Chapter Text
When the recall had been initiated, Angela Ziegler had been situated in the Middle East. After Overwatch was disbanded, she continued to push herself into her work, into the medical field and she wouldn't look back. Mainly, she was seen around crisis areas from far and wide, helping innocents that required her with the aim for peace.
Mercy remained as she always had been throughout the years post.
Despite how much time had passed, Angela could still remember, distinctly, her days at Overwatch. From its promising beginnings to its unfulfilling downfall. There were allegations, interrogations and hearings against the group and the people she had, for the most part, come to call her family. No matter how much she had wanted it to work out, how much she tried to assist the company to be successful, she always knew it was inevitable. Some things never change or stray from their course. Such could be said of herself as well with what she had carried on to do.
On the other hand, alongside the incidents at Overwatch and the memories there, she remembered a certain cowboy. The woman had taken a quick liking to him at her young age at the time. Maybe the fact he was a scoundrel had attracted her, maybe it was his charm or the way he carried himself or the sweet qualities he had... In any case, she had been smitten with him and perhaps part of her still was even now. Thoughts of him reoccurred in her mind often though she had shut down any idea that she would see him again.
It was impractical.
They had been friends, coworkers, and lovers so what had happened after Overwatch disbanded? She hated thinking about it even though she knew the answer to that question.
He had left her, Jesse McCree, had vanished. That young vigilante that had worked his way into her heart and mind, was gone.
Thinking about it, even now, brought emotion to her mind and heart, not being able to bear it, it was hard to remember. It was part of the reason she had tried so heavily to throw herself back into her medical priorities, into helping others. If she couldn't help herself, at least she could keep helping others which was what she did best. It was essentially the only thing she knew at that point and it was something she knew that she was good at.
Always her priority had been to save lives, to care for those that couldn't care for themselves whether that was behind the scenes in medical research for Overwatch or for their frontlines. It had even been a miracle that she had attracted Overwatch's attention in the first time with her breakthrough in her desired field, if she was there she could make a change medically instead of violently.
By caring for those who were broken, it made her forget that she was broken in some ways too, in some parts. It was easier to forget that she'd never see that gunslinger in the first place, that they'd never cross paths or talk or flirt like they used to.
Now that she was coming back to Overwatch, the prospect and the idea of even coming across him made her heart swell anxiously, nerves wracking her every movement. Angela couldn't even remember the last time she felt this nervous. Was it when she was with McCree? Was it when she was alone, saving the lives of those in need? Whatever it was, it was a feeling she hadn't identified with in a long while.
What was wrong with her? What were the chances he would even come back here after being called? The chances of it being for her as well was... Well, she believed they were slim after it was so easy for him to leave her the first time.
Squeezing her eyes shut, pinching the bridge of her nose, Angela Ziegler took a deep breath, rushing away the thoughts that so desperately plagued her and bothered to be noticed and explored. She hated when she did this to herself. Of course, some thoughts of Jesse McCree made her dizzy with that lovesick feeling, that longing she desired with him; however, not all of them were like that. Some of them were painful and only looked on with regret and remorse and why couldn't things have ended differently?
When she first found out about his absence, she had decided she hated him, she never wanted to see him again and good riddance to him. Despite those feelings, she knew at the time, they had been fake and ill founded by being left alone, completely on her own. It was strange, not having the person there that had always had her back in the past but she got used to it. She changed to be okay without his presence, to stop leaning on him for support and to move forward with her life. It was hard and yet she had managed even if she was dragged back to the past sometimes. She couldn't help that, could anyone really? Especially for that man.
Her heart was only aching from her exploring mind, reaching to places she had no desire to go anymore. Years had gone by since she last saw him, last touched or talked to him. Chances were that mysterious vigilante had forgotten all about her already. At best, she was a lovesick fool for that boy or she supposed he was a man now, full and grown without her.
A frustrated sigh escaped her lips as she made her way into the base of operations Overwatch was currently taking over. Sure, the place wasn't too big but it felt homey and that's all she could have asked for at that moment other than something to relax by though she couldn't be too picky. After all, they were just getting started up again.
