Mid 2063
Several weeks after the Numbani mission, Jesse found himself in Gabriel's office wanting to satisfy his curiosity about their Intel director. He was there when they captured her but as for any additional details about her, he was left in the dark.
Even Malik wouldn't say anything about the woman and normally they would tell him what he wanted to know for a price but the fact that they did not say a word about the woman only fueled his curiosity.
"Jefe, I got a question for ya," Jesse started as he plopped down on the sofa in Reyes' office.
"Shouldn't you be preparing to leave?" Gabriel asked as he focused on the document in front of him. Jesse looked over the man and how he did not fully acknowledge him, he crossed a leg over the other as he stretched out on the sofa.
"That comes later, I got some questions about Kallista," Jesse waved of the man's questioned and smirked as he saw the man halt in his work.
"That got yer attention," Jesse smirked. "Sometimes yer so easy to read Reyes," Jesse chuckled as he scratched his facial hair as he looked at the man.
"McCree, what do you want?" Gabriel asked annoyed.
"So, Kalli…has she shot a gun before?" Jesse questioned.
"In her basic training, she should have," Gabriel replied and shifted his attention from the man and back to the work in front of him.
"You sure?" Jesse asked.
"Why?" Gabriel stopped typing and turned his attention back to the man.
The question of if the woman had shot a gun or not was something that never crossed his mind. Despite some of the incident, she completed her basics training and all of the modules that were completed.
He assumed but couldn't confirm.
"Jus curious is all," Jesse replied and suddenly stood. With a slight flick of his hat the man turned towards the door and gave a lazy wave as he exited the man's office. "I'll see ya when I get back,"
"So...Kalli...I heard through the grapevine about something that involves you and a certain commander that we all know so well," Magnus started as he peeked over his monitor at the woman sitting across from him.
"I assume you're talking about Lyuda?" Kallista responded as she remained focused on her datapad and sipped her coffee.
"No...but if you're banging her too please enlighten us. She has legs for days and a nice ass," Magnus started.
"Magnus, please don't-" Aleks started.
"Aw c'mon on Aleks baby we just wanna know if it's true," Magnus smirked.
"Do not call me that," Aleks said firmly, Magnus snickered at the man's flustered response.
"Why are you asking all of a sudden? Who's spreading rumors?" Kallista asked as she looked up from her datapad. Her crystal blue eyes focused on the man, a stoic expression.
"We just wanna know if you and Reyes are sleeping together," Magnus smirked.
"Do not include me in this," Linda scoffed.
"Oh please, we all wanna know. Don't act all innocent now Linda," Magnus said before turning his attention back to Kallista.
"You all really think that we're having an affair?" Kallista asked as she leaned coyly onto the desk as she looked at Magnus directly in his blue eyes.
"I dunno...are you fucking—oh excuse me having an affair with the Commander of Blackwatch?" Magnus asked, his voice lower as he stared her back.
Aleks and Linda looked between the two as they listened intensely, waiting for an answer. Malik leaned back in his chair a smug expression on his face.
"No. We aren't," Kallista replied and laughed. "I'm honored that you would think such a thing,"
"Don't give me that proper English accent," Magnus huffed,
"Don't be fooled Mags… his cigarette smoke and his specific brand of soap is on her," Malik replied.
"Oh?!" Magnus shouted and laughed.
"You got your scent all over him? Damn Kalli," Magnus laughed.
"That is the eeriest thing I've heard in a long time…why are you smelling him? Why are you smelling me?!," Kallista asked shocked.
"What does she smell like?" Linda whispered to Aleks.
"Uh…" Aleks started.
"Kalli smells of mint and sweet rose sometimes cinnamon…mostly…but Gabi smells of cinnamon…amber…tobacco…," Malik replied.
"Ok Malik, that is creepy on several different levels," Linda commented as she leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs.
"He's got you all figured out Kallista," Magnus chuckled.
Kallista scoffed at the man's accusation and continued to work. Malik smirked as he shrugged in his chair, he winced slightly as he shifted in his chair and massaged his knee joints.
"I could try if you want?" Malik suggested as he shifted.
