McCree strolled down one of the OverHouse's many hallways, leaving behind the typhoon of noise and action of the living room. Tracer had just led her team to success on a very important mission that was successful in bringing down a large chunk of Talon's remaining forces and, as such, most of the house was celebrating. Never one to shy away from a party, especially one with an open bar, McCree and stuck around for a bit, sharing a drink or three with Sombra (He was impressed by how well a little lady like her held her liquor). But now, as McCree neared the Commander's Office, he wasn't thinking about parties or tequila. He was focused on business. He rapped firmly on the door with his metal hand, removing his hat from his head and holding it to his chest as he waited.
"Come in."
McCree slid the door open and stepped into Commander Morrison's office. The Commander himself was seated behind his desk, trying to make a dent in his heap of paperwork. He glanced up, nodding at McCree, a gesture that was returned by the former Blackwatch agent. The two had no small amount of history together, most of it good, but due to the complicated nature of Morrison's relationship with Reyes and, by extension, Jesse himself, things had always had an underlying tension between the soldier and the lawman.
"Howdy, Commander." McCree approached the desk and set his hat on the desk. "How do ya do?"
"Tired as a dog, but that's nothing new," sighed 76. "What can I do for you, Jesse?"
"You remember a little lady by the name of Elizabeth Caledonia Ashe?"
Morrison paused, glancing up at McCree with a cocked brow. It wasn't often that Jesse mentioned "Calamity" Ashe, and even less frequently did he acknowledge her existence while in the presence of one of her biggest oppositions.
"I do," said 76 slowly. "Founder of the Deadlock Gang. Your old partner in crime."
"Yeah, don't remind me. Point is, she's up to her eyes in trouble. The feds are about to kick down her door and drag her out. But, knowing Ashe, she ain't going out without a fight." McCree shook his head, giving his chin a thoughtful scratch. "She's gonna stand her ground, and she's gonna get herself killed. So I was wonderin' if you'd do me a favor and—"
"No," said 76 flatly.
"Beg yer pardon?"
"I said no. Look, I let the rat and the pig stay because they're much less harm when they're here and I can keep an eye on them. I let Reyes and Lacroix stay because I owe them." 76 pushed his papers to the side and leaned forward, folding his hands in front of his face. "Sombra snuck her way in, and she turned out to be one of the nicer, more helpful members of this house. Doomfist, I got tricked into giving my word, and my word is my bond. And that wicked witch… she's here because I needed her to save Reyes."
"Uh-huh…" McCree nodded, despite not really understanding the connection to them and Ashe.
"I'm not particularly happy with some of these people, but I let it happen anyway. And now… I have to draw the line somewhere," said 76. "I'm not letting another villain or criminal join Overwatch. Sorry, Jesse, but—"
"I think you might be misunderstandin', Commander," said McCree, cocking his brow. "What exactly did you think I was asking?"
"You wanted me to let Ashe join the team so she could escape persecution, right?"
"Hell naw! You must be out yer goddamn mind." McCree shook his head. "The last thing I want is Ashe on the team. She'd try to kick my ass at the first chance she got."
"Oh. Hm. Okay, then," said 76. "Then what do you want?"
"Well, we had Satya build that brig, didn't we? I wanna put it to use," said McCree. "Let me go get her, lock her up on site."
"You want to arrest her?"
"She thinks incarceration is worse than death. I respectfully disagree. Our relationship may be… complicated. But I still owe her, and I damn sure don't want to see her dead."
"So you want to try and talk her down? Bring her in peacefully?" said 76. McCree nodded. "Don't you think this is a conflict of interests? You're too close to this one, Jesse. Not that I don't trust you, but anyone in my position would be hard pressed to give you the clear to try and hunt down your ex."
"Me and her were never together," promised McCree. "Ain't my type. Too rich for my blood. And trust me, Commander, I don't have plans to do nothing but cuff her and bring her in. If you want, you can send someone to go with me and keep me on the straight and narrow."
"Hm… I don't think that's necessary," said 76 after a moment's consideration. "You have 48 hours to bring her back before I send someone after you." McCree reached forward and shook 76's hand, then returned his hat to his head before turning for the door.
"Appreciate it, Jack. Get her cell ready, I'll be back before you know it."
"What the hell?! You took the deal?!"
Ashe was in a tizzy, scrambling to gather what she needed for the oncoming storm. Her Viper rifle was leaned against her desk, just behind the large, intimidating presence of her omnic butler. B.O.B. stood stoically, holding luggage and watching his mistress as she shouted into her phone, her scarlet eyes beaming with fury.
"You ain't gonna walk, you idiot! They'll lock yer ass up for life unless you can give 'em me, and that ain't happening!" snarled Ashe. "If you cop a plea, then the Deadlocks are finished! I need you to… Damn it, you worthless, yellow-bellied, chicken-shit moron! I gotta do everything myself!"
