Ana returned to a roaring welcome back in Gibraltar. Most of the roaring – which Angela swore shook the ground they walked on – came from Reinhardt, who had waited at the landing pad the moment he heard of Ana's return. A continuous stream of German spilt out of his mouth so fast that even Angela could not catch what he said, as he ran forward and lifted Ana off her feet in a bone-crushing hug. The sniper laughed and slapped at his enormous shoulders, demanding to be let down before she was squashed to a pulp. Her reunion with Winston and Genji was much more collected, consisting of a handshake and a reverent bow respectively. Lena waved at her, accepting the ruffling of her hair with a sheepish grin. When Ana had her back turned, Lena shot Angela a worried glance, which she answered with a reassuring smile. Surely Ana would have enough restraint to not kill a former-enemy-turned-teammate. The biggest surprise came from Jesse, who stood frozen at the side much like Fareeha did. Except, instead of a stoic expression, his eyes were red and brimming with tears. He took off his hat slowly as Ana approached, tears finally spilling like a waterfall when called an 'emotional ass', and clung onto Ana like a lifeline. Jesse managed to call the sniper 'mama bear' before she slapped him on top of his head, and Angela lost sight of them as she herded the squad towards the armoury, then med bay.
It was a very quick examination – the entire team was in top condition, save for a few minor cuts. They were released from the doctor's custody in high spirits – save for Fareeha, who declined the invitation to stay for her mother's checkup. Angela did not push, and busied herself by preparing the required equipment in the time Ana took to arrive at med bay. She waved away the apology for being late, stating it was no trouble at all, and started the routine examination. The results were impressive, but not unexpected. Ana might as well have been in her forty-year-old body, save for the normal signs of aging. Although she did note the litany of scars peppering her skin, which Angela did not recall seeing in the past. Ana once told her the more scars a sniper had, the less-skilled they were, and Captain Amari held herself to that standard very strictly. Since Ana's skill seemed to have remained its peak, Angela assumed that life without Overwatch had been hard on her. How could it not? To be left for dead, and to fend for herself for so long. It must wear on anyone put through that hardship.
But the scars could not quite compare to her damaged eye. Or rather, missing eye. The glaring trophy of her most critical mistake. There were faint, nearly-invisible scars around her right eye, left behind by the reconstructive surgery. Only one. She had refused to go for any more just to entertain her vanity. The skin was rough around the socket, where her sunken eyelid sat. The sight of Ana's condition sent Angela's mind into a frenzy: identifying the best procedure to restore the eye, planning to create the most powerful cybernetic implant she could, imagining how she could make the skin smooth again.
"You know, Ana, there are procedures we could look into to repair your eye," she probed carefully, hoping for a positive reaction. But all she got was a fond smile.
"You're very kind, but I'm comfortable with who I am now. It's a good reminder."
Angela bit down the urge to persuade her. If spending all that time with Fareeha – coupled with her past experiences with Ana – had taught her anything, it was that trying to break an Amari's stubborn streak, was like trying to cut a diamond with a lesser substance. So she nodded respectfully and started putting her equipment away.
"How have you been, Angela?" Ana asked, shifting around the corner of the bed to face her.
Hands pausing on the trolley, Angela looked back at Ana. This was new. She sounded so…sincere. Of all the times she had patched Ana up before, the sniper never really put much of herself into their med bay banter. She would entertain Angela's questions about her assignments, well-being, and Fareeha; give just enough information to get Angela interested, but not so much for her to become invested. Then she would bunt back a few superficial questions, before being swept away by her duties again. Angela never took it personally. Being second-in-command did not leave much personal time, and most of that was spent on her daughter.
But now, Ana seemed so much more at ease, in the present. Sitting still, hands clasped in her lap, fixing her with a genuinely curious gaze. No sign of the boundless energy that kept driving her forward – although Angela did not doubt it was still there, beneath the tranquil surface. She shifted on her feet, turning back towards Ana and crossing her arms.
"Quite well. Life is more comfortable here than in field camps. I have a proper bed to sleep in at night."
Ana laughed, with a twinkle in her eye. "And yet, you still wish you were back out there."
Brows raised, she regarded the older woman. That was a statement of fact, not a question. It seemed her eye was still as sharp as ever. Either that, or she remembered bits of their past conversations.