"Malik, that's enough… I don't think we need to pry into the Director and Commander's personal life… even if they are banging," Aleks said cutting off Malik.
"You mean fucking," Malik corrected.
"You mean affair," Magnus commented.
"I mean what I said, fucking," Malik corrected the man.
"How about all of you get back to work, yeah?" Kallista warned.
"Mmmhmm...no one is going to question you or him...well...maybe," Malik continued as they spun around in their chair.
"Well. We aren't sleeping together," Kallista replied as she placed her hands behind her head and reclined in her chair again.
Kallista knew that Malik was right, no one would question Reyes except for Morrison but Morrison had his own work and personal life to handle and monitoring Reyes's personal life would be the last thing on his mind.
But she also knew that if any mention of the two having an affair would be troublesome for Reyes and also her. It would be seen as clouded judgement, especially for her recent promotion to Director of the Blackwatch Intel Department.
She had to keep it secret, not that she wouldn't keep her lips sealed about their affair.
"Then, friends with benefits," Aleks spoke up.
"Fuck buddies," Malik corrected.
"Quiet all of you and get back to work," Kallista warned.
It was around midnight when Kallista walked into to Gabriel's office, unannounced. Gabriel's attention snapped up from his cellphone and to the woman at the door.
"What happened to you knocking?" Gabriel commented gruffly.
"Open door policy," Kallista countered. "I got your text. I'm having Aleks look for where the source of the file corruption...in the meantime...here are all of the printouts linked to your current investigation,"
Kallista placed several stacks of paper and a stack of datapads on to the man's desk. Gabriel glanced at all of papers and datapads that was placed on his desk.
"That's more than I thought it would be," Gabriel commented as he picked up on of the data pads.
"I did some additional digging and found that there were some reports that were linked to the investigation in the Overwatch data base. I figured that you would have wanted these reports as well," Kallista replied as she took off her khaki green bomber jacket.
"I'm surprised you were able to get them so quickly I thought it would have taken a little bit more of time," Gabriel commented as his attention went to the information streaming on of his holographic screens.
"Well, being the Director of the Blackwatch Intelligence department has its perks besides a corner bedroom with a window and a shower," Kallista commented
"That you are correct," Gabriel chuckled as he stood.
Gabriel took off his glasses before he ran a hand over his face and through his short hair. The investigation that he was tasked to conduct took much longer than he wanted it to, not to mention the files he needed became suddenly corrupted. It was too convenient but he was thankful that Kallista and her team moved in quickly to help him, much faster than he was used to, he welcomed the change.
Gabriel sighed softly as he looked up from the stacks of paper and to the woman stretching, his eyes flicked to her midriff peeking from underneath her cropped top.
"Like what you see Reyes?" Kallista chuckled.
"You're not half bad," Gabriel quipped as he sat on the edge of his desk.
"Oh thanks," Kallista replied sarcastically as she pulled her hair into a messy bun before she went over to the man's desk and grabbed a stack of paper. He caught a quick glance of the tattoo on the back of her neck, it looks similar to a sugar skull but in the shape of a cat.
"You're welcome," Gabriel chuckled as his eyes met hers.
There was a silent pause between the two before Kallista stepped back and moved over to the dark colored sofa adjacent to his desk. Gabriel chuckled slightly as he slid his glasses back on and looked towards the woman who had already made herself comfortable on the sofa.
"Thanks for bringing the reports over...you plan on staying?" Gabriel questioned.
"You're welcome, two sets of eyes are better than one," Kallista said as she placed her boots neatly at the end of the sofa before she sat on the floor legs crossed.
"I assume you want something from this. No you can't have a coffee maker in your room so don't ask," Gabriel asked as he crossed his arms.
"I'm appalled that you think I would want to go against rules. I am just helping you out of good will," Kallista replied. Gabriel scoffed at her response, he already knew that the woman had a coffee maker in her room, it was against the policies and regulations set before him.
"Sure, just like the hazelnut infused coffee perfume that you wear," Gabriel commented. "Get rid of it or I'll do it for you,"
"You wouldn't," Kallista perked up.
"I would," Gabriel replied. Kallista glared at the man before she spoke.
"It is my duty to assist my Commander on large investigative projects when it comes to data. That is what I am doing," Kallista said as she leaned on her knees with her elbows.
