She was no longer a frightened doe, she was a wolf.

Dark eyes that were watching and careful, a smile that bared a bite. There were some of her movements that reminded Gabriel of how water rushed off rocks or the way the wind rushed through tall grass. It was graceful, natural, and for a shapely body it suited her well. With each step Fala took it was her eyes that were two steps ahead. This was what had gotten her into Overwatch to begin with, that eyesight and ability to react that although seemed slow it had the upper hand. There were moments the others forgot these things but not him, Gabriel remembered the eyes that would always watch his, it was hard not to remember such warmth.

Usually, however, it was not Gabriel that had been watched.

"Come now, cowboy," she was always calling Jesse cowboy, she felt that it suited him like water suited an ocean. "you aren't afraid to lose, are you?"

It was the confidence that she needed. Gabriel knew she had it in her, he was pleased to see that the girl had taken his words to heart that day in the hallway. From the distance he would notice a certain gleam between the two while they were together; he was not the same McCree that he was with him like he was with her. He smiled more often, was even a little more polite, and was less of a ruffian than usual. Curious, truly.

"Nah, I ain't scared," Jesse would answer after shaking his head, he certainly wasn't keen on the idea of losing. "I'm just busy is all."

But the dark eyes glittered with a spark of delight, Fala was like warm air on a winter's morning with her teasing. "Then when you aren't busy tucking tail, you will know where to find me, cowboy."

McCree would only chuckle and shake his head though. They laughed often, they were damn near inseparable in almost all of the things that took place. It was not she who jack believed in, however, not like he believed in her.

There was one other moment that Gabriel had witnessed. Once more in the hallways but instead it was Jack who was giving her a prep talk- except it wasn't much of one. Instead it was more of a patronizing tone that stung even him and though the words were curt at best he could tell that Fala was trying her best to remain calm. "I'm sorry," she replied after a moment of Jack telling her to keep to work harder. "I will do my best next time."

"Of course, I have the utmost faith in you," it was Jack's way of saying that although he doubted he was obligated to give her at least one more chance. "Now be off, you will continue to do your best."

From around the corner Gabriel watched the back of Jack's blue coat sway off in the distance, an almost sullen look befalling upon Fala. She was quick to notice him but even quicker to smile, it was to hide the disappointment that lingered. "Sometimes I'm still a little too slow," she said to him after just a moment. "Silly, isn't it?"

But Gabriel only shook his head. "Not slow, careful."

The wolf reappeared then and it made itself known; she smiled and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

There were unspoken words though that left the hallway ringing. Eye contact held for a moment longer before fading out, there was a feeling in her eyes that Gabriel was quick to usher away. He shrugged his shoulders after a second more and broke the silence. "But Jack is right, get back to training so you can keep doing your best."

Again she smiled and again Gabriel turned away- now was not the time.

But is there ever a right time?