"Yes," she admitted. "But as I did before, I recognise that I will do more good in the long run if I stay here."
"That is for the best," Ana concurred. "After all, Overwatch always needs someone to keep it in check. What," she laughed again at Angela's skeptical look. "Don't you agree?"
"I…do," Angela replied. "But I always thought you saw my protests as a hindrance."
"Technically, they were," the older woman admitted. "You slowed down many mission plans. Frayed a lot of nerves. Quite a number of people wanted you to be kept on a tighter leash."
Angela nodded. Every time she spoke out, there would be a wave of backlash that usually won. "And I was."
"You were. But not as tight as they wanted," Ana said. "You won't believe the amount of complaints I received about you. I almost had to carve out a 'Ziegler' section on my desk, before I threatened to shoot anyone who dared to raise more petty concerns."
The doctor blinked. "You helped me?"
"It may seem unbelievable, but I do not enjoy violence myself. I do it because it is the best way I can help. What I would not give to have your skills, to heal rather than kill. Soldiers like me will not end conflicts, Angela. It is up to the peacemakers. Like you."
She stared back into the sniper's eyes, feeling her old assumptions being tipped over. All that pressure she felt from Ana in the past. What is just her imagination? The ridiculousness of it all cracked a smile on her face.
"But having a peacemaker hasn't helped much, I'm afraid."
"Of course it hasn't. You're working with a team of soldiers. It's like trying to walk ten dogs at once. You'll just get pulled along to wherever they want to go."
Angela tilted her head, brow arched. "Walk ten dogs?"
"Don't ask," Ana said quickly, putting her eye patch back on.
"Wait." She stopped Ana before she left her perch on the bed. Holding tightly onto the sudden spurt of courage, Angela asked the question that burnt in the back of her throat.
"Where have you been, all these years?"
"Egypt," Ana replied, hands clasping together again. "I travelled sometimes. But I spent most of my time in Egypt, picking off scum one by one."
"And why didn't you tell us you were alive? You could have come back. We could have helped you–"
"How? With the tattered remains of Overwatch?" Ana replied. A sliver of hardness appeared in her eye, but it was quickly hidden away. She gave a sigh. "No, I'm sorry. I know what you mean. After I recovered, I thought it was for the best that people continued to believe I was dead. Gone, like all of my friends. My family."
"What about Fareeha? You didn't think to return for her?"
Ana paused, eye narrowing slightly. "Fareeha has always done well without me," she said quietly.
"She loves you, Ana. She deserved more than just a letter."
Oh shit. Angela backpedaled until her mind hit the back of her skull, trying to keep her calm as the sniper's gaze pierced through her. It was like being on the business end of her scope. The doctor kept herself steady through the intense scrutiny, pushing down the mental image of crosshairs on her head.
"Fareeha told you."
"Only recently."
Silence settled over them, threatening to overshadow the newfound ease Angela gained with Ana. All that cautious rapport about to crumble because she could not keep her mouth shut. Stay away. Remember, stay away.
"She must trust you then," Ana said simply, tone as placid as it had been years ago. The doctor took the hint and backed off. Getting off the bed, Ana slipped her arms through her cloak. Angela stood as well, trailing behind the sniper as she made for the doors. Before opening them though, Ana spun around, causing Angela to stop dead in her tracks.
"Fareeha is my daughter. I want nothing but the best for her. Everything I've done was for her sake." Skin crinkled where Ana's mouth curled in a tired smirk. "But it seems she has different ideas about what is 'best' for her."
"Then talk to her," Angela said, allowing herself one last word. "Please."
Ana's eye lingered on her a few moments more, before she left the med bay quietly. Angela sighed, settling herself on the nearest bed, and prayed that the next Amari family meeting would be a smooth one.
The past week had been odd and uncomfortable. Before Ana's return, Fareeha had kept such a sharp eye out for her. Noticing twitches in shadows and looking for ghostly figures in the distance, hoping that she would appear as soon as possible. But now that she was back, that hope spun right around and flew to the other extreme, turning her short-lived joy at seeing her mother again into an active effort to stay away from her. Every encounter with Ana was stiff. Both mother and daughter did not know how to start bridging the years of estrangement. They fell into a routine of impersonal conversation and small talk, which threatened to drive Fareeha crazy each time they were trapped in a verbal exchange. The two acted more like distant friends than flesh and blood. Hell, even Jack, Reinhardt and Jesse seemed closer to Ana than her, able to talk non-stop from dawn to dusk and dusk to dawn.
