Declaimer: just and purely FANFICTION, so no profit except joy from readers

the story is set after 4x13; the first four chapters deal with Gail exploring herself and of course making some not very reasonable decisions, and some very not-Gail-like

Chapter 1 – Trip to Montreal

After a couple of hours the situation had not changed much. Sam Swarek was out of the surgery but fighting for his life. Most of the officers waiting in the hospital were drowsy trying not to fall asleep while sitting.

"Alright people," called the Staff Sergeant, "I made the doc promise to inform us if anything changes, so go home, try to have a rest and I expect you in a few hours at work."

"Come on, I take you home," whispered Holly to the young woman by her side.

"I want to visit Oliver first," requested the blonde and they went to the other department.

When Gail entered the room of her injured friend, she noticed his girlfriend waking him up.

"Five more minutes," whined Oliver.

"No sweetie, open your eyes for a while, then you can go back to sleep," said Celery gently.

Tiredly the elder man woke up looking around, smiling broadly at his girl, "Hi darling." His smile went ever bigger when he noticed the newcomers standing by the door. "Gail, how is everything?"

"Everything is… under control, don't worry," she gave him a wry smile. "But there's tons of paperwork so you better man up because you are needed." Her face went a little serious as she came closer to the bed. "And if you need to talk or anything, just say so."

"Thanks Gail," he looked over her shoulder. "And you forensic friend, take care of her."

"I will," agreed Holly, typically with her hands deep in the pockets of her coat.

Both women left the room and let the male officer have a rest. It was a silent ride back to Gail's apartment. Neither of them was talkative after a day like that. Especially the blonde was deep in her thoughts to notice the car had stopped. She looked at the driver thinking what to do. Well, get out of the car for sure but should she kiss her? How? Full lips or just a peck on a cheek or… nothing?

"Thank you, Holly. Seriously thank you." The other woman nodded with her lopsided grin. "Talk to you tomorrow?"

"Sure."

Gail being Gail, she decided to leave the car without any action. Later that night she was lying in the bed, the sleep was not coming and her thoughts gave her a headache. Oliver-Sam-Holly-Chloe-Oliver-Holly-Sam-Holly-Holly-Oliver-Holly… She groaned pulling her pillow over her head. So many things happened in so little time that the young constable had no idea what to think less what to do.

Chloe – nothing new, her dumb husband still refused the surgery which made her angry, because her roommate and one of the closest friends was like a body without soul. She never liked Chloe much, but that small woman made Dov happy and Gail wanted to see her friends happy despite her snarky attitude.

Sam – no news either, which was good because that meant there were no bad news.

Oliver – he was alive and whole. With a minor concussion but other than that he was fine.

And Holly – one hell of a woman. How could someone get under Gail's skin so fast, so easily? Yes, Holly was very weird but also intelligent, caring and kind. Gail could not remember when she heard 'no' from the doctor. Whenever the blonde needed a plus one for hanging out or needed a friend, Holly was there. It surprised her and many times she wondered if the attractive woman was for real. Attractive? Correction, hot. The officer felt like a teenage boy drooling over his high school teacher. And that was scary.

Actually scary so much that Gail had not been in contact with the scientist for two weeks. She had never written or called and neither had she picked up any phone calls nor responded to messages. She needed to get Holly out of her system, the sooner the better and no contact was the best. It was enough that her mind dared to wander to the morgue. Gail was not gay, no switching teams! Alas the more she told that to herself, the more she thought about a certain forensic pathologist.

"Hey Gail," called someone as she was leaving the locker room at the end of her shift. She looked around to see Nick. "I was wondering if we go out tonight."

"Sure, we go to The Penny."

"I meant somewhere else, just you and me."

"Nick?"

"I made a mistake, I know that now, but maybe hopefully… I don't know… we could just hang out, chat things over and make it good between us? My treat and no expectation," he added quickly, his eyes full of hope.

The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else, she thought. It was not such a bright idea, but also there was nothing wrong with spending some time with a friend, right?

"Alright."

Leaving the station the blond officer spotted a familiar figure leaning against a truck, the waves of dark hair were down, hands deep in the pocket of the coat, waiting patiently. Gail's heartbeat sped up as she was coming closer.

"Hey Holly," she greeted nervously. "What are you doing here?"

