AN: First, thank you to everyone who read Just a Scratch and who left a comment. I really appreciate you taking the time to do that. I'm trying out a little bit of a different writing style this time (hope it works). Comments and constructive advice are always welcome. This story will most likely not exceed four chapters. I apologize if I mangled the German. I hope you enjoy reading it.

It was just a hunch but I was certain Angela had been avoiding me. Ever since I'd woken up I could never seem to find a moment alone with her. There was always someone else around or Angela would find a reason to bury herself in work. To be fair, it's not that we weren't busy. Overwatch teams had been flying out of the base on an almost daily basis. That's what brought me here tonight, to her office, hiding in the shadows, waiting for Angela to walk through the door. Now that I thought about it, I was kind of being a creep. I grimaced at the thought. Not a creep. She's left me no choice.

I had managed to snag a good position in Angela's office. I'd pulled her chair to the corner. I had a clear view of the medbay door. I would be able see anyone that entered. Angela wouldn't know I was here until it was too late. I'd be able to block the door so she'd have to go through me to escape. No, not creepy at all.

Angela had brought this on herself. It had been a week since I'd woken up from my coma. Overwatch Command wouldn't allow me to go on field missions until she signed off on it. I was going crazy, relegated to light duty assignments around the base. To top it off, most of my clothes were missing. Some had managed to turn back up. I'd been finding small folded stacks outside my room the past few nights smelling of laundry detergent and fabric softener. I had a good idea who the culprit was, considering she had been wearing one of my shirts when I woke up. I just needed to pin the woman down and get some answers. Not a creep. I'm not a creep.

That was the problem. I thought I had been dreaming when I awoke to find Angela in my arms. I could still remember the feel of her body pressed tightly against mine, arms wrapped around each other and her sleeping face twitching as some dream teased her mind. Her eyes, when she opened them, were heavy lidded with sleep and what I could have sworn was arousal. It had stolen my breath. I wanted to experience that again. I wanted to wake up with her next to me.

I could have sworn that Angela had wanted that too but now… Now I was starting to think the whole thing had been some figment of my imagination. There was protocol to consider, our responsibility as soldiers. It hurt that the doctor couldn't stand to be alone with me. I could handle rejection, I could even nurse my wounded pride so long as I could face it head on. Right now, we were both stuck in an awkward loop of embarassment and avoidance.

I missed being around her. I missed her light touch on my arms. I missed the lilt of her voice, the slight German accent that changed her w's to v's. I missed hearing her laughter dance across a room. The ache of not speaking with her, of not sharing space with her had settled in my heart and had grown into a gaping chasm. It was torture. How could I miss someone so much that was still a part of my life?

Then there was that word she'd called me. I would have asked Reinhardt what it meant or looked it up myself but I'd forgotten exactly what it was she'd said. I'd been replaying that morning over and over in my mind since the day I woke up but most of that day had been a blur, my recall fuzzy. Despite hating being stuck on light assignments on the base, I grudgingly had to admit that I needed the time off. That being said, it didn't mean I couldn't spend my free time in the gym… so long as no one saw me. Zarya had caught me once but had said nothing. I'd owe her for sure.

I tapped my fingers against the cold metal arm of the chair, partly in frustration but mostly out of anxiety. Angela appeared to have made it her mission to avoid me and she had done a wonderful job of it so far. I was going to get my answers, one way or another tonight, even if that meant I had to lock her in this office until we hashed it out.

With a quiet rush of air, the doors to the medbay slid open and in walked the woman who was the source of my agitation. Her hair was tied up, a few wisps had escaped and framed her face. Her white lab coat was unbuttoned, the tails brushing against firm thighs covered in light blue jeans. She had the sleeves rolled up to her elbows and blue eyes were studying an open file in her hands.

So intently was she focused that she did not see the medical cart in her path. When she hit it, the cart threatened to tip over, papers went flying as Angela tried to right the cart before it could fall over completely and spill its contents. What I could only assume were German curses streamed from her mouth. I stifled my own laughter. Pushing the cart out of the way, Angela collected the papers and stuck them back in the file haphazardly, sorting them as she walked to her office.

Angela stopped at the old metal desk, tossing the papers down and flipping the switch on the lamp. Dull, yellow light filled the corner of the room. Angela reached for her chair, hand blindly grasping for where it should be, only realizing then that it was missing. With her back to me, I stood slowly and closed the door to her office. Blinds slapped against the window on the door and a startled Angela whirled around, one hand to her chest, the other hand instinctively going for the gun on her hip.