At first, Fareeha thought she had Angela for backup, that the woman would help make the first move for her if she was lost. But the doctor kept to herself, even when Fareeha threw a pleading look that clearly screamed 'save me'. A minor argument later, Fareeha was told in no uncertain terms that she should be the one to start, because she was Ana's daughter. Not Angela. So here she was, stuck in a weird stasis of neither-here-nor-there with her mother.
Fareeha stopped walking, giving one last groan into her hands before she went into the kitchen. At least there'll be other people around, she comforted herself. They were holding a celebration for both Ana and Jack, as they never really threw a big fuss over Jack's identity after he took off his mask. And Jack, to their surprise, did not object as strongly to the festivities as before.
The easy beats of Lucio's music can be heard from where she stood, along with the occasional laughter punctuating a continuous stream of conversation. Fareeha straightened her shoulders and walked into the party. There was already a crowd gathered around the dining table, with Reinhardt telling a story about the golden days of Overwatch. From the way he swung his arms and made sound effects, Fareeha assumed he was talking about a mission. Ana and Jack sat at either side of him, occasionally adding in a few details he missed. The other agents sat around them, enthralled by the giant's tale. Lena, Torbjörn, and Jesse laughed as boisterously as Reinhardt. Hana stuck to Ana's side, which was expected after she spent the whole week following the sniper around. Lucio sat beside her and in the next chair was Genji, listening attentively and giving the occasional nod or quiet laugh. Zarya, Mei, and Winston sat off to the side as the table was filled, but were still engaged with the rest.
Fareeha slipped in as quietly as possible, spotting Widowmaker lounging near the window, in the darkest corner of the room. The Frenchwoman stared out of the glass panel, looking utterly bored and uninterested in the commotion. She must have been dragged here by Lena, or she would never have appeared. Her first encounter with Ana had been…thorny. It was in a training session, where almost no targets were left for the team after they fell into a fierce sniping competition. Barbs were traded endlessly, only stopping when they were out of each other's sight.
Well, at least someone else had a worse relationship with Ana than her. As she made her way to the food on the kitchen counters, Angela slipped away from her seat near the group and joined her. She gave Fareeha's hand a short discreet squeeze, before handing her a plate and watching as Fareeha took bits of food from various dishes.
"You look tired," Angela said, leaning against the counter while keeping a respectable amount of distance from her. Ever since Ana's appearance, the two had been on their best behaviour. Even better than they were when their relationship was a secret in the beginning. Only behind closed doors did they dare act closer than friends, and it became the second goddamned thing that pushed Fareeha to the brink of insanity.
"I was in the gym," she muttered, stuffing her mouth with a sushi roll.
"Have you spoken to her yet?"
"No."
She saw Angela's hand move towards her instinctively, then jerk back halfway. Fareeha cursed silently, chewing on her food and willing her body to stay where it was.
"I will, alright? I'm just…not ready."
Angela threw her a doubtful look before moving back towards the group. As she did so, Reinhardt's eyes fell upon Fareeha and she felt her stomach backflip out of her body.
"Fareeha!" he boomed, waving his hand. "Why are you hiding back there? Come and join us!"
Resisting the urge to throw herself through the window Widowmaker sat by, she approached the group, when Hana started rising out of her seat.
"Here, you can take my–"
"No," Fareeha interjected and pushed the girl back down. "I'll just take another–"
"Here!" Lucio said. He yanked over a nearby chair, settling it behind Ana and Hana.
She was left with no choice. It took all the strength she had to keep a poker face as she sat down, feeling Ana's gaze on her. She ate another piece of sushi, glancing over to where Angela sat…biting her lip in an unsuccessful attempt at hiding a smile. That bitch.
"Ah, this brings back memories!" Reinhardt said, still looking at Fareeha fondly.
"You've said that for like, the tenth time already," Jesse drawled. He took a long draught from his bottle of beer.
"Yes, but this!" He stretched his arm across, grabbing onto Fareeha's shoulder and pulling her close, so that Ana sat squashed between her and Reinhardt. "This brings back the most adorable memories I can think of, back at our old headquarters."
A large hand ruffled the top of Fareeha's head. "I remember this little one running around the base in her cute little dresses, pretending she was one of us!"
