Chapter Text
Route 66. A lovely sunny place known for being one of the most historic roads left in the states, it was also known for being under the iron clutch of the deadlock gang. Led by the fierce and powerful Ashe and Bob things were honestly pretty tame if you were a part of the crew. They treated all of theirs as family. They had some strict rules but as long as they were followed people would be well taken care of and protected. At least, that's what Jesse remembered from many years ago when he was just a young and foolish teen. He was so tired of all the fighting he had done in overwatch, tired of the fighting he did after blackwatch fell, and tired of the fighting he was currently doing. He missed the peace and quiet of being in deadlock. Missed not having to worry about trivial things like who would help patch up his wounds after a long, dangerous mission, or when he would be allowed to eat next. Commander Morrison had been running him ragged with missions left and right and he was done. He was battered, bruised, and covered in stitched up wounds from not even a day ago. So he took advantage of being sent to a place near the historical deadlock territory and escaped in the midst of battle. He felt guilty of leaving his team a man short but he couldn't do it anymore. Couldn't stand the constant fighting, injuries, and most of all couldn't stand the disappointment he could see in his teammates eyes when he didn't do a good enough job and it cost them a win. Slowly he trudged his way up the steps to the old Panorama diner. Last he remembered it wasn't deadlock territory and he would be safe for now while he figured a plan out on where he would run off to hide from the recalled overwatch. If it hadn't been for his pseudo sister sombra he never would have made it this far, she had hacked into his com system to make sure it put him on the ship while he ran off leaving said com on a few rocks in the battle field. He tearily took a seat in one of the old booths and tipped his hat down and pulled his serape up to hide his face for now. He secretly hoped to catch a glimpse of the girl he once loved but it was long shot. Ashe hadn't ever really liked the diner and had only ever really gone when he did. Hell he only liked the apple pie here, nothing else was good at least in his opinion. With a tired sigh he slowly relaxed into the worn leather seats of the booth only to tense back up again when someone sat across from him. He glanced up slightly and only noted the shotgun on the table before lowering his head again. He didn't want any trouble. He had only wanted a moment of peace. “ Well well well, if it isn't Jesse mccree. Never thought you would show your face around here again sugarpie, not after what happened last time you were here. What brings ya back into deadlock territory?” At the familiar nickname Jesse's eyes filled with tears of both relief and frustration. He just wanted a moment of peace before he continued his journey of being on the run dammit. He looked up at Ashe with tired eyes, eyes that no longer held the spark she remembered. She was quite taken aback by her old lover's appearance and lack of fight. He used to be feisty and full of life and now he looked like a hollow man. He had thinned out royally since she last saw him, his muscle mass no longer as big either. He looked more like the teen she used to know instead of a man in his 30’s. She already did not like where this may go but it broke her heart to see the man she still loved look like this. Sharp, observant eyes noted all the bruises, cuts, stitches and bandages littering the exposed parts of his body and also took note of his tense posture. It was as if he expected a fight to break out any moment now. “ I'm not looking for any trouble, Ashe please. I'm just passing through on the run from overwatch.” he said in a tired tone as he stared at her almost as if pleading for her to do something to put him out of his misery. Ashe could feel her heart break more but kept up her strong front for now. “ Well now ain't nothing wrong with that. With things that came to light recently I'd say you're more than welcome to stay a while if you need.” She watched the man before her shed a few tears out of joy or relief she didn't know but she saw how his whole form seemed to slump in on itself. '' T-thank ya kindly i promise i won't be in your hair to” he was cut off by her holding a hand up “ Not here sugar bear. Come on. Your comein back with me.”her tone left no room for argument as she stood up and began to walk out smirking slightly when she heard McCree follow behind her like a lost puppy. She had been in this position before in the past and thought she had burned her bridges with Jesse with how she had treated him after the fall of overwatch. However it had been only a few weeks after she and the rest of the gang had run him out of town did she learn the truth of what happened to him in blackwatch, what happened to cause him to abandon the crew. His family. It had all been the fault of the 2 commanders Morrison and Rayes. As they slowly approached the familiar automatic gates leading towards the path that led to the housing Ashe had built for every member of deadlock Jesse began to grow more and more weary and nervous at the same time. He recognized this place as his home, he had been with the gang from