Steve nodded, glancing down at his hands. He'd formed similar opinions himself, really.
"She never got the chance," he said fairly, raising his gaze to hers. "What she went through...well...it goes without saying. And she doesn't talk about it much but I think without her brother she's more than a little lost. I try to be there for her but I think I'm just too old, in the literal and figurative sense. She seems to get along with Buck though...maybe there's something there I don't know. Maybe they can help each other.
Steve watched here carefully as she took his gratitude. He'd seen how she reacted to such things in the past, how she reacted to his trust and his gratefulness in varying degrees of disbelief, annoyance, and even maybe a little unease. Maybe he was reading too much into it, he couldn't know. Nat was a well guarded fortress.
"I know you think that," he said, taking the water gratefully. "But sometimes a thank you isn't just for you. Sometimes it just needs to be said." He gave her a soft smile as he took a swig of water, not wanting to come off as though he were chiding her. He wasn't. In the end, he'd never really doubted that Natasha would have his back, the question had only ever been at what point would they have to cross the battle lines, that was all. But he wanted to say it. Wanted to express his gratitude that she was, and always had been there for him. Thank yous were two way streets.