"Right…" Gabriel sighed.
"Besides I have a lot of caffeine in my system might as well put it to good use," Kallista replied. Gabriel chuckled as he took a datapad and leaned back in his chair.
"9:20 AM an' he totally missed the training, " Jesse said as he made his way to Gabriel's office.
Jesse knew that Gabriel never missed training unless it was serious, he was a very punctual and orderly man. He made sure that everything ran like clockwork even with the few hiccups from his ragtag agents.
Not to mention, Kallista was missing as well.
Suspicious.
It was decided that Jesse would be the one to go find Reyes even though no one had said anything to him about it. Jesse made a beeline to the man's office and didn't even bother to knock on the door, and just barged in.
Reyes did say he had an open door policy.
"Hey, Reyes you ok in here? Have ya' seen Kalli-" Jesse started as he practically stumbled over the shoes by the door.
"What-oh..." Jesse trailed off as he saw the man and woman on the small sofa, asleep.
Slowly he looked around the office seeing if anything was out of place, he knew the man's office by heart and seeing how Reyes was a very organized man.
Heeled boots, two tumblers, a bottle of tequila and two bodies stretched out on the leather sofa. A huge grin spread across Jesse's face as he looked at the two and moved silently in the office. He glanced at the papers neatly placed on the man's desk and a pile with red 'X's on them in the chair in front of the desk.
He then turned his attention back to the two on the sofa, Gabriel was stretched out on the sofa, one leg hanging off and the other stretched out, while Kallista laid snugly between his legs, her head on his chest. Gabriel's hoodie covered the both of them but Jesse could clearly see Gabriel's arm around her waist. Kallista had one hand to her chest and the other wrapped around the man.
"This...is perfect. This is too perfect," Jesse chuckled as he took out his cell phone. There was a soft grunt from the man sleeping on the sofa as Jesse took pictures of the two.
"Jesse...you're too...loud," Kallista murmured sleepily.
"Jesse...stop fucking barging into my office," Gabriel growled, his voice thick with sleep.
The man didn't even turn to look at Jesse. Kallista's eyes fluttered open briefly and closed a moment later as Gabriel shifted, clearly not wanting to move. Kallista sighed as she attempted to bury her face in his chest.
"Mmm...What time is it?" Kallista murmured.
"9:30 AM," Jesse replied a huge grin on his face.
"Too early...can I skip this meeting-" Kallista groaned as her eyes fluttered open and focused on the man that stood in front of them. Jesse stifled his laughter as he saw the realization in her eyes as she looked at him.
"Jesse?!" Kallista quickly shot up. Jesse slyly put away his cell phone, the grin still on his face.
"McCree get out," Gabriel growled from the sofa, eyes still closed
"Hahaha No way, this is too good," Jesse chuckled.
"I swear to god McCree," Kallista warned. Jesse held up his hands innocently causing the woman to huff as she quickly put on her shoes and grabbed her hoodie.
"It's too early to deal with you. I got a meeting to do," Kallista said as she promptly exited Gabriel's office.
"Yer sure ya didn't miss it already?" Jesse called out to her as he watched the woman leave before he turned his attention back to the man lounging on the sofa.
"So…you and Kallista…what Malik was saying was true then," Jesse smirked.
"No. Just coincident that it happened," Gabriel said
"Mmmhm...yer sure jefe? Y'all looked awfully cute and cozy together," Jesse grinned from ear to ear.
"Keep talking Jesse and give me a reason to kick your ass," Gabriel said as he suddenly moved from the sofa.
"Woah Woah Woah now. There's no need fer violence, I was just stating the obvious. Besides we were worried about you, "Jesse asked.
"A review of several previous investigation. There was some internal corruption and I started looking into it. She helped me," Gabriel replied and yawned.
"What was it about?" Jesse asked curiously.
"Classified," Gabriel replied.
"Oh...sumthin big then...it did seem like ya had a really long night...a long night with gatita..." Jesse commented coyly as he looked around again. Gabriel frowned at the man as he reached down picking up his hoodie.
"Do you need something? Why are you still here?" Gabriel asked.
