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“Good heavens, Jack, do put that file away. It’s Christmas Eve,” Peggy frowned, leaning on the door to Jack’s New York office.
“Carter, I’ve got a suspect sitting in interrogation. I can’t just walk away for a couple of days and ignore him.”
“Why not?” Peggy asked, eyebrow arching. “You’ve got a couple of green agents here working, they can keep him alive. There’s no need to rush the interrogation - this case isn’t exactly life or death. Let him stew for a bit.”
“Peggy, is this supposed to be some sort of health intervention? Because I told you, I’m fine.”
“Of course you are, Jack. But you’re not supposed to spend a civilian Christmas sitting in some office working. Howard is throwing a party, and Angie and Daniel will both be there. You ought to come, rather than sitting here all by your lonesome.”
In reality, though, it was as much of a health intervention as it was a festive invitation. Jack had stayed at Howard’s in LA for the first three months of his recovery, but then, cleared to fly by the doctors, had stubbornly decided to return to New York. Despite this, he still hadn’t been cleared for field work, and Peggy didn’t like the way his suits seemed to hang off his frame, gaps in places where there wouldn’t have been half a year ago. Daniel had once confided to her that New York had been tough after the Midnight Oil incident, and mentioned to Peggy that winter in the city might be rough on Thompson’s healing lungs. Jack seemed especially peaky today, and Peggy was quite sure it had something to do with the fact that Jack was wearing the same tie as yesterday and didn’t appear to have gone home or slept at all.
“Well, fine, then, Peggy,” Jack said, tossing his hands in the air and reaching for his coat. “Guess I should’ve learned by now there’s no point arguing with you.”
Peggy and Jack headed out to the parking lot, where Peggy insisted that Jack ride with her rather than take his own car. Howard and the Jarvises had returned to New York for the holidays, as the Stark holiday party was quite the annual event. Peggy and Daniel had agreed to come meet them for a week, leaving Rose in charge of the LA SSR. Peggy was happy to spend time with Angie, and they were due to visit Daniel’s family for the New Year. It was also a convenient excuse to check in on Jack, who tended to over-exaggerate his healing on the phone. Peggy preferred it where she could see if he was lying to her, and promptly call him on it if necessary.
They arrived at Howard’s and were met by a very enthusiastic Ana Jarvis (who Peggy believed might actually be a bit tipsy) and a disgruntled looking Mr. Jarvis. Jack brightened a bit at Ana’s suggestion that she show him the bar, and Peggy shook her head and chuckled. She herself headed inside.
“Angie!” she hurried over to her friend, who was standing next to Daniel.
“Oh, hey, English, I was just catching up with your man here!” Daniel smiled sheepishly from next to Angie, then leaned over to give Peggy a brief kiss.
“Oh dear, I hope you haven’t been telling him too many embarrassing stories, Angie,” Peggy laughed.
“Ah, only a few,” she giggled. “How ‘bout I go find us something to eat, huh? Let you two have a couple minutes,” Angie wiggled her eyebrows at Peggy, who rolled her eyes and laughed.
Now that they were alone, Daniel tipped his head at her and asked, “Jack?”
“Off with Ana somewhere, probably breaking into Howard’s liquor cabinet. He seems alright, if a little overworked. I think a night off will do him some good.”
“I think it’ll do us some good too,” Daniel smiled. Angie returned with a couple glasses of champagne and a tray of small sandwiches.
“Alright, English, now the party can really start!”
…………………….
A couple of hours later, a thoroughly distressed-looking Mr. Jarvis escorted a thoroughly drunk-looking Mrs. Jarvis through the room where Peggy, Daniel, and Angie were sitting.
“Mr. Jarvis, is everything all right?” Peggy asked, both concerned and amused.
“Oh yes, Miss Carter, everything is fine. I do believe my wife needs to sleep off the events of this evening, however, so I am afraid we must retire.”
“Yes, of course. But before you go, did you see Chief Thompson?” Peggy inquired.
Mr. Jarvis frowned, “No, Miss Carter, he wasn’t with Ana just now. I can help you look for him once I get Mrs. Jarvis settled, if you’d like.”
“Oh, no, Mr. Jarvis, that’s quite all right,” Peggy said with a glance at Daniel. “We can find him, I’m sure.”
“Nah, Peg, you stay here, catch up,” Daniel says with a smile and a nod towards Angie. “I’ll go track down Thompson.”
Daniel did find him, secluded in Howard’s study with a half empty glass of whiskey in his hand. He sat down on the armchair in the corner, while Jack reclined in the desk chair.
“Ya know, Jack, the whole point of holiday parties is to spend it with other people,” Daniel half-joked.
Jack scoffed. “As if anyone actually wants to enjoy my company.”
Gosh, he really was self deprecating when he drank, Daniel thought as he rolled his eyes with a mix of irritation and fondness. “Jack. Peggy and I clearly want you here, or else we wouldn’t have extended the invitation.”
Jack just tipped further back in his chair, as if trying to escape the conversation.
“I get it, you know.”
Jack looked up, noting the change in Daniel’s tone from half-playful to soft and serious.
“Holidays can be tough, especially after the kinda year you’ve had. I think, actually, this is the first truly civilian Christmas experience I’ve had since before the war. So I get it, if the party is a little overwhelming.”
Jack huffed, bringing the glass to his lips and taking a drink. He set it down with a clank. “God, you’re just like Peggy, aren’t you. Always snooping in everyone else’s feelings.”
Hurt flashed across Daniel’s face for just a moment before he schooled his expression and stood.
“Well, fine, Thompson. Enjoy your pity party, I guess.”
“Wait, Sousa. I’m sorry,” Jack called. Daniel crutched back over to the armchair, but didn’t sit.
“You’re right, is all,” Jack admitted. “I keep wishing things would go back to the way they used to be. But I don’t even know when that would be. I guess this just is ‘normal’ now, isn’t it.”
Daniel hummed in agreement, eyes drifting briefly towards the crutch in his left hand. Jack didn’t seem to notice, staring vacantly toward the door of the study, where light and sound from the party down the hall leaked in.
“I’m just so goddamn tired of all this, Sousa. Trying to keep the SSR alive, dealing with Congressional red tape, finding decent agents - and this stupid bullet wound isn’t helping anything. And I shouldn’t even be complaining to you, cause God knows you deal with all of it, too.”
“Just cause I deal with it too doesn’t mean it’s less exhausting, Jack. And you’re still convalescing, even if it feels like you shouldn’t be.”
Jack was silent, so Daniel continued. “Now, the way I see it, you’ve got three choices. You can stay here getting more drunk, you could go to bed, or you could come join Peggy and Angie and I and try to enjoy the holiday,” he said, stretching out a hand towards Jack’s good arm.
“Well, when you put it that way…” Jack took Daniel’s proffered hand and stood, swaying slightly before he steadied himself. Daniel clapped a hand on his back and then led the way out of the dark study and back towards the music of the main room.
Maybe it would be an okay Christmas after all.