A/N Hi, So here is another chapter, enjoy ;)
Chapter II.
For the first time in what felt like eternity, Gail was in a good mood. Honest and simple, not just putting up a face for others. It was a week since the shooting and things were slowly returning to normal. Well normal isn't probably the right word, it wasn't normal for Gail Peck to spend a weekend with someone just talking. It was not normal for her to actually open up to someone. It wasn't normal for her to think all day about kissing another woman. No, what was happening was not by any means normal. It was weird and she really liked it.
"Well you look unusually happy" asked Tracy while putting on a belt with her gun "Mom set you up on new date? I thought you were finished with it"
"No, no more blind dates" replied Gail absently smiling at door of her locker
"Ok…so what is it then or who?"
"Well I…" blonde started
"Tracy, can I speak with for a moment?" said Steve as he came up between the women "I was wondering what –"
"Hello to you to brother" remarked Gail kicking him lightly in a leg.
"- Aw! Hi! So what should I bring for" he raised his eyebrows suggestively at Tracy "you know our road trip."
"O my God… Now I have a mental image. Disgusting" called Gail pretending to silently gag,
"You were the one who was convincing me to give Steve a shot" said Tracy
"Really? Thanks Sis" smirked Steve.
"Yeah, and I'm regretting it already"
She was happy for them. Tracy deserved every piece of happiness she could get and her brother is one of the good guys. And on the other hand she wouldn't mind having Tracy as sister in law. She would definitely appreciate having another ally at the family table.
It was not a big surprise for her that she was sharing a car with Nick. But it was not something she was looking forward to. They didn't fight or anything, but the whole 'you cheated' 'yeah, because you fell in love with someone else', didn't exactly strengthen their friendship. And by the looks of it Nick was not happy about the situation either.
"I guess we are together today" he said while fastening his seat belt.
"Obviously" hissed Gail
"If you have something to say, just say it Gail" demanded Nick
She wasn't exactly thrilled to have this talk, but they might as well get over with. It was clear for everyone at hospital, why was Andy the one that was sent to see Sam. "Did you and Andy break up?"
"I don't know" he gulped staring out of the windshield "are you going to give me the whole I told you so speech"
"No" she replied
"Good so let's do our job."
The rest of the patrol went relatively fine. They hand out couple of fines, dealt some minor disturbance. By the book it was calm and easy day, but the tension between then was slowly driving Gail crazy. Nick was obviously hurting, and she didn't know what to say, or if she even wanted to. They just sat in complete silence staring out of window, both secretly praying for some kind of distraction.
The distraction came, at least for Gail, when Frank asked if someone could quickly jump to laboratory for blood results for some case that Tracy and Swarek were working on before the shooting. The speed, in which Gail took off, surprised even her.
Holly was sitting in chair leaning above some paper work. Her hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail. Sleeves of her signature lab coat rolled up, showing her toned arms. Gail noticed right from the start that Holly was attractive, in the kind of annoying 'I can rock a lab coat, and I'm not even trying way' way. But it wasn't until the wedding she noticed just how good looking Holly was. And more importantly that it had effect on her.
"Hi" Gail said, leaning against doorframe.
"Hello" Holly looked up with smile "I was not expecting to see you today"
"I'm here for the results, the Peterson case" explained Gail
"You know carrier usually brings you that stuff right?" smirked the brunette standing up and greeting young officer in a hug.
"Yeah he was sick or something" giggled Gail hugging back "Frank send me it is kind of urgent"
"So Frank sent 'you'?" Asked Holly, pulling back with raised eyebrows.
"Well maybe not me specifically, but you know."
"I'm glad it is you" she dropped small kiss on Gail's lips. Blonde slowly leaned to rest her forehead against Holly's "Is everything ok?" Holly asked.
"Yeah… It is just a long day" whispered Gail.
"Do you what to come over tonight? We can watch a movie maybe order takeout" suggested Holly.
"Is that code for something gay?" Gail pulled back
"No, I meant just a regular food" laughed brunette. Pulling out form the embrace and heading to her desk.
"Oh… Yeah that would be nice" smiled Gail not so subtly checking Holly out.
"Great."
"Yeah" Gail was momentary lost in thoughts. Everything seems to happened so fast. Two weeks before she was single, going on stupid dates her mother set her up to. No she was standing here, staring at the woman that somehow found a way in to Gail's life and passed all defenses, without her even noticing. It was not even the fact she was woman that scared Gail, but just how quickly Holly become significant in her life. That was what scared her. It was like she was always there.
"Here…" said Holly turning to give Gail a black folder.
"What?"
"The results" smiled brunette.
"Oh…Yeah, thanks."
"See you tonight" Holly said kissing Gail's cheek.
Gail was standing in the locker room slowly taking off her uniform, when Tracy came next to her staring at the side of blonde head.
