Gail gazed over at Holly from the passenger seat of Holly's car. They hadn't said a word since they'd left the hospital, but it was a comfortable silence, instead of the hostile or awkward silences that Gail usually shared with others.
God, she's beautiful, Gail thought, as she let her eyes roam over the other woman's features.
Holly let her attention wander from the road for a moment, to take a quick look over at Gail, who she could feel burning two icy holes into her. Gail had an almost pained look on her face, so Holly smiled at her reassuringly before returning her eyes to the road. Holly reached out and placed a firm hand on Gail's knee as she turned onto Bay Street.
They had stayed at the hospital a while longer, but after being reassured that there would be no changes to either Sam or Chloe's conditions, everyone except close loved-ones had left to find, if not sleep, then at least some solace at home.
"Can I stay at your place tonight?" Gail had asked looking-up at Holly with tired, imploring eyes.
And now here they were pulling into Holly's underground parking spot. Holly knew under the circumstances she shouldn't feel so excited about having Gail stay-over at her place, but she couldn't really help the emotion. Just as she couldn't seem to help all the emotions that she felt whenever Gail was near her.
Gail slipped her hand into Holly's as they walked over to the elevators. While they waited for the elevator to come, Gail leaned her head onto Holly's back, wrapping her arms around her front. Holly responded by wrapping her arms awkwardly behind herself and around Gail. When the elevator came, Gail was too exhausted and comfortable to shift her position much, thus making them awkwardly frog-march into the elevator.
With a crooked smile, Holly pulled Gail in front of her, and let her nestle comfortably into her side. Holly leaned against the elevator wall and with her free arm, punched the button for the 17th floor. As the elevator ascended, she gently kissed the top of Gail's head.
Gail let Holly pull her by the hand to her apartment door. She probably should have let Holly's hand go, while she tried awkwardly to pull her keys out, but she wanted the constant contact. She had felt a magnetic pull towards Holly ever since she had first met her, but she was only now admitting it to herself.
Gail immediately became alert when she stepped into Holly's apartment; she had imagined what it would look like and now she was here, and her curiosity was getting the better of her.
Gail's eyes wandered over the modern, but cozy living area and kitchen. She noted the dark hardwood floors, granite countertops, gray couch, the over-flowing bookshelves – it was very much as Gail had imagined it would be.
"Well this place puts my 'Three's Company' living situation to shame," Gail said with her usual desert dry delivery.
Holly knew this was Gail's way of expressing that she liked her place, so the arched eyebrow she directed towards her was all about the unexpected retro TV reference. Gail was always catching Holly off-guard - it was one of the things she liked so much about her.
"I'm going to change and get you something comfortable to change into too," Holly said, shaking her head. Gail was already looking around like a cop on a drug bust.
Gail's eyes skimmed over Holly's bookshelves, noting with amusement the comic books and fantasy novels mixed in with the academic books and scientific journals.
Gail heard Holly re-enter the room. "You really are a massive nerd, aren't you?" Gail said turning around. "I – " Gail's breath caught in her throat and she completely lost her train of thought, as she caught sight of Holly's more comfortable attire. Somewhere in the lizard part of her brain she was processing the images that were going through her optical nerve, but all higher-order thinking processes were off-line. Holly had changed into cut-off sweats, hung low enough to show-off the angle of her hips, an old t-shirt from her alma mater, McGill, that hung high enough to show off her stomach, and she was most decidedly not wearing a bra.
"The nerds have inherited the Earth, you know," Holly chuckled. She knew she was a nerd, and she embraced it fully. "I won't show you my Buffy pint glass collection, until I think you're ready for it."
Holly quirked her mouth into a smile, at the dumbfounded look on Gail's face.
"Here," Holly said, tossing a change of clothes at Gail.
Gail dragged her eyes away from Holly's body, just in time to get a face-full of clothes. Gail blushed and quickly stooped to pick up the clothes. Get a grip Peck, Gail implored herself. They're only pajamas.
"Between this and the batting cages, I really am starting to worry about your reflexes," Holly laughed. "- Like as a doctor, there might be something medically wrong with you."
"You're lucky I like you," Gail said, glaring at Holly.
"Yes, I am," Holly replied. And they both blushed.
"I'll make you some tea while you change?" Holly asked, breaking the tension.
"How about something stronger?"
"How about I put something stronger in the tea?"
"Sounds perfect," Gail replied.
Holly grabbed her kettle off the stove and began to fill it with hot water. She went to place it on the burner and was so startled as she turned to see Gail stripping in the middle of her living room, that she splashed water all down her front. Gail had taken off her shirt and was in the process of pulling off her pants.
Look away you perv, Holly's better side yelled at herself. You're a doctor for god's sake. Holly remained rooted in place, kettle held aloft like an idiot, as her eyes remained glued on Gail. Gail was now wearing only her underwear, and Holly reluctantly dragged her eyes away from her body and turned back to the stove.
Gail felt Holly's eyes rake over her, and she allowed herself a satisfied smirk. Holly softened her and pulled her guard down, but she was still Gail Peck. She wanted to knock Holly as off-kilter as she was around her. How do you like my reflexes now? Gail thought smugly.
Gail padded over to the bathroom to clean up before bed and laughed out loud when she caught sight of her reflection. She hadn't noticed that the black t-shirt she had pulled over her head was Star Wars themed.
When Gail returned to the living room, Holly was holding two steaming mugs of tea.
"It suits you," Holly said with a mischievous smile.
Gail was so busy concentrating on not allowing her eyes to wander, that she let the comment slide without a sarcastic retort.
Gail thanked Holly for the tea, and they curled up on the couch, Gail nuzzling back into Holly's shoulder. Gail took a sip of her tea, noting that it most definitely met her 'stronger' request.
"How are you feeling?" Holly asked softly.
"Scared," Gail sighed.
"I know you are worried about your friends, but I am here for you," Holly replied simply.
"I know you are. And thank you." But Gail hadn't only meant she was scared about Sam and Chloe. Though thoughts of them in the hospital dominated her worries, she was also utterly terrified of everything that she was feeling for the woman looking down at her with affection and compassion. As Gail looked into those big brown eyes, all she could think was, I am in big trouble.
Gail made it halfway through her tea before her head began to droop from fatigue.
"Here let me take that," Holly said, taking the mug from Gail's hand and gently extracting herself from underneath Gail's body. "You should get into bed and get some sleep. I'll take the couch."
"Don't be ridiculous," Gail scoffed. "I'm not kicking you out of your own bed. Come sleep with me. Please."
It was self-preservation that had made Holly offer to sleep on the couch. But it was the 'please' that made her defenses crumble.
As they got under the covers, Gail immediately went to the crook in Holly's shoulder and rested her head. She rested her hand lightly on Holly's opposite hip and snuggled the side of her body into Holly. She felt warm and safe and quickly drifted into sleep.
Holly stared up at the ceiling. Her body responded achingly to Gail's, pressed up against her as it was. Holly admonished herself for her selfish desire. She knew Gail was vulnerable right now and needed support through this difficult time. She wouldn't take advantage – that's not how she wanted things to happen. She was only human though, and her body had always responded to Gail's, even when she didn't want it to.
"You are so beautiful," Holly whispered, looking at Gail's sleeping features. She looked peaceful, but even in sleep, Gail had a stubborn furrow to her brow. Holly felt affection swell in her chest for this woman who had barreled into her life with a snarky comment and a dirty look.
"I am in so much trouble," she whispered, staring back up at her bedroom ceiling.