I wake up disoriented. I can feel that it's very cold right now, meaning I'm still in Russia. But people are muttering quietly around me and my head is pounding. A soft groan escapes my lips as I sit up and slowly take in my surroundings. I'm in a small, ugly building made of cement blocks, on a small cot that's used as a bed. The house would've been fine if it didn't have several holes in one wall and half the roof blasted off. My eyes focused in front of me and I saw a small boy and a small girl sitting at the foot of the cot watching me. They must be twins because they share the same light hair and blue eyes. We just stare at each other for a few moments before I decide to lie back down and close my eyes.

I don't know how much time passes before I wake up again but it's either been hours or days. It's dark outside and considerably colder than before. I can feel that someone's laid a few blankets on me and I've been moved next to the fire. When I sit up I see the two children from before sleeping next to me and, what must be their mother, is by their other side. I sit up and stifle a pained grunt not wanting to wake them up and grab a cup next to my bed which must've been left for me. As soon as I drink it I feel my tongue, mouth and throat burn and immediately spit out into the fire, coughing like crazy. I wake up the three with my coughing and, after a few moments of surprise, the mother tries to help me as the children exit the house. By the time they return with an old man in tow I've stopped coughing and I'm trying to talk to the mother. My Russian is non-existent and her English is less than a two year olds but I do understand one thing. My friends are somewhere here. This calms me to a certain degree and I turn to the old man. Despite his age a rifle is slung across his back and he stands tall and proud before me. He simply stares at me for a few moments before barking a word (pria-something or other) and I get up and follow him out. Now I notice I still have my armor on and the sidearm Mercy gave me but my rifle isn't here.

"Any idea where my gun is?" I croak. I cover my mouth and cough hard, repeating myself more clearly this time. He gives me a nod and waves me forward. "Seeing as the village is still here I guess we did it. And alive to tell the tale." He chuckles at this and opens the door to a bigger building that, besides its size, is just like the first. I raise my fist and to my surprise he fist bumps me and I walk in.

"Alessandro!" Tracer calls out cheerfully, sitting on the roof with her legs dangling through a hole.

"I thought we fixed your pronunciation? My name is Aleksandra." A deeper, Russian accented voice called from another room.

"No, she means our partner Alessandro." Mei says as she enters the room and squeezes me in a hug. Tracer blinks down and smiles at me widely before doing the same.

"Alessandro, I want you to meet our objective. Aleksandra Zaryanova!" Tracer cheered. From the room to my left came a woman at least a quarter taller than me with ripped arms covered in tattoos, pink hair and a scar above her eye. She raised an eyebrow at me and extended a hand.

"He looks smaller than I thought." She stated. I frown and can see Mei and Tracer trying to not to laugh.

"So what's going on? I wake up and find some kids staring at me then next time I wake up I burn my throat with vodka and I'm brought here."

"You had vodka?" Mei asked quizzically.

"Yes, and I don't see how Russians can stand it. But will someone tell me what's going on? Where's my rifle and where's Torbjorn and what's happening now and what are we doing and-" I frown as I feel a hand cover my mouth and glare at Zarya.

"The little man is repairing your weapon with the company of our gunsmith. It got crushed when the artillery placement fell on top of you." Zarya stated. "You would've been crushed as well if it weren't for that impressive armor and the small man who went in and saved you."

"When he found you he said you were…um…" Tracer looked at Mei for help. By now the four of us had decided to sit down on some chairs around the room.

"You were mumbling incoherently about your sisters and having a complete anxiety attack. When he tried to help you almost shot him and tried to stay in the corner. He had to knock you out and bring you." Mei said, speaking gently.

"Perfect." I mumble. "So what else? Have you told Zarya about our offer?"

"Your offer?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"We were just about to." Tracer said. She smiled even wider, if that's possible, and stood up. "Aleksandra Zarya, on behalf of Overwatch we would like to recruit you into our special soldiers program!" The room was quiet to a count of ten until Zarya snorted and shook her head.

"Overwatch is illegal. Besides, my people need me here." She said, brushing the offer off as if they had asked her to go to the park. This must not happen often, or mustn't have back when Overwatch was legal, because Tracer seemed confused.

"You could help your people and more if you join us." Mei offered uncertainly. "Overwatch is meant to help people across the world, including Russia. We were the ones who stopped the first Omnic Crisis."

"Yes, I remember. I studied that in my final years of school." Zarya said, looking thoughtful. "But then you were attacked and blamed for several crimes. You were disbanded."

