Ch.1

A/N: Disclaimer: I don't own Rookie Blue I'm just borrowing its characters. This is my first attempt at creating my own universe. The drama of the show has always reminded me of college life, so I figured it would be fitting to send the characters there. I am not Canadian, and my only knowledge of Canada is from one spring break trip to Montreal; so I will apologize in advance for any mistakes, consider them artistic license. Hopefully, this story catches your interest; let me know what you think...

"Seriously, Ollie, how'd I let you talk me into this?" Gail groaned as the two of them lugged boxes towards the house.

"Trust me darlin', I've known Frankie and Juliet since they moved in next door as freshmen, they're good people and you'll definitely get along with Frankie, she's a lot like you...a cold, bitter soul mate for you to play with and Juliet is trustworthy, it's better than living in the dorms." Oliver knew Gail didn't want to live in the University's dorms; communal living would be the death of her. Plus, there were rules and she was used to being on her own, making up her own rules. It would be hard enough to get her to play nicely with others, but an entire floor of people trying to bond would probably result in a mass homicide. This was safer, less casualties.

"I don't have a soul." She eyeballed the house, trying to size up the imaginary occupants, well imaginary until she met them in the next few minutes. "What about the other girls? I thought you said it was going to be six total."

"Don't know 'em. That's what happens when you graduate and grow up, you don't know the freshmen anymore. But chances are they're going to be criminal justice majors too, seeing as how the easiest way to find new housemates is in your own major."

"Ollie, you didn't mention they would all be cop-wanna-be's. Do you not know me at all?"

"Look, Peck, I do know you and I know how lousy you are at making friends. At least these girls will be in classes with you, it'll make it easier in the long run, trust me."

"I'm going to be older than them and have nothing in common, I can tell you that already." The blonde whined petulantly.

"Aw, that's the spirit, always the optimist."

"More like a realist, these girls' lives are your responsibility."

"Well I live to serve and protect now, so I consider it practice, can we head in before my arms fall off?" Oliver shifted the heavy box he had in his arms as he headed across the front lawn.

"What's wrong? I thought cops were supposed to be in top shape." The blonde teased as she shifted her own box to make it easier to walk.

"Yak it up Peck, and I'll leave your stuff on the curb."

"I don't know how I let you talk me into letting freshman into my house." Frankie muttered under her breath to Juliet as she saw the car pull up in front of the house. This girl was the last to arrive and if the others were any indication of the personalities filling up her home, it was going to be a long year till graduation for Frankie Anderson.

"Technically, the house doesn't belong to either of us and we needed the rent money. That's what happens when your housemates graduate. Plus, you've pissed off everyone else in our major and sent them running for the hills. Face it Anderson, no one wants to live with you." Juliet was used to her friend's negative temperament, they had been living together since they were freshman and they were now going into their senior years, but that didn't mean anyone else could tolerate it.

"Really, you're the narc but it's me no one wants to live with?" Frankie never had any issues going straight for the jugular, maybe that was why they had issues finding people to live with.

"Watch it, Frankie." Juliet warned, she was one of the few people to put up with Frankie's shit, but even she had her limits, and bringing up that incident was one of them.

"Fine, whatever, at least they've been attractive thus far." Frankie was not one to pass up the opportunity to appreciate beautiful women.

Shaking her head at her friend's antics, "Please don't seduce our new housemates, we really do need the rent money and I can't deal with their broken hearts when you're done with them."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Chill out Ward, they're probably all straight anyway."

"That never seems to be the case by the time you're done with them," Juliet contended.

"You know that's not how it works right?" Frankie pointed out to the other brunette, she knew that Juliet knew better. This was the same girl who hadn't batted an eye when Frankie told her she was a lesbian when they first roomed together. If it had been anyone else she probably would've ripped them apart for such a jackass remark.

Rolling her eyes, Juliet responded, "You know that's exactly how it seems right? Anyway, at least by letting freshman in, it's easier to get them to share rooms, this way we get our own. I'm sick of having to pick up your shit."