"You haven't responded to any of my calls, so… I just wanted to make sure you are alright."

"Yeah, sorry… erm," she looked around at her friends leaving the building. "There is so much work these days and double shifts. It's really difficult time."

"Oh, yes, of course."

Gail almost slapped herself for using her colleagues' absence to get out of this. She was so not ready to face Holly. She did not know what to do, what to expect nor how to behave.

Just then Nick appeared by her side wrapping his arm around Gail's neck. "Hi Doc, tonight this girl is mine," he smiled. "We're having a make-up time, I hope you don't mind."

"Erm, no, of course, have fun," she gave him a weak smile.

The blonde knew it was an utter lie. She herself would much rather spend the time with Holly than Nick, but she had already agreed to the make-up drinks and she knew what to expect from that man. The young police worker still did not figure out what to do with the whole Holly situation.

"You too Doc, laters!" he said goodbye pulling his colleague away with him talking about the recent arrest.

Gail looked back at the brunette whose head was down. She closed her eyes and looked up at the night sky, trying to clear her head of the smart, interesting, and weird woman.

Honestly the night out with Nick was great. They laughed a lot and drank even more.

"Oh man," sighed the guy. "And do you remember the trip to Vegas? We were such fools."

"I remember the outcome," said Gail with her voice down.

"Alright, I was such a fool. I left you to play a soldier. I am really sorry about that."

"I thought I would kill you that time." She chuckled sadly. "And the second time you left was to play a boyfriend to my best friend only to actually end up being her boyfriend."

"Well, that time I was a complete idiot."

"What do you mean?"

"Gail, I loved you, I really did, but I don't know, I guess I was fed up of your cynicism and Andy was like a fresh breeze full of joy."

"And that's the reason you disappeared for half a year without a single note even though you could call and come back for a weekend."

"I really messed that up," he swore playing with his glass of whiskey. "But as I told you I thought you would go to France and then I didn't want to put you through the coming for the weekend and disappearing again."

"And we both know deep down those were excuses for being more with McNally."

"I guess I deserve that." He sighed and looked up at the quizzical expression of his companion. "Being cheated on. I was not a good boyfriend."

"Oh shut up, don't blame yourself. Maybe the whole situation was a sign we were not meant to be a couple."

"Or maybe we should have tried harder." He drank the rest of his drink at once. "More to go?" he asked and Gail finished her drink and nodded. The young man got up and went to the bar to order more drinks leaving his friend alone thinking.

Gail enjoyed the night, it was like the time turned back and they were at early twenties, free and happy. She missed this Nick. They used to have so much fun those days, days like this one and she longed for this night to last, she felt so carefree like she had not in a long time.

"Here we go," said Nick as he came back to the table.

"Hey, let's make a toast," the girl pulled up her glass. "To us."

"To make things better."

"To our friendship."

"You always must have the last word," he chuckled and clinked their drinks together.

"Not quite." Holly always knew how to shut her up, she never had the last word with her. Where did this come from?! No Holly, not anymore. She scolded herself. "Any news from the hospital?"

"I don't really know to be honest. I haven't spoken to anyone."

"Not even Andy?"

"Nope. While we were at the hospital she told me to give her time. And since then she hasn't returned any of my calls nor messages and the last time I asked Chris, he said she sat in Swarek's room all the time. Am I paranoid if I think she used me to get over her ex?"

Gail watched the bronze liquid moving as she was playing with her glass. One of her first thoughts was the same. To use Nick to get over the doctor, but well, Holly was not her ex, hell she was not even her present, what was she? An invader! shouted Gail's mind. It was truth, the brunette invaded her space, she broke down all the thick walls and get into the very core of the perfectly build tower.

"Nick, I guess I'll be going."

"Oh, okay. One last drink and we are off, agreed?"

"We will so regret it in the morning," chuckled Gail. Nevertheless they gulped the alcohol all at once, took their coats and left to the night of Toronto.

"Thanks Gail, I had fun," smiled the young man as he bumped their shoulders together. "It felt like the old times."

The girl laughed out. "Yeah, except after a night like this we always had a sobering up sex."

"Well, to be honest, I wouldn't mind at all."

