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Chapter 45
"We will have to refuel along the way. I would suggest in Crete or Malta," Melinda told Phil and Maria as she punched on her tablet out in the sun-shine. "As it is we are half a world away, and is going to take eight hours to Crete or nine hours to get to Malta and from there another four to the target in Ghana."
Melinda handed the tablet to Maria and took Skye back from Phil and put her over her shoulder to burp her. While doing so, she checked on Natasha. Natasha was finding it more interesting to watch the birds flitter from tree to tree and gave the appearance of disinterest. But watching Natasha, Melinda somehow knew Natasha was keenly aware of their discussion. She seemed to Melinda to be watching herself and everything around her from far away. She would just have to do what she could to coax her back.
"I think we could do a lot of our prep for the mission in the air," Maria told the pair. "I suggest we take advantage of the Shield re-fueling airport in Crete and leapfrog over into the Mediterranean to Malta."
"Fitz has time to check his dwarf drones ready for recon. Ward can he can gather up all the gear and check the weaponry we may need. There is no reason Simmons can't continue to work through all the shifter data she is gathering. Melinda you can just get the bus in the air. I know Skye and Natasha take up a certain degree of your time but Simmons can assist you with Skye and Maria with Natasha," Coulson told the group sitting outside.
"And Phil, I am able to pilot and so is Agent Ward," Maria remarked back looking over at Natasha. "Phil you have any issue running ops? Be like the old days when you were a handler?"
"Sure, I think I can handle that," Phil answered softly remembering the earlier days when we worked as Barton's handler and then Romanov's.
Melinda began to rock Skye back and forth in her arms as she decided she and her leopard would now talk to the two non-shifters gathered with Skye, Natasha and herself. "The last week has totally changed my perspective on life. I have found my child, who is an infant, and needs constant care. I have added Natasha to my family and she needs my care. That is my primary responsibility. Fury even said that. Melinda looked at her two close friends. "I will do my job, and a good one. I am a damn good pilot and can handle myself with lethal skills in the field. I realize my shifter abilities are highly important in any mission we go on in Ghana, but Skye and Natasha come first."
Maria looked at Melinda with a wistful expression. Melinda was a different person but seemed even more passionate and had never seemed stronger. "Melinda, you trained me, you have had my back and if it was not for your total dislike of politics you would be in my position in Shield now." Maria told the Asian shifter. "I have got your back that is why I am here, not to order you around I am here because we are close friends. The mission overall is to re-unite family and support our shield agents who are shifters. You have to do your part of the mission caring for Skye and Natasha. And frankly if any commanding officer would be best to recognize that you can do your shield responsibilities with better results if you are allowed to put your family first."
"I don't know what is going on with Natasha Mel," Phil spoke candidly. "I don't know how to help her currently or how long it will take. But I want to make it clear, she stays with the team and the Coulson-May family and that will never change. And of course, your shifter has a certain dynamic that Maria and I cannot relate to. We will be here to back you up and when it comes to your "girls" we know your focus is them."
"On that subject," Maria spoke softly reaching out and rubbing Natasha's leg. "I have watched you with Skye and Natasha. Touching is really important isn't it?" Maria asked trying to understand.
"All the senses to a shifter are enhanced and therefore important in how shifters relate to each other," Melinda explained. "Touching is very important. It is grounding, reinforces our bond, it nurtures family units and is a strong part of our pack foundation. Scent is important also. Our sense of smell is enhanced and we give off different scents meaning different things. Even Skye at her early age instinctively responds to scenting."
"Simmons feels I need to do a lot of this for Natasha right now. I pulled her out violently out of her leopard shift. Her leopard needs as much support and comfort now as her human side. Thus a lot of touching." Melinda told them.
"We can work around that as much as we can Mel," Phil told her. "And we can make sure Natasha is not left alone ever. Now Maria and I will brief them team. You can stay out here a little longer."
"Thanks Phil can Skye come with you to the briefing?" Melinda asked handing him back their daughter. Phil did not speak but smiled at Melinda taking Skye and cradling the baby in his arms. Maria surprised Melinda by leaning over and touching Natasha's cheek and stroking it. Obviously, taking to heart Melinda's instruction of the importance of touch to Natasha right now. Then Melinda and Natasha were alone.