Before Frankie could respond, Oliver and Gail came crashing into the house carrying the blonde's stuff.

"Whoa, I didn't know this one would be a hot blonde."

"Down girl, this one is Oliver's friend." Juliet sent Frankie a warning look, telling her to keep it in her pants. "Hey Ollie, and you must be Gail, I'm Juliet Ward and this is Frankie Anderson. Do you two need any help?"

"Nah, we got it, if Peck here ever gets a move on." Oliver responded for the both of them.

"Peck? You related to Steve?" Frankie questioned the girl curiously. Steve Peck had been one of the few people who Frankie actually considered a friend and it sucked that he was a year older. As annoying as the boy could be, he was always like a big brother to her, so she kind of missed him now that he was already on the force and no longer living next door, not that she would ever tell him that. But this Peck looked nothing like the redhead she remembered and there were a lot of Pecks in Toronto, specifically Toronto Policing, which was where Frankie was heading at the end of this year.

"No." Gail responded instantly without even looking at the other girls.

Oliver chimed in, correcting his friend, "Yes she is, she's his little sister."

"Fun sucker." Gail muttered under her breath, she had fully intended to deny any relation to her big brother for the next four years. But since the cat was out of the bag. "Unfortunately, we do share the same genetics, luckily I got the looks and the personality."

"Clearly." Frankie muttered to Juliet as she gave Gail a once over.

"As fun as it is to talk about my annoying brother, these boxes aren't going to walk themselves in, so if you don't mind can you point me in the direction of the rooms?" That was about as nice as Gail ever got at asking for anything.

"Please," Oliver added as Gail rolled her eyes.

"Sure, I can give you the full tour once you drop your stuff off." Juliet offered as she directed the two towards the bedrooms. With Juliet's help it didn't take long to unload the car, as the blonde hadn't packed much, mostly shoes. Frankie had taken up a front row seat to watch the action, since she didn't help people move, ever.

"So all the rooms are split between the second and third floor. Two bedrooms and one bathroom per floor. Living room, dining room, laundry room and kitchen are all on the first floor along with a half-bathroom. There's going to be six of us, Frankie and I are each getting our own rooms since we've been living here the longest and are the seniors, so the rest of you will have to share. Since you're the last to arrive you're going to be living with Andy."

If looks could kill, the glare Gail shot Oliver would've done the poor boy in. He hadn't mentioned that she would be bunking with one of the girls when he first told her about the house; she had really hoped she would at least have her own room for a little bit of privacy, even in the Peck Penitentiary, she had her own room. Oh well, too late now, lease had already been signed. Wait did she just say Andy? It couldn't be, could it? Please don't let it be..."Andy?" Gail asked Juliet.

"McNally."

FUCK! "Yeah, there is no way in hell I'm sharing a room with McNally."

Juliet was confused, when she had talked to the other girls when they moved in, Andy had jumped at the chance to live with Gail. "I thought you two were friends, she said she's known you since elementary school."

Despite being a grade apart, Gail and Andy had basically grown up together since they were both daughters of cops, so they had been in many playgroups for cop's kids. Their parents had had very different career trajectories over the years, but that wasn't why they were no longer friends, that had been for an entirely different reason. "Yeah I'm not about to get into this, I'll live with anyone but McNally."

Frankie had a devious smile, "Anybody, huh, alright, well I'll bet Chloe wouldn't mind moving her stuff around." Juliet shot Frankie a look, if anything Oliver had said was true, there was no way Gail was going to be able to live with the perky chatterbox that was Chloe Price. The girl had only been living with them a week and she had already driven both Frankie and Juliet up a wall with her fast-paced incessant chatter. Not that she wasn't nice and friendly, but the older girls were both much calmer than the freshman.

"Whatever," That was Gail's form of acceptance of the new roommate. She didn't know this "Chloe" from a hole in the wall, but it would have to better than Andy.

"Hey Ollie, you sticking around for the welcome party?" Frankie asked as she headed towards the kitchen ready to grab a beer, watching other people physically exerting themselves was making her thirsty.