Angela adorned her Valkyrie suit at the time with the intention of taking it off once she got to the medical bay, it was designed for optimal utility and support and just a bit of comfort. For how long she was wearing it, she had gotten used to it. On the other hand, she was also looking forward to relaxing in her new office, pouring over whatever medical work Overwatch had piled up already and switching out into a doctor's coat.
Of course, since many had been on their own endeavors, she knew that checkups would be required, everyone that had come back would be required to have one to check their health and injuries if any occurred in their time away. She had plenty of work to do ahead of her, she just needed to get there and get on it. Once she did, she knew it would be easier to push away those thoughts of Jesse McCree that were pestering her again. Maybe it was because she was back here, involved with Overwatch that he was so insistently on her mind now more than he was in those years she was gone.
Did part of her hope to see that sly, charming smile? To hear that smooth, silky voice of his with the southern drawl she couldn't help but find so appealing to her ears?
Oh she was hopeless.
If anything, McCree was living his own, out there in the world making a living like he used to be before joining Overwatch. He was skilled enough for that kind of work and his aim was superb as a vigilante, she knew he could make it. Besides, it would have given him all the freedom he hadn't received from working under Overwatch's rule or more specifically that of Gabriel Reyes.
As much as she could manage, Angela had avoided running into anyone although she'd be lying if she said she could easily find her way to where she was needed.
Where was one supposed to find the medical bay in a place like this? Especially one that wasn't familiar to her. In her hands, she carried whatever meager belongings she had, two medium sized suitcases with her basic needs. Having been places that were under crisis attention, she hadn't had room for much to be with her, only the necessities along with one small exception. That exception was a framed photo of a much younger version of herself, standing beside none other than Jesse McCree and some of the other Overwatch gang she had been relatively close to during her time of being there. McCree had his arms circled around her, his hat lying haphazardly on her had and they were smiling like the world would never end, like nothing would ever happen.
Part of her still longed for those days.
Lost in her thoughts, she hadn't noticed a deep voice creep up from behind her and speak out in a loud, booming projection she couldn't help but recognize before even seeing the figure it belonged to.
It surprised her faintly that the old crusader was recalled and even responded to it. Wasn't he getting a little old by now to keep fighting? She didn't mean any offense by it of course, it was just an absent thought. Although he always did have that strong determination for justice and the need to protect others at his own expense.
"Angela! My how you've grown!" Reinhardt Wilhelm, the powerful man spoke out, causing a smile to form absently on her face when she turned around to greet him properly. "Lovely to see you again, dear. How have you been?"
It was true that she hadn't seen the man in years either so was it a bad thing that all she wanted to do at the time was get to the medical bay for some peace and quiet for at least a moment? Yet she couldn't help but indulge the knight's niceties. "I can't complain, it's good to be back, knowing I'll be able to help like I used to." She offered him and she meant it. After the kind of stress she had been in in the crisis zones, it was sort of a relief to be back where she could relax a bit and besides, she had missed Overwatch to a degree or else she never would have come back.
A nod of understanding was shown from the larger man, it was just like Angela, for her first priority to be helping the others here.
"I suppose I'll be seeing you at the medical bay later, won't I?" She added after a second with a knowing smile. It was a stab in the dark sort of guess but with how cautious Overwatch was with their soldier's conditions, she knew the organization would want to make sure their soldiers are in tip top condition.
A hearty laugh escaped from Reinhardt's mouth and he shrugged just slightly. "You know me much too well, Angela. I've seen a little wear and tear over my years away." He admitted, mildly sheepish about that fact.
Oh, this man never changed. He was still as sweet as she remembered him to be. "I had a feeling, I'll certainly look forward to seeing you then but... Speaking of which... Would you know where the medical bay here is located?" She asked curiously, trying to inject the question smoothly into the conversation and it seemed to have worked fairly well. If anyone knew, Reinhardt was as good a source as any.
