Note: For this story I plan on focusing on Ana's recovery before the next arc which would be the revenge. I will try to keep to the lore as much as I can and I want to incorporate the decline of overwatch in the background of the story. If there's demand for more I'll update more frequently

Chapter 1 - Awakening

A week had passed since Talon's devastating ambush on a group of Officials who were under the protection of a small overwatch unit. The attack itself was a success and left tragic consequences in its wake, there were no known survivors. It sparked fear around the world and the media did well to alert the world about the rising of Talon. Overwatch assured the world that Talon will be dealt with however they were running into obstacles of their own. Ana Amari was transferred to the Gibraltar medical unit where she'd been unconscious for week. Her temporary slumber was now coming to an end as the medical staff tried to bring her back to reality.

The sun hung high in the sky and it's heavenly rays beamed into Ana's room. A nurse had finished replacing some flowers with fresh ones and went about maintaining the room. She glanced at screen which showed Ana's current status and made sure nothing was wrong, she listened to the steady beep of the heart monitor. A small sigh escaped the nurse's mouth as she inspected Ana, the veteran captain lying there lifeless was the saddest thing she'd ever seen in her life. The nurse was silent for a few seconds before turning on her heel to leave the room. It was this moment that she heard a mumble from behind her. The surprised nurse looked over her shoulder and gazed at Ana. She noticed Ana's hand clenching slightly and almost dropped the vase of flowers she was holding. She set the vase down and speeded off, leaving the room quiet once again.

"Doctor Sanderson! Doctor Sanderson!" The voice of the young nurse boomed through the hallways of the ward, the noise of her heels echoed through the hall until the lead Doctor peered out of his office. "Samantha please be calmed, what is the matter?" He spoke with a calm and steady voice, placing a hand on the seemingly excited nurse's shoulder. "It's...It's captain Amari, she's waking up I am certain of it!" The woman could barely contain herself as her lips showed a delightful smile. A look of relief appeared on the Doctor's face as he took the sudden news. "It's about time as well, we've been administering drugs to stimulate activity and bring her back." He nodded and made his way to Ana's room, bringing Samantha with him.

When they arrived at Ana's room the doctor walked over to the heart monitor, everything seemed well and he was pleased with her current status. He curiously walked over to Ana's bedside and watched carefully. Samantha watched eagerly, she wanted to say something but remained quiet and inside she was hoping for the beloved captain to awake. Another mumble escaped Ana's mouth , her head moved slightly and her right hand seemed to be clenching again. Doctor Sanderson watched carefully and moved closer to Ana's side.

"Captain Amari." There was a small pause. "Captain Amari can you hear me?" He waited for a few moments before repeating the same phrase several times. He spoke firmly and seemed very determined to get some feedback. "Captain Amari can you hear me?"

Ana slowly opened her eyes , not fully but still noticeable, her head slowly turned to face the doctor who was quite astonished by the action. Ana couldn't make out much, infact the sounds of battle were still fresh in her head, she could hear the gunfire, the loud explosions going off but even worse than that she saw her. Those golden eyes peering into her very soul, they were so cold, lifeless….like a hungry predator stalking its prey. She did not speak, she could not feel her body even though she could move it. Something about her just felt empty, as if her life was stolen from her. She forced herself to keep her gaze toward the doctor and assure him she can respond.

"Welcome back Captain, I am doctor Sanderson, though you should remember me." He gave her a calm smile and his hands were clasped behind his back. "I need to ask some things Captain, first off, can you hear my voice?"

Ana heard him well, she opened her mouth but found herself unable to speak, because of this she had to nod very slowly. Even then she found herself in pain when moving her head, a panic was rising within her and she just wished she was not lying in this bed feeling like she was dying. She inspected the man before her, he was middle aged man, fair skinned with a long white lab coat on, he wore glasses and had a confident posture.

"Very good Captain, well done. Now do you know who you are? Is there anything fuzzy?" He stood back slightly, giving her time to respond, no matter how long it would take.

Ana slowly nodded, once again feeling a small rush of pain that would disappear so quickly, it was an odd sensation. Everything was there and Ana knew it, she knew this man and she knew exactly who she was. She opened her mouth and much to her dismay she could not speak. She couldn't even say her own name and her throat tightened. Never in her life has she ever not been able to do something, except convince Fareeha to choose another path in life, that was just about the only thing she couldn't do. She can't say she regrets it, she's very proud of her daughter and her accomplishments. As she dwelled on thoughts of her family she forgot the doctor standing at her side. She looked back at him as he scratched his chin.

Doctor Sanderson took note of her response, and he picked up her inability to speak, he know it was not permanent, mostly just the shock from the previous mission that has her like this. It was completely understandable. "Samantha, can you bring that tablet over please." He pointed to the desk she was beside. Samantha took the very thin device and handed it to him then went back to looking at Ana with some concern. "Thank you Samantha." He took the device and moved to Ana's side. "You're doing well Captain, however since you're having some trouble speaking, can I get you to do something." He opened up a simple keypad and showed it to her. "Can you write your name for me?" He held the device in front of her.