"I was jus checkin' in on ya. You missed training so I came lookin'" Jesse replied with a crooked smirk.
"I'm alive. Now get out," Gabriel replied.
"Fine, Fine...but you an' Kallista though…" Jesse whistled as he headed towards the door. Gabriel growled in annoyance at the young man's comment, he tossed his hoodie on to his desk before he turned his attention to the new messages on his screen.
"Out. Now,"
As Jesse made his way into the main Overwatch building he took out his phone to check on his text messages and found it completely reformatted. There was one single message and it happened to be from Kallista.
{Kaines: Convince me to restore your contacts and your dick pics. You should consider yourself lucky I left your social media accounts intact. }
"Ah, hell… "Jesse muttered as he read over the message.
"All of those numbers gone...fuck me," Jesse sighed heavily as he ran a hand down his face exasperated
{Kaines: I can play this game better than you cowboy. ;) }
[Lobo, perimeter clear for extraction. We are missing Kaines, I don't have a lock on her location]
"Understood Lockdown. Everyone prepare for evac," Gabriel ordered as he looked at the few Blackwatch agents checking the fallen bodies of humans and omnics around them.
There was an impromptu mission that had come up and Gabriel and his team needed to act in order to gain the advantage, the team headed to Austria.
Gabriel turned his attention to the doorway Kallista had gone to siphon information from the building's systems. Their mission had led them to an old base for the Austrian government where Omnium secrets that were left buried. The defunct build was turned into a pro-omnium base and claimed the building for their own uses.
"Kaines…give me your location," Gabriel ordered as he looked around for any signs of her, there were none.
There was silence from Kallista's communication link.
While everyone had their positions, Gabriel followed and shielded Kallista as she moved towards her target, he had made sure that her entry and exit was clear so she wouldn't have to engage in combat to at any point, but her silence worried him.
The paperwork for the woman to carry while on a mission had not been cleared yet, her hand to hand combat skills were sufficient but based on the enemies they encountered here he began to doubt her skills and his judgement.
But he trusted his agent's skills, including her.
Without a word, Gabriel cautiously but quickly moved through the old hallway and seemingly towards the control room of the Pro-Omnium group. Every room that he passed, he carefully peered around the corner before he continued on down the hall. His senses were on high alert, adrenaline pumped through his system, his heart hammered in his chest as he continued.
There was still no sign of the woman.
"Kaines answer me. Where is your location? Are you injured?" Gabriel asked, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't want to think of the worst case scenario, but her silence was fueling the thought of it.
[Lobo, tengo la localización de Kallista]
"Dámelo...," Gabriel replied softly.
Within seconds, he came to a stop at the end of the hallway, the last door in the hall, his guns primed he slid along the wall and cautiously peered into the room. At a quick glance he saw the woman frozen in place, a gun in her hands, blood splattered across her face and abdomen.
Two individuals were sprawled on the floor in pools of blood and cranial matter, he caught a quick glimpse of bullet wounds to the head.
Gabriel slowly moved into the room not wanting to startle the woman, he focused solely on the woman in front of him. Her breaths were labored, eyes glazed over, her form trembled, she didn't acknowledge the man until his hand was on the barrel of the gun and slipped it from her hands.
[Did'ya find her Lobo?]
"Yeah," Gabriel replied as he looked down at the shaken woman.
[Is she injured?]
Vibrant crimson blood coated her Blackwatch issued vest, face and hair, and yet she was silent as she focused on the dead bodies behind the man.
"Kallista…" Gabriel started softly.
[All here? We're ready to head out Lobo]
"Are you with me…Kallista?" Gabriel whispered with the hope that she would respond to him and move with him to the evac site.
"Y-Yes…" Kallista replied, her voice barely a whisper.
"Come with me," Reyes said as touched her shoulder. It was a simple touch but she jerked as if he had nudged her.
"S-Sorry I—"Kallista began.
"It's ok, we have to go," Gabriel began and gently began to usher her from the room and quickly to the evacuation point. At that moment Jesse's question to him about her made sense but it was too late to do anything about it. He needed to get her off the field before her mental state shattered.
