She snuck out of the base early morning and drove two hours to the nearest hospital. She rattled off a list of symptoms she hadn't experienced yet and was given a scan and the tumor diagnosis. Unfortunately, the hospital did not have a competent neurology department. They offered to refer her to a better hospital hours away but she checked herself out and went home. She decided the day would be spent assessing the health of the others. She brought Pyro in first.
"I'm afraid you'll need to take ze mask off for zhis. It vill not take long."
He nodded and laid down in the machine. She hit the switch on the remote she built and waited. She watched the images load onto the screen and frowned. This couldn't be right. Pyro had no tumors at all in his body. Maybe it was the suit that protected him. She delivered the good news and brought in Sniper. She checked teammate after teammate but they all came out clean. She checked her machine for faults and her slides for splotches before scanning herself one final time.
The good news was that the teleporters had not caused any tumors in her team. The bad news was that she had developed one. She wondered if Soldier had told the others about her condition. She suspected so. When Engineer delivered her supplies that afternoon, he'd given her a sad look and a clap on the shoulder. She quickly called the RED infirmary over the intercom and informed them of the absense of tumors.
She spent the night mixing together the medicine she would need and injecting it into herself. She knew it was dangerous to take several at once but she didn't know how long the growth had been present or how long she had. She heard an explosion over at the other base but did not care enough to investigate. Perhaps a mass attack would kill off the tumor.
"So you're dying? How could we have missed that in your initial assessment?" the Administrator asked over the intercom.
"I have no idea. You had one of your men inspect me. Are you going to let me try to fix zhis or just pick me off now?" she retorted angrily.
"I can send someone out there to give you treatments. If he fails, he can be your successor, of course. No point wasting a good doctor."
"Are you referring to me or ze new guy?"
"Both. Try not to use up your supplies in one night. They were expensive to get out there so quickly."
/
The treatments were terrible. She was vomiting after most sessions or sleeping the rest of the time. Battle didn't even give her the rush it used to and she had no time to work on the Uber. She had little to no contact with the RED doctor. After weeks of treatments, the new doctor announced the tumor had shrunk slightly.
"Are you kidding? Vhere? I do not see it!" she shouted.
"There. The veins on the outer edge are retreating. In another few months, it will withdraw and the blood supply will be cut off."
"A few months? Another day of zhis and I vill be finishing ze job myself. Vhen she said specialist I zhought she meant you vould be cutting zhis zhing out!"
"I can't get to it yet. Not before we remove the central veins from it. It's going to take time."
"I may not have time, you idiot! Get out! I need to be alone."
"I'm here to help, you know. You don't need to get angry after every session."
"I am always angry. Leave. Now."
He refused to leave so she stormed out of the infirmary instead. Yes, there was progress but she was beginning to develop signs. She was becoming forgetful, clumsy, and she occasionally slurred. Whatever the medicine was doing was not fast enough. She quickly slipped into the Spy's room while the others were at supper and stole one of his watches.
She made sure to stay out of sight of any guards or cameras before cloaking at the RED base. Once inside, she checked the kitchens then made her way to the lab. The RED Medic was busy working on the Uber formula, having picked up her slack along the way. She blew air on his ear softly so he would not jump at her presense.
"Wer bist du?" he asked in alarm.
"Don't be alarmed, it's me. I had to see you. Is zhere any vay you can get off ze base?" she asked quickly.
"Yes. I could just pretend to be delivering notes." he whispered.
"Nein. Ve cannot go to my base. Zhere is a hotel in town. I vill be there vaiting. Ze room vill be listed under 'Hitzig'. I need to go. Ze cloak is almost gone. Please hurry."
She sprinted outside as quickly as she could, no longer caring if any of his team heard her. The watch finally ran out of charge when she was between bases. Pausing to write a note, she burst into her office and gathered supplies before running to her car. She drove to the hotel and thankfully arrived before the other Medic. She sat on the edge of the bed and waited nervously. Not long after, she heard the jingle of keys outside the door.
"Vhat are you doing? Ve can't be meeting here."
"Just trust me. Zhis is somezhing I need to do. You won't be fired. I've taken care of it. Please sit, I'll explain everyzhing."
He sat down and she took his hand. He glanced up automatically but there was no Administrator in this room. No one to shout at her for scooting closer and leaning against him. Now came the hard part, telling him the truth.
"I'm being reassigned. Ze past few veeks I've been training a replacement for BLU. Tonight is my last night so I zhought since I'm being fired anyvays..."
"How long have you known?"
"Since ze bread incident. I vas told not to tell anyone."
"Vhy?"
"It doesn't matter. I vant to spend my last night vith you. Bitte."
She didn't know why she lied to him. Maybe to make it easier. It would be harder if he knew she were dying. This way she would be alive in his memory before he forgot her. She studied his face while he thought. Her intentions must have made it through because he kissed her hard. It was a needy and desperate kiss, one that she returned happily. She pulled them down onto the bed and he clung to her as if she would disappear if he let go.
"Are you sure about zhis, Doktor?" he asked.
"I need zhis. Call me Vanya. I give you my name. Now please. Make love to me. You can leave early in ze morning if you need to but tonight, just stay. I need you." she pleaded.
He kissed her again, softer this time. "Ich liebe dich, Vanya."
"Ich liebe dich auch."
/
Vanya laid there with the RED Medic, catching her breath and feeling utterly spent. Her body still pulsed with pleasure and she hummed happily. It had been over thirty years since she had been physical with anyone. She rolled onto her side and wrapped her arm around his chest. He smiled and kissed her sweaty forehead.
"How vas it, mein Liebe?" he asked softly.
"Wundabarr. I vish ve had done it sooner."
"So do I."
He kissed her again then stood and began dressing. She frowned and pulled the sheets closer to her bare chest. She watched him for a moment, confusion stirring inside her. Alarm broke through her afterglow once he began slipping his boots on.
"Vhat on Earth are you doing?"
He looked at her, surprised. "I'm dressing. Ve should be getting back, ja?"
"I zhought you vould stay here for a vhile. It's my last night."
"I figured ve'd be going back to ze base. Do you vant me here all night?"
"Nein. Just go. You've already been gone long enough. I don't vant your team to be suspicious. Adieu, Doktor."
She grabbed her shirt and shut herself into the bathroom. She'd completely forgotten that he wasn't allowed to be with her. Inviting him out here was such a stupid idea. She beat her fists against the sink angrily as she thought about the risks she had him take. She could afford to risk it all. She much preferred whatever the Administrator dished out rather than the slow deterioration she faced. She knew that the most likely outcome was a bullet to the brain, courtesy of Miss Pauling. She broke down into hysterical sobs, half glad that it would be quick but still facing death nonetheless. Eventually she calmed herself and walked back into the bedroom for her clothes. She was shocked to see the RED Medic laying on the bed waiting for her.
She wiped her eyes quickly. "Vhat are you still doing here?"
"I have plenty of time now. I called Engie and told him I was out looking for some obscure supplies. Come. Lay with me, bitte."
She spent the night curled up in his arms while they slept, pausing only to make love a few more times. If this was her last night, she was going to get the most out of it. She still refrained from telling him about her tumor and upcoming surgery. She didn't want to upset him on their only night together.