"Same as always, aren't you? Just as eager to get working as you used to be." Somethings never change. "I can take you there, come with me."
A grin spread over the blonde's expression and she could have hugged him even though she held herself back from doing so. He was certainly a life saver as usual. "Guilty as charged." She joked with that familiar Swiss accent of hers, she was looking forward to the solitude of the bay and drowning herself out in her work. It was something she was used to and she'd have plenty of time to catch up with everyone at a later date especially since she'd be meeting them one on one to check their health. "Thank you, Reinhardt, I appreciate it."
"Anytime, Angela, you know I don't mind at all." The old crusader had taken care of Angela, had taken responsibility for her for the most part since she was so young when she first arrived in Overwatch. Someone had to look after her and he hadn't minded one bit especially since she was always delightful to be around in his opinon.
She remembered when she first started seeing Jesse McCree, the knight had been so worried and concerned for her safety around the rowdy youth, she was sure that he had taken it so far as to threaten the young cowboy. Neither of the two would tell her what Reinhardt had told him that day but McCree had seemed scared out of his wits for the first while so it must have been something serious enough for that affect.
The majority of the time during their walk toward the bay had been them catching up with each other for the time that had passed and occasionally Reinhardt would point out different stations in the base that she might need to know. It was useful information she made notes to remember about. Other parts of their walk had Angela lost in her thoughts, trying hard to pay attention to everything that the crusader would say at the same time which proved difficult. She felt bad when she had to ask him to repeat himself to keep her focus a few times, there was just so much to do and she knew that he understood that more than anyone.
"Here you are, dear, the medical bay." He announced with a slight flourish in the direction of the rather sizable station they had stopped in front of. For a temporary set up, she could certainly get used to a place like this.
Turning to glance at him, she spoke clearly and a bit dreamily, imagining what the insides held for her. "My thanks, I'll see you soon, alright?"
"Of course, you better get going now, I'm sure there's plenty to do." He added after, shooing her toward the station to encourage her to get going, he knew she'd feel more at home there for the time being and it would do her some good, after all, he had taken note of how distracted she seemed to be back and maybe he'd ask later about it.
With a nod, she turned away from Reinhardt, giving a wave to him before striding into the medical bay, a fresh scent filling her nose and the smell of antiseptic and cleaning fluid was strong even for a medical bay.
It felt familiar. It felt like home.
She continued on, deeper into the medical bay where she knew she would eventually find papers waiting for her although she came across something different at first. On a door situated down a hallway in the station, a nameplate stuck out. It caught her attention when the light glinted against the metal of the material. Squinting, she came closer until she could read it properly.
Dr. Angela Ziegler.
A fond smile appeared on her features, making her face practically glow and there was a chance she could have been emotional from the sentiment. She had truly been respected here for all the did to prove herself in her young age. She really was at home now, whoever had done it was incredibly sweet. Overwatch knew exactly how to reel her in and it pulled at her heartstrings and brought memories into her mind of her old office. Some of those memories came with a certain someone that she had to will away.
There would be no more office visits like that, no more distractions, she had to get it out of her mind and focus.
The nameplate only made Angela more excited to get to work and get started to forget again. If anything, it encouraged her a fair degree.
Sticking a hand out, she turned the knob, hearing a satisfying click before she pushed it open to reveal a tidy office with nothing in it yet save for a stack of papers on the desk. The scent from the rest of the medical bay even carried over to her office and she supposed it would to the other offices here too.
Setting her suitcases on the floor against the wall carefully, she'd settle into her room for that later, she stepped up to the desk and grabbed the papers, seeing it was mainly just files and records on the agents of Overwatch. Leafing through them, she came across the schedule for the appointments of health inspections just as she figured and her eyes slid down the list of names to see who was guaranteed to come back to Overwatch following the recall.
One name in particular caught her attention, one that stuck out prominently from the list in her hands that made her feel queasy and anxious and sick and she had to take a seat to stop her head from spinning.
Jesse McCree.