Author's Note: Thanks for the positive feedback y'all. I appreciate hearing your thoughts and I'll do my best to keep the chapters coming regular like.

Disclaimer: I own only my OCs and a heap of student debt.

After looking several different places, Steve finally tracked Gail down in the store room. "Hey, baby sis."

Gail looked up from the cases of Don Julio. "Hey." She frowned a little. "What do you want?"

Steve chuckled, "Charming as ever."

"You have that stupid, mushy look you get when you're about to ask about my feelings."

Steve grinned. "Sorry. I'll try to look less stupid." He sobered slightly. "I heard Mom came to see you."

Gail tensed. "I don't need you to save me, Steven." Her voice was bitter.

Steve held his hands up. "I know, I know. You're perfectly capable of saving yourself. I just thought you might need someone to rant to…you know, someone who also grew up as a Peck." Steve looked searchingly at her. "I know how she is." Gail sighed and sunk down to the floor, her back against the shelves of liquor. Steve copied her position, sitting next to her and bumping her shoulder a bit. "Do you want to tell me about it?"

"There's not much to tell. Some dickweed is making a documentary about the 'real story of Ross Perrick' and he wants to interview me as the only surviving victim. Mom thinks I should do it."

"Do you think you should do it?"

"No. Maybe. I don't know." Gail ran a hand through her hair in frustration. "I don't want to relive it. I finally moved on. I don't want to go back to waking up in a cold sweat hearing his voice." Her voice broke. "I don't want to see Jerry's face every time I close my eyes." Gail absentmindedly stroked the scar that ran the length of her right forearm. The scar that was a daily reminder of why she was no longer a cop. Steve reached over and stilled her hand. "But then I think about Jerry and...I want everyone to know his name. I want the families of Perrick's other victims to know that Jerry stopped him. I want Jerry's death - and Traci's loss - to mean something." Gail swiped angrily at the tears running down her face.

Steve turned to face her, cradling her face gently in his hands. "Jerry's death already means something. You survived." He swallowed hard. "Jerry was my best friend and I miss him every day, but I also thank God every single day that you are safe. It is not your fault that Jerry died. Saving you was simply what he had to do. It's who he was." Steve pulled Gail into a hug as she cried in earnest. "You have to stop blaming yourself for something that a crazy serial killer did. You did nothing wrong."

They sat together for awhile longer sharing the silence. Finally Gail wiped her eyes and peered at Steve trying to lighten the mood. "Why are you looking so dapper tonight?" Suddenly she smirked. "Are you finally going to make a move on Traci?"

Steve turned scarlet. "What?! I don't-"

Gail snorted. "Please! I saw the way you looked at her when you came in. Actually the way you look at her every time you think she's not watching. You're crazy about her."

Steve was quiet. "She's not ready to be with anyone else and she'll never see me as someone other than Jerry's friend." He spoke with an air of resignation. "I'm starting to realize that I can't keep putting my life on hold though so...I have a date. One of the officers from the 23." He shrugged, continuing with a sad tone. "I let Sam set me up. He said he was tired of watching me mope around."

"I'm sorry, Steve." Gail said chagrined. "I didn't realize that it was that serious."

Steve shrugged. "It's okay. You didn't know. Why would you? She doesn't even know how much I love her." Gail's eyes widened as Steve's face went white. "Oh shit, I love her. Like, I really, actually am crazy in love with her." He pressed his palms into his eyes. "I am so screwed."

"Ouch." Gail patted his arm awkwardly. "That sucks."

"The thing is that it doesn't really. I'm never happier than when I'm with her. I love spending time with her and Leo…it feels like we're a family. I think about her all the time and, when I'm near her, sometimes I have to physically restrain myself from taking her hand. I picture my future and it includes being her husband and Leo's dad. She's the most thoughtful, kind, smart, amazing woman I have ever met. I watch her with Leo or the rookies and I-" He cut himself off, squeezing his eyes shut. "I'm in deep trouble here. I'm going to have to keep my distance if I want to get over her, aren't I?"

Gail nodded, a little shellshocked by the intensity of Steve's feelings. "Yeah, probably. Or, you know, you could actually go for it! Maybe she likes you too."

Steve shook his head no. "If I tell her, it will get weird and then I'll lose her completely. Could you be friends with Chris if he suddenly confessed his love for you?"

Gail laughed. "We tried that…it didn't work."

"Right. Bad example. What about…come to think of it, who haven't you dated?"

"Shut up." Gail glared at him. "I get your point, but I still think you should tell her." She bumped Steve's shoulder softly. "You're good for each other."

"I just need to be there for her. It's what Jerry would want. Hell, it's what I want."

"Steve," Gail hesitated. "What if she starts dating again? How are you going to handle watching the woman you love with someone else?"

Steve sighed. "I will support her like I always have. I will continue to be the best friend possible and I will wish them well." He smiled slightly. "After I have done a thorough background and criminal check, of course."

Gail chuckled. "Naturally."

"Now, baby sis, enough about me. Are you going to be okay?" He looked at her seriously. "You know that no matter what you decide, I've got your back."

"Thanks, bro. I'll be fine. I just need to think about it more."

Steve nodded and stood, pulling Gail up and into a hug. "You have always been the strongest of the Pecks...don't forget it." He pulled back and squeezed her shoulder before grimacing. "I guess I had better go see if my date is here."

Gail laughed and gave him a smirk. "Go get 'em, Tiger."

Gail emerged from the back room not long after her brother. She placed the bottles of tequila on the shelf neatly, then moved to Chris' side to get a good luck at the dance floor.

"Are you responsible for this mess?" She asked him with an eye roll. She winced as the music grew louder. "And for the shitty pop songs?"

Chris chuckled, "It was Andy's idea. You have to admit that it has a good beat."