Gail stopped and looked up at him. Suddenly her always preoccupied mind felt empty or overflowed so much that she was not able to pick up one thought. Obviously Nick solved her problem by kissing her. It felt so familiar yet so strange. It was nothing like making out with Holly in the interrogation room in the middle of a crisis. To hell with Holly, to hell with everything!

With that last scream in her head, she turned them around and pushed the guy against a building returning the kisses hungrily. She did not want to think anymore, just feel and get everything out of her system.

The dark was still outside when she woke up. Only a dim light from a street lamp illuminated the room a little. She groaned and felt a headache. What a night! She sensed someone else's presence in the bed and looked to her left. There was Nick, sleeping soundly, lying on his stomach facing the wall. What have I done?! Gail felt sick and the cause was not only the amount of alcohol or the headache. She felt sick of herself. As silently as possible, she collected her clothes and left the room… and the flat that was not hers either.

She hung her coat closer to her body, wandering on the streets in early hours, streams of tears running down her face and again her brain was overloaded. As the young woman entered the park she sat down near a pond breaking down completely. It was too early even for dog walkers and morning joggers. So she hid her face in her hands crying heavily. Her heart was aching, her stomach was doing flip flops demanding to spill out its intoxicated content as well as the filth of betraying her heart.

Hours later when she had no tears anymore, she reached the door of her own lodging. After a long hot shower she managed to put herself together enough to get ready to work. To let her steam blow, shooting range was the next option and to have more inspiration, the young officer wrote "GAIL" above the target's head.

Five shots to the head, five to the heart with such a precision like never before. "At least I know how to pass the re-examination next time," she said sarcastically and stuck the paper on the door of her locker.

As she was walking to the parade she noticed Nick waiting for her on the corridor. He smiled broadly. "Morning, sunshine. You were gone when I woke up."

"Yeah, listen Nick, what happened last night –"

"Was amazing, just like the old times," his smile got even wider and he pulled her in a hug resting his hands on her waist. "Maybe we found our way back," he kissed her gently before Gail could step back or pull away she heard her boss.

"Thank you, Dr Stewart. We deeply appreciate your work."

The blonde pushed her colleague away and turned around. Holly was standing there like someone spilled a bucket of hot water over her, looking at them in disbelief. "Holly," whispered the younger girl.

The doctor only shook her head and looked back at the man. "Don't worry Staff Sergeant, you will get your results as soon as possible." She squeezed herself between the elder man and Gail with her back to the said constable, hurrying down the corridor.

"Holly, wait!" shouted Gail ready to run.

"Peck, we have a parade," said Frank.

"Just one minute, Sir."

"Now!"

"Shit."

"Gail, what happens?" asked the former soldier boy confused.

"There is no going back for us, Nick. What happened last night will NOT happen again."

"What? Why not?"

"I am in love with someone else," she muttered under her nose, looking the way Holly had just left.

"What?" asked Nick not very sure if he heard correctly.

"I am in love with someone else!" Gail practically yelled in frustration. Still fuming mostly at herself, she entered the meeting room and sat down to her usual spot next to Oliver who was back at service.

She was only half listening to Best, she noted something about double shifts and being careful on the streets.

"Gail?" She looked up to see Chris. "Let's go."

The two occupied a car 1519 and left the station. It took several long minutes to Chris to speak up. He was not the one who could stay in a long silence. "What was the morning display about? Are you and Nick back together?"

"None of your business."

"Gail, my best friend is at the hospital all the time with a girl that is married to another man, you did not show up all night nor did you leave me a message, so excuse me, but I am really worried these days."

She looked at him from her passenger seat, her elbow resting on the door supporting her head. "I messed it up again."

"Take it from the beginning, so I can keep up."

"Remember when you said I didn't let people get close to me unless I wanted them too?" He nodded. "There was this one person who got into me without me wanting or even knowing it. I haven't realised how deeply until it was too late. And I got scared."

"Well, who is this guy?" Gail glared at him. "These days the only person I saw you with was Holly." She kept glaring. He could be so clueless sometimes. She shook her head and looked ahead.

"Speaking of her, do you think we can stop by the morgue? You know, for the results," she added quickly.

"Sorry Gail, it's not our route and you know Best is watching the cars like a hawk."

They continued their patrolling mostly talking about light stuff when suddenly Chris stopped and paid his full attention to his companion.

"What?" she wondered.

"It's Holly, isn't it?"