"Nah darlin' I'm working the night shift." Ah, the wonders of responsible adulthood. He gave the girls his best tough cop look, "I better not get a call out here tonight."

"Yes Officer Shaw." All three girls responded simultaneously with overt sarcasm.

Chuckling at the girls, Oliver figured he had made a safe bet sending Gail into their house. They would look out for his little buddy, and she needed the support, "Anyway, I gotta head out, as always ladies, it's been my pleasure."

"I'll walk you out." Gail offered, she needed to thank Oliver for his help today but she wasn't about to do that in front of the two girls she just met, she wouldn't want them getting any ideas.

"You know you didn't have to help me move my stuff right?" Yeah, this was Gail's way of thanking someone.

"Aw, you're welcome darlin'. Your never-ending thanks is really unnecessary but wholly appreciated, what's also appreciated is baked goods." Oliver knew his friend well, and loved teasing her any chance he got.

Rolling her eyes, "Alright, well, I'll pay at our next doughnut date."

That was probably the nicest offer he was ever going to get from his doughnut buddy, "Sounds like a plan, I really should get going though, wouldn't want your parents to fire me for being late."

"That would be ironic, firing you for helping their only daughter move into college because they were too busy to do so." Not that she would put it past her parents, one was the staff superintendent and the other an inspector, which meant they were big fish in the cop community, specifically at 15 Division where Oliver and her brother now worked. Helping Gail with this move, which her parents had tried to forbid, would paint a target on her friend's back, which is why she didn't tell them about it. "Though if I were you, I wouldn't mention it."

"Hey, I'm sure they would've been here if they didn't have to work, or at least Steve would've." Oliver had known the girl for the past four years after he met her brother in Intro to Criminology. She had always just been Steve's kid sister till a little over a year ago when shit hit the fan. That's when they actually became friends and Oliver started looking out for her like she was his own sister. He knew Steve was working days this week, so he had offered to help Gail out but her brother would've done it himself if he could have, even if just to see the rest of his friends who hadn't graduated yet.

"Yeah I wouldn't count on that."

"Things been tense since you got back?" He knew that the Pecks were hard on their kids, especially their only daughter. He didn't know why, it's not like Gail was a bad kid but she definitely liked to push them a lot more than her brother ever did. Still Gail and Steve had always been athletes, stellar students, and super involved in cop-related activities. He figured it was just their parents' way of showing they cared; at least he hoped it was.

"Things were tense before I left. You could turn coal into diamonds with the amount of pressure they are putting on me now that I'm back within their reach." Being back in Toronto meant being back under the influence of the ex-Peck-tations and all that entailed. That was why she had contemplated dorm living to get a little bit of breathing room, until Oliver said he had some friends in need of another housemate. If they were friends with Oliver they couldn't be that bad, right?

"Well if it's any consolation I'm glad you're back, you had me worried darlin'. Though I did appreciate the postcards." When Gail had taken off the day after her high school graduation for Europe she told no one. Oliver had only found out she had gone missing when Steve had told him about it. It was a week into her "disappearance" that he got the first postcard telling him where she was staying and what she was doing, and asking him not to tell her family, they would figure it out on their own. Like clockwork, he received a postcard each week and it made him feel better.

"I know, but it was beyond worth it, you should've come with."

"Well I was already in the Academy, and it's not like you invited anyone." Oliver gave the girl a pointed look.

Gail had the sense at least to look a little sheepish, even if her actions were justified, she could've told him she was leaving, "I had to get out of here Ollie you know that."

"Yeah, I get it dear", and he did, he knew better than anyone else why she had felt the need to run away for awhile but now she was back and she was good at hiding her feelings, "You sure you're gonna be ok?"

"Yeah, I'm a big girl." And she was, she was fine, she had to be.

Oliver wasn't fooled by the girl's bravado but he knew better than to push, "Well if you need anything you know my number."

"9-1-1...got it." Gail quipped.

Oliver smiled good-naturedly, "Glad to see you haven't lost your sense of humor."

