Mei-Ling Zhou deemed you her closest friend. And you considered her the same. Especially after your return to the living world, after she'd helped you through a period of grief. And major adjustments.

She proved to be a truer friend than Jack.

Except ...she never really knew the truth about Gabriel.

After all this time, you still haven't told her.

You watched her, quietly biting on your lower lip as guilt crept from the dark corners of your mind.

Mei was zipping around the lab, collaborating with the other scientists. In all her conversations, she seemed so lively and cheerful. She showed it in her kind voice and her bright smile.

Would she still smile at you and be kind to you if you spilled the beans?

Maybe you'd tell her the truth at some point. But today you couldn't muster the will. Because lately... it seemed like everyone in your inner circle looked at you with some contempt.

Angela, Jack...

Jesus, even Gabriel.

And you weren't sure if you could take another reprimand.

I should just focus on work. You sighed and returned to your current project. With Mercy's endorsement, you would hopefully find the cure to your fiancé's affliction.

But then you became so caught up in your discovery, your fretful contemplation earlier went forgotten.

"Mei," Your voice sounded distant when you beckoned your colleague over to your workstation. Riveted by what you were seeing in the microscope, you felt your heart flutter wildly in your chest. "Look at these germ cells. They're surviving only in isotonic solution. No seminal or cervical fluid."

"How old are these?" Mei peered into the oculars, eyes widening when she saw the multitudes of rapidly-oscillating threadlike structures. "Wow!"

"Variable," You answered, crossing your arms over your chest pensively. "Could be a few days old or more. There are hardly any dying spermatozoa in there."

"I don't know much about reproductive science, but whoever produced these must be very fertile." She remarked, preoccupied as she adjusted the magnification on the microscope. "Whose specimen is this?"

You were hesitant to answer, suddenly reminded of your dilemma to disclose the truth. "It's ...Gabriel's."

It took several moments for the information to register. But when it did, Mei stopped her inspection and looked at you—the astonishment she gave off was so tangible, you cringed. "Gabriel? As in... former Blackwatch commander Gabriel? Your fiancé Gabriel?"

You kept a straight face, trying to downplay the gravity of the situation, and answered with a simple, "Yes." Without further explanation. And you wished she wouldn't press anymore. "I was hoping you'd seen something like this before."

"Unfortunately, this isn't in my scope." She frowned. "I've seen nothing like it. I'm sorry."

You frowned with her, then looked into the microscope's oculars once more. "This is scary abnormal, right?"

"So ...Gabriel is still alive," Mei finally said after silent contemplation. You pretended to not have heard her, pretended to keep yourself occupied with your work. But she touched your arm to force your attention. "Don't tell me... the rumors are true, then?"

You sighed, giving a barely perceptible nod.

"Reaper?" Mei gasped, eyes widening as she failed to contain her utter surprise. "[Y/N], I worry about you!"

"I'm okay. I'm safe." You attempted to reassure her. "I promise he's not hurting me, and I actually haven't seen him in for a few days now. But he... hasn't changed. He's still the Gabriel I knew then."

She scrutinized your form silently. "I see. You were ill because of the coitus." Mei was very observant. And very reserved with revealing her thoughts. "You're looking better already, having gone several days without ...you know."

"Yes," You agreed with her. Truth be told, you were improving physically. Your skin had returned to its normal coloring. The bruising had disappeared. And the fatigue was gone. Mentally, emotionally, sexually...? It was a different matter entirely. "Physically I may be feeling better... but I'm very..."

"Very...?" She urged you on.

Horny. "Never mind. That's not important." You took a slow, deep breath before continuing, "I need your expertise. You're great at genetic recombination, right?"

"On plants, yes."

"Perfect!" You beamed hopefully at her.

Mei's face grew resolute as she grabbed your hand and clutched it in hers, "I'll help you, as long as you promise me something."

Your smile faded as you regarded Mei seriously.

"We've known each other for a while, especially before all this. You're like a sister to me. I want to help you, in any way you ask me to—without judgment or reserve. So you have to be honest with me, okay?"

Reluctantly you nodded, feeling your guilt recede—replaced by comfort the longer you looked into her warm eyes.

Without warning, she tugged you along. "Let's go. We're going to have brunch, then we'll figure out whatever we need to figure out!"

You couldn't refuse with how adamant she sounded—besides she wasn't giving you much of an opportunity to refuse as she hauled you out of the lab.

Mei walked slightly ahead of you, and as the both of you began trekking down the corridor, she let your hand go. "I think they're serving crepes and waffles for breakfast today. Which sounds good?"

Silence.

She stopped in her tracks and turned around when she heard no reply. "[Y/N]?"

--

You'd been less than graciously pulled into a supply closet, a hand over your mouth and another pressed firmly against your hip as you were pinned against the wall.

If it were any other man, you would be doing your damnedest to pummel him alive—but it was Jack Morrison, someone you trusted with your life, even if he had been acting like a complete jackass.

So letting out a slow breath through your nostrils, you waited for him to explain himself.

"Sorry," He muttered, uncovering your mouth and taking a step back. Then, he went on—with his voice clear as a bell, "You're coming with me."

"Why?" You shot him a questioning look, unaffected by the fact that he was very, intimately close to you. "What's going on?"

Jack made a gesture downward with a sharp nod of his head. "I got your clothes. You're going to live with me for a while."

You looked where he motioned and saw a duffel bag close to his feet. "Jack, you're kinda scaring me. What's going on?"

"Let's just say that it's not safe for you to live by yourself. With Gabe gone."

"So you know why he hasn't been home for a couple days? Because I've tried to call him, like multiple times, and--"

"[Y/N]," His hand pushed against your hip, lightly knocking your back against the wall. "Look, Gabriel asked me to look out for you. I can't tell you much other than that you need to trust your fiancé." He paused, the lines on his face growing prominent as he furrowed his brow. "Just trust me, alright?"

Jack wasn't being very forthcoming, and you knew—from your years of friendship—that prying information out of him was virtually impossible.

There was still so much you didn't know about Overwatch's disbandment. What better way to satisfy your curiosity other than living with the man who was most involved?

"Fine. But you can't stop me from going to work." You finally said.

Troubled by your demand, he began to argue but you clamped a hand over his mouth.

"That's the only stipulation I have. Either you agree to it, or I don't live with you."

You drew your hand back when the defeat showed in his eyes.

"Fine, it's a fair compromise." Though reluctant, he'd grant you your stipulation. Because Jack knew you as well as you knew him—he knew that hell would freeze over before anyone could force you to do something against your will.