A whole week went by as Medic's injuries healed rather quickly, some in part to his own medical skills and part to Engineer's work before. During his recovery, there were no battles, partially due to his injuries and the fact that Heavy killed half of the other team permanently in the previous battle. So there was a month-long ceasefire until The Administrator could find replacements for the dead BLU team members. And despite everything that happened, even his near death and amazing survival, Medic couldn't keep one thing from creeping into his mind.

His name tattooed on Heavy's skin, like a birthmark he had for years. He was his soulmate. But that couldn't be possible. He didn't have Heavy's name on his body. He checked dozens of times after he was fully patched up, but to his dismay he found nothing. No name, no marks.

Nothing.

He checked once more before lunch and sighed, not surprised anymore as he found nothing once more. He put his shirt and pants back on and then made his way towards the kitchen. Unlike the last time he went there, the small dining room/kitchen was filled with his friends. A couple of his teammates noticed him and gave him a smile, but the others were either too tired or drunk to notice the German doctor's arrival. One person in particular that noticed him was Engineer. He was cooking up this morning's breakfast. Medic noticed that the man more tired than normal, deep dark circles around his goggled eyes. He walked over to him and shot him a worried look.

"Dell. If you don't mind me saying you look utterly awful. Having you been sleeping?"

Engie shook his head, giving the doctor a tired smile. "I'm fine, doc. Hasn't been the first time I went without a good night's sleep."

"Does this have anything to do with your problem you needed my help with?"

The Texan's smile shrank slightly and nodded, "It does."

Engie stopped talking and glanced around to see if anyone else was listening, but when he saw that no one was paying any attention to the two men, he continued in a hushed tone.

"But I don't wanna talk about it here. Meet me at my workshop after lunch"

Medic nodded and Engie turned back to the stovetop and continued cooking. Medic sat down next to Heavy, who smiled at the other man.

"Morning, doktor. How are you feeling."

"Better than I was, Misha. Thank you."

"Heavy is happy to hear."

Medic nodded, but didn't reply as he was scared if he opened his mouth anymore, he'd spill out his secrets and he certainly didn't want that. Not now.

Maybe not ever.

X X X

After lunch Medic went right down to Engineer's workshop, seeing no sense in wasting any time. He didn't knock and walked right in, figuring that Dell would be expecting him. Engineer was at his worktable, mindlessly tinkering with a broken sentry gun's barrel. He set his tools down when he noticed Medic had arrived. He turned around and Medic noticed he seemed nervous, scared even.

"Hey, doc. Sit down and we'll talk."

Medic sat down in a metal foldout chair next to the worktable and Engie remained standing, nervously flexing his metal fingers and stroking his beard with his real ones. Medic eyed him curiously. He had never seen Dell this weirded out.

But by what?

"Dell, what's going on?"

Engineer relaxed slightly and took a shaky breath, "This."

Medic's jaw dropped and his eyes went wide as Dell rolled up his sleeve and on the inside of his wrist, just below his hand. . .was a name etched onto what looked like a burn mark.

Vic.

"Is that. . ."

Dell nodded but said nothing.

"Who's name is it?

"I think. . .I think it's Pyro's name. After all, this burn mark is there and I don't know anyone else 'round here named Vic."

"So you're saying Pyro is your soulmate?"

"I think so, but I'm not too sure."

"Have you asked them? Maybe they have your name somewhere on their body."

Dell's face heated up and he shook his head, "Never saw Pyro out of their suit. That's why I need you."

Medic was confused at first up then he grinned as he understood, "Ah! Wunderbar! You need me to check their body during our next check-ups. Smart thinking, mien friend."

Dell smiled for the first time since Medic saw him today, "Exactly. Then report back to me as soon as possible."

Medic nodded and stood up from the chair, rubbing his back as it felt a slight twinge of pain shot through it. He ignored it though and started to leave Dell's workshop, only to be stopped by Dell's hand on his shoulder, causing him to turn and look at the Texan.

"Yes?"

"Doc. Another thing I wanted to let ya know. Is that I know about your little crush on our big boy Mikhail."

The color drained from Medic's face and he felt his heart drop into his stomach.

"H-How did you find out?"

"You talked in your sleep while I was fixing ya up. Mentioned something about Heavy and your feelings. Wasn't too hard to be two and two together, partner."

"You won't. . .tell anyone, will you?"

"Course I won't. We've all got our secrets, doc."

Medic heartbeat slowed from a thundering pounding to a light thumping and he breathed a sigh of relief, "Danke, Dell."

Engie just smiled and nodded before walking back to his worktable. Medic took that as his cue to leave and did just that as he walked down the hallway and went down back to his room.

He was just about to open the door when the pain in his back returned, only this time it doubled and he nearly collapsed from the sudden shock. Something wasn't right, he got back to his feet and crashed through the door, wincing as he tried to make his way towards a mirror. He cried out as the pain sent shockwaves throughout his body. It felt like someone was burning his skin with a hot iron poker while another person cut into his flesh with a razor sharp blade. Medic ripped off his shirt and doctor's coat as he made it to a large mirror. He turned his back to the mirror and gasped in surprise as he saw what was on his back. There were letters being burned into his flesh in the almost exact spot he saw his name on Heavy's skin. The letters seared into his flesh slowly made out a name and he nearly passed out right there, from both the pain and the shock of what he saw.

Mikhail.