"You never were able to find good help, huh?"
Ashe drew her Coach Gun and aimed across the desk, to the door. Her eyes went wide and burned with fury when she saw who was standing there. Years ago, the two had shared this workspace, planning heists and hatching schemes. But now, the good old days were over, and Ashe had no patience for her old associate.
"Lord in heaven, I know I ain't been a saint, but what the hell did I do to deserve this?" groaned Ashe, glancing up to the heavens. "What the hell do you want, McCree?!"
"Well, howdy to you too, Liz," said McCree with a grin. "Heya, B.O.B." The omnic waved politely with his free hand, earning the ire of his mistress.
"B.O.B.! How many times do I have to tell ya, stop waving at everyone I point my gun at!" Ashe elbowed her butler in the chest, simply seething with rage. "How in the hell did you get in here, anyway?!"
"I remembered all the secret passageways you showed me, way back when." McCree grinned at the way Ashe glowered, her entire voice lighting up with rage and embarrassment. "I'd love to catch up, Liz, and we'll have plenty of time for that. But first…" McCree produced a set of handcuffs from his pocket, offering them to Ashe. "I need you to put these on."
"My, how forward of you. Don't you know that yer supposed to take a lady out to dinner first?" spat Ashe, her voice dripping with venom and sarcasm.
"Yer a lot of things, Liz, but a lady ain't one of 'em. Let's not make this messy, okay?"
"So this is what you're doin' now?" Ashe grabbed her hat and placed it atop her ivory hair, her Coach Gun constantly trained on McCree. "Yer little superhero thing ain't work out, so you became a fed?"
"Don't think they'd have me. Not after what you and I got into together." McCree's right hand drifted to his hip, hovering over the handle of his Peacekeeper. "You shoulda had more faith in my 'little superhero thing'. We're doing pretty okay for ourselves. And I'm willing to bet money that you'd prefer what we do to you over what the feds will do."
"You ain't thinking 'bout the third option." Ashe tossed B.O.B. her Coach Gun and drew her Viper, aiming it right between McCree's eyes. "I could shoot you dead and skip town."
"They'll catch you," said McCree simply.
"They can try."
"If they can't bring you in, they'll take you out."
"Better dead than a damsel," shot Ashe. She slowly strayed around the desk, gun still trained on McCree. To her massive annoyance, McCree didn't so much as turn to face her, as if he wasn't concerned with her.
"Yer making a mistake, Liz," said McCree. Ashe growled in frustration, cocking her head to the side and beckoning for her butler/bodyguard to follow her, which he slowly did. "Say you go down. That may be good and well for you, but you ain't the only one this impacts."
"My gang turned out to be filled with nothin' but back-stabbin' cowards!" growled Ashe. "I ain't got nothing to lose now."
"What do you think is gonna happen to B.O.B., huh? They don't put omnics behind bars, not 'round here." Ashe hesitated slightly, lowering her rifle's aim just a smidge. More than enough. McCree quickly drew his pistol and whipped to face Ashe, firing off a shot. His bullet caught Ashe in the hand, grazing her fingers and sending her rifle clattering to the ground.
"Sonuvabitch!" Ashe dropped to her knees, clutching her slightly bleeding hand. "Damn it, McCree!"
"Sorry, Liz, just needed a bit of insurance," chuckled McCree. "But I meant what I said. How much is B.O.B. worth to you?"
"Ya didn't have to shoot me, jackass! Just hurry up and cuff me, for Christ's sake, 'fore I change my mind and give you the ass-kicking you deserve" grumbled Ashe. "Damn it all, that hurt…"
"Don't worry. We've got a good Healing team. Angela will patch you up lickity-split." McCree crossed the room and swiftly slapped the metal cuffs to Ashe's wrists, binding her arms behind her back. He pulled her up, then grabbed her rifle in his other hand as he led her to the door. "Let's go, Liz. If you act right, maybe we can work out some sort of house arrest deal. C'mon, B.O.B., you too."
"How come you ain't gonna cuff him?!" demanded Ashe, watching with annoyance as her butler simply obeyed McCree's commands. McCree looked B.O.B. up and down before shrugging noncommittally.
"B.O.B. is alright. Always had a cooler head than you. Now come on, Liz. We got a long flight, we need to get to the Orca." Ashe's eyes went wide, and she started thrashing in her cuffs.
"You know I hate heights, McCree!" She snapped. "Don't you dare put me on a plane! God as my witness, I will rip yer damn arm off!" McCree just chuckled and shook his head as he corralled his catch to the waiting evac.
"The more things change…" he murmured.
"I mean it! Don't put me on that plane, Jesse! B.O.B.! Don't let him take me! B.O.B.! You good-fer-nothin' sack of bolts! Don't just stand there! B.O.B.! Do somethin'!"