Hello everyone and welcome back to another chapter of "Over Time." Sorry about this one being long overdue. I had things to do and I didn't have enough inspiration to start this one. I hope you understand and please enjoy this chapter.
A/N I know I changed the actual lore around a bit, but I didn't really think about it when I was typing. I'm getting close to ending the lore side of the story and start writing something from my mind, no story to help, just me, my mind, and music. Sorry for this and the wait. See you in the next chapter.
-Twix
As much as I was happy with Lena, I couldn't get through my mind that had Amber died only yesterday. That memory would run in mind the whole day, like watching the same movie over and over again. Until one day I couldn't take it anymore.
Today I had to go on a mission, only this one was saving a hostage from a Talon base in a classified location. I didn't think much of it as I just entered the chopper, quiet as can be. Lena was sitting right next to me and really nervous. Either her hands were messing with her jacket or her legs swinging back and forth. This was one of her first hostage rescue in a while. Even though she was nervous, it was cute to see her like that. Just seeing an energetic girl go from a cheery mood to a scared mood was funny to me. Before I could speak up, we were closing on the ground. I looked up and heard the commander told the squad that we were doing a hostage rescue, we were going in stealthy, and we only kill those we needed too. This was a different base but we did the same thing as last time. We threw the grapple up to the window and all climbed in. Although we didn't have a lot of people with us, we still moved like a wolf pack. Ours steps were quiet and our takedowns were clean, synchronized. It took a while to get through each room but we finally reached the room that we were told the hostage was in. I only heard a countdown before we barged into the room. To our surprise, we just saw the hostage in a chair in a blank room.
I moved up to him and untied him from the steel chair, I set him on my shoulder and motioned to the leader. We all moved out of the room, "I have the hostage. Repeat, I have the hostage."
I heard through my ear piece one of Overwatch's commander speak, "Alright, get out of there. They found the bodies and they are not happy. Meet us by the back of the base but expect resistance. Good luck." His voice cut out and we realized we were going to have to fight this off.
Third P.O.V
Every one of the group fought their hearts out. Ensuring that the hostage got out safe and sound. Each room was filled with Talon agents, but the group somehow managed to blaze through them without taking too many casualties. Lena looked to see Talon agents were running towards them. The whole group quickly decided to go to door to the side. The air was silent and the sun was out and bright. As they ran through the doorway with Talon agents shooting them down, they could see the exit. That was the only way out. Moving past everything, dodging and weaving, and shooting, they made it to the door.
"Alright, how do we get it open?" Lena said while tugging at the locked door.
"Uh, I got it, you guys are going to have to cover me for a minute." The rest turned around and started the fight back.
"I'm running out of ammo! Can you hurry a bit?" A friendly yelled.
"I'm trying! I just need to…." The soldier said.
The out of nowhere a ghostly figure appeared in front of the group and the fire fight stopped. "Look, who's here. I appreciate your effort, but we'd like him back." The mysterious man said.
"We aren't giving you anything, Reaper." Lena exclaimed.
"Is that so? Well if you do manage to get through, congrats, but if you fail, well, I'll just say good luck." Reaper tossed them the device then disappeared, like he wasn't even there. The place fell silent as they could only hear the friendly struggle to open the gate. Then the bullets started up again, louder this time.
Sean picked up the mysterious device, then his mouth dropped. He threw it on the ground falling to his knees.
"What is it?" A soldier asked.
"It's….a bomb. Hurry with the door!" Sean yelled, he was stressed and worried.
"Uh, loves, I don't think now is a great time to scream, more are coming this way!" The moment Lena said this, Talon agents appeared, shooting as they slowly encroached forward. The rest got their guns and set up on the tables and couches as they fired back at them. One. Two. Three. They were losing men and losing time quickly. Last time Sean saw the bomb it had two minutes on the clock.
"Got it. Let's move." Everyone got up and ran out the door but one person, Sean.
"Sean, c'mon, we have to go, like now." Lena pulled on his shoulder getting his attention.
"I can't go, I lost too much and I won't lose much now. They will get us in a swoop if we all decide to run. I'll buy you time, but you'll have to run fast." As the two best friends stared into each other's eyes, they knew, this was the end of their journey together. Lena leaned in and they both touched lips. The bullets ran past their heads as everything went mute. The muffled yelling of the group was in the background as a soldier, "We've got to go!" He grabbed Lena by the waist and haled her out. Lena's hand rose up as she tried to grab Sean's. She screamed and squirmed as she looks towards Sean, who turned around and shot his assault rifle back at Talon. The group exited the base and ran on the side of the base and made it to the helicopter and it started to slowly lift off the ground. Lena just sat at the edge of the chopper and stared back with tears in her eyes as the Talon base got smaller and smaller. Then…a small explosion followed. Tears started to run down her face, still looking at the cloud of black smoke. A soldier dropped down by her and Lena fell into his body. He just rubbed her back as the helicopter flew away from the destroyed base. Even though it was hard to look at, she kept crying and mumbling something beneath her crying. The other soldiers just looked at the back of her accelerator and looked away at the sky, a few tears coming here and there. A bunch of flashbacks hit Lena at once. Moments back when they were kids shooting hoops…flying the jet…shooting guns…laughter…..saving Sean butt….Amber. Just when she remembered these memories they touched down.
