I do not own any of the characters in the Marvel Universe and this story is not for profit.

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A special shout of thanks to wwjdtd who gave me tech advice and knowledge I probably half understood but used to write the technology described in this chapter. You helped so much and I will continue to use your advice and ideas in further chapters.

AN: Remember this is fiction and so is this technology. So pretend with me that this tech by Stark and the team will work. They are agents with alien technology ect, it is not far fetched that Shield could do stuff that would not work in the normal world. Just pretend with me.

AN Long Chapter

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Shifters of Shield Search for Answers Chapter 53

Natasha Romanov did not bother to open eyes as she lay prone on the top of the plane on her towel. She had removed her shirt and lay only in a tank top and pair of cargo shorts sunning in the mid-afternoon rays.

"So who do I have the pleasure of addressing?" Romanov addressed the Asian Shifter her voice husky and clipped. "If it is Agent May or Alpha Melinda May, please leave. I will only speak to my friend Melinda. Otherwise, F**k off."

Natasha Romanov looked up then took off her sunglasses. She watched the Asian study her with her brown eyes a goo thirty seconds before clutch the top of the plane and pull herself up.

"Ok, we can play it this way," Melinda May told her making sure Widow saw her lift a shot out of her vest pocket and back in it again. "Its mid-afternoon, get you're a** up and take your shot so I can get back to work. And I hope you are wearing sunscreen."

Natasha Romanov could not hide a smirk as she sat on her elbows. Widow was surprised that Melinda was able to switch roles that easy. The Russian could almost pretend it was before China. She could pretend they were back on the Heli-carrier trading stories and sparring together goading each other.

"Missed you too May," Romanov told the Asian wanting to relay her sentiment without conversing about it. "Been a long time."

"True, it has been. I can't remember the last time we went out and got a drink at a bar together," May told the redhead telling Natasha she understood and agreed without saying such. Neither one of them had been very open back then. They were colleagues, done missions together off and on when Natasha was not busy with the Avengers or Barton.

"To much sh**t going on I guess," Romanov told May noticing May had actually moved to sit beside her and was letting her legs hand over the plane. The Asian was swinging her legs back and forth much like a cat's tail.

Remembering the established protocol for shots, Melinda remembered that her role was to give it to Natasha in a subtle way and to stay close by. Doing this as May took some mental mindset alterations but knew she could make it happen. Natasha was in such a mood, maybe it was better they talk in this capacity. Natasha could keep the attitude and edginess without risking rebuke. The two did not speak for a moment just sat in silent companionship like they had often done in social situations. Melinda kept her back to Natasha and uncapped the shot. She coughed to hide the sound of her opening of an alcohol pad.

"No excuse for me not offering to buy you a drink Nat," Melinda used the name she called Natasha when they first became acquainted knowing by the intake of Natasha's breath that she had been surprised. It was the distraction in Natasha's train of thought she needed. With her quick shifter reflexes, she used pressed down the alcohol wipe in one hand and pushed down the shot of the shifter blood enzymes with the other hand. Acting as nothing ever happened, Melinda patted Natasha's bare leg and stood up. "I promise to do better."

Natasha Romanov did not know what to think as the Asian hopped down and disappeared once more in the yacht. Melinda May had thrown her off her game and honestly Natasha did not know how she felt about it. Natasha was staring down at her thigh when she got a text from Stark to log into her Stark computer and he had the two things she requested. The redhead stood up gathered her things and hopped onto the wing and back into the "Safe" Room in her living quarters she shared with Phil, Melinda and Skye. She strode into her room and then shut the door. Picking up her computer, she logged on. She had a video to watch.

-0-

"Agent Romanov, would you join us in the War Room please?" Maria Hill's voice rang through the intercom in her room.

Natasha's finger had been on the button to open the video file. She sighed a deep sigh then closed the program, logged off the server then turned off her machine. Natasha took her time putting her things away. Deciding she best dress more like an agent than a beach bum, Natasha went to her closet and found more appropriate attire and dressed. If she was going to be dressed down and punished, she best look the part.

She opened her dresser and put her badge in her pocket but decided to leave her knives here. She did not want her superiors to feel like she may go off on them if she did not like what she had to say. They already considered not totally in control. If they demanded her badge over last night she would give it to them. Natasha doubted that would happen though. She best get down there and see what would though.

"On my way," Natasha said into the intercom taking another deep breath and trying to put on her best Widow, cool, controlled persona she could muster. She stepped out of her room out of the apartment and to the War Room. Fitz, Simmons, Coulson, Hill and May were all gathered. The babies were in bouncy seats in the corner. Even the dog was in the room. To Natasha, it felt like she was going in to face one of those death panels back growing up in Russia.

Game on, let's roll, Natasha told herself knocking formally and waiting for admittance. She was granted admittance and she took an empty seat and a long conference table. On the table in front of her chair was a white piece of paper with in Melinda May's distinctive handwriting.

Remember Belize.

We are a team you and I

M.