"What?" Gail asked
"We are friends right?"
"Yes" replied Gail uncertainly
"We share things with each other?"
"Tracy, what is this about? Did my stupid brother do something?"
"What's going on with you and Holly?" asked Tracy suddenly .
"W-What do you mean?" was she really that obvious? First Chris now Tracy. She was just glad Steve didn't ask her anything. Yet
"You almost ran, when Frank asked if someone could bring stuff form lab and at the wedding you looked very cozy and in the hospital - ."
"Yeah well I…" not sure what exactly she should tell.
"Is she the cause of your good mood this morning?"
"Maybe" said Gail not able to stop the smile creping in corner of her mouth.
"Gail Peck! Why didn't you say anything?"
"There wasn't much to say. We just hang out, and then she kissed me at the wedding - "
"What?"
"Then she came after the shooting, to make sure I was ok" Gail took deep breath "and we sort of made out in interrogation room."
"Are you two dating?"
"I'm not sure" muttered Gail "I guess, technically we were on date, but I don't know" If Holly was guy, they would be probably dating, and had sex for that matter, but she didn't know if there was any rules when comes to two woman. She guessed they were taking things slow, but at the same time moving 1OOmines per hour.
"Wow, well I didn't see that coming." Said Tracy while sitting on a bench next to Gail.
"Yeah, you're telling me."
"I have to go…" Tracy checked her watch "I have a date with you brother, but I definitely want details later ok"
"If you promise you won't share any of yours. There are certain things I do not what to know about my brother."
"Promise, bye" smile Tracy leaving.
Gail was sitting there for what seemed like another twenty minutes, just sorting her thoughts. Were they dating now? Does that make her gay? Does is even care? When all of the sudden Andy busted trough the door, startling the blonde. It looked like Gail was not the only one who had unpleasant day. She actually felt sorry for the other woman. She was aware Andy's feelings for Sam, but she was still not completely capable to get over the whole Nick thing. She still had feelings for him, not sure if they were romantic, but still it bothers her to see him hurt.
"What is it Gail?" knowing that Gail is watching her.
"You know, I thought I will be happy if you two broke up" said Gail standing in front of brunette. "But I'm not. I was hurt, because knew I wasn't his first choice, but I guess he wasn't yours either" Gail slowly gathered her things. "Just put Nick out of his misery, being in second choice is not a nice place to be in."
"Gail – "
"I hope Sam will be ok" with that Gail left.
They were sitting in holly's living room sharing blanked while watching a reruns of Young and Restless on mute, occasionally doing voice over's to dramatic scenes. Finished chinese food on the table in fort of them with half empty bottle of wine. Gail was trying to remember last time she was this comfortable with someone. In her previous relationships or even with her friends she always had this need to be on guard, constantly expecting the next punch. Expecting people to leave.
"It's not that I don't like TV genius that is soup opera, but we should do something more interesting next time" said Holly filling up their drinks.
"Last time you suggested something so called cathartic, I made total idiot out of myself"
"Yeah" said Holly slowly leaning to Gail "but you were still cute" pressing kiss on the lips.
At first it was just a simple kiss, similar to which they shared at lab. But then it slowly involved, the pressure was more firm the movements of their lips more sensual. Holly carefully took Gail's wine glass and set it on a table next to them. After that they for what seemed like a minutes just looked at each other. But it was too much for Gail so she pulled Holly to her and kissed fully, one hand gently behind a neck another holding herself up. Holly responded with similar force, gently lying on top of blonde.
Gail was overwhelmed, not from the physical aspect of things, but the sudden rush of emotions that came thru her. The previous days, sitting in a hospital expecting to lose yet another friend. And now this, she realized that this thing she had or shared with Holly won't be simple. Everything felt new, yet somehow oddly familiar, exciting and terrifying at the same time.
"Holly?" whispered Gail when Holly pulled out just to gently kiss her jaw.
"Yeah?" responded pressing another little kiss behind Gail ear.
Not being able to stop herself Gail mumbled "You are not a rebound"
This made Holly pulls away. "What?"
"I'm not sure what you are yet, but you are not a rebound. This, it's just… I'm not here just because I and Nick didn't last. I don't know where we are going with is, I just.." Tears were starting to form behind Gail's eyes
"Ok"
Holly gently kissed Gail's forehead a lay down next to her.
"Just so you know I'm not usually this weepy"
"Good to know" smiled Holly
They were embracing each other, when Gail felt she was slowly drifting asleep.
"What time is it? I should probably go." She said getting up
But she didn't get far, because of the grip Holly had on her waist.
"Stay the night!" Holly said "I mean we don't have to do anything, we could just lay here or you just –"
"Holly!"
"Hmm?"
Gail moved closer and kissed brunette's lips "You talk too much."