"I'm sorry! It's me, I'm not a creep!" I was definitely a creep.

"Was zum teufel!" Angela cursed and removed her shaking hand from her weapon and roughly brushed the hair from her face.

"I'm sorry, Doctor Ziegler. I didn't mean to frighten you. I've been waiting for you for awhile." Angela looked at me dumbfounded and potentially weighing the pros and cons of shooting me right then and there for scaring her.

"I need to speak with you." I watched her chest rise and fall rapidly, adrenaline still coursing through her body. I watched he hands clench and unclench as she tried to steady herself. All I wanted to do was gather her in my arms and soothe that worry away but she still wouldn't look at me, even though we were no more than ten feet apart. My heart fell, already expecting the worse.

"I know you're busy, Angela. I won't take up too much of your time but we haven't spoken since I woke up and well… I have… questions." Angela was angled away from me, her eyes firmly fixed on the floor. I dipped my head, trying to capture her eyes.

"I know you've been avoiding me and don't try to deny it. I'm a grown woman and I know what's happening. It has to stop. We work together." Angela seemed to curl into a ball while standing up, shoulders falling in defeat. I wasn't sure exactly what I had said to illicit such a reaction. I guess she really didn't want to be around me. We had to be able to speak to one another.

Taking a breath, I straightened my spine. Suck it up, Amari. You asked for this.

"I promise, I won't bother you again after this. We can maintain our professional relationship." Even though I want more. I wasn't going to make Angela more uncomfortable than she already was. Nervously I shifted my feet. The thought that this had been a bad idea only now crossing my mind. What was the point? What did I come here to do?

Angela turned away from me fully, wrapping her arms tightly around her waist. We stood in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Her shoulders were shaking as if she was fighting to carry a heavy burden. I made to cross the room, one booted foot scraping against the linoleum floor when, almost imperceptibly, she nodded her head in the affirmative.

"Ja, I think it's time we talk." Angela turned, resting her hips against the desk. Everything in her body screamed resignation. The lamp behind her, though dull, cast her beautiful frame in shadow. I couldn't see her face. To be honest, I was a little afraid of what I would see. Afraid that I had misread the situation. Afraid I'd see disdain in her eyes.

Now wasn't the time for fear. Now was the time for courage. I'd managed to get this far and I wasn't about to leave empty handed. We were going to settle this tonight. Swallowing, I managed to put one foot in front of the other, each step heavy as if the boots I wore were filled with lead.

I managed to make it all across the office until I was standing a mere two feet from the woman I loved, not only as a friend but as something more. My heart knew that its missing half was standing right in front of me. Standing close to her like this, heart pounding out of my chest, I swore she could have heard it.

Angela's face was turned down and I took the opportunity take her in. Her face was clean of makeup. The scent of soap and clean cotton drifted up, and only now did I notice the ends of her hair were slightly damp. She'd just showered and smelled wonderful. I inhaled as deeply as I could. At that, Angela jerked her head up and I had the decency to blush. I cleared my throat and turned my eyes downward. I'm not a creep. I'm not a creep. She just smells good.

I was working up the courage to look her in the eyes when I took notice of the shirt she was wearing. It was slightly bigger than her frame, as if it was meant for someone taller with broader shoulders. It obviously didn't belong to her and if it wasn't hers, then it had to belong to someone she felt comfortable taking clothes from, like a lover. At least, that was the only conclusion my hormone overdosed brain could come to.

I could feel my brows draw together in a scowl and my mood take a turn for the worse. The shirt draped loosely over firm breasts and Angela's nicely rounded hips. It was as if by wearing her lover's shirt, she carried his caress with her. I wanted to rip that shirt from her and replace it with my hands, my lips. I wanted it to be my name she shouted in ecstasy.

So caught up, I didn't hear Angela's sharp intake of breath. I gazed at the shirt in consternation, not caring if Angela found it uncomfortable. It took a moment for me to recognize the insignia embroidered just above her left breast. It was the insignia of the Egyptian military. In disbelief, I looked at Angela who finally met my eyes, blushing furiously.

"Is that… is that my shirt, Doctor?"

"Mein Gott!"

AN2

Ao3 URL: /works/11889108/chapters/26852895

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