Mercy's heart was beating unbearably loud in her ears, pumping hot adrenaline through every vein. Everything that happened next seemed blurred and slowed down to her. The handle of the door moving, the door opening, Ana's slightly annoyed expression changing into absolute horror at the sight of her friend's remains. Her widened eyes darted back and forth between the two doctors, not quite fully understanding.

"What – what is…" She seemed to find no words. Angela wanted to explain and excuse herself, but found her body rendered immobile by shock. Her dry throat would not allow her to make any sound.

'All of my achievements… my friends… I will lose everything!'

She felt Medic shift slightly beside her and finally she gathered enough strength to lift her head to look at him. He was eyeing her with a weird expression on his features, something like… excuse? Before she could find out however, he lightened up, a wide grin spreading across his face as he turned to Ana.

"How do you like my latest creation?"

The woman's face could not have looked any more disgusted.

"Your creation?"

"Ja. It took me a few days, but here it is. Isn't it marvelous?"

Angela's brain wasn't really processing the overheard conversation. The mercenary certainly wouldn't take the blame for her mistake, would he?

"Angela?" In slow motion, she turned to face Amari.

"Did you know about this?" Once again, Medic spoke for her.

"Unfortunately, she didn't. I would have showed it to her sooner but little Miss Do-no-harm here would probably have ruined all the fun."

It took Amari a few more good seconds before she managed to regain her composure, straighten up and gesture the two guards behind her to arrest and handcuff the merc. Before they led him out the door, however, she stood in front of him, her expression hard but her voice shivering.

"You… you are going to jail for this until. You. Rot, as god is my witness."

It was only then when finally, just soon enough but still far too late, Mercy rose from her stupor, screaming "Wait!", thus causing a very surprised look on both Medic's and Ana's faces.

"W-Wait…please, I-" She swallowed hard and closed her eyes for a second. What could she possibly say now that would keep the doctor from being imprisoned for life? And it would be a long life, that much she knew now. Her gaze fell upon her handwritten notes on the table that Medic had dropped in a hurry during Ana's entrance.

"If I- if we want to help Gabriel, I will need his help. I don't know exactly what he did to him, and his protocol is short and mostly unfinished. I-If he goes to prison now, Reyes will be lost forever."

Pleadingly, her eyes met Ana's sharp stare, and lingered until Amari gave in and nodded shortly.

"If you say so, Angela." She sighed, then turned back o Medic. "You heard her. You will fix my fr- you will fix Reyes."

"Will that mean I won't get a prison sentence?"

"Oooh, that's definitely not what it means!"

Showing a little smile, Medic raised his chin. "Then I don't see the appeal. Why should I destroy my beautiful creation if I don't get anything in return – just for Dr. Ziegler's ego trip?"

Mercy was trying her very best to remain collected while inwardly she was about ready to have a panic attack. Confused, she set her eyes on him. What was he trying to achieve with this little game? An Oscar?

"Ana, please", she tried again. "At least think about it. As much as I hate to admit it, I can't possibly help Reyes without Medic's help."

A torturously long pause followed, before the Captain finally gave a resigned sigh. "Fine. Last offer. You, Medic, help Angela cure Gabriel, and if you are successful, you'll be a free man. But if not" She was fixating him almost predator-like at this point. "I will make sure you'll never see a glimpse of daylight again."

This time, the doctor agreed, and a tiny piece of the big weight on Mercy's chest was lifted. Before the guards led him out the door, their eyes met one last time. Why? Was the question hers asked. He simply shrugged.

…

"Your turn, Spook."

It was a weird sight, what was happening in Sniper's quarters, at least for everyone who knew him and Spy. The two assassins were sitting together at the small but elegant table that was placed in every room in headquarters, and were playing a card game none of them really knew the rules of. Although the rivalry that had once existed between them was long gone, they weren't exactly to be considered friends, and any communal activity apart from killing people was rare to non-existent. This time, however, they were happy to not have to talk about the recent events on the base. Or, well, until Sniper decided to open his mouth again.

"He messed up real good this time, didn't he?"

Spy sighed. "Yes, the docteur is in great trouble. But are you really surprised?"

"Nah, not since the Los Angeles-incident. Just thought it'd take him more than like – what was it? Two weeks? I'm tellin ye, we should have taken him to that psychologist in New York when we had the chance."

They both chuckled. None of them were seriously worried, to be honest; each and every one of them had gotten out of bigger trouble before.

"Hey, Spook?"

"Feeling a bit talkative today, Bushman, huh?"

"Who were you meetin'? You know, a few days ago, when you had me drive you there."

The Spy visibly stiffened. "That is none of your business, Mundy." Not interested in the game anymore, Sniper leaned back in his chair, eyeing Spy over the brim of his sunglasses.

"You might be all fancy and mysterious with those gadgets and shady friends of yours, but I'm at least as good of an investigator as you. You don't think I got my theories?"

The man was visibly tensing up now, straightening his back. "I have no idea, what you are talking about, Bushman. But I am not willing to listen to this nonsense any longer. Au revoir, Monsieur."

He got up and Sniper knew, he'd hit a sensitive spot now. Spy hated it when anyone found out something about him, even if it was just a minor thing like favourite sort of bubblegum. For the sake of their still fragile companionship, he should shut up now, apologize and tell Spy to sit down again. But he just couldn't bring himself to do that.

"Does Jeremy know he has a sister?" Without a word, the Frenchman stormed out, leaving Mundy sitting at the small table with a knowing smile on his face.

...

Author's note

I'm sorry for the long wait and the short chapter, but I'm pretty stressed right now because of school and can't write that much at the moment. But I think this was enough plot twist for one chapter anyways, sooo...

Some of you have been asking for more interactions between the other characters, and I gotta say - I have no idea what to write there. You see, when I ship a couple, then everything in my imagination revolves around them, the other are just none-existent or only there to create some plot for said ship. What I could do, however, is to bring in one of the Blackwatch guys. The problem there would just be that, two of those are somehow linked to Mercy, either by rivalry (Moira) or implied romance (Genji), which would create a lot more plot for Medic x Mercy - certainly interesting to explore, but maybe not so pleasant for the ones who are here for Tracer x Scout. The thing is, even without me adding characters, the doctors' relationship would need more writing than the runners, because their romance has to seem somehow realistic, while Tracer and Scout would just get along right away. So, question is: would it be okay if I favored one ship? Or should I write an equal amount for both? Please show your opinion in the comments:)