"Agent Romanov, I asked you to join Coulson, May and myself to discuss the ramifications of last night's situation," Maria Hill told the former Russian agent. "The incident with you and Skye put to the forefront a circumstance Coulson, May and myself knew would require our attention."

"That issue is shifting from human to fur by a shifter who puts themselves or others into a unwise, unsafe or unmonitored situation," Melinda May said directly lacing her hands together and sitting them on the conference table.

"Tony Stark, started work in his lab with Banner on tech gadgetry designs right after Fury met with the Avengers and pulled them in as a support for the shifter initiative. Stark wanted to give shifter agents useful tools and weaponry that they could have on their person in either form," Maria Hill told Natasha Romanov some of the backstory.

"And I take this was at the top of "SHIELD NEED TO KNOW INTEL" so neither Stark, Banner or yourselves could talk to me about it," Natasha responded to the revelation of another thing she had been held out of the loop about. Romanov did not look up as she spoke but instead decided she rather pick the cuticles on her fingernails.

"Up until now, yes that is correct," Maria Hill said bluntly. "Skye's new found skill at shifting at a whim, your health issues both physical and mental compounded together have caused us to start thinking differently about what originally was supposed to be gear for all agents for missions. We knew we needed something that was set up to be used daily by shifters of all ages."

"Last night's situation when you shifted seemingly in your sleep without conscious decision and followed it by reckless behavior that influenced a juvenile shifter to an unsafe shift has put a priority on reworking Stark's design," Melinda May shared her eyes briefly flashed amber into Romanov's blue ones so Natasha knew that the Asian spoke both as a senior agent and Alpha.

"I put a rush on that this morning," Hill informed Romanov matter of factly then looked over at Phil Coulson for him to brief Romanov

"Agent Fitz has been in conference with some of the best minds available to us to come up with some changes in what is a bracer in outfitting," Phil Coulson explained to Romanov. "Agent Fitz was been building the actual bracer since dawn and is here to explain it to you and what components is on it."

"Agent Simmons, is here to explain the medical assistance this device is also going to be able to provide on this first model. This model has been designed specifically for you Agent Romanov," the deputy director added motioning for Fitz to upload the schematics for the device on the holotable so a 3D model sat in the middle of the conference table.

Leo Fitz stood up and moved his hands to the table and enacted a 3D image for the entire group to see.

"This is a bracer for the forearm. Tony Stark concept came from his own Iron Man glove and bracer. He was after something to assist the wearer in fur or skin. He was aiming to design an offensive and defense aid in missions. He also wanted the bracer to adjust automatically to a shift. The material is a lighter weight than Stark's armor. It's not metal but platinum adantium blend with plastic casing," Leo started his explanation of the bracer. "The material won't be too heavy for the wee ones. It won't hurt their teeth if they chew on it but they will not be able to damage or remove it," Fitz explained knowing those at the table could not tell at that from looking at the computer model. "The team came up with the following components that are on Romanov's model and some of which will be added to the wee one's mini bracers when I get them completed in the next day or so."

Fitz reached for his Stark pad and pulled up a list. It flashed up beside by model displayed digitally.

"The following components Hill, Coulson and May requested on the unit are GPS for location at all times. The unit measures brainwaves and changes in muscles so it can detect shifts and any seizure activity. When either a shift or seizure occurs, a chime is emitted on the unit which also flashes red. Simultaneously, a notification is sent, in this case, to Agent May and Deputy Director Hill in form off an alarm setting on their shifter phone. When the unit detects a shift and shift or body mass, it automatically is directed to turn on an audio channel. There is a comm on the unit for basic communication in shifted form with a series of lights a shifted individual could press to alert messages to those agents smartphone's it is set up to notify. Right now the settings this bracer is set for May and Hill. There are some medical programming that Simmons can best explain," Fitz told Romanov who sat there with her arms folded across her chest.

"Right then," Jemma stood up to give her part. "I am here to relay the configurations Dr. Samantha Rivers suggested and were implemented specially for Natasha Romanov. Because, it is on the skin, the unit was set up with micro needles to do health checks of enzymes. The checks are set on an internal timer. Agent Romanov should not feel them and only the tiniest of blood is necessary for results. Because it is under the bracer, the fact her levels are being checked will be unable to be noticed by anyone including the wearer. The unit will not only record levels but transmit the data to where it is set to do so. An alarm can be set up to remind the need to take injections. Eventually, Rivers would like to see if the unit could be used to give Romanov her enzyme treatment without physical shots." When Widow or anyone else in the room did not ask questions, Jemma sat down.

The room was silent for a moment as all eyes seemed to be on Natasha Romanov. The group seemed to be waiting for some type of response or reaction. The redhead after years of practice, kept her emotions and body language unreadable. The Russian could only help because she was doing so that she was not giving off any scent that was different than that she normally emitted.

"Is this bracer in the planning stages or do you have one made?" Natasha asked making her words exact and spacing each evenly.

