The Airfield was not the traditional kind of airfield.

It was twenty five thousand feet in the air; a smaller version of the Helicarrier with a landing only big enough for a quinjet. It was a holding station for all SHIELD prisoners, a processing centre for enemies to determine where they would go.

For Maria and Natasha, it was a ten minute drive and a thirty minute flight full of nerves and growing frustration. Natasha was silently hoping for a confirmation that he was involved, so she could at least have a go at him simply being an accomplice to Maria's kidnapping and torture.

Maria didn't want to go.

They were back in the company of other SHIELD agents who knew both of their faces very well. Until the two of them could put a name to what they were or even talk to Fury about the dozen fraternization rules they were breaking, both women had to maintain the relatively cold exteriors they were known for.

Natasha had her arms crossed for the entire flight in an effort to keep her hands to herself; if she could, her fingers would have been linked with her… her Maria's at least to keep her calm.

In the last few days, Maria was beginning to gain a sense of control over her emotions and her fears despite being affected by the nightmares that still woke her up. This was her first big real test of facing her demons at least in person. Her façade was holding for now, but she was worried that she was going to crack.

Every now and then there was a small smile, a silent craving of wanting to reach out.

When they arrived, Natasha reverted back into her protective detail persona, guiding Maria inside with a hand on the small of her back. It was the closest thing they were going to get to any form of physical contact for a few hours, so Maria relished in the feeling.

Fury was waiting just inside the corridor where their prisoner was being held, with Coulson and Barton both behind him. Coulson offered his usual gentle smile.

"Nice to see you up," he said. Maria returned the gesture although she was showing just how tired she was.

Natasha met Barton's eyes over Fury's shoulder and even though it was the subtlest of differences the redhead picked up on the miniscule eyebrow raise from the archer.

She glared at him into silence; he was slowly breaking down the hard exterior shell that she had built enough to be able to have a few laughs. They were occasionally at her expense but he no longer feared for his life when he pranked her.

"You two stay here," said Fury, "Coulson, Hill, with me. He's down in three-oh-two."

Natasha was about to argue but thought better of it at the glare she received from Fury, and took her post next to Barton.

He automatically couldn't stop the smirk. "Where have you been?"

She rolled her eyes. Natasha knew this was coming and comic book collection would be her first target. "Protection detail."

"Playing house with Hill huh? That's hot," he chuckled.

"Not a word out of you. Perve. And as if you weren't playing house with Coulson in New Mexico, and you're not stupid enough to think I don't know about it."

His smile dropped. "How did you know about that?"

"You just told me," she smirked.

His head dropped with a smile and Natasha's mind went down the hallway with Maria.

The brunette was directed into the viewing room, her gaze was avoiding looking through the two way mirror and into the interrogation room. She heard Melinda May's voice before she laid eyes on the woman. Her eyes didn't want to look up but Maria knew that the few long seconds of silence were too long for Fury's liking and she lifted her gaze.

"Know him?" asked Fury.

Her burns stung and her shoulder ached at the sight of the man who was cuffed to the floor and sitting in a steel chair in the middle of the room.

"Interrogator, not leader," Maria whispered. She shivered and removed herself from the room as fast as she could, mumbling about her appointment with Meyer in an hour.

When she rounded the corner back into the long corridor, she could see Natasha waiting for her with a smile. She was talking to Barton about who was doing the interrogation on the guy without taking her eyes off the brunette, because she'd love to take a shot.

"It's May. Fury wanted his best interrogator."

"Nice choice," Natasha muttered. "Was it him?"

Maria shook her head. "Just the interrogator."

Natasha placed her hand on the small of Maria's back and led her back towards the quinjet.

"Looks like this protection detail isn't over just yet."

Both women were glad. After the emotional rollercoaster this Thursday was putting Maria through, she was going to need Natasha just to get her through the night.