A/N: Yay, update!
"Welcome back to S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent May."
Melinda gives a small smile and a nod. She enters the base and walks down the hall, with other agents' eyes trained on her. She looks and walks straight ahead.
"May!" She hears Clint's voice from behind. She turns and smiles when she sees him approaching her. "Welcome back." He extends his hand to her, she takes it and shakes it.
"Thanks, Barton." she says, letting go of his hand.
"How are things holding up with you? Have you met the new director, Fury?" he asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I'm great, and no, I haven't," she answers. "Although I am expecting a call to his office within the day."
"Bet you will," He nods. "Have you seen Coulson yet?" Melinda shakes her head. "Do you want me to get him or something?"
"No, it's fine." she says. Clint nods.
"Suit yourself, then," he says. "I'll see you around, Agent May." He turns and leaves. Melinda bites her bottom lip and sighs as she watches Clint leave. He turns to a corner and disappears from Melinda's sight, only to be replaced by the sight of Natasha.
"Melinda?" Natasha stops on her tracks and smiles when Melinda smiles at her. Natasha walks quickly towards her and envelops her in a quick hug. "Welcome back, hey, everyone's been talking about returning and I had to see it myself."
"Thank you, Nat." she responds quietly. Natasha sighs and looks at Melinda in the eyes.
"How have you been?" Natasha asks. Melinda shrugs.
"Fine, ready to work again." she answers. Natasha holds Melinda's arms.
"Are you sure you're fine?" she asks. Melinda sighs. Natasha knows when someone's keeping something from her. Natasha knows when someone's lying, and in this case, Natasha knows Melinda isn't telling her the full truth. She just wants Melinda to be the one to acknowledge it.
"I'm getting there, Nat," Melinda tells her softly. "It'll take time, but you don't have to worry about me."
"I'm your friend, Melinda, it's my job to worry about you, whether you like it or not." Natasha smiles at her sadly. Melinda purses her lips and gives her a small smile and a nod. "I'll see you around." Natasha lets go of Melinda and walks away from her. Melinda bites her bottom lip.
"Agent May," someone approaches her. "Deputy Hill wants to see you in her office now."
"Copy that." she responds, as the one who approached her gave her a small smile and walked away. Melinda sighs and walks her way to Maria's office. She stops by the door beside a huge two-door room which she knows to be the director's office. She knocks thrice and waits.
"Come in." She hears Maria's voice in the other side. Melinda hears a beep from the door and turns the knob. Maria has her back turned from the door, looking at her big window. Melinda closes the door and Maria faces her, a small smile creeping on her mouth.
"Welcome back, Agent May." she greets, moving to her desk. Melinda smiles and nods.
"Deputy Hill," she says, sitting down on one of the chairs. "I must say I'm not surprised."
"I am," Maria responds with a chuckle, sitting down on her chair opposite Melinda. "Expected the burden to fall on Romanoff but it fell on me."
"The new director trusts you." Melinda points out with a raised eyebrow.
"You haven't met him yet," Maria says. "You will, in a matter of minutes after this. His name is—"
"Director Fury, I know, you've told me." Melinda says, cutting Maria off her statement. Maria nods.
"He's better than Stoner, if you ask me." Maria tells her quietly. Melinda swallows and looks down at her hands. Maria sighs. "I'm sorry, I really am, until now."
"It's fine." Melinda responds quietly.
"Coulson's having a hard time coping as well," Maria says. "And he never takes a break from missions and retrieval ops since then."
Melinda nods and looks up to meet Maria's eyes. "Maria, is there any chance you can uncover the redacted document about the incident in Hunan?" she asks. Maria raises an eyebrow at her.
"I can, I have access," she says. "But you don't."
"At least tell me what's in there." Maria sighs.
"You know I can't do that, May, especially not now." Maria tells her. "As much as I really want to show it to you, to tell you everything that's in there, I have my orders too."
Melinda sighs and nods. Maria leans back and watches Melinda. "You're not giving up after all." she says. Melinda shakes her head and leans back to her own seat.
"No, I'm not." Melinda says softly. She stands up and goes to leave.
"May," Melinda stops in her tracks. Maria stands up from her seat and slowly walks over to Melinda. Melinda looks down at her feet. "I know that look. I know what you're gonna do." Melinda stays quiet, her back facing Maria. "Don't force it, May, there's nothing more than redacted documents."
"I can have access to the previous missions." Melinda responds.
"Which will lead to more redacted documents," Maria says, walking over in front of Melinda to meet her eyes. "May, the mission in Hunan was confidential when it started, and when it happened, and Avery was crossed off, it was no longer confidential, but highly classified."
"You told me these could be helpful leads in finding her," Melinda says. "You suggested the idea yourself, and even accused me of giving up when I declined the idea."
"And I was wrong to," Maria says, softly. "I searched it myself and saw redacted documents. I was given an order to keep it confidential from everyone in this agency, May, and I follow my orders."
"What was the 0-8-4, Hill?" Melinda asks, gritting her teeth. If Maria is anything but surprised, she doesn't show it, but instead just stares at her.
"It's classified, May," she tells her firmly. "Why would you want to know? No, you know what, you will have to stay out of it unless you are permitted to look into it."
"Am I?" Melinda asks. "You told me this is a lead to finding—"
"I said it was a possible lead to your daughter, May, but that doesn't mean that it is," Maria tells her. "You have to stand within your grounds, Agent May, stay away from files not within your level. That's an order." Maria says, her voice firm and eyes narrowing at Melinda, whose eyes are also narrowed at Maria. Melinda breathes deeply and stands down.
"Yes, ma'am." she responds in a low voice.
Again, the Hunan province incident is mentioned there as some of you guys might be familiar with it. ;) But then again, don't assume!
Review away!