Hi. The first half of this chapter is a bit filler-y, but I just couldn't let the occasion pass. Hope you like it.
"You did what?!"
Mercy is staring at her field communicator, both hands on the desk.
A gorilla with glasses is fidgeting on screen.
"Doctor Ziegler, please. Now it's not the time..."
"This could very well be a trap! Have you both gone mad?"
The Swiss doctor sits on a stool.
"Okay. Let's say this is not a trap and Widowmaker really is dying. How am I supposed to help you? I'm not even in Europe!"
Winston frowns.
"I have medical equipment inside the base. I thought you could guide me with the procedures."
"Winston. You really don't look like a medical bot. Also, I should see her, I can't just..."
"Ah, but I have brought pictures! And a full analysis of her body. Sending now."
The screen blinks as Mercy opens the data.
"This is...uh. This seems to be the real deal."
"So? Will you help?"
Mercy snorts.
"All right Winston. I'll see what I can do. First of all, you're going to need some morphine..."
After the call, Winston quickly thanks the doctor and cuts the line, hurrying to get all the medicines and machinery Mercy has suggested.
Feeling suddenly tired, Mercy collapses on her small bed, staring at the roof of her tent.
What the hell was that?
Sitting on the edge of the bed, her eyes catch a piece of paper with a quill on it.
Smiling, she grabs the letter, re-reading some of the passages.
He can be such a dork sometimes.
"Doctor Ziegler?"
A nurse appears in front of her tent.
"The base commander wants that report on yesterday's raid. He asked me to remind you."
"Oh yes. I've already written it. I was about to send it to him. Thank you nurse."
Slowly getting up, Mercy walks to the computer, moving her firm hands on the keyboard.
It's almost time. The plane should have arrived by now.
As she finishes sending the report, an alarm on the desk goes off, bright red numbers showing the time.
Feeling her heart pounding, Mercy quickly activates the communicator and dials in the first registered number.
The screen is blank, save for a large icon shaped like a telephone.
After a couple seconds, the face of a young woman in uniform with a tattoo on her eye fills the communicator's display. The insides of Cairo International Airport can be seen on the background.
"You're so precise. As always, Angela."
"Pharah!" showing her best smile, Mercy takes a step closer to the screen.
"How are you? How was the trip?"
"Pretty good. Dad was really happy. We had a nice Christmas."
The Egyptian soldier smiles melancholically.
"He asked about mom."
Mercy lowers the gaze.
"She still doesn't want to talk to him, right?"
"No." Pharah sighs "Come on, it's been years. Oh, she's so stubborn."
The doctor giggles. "Just like you, Pharah."
Fareeha smiles, blushing a bit.
"Well, after this incredibly clichéd conversation, I'd like to know how are you and how was your Christmas."
"Nothing special. I'm fine, as always. I've spent the whole 24th night sewing back limbs and patching bullet holes. Just another day at the office."
"I'm sorry, Angela."
"Don't be. You had a nice holiday with your father. And now you're coming back. To me. I can't wait to see you."
"Sometimes you scare me, doctor Ziegler."
"You should be scared of what I'm gonna do to you tomorrow night if you don't get back safe, captain Amani."
Both chuckling, the two women share a moment of silence, staring at each other through the screen.
"Oh, Pharah? Genji sent me a letter."
The gorgeous features of Pharah's face immediately stiffen as the girl frowns.
"A letter. What did he say?"
Mercy laughs, taking the letter and putting it in front of the camera for Pharah to see.
"It was just a Christmas letter. See?"
Fareeha snickers. "He sent you a paper letter? Oh, boy."
He's such a nice guy. He even wrote 'Merry Christmas'. Could you believe it? A monk lost somewhere in Nepal wishing Merry Christmas."
The girl inside the communicator squints.
"I also read 'I'd like to let you know that Zenyatta-sensei has agreed to a visit. If you wish, you can join us on January, as we will have finished renovating the temple."
Mercy smiles.
"Yes, I know."