Without a word escorted her pass the bodies, out of the room and towards the evac site. He kept an eye on her on their travel time back to HQ, he was thankful it was a short one as she managed to keep her mental state together.
As soon as they landed Gabriel ordered her to go to the med bay to be checked out by one of the doctors, she left without a word.
Hours later, Gabriel made his way to the Med bay hoping that he could determine the woman's mental state and hopefully a solution.
"Angela, how is she?" Gabriel asked as he looked around.
"Oh, Commander Reyes...I assume you are referring to Director Kaines…" the blonde haired woman trailed off as she moved from her desk and to a side wall terminal." I can assume that she has never shot a man before...let alone two,"
Angela Ziegler, one of Overwatch's young and promising doctors specializing in nanotechnology and field support. She was currently on of the head doctors in the division, and someone that he and Morrison worked closely with.
"I can only assume that too, unfortunately...you cleared her without my knowledge?" Gabriel asked.
"I didn't think I needed to contact you for something of the sort unless you're keeping extra tabs on her Commander Reyes?" the woman questioned the man as she looked up from her data pad. Gabriel crossed his arms as he looked at the young woman, the woman sighed as she placed a piece of stray hair behind her ear.
"Look, I suggested that she get cleaned up and rest in a place that's comforting for her...as for where that is...I am not sure," the woman replied.
"You know...it's not like you to have someone on your team without...what is the right term...experience?" Angela added.
"Sometimes it happens...sometimes those people never make it to the field, sometimes those people die on the field...everyone is different," Gabriel replied.
"I assume Director Kaines is one of those special cases?" Angela asked a small grin on her lips.
"Angie," Gabriel huffed as he saw the woman's grin.
"It was too cute, I apologize," Angela replied as she giggled a bit.
"Thanks for the update Angela..." Gabriel said as he headed out of the med bay.
"You're welcome Gabriel," Angela smiled as she turned back to his work
Jesse leaned on the wall outside of med bay occupied by his cellphone, the soft whoosh of the door caught his attention. He looked up from his cell phone to see Gabriel exiting the room, he quickly shoved his cell phone in his pocket and pushed himself from the wall and followed after the man.
"So what's the deal?" Jesse asked. Gabriel glanced at the man briefly before turning his attention back in front of him.
"You knew about this, didn't you?" Gabriel asked.
"Knew 'bout?" Jesse asked.
"The fact that she's never shot a gun before," Gabriel replied as he stopped walking. Jesse stopped a few feet in front of the man and turned to look at him.
"I'm not sure what ya mean Reyes...yer her commanding officer…" Jesse started, Gabriel narrowed his eyes at the man. Jesse sighed and crossed his arms.
"Jesse," Gabriel said firmly.
"I noticed after that stunt in Numbani...she was so pale an' shaken up...it's clear ta me that she hadn't shot a gun or been in a situation like that," Jesse started.
"Of course," Gabriel sighed as he pulled off his signature black beanie, ran a hand through his short hair and down his face.
"Too busy with other things jefe?" Jesse asked.
There was silence between the two men as they stood in the hallway, letting others pass without a word to them, was he that busy that he missed that detail? Did he forget that she was a civilian, someone that hid behind a computer and out of the way?
"I overlooked that detail...let alone having brain matter splatter over her. She was going to be exposed to it sooner or later," Gabriel commented as he slides the beanie back on and began down the hall again.
"Most likely," Jesse began as he followed after the man.
"Ya know...if ya want…" Jesse began.
"No. Natalie will do it," Gabriel replied as he took out his cellphone and began to message someone
"Aw cmon, ya didn't even hear me out," Jesse whined.
"You're not going to teach her," Gabriel said as he continued to focus on his phone.
"Fine be that way, I'm still gonna be a better shot than both of them," Jesse huffed.
"We'll see about that," Gabriel chuckled.
Kallista sat quietly in Gabriel's office, her data pad on her lap, her cell phone next to her, her gaze to the floor. No one expected her to be in his office and he seemed to be gone. It was hidden away from all the noise, tucked away in the quiet parts of the Overwatch Division, she needed silence, and she needed to be alone.