"The first unit is ready for you to see and to set up for use," Hill answered even though the brunette had been looking at Fitz and directing the question to him. "Unless you have any questions, we can move to the lab and you can inspect it immediately."

"I do have some questions," Agent Romanov answered quickly not quite ready to submit to what she was inferring was amounted to another form of confinement or tethering of her and her leopard.

"It this removable?" she asked first.

"For security reasons, it is designed to be open and closed only after a thumb print is recognized that is in the system. The same when wanting to make changes to the unit itself or access its data," Coulson explained softly. The man had sat quietly through most of this briefing studying Romanov who sat across from him. The woman was closed and her expression totally blank. To him that meant one thing, Romanov felt the need to protect herself from what she felt was an attack and threat. Coulson had seen Romanov when Barton first brought her in after deciding not to kill her but bring her in as an asset. Romanov had that same expression. "The unit is too valuable if it fell into the wrong hands. This is why it is designed to only respond after fingerprint recognition." Coulson paused letting Romanov absorb that information. Coulson hoped he got across to Natasha this was not meant to lock her in a "shifter handcuff and throw away the key".

"And whose fingerprint does it currently recognize?" Romanov asked her next question.

"Mine," Melinda May responded evenly. "Hill's as well in case for any reason one is not available or on location elsewhere." Melinda May felt it may be best to leave this part of the process and move to the lab before Romanov worked herself up even before she saw the bracer. Melinda stood up in a pre-arranged signal to go get the device. Hill, Coulson, Fitz and Simmons then did likewise. The Asian motioned the others out the door letting Hill take the lead towards the lab while she hung back to take the rear. Melinda felt is she did not do so she was not sure Natasha Romanov would leave the room.

Left alone, Natasha looked up at Melinda and asked a two word question, "My punishment?"

"No, though last night was the tipping point to put a rush on something that was to be used later on Shield Shifter Uniforms as a comm device among users with some useful things to it for field work. This is something we felt we could adapt to issues we needed to deal with now. We can keep working on perfecting and doing different designs. But for now, it's not for field work. It's for you and to help you and your wellbeing."

"I don't see it that way," Natasha told Melinda looking at the note still on the table Melinda had scribble out.

"I know that but that does not change the real truth of the situation," Melinda May answered back quickly but keeping her voice low and soft. "It's been done because those around you care about you and want to see you healthy, safe and with tools to manage your health conditions." Melinda May kept her face from showing the sadness she felt when Natasha crumped up the note and threw it across the room angrily. Short of sedation or physical force, Melinda concluded that Natasha Romanov was not leaving this room and go into the lab to be fitted with the bracer. So Melinda decided to have the bracer brought to Natasha. It was important to try not to this after drugging or physically retraining Natasha. Yesterday someone had tried to kill her when they did that.

"Bring the bracer up here, Fitz, Hill only," May said in the call box to Simmons.

"I should have left when I had a chance. I will find away if you do this and take away my freedom and monitor my every moment," Natasha promised.

"It's not that way Natasha. I know you don't see that now but I hope you will eventually. This is not like a bars on a cell or a tiny cage. This is a piece of technology to help you and help others look after you also. It won't have to be permanently worn in this capacity unless you choose to do things to keep it that way." Melinda tried to explain to Natasha but realizing it had gone in one ear and out the other. Natasha was to upset to listen much less consider any truth in it. The Asian's shifter ears could hear her omega and fellow shield agent's heartbeat beating frantically.

"Calm down Natasha. Nobody here wants to do you harm," Melinda tried to soothe hearing the Hill's boots on the steps.

"That is what they said to me in Shield medical in D.C. then someone tried to kill me," Natasha found herself unable to keep her emotions clamped on any longer. "I don't want this. I won't just sit here and let you do this to me. I will fight it with all of my being. You are either going to have to just let me leave, fight me or drug me. You want honestly that's honesty."

Melinda listened measuring Natasha's words then made her decision. The Asian shifter pulled a sedation patch out of her jacket pocket slapped it down on the side of Natasha's neck. She held the redhead protectively cradled on her lap and rubbing her back soothing. Natasha skin was clammy and cold while her heart still beat wildly. So Melinda did what she could to comfort her while Fitz fitted the bracer and Maria looked on.

Natasha had not even given them the opportunity down in the lab to assure her that not all the functions of the bracer were to be turned on right now. The medical functions would be on and the alert to a shift or seizure. Melinda had also wanted to assure Romanov that there had been some allowance taken into consideration for privacy that Natasha could do herself by pressing a button. Melinda hoped eventually all the health issues would be straightened out and this bracer would be seen by Romanov in the same way she saw her widow bracelets.

But that is a way off, Melinda thought to herself nodding her thanks to Fitz and Hill and taking Natasha back up to their apartment and Natasha's bedroom. The Asian had no idea how Natasha would feel and react when she woke up but she would remind Natasha of the note she had crumpled up back in the War Room to

Remember Belize

We are a team you and I