"How long have you been seeing her, Reyes?"
"Few weeks now.
A sigh crackled over the phone, but he cut Jack off. "Listen, I know you have concerns and worries. But she's getting results. She can help me, Jack. She can help you too if you let her. You don't have to deal with or worry about the SEP shit tearing up your insides anymore."
"I don't need help. Really. I feel fine."
"You know what? I said the exact same damn thing about a year ago. And now I've got three years left. So don't give me that shit," he snapped into the phone.
"If I have issues, I'll go to Ziegler. You know she keeps a close eye on both you and me, and she says I'm looking fine. I'll consider O'Deorain if something changes soon, but I don't have any reason to right now."
" You don't trust her."
"Damn right I don't. I would have kept her as far away from Overwatch as possible, but I knew you needed her, and I trust your judgement. That doesn't extend to her."
Reyes scowled at the wall of his office. "Suppose that means sending her on missions is a definite negative then."
"I've seen her combat scores, Gabriel. There are a lot better choices for Blackwatch field agents ."
Gabriel pinched the bridge of his nose. "I wasn't talking about her firing range scores. We need a medic, and not just someone who can set bones. Shimada and McCree both have cybernetics, and I have my…condition. We need someone with more specialized skills."
"She's still a liability in the field. Without some way to defend herself, she'll be easy pickings."
"But-"
Morrison cut him off. "Listen, Reyes; I know you have conditions, but unless there's something immediately useful she can provide that other medics can't, then there's no point in me bringing it up with Lacroix again . It's just too risky to have her out in the field."
Reyes scowled into the phone, but assented. "Fine. I just worry."
"I know you do. But you've been doing fine until now. You'll be okay, and if you're not, I'm sure you'll let me know. By the way, keep me updated on the progress of that cure, yeah? I want to know how that goes, and I'll want Ziegler to look at it before O'Deorain tries it on you."
"If there's time."
"I'm serious, Gabriel. That shit might work on rabbits, but it could eat your insides. I haven't the faintest idea, but I don't want to risk it."
"I get that you're worried, but I'm pretty sure I'll be fine. Besides, If she ends up offing me with a test, then you can toss her skinny ass in jail and Doc won't have to worry about trying to fix me anymore."
"Yeah, you can joke now, Reyes. But if this…thing with O'Deorain goes south, I've got to file the paperwork."
"Yeah, love you too." Reyes rolled his eyes. "It'll keep you out of trouble."
Static crackled sharply in his ear, and he realized Jack had snorted. "You should have your own show." Again he paused. "But seriously; don't let this get too far out of hand, Reyes. You said you could control her. So do it."
Reyes grunted an affirmative and hung up, then hoisted himself out of his office chair. He really needed a new one; it was getting harder to for him to lever himself out of this one, what with all his aches and pains. Fucking SEP shit, he thought as he made his way out into the hall. Maybe O'Deorain would have some good news for him on that front.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Cybernetic fingers clenched, then relaxed under her watchful gaze. Shimada seemed focused on his hand, but her eyes were free to stray, peering curiously at the cyborg and watching his reaction.
"How does it feel?"
He flexed his hand. "Better. Thank you."
A smile flickered across her lips. "Certainly, Mr. Shimada. Out of curiosity, though, why come see me?"
"You have training, and the other base doctors could not help. It was more efficient than consulting Dr. Ziegler."
She hummed contemplatively. Genji Shimada was a difficult man to read; unlike Gabriel or McCree, she couldn't tell what his opinion of her was, though his response to her questions struck her as singularly expedient. Like she was just another doctor that happened to be a bit more skilled in the realm of cybernetics than her counterparts. The only personality trait she could gather on him was his remarkable efficiency.
She could appreciate that.
"I have some ideas that might increase the sensitivity between your prosthetic and your own body, which may help with your present issues," she offered.
Shimada looked away, pulling back from her slightly. Clearly distrustful.
The door slid open behind the cyborg, and Reyes stepped inside and froze, staring at the two of them.
"Sorry," he mumbled hastily, stepping backward.
"You may come in. I am leaving," Shimada said, always in that unflappably calm tone.
"Well, in that case," he turned his gaze onto her, "we need to talk."
Shimada left, and she turned to Reyes, whose expression had darkened. "Yes, Commander?"
"Let me get something straight, O'Deorain. I don't want you fucking about with my team," he growled, jabbing a finger at her.
"Agent Shimada was having trouble with his prosthetic arm, and he came to me for some delicate repairs, Commander," she responded stiffly. "Unless you'd rather have him go into battle with one bum hand?"
"That's not what I-"
She cut across him. "But you implied it. I have to be able to work freely if you want your team performing at full potential."
"Repairs are fine. But any other prosthetic work goes through me first, got it? And you're only allowed to alter prosthetics, not genes."
A smile tugged at her mouth. Ah."Worried about our agreement getting out?"
"You could say that," Reyes grumbled.
"I can be discrete."
"That's what worries me. Because it's not you that will slip up; it's one of those knuckleheads. And then Proper will throw a giant fit, and you'll never get a chance at a lab in a million lifetimes. I'm willing to put my life on the line, but I don't want you talking to anyone else about gene mods. Got it?"
"Very well. Even if my work could greatly benefit other people than yourself, I understand why you have concerns."
Reyes crossed his arms impatiently. "And?"
She rolled her eyes. "I read my contract, Commander. We shouldn't have to be doing this."
"And yet we are, because you apparently don't get it. You step even the tiniest bit out of line and Overwatch will cut themselves off from you. Funding, recognition, association, everything. And you willgo to jail."
