Arriving in France for a Check Up

“I still don’t understand why it has to be the bloody catacombs,” Agent Margret “Peggy” Carter asked as she and Captain Steve Rogers moved down carefully down the old stone stairs. The cobblestone felt like it could slip out with one wrong step.

“You don’t like them?” Captain Rogers asked, shield in hand. The two had managed to make it back from Germany, with Rogers breaking down several Hydra encampments with the Howling Commandos and Peggy destroying an entire castle and killing some Hydra Hitler clone. Sure it had cost her her uniform, but Steve was still in such awe of Agent Carter, one of the few she had felt comfortable seeing in all her glory. “The history here is incredible, I might see if there’s time to sketch some of the architecture before the next assignment.”

“And all I see is **** and skeletons,” Peggy mumbled as she felt the wool of her coat bristle against her neck. Being naked on the German countryside had made the agent long for clothes, but the SSR had strict rules on uniform. So as soon as they got into Paris she was provided and told to change out of her fatigues and back into her skirted prison. The worst part was due to the shortage of materials her bra size was one size smaller than it should have been, as the underwire dug into her skin. “When I was told we would be going to France I pictured something…”

“Romantic?” Captain Rogers explained. The two had become close during the war, as far back as Camp Leigh when Steve wasn’t blessed with the super soldier serum. A skinny weaking who wanted to make the world a better place wasn’t usually the apple of many gals’ eyes. But when said guy is pure of heart and helps you back to your bunk after the rest of the men stole your clothes…well, it got Peggy to see who Steve really was. “When all of this is over I promise I’ll take you for one of those fancy breads.”

“A baguette?” Peggy laughed. “What do they feed you in America if you don’t even know what a baguette is.”

“Ever heard of grilled cheese? Cheap but heavenly,” Captain Rogers said.

“Do they just…grill a block of cheese?” Peggy asked.

“White bread, little butter, and some of that yellow cheese in the middle,” Steve explained. “God’s gift to Earth.”

“Well I’ll have to come to Brooklyn then, try some of this godly gift,” Peggy said with a warm smile. “I’ve seen Britain, and I’d like t-”

“Carter, Rogers!” A voice called out as the two entered the makeshift base. Telegrams, monitors, radio transmitters, and several staff members working to get it set up quickly. “Glad to see you could finally join us in France.”

Dr. Karl Faustus was a new recruit to the SSR, tasked with heading up operations in France, one of the few countries SSR was having trouble breaking into. Little did anyone know, ol’ Karl was a Hydra sleeper agent, and having Captain America and that foolish dame Peggy Carter in his grasp was…so tempting.

“Sorry sir, Germany turned out to be a bit more messy than we expected,” Peggy began. “Captain Rogers and the H-”

“Should be delivering their own report Agent Carter,” Faustus began. “Captain Rogers, if you’d move towards debrief room two, I’m sure you have such stories to tell.”

“But I helped write those reports, I talked to all the men and was able to combine it with my report of Hydra’s cloning experiment in the region as we-” Peggy began, her anger rising as another man cut her off.

“Yes, I’ve read that report, but some of the men claim that you were…more natural then you let on. And with recent Hydra spies coming and disrupting our investigation…we need you in exam room one to make sure you weren’t traced,” Faustus said in a condescending tone.

As the doctor walked away Steve leaned into Peggy and whispered.

“You left that out of the report? I mean weren’t you the one who told me I should always be truthful when reporting fact?”

“Yes, but sometimes you don’t want certain things to be disclosed. Like what size cup Magret Carter wears or that I killed a Hitler in my bloody birthday suit. That’s an accomplishment you want to do clothed.” Peggy stressed. “Besides, how does he know? Remember I told any of the Comandos I’d kill them if it got out.”

“I mean, you were wandering naked out there for a while, maybe a patrol picked up some surveillance,” Steve explained as he began walking to his debriefing.

“Maybe, but something doesn’t feel ri-”

“Carter! Exam room one, now!”

“Bloody…I’m coming!” Peggy Carter yelled out as she moved into the crudely assembled exam room one. The instruments were all borrowed from basic medical kits, and the all catacomb floors felt cold even if Peggy’s heels provided a degree of separation. Agent Carter had always hated the doctor. Especially when in 1941, when joining the SSR, they were very thorough in their examination. Turning a very shy and bushy Margaret Ann Carter to the very tough and bare Agent Peggy Carter.

As Peggy drifted into memory she didn’t notice the team of doctors come in and begin setting up. It was another odd difference she noted in her head. SSR was spread thin across France, so how could they have a whole team of doctors work on what should have been a simple check up.

“Hello Margret,” One of the doctors said. “We’re glad to see you return safe, but the priority is to check for bugs and tracking devices to ensure this base is kept safe.”

“Yes, I am well aware of the importance of security,” Peggy began. “I wrote the fifty page memo that makes up the backbone of our security principles. I made sure to bathe, check the stitches of every piece of clothing, and more. So let’s just get this over with quickly so I can discuss how to make this French operation run smoothly.”

“Faustus has added to the memo Margret,” The doctor said. “We need you to disrobe. Now.”

“What?” Peggy Carter said in disbelief.