“..Gabe. Please. Open the door.”
There was no response, only the soft pounding of the rain on the roof of the base. Jack knocked once again, begging Gabriel to open the door.
Gabe didn’t hear him. He was lost in thought. Lost in his worst memory.
He told you to stay home. The mission would be dangerous, and you were already injured. You were to stay in the Medical Ward with Moira until you fully recovered.
You were inside the building that Talon had blown up. Both you and Gerard were critically injured; no one was sure you were going to make it. Your health had fluctuated so drastically while you were under Moira’s care. Not even Moira was able to predict if you were going to make it.
Gabe went to visit you the day before the mission to kidnap Antonio was to take place. He had kissed your forehead and sat at your bedside for as long as he could. He promised he would be back soon and that son of a bitch would pay for what he had done to you and to your family.
You insisted that you wanted to go. Your voice was weak, and talking too much caused you to cough violently, often to the point of coughing blood. You were recovering, albeit slowly. Gabriel scolded you gently, often laying you back into bed and promising that you could go on the next mission. You weren’t satisfied, but you pouted and nodded.
Gabe kissed you one last time before he stood, shrugging off his jacket and wrapping it over you. “You looked cold. I know these blankets aren’t the best. Remind me when I get back to order some better ones.”
“What about me, Commander?” Gerard’s voice was pouty as he made a face at Gabriel. “I’m cold too, you know. Do I get your jacket too?”
“Freeze.” Gabe said, shrugging. He wasn’t able to hide his grin, and neither was Gerard.
“Be safe, Gabe.” You murmured, watching him. “Don’t do anything rash, okay? I love you.”
“I love you too, babe. I’ll see you when I get back.” You watched him go. You noticed the way his shoulders sagged as he closed the door, thinking you weren’t able to see him.
Later that night, you managed to sneak out when no one was awake. The only person you had to worry about was Genji, but he was on the mission with Gabriel. Moira was also gone, which left no one in the medical bay for the night. Angela would be back in the morning to check on the two of you, but that was hours away. You suited up, wincing slightly. Your wounds still ached, but you were determined to make Gabe’s life easier, even by just a little bit.
No one noticed as you boarded one of the ships. No one stopped you as you took off into the night.
The base was frantic the day after you had disappeared; it was Ana who pointed out the missing ship, and it was Angela who cursed your name to the high heavens. You had overheard Ana and Jack talking about a Talon base operating out of Egypt, and how it would be useful to take it down. You decided to go take it down yourself, in a moment of feverish haze. Once your mind was set, there was no changing it. You didn’t mention your plans to anyone, of course.
By the time Jack was able to have the ship tracked, Gabriel was just getting back from his mission. Jack was pissed, of course, but he knew Gabe was about to feel the same rage that he was feeling when he learned that you were gone.
No one told him at first.
He immediately went to see you. He was surprised that no one was bustling down the halls as usual. There was no chatter between you and Gerard, who was now all but fully recovered.
He pushed open the doors, and was shocked to see your bed empty.
He went to Jack’s office, pausing outside the door.
“What are we going to tell him? You know how Gabriel can be-”
“How can I be?” He asked as he walked through the doors, Angela jumping slightly. He crossed his arms and stared around the room. He glanced at the screen, a small, pulsing red dot flashing on the screen. He watched the dot, taking in the map.
“Are you sending us to Egypt? Haven’t we pissed off enough countries recently?”
Jack hesitated. “Gabe.. Sit down.”
“Why?” Gabe countered, instantly on the defence. He didn’t see that look on Jack often; only when there was bad news that he didn’t want to share.
“Y/N.. disappeared the other night.” He started. “We think they took one of the ships to Egypt, though we don’t know why.”
“You lost them?” He growled, voice low. “How could you lose them? They were bedridden! Unless they went when they were better?”
“How the FUCK do you lose someone who can barely walk?! How could you not notice them get on a ship and fly away?!” He yelled, slamming his hands on the desk. Angela sniffled slightly, wiping her eyes.
“You fucking people.” He snarled, storming out the door. He boarded a plane and flew to Egypt as fast as he could.
When he got to the base’s location, he could not believe what he saw.
The whole place was ablaze, guards strewn around the property. As far as he could tell, all of them were dead.
He searched the property frantically, shooting anyone who was left to oppose him. His rage burned hotter than the fire from the building, growing hotter and hotter every second he couldn’t find you.
It took him ten minutes to find you.
You had managed to crawl a little way away from the burning building, eventually collapsing in the sand. Blood soaked the sand around you, your weapon strewn a little ways away. Each breath you took rattled in your chest, blood streaming from the corner of your mouth. Part of your clothes were singed, your skin burned underneath.
Gabriel collapsed at your side, carefully pulling your body against his.
You coughed, giving him a weak smile. “H-i, Gabey..” You murmured, managing to lift your hand to brush away the tears that slipped down his cheeks.
“What the fuck were you thinking, y/n?” He choked, holding you close against his chest. “You.. You fucking idiot.”
“I love you t-too.” You laughed a little, wincing from the pain. You had been shot so many times that you had lost count, and you hadn’t made it quite far enough from the explosion to escape it. “I-I knew how h-ard you had been w-working lately.. I just wan-ted to take s-some pressure off of y-you..” You explained, frowning as you watched him. “I thought.. taking d-down this base would h-elp you..”
He laughed a little, a hysterical laugh with no humour in it. “Babe, you’re going to die. I can’t.. I can’t help you.”
“I won’t.. I won’t..die..” You promised, but you were already slipping. “B-esides.. If I.. do.. At least..Talon is coming w-with me.”
Gabe leaned down and pressed his lips against yours, his tears dripping onto your cheeks. “I love you, y/n. Please don’t leave me. You’re the only thing I have in this world.”
“Gabe..” You murmured. “Did you.. fuck them up?” You managed, closing your eyes.
“Yeah baby. I fucked them up real good.”
“I-I’m p-proud of you, Gabe.” You breathed, relaxing in his arms.
Gabriel let out a heart wrenching scream, his sobs lost to the wind that was starting to blow.
He stayed there, cradling your body for almost half an hour before managing to stand and get back on the ship. He brought your body with him, promising to bury you back home where you belonged.
He hadn’t spoken to anyone since that day. He refused to speak to Jack, to listen to Angela’s apologies, to hear Ana’s condolences. He shut himself in his office, attempting to drown himself in paperwork. No one had seen him in the five days since your death.
As far as he was concerned, he didn’t exist any more. The one thing keeping him tied to the Earth was gone.
And so was Gabriel Reyes.
izzy806
jbbartram-illu
titsay
blakekathryn
2087
andulkaphoto
stormborns
