This story is the continuation of Behind closed doors so if you haven't read that one I suggest to start there. This novel is more storydriven than BCD and also involves more focus on the other characters in the Overwatch family.
The story picks up...
The trio from Indiana got going. They trudged through the rain and mud, but Jack and Reinhardt struggled the most. Reinhardt's failing armor offered him little support in terms of movement and the hammer was weighing heavy in his hand. Jack grunted, gripping for his side as his boots hit the mud underneath him.
"Come on!" Genji yelled. "We need to move faster!"
Without a car there was not much to do besides keep on walking. Hopefully the town had its electricity back and they could get a car there, but they still had hours to go at this speed.
If only their electronics would start working again.
Genji's armor was still working, all though not perfectly. He could still walk easily, but did not get the normal assistance that allowed him to move as fast as he was used to.
Reinhardt kept pushing on. Despite his age, his build and stamina were in top condition, but Jack soon fell behind.
"I cannot carry you!" Reinhardt said as he stopped for Jack to catch up.
Jack panted heavily as he hunched over to catch his breath.
Genji stopped and ran back to the duo.
"I need you with me!" Genji said distraught. "I have a bad feeling that something terrible is going down where Jesse and Hanzo are."
Jack stood straight, cried out his pain and then kept walking.
"Why do you want him with us?" Reinhardt asked Genji in a low voice. "He is badly injured."
"I do not trust him," Genji replied. "If we run into Gabriel, there will be bloodshed... but as long as Jack refuses to confess what happened, this is going to be the only way..."
"I know... but look at him!" Reinhardt said and motioned towards Jack who was zigzagging across the road with staggering steps.
"If Gabriel shows up, he might show mercy if Jack is there... given their history. I know Gabriel doesn't give a shit about Jesse's wellbeing, but Jack...," Genji said with a sigh. "I think Jack is the only one Gabriel truly cares about... and if Gabriel is too far gone, Jack will have to sort it out... that's the least he can do..."
The last words were said with disgust.
"You are sacrificing him?" Reinhardt asked audibly surprised.
"Jack is willing to sacrifice all of us by not telling us where Gabriel is," Genji said. "He made that choice, not me."
"You really don't think that he killed him?" Reinhardt asked.
"Do you?" Genji asked.
Reinhardt shook his head.
"If he had killed him, he would be in tatters emotionally right now," Genji said. "And he clearly is not. Something is up but I don't know what... and if that stubborn old bastard has decided to keep his mouth shut, then he can at least protect us... or be a meat shield... whatever it comes down to."
Reinhardt held his helmet in his hands while thinking about Genji's words. He sighed.
"I really hope it does not come to that," he said.
"I take no chances," Genji said with anger in his voice. "Now, let's get going!"
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