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Peggy stood up from her desk and stretched, exhaling a sigh of relief. As much as she appreciated the newly appointed Chief Thompson giving her fieldwork, she could do without the endless paperwork that came along with actually running a case. She pulled the last page of her report out of the typewriter and stuffed it inside the correct file folder.
She rapped on the door to Thompson’s office sharply before letting herself in, not waiting for him to acknowledge her first.
“Chief - “ she cut off, somewhat stunned by the scene before her. The office, which Jack was still working on cleaning out and making his own, had been plunged into a state of chaos, papers and such flung left and right, with Jack himself standing in the middle of the room, about as unkempt as she’d ever seen him. He turned to look at her, clearly surprised by the intrusion, hair coming loose from it’s slicked-back state and generally looking frazzled.
“Oh. Carter.”
“Jack. Are you quite all right?”
“I’m fine. Just can’t find this….thing!”
“Exactly what ‘thing’ is it that you’re looking for?” Peggy asked, somewhat amused by the whole affair.
“That case file, the one from last week on the - “ Jack suddenly froze midway through yanking open yet another desk drawer. He reached in and touched something Peggy couldn’t see, then sat down heavily in the chair as if he’d been punched in the gut and buried his face in his hands with a shuddering breath.
“Jack, are you quite alright? What happened?”
He waved a hand vaguely in the direction of the open drawer, and Peggy moved cautiously towards it. Jack wasn’t crying, exactly, but more breathing heavily in an attempt to get himself back together, and Peggy soon saw why. In the bottom of the drawer was a framed photograph of Chief Dooley and his family, smiling happily for the camera. She knew his family life had been far less than perfect, but she also knew that he’d been trying, and that his untimely death had taken away his chance at redemption.
Jack still hadn’t moved, so she reached behind her and quietly pushed the door to the office shut, grateful that the blinds were already down. Jack was a private person, and like it or not, she knew he was someone who buried his sorrow deep inside his heart. Belarus had taught her that much, and he wouldn’t want his newly made subordinates to catch him like this. She intended to forget it ever happened.
But for now, she reached out and gently laid a hand on Thompson’s shoulder. He startled slightly but didn’t shrug her off, which she took to mean the contact was alright.
“Don’t let his death be in vain. We will find Underwood and Leviathan and get justice for his family. I can promise you that much.”
Jack looked up at her and nodded, then rolled his shoulders to dislodge her hand and stood up from the chair, pushing the drawer closed as he did. Peggy placed the file folder with her case report in it on the desk, accidentally dislodging another stack of papers as she did so.
“Wait, Thompson, were you looking for the Henderson case file?”
“Yes, did you - you found it!” He grabbed it from her, rifling through the papers and rearranging them.
Peggy made for the door, planning to make a stealthy escape, but she was stopped by a voice behind her.
“Hey, Carter. Thanks.”
“Anytime, Chief.”