Hana burst out laughing beside her, grabbing onto her arm. "You? In a dress? I can't–" Then she dissolved into more laughter with her eyes closed, letting Fareeha's withering glare go to waste. Some of the others joined in, and the soldier wanted to fold into herself and disappear.
"I remember her stealing Ana's beret too," Jack added with a small smile, looking at Fareeha who felt the beginnings of warmth growing in her cheeks. "You loved wearing that thing."
She nodded, putting another piece of food in her mouth without looking. Fareeha did love wearing Ana's beret, often pretending to be her mother and sniping random targets like a stack of papers, or a coffee mug. Spotting Ana walking around base without her beret on, usually meant that Fareeha was around as well.
"I was so happy when you finally arrived here, Fareeha," Reinhardt continued, patting her shoulder. "To see you all grown and strong, chasing your dream." His hand left Fareeha and onto Ana's back.
"You must be so proud to have a daughter like her."
The silence stretched to an eternity for Fareeha as Ana turned towards her. She looked straight back at her mother, body stilling, struck again by how much older Ana looked. Every time they were together, she could not help but examine her mother's face. Each line and wrinkle sent another lash of pain across her heart, reminding her of all the time they had lost. And yet here she was, wasting more time because she could not work up the courage to speak to her mother like a rational adult. She was a child. Such a child.
"Yes, I am."
Ana's simple words echoed through her ears. She stared at Ana as the older woman reached up, running a thumb across her cheek softly. A wan smile appeared on Ana's lips before her hand fell away, and she turned back to Reinhardt who had launched into yet another story. Fareeha let her gaze drop, placing the fork trembling in her hand back onto the plate. She took a discreet breath, swallowing against the lump in her throat. Then Hana's hand on her arm brought her attention back up.
"We're running low on soft drinks," she said. "But I have a pack in my room. Mind getting it for us?"
Hana wore a knowing look as she took her plate. Fareeha got up from her chair, quickly patting the girl's head in gratitude and strode out of the kitchen, feeling Angela's eyes on her back. Only when she entered Hana's room did the tears finally fall.
"I'm going insane."
Angela hummed, not looking away from her computer screen when Fareeha entered her office. It had become a common occurrence for the last week, after the celebration: Fareeha would burst into whichever room she was in, and pace incessantly while muttering under her breath until she calmed down. Either by herself, or by Angela. Usually it was a combination of both, the exact mix dependent on how absorbed in work Angela was. Today Fareeha's timing was fortuitous, catching the doctor just as she finished up a memo to be sent to Torbjörn.
"Just a second," Angela said, signing off on the note. Already she was aware of the lack of Fareeha's footsteps going from side-to-side, hearing only the wheels of an empty chair being dragged across the floor. The chair creaked when Fareeha fell heavily into it but after that, nothing. Turning off the screen after the memo was sent, Angela spun around in her own chair to find Fareeha with elbows on knees, face buried in her hands.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I'm such a shit, Angela," Fareeha said, voice muffled against her palms. "Why am I such a fucking shit?"
"You have to give me context, darling."
"My mother!" the Egyptian spurted exasperatedly, jerking her hands down. "She keeps trying to talk to me, and all I can think of is how much simpler it was before she came back."
"That's…understandable."
"No, it's not. I was ready to let go of everything. When she was away, I was ready to let go of everything that happened between us, if it meant that she would return. I wanted to forget and start over again. I was so ready to…ugh!" She shot up from her chair and started to pace around the office, rubbing her eyes.
"But now that she's back, it's so hard to let go. I tried. I tried so hard, but I still cannot let go. She's so much more attentive than before and I still cannot… I'm such a shit, Angela," she repeated herself, hands clenching and unclenching repeatedly.
Angela caught her hands as she finished another circuit, forcing her to stop. She guided the woman back into her chair, fingers wrapped around Fareeha's tightly so her fidgeting legs would not carry her off again.
"No, you are not. Two weeks is not enough to let go of all those years of grievances, Fareeha. It is normal if you can't just yet."
Fareeha shook her head, looking down at her knees.
"I hated her for a time, you know? After I joined the army. She tried to stop me before I left home, and we started arguing. Then I yelled that she could disown me if she wanted, and left anyway. Spite helped to get me through half of basic training."
