I finished watching Agents of SHIELD (finally) and just could not leave the idea of Natasha and Melinda interacting at SHIELD alone.

Enjoy!

Melinda glanced up from her paperwork and found the scene the same as it had been the last time she'd checked. Natasha was still looking very much worse for wear as she laid asleep on the hospital bed, with extensive bruising, more than a few bandaged wounds, and a carefully wrapped ankle. She heard approaching footsteps and glanced up to find a nurse entering the room. She watched as the woman made quick work of her check of the monitors and examination of Natasha's bandages before offering a quiet "everything looks good" to Melinda on her way out of the room.

It was another few hours before Natasha began to stir. The movements were nearly imperceptible, but she could tell that Natasha was assessing the situation, establishing where she was, whether she needed to be wary, and likely trying to piece together how she got there. Melinda chose to indulge her and pretended to continue reviewing her paperwork, but she spotted the exact moment the slight buzz of tension left the redhead's body.

"Ow," Natasha murmured as her eyes opened slowly.

"Yeah, I bet it hurts," Melinda reprimanded in a tone laced with frustration. Getting the report that Natasha had chosen to deviate from the mission plan and allow herself to be captured had caused some serious waves, not to mention leaving Melinda with a pit of worry. She knew the young agent was capable, but the group they were dealing with had absolutely no compunctions about exacting revenge with escalating levels of violence.

Natasha coughed lightly when she tried to reply but made no move to grab the cup of water on the table beside her, so Melinda handed her one of the small bottles of water from her bag. She knew Natasha had not yet been able to bring herself to fully trust the medical staff, and so had remembered to bring along a few sealed bottles of water with her.

"Thanks," the redhead murmured with a nod as she accepted the bottle. She unscrewed the cap and began taking little sips as Melinda gave her a withering look. Nat tilted her head in what Melinda assumed was meant to be an expression of assurance. "It's not that bad. I've had worse-"

"Be thankful Coulson isn't here to hear those words coming out of your mouth," May chided as she closed the folder on her lap and slid it into her bag. The paperwork could wait.

Nat had the decency to at least look a little guilty as she sipped at the water bottle. "What are you doing here?"

Several sarcastic quips flickered in Melinda's mind, but she opted to let them go. She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "Why are you asking a question you know the answer to?"

"Coulson's still tied up," Nat replied knowingly.

"He's on clean-up duty with Hill," she confirmed with a nod. "And Barton's still on a mission so he's off comms for another few days," she added, pre-emptively answering the question she knew would follow.

"So, you drew the short-straw?"

"Among other things," Melinda replied dryly.

"Such as?"

"Such as having to be the one to ask you -and I'm paraphrasing here- what the hell you were thinking, and whether you realize that your life is not expendable."

"Coulson?" Natasha guessed.

"Fury, actually." She watched as Nat's brow rose ever so slightly and filed her surprise at that reaction away to review later. "Coulson was sputtering too much to get any coherent questions from him. I'm sure he'll draft a sternly worded memo for you on his flight back."

"He's going to make me take time off, isn't he?"

"Only if Barton, Fury, and I don't beat him to it."

Nat rolled her eyes. "I'll be alright. This isn't my first rodeo."

"You'd never have guessed it by your flagrant disregard for SHIELD protocols."

Nat's eyes flashed defensively. "I completed the mission."

"Never said you didn't. But you intentionally put yourself at risk," Melinda replied in an even tone. They were, both of them, known for being even keeled, but Nat even more so. She had a reputation for always being in control, so these flashes of emotion meant that there was something more going on.

Nat's expression was still tight, and Melinda saw her eyes flash again with anger. "I was always going to be able to get out."

"Maybe," Melinda conceded, because Nat was that good. "But you didn't need to go in in the first place. You could have waited. There were going to be opportunities a few hours later."

"It was the quickest way in. The quickest way to get the intel."

Melinda shook her head because the excuses held no water. "The mission wasn't time-sensitive. I should know since I was the one who briefed you on it."

"Cut the shit, Mel," Nat bit back, frustration bubbling up. "You know as well as I do that the intel was going to be helpful to have sooner rather than later."

Melinda just tilted her head slightly, gaze narrowing a touch as she eyed the younger agent. It was one thing to see brief moments of frustration from Natasha, but quite another to see it sustained. She wondered what it was that was setting her off. "Bullshit, Nat. You know as well as I do that the intel isn't even actionable for another few weeks. There was no need to rush your entry."

