I know that she is capable of fighting for herself and all that, it's just if something happens out there with her, then it's going to look bad on the Chief..." Sousa took a second to think. "The public isn't the most accepting when it comes to women going out in the field like that. If she dies, the Chief is the idiot who got her killed. If another agent dies, the Chief is the idiot who set him up to die. These aren't my thoughts, but it's the public's."

I understood what Sousa was getting at. The public was not very confident in a women being an agent and going out onto a field to protect America. However, I know that the public is wrong. I know that Peggy Carter, who fought alongside the Howling Commandos and Captain America, is one of the most capable women out there. She would be perfect on the mission. I could see it, but it seems the Chief does not.

After a second of silence between us, I let out a sigh. "Well, I still think Peggy is going to get herself on that team. She's persistent and useful," I said. Sousa nodded in agreement. Suddenly Peggy came out of the office and straight to her desk, and then picked up her phone to call someone. Sousa and I shared a look and watched Peggy for a moment as she talked to the person on the other end. After a minute she put the phone down and went back up to the office and leaned against the door frame for a minute. Then she entered the office more and the three of them talked for a bit longer.

"That seems like a conversation I don't want to get into," I said and looked over at my desk to see an agent setting some stuff down on my desk. "Ah yes, busy work. My favorite," I commented. Sousa chuckled dryly and went back to looking over his own case.

It had barely been two minutes when Peggy stuck her head out of the doorway and said, "Tiffany? Could you come in here for a moment?" I gave a short nod and set the file I was looking at back down on my desk. Sousa and I shared a look of confusion as I stood up and smoothed out my outfit and walked into the office.

They all looked at me as I walked in. "Yes, you all wanted to see me?" Neither agent spoke, so I looked to Chief Dooley.

"So, how much do you know about Europe? More specifically Russia?" he asked. It took me a good second to process the question. Why did they want to know about my skills and expertise relating to the eastern part of Europe?

I cleared my throat before answering. "I learned Russian while I was down in Miami to help with code breaking. I've also visited there on vacation multiple times before the war so I understand the terrain and the culture," I said. "During my time in Miami I went on a few field missions outside of the country, a lot of field missions around Miami to find spies in the system, and I stayed at the office to help intercept and decode messages. We had some other experts on German and Italian, and I was the go to Russian speaker. On the field missions I did outside the country I was meeting up with operative who had been placed in Russia and we conversed a lot about the events going on there."

Chief Dooley nodded his head and thought more about...well, about whatever I was called in for. I thought I may have rambled for a bit, but figured that the more information I gave the better I was. However, I still had no idea why I was in here. "May I ask why you needed me and this information?" I asked. The question was open for the entire group, and Peggy decided to take it.

"I was wondering about your experience for the possibility that you could join the team heading off to Russia along with Thompson and myself." I masked my emotions on my face well, only giving a small nod, but inside I was an absolute mess.

First off, I was confused; why would I be considered in the first place? They had no prior knowledge to all of the things I had just shared so the question of involving me seriously came out of left field. Next, I was excited. This would be my first field mission in about a year, as they had slowed down when the end of the war was in sight. Also, I was nervous. So much has been going on in my life since I got the chance to come up to New York City. I was worried about my side stitches popping at a terrible time, my apartment getting targeted by someone, and I was especially worried something related to me would happen while I was gone. If the people who are behind the hotel attack decide to attack the SSR while I'm not there...that would not be very good.

Chief Dooley cleared his throat, and I got my head out of my thoughts to hear his verdict. "I want to speak with Agent Jones alone for a moment," was all he said after a couple minutes of silence. I stepped out of the way to allow Peggy and Agent Thompson to leave the office. "Close the door please," the Chief called, and Thompson closed the door. He glanced at me quickly before it shut completely, but I couldn't decipher what he meant by it.

"Why do you need to talk to me alone, Chief?" I asked. He motioned for me to stand more in front of his desk, so I did and continued to look at him confused. "I know I will be useful out there, if that's what you're worried about."

He shook his head. "Oh I know you can handle yourself Jones. Frank talked a lot about your field work when he told me he was sending you up here. I just want to make sure you are ready..." he gestured at the general area where I had been shot, "physically ready."

"I can assure you, Chief, that I am 100 percent ready to go back out there on the field. This will not slow me down," I said. So that might've been a tiny lie, but I knew I'd be alright out there even with a gunshot wound in my abdomen. It was easy to get high on adrenaline and forget about injuries. "I know I'll be okay out there."

Chief Dooley nodded and let out a sigh. "Don't get yourself killed, alright? Pretty sure Frank would drive his ass up here if I got one of his favorite agents killed." I smiled and nodded, then walked out of the office. "Close the door on you way out." I kicked the door closed once I was all the way out and I looked at Peggy, who was waiting by her desk, with a smile.

"Got room for another agent on that plane?"

~~

I managed to get into the men's locker room quickly and get changed before any of the other men came down to change. Peggy was later as she spent time getting me some gear to wear, so she waited outside of the room for a bit. I stayed with her to keep her company and talk some mission details. Agent Thompson came down a bit later and at that point Peggy had enough and just went inside to change.

Since there wasn't much I could do, I went back to my desk and picked up my gun out of my bag, then placed my bag in a locked drawer. Once I locked it I put the key in my pocket. "I'll have to put this on a string or chain or something so I can wear it easier," I mumbled. Once that was all sorted I made my way back to the locker room and saw everyone exiting, and then we were on our way to the plane.