"Tasha?" Melinda asked tapping the chin of the woman whose head lay across her lap. "You with me now?" When blue eyes met her brown ones she gave Natasha a smile. "There you are. Did you hear Maria and Phil? We got a lead. The baby may be in Ghana like you mentioned yesterday." Natasha did not speak but Melinda was heartened did something totally unexpected. Natasha Romanov, cloud leopard shifter began to loudly purr.
Well Romanov I knew you were not gone. You are not going to stay back there, because you damn well are going to be there when we take down Dr. Malus, Melinda thought to herself. She had a plan in mind. She would ask Maria to join her at take-off.
"Stark wants to talk to you," Maria handed the phone to Romanov. When Natasha did not reach and grab it, Agent Hill held it up for her so she could listen.
"Romanov listen up. You were treated like crap. I totally get that but you totally came out stronger for it. You could kick my ass before now you got a leopard that can scratch it afterwards," Iron Man said through the phone.
Natasha's eyes widened. A move that Maria Hill did not miss so she kept the phone to Romanov's ear.
"Now listen up, Bruce and I will meet you at Malta tomorrow so you look after my niece and don't give anybody crap about your rehab and remember it is a surprise don't tell Phil and Melinda," Stark told Romanov.
Though she still didn't speak, Maria noticed Natasha nodded a minute or so later in the conversation and then looked directly into her eyes.
"You're welcome Romanov," Maria told the Natasha taking the phone back and putting it into her vest pocket. "Now that I see that you have listened to Stark's pep talk and I know I have your attention you and I have got some drone footage to study." Maria did not miss Natasha's hesitation but ignored it. "Just sit there. I will go upstairs and get your blanket. I got Fitz to rig the T.V. in here so you and I can watch."
Maria walked up the set of stairs but instead of going into Natasha's room she went to the cock-pit and sat down in the co-pilot chair. Melinda had the camera monitor on the common area where Natasha say alone.
"Your idea worked Melinda. Good call on Stark," Maria told her friend.
"Stark may come across as totally self-absorbed and unable to relate to people but you and I know that is a lie." Melinda said simply pushing her sunglasses further up her nose and continuing to stare forward. "Plus he experienced his own captivity and hell in Afghanistan. He can relate and he is a good model on moving on from it."
"I think me playing it straight with Natasha is going to compliment your softer side Melinda," Agent Hill told the pilot.
"Yes, it was very apparent she was listening and paying attention to you." Melinda commented checking over at the monitor of Natasha. She still sat on the couch but now propped her body good shoulder against the couch. "You may need to get Simmons to give her something for pain. Her face looks tight."
"Agreed. I will get her blanket and pillow and head back. Could you call Simmons for me?" Maria asked leaving the cockpit. "As interesting as the drone footage is, I bet I will be tempted to go to sleep with her even without a pain pill."
Closing the cock-pit door, Maria knocked on Phil's door and entered quietly. Phil was talking to Barton so she did not interrupt. She just went in Natasha's room got the pillow and blanket and made her way back downstairs. Simmons and she seemed to get there at the same time.
"OK Romanov, take the pill for that pain in your shoulder that is causing you to not be able to sit up straight." Maria spoke crisply but tempered it with a gentle rub of Natasha's good shoulder to get her to open her eyes. "That's right I knew you were still here with the team." Maria spoke matter of factly but indirectly complimenting the Russian. "Now swallow," Maria told the Russian. "I know you hate anything dealing with medical but suck it up and don't leave Simmons just standing here when she has things to do in the lab."
Again, Natasha responded and did what was asked of her.
"Now, I have got your pillow and blanket," Maria told her friend, " You will lie down and rest," Maria told her putting the pillow on the couch and waited for her to lie down before covering her with her new blanket. "Now I am going to sit here right at your head and we are going to watch the nice INTEL Stark got us in Ghana. If you see something I need to pay attention to I order you to speak up or get my attention." Again Maria tempered her crisp tone with pushing red hair gently out of Natasha's face. "You know I got your back Natasha and I know you got mine."
Maria used the remote to start reviewing the facility. She kept her face facing forward but let her eyes drop down to watch Natasha. Natasha was trying to watch the footage but her eyes were starting to droop. "Its fine Natasha," Maria told her making a point to reach for Natasha's hand and squeezing it. "You rest for a bit. I am sure I will still be watching this stuff when you wake up."
