A/N: Thank you very, very much for all the lovely comments and all the support. You guys are amazing! I wasn't really planning on continuing this but I have some free time now and you guys convinced me into turning this to a multichapter...so…here's chapter two:


Chapter 2

You're half way through your cup of coffee when the sound of running water catches your attention. Placing the newspaper down, you reach for the white "DAD" mug sitting on your cupboard filling it with the dark rich liquid and placing it over the countertop just as the blonde emerge from your bedroom. She's wearing a long sleeve grey shirt that covered just over the middle of her thighs, barefoot and tousled hair;

Gail does not makes this easy for you.

You try not to stare as she make her way to the kitchen, but you know you're doing a terrible job at hiding it. At least she's too sleepy to notice, rubbing her eyes and yawning.

There's a little tug on your heart.

It's too easy to imagine this as something else.

Too easy to picture her as the girlfriend that wakes up to the smell of your coffee after spending the night at your bed.

In another life, in that other life, she would have come home to you after her shift last night, you would be waiting for her with pesto sauce pizza and beer and some old movie she would make faces at but wouldn't be able to take her eyes from the screen. You would share histories from your day, you would hear her complaining about all the other Rookies but would be able to see the affection in her eyes as she mentions them. You would cuddle on the couch and then, when the credits started to roll, you would have pulled her to bed and kissed her goodnight before holding her close as she fell into slumber.

She would have slept in your arms all night and you would probably wake up to a numb arm, but it wouldn't have mattered. You would still be able to feel her.

Right here, though, right now, in this world you call real, she's only a friend. You best friend, that's true, but a friend nonetheless.

She hasn't come home to you, but went out to have drinks with her friends. There wasn't pizza, beer and movies, but tequila, flirts and shared cabs to her apartment. You will still hear about her day and the other Rookies but there will also be him, with lucky she will only mention him once or twice never getting into any details. There weren't cuddles, but articles and papers. No holding her to sleep, but waking up to her sneaking into your bed late at night.

You're still able to feel her, but it's only as a breeze. Passing by. Never staying. Never belonging.

You swallow the lump in your throat, cursing yourself for wondering that far.

You're such a cliché it's ridiculous.

Falling for the straight girl, who happens to be your best friend AND your neighbor. What the hell, Holly! You supposed to be smarter than that!

With a sigh you turn your backs to her, getting a refill.

The groan followed by a small bang informs you that Gail has reached her destination. Looking over you shoulder you see her perched over your countertop and can't help but to chuckle at the adorableness that is cranky Gail Peck in the mornings.

"Good morning, sunshine" you nudges her arm with the warm mug. She groans at your nickname once more, but reaches out to grab the coffee as you walked pass her and into the living area.

Couple of minutes go by before she comes to sit on the carpet in front on the TV, resting her backs on the couch you're currently lying on with one of you medical journals.

The sound of cartoons fills your ears and it isn't until fifteen minutes latter that she throws her head back, resting it on you knees, and turns to look at you. "Good morning, Nerd."

You puts away your reading material and smile at her spiky hair, reaching out to comb your fingers through it.

"Tough night?"

She closes her eyes and turns to the ceiling, practically purring at the gesture. Not that you will ever tell her that. Gail Peck doesn't purrs! But then again there is a lot of things Gail Peck doesn't do that you've already witnessed.

"I'm good. I just need another coffee." Her eyes shot open. "And donuts! We need go get donuts Hols!"

See?! Adorable! "...Ok"

"Do you know if the eagle has left the nest?" Your fingers freeze mid air, her words reminding you of things you do not want to think about.

She looks at you expectantly, but you simply bend your knee, signing for her to give you some room to move your legs, and get up.

"I didn't heard anything."

You bring your mug to the sink and the sound of the TV dies out.

"You ok?"

God no, you're far from ok. But you can't tell her that. If you did you would have to explain the reason why...and that's something you can't bring yourself to do.

So you simply dry your hands on the towel and brings the coffee pot to refill her mug. "Yes, of course."

She stares at you in a way that makes you curse her police side. Thankfully, though, she doesn't say anything else and you quickly changes the subject.

"Aren't you afraid to leave the 'eagles' all alone?" She knows you're mocking the 'codename', you do it every time, but she ignores your tone and answers any way.

"Why should I?"

"Don't get me wrong, but they are practically strangers. That you leave alone. In your house." She raises her eyebrows taking another sip and you brace yourself on your hands mimicking her action. "The same place where you keep all your things..." You trail off and she brushes the end of her sleeve over her eye.

"Why would I get you wrong?" She yawns before take another sip. "You're right."

When she doesn't say anything else, you can't help but to chuckle at her. "Well, that was enlightening."

You sit beside her on another barstool, doing your best not to notice how high the shirt sits on her thighs. Her hand rests on your forearm and her breath tickles your cheeks as she leans closer.

"I do have some standards Hols." There's no hurt feeling on her voice, but still you turn to her with an apology sitting on your tongue. When you look at her, though, she has a sweet smile plastered on her face. It doesn't last long, however, and soon she's grinning at you, as if telling you a secret. "And a safe."

"What?" You laugh and she shrugs. "I don't have many things that are worth stealing. It would be at little weird to see someone walking out with a TV so I just keep all my valuable things on a safe."

"That's what I call an investment."

Gail tilts her empty mug at me. "That's what I call safe sex, Nerd."

"You are crazy, you know that, right?" You watch as she gets up an walks towards the sink.

"So I've been told." Turning around she leans back. "You are a doctor and you're still here, so it can't be that bad, right?"

She looks so beautiful right now. Well, she is always beautiful, but in this light and in this moment the sight of her makes your heart clench on your chest and you hands tingle. You want to reach out and touch her, run your fingers through her cheek and over her lips, and so you fist both your hands beneath the counter where she can't see them. "Oh no, it is bad. That's why I'm here."

"Ouch." Her eyes wide in fake shock. "And here I though you liked me."

She has no idea.

"Just a little."

Your voice is softer than intended and for a moment you think something stirs behind her eyes, she's about to say something but seems to change her mind and she chooses to stay in silence instead. Your eyes remain locked for a moment and she blushes a little, before you can be sure of what you're seeing, though, she shakes her head, waving a finger at you.

"And that's why you're taking me to get donuts!" Averting her eyes she looks down at herself. "But I need a shower first."

She walks past you and you turn on the seat. "Meet you downstairs in half an hour?"

Gail nods as she reaches for the doorknob. "Wish me luck Nerd, I going in."

Without another word she's gone closing the door behind her. Your eyes shut almost immediately and your head falls to the counter with a groan. Seconds pass before you laugh at yourself, maybe you're spending a bit too much time around Gail…ok, you know you're spending a lot of time around her.

But as much as you know that is not good for you, there isn't much you can do about it.

Is there?


Thanks for reading! Oh is this "second person" thing too weird? I started to write it like that without stopping to think about it. Please let me know what you think.