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Shifters of Shield Search for Answers Chapter 170

Maria Hill rubbed her both of index fingers on either side of her forehead trying to stave off a headache. The day had been nothing short of a disaster. Two highly experienced and decorated agents in a physical altercation in front of other agents and civilians. One of those agents now hurt and wanting to turn to resign despite the ramifications to her health. Nick Fury breathing down her throat on why she was had abruptly left her team on mission with Pierce's body. In a protective gesture to Shifter Strike, Maria was not about to tell him two of his finest were brawling like schoolyard kids. Hill was just starting to understand the dual natures of a shifter and how difficult it was to balance their human side against their animal instincts and viewpoint. Maria wished she could put a mug full of whiskey instead of coffee.

[ May called in] Bobbi spoke through her Shifter Strike Ring into the director's as Hill was putting cream into her coffee. [They should be here in the next ten minutes]

"Very good Morse," Hill spoke looking at her watch as she replied into her own ring. "Go to medical and prepare to evaluate and treat the shifter pack as needed. I will meet May's pack. Communicate to Romanoff I will come bring her a cell phone and a standard issued Stark Shifter Strike Tablet as soon as I meet the shifter pack."

[Yes ma'am] Morse's voice projected out of her ring and Maria pulled her coffee cup to her lips and gave a quiet sip.

Hill used the time going over in her head what she was going to say to Agent May and the consequences she was going to have to meal out. Maria had barely gotten Natasha to agree not to resign. She however had to give one of the world's deadliest and passionate agent some allowances to get her to stay. Romanoff was free to reside in her tower for the foreseeable future. Nobody would interfere in her domain without Romanoff's approval unless there was a medical emergency. Morse would continue her role provide medical care and personal companionship. The biggest allowance Hill had to make was Natasha wanted no contact with Melinda May in any way. Hill had seen the Russian's eyes had changed from shock to angry hurt. Bringing the pair together at this point may damage the two's relationship to the point in could not be repaired. Hill could only hope some distance would ease the physical, mental and emotional pain Romanoff was experiencing.

Melinda won't like this, Hill thought as she walked out of the kitchen area, up the hallway and exited the base scanning for the agents and the children who she had sent out that morning on their training exercises. Only years of practice on not showing any emotion on her face kept her with the ability to remain impassive and not rushing to gather her wife and children close. Everyone except for Simmons was in human form. Leopard Jemma was wide eyed and fur bristled clearly showing she was upset over what happened. Jemma Leopard walked beside May keeping their bodies touching as if needing comfort. Alpha and Agent Melinda May's face was neutral but the way her brown eyes scanned the base and scented the air, Hill know that her mind was on Natasha.

Hill changed her stance to one more of military posture as she addressed the group as head of command. The message to the group that had stopped just in front of her was clear. They were dealing with Director Hill and a Director Hill who was not pleased with how the events of the day's training fell apart.

"Each of you. Report to medical," Hill instructed. "I want each of you checked over before you do anything else. May, you go first and report to my office after you are cleared from medical."

Spinning on her boot heels, Maria Hill walked back into the base's main compound in the direction of Romanoff's never used quarters. In there were her assigned equipment which were stored in her foot locker. Back up the hall, Maria heard her wife speaking to Agent Morse. Satisfied her orders were being followed, Maria went about her business. She needed to get these items to Natasha and get back to her office and wait for May.

Hill did not look forward to that conversation.

-0-

Maria Hill did not need to excrete a scent for the Asian shifter agent to recognize the waves of anger rolling off the director. Hill's blue eyes were hard and her voice inflections were terse and low. Her dominance was clear and even her alpha leopard

knew best to be submissive. Falling back into her Shield academy training, Melinda stood at attention ramrod straight, hands at her sides and keeping her eyes over Hill's shoulder. May had a good idea what was coming. The Asian would expect nothing less in her superior's position. If one under her command had pulled a stunt like she had getting into a physical altercation. Melinda also knew if Hill had been there, Melinda would have gotten an Icer to her ass.

"So just for the record Agent May, are you a leopard who sometimes lives in human form or are you a human who sometimes changes form to fur?" Maria paused as if waiting for an answer. When Melinda opened her mouth to reply Maria stuck her hand up. "Don't answer that. You and I both know you have only one enzymatic difference. That means, I expect you to behave as a highly trained, disciplined level eight agent ninety nine percent of the time when you are acting in a professional capacity as you WERE SUPPOSED TO BE on these aborted training exercises."