~~

On the plane, I ended up sitting next to Peggy and looked out the window as we flew over Europe. "Have you jumped before?" she suddenly asked me. I turned around and looked at her and gave her a nod.

"A couple times during the war. Every time it feels like my first jump though," I answered. We smiled and Peggy went ahead and asked Thompson the same question. I didn't really pay attention to his answer and instead opted to observe the others. Everyone seemed a bit nervous. Well, everyone except Peggy. I was learning more and more about her, mostly about how confident she is.

"Prepare for drop," came over the speakers. We all stood and got ready for the jump and I jumped out right after Thompson did. After the last of us had landed on the ground, we all took our parachutes off and hid them under some branches and snow.

Thompson spoke up and said, "I'll take lead, Carter and Jones your in back. Stay tight." We all got our guns in our hands and started to walk to the rendezvous point. As we walked passed some trees, we heard guns cocking. Thompson, Li, and Ramirez all got their guns up and point towards where the first sound was heard. "Don't. Move."

"Emu." Peggy and I shared a look, while Thompson whispered something to Li.

"Ostrich man, ostrich!" Thompson swung his gun around and pointed it at the source of the new voice. I looked at Peggy confused while she just smiled and started to walk forward.

The first voice came back with, "Shut up. Emu." I let out a small sigh as I realized they had forgotten the code word.

"Carter, Dugan forgot the password again," the second voice from before piped up. I let out a small snort and quickly covered my mouth with my hand.

Peggy sighed and got up to the very front of the group. "The password is 'eagle' you apes," she said, and another figure approached her. I started to walk forward and noticed it was the Dum-Dum Dugan, who was part of the Howling Commandos with Captain America.

"Oh, hi Peggy," Dugan said with a lighter tone than before. He must've been the first voice. He turned to look at us SSR agents and said, "Fellas." That time he spoke in a deeper voice. Behind me and around me there were footsteps and I looked around to see the rest of the 107th coming out of the trees.

I saw Li say something to Thompson, and then Peggy got started with introductions. "Jack Thompson, Mike Li, Rick Ramirez, Tiffany Jones, this is 'Junior' Juniper, 'Pinky' Pinkerton, 'Happy Sam' Sawyer, and you seem to know Dum-Dum Dugan. The 107th, our tactical team." I nodded at Pinky when he looked over at me curiously. I figured the only women they had officially worked with was Peggy, so I was a strange sight.

Ramirez looked at them all in awe. "You guys are the Howling Commandos." I swear his face was going to cramp up with how much he was smiling in awe.

"I hate that name." I looked behind Ramirez to see Happy Sam had said that with an added eye roll.

Pinky looked extremely offended. "I came up with that name," he said, with a from and some hurt in his voice.

"That you did," Happy Sam retorted. Peggy and I looked at each other and laughed a little bit.

Ramirez moved on, wanting to ask some questions. "Dugan, you fought side by side with Captain America, didn't you?" he asked.

Dugan nodded. "Yeah. But not as long as she did," he answered, looking down at Peggy. I could see a small smile on her lips and she gave a small nod to Dugan. Then he looked up and saw me standing sort of off to the side. "I don't want to be rude, but I didn't know you had any other female coworkers, Peggy," Dugan said as he looked at me.

I took this as my introduction. "Tiffany Jones. In her defense, I did just transfer to New York a few days ago," I said with a smile. "I worked in Miami during the war before this." Dugan nodded.

"Well it's good to meet you," he said. I let out a breath of relief, and shared a smile with Peggy. There was something relaxing about being excepted by the 'Dum-Dum' Dugan who is not only an exceptional soldier, but who is close to Peggy. If I wanted to be friends with her, I felt like I should be accepted by the people she was close to. But now, I was also part of the group in a way.

After the inquiry of how we were going to get to Russia got resolved, we all started getting into the vehicles. Peggy went with Dugan and someone else in a car while I got in the other with the other SSR agents. The other from the 107th decided to drive the cars and took shotgun.

Unfortunately, I was sat next to Thompson. Neither of us spoke to each other, or even looked at each other. It was tense. I don't really remember where this tension came from, but it was certainly here to plague us all.

~~

Peggy and I laughed as Pinkerton said, "Go easy on those beans, okay?" We were all set up around a campfire enjoying a meal and a bit of quality time. Thompson had gone off to check the coast, ensure it was clear, and I got stuck with the SSR agents fanboying over the 107th. It was funny, but also very awkward at times. Peggy and I snuck glances at each other and I knew she thought the same thing.

Speak of the devil. "Coast is clear," Thompson said as he came back over. "Li and Ramirez are on the night watch. We should be good to go at first light." I watched as Thompson sat down in my sight, and I could't help but let my eyes linger. He may have not started off on the right foot with me, but I couldn't deny he looked pretty nice.

"See any abominable snowmen like the one in Tibet?" I zone back into the conversation and laughed at Peggy's question. She liked to tease the boys, that's for sure.

The man in question immediately looked flustered. "I... I never said 'abominable snowman," he said in embarrassment.

"In fairness, he did specify yeti."

I laughed out loud along with the others, which led into a yawn. "Sorry boys, Peggy, but I might turn in early. Some of us have to be awake enough for the morning," I said. Peggy gave me a sad wave goodnight, and the others said a chorus of 'goodnights' and 'sleep wells.' Thompson gave me a nod and possibly the smallest of smiles. Had I imagined it? Maybe. Why was I even looking at him specifically in the first place? I had no idea.

A/n: We're in Russia! Woohoo! I'm honestly seeing a lot of Russia today... that may or may not be a hint at a future project... ANYWAY don't forget to share the love!