The events that took place hours before replayed over and over again in her head. The ambush on her while collecting data, the struggle, the act of shooting someone while her mind was heavily drugged with copious amounts of adrenaline, her shooting without hesitation shocked her, the shooting itself traumatized her.
Was this one of the effects of the serum?
"Kallista," Gabriel's voice called out to her, she flinched and quickly moved away from the man, dropping her data pad.
"R-Reyes...oh my god…" Kallista sighed in relief at the sight of the man.
"You decided to hole up in my office...," Gabriel commented as he glanced at the woman's data pad and the woman running her hands nervously through her hair.
"I-I was planning on leaving...I just needed to sit down for a little bit," Kallista replied as she averted her eyes from the man.
"Take your time," Gabriel said as he moved to the door, locking it.
"I-I won't hold you up from work...I'll go," Kallista said as she suddenly stood almost stepping on her data pad, Gabriel had stopped her just in time before he stepped on it.
"You almost broke your pad," Gabriel said as he picked up the pad, placing it on his desk as he went over to his terminal.
"Oh….um...about those reports-" Kallista began as she moved towards his desk.
"The others can handle that," Gabriel said as he pulled the data pad out of her reach as he continued look at his computer terminal.
"How are you coping," Gabriel asked.
"People die especially on the battlefield...so...I mean shit like that is normal..." Kallista trailed off and avoided the man's question.
"So is blood splatter," Gabriel added as the holographic screens disappeared from in front of him
"Y-yeah…C-can I have my data pad?" Kallista asked as her hands began to tremble again.
Kallista was sure that he had seen her hands tremble but made sure to keep calm eve as the man looked smugly down at her. She knew that the man was sized her up, watched her for any sign of weakness, a weakness she wasn't sure of but under the man's eyes she felt weak. She watched as the man held the data pad out for her to take.
Without a word, Kallista reached to take the pad only to be pulled into his embrace.
"You're trembling," he whispered.
"I know…" Kallista mumbled before she buried her head into his chest, in an attempt to stave off the tears.
She was thankful that the man allowed her this sudden gesture, they had set and strict boundaries while around one another. But she couldn't help herself, she needed something to lean on, something to ground her.
The only thing she knew was him.
She didn't know how long they stood there and neither made any movement to part from one another until Gabriel leaned back to look down at her. She turned away to hide the tears that welled at the corner of her eyes
"How do you cope with this?" Kallista asked as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, still avoiding his gaze.
"I've been in the military for a long time...I've grown used to it," Gabriel replied softly. Kallista sighed heavily as she finally looked up at the man, his expression was unreadable but soft, different than his normal stoic or scowl.
"You have potential Kallista, you wanted to be on the field and now you're there...you can't be both. You need to choose," Gabriel said softly.
"I know...I just…" Kallista started and sighed again "It's just the pieces of flesh part...it's gross,"
"With that aim, what else did you expect?" Gabriel asked.
"Not to be splattered with blood?" Kallista replied.
"Sounds like you already decided on where you want to be," Gabriel countered.
"I guess so. Then again, how else am I going to get used to it?" Kallista asked coolly.
"One or the other," Gabriel said firmly.
"Fine. Fine. I guess you will need those reports from the previous mission right?" Kallista asked.
"That can wait. I want to make sure...you're going to be ok," Gabriel replied.
"I'm surprised you care so much," Kallista smirked.
"Sometimes, It's best to take advantage while you can," Gabriel said as he slipped his arms from around her waist.
"Yeah, yeah yeah," Kallista sighed. She grabbed her data pad and moved over to the sofa to pick up her cell phone she had abandoned.
Gabriel cleared his throat as he watched the woman recollect herself and wondered if she would have another episode like this when she was alone.
"I messaged Nat about taking you out for target practice…" Gabriel started as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Target practice hm?" Kallista asked as she looked at her cell phone and a message from Natalie. "So I'm cleared to carry a gun on missions then?"
"Yeah...you can head over to Mikael and the R&D department to get started. Natalie can update you from there,"
"Can I get a cool gun?" Kallista asked and grinned from ear to ear.
"You barely know how to shoot a gun. Let alone gun safety," Gabriel laughed.
"Ok, but have you considered that I learn quickly," Kallista added
"Get out of my office Kallista,"
