FEVER DREAMS

asaghostie !

After the omnic crisis, there was still quite a bit of turmoil all over the globe. Many countries struggled to rebuild after being torn apart by the war. They were at the top of Overwatch's aid efforts. It often got them caught up in power struggles they had no patience or sympathy for.

One such struggle turned so violent, so quickly, that Overwatch's acting commander, Jack Morrison, and former strike commander, Gabriel Reyes, got pinned down during a civilian rescue mission for nearly two days. They took shelter in the rubble, using it as cover while they waited for their own rescue. Just a few hours into their ordeal, they began to hear a loud wailing. As they searched for the source, things turned frantic when both men simultaneously realized it was a baby crying.

Carefully digging through rubble, eventually, the duo unearthed a small, wounded child. Not even a year old with badly injured legs on top of other scrapes and bruises. Despite knowing they might need them themselves, Jack used his bionic fields to help soothe the baby's pain while they all waited for rescue. Two days of trying to stay alive while also taking care of a wounded baby was quite the stressful situation. But, it paid off, and when an evac team finally came, they boarded the ship and handed the child over to a small medical team on the ship.

Overwatch already had protocol for minors found in disaster areas. Resources for helping separated families be reunited. And if no family could be found, they worked with local and global orphanages. This was not by a long shot the first time either of them had rescued a child. But this time did feel different. Probably because they spent so much time personally taking care of the kid.

They discussed it one day when, by chance, they'd both visited Overwatch's state of the art pediatric unit to check up on the little fighter at the same time. When a nurse came in, explaining that the injuries to the baby's legs were just too severe and amputation was now required, and both of them shared a glance. A single, unspoken look between two men that already shared a life together. It had been decided, then, but they still talked about it afterwards. The pros and cons. How long they should wait for the search to continue for any living relatives.

Gabriel had vocally admitted to wanting to be a father soon after they'd started dating, but that he had doubts with the world being like it was. Jack hadn't thought too deeply about the idea, even after Gabe brought it up, filing it away as something to think about in the far off future.

Both their hang ups faded away with every night they spent at the tiny bedside of the recovering child. He was doing very well, the doctors assured, and prosthetics wouldn't be an issue with Overwatch's funding. What really made up their minds was when the haze of medication would wear off and the little baby they'd dug out of rocks and dust smiled up at them, just them.

A social worker showed up one day to announce that, depsite the extensive search efforts, it had been concluded the child was officially an orphan now. Gabe had cut in then stating that, no, he wasn't. Jack took care of most of the paperwork that day. He had a lot of pull as a world wide hero, after all.

"Alright, Kiddo, if yer gunna be stayin' here.. there's some rules we needta go over." Junkrat paced in front of the toddler, arms crossed behind his back, a serious expression on his face.

Mako snorted, letting this play out for now while he unhooked their haul from the bike. They'd arrived at the barn house a little before night fall-- after a small argument over Jamie having to share the sidecar. Roadhog had the whole ride to think over their situation.. and was still no closer to a solution.

"Don't touch my stuff. If ya don't know if it's mine, assume it is. Bathroom's outside. If ya pee in the floor, I'm not cleanin' it up. And-- hey, where are you-- Roadie! Road!"

The big man looked over again at Jamie's hollering, spotting the kid as they darted across the room, straight for his bed. They crouched down, picking up the pachimari stuffed toy tucked underneath, and hugged it tightly.

"Oy! That's not yers!" Junk marched over and the kid was already shrinking, bottom lip jutting out.

"Leave it," he snapped, sounding more threatening than he meant to. It made them both freeze up. Then Jamison scoffed. "..Fine. Whatever. It ain't mine."

Mako shook his head and headed toward the corner they used as a kitchen, intent on getting some dinner started. He already felt exhausted from having to deal with this situation and he had a feeling it was only going to get worse.

It wasn't long before Junkrat slid into a chair nearby, tapping his fingers on the tabletop. "Sooo..."

"So."

"..What's the plan? We go back tomorrow, look for the kid's parents? Leave a ransom note?"

"..No. No ransom."

Jamie huffed at that, but didn't push it. He watched the toddler approach them, giving Junkrat a wide space, before smooshing themself up against Roadhog's leg, the plushie still clutched in one arm.

Mako paused to glance downward.. then reached far enough to pat the messy curls.

"..Ya like it, huh?"

Roadhog pulled his hand away like he'd touched fire, going back to chopping up their dinner.

Junkrat grinned. "..Ya know, we could just keep 'em. Little rat's kinda cute."

"No."

Jamison stood up, slinking closer. The kid watched him the whole time, still pressed against Hog's leg. Jamie leaned against his other side. "Come on. We'd make great parents! I'll be the dad, you'll be mama, and Junior here will be our--"

"Mama?" Roadhog was glaring underneath his mask. Jamie could feel it.

"Ya. Cuz you got the bigger tits."

Jamison cackled and ran, narrowly dodging the swipe of a knife. 'Junior' giggled, too, from the silliness of it all.

"Make yourself useful and clean up anything dangerous."

Jamison looked around at their collection of tools, scraps, ammo, weapons, makeshift explosives...

"...Sooo.. Everything?"

"..Yeah. Pretty much."

--------

Childproofing took most of the night. Every time Jamison felt things were good enough, Mako found something else they needed to move higher or haul outside.

"If I woulda known this meant cleanin', I woulda left the kid in the dumpster.." Jamison complained, pouting while he placed some spare parts into a box. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Roadhog moving stuff around.. and his new best friend following right at his heels.

The kid had been glued to the big lug since dinner. Him and that plushie. The same plushie Jamie'd once stepped on and got tossed outside because of.

Jamie was sizzling with jealousy, although he'd never admit it out loud. He didn't need to. He could often tell what Mako was thinking without the guy uttering a word.. and Mako could read him like an open book.

When Roadhog made another pass by, he made a point to reach out and ruffle Junk's already unruly hair. He sat there stunned for a moment.. then broke out in a fit of giggles.

"Watch the kid. I'll be right back." Mako nudged the tyke away, muttered 'stay', then went to carry some boxes outside.

The toddler stood there, fidgeting, then walked over to a box on the floor. Jamison watched curiously as the kid tried to pick it up. Heh, that was kinda cute. They were trying to help.

Jamison stood up to give a hand-- that's all he had to give, haha-- but was too late. The kid tugged, the box tipped over, its contents spilling all over the floor, and as the child stumbled for balance, then fell backwards with a thump.

They both were still and silent for a moment.. then whimpering started. Panicked, Jamison rushed over, standing the kid back up. That didn't stop the big tears welling up. "No, no, no, no cryin'.. heheh... he'll be so mad if yer cryin' when he comes back.. uhh.." Jamison scratched the back of his neck, racking his brain for a solution. "Um.. ah!" He bolted away, returning just as fast, now dangling an object in front of those teary eyes.

It was just some old junky keychain he'd found ages ago, kept it because of the aesthetic. A little cartoonish mouse figurine hung from the chain.

"I'll give ya this if ya stop, okie doke?"

A hiccup. A sniffle. Then a tiny hand reached up, grasping the mouse oh so carefully.. and then hugged it close to their chest with a big smile.

"..Okie doke!"

Jamison melted.

--------

When Mako came back inside, he found Jamison sitting on his bed, teary eyed, with the kid in his lap, patting Junk's cheeks and cooing. Trying to cheer him up.

"....Roadie... I think I'm attached.. It's just.. so cute.." Jamison sobbed.