Story is set after 5x07 and conversation Gain and Holly had. I own nothing.
Holly left the building with a very bitter taste in her mouth and feeling like she was kicked to the stomach. She loved seeing Gail, she was grateful she apologized, but she also felt scared of letting Gail in again. Gail was not the only one who was hurt before and who had issues with opening up. Holly was the same, but unlike Gail, she knew to hide it better. She knew how to pretend and make sure very few people knew real Holly Stewart. She knew how people saw her. Some saw her as a hot doctor, some knew her as a science nerd, some knew her as a passionate lover, some knew her as a devoted friend, but very few saw all that together or even more. She gave Gail more. She let her see her sad, scared, happy, sleepy, tired, cuddly, passionate, even kinky in some moments. Gail saw it all and then she left her. She herd her talking to her friends and it all fell apart. She knew it was her fault, but Gail never let her say how sorry she was and how bad she felt about things that happened. She called, she left messages and after more than a month, she gave up. Gail didn't love her anymore. She didn't care. She never said or wrote a word to what Holly said and wrote to her.
And now, she saw her and Gail said all these things. Holly got into her car and drove home. She called Lisa and told her she wouldn't be coming to her little get together. Lisa protested, but knew better than to fight with her. They were on very thin ice after the incident with Gail, so Lisa kept her words in check. Holly went to bed and around two in the morning her phone rang. It was her work phone and she was surprised. It was not her night to be on call. She answered it as she usually does.
''Dr. Stewart…''
''This is Officer Epstein….Dove….''
''I know…. What is going on? I'm not on call tonight….''
''I know… This is personal….Gail…''
She was awake and sitting in her bed.
''What happened?''
''There was shooting…. Gang related… she… She got shot in the chest….''
''With what? What penetrated her west?''
''Nothing… She didn't have it. Some officers said she got into the shooting just in her shirt. Officer Hart thinks she didn't get it on purpose.''
''She tried to get herself killed?''
''I am not sure…. She changed a lot since that night you… Broke up? And today she was very weird after seeing you…''
''Where is she?''
''In General hospital. She is in surgery…''
''I'll be there.''
She jumped out of the bed and changed into something other than her pajamas. Drive to the hospital lasted too long if you asked her. She was so tired and so worried. When she got there, she saw a lot of people they worked with sitting in the waiting room. Steve, Tracy, Andy and Sam were standing near the door of the operating block. She went to say hi to them.
''Any news?''
''No, nothing…''
''How bad is it?''
Steve looked at Holly. His eyes were red and full of tears.
''Very bad . I can't repeat what I heard, it zoned out, but they did seem worried. ''
Holly nodded and looked around for nurse or someone who could tell her. She got message from Rachel telling her that Lisa is very disappointed she didn't come and that she even got a date for Holly that night. Holly knew she will not give up that easily on setting her up with someone. Surgery lasted for six hours. As the time went by, they were getting more and more nervous. A nurse came out to talk to them.
''Excuse me, how is she?''
''I'm sorry sir; I am not allowed to give any information. Doctor will be here soon. I am here to find her spouse.''
Steve looked at the nurse.
''Spouse?''
''Yes, the name is written in the spouse section….''
All of the people in the waiting room were shocked by that. They had no idea she was married…. Holly was shocked. She didn't know that she was married. Did Gail do to her same thing Chloe did to Dove? She remembered how Gail was angry at Chloe about Dove and all that.
''Who are you looking for?''
''I'm looking for Holly Stewart….''
They all turned to face her and Holly couldn't believe her ears. Did she hear her own name? She got up and approached the nurse.
''I'm Holly Stewart.''
''Follow me Ms. Stewart….''
She went after the nurse and they dressed her into surgical gown and gave her mask and all she needed. Gail was in intensive care and she was very pail and weak. Her vitals were bad and she was hooked to all kinds of machines and tubes. She couldn't believe how slam and weak she looked. There was almost no color in her skin. She sat by the bed and took Gail's free hand. She squeezed it and kissed her knuckles.
''Why did you do it? You are foolish person Gail Peck… And when you wake up, I'll kill you with my bare hands and dispose of your body in some creative way… Do you hear me?!''
