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It was just her.

[ His concern for 76 is peripheral, a consequence of his concern for Ana. He knows they're mixed up in something, that it's not simple to unravel. ]

[ Ana has made a stop to drop off the supplies, collect some things, and leave a message for Jack and Jesse as to where she's gone. She arrives not long after Alan and lets herself in through the only accessible entrance.

She looks from Alan, to Reinhardt, then back again. ]

Ah. So it is an ambush.

[ Thanks for not telling her you brought a friend, Alan. ]

Ana! Thank god you're safe!

[ He quickly heads towards her. His concern heavy on his features. If she allows him, he'll even give her a quick and relieved hug. ]

Don't be mad at him, Ana. It's not like that. Alan promised to help find you and he did. This is all on me. I was worried for you. I've been trying to contact you and I couldn't.

[ He won't try and guilt her into giving herself up just yet. He needs to get through this part first. ]

It's always an ambush where I'm concerned.

[ Evenly. He's found a perch now, out of side of the covered window. The room is dark and no one can see their shadows from the outside. ]

[ She'd understand. He's a hunter too, and better this than Reinhardt tearing up the city looking for them both. ]

Reinhardt here believes wholeheartedly in your innocence. [ He's not so hopeful that he agrees completely. ] I'm interested in the truth.

[ Better than Reinhardt getting himself into trouble too. She hugs him back wholeheartedly, and she remains by his side when he pulls away. ]

I had to leave my phone. I didn't want to risk contacting you until we had an exit strategy. If you get into trouble with us, I need to be able to bail you out.

[ She knows Alan well enough to guess that he won't be so generous in his estimation of her, and she knows Reinhardt well enough to know he won't take well to that. She puts her hand on his arm, a silent signal to let her handle this. ]

We took a job from someone who promised silver for the safe return of stolen goods. We checked them of course - it didn't look like the parts for any bomb I recognized. [ Not that that made much of a difference in the end. ]

I didn't ask a lot of questions. 76 was going - that was all I needed to know.

[ He does indeed bristle a little at Alan's words. He does want to immediately jump in and defend Ana's. Just as he had tried to do with the captain of the guard. Just as he had done over the network. He would never not have faith in her and the knight in him wants badly to tell Alan that Ana isn't at fault. But her hand stops him and he knows that she can fight her own battles. He's just there as very very large backup. ]

See. It's like that. I told you she didn't do this. [ Yes, she moved the goods, but she had been ignorant. ] You were set up. And now you have a bounty on your heads. They want you captured. And while everyone chases after you, the real people involved can get away.

But...but if you went in on your own. [ Here it comes ] If you turned yourself in and told the truth, I know that they'd believe you.

[ Loyalty like that should be respected. Bad cop is a role he plays often and well — Bruce's arms are still folded, listening to what she says. It sounds like the truth, and he knows enough of 76 to know that man is as paranoid as he is. Perhaps worse. ]

I disagree. I've been pulling some threads. There are spies in the Guard and at the Institute. If you do that you play into their hands.

You can't clear your name from a jail cell.

[ And their safety would be in question. Once a ghost, better to stay a ghost. ]

[ Bruce's jaw sets. ]

I can misdirect. But that's all I can do. If I found you, someone else will.

[ Ana isn't so quick to disregard Reinhardt's opinion on the matter. It's not that she thinks Alan is wrong - what he says is confirmation of what she's already assumed - but she's not ready to entirely disregard the justice system here either. It's like her work in Egypt. It's a matter of finding the people who are in it for the right reasons. ]

You both seem to think that my name is worth clearing. I've been a fugitive for a few years already - what's a few more?

[ Ana folds her arms across her chest. ]

These terrorists have hurt innocent people. I won't run away, or turn myself in to become a scapegoat for them. I'm going after them first. The only way to own up to my part in this is to see that some real justice is done.

If you want to help me, you can go after the people who are responsible, and see that they stay where they belong.

Edited 2017-10-15 15:27 (UTC)

[ Reinhardt doesn't at all like the idea of Ana staying a fugitive. He wants to stubbornly point out that she hadn't done anything wrong. And that the longer she stays hidden, the longer she remains a fugitive, the more and more she will look guilty. So when she says what she says he can only frown at her, one of his "do the right thing" speeches right on the tip of his tongue. ]

It's more than just us that think it. That boy, Atsushi, he believes in you too. Others as well. Alan is right and that there are others looking for you. And not all of them are going to try to reason with you.

