The Villain Wrangler | Overwatch

Chapter 26

Angelica stood just offstage, eying the crowd through the curtain.

"Why do I have to do this?" she moaned as Gabe adjusted the fit of her sapphire blazer.

"Because half of the politicians think that we're a corrupt organization, and you need to reassure them that we're helping. Breathe, Angel," Jack continued, cupping her face in his hand, "you got this. Gabe and I will be up there with you. Just read what's on the cards. You don't even need to answer any questions."

She grinned weakly at him. "I have no idea how you did it."

He grinned back. "Think of it as swallowing a live frog. It's the worst thing that can happen to you today, and once it's done, you can drink to get the taste out of your mouth."

She plastered a smile onto her face and walked to the podium, Jack and Gabe flanking her, masks firmly in place. They had decided to let the world continue believing they were dead for now.

She read the prepared statement, reassuring everyone that Overwatch was going to continue to act with the cooperation of the individual governments they had spoken to. She felt the rubberiness in her leg that warned that her knee was going to give out and leaned on the podium. She finished the statement and turned to go, hoping that her leg would hold up just a few steps.

She crumpled with a cry.

—

Jack thought his heart stopped when Angelica jerked, blood blooming over the blue coat, and knew it did when he heard the report of the rifle. He dropped to his knees next to her, biotic canister already in hand, knowing Gabriel had his back. He activated the canister, placing it behind the cover of the podium, and hauled her next to it.

Please, God, don't let her die.

He ran his hands over her shoulder, searching out the point of entry and almost sobbing in relief upon feeling it high on her shoulder. It was still dangerous, but not immediately fatal.

"You'll be okay, sweetheart. I've got you."

He held his hand over the wounded she whimpered, hearing Fareeha and Hanzo coordinate the search for the sniper over the comm, and shifting so Angela could take a look.

"I'll need to do some surgery at base, but I can take over here," she told him after a quick examination. She seemed a bit surprised when he kissed Angelica's temple and moved out, Gabriel keeping pace on his left. Angela felt a brief stab of pity for the sniper when those two caught up, but stifled it as she turned to her patient.

"Stay safe," Angelica whispered to their retreating backs, then let herself fall into darkness.

—

Gabriel kept himself mostly in smoke. It was easier, like that, to make sense of the images from dozens of eyes and senses he didn't have names for. He guided Jack along the path taken by the sniper, neither man speaking. Neither needing to speak.

Hanzo had found the nest, in an empty office across the road. Jesse and Lena were going over the scene, hoping to find any evidence as to the sniper's identity. Gabe and Jack had left, not expecting there to be any.

Jack paused, listening to his comm, then moving to catch up. "She's awake. Angela got the shot out, and she'll be alright after a bit of pt. She knows what we're doing, and wants both of us back in one piece, or we'll be forced to sleep on the couch."

Gabe snorted a laugh, then flowed down a staircase, Jack hard on his heels. He couldn't put it into words, but he knew they were getting close. He followed the path out a door and across the roof, heading over a gap to the next building. He pulled up in front of a service door, Jack nodding as he heard the shuffling behind the door.

Gabe gestured to the door and Jack nodded. The shuffling was still there, but both men weren't inclined to believe that their presence wasn't noted. Gabe sent a tendril through a crack at the top of the door, and saw a covered figure waiting. He signed as much to Jack, who nodded and began a three count.

Jack pulled the door open, Gabe surging in.

He stopped, surprised. The room was empty. He flowed into the neighboring rooms, and out the window, but could find no trace of Ana.

He returned to the main room, joining Jack by a small table. There was a large rat in a trap scrabbling across a piece of paper.

Better luck next time

Wordlessly, Jack opened the cage. The rat skittered out, fleeing to a far corner of the room.

"Bring everyone home. I want the base on lockdown. No one in. No one leaves until she's found."

Jack stalked out of the room. Gabe watched him go, conveying his orders over the comm. Normally, he would have argued, but he couldn't justify it now. Not with her blood still wet on Jack's coat.

—

Angela studied the scans and nodded tersely.

"Oh, goody. What's the bad news?" Angelica asked.

"Unfortunately, there is some minor damage to the nerves under your collarbone. Can you wiggle your fingers for me?" Angela asked, moving to the side of the bed.

Angelica looked at her left hand, shocked. "I was? I-" she slumped back against the pillows. "I can't. And here I was thinking the MS would be what took my mobility."

"Don't lose hope. Once your collarbone heals, I should be able to help with the nerve damage. And it's better, for now, if you don't move that arm anyway."

She made a few adjustments to the machines Angelica was hooked up to, then left, promising to bring entertainment.

—

Angelica looked up as Gabe flowed in, Jack close behind. She grinned weakly at Jack as they flanked her bed.

"You lied to me Jack. You said the press conference was going to be the worst thing today."

He broke, falling across her legs and shaking. She ran her fingers through his hair, doing what she could to soothe him. Gabe helped him into a chair, murmuring something she couldn't hear.

"Oh, God, Kitten. I thought we'd lost you."

"I'm still here, though. And you know who did it."

"She got away," Gabe snarled.

"You'll find her."

—

Ana ducked into her safe house, bolting the door behind her. She walked into the living area, setting the rifle on the table as she lowered herself into the chair. She didn't look up as someone walked in, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"You failed. She lives still." Ana flinched at the words. "Don't fret, Captain. I have some tools that might help you."

"And Jack? And Gabriel? When will you make them mine, Moira?"

"Patience. You must eliminate their ties to Overwatch first."

Ana snarled at the board on the far wall, plastered with pictures. Jesse and Lena, laughing on the beach as they wrestled with Hanzo and Sombra. Reinhardt and Torbjörn bent over a blueprint. A screenshot of Hana and Lúcio during a charity stream. Angela and Fareeha in a shadow, kissing. Winston and Zenyatta in the midst of a debate. Genji, Gérard, and Amélie seated in the couch. And in the center, Angelica, flanked by Gabriel and Jack, holding kittens.

She rose, glaring at the pictures. "What do you have for me?"

Moira laughed as she led Ana deeper into the safe house.