"Stop dawdling, go serve and protect the useless citizens of our city. And watch your back."

"I'll even watch my front too." Oliver called out the window as he pulled his car away from the curb.

Gail let out a sigh as she watched the only person she considered a friend anymore drive away. She looked back at the house; it wasn't a bad looking place to live. It had a small front and backyard that were maintained, it was a little bit of an older house but it looked to be in better condition than some of the others on the street, most of which were rented out by university students, clearly the girls had been taking care of it. Still it was going to be a tight squeeze for six girls, but at least it kept the rent cheap. Gail was going to have to find a job this week so she could afford her portion of the rent, which would give her some time away from the house and its occupants, most of whom she still hadn't met. But based on their majors, and the fact that they were freshman in college, she had a feeling it was going to be a long year.

"So you just got back from Europe. Oh my god that's so cool, I haven't been in a couple of years. I went back to Portugal to meet some of my family, but we didn't get to visit any of the other countries. But Portugal was nice and the food was amazing, not that the food isn't always amazing, even when you make it here, but it's so much more authentic and tastey when you have all the fresh natural ingredients from the homeland. You know what I mean?" The words came out of the petite redhead at breakneck speed.

Gail glared at her new roommate, the one who hadn't stopped talking since she got back to the house twenty minutes ago with their other housemates: Traci Nash and Andy McNally. She had good-naturedly agreed to the room-switch, but Gail hadn't been prepared for such a chirpy person to share her space with, "Does anyone ever know what you mean?"

"You're funny," Chloe was good about letting things roll off her back, she was used to people trying to put her down, but she was confident enough to not let it bother her.

"I crack myself up." Gail drawled and she finished arranging the little bit of stuff she had in her half of the room.

"Are you excited to start classes together, it's going to be so awesome, I can't wait to start college, I've been looking forward to this since I got accepted to U of T. I mean high school hadn't been that bad and senior year was a breeze but it's nice to be here and be on our own. You know: no more rules, or people breathing down your neck, it's going to be nice to have some freedom."

"Yep" Gail popped the "p" loudly. Her roommate used enough words for the both of them so she didn't feel the need to contribute more. Plus, if she did she would've pointed out to the other girl that this wasn't real freedom, no Gail had had real freedom for the past year, where she provided for herself, went where she wanted when she wanted, and answered to no one. That was until two weeks ago when her parents had sent her a return ticket and a very nasty reminder of their agreement.

"You excited for the party tonight?" Chloe pulled Gail from her thoughts.

"Yeah I'm not going." Gail had no intention of going to any party or mingling with any more people today, her tolerance was already wearing thin and she really hated parties.

"It's in our backyard I don't think you can avoid it, plus it's with our neighbors, you should meet them, they're nice guys, Criminal Justice majors too, and not bad looking if you're into that. I mean I am sometimes but I know not everyone is. There's nothing wrong with some sweet lady loving but I already have boyfriend, Wes, he goes here too but he's living over on 27th street. I'm sure he'll be here tonight so you'll get a chance to meet him."

"Oh joy."

"Come on Grumpy Guss, everyone likes a party."

Not everyone, Gail thought to herself but she wasn't about to get into it with the redhead, or anyone else for that matter.

The party, thus far, had been tolerable; Gail had gotten the chance to talk to the rest of her housemates minus McNally, whom she avoided like the plague. Frankie was sarcastic and snarky and seemed to be able to give Gail a run for her money. Juliet was friendly but relatively quiet, she seemed like the type of person who preferred to ask questions than answer them. She couldn't quite get a read on Traci who had been nice and had an awesome smile, but there was something about her that gave off the warning that she was someone not to be messed with. Chloe was perky and talkative but she could cook, so she could stay. Gail had even met Chloe's boyfriend Wes, though it would've been hard to miss him since he kept Chloe plastered to his side the whole time. Gail figured he was one step away from peeing on her leg to mark his territory. But these were just her first impressions based on a few hours of talking and a couple of beers.