"When people started bringing up my last name and comparing us, I hated her. Then I realised I joined the army because I wanted to be like her. And I hated her even more." Fareeha gave a short bitter laugh, moving her hands away to wipe at her eyes.
"We became distant after that. Then she died – or I thought she did – and I started regretting everything I ever said to her. Even took a leave of absence four months after the funeral, just to go back to her grave and ask for her forgiveness. And when she sent me that letter, telling me she was alive? I almost lost it. God." Her mouth twisted with resentment. "If only she would stop fucking with me for one second."
"I think she is ready to stop, Fareeha," Angela said. "The only way you'll know is if you sit down long enough to listen to her." She held the probing gaze as it narrowed with suspicion.
"You know something."
"I– Not exactly."
"You're holding back, Angela," Fareeha accused, rolling her chair closer as Angela looked away. "Did she say something to you?"
"No. Not in so many words, but–" Angela found herself grasping for a lifeline under the scrutiny, unsettled by how uncannily similar it was to Ana's. Thank god Fareeha did not do this often. "She should be the one to tell you. Not me."
Fareeha grabbed onto her wrists, forcing the doctor to look back at her. "Angela, if you know something, tell me now. I want to hear it."
"No," Angela repeated. "I don't want to interfere. This is between you and Ana. I have no right to–"
"'No right'? I've been waiting for you to say something since all of this started!"
"I am an outsider, Fareeha. This is a family matter. It is yours to work out with Ana. Not me."
Fareeha stared at her, mouth parted in disbelief. The grip on her wrists loosened as rough hands slipped back into hers. Then, surprisingly, Fareeha's lips curved.
"Is this why you've been keeping quiet?" she asked, amusement on her face growing when Angela nodded uncertainly. "Because you thought…" A soft laugh broke through then, and the doctor felt even more lost.
"Angela," Fareeha said, pulling her closer. "As far as I'm concerned, you are family."
She stared, at a loss for words as she processed Fareeha's. Did she…mean it the way her mother did? Ana always called her squad mates her family. Brothers and sisters-in-arms who would sacrifice their lives for one another. But then, that would put her on equal footing with Jack, Jesse, and the rest. Or did she mean…
"Maybe I should be clearer." Fareeha broke her train of thought, resting Angela's hands against her chest. "You are my family. The bond between us is as thick as blood." She tilted her head, peering at Angela who nodded slowly.
"I…" Surprised at how thick her voice sounded, she paused and took a breath. "Your mother may disagree."
"Then she can kiss my ass."
The laughter burst through her throat without warning. Fareeha had said it as nonchalantly as no one ever dared before. It seemed there were perks to being related to renowned, fearsome heroes.
"You're not just saying that because you want me to spill the beans."
"Partly." Fareeha shrugged with a smirk on her face. "But I mean it. And if my mother disapproves, she can disown me for all I care."
That brought back the gravity of their situation. Or rather, Fareeha's situation. Angela heaved a sigh, bringing calloused hands to her lips.
"To be honest, I still don't want intrude. But," she said, cutting Fareeha off when she opened her mouth. "I will just say this. Ana loves you. Perhaps just as much as you love her. But it has blinded her. She wants so much for you to be happy, that she has forgotten to think about what you want. And I think you should tell her. I know you and Ana. Neither of you are the type to keep avoiding an issue like this."
Fareeha snorted. "She never cared for what I want."
"And you. I know you have suffered because of her actions, and you have every right to be angry at her. All I ask is that you sit down with her, and tell her how you feel. Even if you have to cry, or scream, or shout, you need to let her know. If you let this drag on, you'll just hurt yourself further. Ana, as well." Angela cupped her cheek. "And I hate seeing you like this."
"But what if it just gets worse. What if after everything, we still can't…"
"Then don't force yourself. Like I said, it's still early. What you need to do now is just lay everything on the table. So Ana knows why you feel the way you do." Angela looked pointedly back at the dispirited gaze. "Can you do that?"
Fareeha exhaled slowly through her nose, closing her eyes. Then she bent down, setting her head on Angela's shoulder.
"I don't know," she muttered.
"Come now," Angela said, patting her back. "Have more faith in yourself."
Then, after a moment's hesitation, she added, "And trust in your mother as well."
A/N: Alright, no direct Fareeha-Ana interactions yet, but the next one will be full of it. Direct. Very direct.