"Yeah, but we're trying to rebuild ourselves." I said, making Zarya turn to me. "We're recruiting exceptional people for the job and taking out those who are a threat. Our main battle is against Talon. Did you know who Mondatta was?"

"He was a peacekeeper Omnic. Tried to make peace between humans and Omnics. Got shot somewhere in London." Zarya replied, making Tracer look away at the mention of that day. "I'm glad, if the war has taught me anything it is that those robots are not to be trusted." Tracer, for once, looked angry but before she start arguing Alessandro continued.

"He was killed by an agent of Talon. Our main, and as far as we know, our only current enemy. And guess what? Those artillery emplacements were under Talon's control. I fought a couple soldiers when I went inside there and shot the middle one."

"Torbjorn mentioned something about that." Mei said. "We decided to meet up later to discuss. The four of us and, of course, whoever is leading the army in this area."

"Yes, yes, of course." Zarya stood up and walked to the door. "That would be our commander. The boy just met him." She said something in Russian and the old man that had led me here finally walked inside. He didn't seem bothered by the cold. "He likes the cold, so he stays outside as much as possible." Zarya explained. He smiled and shook hands with Mei and Tracer, saying something in Russian to Zarya. "He wants you three to tell him everything relevant. And I remind you that hiding information means you lose our cooperation and will make you enemies of Russia."

Tracer began by explaining some of the events before Overwatch got back together. Talon attacking Winston in his secret little bunker. The assassination of Mondatta. How Winston decided to recall the agents but many are now missing in action and how the ones that did manage to reunite decided to recruit new people. She began to explain how Talon is getting bolder with their plans, whatever they are, and openly attacking countries. Hunting down former Overwatch agents like Pharah's mother. The conversation steered to Alessandro and he explained how they invaded his town, which was under heavy guard due to rising tensions with the terrorists throughout the country, and was basically wiped out. How he was saved by Overwatch and recruited simply because he handled himself so well back home. During the entire thing both Russians observed the three with utmost interest. When Alessandro was done the old man barked something in Russian. Zarya complained by he simply repeated himself. She sighed and turned to the three again.

"Commander says that, if you help us, he will do his best to give you the full support of Russia." Zarya announced. "And, with his permission, I shall join you."

"You didn't sound very happy about that." Alessandro noted.

"I don't find you three trustworthy." She admitted. "But you are Overwatch. If you end the threat in my home I will return the favor."

"How do we end the threat?" Mei asked. "The first time we defeated the Omnics we had just formed. We were strong and had a lot of people. Besides that we also had the support of dozens of countries. Right now it's us four, and not many more back home."

"We have a plan for that. One that we were worried wouldn't work. But with you four…we may have a chance. Come tomorrow at noon. I will show you." And with that she left the house, whistling some tune quietly as she strolled through the night.

"Forgive Zarya. The war has made her distrustful of many. Especially of those who are not part of it." The commander said in a raspy voice that was so accented Alessandro barely understood. "I believe your arrival means the salvation of our people. I trust you."

"Can't blame her, not after all that." I murmur. "But, no offense, what is someone your age doing here? In the US they have a mandatory retirement. I supposed other countries did to."

"I was retired, but after so many deaths the government decided it needed to bring back into service some veterans. How do you Americans say it? Back in the day, yes, back in the day I was very well known for my strategic expertise. You will see my plan tomorrow. Now, you should all get some rest. The family of this home didn't make it through the day, but I knew them. They'd be honored to have you here, so please, make yourself comfortable." He turned around and walked out the door, but looked over his shoulder to say one more thing. "Also, if you can, please visit out field hospital before you meet Zarya. I think it would make the people very happy to see Overwatch, and the heroes that just saved our lives." After that he left the three alone in the house of the dead family.

"Well I'm not sleeping for the rest of that night. I just got up. I think I'll take a walk and come back here later." I get up and turn, but Tracer blinks in front of me and crosses her arms.

"I think we should talk about what happened to you." Mei said gently. Tracer nodded and prodded him back to his seat. After a few uncomfortable moments she speaks again. "What did you see?"

"I…I'd rather not talk about it. I'm fine now. Really."

"Alessan-"

"Mei could you give us a moment?" Tracer asked, interrupting her. Mei seemed surprised but gave her friend a nod and said she'd go study the wildlife here, if she could find any. After a few more moments Tracer got up and smacked me. Hard. She then grabbed my shoulders and held me close to her face. "Do you see me?"

