@suavegenius
Peggy's jolting heart ceases it's adrenalized thunder, hanging precariously by a thread as it TWISTS with no uncertainty. She can't force a breath. No. Her lungs stall out as she watches the ONE, last person on the EARTH who believes in her, crash towards the ground.
With a pallored face, Peg swiftly follows his downwards movement. Her hands immediately fumble for the wound, to inspect and render aide. His words, though laced with humor, do little to absolve the crippling fear she feels splintering through her veins.
Exasperation EXSCAPES her in the form of a sound rolled betwixt tightly guarded teeth. Rolling her eyes, the brunette manages to half admonish. "Howard?" She addresses him, feeling her patience wane. "You are quite aware that I could make this hurt a good deal worse than it should? Right?" The threat, however motivating it may or may not be, would NEVER be followed up on. She cares for him far too greatly.
She winces, her trembling fingers dip into the inky, wet scarlet of his blood. The bullet's still there. "Mr. Jarvis!" She screams. "Get a wagon. NOW!!!!" The demand is made more forcefully than Peggy felt was necessary. For that, she would apologize later.
"Why did you DO that?!!!!" She asks in anguish. She frees her one hand to shove her once pristine jacket over the wound to try and stay his blood loss. Drawing in a tremulous breath, she adds. "You KNOW I can NOT lose you!!! You're all I have LEFT." Her other hand moves to cup his cheek. Grave concern lingers in the depths of her dark eyes.