the time it was started by his childhood friend and partner. Ashe had been his first for everything. His first relationship, His first friend, and the first person he had told his secret to. She hadn't been disgusted or shocked to find out he was trans and it had only further solidified his love for her back then. Ashe hummed softly as Bob joined her side not long after they passed through the gates. The large omnic seemed ‘surprised’ to see Jesse but it was a welcome one. While yes jesse had hurt him in the past when he left the boy was still one of his kids and he would beat the shit out of whoever caused so much damage to his boy. Ashe was on the same page since the more she watched Jesse's timid and jumpy posture her rage grew more and more as well. What exactly happened to her little honey bear that caused him to be like this. What happened to the confidant and brave man she once knew? ‘Focus ashe focus, you can ask him about it once he's settled down and more relaxed. He's always more of a talker when relaxed’ she thought to herself as they slowly approached a modest 2 story home. Red and white in color and quite the cottage-like look. Jesse looked at the home before him, one he remembered living in back when he was still one of the gang and almost fully broke down crying right there and then at seeing the first place he had considered home. He was overwhelmed by not only the past few years' events but also due to the many emotions running through him at the moment. Ashe of course noted this reaction as well and felt her heart clench. What had happened to her sweet sugar pie to make him like this? He was acting like a child who was being reunited with his family after years and it was heartbreaking to her and Bob both. This was a broken man and whether he liked it or not he wouldn't be leaving them again. Ashe wouldn't allow it. She would help rebuild him back to the man he used to be and make sure he would never worry again. Of course her opinion may change depending on what he tells her but she had a very good feeling that his story would only make her want to keep him safe even more. Ashe calmly opened up the door and stripped out of her boots, jacket, and vest leaving her in only the white button up once she slid off her tie. Jesse knowing the rules from when he had lived with her in the past took off his hat, boots, serape, and holster leaving him unarmed and in a simple black shirt and dirty jeans and socks. Ashe sniffed at him slightly and recoiled a bit at the ripe smell the man was giving off and covered her nose a bit “ You know what, before we do any talking you go march yourself to the bathroom and clean up. You smell worse than the slaughter house in summer.” she huffed out and turned to Bob “ Go help him get ready, I'm changing into lounge clothes and I'll be up to wash his hair cause lord knows he never does it properly.” She then walked off leaving no room for the sputtering cowman to argue. He sighed in defeat and followed Bob who was gently leading him up the stairs with a hand in the small of his back. Jesse was honestly looking forward to a hot bath or shower. He couldn't remember the last time he had taken one. A hot one that is. He had only been allowed to shower after everyone else and normally got ice cold water. He never had been able to get anything nice or a moment's rest when with overwatch, even when doctor Ziegler recommended it due to some of his injuries he had still been sent on missions by Morrison. It wasn't long before they arrived in the bathroom and without warning bob not only got the bath started but he had stripped Jesse out of his filthy blood and dirt crusted clothing before quickly putting the clothes down the laundry shoot which led to the basement of the modest little home. Jesse was embarrassed and tried to cover up and slowly got into the bath once silently instructed by Bob. After a few water changes Jesse was allowed some time to rest and relax before Ashe came in to start on his long mop of tangled hair. By now he was extremely out of it and falling asleep in the bath so Ashe got to work quickly working her way slowly but carefully through knot after knot in his poor hair. It wasn't long before Bob ended up getting him out, dried off, and in an old set of pajamas, making Ashe’s concerns grow more and more since those had been Jesse's back when he was a teen. “ Put him up in the guest room for now Bob. I'll ask his story and my own questions when he. . . ” she paused hearing multiple beeps coming from the belt sitting on the counter. She slowly took out a phone like communicator out of one of the many pouches attached and stared down with a raised brow at the notice that he missed 41 calls and had over 100+ unread messages. “ Second thought, I'll do some snooping on my own first before I ask him anything.” she said sternly and headed down to her home office to begin what surely would be quite a bit of reading and listening. After a good few hours with her anger steadily growing the more she read she slyly put the device away as she heard timid knocks come from the door before her. “ Come in.” she sighed out softly as McCree timidly opened it and stepped inside not looking forward to having to tell his tale.” Why don’t you start at the beginning jess??? Tell me what happened the day we were taken by that overwatch raid.”