She read the silence and Nat's stony expression and knew that her words had hit the mark for the redhead. She knew where Nat had come from and what she'd overcome. Fury had given her Nat's file for review when he assigned her to work with the recently defected Russian agent, and the details of the procedures and sessions she'd undergone to rid herself of the triggers and conditioning they'd put in her head were tough to read. She'd overcome all of it though and had adapted successfully to SHIELD's ways. But sometimes it seemed like she slipped up and reverted to her former methods. Sure, it was always in the name of completing a mission, and never resulted in anyone coming to harm except herself, but the fact that she was so eager to take unnecessary risks did make Melinda pause.

She sighed lightly. Maybe it wasn't fair to hold her to such a high standard considering it hadn't been that long in the grand scheme of things since she'd defected. "Look, I know how we do things here isn't the same as-"

"I know SHIELD is different," Nat bit back harshly.

There's that defensiveness again, Melinda noted silently. Nat had often been quick to point out that she knew she was at SHIELD and that things were different. Melinda supposed it had something to do with her loyalty and abilities being constantly questioned. She understood the latter quite well from personal experience. "I'm just saying, you did things with an at-any-cost mentality for many years, and I know it isn't as simple as flipping a switch to acclimate to SHIELD protocols."

Nat's expression hardened. "I know the protocols."

"You forget that I had access to your training assessments. I know you know them."

"You're a real ray of sunshine, you know that Mel?" Nat quipped darkly. But Melinda knew that tone too well to put any stock in it. She knew that under the arrogance and masks was someone that respected her, and the words were nothing more than a poor attempt at misdirection.

"You pull a stunt like that when I'm overseeing your op and this sunshine is what you're going to get."

Nat just glared as tension bled into the air. Melinda remained unflappable though.

"I know you're capable, Nat. More capable than most agents here. And I know you know SHIELD protocols. So why the hell did you go in like that?" she pressed.

This was about way more than her 'forgetting' protocols, and unless it was addressed, the problem would only get worse. She had theories but needed more information before she could make a determination.

Nat stayed silent. Melinda knew she wasn't used to being called out on her bullshit by anyone other than Fury, Coulson, or Barton, and guessed that Nat was weighing her options.

Melinda didn't afford the younger agent any time to do so though. "Explain to me why you let them capture you. Why you deemed it necessary to let them torture you for hours before you broke out. And why you chose to take the riskier option when there was a perfectly good, safer alternative."

"I'm not-" Nat cut herself off as she searched for words. "I don't-" Her frustration with her own inability to articulate her reasons was clear to see and Melinda felt a bit of sympathy for her. Still, she was making progress and couldn't let the opportunity go.

"What is it, Nat? Because this isn't a one-off. The way you've been operating lately, it's like you don't care if you live."

"I'm not suicidal."

"That's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that you're tempting fate. Maybe it's guilt, maybe it's an eagerness to make up for your past, maybe it's to shut up all the people who doubt you. I don't know. But you need to recognize that what's in the past, is in the past."

"I know that," she insisted.

"Good. Then how about acting like you do."

"I'm starting to see why you and Coulson spend so much time together. Birds of a feather and all that."

Melinda eyed Nat carefully, ignoring the dodge. "You understand that people here care about you, right? I know you know Barton cares, and probably that Coulson does too. But other people care too, Nat. I care. Hill cares. Hell, even Fury cares."

"I know," she replied, voice a little quieter than usual, but still firm.

"Then don't push us away. Let us help."

"That's not easy for me," she admitted. Melinda heard a tone that sounded like the words were practically forced from her, and she recognized the effort Nat was putting in, despite her weak efforts at redirection.

Melinda leaned forward in her chair. "I didn't say it was going to be. But you're a part of SHIELD now and that means working in tandem with others, trusting them to have your back, and letting us help you deal with whatever it is you're going through."

"Let me guess. I'm not alone?"

"Coulson's not the only one who can do speeches," Melinda quipped, offering a small smile as she leaned back in her chair.

"7 out of 10."

Melinda arched an eyebrow. "Tough critic."

Nat gave a half smile and Melinda couldn't help but think she meant it. "Coulson usually goes for the supportive squeeze of a hand or shoulder."

"You know I don't do that crap."

Nat laughed. "Yeah, me neither. But it does add something to the speech, I'll give him that."

Melinda thought of the pep talks he's offered her in the past and nodded in agreement.

"And he's not usually so intense."

"He's not usually berating you for allowing yourself to be subjected to torture unnecessarily," Melinda pointed out.

Nat pursed her lips. "Fair enough. 8 out of 10 then."

Have some thoughts? Feelings? Suggestions? I'd love to hear 'em!

As always, thanks to everyone leaving comments - they are appreciated and always bring a smile to my face.

Hope everyone's staying safe.