Maria ran a hand through her dark brown hair exhaling to try to calm herself and temper her temper.

"At ease May," Hill told May moving to sit back in her office desk chair. Maria did not invite her subordinate to sit down but let her keep standing. The message was clear this conversation was not a conversation between colleagues but superior to subordinate. Melinda spread her legs and laced her hands behind her back. Finally feeling like she was given permission, Agent May looked into Agent Hill's eyes. Hill scooted her chair back to her desk and put both arms on it. Beating her fist on the desk, Hill gave into one last fit of anger, "You best remember who you are instead of what you are when you interact with this team. Your alpha status does not give you license to fight and inflict bodily injury on a team member. Your alpha emotional reaction to a feeling of being challenged does not give you license to behave like a schoolyard bully." Still not giving May a chance to speak Hill continued in her admonishment, "Leadership is not a position graced upon an individual by random. It is earned and it is only as lasting as the respect, fairness and honesty you treat those in your charge. And you Melinda May have lost that position with Natasha Romanoff." Maria saw Melinda flinch but made no effort to soften her voice or rebuke. "Your service record will have a record of this incident both as loss of control of your animal nature causing the injury of a colleague. It will give record of our "conversation". It will also make record of the following which I expect you to follow. You will have a personal therapy session within sixteen hours with Dr. Rivers within of her return from mission. I will be speaking to her about this incident and ask that she discuss anger management and control with you. You will apologize to Simmons and Chang for your behavior. You will write a note of apology to Agent Romanoff and return it to me in my office within the hour. After you have returned to my office with the note then and only then will I talk have a "more personal conversation"."

Seeing Melinda nod, Maria let her voice rise to a less terse tone. "Nobody is perfect May, not you and not I. It's part of our "humanity". Let's not have another incident in which I have to remind you of this." Leaning back in her chair now, Hill finally gave May permission to speak, "Permission to speak now Agent May." The brunette did not give the Asian so sit in the office chair but did soften her own eyes to show she empathized with Melinda May's position. Hill knew May was her own worst critic and was beating herself up over this. Romanoff had been a close and respected friend for years. The pair's still recent blood bond as alpha to omega had brought them closer than ever. This new dynamic of dominant to submissive was difficult for both to maneuver at times. Both had very strong personalities and Romanoff was never going to be truly submissive in the definition of the word. Both would make mistakes. It was expected.

"How is Tasha?" Melinda asked her brown eyes looking a lot like baby Skye when she was upset and near tears.

"She came back to base with scratches, bruises and in shock," Maria explained, "Those have been treated and a deeper neck wound required stitches. Natasha is currently residing in Tasha's tower. She was ambulatory, mentally stable and professional in her conversation with me when I spoke with her."

Melinda May nodded somehow knowing any further information would not be forthcoming and stood up to leave.

"Stay in skin Melinda and stay away from the tower," Hill admonished not giving May a hug that it looked like Melinda needed but giving the Asian a forgiving smile. "I'm here for you, just like after Bahrain. Come back and we will talk more. I still have that brand of tea you and I shared in London after quarters. I picked up a new container in London right before I came into Shifter Strike. Nici has become fond of it on nights that she is having a bad night."

"Thank you," Melinda May said meaning every bit of it. Maria could tell it was hard for the usually coolly emotionless agent to keep her voice from cracking. Melinda started for the door then turned her head back seeming to have one more thing to say. "Do you think I have lost her?" Melinda May asked her voice quiet and soft.

"No Mel," Maria spoke getting up from her desk and putting a hand on the shifter's shoulder knowing that her shifter-nature needed the assurance of physical contact. "Your bond is to strong and special for it to be lost. You both care for each other to much. But she is deeply hurt and it probably will take time and a lot of patience mostly on your part."

Melinda sighed before straightening her shoulders and putting on her mask of emotionless solemnness. Exiting the door with a quiet click of the door knob, Melinda made her way to find the others. The Asian was not only going to apologize to Simmons and Chang but the entire team of shifter strike for her behavior and the disruption operations. Melinda picked up Natasha's scent in the wind as she lingered at the door to the building and looked up at the tower. The distance between the two buildings might be short but it seemed like there was an entire ocean between them. Reluctantly, Melinda walked back into the compound and went in search of the others. It was not before a promise to herself to make changes in herself.