"Thank you for coming Ms Carter." Began the Director as he led the woman through the corridors towards the Brig. "We are running out of options and you have more experience of these spiders than we do."
"What's the issue with this one?"
"She won't sleep."
Peggy arched a brow. "I am not a Nanny, Director. I assume you didn't bring me here to sing her a lullaby."
"Of course not." The Director hastily replied. "She came to us under a flag of truce. We think she wishes to co-operate and we are prepared to indulge her for now. However, she is refusing to sleep and after a few days becomes volatile. We've lost several agents. We have tried sedatives but when we do finally administer them she burns through them and the cycle begins again."
"And you're taking this a sign she wishes to co-operate are you?"
The Director sighed. "You'll know when you see her."
They were keeping her in isolation. In a glass cell with a single cot in the centre bolted to the floor. The woman herself was currently under the cot, balled up on her side with her knees folded up tightly against her chest. At some point they had managed to get her into a set of SHIELD gym gear, several sizes too big and she was drowning in the fabric – like a toddler wearing their parent's clothes. She was unmoving, body tightly wound and feral eyes staring out unblinkingly at the doorway.
Peggy took in the tangle of red hair. "I see. Thank you Director. I'll sort this. Open the door please Agent."
"Ma'am I don't think-"
She shot him a look that made him want to run to his mother.
"Right away ma'am." He replied contritely, fumbling for his pass.
There was no preamble. No pausing or cautious stepping towards the woman on the ground. There was only the confident stride of the woman who once propped up the SSR and fought off Hydra, boots pausing as she reached the bed and then dropping down on her haunches to stare unflinchingly back at the prisoner.
"Gosh. You've grown up a bit since we last met."
Green eyes blinked back. Then again. She tried to skitter back.
"Now enough of that. Come on. My knees get stiff and I can't stay down here all day. Are you going to come out and help me up?"
They spent long moments gauging each other. There was a definite look of recognition in Natalia's eyes, a flicker of admiration even, and she pushed herself out from beneath the cot and rounded it to join Peggy. With a firm but gentle grip she took the former Agent's arms and raised her upright, steering her down on to the cot. Task accomplished she backed up out of arm's reach.
"You know." Peggy began, leaning back and making herself comfortable. "I think you're the only person who has ever been clever enough to catch me unawares." As she finished she delicately turned her foot to display the scar on her calf.
"Likewise." Natalia replied at last, attempting to roll up one enormous sleeve to show her own neat scar.
A look of mutual respect passed between them.
"Give her a pair of handcuffs she can get herself out of, and play some rain sounds into her cell at night. She needs proper clothes, she is a grown woman not a child. And for God's sake Nicholas stop going near her with needles."
"How do you do that? Honestly, you make me feel older every day. You were extraordinary today Agent Romanoff. Would you take care of Steve for me when he wakes up? He'll need someone who knows what it's like. Perhaps you could take him dancing."
"You look younger every time we meet. I wish I could say the same about me."
"You look beautiful Peggy."
"Oh stop it. I look like a haggard old woman. Even Howard would be able to resist me in this state. And that's saying something."
They smiled easily at each other and Natasha reached over to grasp the frail hand held out to her.
"Are the boys behaving for you my dear?"
"Yes ma'am."
"And how about you? Still giving everyone hell I hope."
Natasha looked at their entwined hands. "I'm sorry about that."
"Don't be. You don't de-programme sixty years of the KGB overnight. Anyway, SHIELD had grown soft after the War – they needed a good challenge to liven things up."
"I think 'challenge' is an understatement Peggy."
"You're absolutely right. You were bloody horrendous. But you had heart, and you never gave up."
"I didn't deserve all you did for me." She said quietly, scuffing a boot on the floor.
"You've not proven us wrong so far." Peggy countered firmly.
"I could really do with you being here you know. It ended in a war. It was always going to. One was too arrogant to see past the end of his own suit and the other, your other, I might add was spouting off Red, White and Blue the second you brought it up. His ideas are too old-fashioned – they are making even me feel young. How did you deal with that? Wait, forget that, I guess they weren't old-fashioned in the 40s. I have the beginnings of a wrinkle now, you'll be gleefully pleased to know. It was a mess Peggy. Tony found out about what happened to Howard and Maria. It started because they wanted us to be accountable. There's kids on the team now. They wanted to control us. Some of them were always going to refuse. I've always been controlled by someone. I don't know what to do ma'am. I'm a soldier without orders. I think I did the right thing. I think I'm on the right side, but after Hydra and Pierce I don't know anymore. After James. That knocked me back ma'am, I'm sorry. Commander Hill had to hold me in the Brig for a few nights. Did Nick choose this headstone? It's terrible. You'd hate it. They want me to be a leader. I don't think I deserve that title. I wanted to say thank you Peggy. For sparing me back then and for saving me now. I hope I make you proud ma'am."