"We're home." The pilot took off his helmet and exited the chopper. The group walked out and the atmosphere was dark. The walk to meeting room was silent. They were greeted by a happy crowd, who were cheering to see the hostage coming back safely.
"Why so down and where is Sean?" Genji asked.
"He's gone." Lena's lip quivered when she said this.
"What?" Genji's voice rose as everyone in the room turned towards him.
"Hey, what happened?" Jack walked up to the two.
Lena rushed out of the room, arms crossed and slammed the door behind her. Everyone jumped as they continued staring at the door.
"I'll go talk to her." Angela got up and walked throughout the base looking for her sad friend, until she heard sobbing in Winston's lab. She slowly knocked on the door, "Hey, you ok?"
"Go away!" Lena continued to sob. Angela just opened the door and slowly looked as Lena was in a ball sitting in a corner.
"I know what happened. It's okay, he's in a better place now." Immediately regretting what she had just said. Lena just cried even more. Her cheery mood was completely gone. "You couldn't do anything for him, he already lost too much. His sacrifice will not go without a hero's farewell."
"No, you don't understand Angela." Lena's rubbed the tears away.
"Sure I do." Angela recoiled as she gave Lena her "mom" look.
"No you don't. Can I be left alone please?"
Angela breathed lightly, "I know you wanted to make him happy. I know you wanted to be his side all the time. I know….you loved him Lena."
"I just want him back Angela. I wish he never went on the mission."
Before Angela could talk, the rest of the Overwatch members walked in. "Hey Lena, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for everything. You should go home though. Get some rest. I think we got have HQ under control."
"I agree. I'll take you home." Angela helped Lena up and they both left
In her apartment, Angela decided to clean her apartment. She cleaned the dirty place up. What seemed to be no time, the place was clean. No cloths, on the ground and in the closet now, all organized, floors vacuumed, towels folded, etc. She sat by Lena and set her hand on her head.
"Hey, I got to go back to work. If you need anything, tell me." Angela left the room and the mood got quieter. Now Lena was alone. Left to collect her thoughts, but it was hard. Hard to think that your best friend was gone. It turned night time in no time and Lena was still in her uniform. Lying, staring at the ceiling, eyes lids slowly closing, getting heavy by the minute.
Screaming, yelling, and terror filled Lena's mind as she sat up in her bed, sweaty and scared. She picked her phone and called Angela. "C'mon, c'mon, pick up."
"Hello?" Angela was tired and exhausted. Then again it was three a.m. in the morning.
"Angela, I need you! I don't know what happened. I had a nightmare, a bad one. Can you come over?"
"Sure, I'll be right over." Lena just sat on the edge of her bed, breathing heavy. She decided she needed fresh air and went out to the balcony. Lena looked throughout the cold night and stared at the stars. Picturing Sean and her together, laughing and drinking at a pub.
"Lena?" Angela was in a white Overwatch shirt and shorts.
"Oh yes, just needed some fresh air." Lena closed the door still looking at the door.
"So, what happened?" Angela sat in a chair, her hand on her head.
"I don't know, I just woke up from a memory." Lena responded but in a fast tone.
"You're burning up and you heart is beating fast." Angela felt Lena's forehead. She went to grab some water when Lena collapsed. Lena woke up to see a white sheet over her, a light staring at her, and Angela sitting in a chair beside her on her phone. "Lena, welcome back."
"Where am I?" Lena asked sitting up on her arms.
"You're in a hospital. A doctor is going to come in and tell us why you just had a random breakdown. Don't worry, you'll be fine." Angela smiled and went back to what she was doing.
Lena yawned and looked around, she messed with her hair and looked around. Cloths in a corner of the room, computer, sink, other gadgets in the room. She was just about to get up and explore the room when the doctor came in.
"Looks like she's awake. Lena, Mr. Johnston."
Lena shook his hand and listened in to what he had to say.
"Your breakdown was odd, especially for you. If I know you, you're all happy and cheerful. This is very odd."
"Meaning?" Lena just shook her head and looked confused.
"Meaning that you've been diagnosed with PTSD. Memories will start to flash back from time to time and not good memories either. You will remember memories from back in your fights."
"So I can't go back and work for Overwatch anymore?"