"Not that Dov seems be able to find it." She sneered, watching her uncoordinated friend attempt to dance.

Chris elbowed her gently, "Someone needs service at the end of the bar. I'm gonna go take care of the cheerleaders." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively earning another patented Peck eye roll. He grinned and moved toward the back tables.

Gail took one more look at her former division mates and laughed softly. She would never admit it, she mused, but she was deeply grateful that they were still a part of her life…even the ones she mostly wanted to punch. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't realize that her costumer was Holly until she was already in front of her.

"Are you alright, Gail?" Holly asked gently, noticing that Gail seemed startled.

Gail took a breath. You can do this, Peck. You already had a far too intimate, slightly awkward conversation with her tonight. You can do your freaking job and serve her a drink. "Yeah, fine." Gail shrugged. "I'm just a little distracted. You make me nervous." Wait, what? Holy shit. Gail mentally slapped herself. Keep it cool, Peck. Gail refilled Holly's glass automatically while she tried to get herself under control.

Holly smiled almost shyly. "Me? Why do I make you nervous?" She seemed to think of something and Gail's heart hurt as she watched all the happiness fade from Holly's face. "Did I say something? Max always said that I am too blunt."

"Do we need to have the 'Max is an idiot' talk again?" Gail asked, pleased when Holly smiled a little. "It's just…you're just…ugh." She sighed deciding that honesty might have to happen. "I just think you're really cute, okay, and sometimes when you do that little side smirk thing I forget how words work. There...are you happy?" Gail pouted without any real animosity. Holly stared at Gail for a moment with rosy cheeks and a grin that Gail thought was both smug and incredibly attractive. "And now that I have thoroughly embarrassed myself, I'm going to go."

Holly chuckled as Gail scurried away with pink cheeks. Not that Holly could talk seeing as how her own face boasted a distinct red flush. Hearing that Gail thought she was cute was doing all sorts of interesting things to her, she admitted silently as she tried to settle the butterflies that had taken flight in her belly. She scolded her self for getting too worked up. She's probably just being nice. I mean, she's never given any sign that she's into me before. She's never even really talked to me before tonight. Holly argued with herself. Wait. Why is it so hard to believe that someone like Gail would be interested in me? Holly shook her head a little, her confidence expanding a bit. Because you're a boring nerd who could never compete with the kind of badass police crowd that Gail is in. Holly scowled as she recognized that inner voice as Max. She was all ready to dive into further mental debate when a voice right next to her caused her to jump. She whipped her head to the seat on her right to see a pretty brunette looking at her. "Sorry…what?" Holly asked, confused.

"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." The woman flashed a sunny smile. "You're Holly, right?"

Holly blinked. "Um, yeah. Sorry, do we know each other?" She racked her brain frantically.

"No, no. I'm Andy. I'm a friend of Gail's. We-" Andy gestured behind her to a petite redhead. "Um, we just noticed you chatting with Gail and we thought we'd introduce ourselves. This is Chloe." The redhead waved a little.

Holly glanced between the two of them, taking in their sheepish expressions and the almost guilty look in their eyes. "Okay…" Holly hesitated, sure she was missing something. "Is this like a police hazing thing? Or- Oh God - are one of you dating Gail and I seemed too familiar? We're just friends…I mean, not really even that. I've barely spoken to her." Holly was in total ramble mode now.

Andy waved her hand and grinned. "Calm down, Holly. It's nothing like that." She sighed. "Here's the thing. We're nosy. I've known Gail for going on ten years now and…well…it's just that…" She seemed to decide to be blunt. "Gail doesn't chat. In fact, Gail hates people, plus she's had it really rough over the last few years with the kidnapping and all so we just thought that, you know, maybe there was something more happening here and maybe we should come learn more about you." Andy and Chloe looked at her with big hopeful eyes.

Holly laughed nervously and was about to reply when she noticed someone behind Andy and Chloe. A very small, very angry, very blonde someone.

"ANDREA GRACE MCNALLY! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK ARE YOU DOING?"

Holly almost felt bad for Andy as she cringed at the sound of Gail's voice. "Gail…hey! We were just talking with Holly and trying to get to know her a-" Andy was cut off as Gail reached out and pinched her lips together.

"Not. One. More. Word." Gail ground out. Andy opened her mouth to respond. "No." Gail's blue eyes narrowed. "Go away."

"Gail," Chloe started. "We-" Gail turned to her with a glare causing Chloe to gulp audibly. "Never mind." The girls shuffled back to their table as fast as they could without running.

Gail turned to Holly. "I am so sorry." She began taking a step toward the doctor.

"It's fine, Gail. Really." Holly smiled at her not realizing that it made Gail melt inside. "It's actually kind of sweet when you think about it. They really care about you and were just worried."

Gail scowled. "They're just busybodies who have to get into everyone's business, you mean." Holly could tell that she was genuinely upset. "They had no right to come over and interrogate you!"

"Oh, please. It was hardly an interrogation." Holly reached over and squeezed Gail's arm. "It was harmless. They were just curious about our relationship." Holly stopped suddenly with wide eyes. "I mean, not that we have a relationship. We barely know each other. It's not like we're dating or something. For goodness sake we only really started talking today."

Gail watched with a sense of bemusement as Holly babbled. God, she's cute. Gail thought.

"Sure, I've watched you for awhile and I'm always blown away by how pretty you are and how you handle the customers with just the right amount of snark."

Oh really? I wonder if she's remembering that she's saying all this out loud. Gail moved a little closer without thinking.

"And, yeah, I've wondered what it would be like to kiss you, but I was with Max and…oh shit!" Holly exclaimed, her eyes on the door and a crestfallen look on her face. "Max is here."

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I promise to resolve the cliffhanger...eventually.