Gail also met the boys next door. Sam Swarek and Jerry Barber were the seniors in the house and they were all about ruling the domicile. They both seemed to have a thing for freshmen, as they wasted no time hitting on all of the girls. Sam went straight for McNally and Jerry for Traci. Of course they had both been rejected, turned out coming to college with your boyfriend from back home was a trend. Traci was seeing some guy named Dex, and it looked like McNally had shacked up with Luke. Not that it surprised Gail, Luke Callaghan had been drooling over McNally since he and Gail were sophomores in high school and she introduced them. They had been on and off more times than she could count and it looked like they were on again. He also went to the University but was in one of the fraternities, which meant he was at their party tonight instead.

The low men on the totem pole consisted of Chris Diaz, a very tall, handsome guy who looked like he came straight from the farms of East Bumblefuck. All he talked about was how awesome it was to be in such a big city after growing up in small-town Timmons, and of his girlfriend, Denise, whom he was madly in love with. He was bunking with Dov Epstein, a pale, puny looking guy who apparently is super excited to be in college and can't wait to be a cop. He had already wasted no time giving Gail shit when he found out she was one of "The Pecks", and therefore police royalty. She kind of wanted to break his nose by the time she was done talking to him, but he supposedly brought a game console with him to the house, so she might have to put up with him if it meant being able to kick his ass at video games. The other housemate was some non-descript kid who's name Gail couldn't remember for the life of her, so she had decided to call him "Gerald" for the rest of his existence. Supposedly, there was one more guy that had yet to move in, some new transfer student, but Gail couldn't bring herself to care. She was already tired of socializing and was trying to figure out the easiest way to slip back into the house so she could hide in her room for some peace and quiet.

Gail had been heading over to the cooler for another beer when she overheard the upperclassmen talking, "Already everyone ready to place their bets? Same stakes as always?" Sam asked rubbing his hands together, "I give them all two weeks before it's heartbreak central around here."

Jerry was the next to chime in, "I got everyone ditching their high school sweetheart by the end of the month."

"Nah, I think Diaz and Nash will hold out a semester, but come winter break bye-bye." Frankie countered.

Juliet piped in, "Price is definitely going to be the first to go then probably McNally, I think Nash is going to try to make it last the year, and Diaz will be somewhere in the middle."

Gail was kind of amused by the fact that they were all weighing in on the other's relationships; she was contemplating joining the action when they switched gears.

"Alright, well I know which freshman I'm going for, what about the rest of you?"

Juliet rolled her eyes at her friends; they were incorrigible, they had been betting and losing about who would hook up with who for years, so this being their senior year it really came at no surprise that the tradition would continue, "I'm not playing this game."

"Fine, no freshman conquests for Ward, what about you Anderson?" Swarek shifted the focus to his other neighbor; Frankie was more likely to play along anyway.

"First of all, I have a better shot of getting any one of these girls than either of you boys, and some of them are actually straight." Frankie was confident that she had more swagger in her pinkie than the two guys combined, she had seen their game, to put it mildly, they had none.

"Ooo fighting words, bet you couldn't get Peck, she seems like an Ice Princess if I ever met one."

"Clearly she has good taste if she gave you the cold shoulder. No worries boys, I am more than hot enough to melt a little bit of ice."

Gail smirked, she had heard worse but if the rest of housemates had heard them talking they would probably be livid. She listened to Sam talk about McNally and tease Jerry about the heart-eyes he was throwing Nash's way. Gail waited till they were done placing their bets before she decided to interrupt them. Anderson was certainly attractive enough, and she was right that she did stand a better chance than smarmy Swarek or Barber and his lame attempt at a mustache. But she wasn't about to be anyone's conquest so making sure Frankie lost was going to be half the fun. She decided to stir the pot as she came out of her eavesdropping spot. Purposefully making sure she brushed against Frankie on her way to the cooler to grab her beer, "So what has all of you gossiping like schoolgirls?"

"We were just talking about how nice it is to get to know the new kids in town," Sam said as he offered her the bottle opener.

