10: Homeward Bound

Brazil, 1310 hours local time.

2 days after the shoot-down.

"Well, Lena, you sure look like you could use a hand today," came the Western drawl of the man stood over the pair.

Tracer's eyes blinked open, widening just as fast. "Well, you're a sight for sore eyes, Jesse!"

He glanced over at Omega, apparently still asleep. "The jungle taken it out of him, huh?"

"I'm peachy, cowboy." Omega was wide awake, just choosing to close his eyes. "Now, I take it you're not just out for a wander in the back end I nowhere?"

Jesse chuckled gruffly. "Yeah. I'll dial Winston in. I take it neither of you are in a fit state to walk."

"Yeah."

"I take it you took good care of Lena."

Omega smiled and nodded , before meekly uttering back "Yeah. Pretty much. Now, how about that lift?"

McCree took the radio off of his belt and dialled in the rest of the force, still scouring the area downstream. Within a matter of minutes, a large dropship- the type usually only deployed for entire platoons- dropped into the clearing, its ramp opening on the descent. A pair of stretchers were brought out by the medics on board, carrying the pair on board before allowing the remaining searchers to re-embark before dusting off from the clearing in a plume of unturned plants, before climbing and banking back towards the Forward Base.

Winston whistled as he looked at the readout Mercy had given him of the injuries Omega had.

"Broken ribs, plasma burns, multiple fractures, concussion... skull fracture? Are you sure this thing is working right?"

Omega grinned, from his stretcher on the floor. "Sure it is, Caesar. And I've lived through worse."

"Well, Ryan, I must say I'm pleased to work alongside a scientist such as yourself. Winston's expression changed to a more agitated look. "What did you just call me?"

Omega gave his somewhat trademark chuckle. "Caesar: The intelligent ape. Or did you never watch Planet of the Apes?"

Winston growled somewhat at him.

"Now, now, boys. No bickering or both of you get sedated for the rest of the flight." Mercy decided to break up the argument before it resulted in any further injuries. She'd already removed the chunk of metal lodged in Omega's abdomen, and the countless pieces of shrapnel in Tracer and Omega. Regardless, they still needed to be put into a proper medical facility. Next stop, Gibraltar.

"Well, sis," he turned to Tracer, "How ya feelin'?"

"Better... wait, did you just call me sis?"

"Well, I wasn't kidding about what I told you a few days ago."

She tilted her head over, and pecked him on the cheek. "Me neither, Ry. Me neither."

"Tracer, how's Omega been as a field agent anyway?"

She giggled slightly. "Great. And I'm happy to go out alongside him again."

"Just as well, Lena: Morrison has decided to pair you two together for now. Until things need switching." Mercy did her best to keep a smile hidden.

Ever since Tracer had been transferred to field operations, she'd always been a hard case because of the hidden effects of the Slipstream accident, the untold damage to her mind. She'd been hostile toward strangers as a rule, and her anxiety disorder meant that even when in a normal situation she could barely stay in control of her worries. Yet here she was, acting towards this newbie as though he was family.

"Oh, and Tracer," Winston turned his attention back to her,"You might want to have a read of Omega's dossier. It's hot some pretty interesting information you may want to know."

"Thanks, but no thanks big guy. we've talked over a lot of stuff anyway."

"What kinds of 'Stuff'?"

Omega chuckled. "All the bits that the dossier you have doesn't discuss. The juicy bits...