She stiffened. "Are you threatening me?"
"No! God damn it, Moira! No, I'm not threatening you." He covered his face with one hand, his fingers tangling in his hair. "I don't want to see you leave. I appreciate the help you've been giving me and I don't want that to go to waste." He crossed his arms, staring at the floor. "I just need you to understand what the consequences are if you mess this up. So do you get it now? Are you sure you can handle being here without pissing off the board?"
"I'll be more careful," she responded shortly.
"And follow the fucking rules for once. Please."
A long moment of silence lingered between the two of them.
"Are you finished?" She drawled.
He shot her a glare. "Do something about your attitude. You're in a paramilitary group now. You can't expect intimidation and charm to work here. You're part of a team, not the boss. Act like it."
A retort formed on her tongue, but she bit it back, waiting for Reyes to cool off.
"Anyway," the man grunted, "I wanted to come by to tell you I spoke to Morrison about getting you out into the field."
"My best work has always been done in the lab, Commander," she told him, her mouth tensing in a frown.
"Yes, but my team is more than a bit stubborn, and to add to it, we all have our own…issues. I think you could really be a benefit in the field."
"Perhaps, but my talents and time would be wasted on such things."
Reyes was silent for a moment, then looked up at her. "I know you have those healing nanites. They work like Ziegler's; that means you could help us."
She scoffed. "Perhaps, but injecting them during a battle would either require me to carry a weapon capable of firing nanite projectiles or for the injured individual to lay low and wait while I found them. The latter is inefficient and the former…well, you've seen my scores on the range, Gabriel."
Reyes grumbled something under his breath. She tried not to roll her eyes. He really was being overly insistent. He must have gotten used to tightly controlling Blackwatch.
"My place is here, not on the battlefield. I will supply your medic with some of the nanites, but I should be here, working. I've got a lot of complex things to do, finding a cure for you being merely one of many, many projects I'm working on. I don't need more distractions."
Reyes scowled.
"Perhaps I would accept under different circumstances, but until things change, I'm going to refuse. With all due respect, Commander, I have a lot to do. I encourage you to find me if you need medical help, but these kinds of things are simply out of the question for now." She crossed to her computer. "Good day."
He left without a word.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
"So,Jefe…" Cards fanned out in between Jesse's hands as he began to shuffle. "Heard you spoke to the Strike Commander about O'Deorain joining the team. What'd he say?"
"He said no. But even if he had said yes, O'Deorain refused anyway. So don't worry, Jesse; your genes are safe another day," Gabriel joked darkly.
Laughter billowed from the doorway, carrying with it the smell of fried chicken. "Good one, Reyes!"
He looked up to see the medic, Scott, standing at the door, holding a big striped bucket splotched with grease.
"Someone order some stodge?" The medic asked.
"What, you're not going to tell us off like any good doctor would for eating that?" Reyes asked, eyeing the chicken. The smell alone was making his mouth water.
"Nah. Everyone's gotta live a little, right?" Scott plopped himself down at the table. "Here, help yourself."
Jesse passed out the cards as Reyes grabbed some food.
"So, you're still a little doctor-shy, huh?" Scott asked McCree, setting his teeth into a leg.
Jesse shrugged. "Don't mind regular doctors too much. Don't like her."
"He gets a 'bad feeling' around her," Genji supplied.
Scott laughed again. "The big, bad gangster doesn't like the scary doctor."
"Have you met O'Deorain?"McCree grumbled.
"It's all good, cowboy. To be honest, she is a bit scary. Ask any of the docs here." The medic shrugged. "But she's efficient."
"I'd be more worried if I was you," McCree said, chewing at his cigar. "Reyes is talking about replacing you with her."
Scott looked up from his cards at Reyes, his face troubled. "That true, boss?"
"It would be a transfer. There are plenty of other places Overwatch needs you."
Th medic nodded. "Yeah, I suppose I can understand that. She is damn efficient. It would suck to be away from you guys, though."
"Would ya actually miss us or just the beer?" Jesse asked, grinning crookedly around his cigar.
"Come on, guys. Give me more credit."
"When you earn it, Scott," Gabriel retorted. The table erupted in laughter.
"So what do you really think of O'Deorain?" Reyes asked.
The man glanced to the doorway. "Erm…well, she's kina bossy, to be honest, and she doesn't exactly have the best manners. And she's very critical."
Reyes chuckled, remembering the criticism she cast on Angela's record-keeping. "Yeah, I can vouch for that one."
"I dunno. She mostly keeps to herself, though. Doesn't like interruptions. So I just stay away from her for the most part."
"Good call," McCree said, tossing a card onto the table.
"Well, we know what Jesse thinks of her. How about you, Shimada? You've been kind of quiet." The medic peered at the ninja.
"She is a doctor. I would not prefer to go to her, but she knows what she is doing. I believe there must be some element of respect between us, or one of our missions could end very badly." He flexed his cybernetic hand. "But I have no desire to be friends with her. She fixed my malfunction earlier today, but that does not mean I need to trust her beyond that purpose."
Jesse took the cigar out of his mouth and gave the cyborg a nod. "I second that."
"You would prefer someone else to look at it?"
"When possible, yes."
"I'd go to Ziegler if I could," McCree chimed in, causing Scott to tease him about a crush on the Swiss doctor. Reyes put the idle conversation aside, Genji's reply playing over and over in his head.
How much trust was too much to give O'Deorain? There was the very real potential for her to abuse the faith he'd placed in her; was he wrong to give her so much leeway?
If he was, someone could wind up seriously hurt.