"What are you talking about?" she felt her pulse speeding up.

"You are in love with Holly," he stated. She looked away from him. There was no reason to deny it, they knew each other too well. "Dammit Gail, what the hell are you thinking?!" She looked at him as he started the car and set them on the road again. Chris was one of the most open minded people she knew, she did not think he would have something against her being with a woman. She stared at him waiting impatiently. "Sleeping with Nick when she –" he was so upset. "Damn you. And I lost twenty bucks to Dov."

"You put a bet on Holly?"

"Not exactly. Dov challenged me that even though I really liked Holly I couldn't ask her out on a date because you two might be kind of an item. I did not believe him."

"We are not. I messed up before anything could really start."

He pulled his phone out of his pocket. "Hey Staff, what about we stop by the morgue for the results?"

"What are you doing?" asked Gail with wide eyes.

"Yes, right – After lunch you will have them on the desk," he disconnected the call.

"What the hell, Chris?"

"I don't like losing money for nothing. And she makes you happy, so during lunch break you will go there for the results and you will make things right, understood?"

"Yes, sir," she rolled her eyes but inside she was all excited thanking him for creating her an opportunity to hopefully clear things up with the doctor.

When the lunchtime came, she ran to the lab looking for her favourite person. Unfortunately she was not in her lab, so Gail went down to the morgue.

"Officer," greeted the security guard.

"Hi," replied Gail frantically looking around. "Erm… Listen, where can I find Dr Stewart?"

"Oh she left about an hour ago. She left me here some file for 15th division."

"Wait, just like that?"

"Erm," the man thought deeply. "I remember her saying she would go back to Montreal. Some other pathologist should come tomorrow."

"WHAT?!" exclaimed the constable with terror in her face. "This is not happening," she murmured. "I'll take the file, I'm from 15th." She took the blue folder and left all confused.

"So? How did it go? You're back fast," Chris asked, chewing his sandwich.

"She left," Gail breathed out. "She left to go back to Montreal."

"Sit, let's go. She might still be in her apartment."

Chris skilfully rode the car the shortest fastest way possible, when the radio buzzed an emergency.

"Shit," cursed the blonde.

"It's on our way, we have to take it," he said apologising. "1519 responding," he announced. "Hey try to call her," he whispered to his colleague.

"What do you think I've been doing since we left the morgue?" she growled through her teeth.

The emergency situation turned out to be kids playing with a real gun shooting one of their friends to his leg. It took the whole afternoon to set the papers. Gail was counting down every minute of her shift. Once she was free to go, she stripped the uniform, dressed to her common clothes and ran to Holly's place.

She spent there half an hour of ringing, waiting and calling her phone but nothing happened. An old lady was returning home when she noticed the blond woman desperately pacing around.

"The young doctor left two hours ago," said the elderly woman.

"Oh, do you know when she's back?"

"No my dear, no one really knows much about her. She is very kind and always willing to help with bags but she is not very sociable."

"Uh, maybe she slipped information about her leaving or coming back."

"I am sorry, dear, I know nothing. I saw her leaving with two or three trunks. She has this big green car, right?"

"Erm, a jeep, yes."

"Well my dear, when you see her I send my best regards."

"Dammit," cursed the constable and went back home. Since The Black Penny was on the way she stopped by for a couple of drinks.

Sitting at the bar and staring in her third shot, Gail was counting her chances to see the special woman again. When or if would be the doctor back? Did she have any chances to make things right at all? How?

"Hey girl," greeted a newcomer.

Gail tore her eyes away from the glass to see her brother's girlfriend. "Hmm."

"I waved at you like half an hour ago and you haven't noticed us," she pointed to the table where Traci was sitting with Steve.

"Sorry," she mumbled and finished her drink. "One more!" she called to the bartender.

Traci seated herself on a stool next to her friend. "Alright, this will take some time." She gestures something to Steve, but the blond girl did not care. All she could care was Holly and a new glass of alcohol in front of her.

"You know, when I told you you deserved to be happy, you took my advice for like a month. The last two weeks you have been all blue again."

"Hmm."

"Like something or rather someone is missing."

"Hmm."

"Where is Holly?" That was the hit on the nail's head. Gail looked up at her friend and tears starting filling her eyes. "Oh my God, what happened?"