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him nothing. I was about to ask you if you were so kind to accompany me. I do need to check on his implants and it's always good to see him and Zen."
Pharah sighs, then nods.
"All right, I guess. If we can spare some time next month, we could visit them for a day."
"Just a day? Oh, Fareeha..."
"And if he tries anything I'll send him to whatever place he calls heaven with a rocket right up..."
Mercy quickly mutes the device, laughing.
"Pharah. You're adorable when you're jealous." She smiles.
"I'm not jealous!" screams the girl. Behind her, a couple tourists inside the airport squirm at the yelling.
Laughing even more loudly, Mercy stands up.
"I have to go now. My turn begins in ten minutes. I'm so happy we're going to be together tomorrow."
"I love you." She says, sending a kiss to the screen.
Pharah smiles, her features softening.
"I love you too, zschaten."
"It's schätzen my dear." Giggles the doctor.
"Whatever. See you soon."
With a bright light right on her face, Amélie is blind.
She's lying on a hard, cold surface. Strong grips lock her limbs in place.
"This is incredible. Imagine the possibilities."
A voice. She can't tell who or where that person is, but she can feel it's close.
"I'm afraid this will hurt a bit, Amélie. But you are strong, aren't you?"
"Yes."
Her voice comes out without her consent. A shiver runs through her back.
"You may commence when ready."
Strange sounds of machinery fill her ears. Something very cold and sharp is put on her head and chest.
"Welcome to Talon, Widowmaker."
A sudden, excruciating pain blocks everything out of the woman.
She feels like something is drilling inside her body.
As she feels her force leaving, she muster all her willpower to let out a long, terrible scream of agony.
"Hey, calm down! You want to die after everything we've done?"
Widowmaker opens her eyes.
She's in a small, white room. She's lying inside a bed, soft blankets covering her.
Right in front of her, Tracer is standing with a worried face.
"I...uuuh..."
"Can you understand me?"
The sniper slowly nods, trying to focus.
"Où suis-je ?"
"What?"
"Where…am I?"
"You're in my house."
Winston enters the room, carrying a small box.
Feeling suddenly scared, Widowmaker tries to move.
"Oh, no no! Don't move love!"Tracer quickly stops her squirming. "That's the last thing you'd want to do right now."
Turning to face her, Widowmaker sees a tube coming out of her arm.
"It's for regulating your blood pressure." Explains Winston.
"Apparently you had an extremely slowed heartbeat and a weird pressure. Your heart suddenly started to pump with full force and was about to explode. Also that much blood was killing your organs."
The sniper nods, focusing on the blood running in the tube.
The arm it's taken from is different from the last time. It has a slighter different shade of purple. Warmer, it would seem.
"Why...why did you save me?"
"Because that's what the good guys do! I can throw you out if you wish, I don't have any problems with it."
"Lena please, she needs to rest."
"Yes of course! But so do I! I was about to spend a nice evening with Emily! But no, this girl had to show up and go 'please save me'." Tracer's face is red. Widowmaker has never seen her like that.
"What do you want? Why the people around you must only suffer?"
"Lena!"
Widowmaker squirms.
She's right. I've caused nothing but sorrow. Why am I even here.
While she's thinking that, she tries to make a bold face.
"I'm sorry chérie. Seems like I'm nothing but a nuisance to you. Trust me, I'll leave as soon as possible so you can return to your...Emily?"
"Leave her alone!"
"Okay that's enough you two! Lena please, I've everything under control. Go home."
"Are you sure, Winston?"
"Yes. After all, she's sedated. She won't go anywhere soon."
Without even turning, Tracer stomps out of the room.
"You have a lot of nerve to ask for help here." Says Winston as soon as the girl is gone.
"I very well hope you're not planning anything."
Widowmaker stares at him.
"I hope so too." She says softly.
Sighing, the scientist walks to the door.
"Now get some rest. Tomorrow we'll have to do some tests. I'm locking all accesses to this room, just in case."
As soon as the door closes, the lights turn off.
Widowmaker sighs, then closes her eyes.