„Peck! Can you take this to the lab for me?" Swarek seemed to be in a rush, dangling the little plastic evidence bag in front of Gail's face impatiently.
The lab? She knew what that meant. Holly. She seemed to have turned into everyone's favorite forensics chick here at 15th, especially when it came to big, important cases. They knew she was quick, efficient, but always thorough. She had this crazy intuition about things, noticing things that her colleagues would only pick up on once they had exhausted all other options and had no choice but to look for the most unlikely things. She also knew how to talk to the detectives. She had this gift of dumbing down the forensic jibber-jabber just enough for the detectives to understand what she was saying, but never so much so that they would feel belittled. She was actually one of the few science geniuses that respected the detectives' work. And she was a hell of an asset in court. Her work was clean and reliable, there was no chance for the attorneys to discredit her, and the jury loved her. Why wouldn't they? She was a young, attractive female, intelligent, charming, great with words and always kept a cool on the stand.
The lab. Holly. Hell no!
"What about the courier?" Gail asked, making absolutely no effort to take the bag from Swarek's hand.
"No time, Peck! We need someone to get these samples over there right now! We may be on to something here, and the sooner we find out the better. So?"
"Why don't you get a rookie to do it?" Gail just really did not want to face Holly.
"Listen Peck, I really don't have time to play this game. The rookies are all out patrolling or setting up road blocks, you are the first one I ran into, this is urgent, and maybe it was my mistake for asking instead of telling you, but this is actually an order!" He was getting clearly worked up and ended up basically shouting at Gail. As if she hadn't already understood the urgency of his request and that she just had to bite that bullet, Swarek grabbed her arm, pulling it out of her pocket, shoved the evidence bag into her hand, and walked away. As soon as he was out of arm's reach he turned around but kept walking backwards and added "This goes to Stewart and no-one else!"
Stupid. Stupid Peck! Get your act together!
After her exchange with Swarek Gail went back into full cop mode. In fact, she was a little embarrassed about acting like a petulant child, when she knew exactly how much was at stake. Maybe this little piece of evidence would lead them to that little girl's kidnapper and get Sarah back to her family. She hit the siren and rushed to the lab. She didn't really have time to think about Holly on the way over. First she tried to focus on little Sarah and tried to imagine what she must be going through, hoping that they would soon find her and rescue her from this nightmare. Then she was just focused on traffic and trying to get to the lab in record time without running anyone over. Most people didn't understand how hard it actually was to drive a squad car when the siren is on. You sort of think you can go as fast as you want and everyone will just get out of your way, but every single time there is some idiot who doesn't. It was actually a lot like cruising around on Grand Theft Auto, just minus the hitting people, cars and buildings. It wasn't until she got out of the elevator and walked down the corridor towards Holly's office that it hit her again.
The lab. Holly. Shit. Just stay cool, Peck!
Just as she rounded the corner, she saw a guy leaving her office. He seemed to be in his late 30s, attractive, a hint of grey around his temples. He had a stubble, although it was not the I-just-didn't-have-the-time-to-shave-and-I-couldn't-care-less kind you often see on police officers, it seemed very neat and tidy, matching the rest of his appearance. He wore a rather tight suit that looked expensive but not pretentious, and a matching tie. He could have walked a red carpet in that outfit. No, he definitely was no cop. He had this sciency, nerdy aura about him, in an attractive way though, just like Holly. Maybe he was a colleague? Gail had never seen him at the lab though.
As he exited her office he called in Holly's direction "Don't make me cry myself to sleep tonight, Stewart! Call me! And tell me what I want to hear!" He chuckled and walked away, giving Gail a polite nod as he passed by her.
He smelled nice, like just the right amount of a rather pricy perfume. Why the heck does he apparently so desperately want Holly to call him? Was he asking her out on a date? Would he even be her type? Gail caught herself picturing him kissing her and grimacing at the mental image.
That's called jealousy, Peck! NO WAY! It's just weird! Not because you're jealous, but didn't Holly say she was a lesbian? What is up with that?
Focus, Peck! The evidence!
Holly's door was open, but Gail stopped just in front of it and knocked on the doorjamb. Holly was leaning over paperwork, her head shooting up with the knock.
Shit. She looks just as good as you remember her.
