We used the ns electric field induced second harmonic (EFISH) generation diagnostic to measure the electric field evolution in a 200 ns pulse, dielectric barrier, plane-to-plane discharge in humid air, on the time scale shorter than the laser pulse duration. Plasma imaging by an ICCD camera detected a uniform evolution of the discharge emission during the breakdown. Spectroscopic measurements tracked the N2 second positive and first negative systems to infer the reduced electric field (E/N) evolution. EFISH measurements showed the electric field persistent during the entire HV pulse, with the residual field between pulses and the field inversion at the start and end of the HV pulse. The experimental data are consistent with the simulations, with the electron attachment and negative ion kinetics incorporated. The modeling predictions indicate that the rapid electron density decay due to attachment and recombination is the dominant factor sustaining the electric field in the plasma after breakdown. Spectroscopic E/N determination showed the time evolution at variance with the EFISH measurements, which may be due to the electron attachment and non-locality of the EEDF. Possible explanations are discussed.