"What?"

"Do you see me!"

"Yes! Yes! Jesus…" I squirm and try to pry her off but she suddenly has an iron grip.

"Focus on me." She's taken a gentler, more soothing tone. I frown but do as she says. Her hair is falling just a bit in front of her eye. Behind her goggles is a look of grim determination and I notice her lips have a reddish patch. She's been biting them. For the first time since we met I see her in a different way to, all of her. Her face,her eyes, her skin. She looks, well, beautiful. A can feel my face turn pink and I look away. "Now, do you still see it?"

"See what?" I ask quietly, although I understand perfectly what she means. After a few moments I shake my head. Up until this moment the images hadn't left. I kept seeing two realities, the real thing that was happening now and that day back at my house. I had always heard that PTSD meant you were constantly living in that traumatic moment, but I never understood how it worked until now.

"Good…sorry for smacking you." She gives me a peck on the cheek and pulls me up. "Mercy told me you had this. And I noticed at the range, how you sometimes freezed or jumped when we fired a gun."

"How'd you notice that? You aren't a doctor." I look around and sigh in relief. I can't see it anymore. I only see what's here and now. In that moment it hits me and I turn back to Tracer in surprise. "You have it to. Post-traumatic stress."

"Cheers, love, you figured it out." She smiles sadly and sinks into her seat. "It used to be a lot worse. But it took me quite awhile to get better."

"But why do you have? I know you're an Overwatch agent and that means danger, but what happened that you got so…so sick."

"Did anyone ever tell you where I got my powers? Where I got this?" She taps her chronal accelerator. "And why I always have it with me?"

"No, I mean I know Winston made it for you. I don't know why besides letting you control your own time or something like that."

"Years ago, before Overwatch was disbanded, I was a pilot. I was one of the best actually." She grins as she remembers the good old days. "I was fantastic and I quickly rose through the ranks. Overwatch noticed me and my skill. So they called me and offered me a job with them testing out their new jet, the Slipstream. It was a jet that could manipulate time. One moment it's flying here, the other it's fifty yards ahead. Much like me when I blink." She sighs and looks down at her chronal accelerator. "My first flight on it failed. I disappeared for eight months and was presumed dead. When I reappeared I wasn't normal, I was more of a ghost. Coming and going through time. I even remember some of it, I was a maid in some farm for awhile…I think. The scientists at Overwatch didn't know what to do. Then Winston came along. He built this little gadget to keep me stable. But the experience of being a ghost through time…it never left my mind. Was another eight months before I was ok. And sometimes it still haunts me." She looks back up at me and smiles again. 'That's how I knew, even before Mercy, what you had. And how to distract you. Mercy slapped me more than once." She giggled at the memory. After a few silent moments I hug her tightly. "Oi, you're wrinkling my clothes." She complains, although by her tone I know she's just kidding.

"How can you take it? That same horrifying experience over and over and over again. Forever." I whisper. "Even with your distraction, I swear I hear Rebecca calling me right now and it makes me want to give up. How did you do it?"

"Same way you did during our battle yesterday. Same way you did during this conversation. And with the help of some friends." She replies gently, standing up and wrapping her arms around me to. An embarrassed laugh leaves my mouth and I look up at her, fully aware that I'm tearing up.

"I turned out great, huh? One fight and I'm about to cry."

"You handled yourself better than anyone could expect for your age. I'm the one that messed up. I shot you!" She laughs and strokes my hair, which feels good although I can't help but feel embarrassed. It's like I'm a little boy again, needing the comfort of someone. After a few minutes she leads me to a spare bed and orders me to get some sleep. I nod and, despite having woken up about an hour ago, pass out immediately. And for the first time since my home was attacked…

I have no nightmares.

New chapter is finished!

Sorry for such a long wait, turns out summer vacation just means I'm busier than usual. And when I'm not busy I'm lazy! But, as always, I haven't forgotten this story or the people reading it! I've been thinking and plotting quite a lot, to the point where I have an important role for a lot of the characters I'm going to use. Stay tuned for more of your favorite Overwatch characters fighting for good! And some for evil…

On another note, I have a better grasp of them and their abilities. Why? I FINALLY GOT THE GAME. Maybe I'll leave a link next time if I upload a video, but until then don't forget to fav, follow and most importantly /review/ because your opinion is what matters most!