Holly came to the door after the second round of melodic knocks. "Who is it?" she yelled, knowing exactly who was on the other side.

"It's me."

Holly swung open the door grandly. "The security here sucks," she complained in jest.

"I may have flashed my badge," Gail shrugged. "And if your doorman gives you weird looks from now on, it's because I told him you were the city's most notorious pimp."

"That'll be fun when my parents visit."

"Could we get them to play along?" Gail teased.

"Possibly," Holly contemplated. "My dad is quite the practical joker."

"Could be fun," Gail chuckled. "I could use my handcuffs."

"That actually might be fun," Holly returned.

Gail slowly let the laugh die and repeated a knock on the already opened door in nervousness. "Yeah...maybe..so…uh…I forgot my bag this morning."

Holly couldn't hide her smirk, "Oldest trick in the book much?"

"Ha, ha," Gail rolled her eyes. "I really did."

"Well, it's probably wherever you left it." Holly gestured inside before adding, "Before you snuck out."

"Work," Gail said in defense. "I didn't want to wake you up or anything."

"Ah."

"I'll get it."

As Gail took a small step forward, Holly did a quick once over. She had obviously just come from work, though dressed in civilian clothes. She looked a little frazzled, but just as beautiful. The black sweater she wore contrasted greatly with her pale skin and her jeans were a light shade of blue.

Gail seemed to think about where it might be for a second before saying, "Your room."

"Have you no shame, Officer?"

"Actually, no," Gail joked. She didn't wait another second before heading that way.

Holly shut the door with a quick push and turned to watch Gail make her way through her apartment.

When Gail passed back through, she found Holly in the kitchen. She was sitting at the counter polishing off a bottle of water.

"Find it?"

In lieu of an answer, Gail presented the backpack in question.

Holly nodded slowly. "I didn't hear from you today."

"Hectic day," Gail said. "I was busy."

"Yes, of course." Holly screwed the top back on the bottle and moved it a few inches across the counter.

"We're shorthanded," Gail tried to explain with a little less bite.

Holly was reminded that not all was well at 15 Division, "I heard Detective Swarek was doing better."

"Yeah, that's the report," Gail affirmed. "Oliver was released. I talked to him this afternoon."

"And Officer Price?"

Gail shook her head, "No change so far, but Dov is hopeful."

"Me, too," Holly offered a hopeful smile herself.

"He's…" Gail took a deep breath. The emotions of the last two days were bubbling to the surface. "Trying his best to keep it together."

"Hey, come here," Holly held out a hand. When Gail clasped hers, she pulled the blonde closer. She positioned Gail between her legs. "Hey."

Gail met her eyes. What she saw there was stability. Holly was a safe place. Holly was her safe place. "Hey."

Holly carefully tucked a stray strand of blonde hair behind Gail's ear. "How are you?"

Gail seemed surprised by the question, "Me? I'm…"

"You're…?"

"I'm fine, Hol," Gail said with finality. "I'm not hurt, so...I'm just tired."

"Okay," Holly didn't really believe her, but she wasn't going to push her either. Hands trailed down Gail's torso lightly, almost of their own accord. "Please take care of yourself, okay?"

"I am," Gail said as she dropped her bag and rested her hands on Holly's knees. "I'm here with you, right?"

"Yeah."

"I didn't mean-," Gail backpedaled. "I'm not asking for you to take care of me."

"It's okay," Holly spoke over her. "It's okay, I know what you meant."

"I just-"

"I would, though," Holly told her. "Whatever you need, I would do it."

Gail's fingers crept up to the other woman's thighs, "You already do."

Holly's hands dropped to Gail's hips, slipped her arms around to circle her. Holly rested her head against Gail's chest and breathed in her scent. "I'm so glad that you're okay. I was so worried yesterday."

"I know," Gail reciprocated the hug, resting her chin on Holly's head. "But for future reference, sometimes, a lot of times actually, I'm going to be…in situations…that aren't exactly ideal. Sometimes it's dangerous."

"You're a police officer," Holly repeated Gail's words from the day before. "I get it."

"It's who I am, Hol."

"I know."

"You can't come charging over to 15 every time you hear a rumor."

"I'm sorry," Holly apologized. "I won't."

"Don't be sorry," Gail hugged tighter. "It's nice to know you care. I just think, for your own sanity, you know..."

"Okay."

"If you hear something, you can call."

"It's not the same as seeing you, but okay."

"I know," Gail appreciated that. She felt the same, "I really am sorry I freaked. I'm just not always so-"

"It's fine, Gail," Holly said. "I know how you are and I don't want to change anything about you."

With that, Gail laughed. She pulled back to see Holly's face, "Nothing?"

"Nothing." Holly said resolutely. Her hands had slipped down to Gail's hips, pinkies making steady circles.

The sensation made a wave of warmth wash through her. "Nothing, huh?"

Holly looked up at her, "You're exactly how I want you."

The words made Gail's heart flutter. She wasn't accustomed to fluttering, but this was definitely a flutter-adjacent feeling. Gail couldn't help the smile taking over her face.

"That's not something I hear a lot."

So Holly repeated it, "You're exactly how I want you, Gail Peck."

There was an overwhelming sense of something. Gail felt it all over. She felt it when she was with this woman, and when she wasn't. Whatever it was, it was growing. Evolving. She caressed Holly's cheek sweetly and then slipped Holly's glasses off her face.

"Hey!" Holly protested, not at all expecting that.

"I just want to see what you see." Gail batted her away. After resting Holly's glasses on her nose, she presented herself, "Dr. Stewart."

"Those are the source of my magical medical powers."

"I believe it," Gail said as she squinted. "Wow, your vision is worse than I thought."

"Excuse you."

"You're very blurry right now."

"Gail, give 'em back!"

Gail pushed the glasses to her head and made a show of blinking furiously. "Those could be used for simulated drunkenness."

"Gail!" Holly warned again.

"You weren't wearing them at the bar the other night," Gail stated.

"Paying attention, were you?"

"Always," the blonde answered. "I'm a cop."

"Contacts." Holly winked.

"Hmm," Gail eyed her. "At the wedding?"

"You were there to lead me around."

"That's awfully trusting, Doctor."

"I trust you," Holly said. She used Gail's brief moment of shock to steal her glasses back. She slipped them back on her face, "Not with these, though."

Gail needlessly readjusted the glasses and brushed Holly's hair over her shoulder. "Magical medical powers restored," she said. "Nerds all over the world rejoice."

Holly wanted to respond, but instead she watched Gail eyes drift down her body. She could feel Gail's appraisal physically.

"I …" Gail was talking, but her attention was definitely elsewhere. "I have an early shift in the morning. So…"

"Alright," Holly said. She lifted herself out of the chair, "I'll walk you out."

"Okay." Gail grabbed her bag and walked the short distance to the door, but didn't open it. Instead, she leaned against it, "Um, can I call you tomorrow?"

"You won't be too busy?"

Gail had the decency to look a bit sheepish at being called out. "Can I?"

"Sure," Holly answered. "You can call me anytime you want. You already know that."

"Okay. I might just do that," Gail said as she opened the door and slipped out.

"I might answer."

"Oh, you will."

"We'll see." Holly let the door click shut.

"You will," she heard Gail's shout through the barrier.