"I am an idiot incapable of commitments even if I want to," sniffed the blonde tasting the salty tears in her mouth.

"Don't say that."

"It is true! Nick left me… twice, Chris left me, and Holly left me too. What is wrong with me?!"

"Maybe you just haven't met the right person," offered Traci an excuse.

"No, I tell you what's wrong," she sipped her drink. "Nick – we were too young and crazy, then we were back together for the sake of old times but McNally just had to come and steal him for good only to leave him when Sam got shot. Chris –" she took another sip, "he is a dumbo, sweet dumbo but for the long run we could not last because we had nothing in common and I didn't want him close anyway. And…" she finished her glass. "Holly got me. Through and through. She got me." The officer pulled the empty glass in front of her and called the bartender for more alcohol.

When it seemed she would not continue, Traci pushed a little. "Then what was wrong with that? You looked really happy around her."

"I was!" exclaimed Gail, drunkenness evident in her speech and movements. "She ruined my stronghold. She was an apocalypse to my perfectly built tower and she ruined it to the pieces." More of the brown liquid was needed for the younger woman to stop another wave of tears.

During the last year Traci had learnt a lot about Gail, nevertheless she believed Steve would understand this rumble better. Alas she had to try, because she knew Gail would not say much to her brother. "So she got under your skin and then she… left?"

"Yes!" agreed Gail aloud. "No," she corrected herself lowering her head.

"No?"

"No, she left after I slept with Nick."

"YOU DID WHAT?!" shouted Traci. Luckily the bar was full and her emotions could not be heard. "Are you insane?!"

"That's what Holly said," she smiled at the memory. "After she kissed me in that coatroom."

The detective emptied her own glass of alcohol and counted to ten. "Alright, listen you lunatic, call Holly and do your best to get her back."

"I've been trying for the whole afternoon and night."

"Then go to her place."

"The lady said she took off to Montreal."

"Montreal? What is she doing there?"

"Obviously she could not stay in the same city with me, because I am the biggest loser EVER."

"Don't say that," Steve said, coming to them. "Sorry to interrupt I felt lonely."

"My mother thinks so."

"That is not true, Gail," shushed her the young man.

"You know what, Brother? Shut up. Leave me alone with Jackie," she raised the glass and took another sip of whiskey. "My bestest friend."

"Gail, let's go home," suggested Traci in gentle voice. "Let's go home, sober up and the first think in the morning we will look for Holly."

"Why? She left, she flew away from me."

"You let her."

"What's up with Holly?" asked Steve. "Did you girls have a fight?"

Gail moaned dropping her head on the bar with a loud thud and several people around turned with funny looks to the desperate officer.

"It doesn't matter now, Steve. Gail needs to get Holly back."

Gail turned her head to her friend. "I don't."

"Oh you so much do. You love her."

"I don't," the blonde repeated herself but when the detective glared at her, she picked up her head from the desk but still looking down. "I don't know what I feel," she whined.

"Oh sweet heaven, she is worse than Leo," sighed Traci looking up at the ceiling. She took a deep breath and turned her attention back to the younger woman. "You miss her, right?"

"Yeah."

"You are totally into her, right?"

"Yes."

"And you want her back, RIGHT?!"

"YES!"

"Then we will find her for you. First thing in the morning we're going to start our investigation. Steve will help."

"Wait, what? No, I –" he stopped as he saw his girlfriend raised her eyebrows challenging him. "Ehm, I mean yes, of course I'll help to find Holly even though I might get demoted back to uniform if she does not have any unregistered gun."

"Great," rejoiced the rookie detective. "Let's go home now."

Gail did not mind that she was placed behind the desk that day. Traci kept her promise and between her regular work she was searching for any information about a certain forensic pathologist.

"Pst, Gail," called Steve for his sister's attention. She looked up from her paperwork raising her eyebrows in question. "If you can disappear for a little moment, Traci has found a lead."

Immediately the blond constable was up on her feet, discreetly rushing to the upper floor. "Traci, what do you have?"

"This week there is a conference of forensic science in Montreal," she pointed to the screen and then clicked somewhere else. "And look who is on the guest list – Dr Holly Stewart."

"Splendid! Any chance I can get the rest of the week off?"

"Why not wait until she gets back?" asked Steve.

"Because she took three cases and there is a new nerd down the morgue, so somehow I doubt she will come back any time soon."