[ He knows some would just try and kill her and collect the bounty. ]

You know what the man looks like. You know his last locations. You could have so much vital information to share with them. Plus there are sick people. I know you could help them too. Part of getting justice is to prove your innocence. I won't force you to. I could. I could pick you up and take you back. I wouldn't let Alan stop me. But I know you. [ Or at least he thought he did. ]

I know you want to do right and see justice done. And it isn't too late to do that. So, I'll help you like I promised I would. Give us a description. I'm sure Alan here, if he could find you, he can find anyone.

I know you, [ he echoes Reinhardt, then his mouth twitches, ] at least, I know where to place my bets.

[ On her. He knows her better than Olympia. ]

[ Reinhardt's argument is more compelling — coming from a friend, so Bruce keeps his words to himself. ]

I have names. They might be smoke — most have been — but it's a place to start.

[ Ana arches an eyebrow at Reinhardt. She hopes he can tell she's not impressed even with the mask on. ] Do you really think Alan is the one you would have to worry about if you tried to take me anywhere against my will? [ That's the part she's going to fixate on because the rest is... complicated.

She huffs out a breath. ] I appreciate your faith in me Reinhardt, and I know that there are people who would believe me - but right now I don't think that's going to help my case.

I don't know what he looks like. 76 took the job, and trying to give a second-hand description of someone who worked to keep themselves concealed is going to do more harm than good. As for healing people - even if I could help, which I doubt, they aren't going to let me do that in any kind of time that would matter.

[ To Alan, she nods. I know you, he says. It's strange to hear that without the echo of too much history beneath it. ]

I'll trade you. I've been tracking movement but I don't have the resources to stake out locations for long. It's like you say - they're smoke.

[ Reinhardt is very glad that Ana has found herself such an ally with Alan. He is also glad that this hasn't done anything to kill the fire in her. He knows if he tried to grab her, she would knock him out. He has no doubt about that.

He frowns more. He sees her position. He does. Which is why he keeps quiet. He'll likely try one more time to get her to come with him to turn herself in. But she's more stubborn than he is. All he can do is help Alan with helping her hint them down. ]

Anything you could give us would help. Anything J...76 might give us...if you can get into contact with him. If anything, I can watch locations for you and report back. [ Not that he's very good at sitting patiently.

Then it's lucky you have two more pairs of boots on the ground.

[ He's a hunter, and he's worked with Reinhardt before. The place might have been icy, colder than this, but the same principle applies. ]

[ Sometimes one needs a hammer and not the subtle knife. ]

Communication lines?

[ Funny that. His hammer did mysteriously show up. ]

I have my phone, but if we have to, we can do it the very old way. With messages tucked away in designated areas. Or marks on walls. You mark the places you wish us to watch and write the people we need to talk to, and it will be done.

I'll try, but you know how he is. [ It's not that Jack is unwilling to share what information he has, but he's even more reticent these days than he used to be.

She nods at Alan but, in a way, it's not luck at all that she has help now. ]

That might work, Reinhardt. We can use the old Overwatch codes.

[ Not everyone they had worked with was fluent in more than a couple of languages, so it had been necessary to make some things universal as Overwatch expanded. ] What do you think, Alan?

[ He raises an eyebrow, looks between them, and nods. ]

I learn fast.

That's all I can ask for. [ Since he's already asked for her surrender. And he knows that Jack is likely more stubborn than he used to be. ] Thank you, Ana.

[ Another nod and he looks to Alan. They're trusting this man with a lot, but Reinhardt agrees with Ana that this is a man worthy to be trusted. He brought Ana to him after all. ]

Then I will teach you. The codes aren't that difficult once you learn them. [ He can give a crash course while they hunt down more leads or watch places Ana can't. ]

[ She puts her hand on Reinhardt's arm, just a brief gesture. She owes him and Alan a debt of gratitude, not just for trusting her, but for reminding her that it isn't just her and Jack against the world these days. ]

It's settled then. Be careful, both of you.

[ They're her team. She trusts them with lives that are more valuable to her than her own, and she hopes they'll get each other home safe.

Ana leaves first. ]

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