She saw Holly's face going through a whole range of motions. The polite smile she greeted her with turns into the most beaming of smiles that she has given Gail – and just her, or at least so it felt – so often in the past, just to collapse into a frown that is full of worry, hurt, angst and, ultimately, hope. It's as if someone had shown her a picture of the world's cutest puppies and told her that she had won a Nobel Prize, just to follow that up with the information that her favorite grandmother has died and that the last living tiger is about to be eradicated, but if she gave them her most heartbreaking look they might change their mind about the tiger.
She freezes for a few seconds, as does Gail. She was nervous and afraid to come here, to see her, but this she wasn't prepared for – these eyes that mirrored and confronted her with everything that had – or rather hadn't – happened in the past weeks and months. Holly is the first to recover, her mouth forming a careful, noncommittal smile.
"Gail, hi. What brings you here?" There is a slight twitch, but Holly decides to remain seated after all.
"Hi." Gail waves awkwardly, the evidence bag in her hand.
"Oh. Evidence?" She sounds more than just slightly disappointed.
"Yeah. It's from the kidnapping case. Some strands of hair we found in the car. Swarek thinks it might be the kidnapper's." She walks over to drop the evidence bag on her desk.
Hally grabs it and gets up, standing right across from Gail now. "Oh ok. I'll process it right away then."
As Gail turns to walk out, she asks in a disappointed and puzzled tone "You are not staying? Don't you need to report back to Swarek as soon as I find something?"
"Well, Holly, I have things to do, I can't just sit in the basement with you all day waiting for you to MAYBE find something... Just use a phone and call as soon as you got new information. You have Swarek's number don't you?" She realized that may have sounded a little – a lot – harsher than she had intended. You go, Gail Peck! Always overshooting your mark.
Gail had no idea whatsoever how to behave with Holly. This whole situation was just awkward, to say the least. They tried the casual thing, the friends thing, the hanging out. It was clearly not doing Holly any good. And Gail.. well, she had no idea what it did to her. She preferred not to think about it. Probably because she knew she wouldn't like the answer or be able to deal with it. She came to the lab today with the intention of just playing it cool and easy. Not being too friendly so as to not give Holly any false hope. Apparently I ended up being an asshole instead, she thought.
Gail was almost out the door when she heard Holly's voice, quiet and hesitant, so that she almost missed it. "Gail?" She turned around slowly. "Mhm?" As she took a few steps towards Gail, her instinct told her to take a few steps back, to keep up their safe distance. Her feet were rooted to the spot though. "Listen. I know we didn't hang out lately, but... Could we grab a drink tonight? I really need to talk to you."
Talk? About what?
"Don't you have a date tonight?"
"Huh?" She realizes Gail is not going to elaborate on that comment, so she just continues. "Please, Gail. It's just a drink. It's not even going to take long. If you want you can be out after 20 minutes. It just kind of is important."
I'm sure she wants to talk about 'us'. What is there to talk about? We said everything that needed to be said? And I am in no condition whatsoever to relive everything again, to be confronted with all those feelings again. The feelings that I had managed to ignore so well for the past few weeks. Or so Gail thought at least..
"I'm sorry Holly, I have plans. Next time maybe give me a heads up." With that Gail was out the door.
The rest of Gail's day had been fairly busy. The whole precinct was up in arms trying to find the little girl and her kidnapper. They were finally able to identify him – a former lover of the girl's mother who thought the kid was his. Holly identified him. They brought the girl back to her parents and arrested the kidnapper.
It wasn't until Gail left the precinct that evening that she had time to check her phone. There were 8 missed calls from Holly. And 3 text messages.
Gail, it's just a drink. No reason to freak out and run away. I thought we were friends?
Please Gail, I really need to talk to you. It's urgent.
Call me if you change your mind. I really hope you do.
Gail's thumb hovered over the keyboard, wanting to reply. But reply what? What will happen if she agrees to have a drink? Will they be back to square one? Will Holly misinterpret that? She hit the screen lock button and threw her phone back into her purse. Off to the Penny! Let's forget this day. Forget about Holly. - - - - - - -
Author's Note:
This is my first fanfic ever, so be gentle with me :) I have the rough storyline planned out, just need to do the writing.. English is not my first language, but I hope the story is still readable and enjoyable..