"Alright, calm down, little Sis," shushed her Steve. "I mean, go for it, but first talk to Best and then don't forget to book a hotel room. I don't want you to sleep in a park."

"Sure." Gail scribed down the address of the conference. "You are the best!" and she hurried to her boss.

"Wow, I have never seen her so pumped up about anyone. And I know her for my whole life!" marvelled the older of Peck siblings.

The Staff Sergeant was not very impressed by the request nevertheless they made a deal of more double shifts and Gail was free to go when her work was done.

Very uncharacteristically for Gail, she packed one bag with just the important things, downloaded a map of Montreal into her phone, and booked a train and a bed in some backpacking hostel. She did not expect to stay long. Either they would make up and Gail would move to a room in hotel where Holly was staying –and at the best right to her room– or by the end of the day the officer would catch the first train back to Toronto.

Once in Montreal, Gail checked in the hostel, took her wallet and just in case her police badge, following her GPS she rushed to the conference building. It was already 12:40 when she arrived but hopefully she could find Holly somewhere eating her lunch.

Her plans changed when she entered the building and there was a security guard with an X-ray portal. She had to pull out everything metal on a plastic basket to be able to go through.

The guard picked up her badge. "Are you a police worker?"

"Yes," she agreed and quickly added, "I am here to escort Dr Stewart."

"She already has an escort," he said running the background check on her police file.

"Yes, we are changing," she explained hoping the man would buy her lie. Alas what a bad guard would he be if he did not make some more check-ups?

"You are in civil clothes and you are not a detective. Actually you are a constable off duty."

Damn, she cursed quickly thinking about another excuse. "Yes, but still I am here for Dr Stewart, the forensic pathologist. There is some unsolved case back in Toronto." Better said 'somebody' but Gail was suspicious enough now as she was.

He measured her carefully and pressed a button on his radio. It buzzed to live but Gail could not understand what it was said on the other end. "Madam, here is a Toronto officer off duty who asks for Dr Stewart's attention." Another short buzzing appeared. "Yes, Madam." He turned off the radio and spoke to the blonde. "Please wait here," he pointed to chairs on the opposite wall. Gail took her belonging back to her pockets and tried to be patient. She was playing many scenarios of her encounter with Holly, doing her best to explain herself. She had plenty of time to think about it and wrote some notes on her way in the train.

Heavy combat boots could be heard against the polished marble floor. Gail looked up seeing a woman about her age, most likely even younger. She wore the typical blue uniform but without any sign or ranks, except her name tag which read 'SILVER'. The only signs of superiority were her golden arm embroidery and white shirt under the bulletproof vest. The new-comer frowned, her messy brown hair tied in a ponytail, but still several strands were out which gave her a certain look of wildness.

The guard saluted but instead of salutation back the girl dismissed his gesture. "What the bloody hell is going on, O'Neil?" she asked with only a tiny hint of British accent.

"This," he gestured his hand towards Gail, "is Constable Peck, Toronto's 15th division. She asks to speak with Dr Stewart about some unsolved case."

Gail stood up and noticed that the officer in front of her was about three inches smaller, her dark blue eyes pierced the blonde through and through. "You know you are very suspicious."

"No," the other officer replied immediately. "Maybe. Look, can you please call Holly – Dr Stewart?"

"What do you want exactly?" she asked sharply.

"I need to speak with her," Gail rolled her eyes. Really? How many times did she have to repeat herself?

"And you believe that I would let a rookie off-duty officer from another province to get close to one of the V. I. P. just like that?"

"There is a case that demands the expertise of Dr Stewart. Our new intern cannot move forward and we need Holly back. It is urgent."

"Hm. Alright." The blond woman let out a breath finally she was getting somewhere. "Do you want to try again and really tell me why you are here or should I just let you be escorted out?"

"Excuse me?" wondered the constable.

"Except the sentences 'I need to speak with her' and 'it is urgent' you lied. So you have another chance to tell the truth or you are being kicked out of here. And if I am in a bad mood, also there will be pressed charges."

Damn, obviously she was not such a good liar as she thought.

"I don't have time to play twenty questions, speak now or leave," commanded the superior officer harshly.

The blonde sighed and threw her hands in the air in defeat. "There may be a personal reason, but it is really urgent, I need only five minutes of her time."