Ana nodded and understood that he just wanted clarification, he was a very skilled man and took his work seriously, all of the staff were due to being under the influence of Doctor Ziegler. Ana found that she was quite able to raise her arm, she moved her hand and input her name on the device. Her hand shook as she did so, mostly due to the fatigue and uneasiness there was when moving after sleeping for such a long time. She successfully input her name and her arm fell down on the bed.

Doctor Sanderson took a look after she was done and was very content with the result, it was one less worry off the list. "Very good captain, Samantha can you get a glass of water for the captain please?" With a nod and a smile the young woman left the room to retrieve said water.

"Now, there's something you need to know Captain Amari." The doctor began pacing back and forward. "Seven days ago you were injured whilst on a mission, your forces were overwhelmed with Talon operatives and I'm afraid no one survived, you were found six hours after the event in the room of a multistory building bleeding to death. Jack morrison led a strike team to the ruins of the area and you were extracted. You fell unconscious some time before you were found and spend the next seven days here in Gibraltar, we've been doing our best restore you physically." As he spoke Ana brought her hand to her face, all she could think about was that operation, how she let down so many people, this was all her fault and the shame she felt was sickening. She tried to drown out the screams and gunfire to concentrate on what the doctor was saying but it was proving difficult.

Samantha returned with the glass of water and proceeded over to Ana. Doctor Sanderson opened a small orange tub and took out two painkillers. "These should help for now, you'll be experiencing severe headaches for the next few days." Samantha gave the glass to the doctor and gently began to lift Ana so she could drink properly. She kept her arm around Ana's back and held her firmly. Ana sat upright and looked at the doctor, she nodded and took two small pills, slowly putting them in her mouth. The doctor smiled and handed her the glass which she began to drink, the ice cold water was refreshing to her and she suddenly felt the tightness in her throat disappear. She sighed softly as the glass was empty and handed it back to the doctor. He set it down and looked back at her, Ana looked at him and knew there was something else he had to discuss. She glanced at the light skinned woman supporting her and nodded with a small smile. Samantha acknowledged that Ana was saying she could sit up on her own. Samantha offered a smile in return and remained to help in any way she could.

Doctor Sanderson was looking through some things until he took out what seemed to be a mirror, he stood in front of Ana's bed. "You received a serious injury and I'm afraid it's resulted in the loss of your right eye." It was not an easy thing for the doctor to say, but it had to be done. "You were found with several glass fragments in your right eye, we believe these are from your biotic rifle, found broken at the scene." Doctor Sanderson held up the mirror to let Ana see her face. Her heart began to race as she saw large bandages around her face with material pressed against her right eye, it all explained so much, the complete blur in her vision and pressure on her face. Her breathing got faster as once again she could see the assassin focus in on her, Ana hesitated and cursed herself for it, her enemy was victorious and she failed.

"Not all of the glass could be removed, and I'm afraid your right eye will never function again. As for the rest of your body there were no injuries, I know this must be hard, we are here for anything you need." Ana looked to her right where the window was, it was clear and the ocean gracefully shined in the sun's reflection, She wished everything was like the graceful weather outside, but it's not. She should be celebrating with comrades but instead they were being buried in the memorial field, most of the graves there are from the omnic crisis, she thought Overwatch would not have to bury more but because of her it's certainly the case.

Samantha looked at the Doctor who seemed disheartened by Ana's lifeless reaction to everything, perhaps the news is just too much and she can't process it right now. Doctor Sanderson spoke briefly to Samantha but Ana could not hear them. She just looked at her hands and wondered why she didn't pull the trigger. How could it have been her, that woman with the unnatural blue skin, Ana knew her as the happy wife of Gerard who's now passed. Ana recalled her name as Amélie, she was even at a celebration years ago with the whole of overwatch. Somehow she is now an operative of Talon and Ana didn't even know where to start with that knowledge.

"There was a woman…..not just a Talon soldier, she was an assassin." She finally spoke out, much to the doctor's surprise. "She was a marksman just like me, and I….I was beaten." She spoke with a sorrowful tone and admitting failure is something she's never had to do. "She stole everything from me, my eye, my allies, my.." Ana could not continue, the anger and sorrow building up inside left her feeling dizzy.

"Please rest Captain Amari, I'll inform commander Morrison about this new Talon threat." He spoke calmly and turned to Samantha, instructing her to check up on other patients, she agreed and left and she could not stop thinking about what Ana said, no one has ever seen the great hero so low and vulnerable.

"Doctor….don't tell anyone else I'm here, not even Fareeha" Ana struggled with those final words, she loved her daughter so much and wanted to see her, and at the same time could not face her with this shame she carries.

"Understood Captain, currently commander Morrison and doctor Ziegler are aware you are here, we will not inform any other agents. I'm not sure when they will drop by, there has been mission after mission and they are both across the world in hot zones, helping the world. I'm afraid Talon are continuing their strikes against us."

Ana nodded and leaned back on the pillow behind her, she closed her eyes and felt this immense weight on her, she slowly trailed a finger around her face and felt the bandages, this wound will never truly heal and she'll carry it for the rest of her days. Doctor Sanderson dismissed himself as Ana turned on her side and looked out the window, he closed the door behind him and Ana curled up like she was in that room bleeding out. She felt her eyes water and she began to cry into the covers around her body, for most of the afternoon the room was undisturbed as she cried alone until there was no more tears left.