Her monologue was interrupted by the doctor…. He was reading some results when he entered the room…
''Mrs. Peck….''
He got his eyes off the chart and saw the woman sitting by the bed.
''Holly?''
''Ethan….''
''You're the wife?''
''Apparently….''
''I didn't know you got married. Last I heard was that you ended the relationship. Lisa was not very specific on the details .I know she was setting you up with someone recently. ''
''Your sister is piece of work, and I can't talk about it now…. I want to know about Gail…''
''I'm sorry…These are some results we got…''
Holly held out her hand.
''Can I see it?''
''Sure. You will find all that we have so far in that.''
She studied every word, every number and she felt sicker each moment.
''I'm sorry Holly….''
She wiped her tears away.
''It's not your fault.''
''It's so bad that I'm not sure if she would make it… I'm not sure she would survive the night even. We lost her almost five times in the surgery. She lost a lot of blood even before she got to the OR. She got blood transfusion, but her heard is weak. She has her lung punctured by one of the bullets. She is really hurt Holly. If she makes it, it will be miracle. ''
''I can't believe she might be gone…''
''I know, but you are a doctor. You know these things happen….It's all in the line of work.''
''It's not the same. It's not the same. I'm always sorry someone ends on my table, bit knowing that my… Gail might end on someone's is not making me happy.''
She got off the chair and wiped her tears.
''If she is going to die, I think her friends need to say their good byes.''
She got out of the OR block and found their friends.
''It's bad. They think she will not make it. We should… Be prepared for the worse. If you want to see her, go… Doctor will let you….''
They were getting into her room one by one and saying what they had to. As they would see her, they would leave the hospital in tears. No one was happy one of theirs was on the death bed. Few hours later, there were just few of them… Andy, Sam, Dove, Chloe, Chris, Steve, Tracy, Nick and Holly. They sat in silence. Nurse told them that it seemed she was disturbed by the visits so they should wait a little. There was silence no one dared to brake. Nick was first to speak.
''When did you get married?''
That was what all of them wanted to know. When did that happen and why were they not with two of them?
''We didn't.''
''What? You are listed as a spouse..''
''I know, but I'm not. She didn't speak to me in a month and today we had very disturbing encounter.''
''What happened?''
''She apologused and I dismissed her.''
''Why?''
She laughed to what she was about to say….
''I was afraid of losing her again. That is a bit ironic…''
''No, it's not.. I know my sister is not an easy person to be around, but she does love you. She listed you as an emergency contact.''
Chloe was next to speak.
''And you are listed as a wife, that is huge. That is the biggest thing Gail ever did. She made sure no one denies you your spot. ''
Nurse came again and looked for Holly.
''You need to sign some papers.''
She got out of the chair and went to the nurses' station. She sighed what they gave her and nurse came with a plastic bag. These are her belongings. She won't need them here.''
She thanked the nurse and then she remembered something.
''Can I ask you something?''
''Sure..''
''When was I listed as her spouse? I didn't know she did it..''
She looked into her papers and lifted her eyes to Holly.
''On March 16th. That morning she came and erased her brother to put you.''
''Thank you…'
Holly sat on a chair and started crying. Steve came to her and took a seat.
''How are holding up?''
''Barely….''
''Me too.''
''You got her stuff?''
''Yes, I did. There are some more things and uniform and stuff for the streets. ''
''Wanna open the bag?''
''Sure.''
They opened the bag and looked at her belongings; there were shreds of her uniform covered in blood, her nametag, her badge. They also found in one small bag. There was small plastic bag with gold chain Holly recognized. It was hers and she gave it to Gail. On that chain was small chross she got from her grandmother and a white gold band with small sapphire and two small diamonds on it. She opened it and took the ring. Tracy stood over her head and looked at it.
''It is beautiful…''
Andy also looked at it…
''I don't recognize it. There is something engraved.''
Holly took the ring and looked at inscription.
''Marry me, Nerd…. March 16th…''
Holly's eyes were full of tears…..She couldn't see more how wet her eyes were….
''She was going to ask me to marry her that night…. She changed me into her spouse in hospital records… I blew it all…''
Tracy, Andy and Chloe just stood looking at Holly. No one knew what to say. She never felt so sad and alone in her life.