"Oh, I'm hardly a kid." She purposefully looked at Frankie, "All woman."

"Slip of the tongue," Gross, Gail thought, "Europe probably taught you a lot about growing up. I'm sure you have plenty of wild and crazy stories." She knew what Sam was implying.

"Eh, maybe, but I'm going to need a lot more booze before I start to kiss and tell." Gail made sure she kept her eyes on Frankie, watching the other girls' reaction, satisfied by the smirk that she had on her face at Gail's words. Oh, this was going to be fun.

Before the conversation could continue, they were interrupted by the sound of a motorcycle and the arrival of the guys' final housemate.

"New guy," Jerry surmised.

"On a motorcycle," Juliet noted.

"Ugh, so predictable," Frankie added with contempt.

They were all surprised as they watched the blonde storm over to the new arrival, and Frankie was less than pleased by the turn of events, she thought she was already way out ahead on the bet with the guys, but this new interloper might be putting a crimp in her plans.

"Hey! What are you doing here?" Gail demanded.

Nick Collins had barely had time to remove his helmet, before a familiar face accosted him. Nick was confused and surprised to see the woman but he flashed his boyscout smile, the one that had once charmed Gail into dating the guy for two years. "Gail, hi."

Gail made a face, "I go here." She gestured around even though she was referring to the university, which was a few blocks away.

"Really? Cause I just started here it's my first semester since transferring from Vancouver." He looked pleased with the idea that Gail and him would be at the same university. "How are you?"

Nick took a step towards Gail who immediately stepped back out of his reach.

"You had no idea that I was here?" She didn't believe him, first McNally was living in her house and now Collins was moving in next door, this night couldn't get any worse.

"No I didn't, I didn't even know you were back, it's not like I've heard from you. But it's great to see you," He added with an extra long look with his puppy dog eyes.

"Yeah the feelings not mutual," And with that Gail headed back towards the house and away from her ex.

The music had gotten duller as she made her way up the stairs. The house was crowded, filled with people looking for a goodtime. Everyone had a cup in their hand and most were coupled up or in groups talking. She was pushing her way through the crowd, heading towards the bathroom upstairs. She had finally gotten up to the final landing where there was no one in sight. The quiet and break in the crowdedness should have come as a relief; she was trying to get away after all, but she had a bad feeling, knots in her stomach and the feeling like someone was watching her. She had just started to reach for the door when it slammed into her face.

Gail awoke with a start, her shirt soaked in sweat, as she reached up to trace the scar on her forehead. She could hear voices downstairs and the sounds of more doors slamming. She must have fallen asleep after she had called it an early night and headed in. She had been trying to get away from the party and the physical reminders of exes past. It sounded like the rest of the group had finally called it a night too, as her new roommate came stumbling into their room slamming into the furniture near the door.

"Ooof did I wake you?" Chloe slurred with her still upbeat voice that grated on Gail's already frayed nerves.

"No," Gail responded absent-mindedly as she continued to trace the rough mark on her head, it had been fading with time, less noticeable now but still present, always lingering.

"Well, sorry if I did," Chloe quickly changed and turned off the lights in the room before passing out on her bed.

Gail laid back grabbing her headphones and her iPod hoping for music to soothe her troubled mind. The nightmares had been sporadic when she was traveling but since getting back a week ago, they had come almost every night. She tried to let the glow of the music player and the lyrics of the songs lull her back to sleep but it was not forthcoming. She tossed and turned for a couple of hours. It was almost 4am and she hadn't been able to fall back to sleep, she slipped silently from her bed trying not to wake her roommate. She grabbed a change of clothes and her running shoes.

Yoga had always been her go-to in the past but with how wired she felt, she knew she needed something more exerting. It was too late in the night for sex, and she was tired of drinking, so running was just going to have to suffice. She stepped out into the still-dark early morning air and laced her sneakers. She headed in the direction of the nearby park; maybe if she was fast enough she could outrun the demons in her head.

A/N: Gail's going it alone for now, she's yet to be impressed by anyone she has met...let's see if that holds true in the next chapter...