"Personal reasons can wait after the conference," the other woman turned her back to the visitor and was leaving when the rookie police shouted.

"It may be the matter of life and death!" Sometimes being overdramatic did not hurt, right? "We need her back ASAP."

In a second the senior police worker turned around. Her posture was predatory, for a moment Gail imagined herself facing an angry dog. The head was a little bent but pulled forward with blazing green eyes looking straight at the other woman. Teeth were closed tightly and maybe there could be heard a growling. Her body was also slightly bent forward with arms prepared to pull out a gun from the holster. Gail waited to be shot, well in the end it would really be a matter of life and death. Only if the hands did not look like they had cramps. Left leg placed in the front and the other one slightly aback ready to charge forward.

"OUT!" she snarled to the guard and Gail felt herself being pulled away.

"No wait, I really need to have a talk!"

"Priscilla, what is going on?" At that voice the rookie thought she would melt. She watched her favourite doctor putting her hand gently on the back of the other officer while her other hand was in her pocket as usual. "Your anger is resonating through the building."

"Sorry about that. I hate lairs," the woman did not stop sending deadly glares at her target.

Finally Holly turned to see what caught her attention. "Gail?" she asked in disbelief.

"Wait," spoke up Silver now totally at ease but surprised. She pointed her thumb towards the situation by the exit. "That is Gail?"

Holly nodded absent-mindly while the blonde dared to speak again. "Yes, hi, Gail Peck. Holly, please I really need to talk to you. Five minutes."

"Do you believe that five minutes would be enough?" It was so strange to see the always kind doctor like that. She was never upset with Gail, even her insult she usually smiled off and ignored or snapped something disarming back.

"To get over with the basics, then if we could have a dinner together or something."

Holly nodded and the blond officer was released from the guard. "Priscilla, please give us a moment." The other police woman stood about twenty feet away, leaning against a wall folding her arms on her chest. "Priscilla…"

"I am not going anywhere else, Holly. May she talk now or leave." The scientist agreed silently. "And remember Peck, if you lie you will have a flying day out of here."

"Alright, erm…" Gail took a deep breath coming as close to Holly as possible without invading her personal space. "Look, it was a really difficult time, with all those police officers down, we had tons of work and I really did not have much time for… other thing." A throat clearing was heard from the back. "I miss you and I just… I want to clear the air between us and make things up."

"Like you did with Nick?" she asked sharply. Her voice full of hurt and venom which made Gail's heart ache again.

"No!" Even though some make-up sex would be great, she thought. Another throat clearing echoed the hall. Gail looked over her shoulder noticing the glaring superior. "With different outcome," she clarified and turned to the weirdo leaning against a wall. "What the hell are you?"

"I have been called many names."

"Continue, Gail," demanded Holly.

"Look, me and Nick, it was nothing. Nothing really happened, just –"

"That's enough!" proclaimed the senior officer. "O'Neil, get the lying brat out of here. And you Constable, be grateful I don't press charges against you."

There was a panic. Gail could not breathe, this was not why she had come. "No, wait, please, I haven't finished yet!" But the two women already left.

"Calm down, Miss Peck, there is no need to make more troubles."

She looked up at the man. "Have you ever… cared about someone so much that you would do anything to get them back?"

"Yes. Therefore I suggest you to calm down, have a walk, something to eat and then come back. Today the conference ends in three hours."

And she did as she was told. Actually she stopped at the café across the street where she had a good view at the modern building. Gail was also known for her stubbornness and she would not leave Montreal without Holly. A few days ago when she was sitting in the park for hours, after doing what she had done, made her realised what the weird doctor meant to her. She meant everything anyone could ever wish for in their partner. She was perfect for someone as pessimist and closed as Gail. The officer retrospect all the times she had spent with the unusual pathologist and she knew she had never felt the way she did with her, so free and warm inside. Yes, puppy loves came and left, even several serious relationships made her happy but none of them made her feel so special and purely herself the way she could be with Holly. And that was the moment when Gail Peck realised she wanted this particular person with her, by her side most likely forever.

That day when she saw the disappointed look on the face of a person that meant so much to her, something cracked inside. Suddenly all her emotions made sense and for the first time in her life, she really knew what she wanted and most importantly whom she wanted.

thank you for your time!