"You can go back to see people but you'd just have another breakdown if you go on another mission."
"How do I get rid of this?"
"This condition can be cured but only through time. You have to take medications so your breakdowns aren't as severe or rare. Ok? I have to go see another patient. I'll have you checked out and you can leave." With that the doctor left the two girls alone.
"So, that's it huh? I can't work for Overwatch anymore. My career is over?" Lena spoke silently. Her voice trembled a little and their hands shook.
"I'll bring you back to Overwatch HQ, for now just take you meds and we'll see what happens in the future." Angela responded. The car ride back was just Lena looking out window to the sky. When they arrived at the base and slowly walked to the meeting room to tell the rest of the members the bad news. "Lena, you can explain this to the rest."
The door opened and the cold air blew on her face then the light felt like a spotlight on her as everyone turned to look at their fallen friend. "So, um, looks like I can't work with you guys for a while. I just got back from the doctors and he said that I have." Lena took a deep breath before going on. "I have PTSD."
"How did you get that?" Jack interrupted.
"I had a random breakdown in the middle of the night, flashbacks to loud gunfire, everywhere. It just…appeared." Lena slumped down in a chair, holding her head with her hand, breathing heavily.
"So you can't work with us anymore?" Jack asked.
"I guess not. Only time will tell." The room fell silent for a minute then went back to what they were doing. The atmosphere was loud. Everyone seemed to talk with loud voices almost screaming what they were saying. Lena decided to just go outside for some fresh air. Genji slowly came up behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, don't be so down. At least now you can live a normal life until your PTSD goes away. If you need anything, tell me alright?"
"I'll tell you, thank you Genji." Lena leaned in for a hug and finally felt happiness after a long time.
The next few months were boring. Just living a normal life was not as interesting as Lena thought. Lena's PTSD struck very little but if it hit her, it hit hard. She'd be on the ground bawling her eyes out or just pass out completely. Even though she had this, she wanted to get back into the action and save lives, not sit around and watch T.V. all day, but today was no ordinary day. When she walked out of her apartment the streets were filled with protestors. Every other person was holding a sign that said 'Shut Overwatch Down!'
What's going on? I have to get to HQ now. Lena rushed to a cab and went off to HQ. When she got to HQ, there were already people at the front door. She pushed and shoved her way through the crowd and stumbled in the building. The meeting room was in panic when she got in.
"What's going on out there?" Brushing herself off.
"We are getting shut down apparently. The public is a little mad at us for some reason." Angela responded still looking at the screen.
"Well, what did you guys do when I was gone?" Lena looked for an answer.
"I think Talon got to us. They used us to tell the public about 'who we really are.' Angela did air quotes when she said this.
"How did they do that?" Lena was confused.
"They were watching us every day I guess. Our every movement. They recorded what we did wrong and stored that for this very day." Angela cursed in German and laid her head on the table.
The T.V. turned to the news and the girl started to talk about Overwatch. "Our next story is about the protective group Overwatch. These so called heroes are supposed to protect our beloved world, but today they got exposed but an anonymous teller. Look here." She pointed to the screen to the watch a video on one of our recent missions. Lena immediately looked away, knowing what was going to happen, she covered her ears and looked outside. "If we got this correctly, one of the key members was in that building when it blew up." They rest of the broadcast went through all the bad moments that happened in Overwatch until at the end. "So the world has decided to disband Overwatch and deem any Overwatch action illegal. Thank you and good night."
"So that is that. I guess we're done. The world doesn't need us anymore." Jack stood hands leaning on a chair. "Go do whatever I guess. Go on vacation, read a book, I don't care just remember you can call every one of us if you need something. Dismiss." He stood and saluted and every one followed. Lena particularly did this proudly. As they walked out of the room and followed to the exit, all the lights shut down one by one. Darkness started to settle in as they reached the final floor. The door was free from anybody and the front desk was empty. As everyone exited through the glass door, Lena spoke up, "Hey everyone? I just wanted to say that it was a pleasure working with you all. I loved all the moments we had and I hope we can get together soon, okay?" They all went for a group hug, a passionate one, knowing that everyone would go back to their home country. "Before we go, selfie!" Lena held up her phone and everyone crowded around and smiled as she took the picture. The brit walked up to the building and placed her hand on the cold wall. I'm going to miss you. Keep our memories safe. She placed her head on the wall and closed her eyes. Good bye. With that Lena left the empty building, leaving everything she really had with it, walking in the night with the full moon shining on her. She left a tear slowly fall down her cheek, but she'd always remember what had happen Over Time.
I know that sounds like the ending but you can decide if you want to see more or not. Just post a review if you want to see more! As always leave a review, good or bad. Thanks for reading. Maybe see you in the next chapter.
-Twix