Wowzers! Thank you for all the comments, which totally encouraged me to continue. My hope for this fic is just simply to write a great love story between Holly and Gail. I really appreciate all the comments, follows, favs and folks just taking the time to read. Thank you.
Gail stood at the bathroom sink thinking of very little except her dinner invitation from Holly which would be happening in less than 14 hours. She was nervous but currently felt safe behind the four walls of mind clearing steam that floated all around her but even more than being nervous; she had admitted to herself she was curious. It was a start; perhaps for Gail Peck it could even be considered a small step. She picked out her favorite pair of jeans the ones that clung to her in all the right spots, perfectly broken in but not ratty or too worn, a soft white v-neck t shirt to wear under a tighter fitting black sweater, and her deep crimson red killer boots.
The day was flying by without incident, a couple of routine calls, noise complaints and an elderly couple who could not find their beloved cat. The cat named Manitoba had climbed up a tree in the back yard and didn't look like it had any idea how to get down. Dov managed to shimmy up the tree and coax the cat down with some tuna. Gail hated trees, avoiding them at all costs unless there happened to be a hammock attached, with ice cold adult beverages involved preferably on an island away from people.
Stopping for lunch at a little place on Jarvis street, Gail was in the middle of contemplating between chicken salad or a turkey club with extra bacon when Dov, jabbed her in the ribs.
"Ouch, what the hell Epstein!"
"Behind us, I think we might have a situation."
Gail drops her focus from lunch and listens to the man behind them begin to berate the woman he is with, "Well we would have some fucking money if you didn't buy those brats everything they wanted."
"They needed new shoes for school and a few supplies. They are both wearing the same clothes from last year." Forcefully twisting the woman's arm behind her back he informs her, "When I want your opinion I will give it to you."
That was all it took, Gail and Dov stepped backward turning to address the man, "Is there a problem here?" Dov asks the man who is probably a good five inches taller than him.
"I am sorry, was I even talking to you?"
"Okay, so this is how you want to play it?" Gail interjects.
"Because we can take your name, run your info through our system and see if you are a squeaky clean wheel and let you go, or we could find out just maaaybe your wheel is not so squeaky clean. Which is it going to be Bully Bob?"
Not backing down from Gail's threat, "OffiSIR, you go right ahead and do what you want, but I am not breaking any laws by having a discussion with my old lady."
"Fine. Can I see your ID please?" Gail glared at the man punching each and every word with just a smidge of disdain.
"Oh no, I accidentally left it at home offiSIRRR." Dragging out the last syllables for good measure.
Gail reached her tipping point, "Hands behind your back buddy." gathering both of his arms behind the man, out of nowhere he takes one giant forceful step backward head-butting Gail with such force it knocks her down. The man bolts out the door, promptly tripping over his own two feet as he skids out onto the sidewalk. Dov quickly subdues the man and manages to get him cuffed before reaching for his radio.
"1527 requesting backup at 2376 Jarvis for transport", looking back inside at the blood pouring from Gail's mouth, "and can you send a medic as well to this location."
Gail tastes the metallic salty combination in her mouth and she wants to cry, not because it hurts, which it certainly fucking does, but because she has dinner plans tonight with Holly, what is she going to think? Maybe she should cancel. She lets that thought simmer for a moment only to find herself a bit shocked when it makes her a little sad to think of not seeing the brunette tonight. Wiping the blood on her sleeve, she gets on her feet and makes her way outside.
"Hey, you okay?"
"I am fine."
"Well you don't look fine; the medics should be here in a second, just let them look at it Gail."
Looking at Dov with her puffy lip she gives in, "I will let them look at it, are you happy?"
"You have no idea."
Gail actually is happy when she is told by the EMT's no stitches just a butterfly closure and ice. Back in the cruiser examining herself in the mirror above the visor Gail decides you could hardly notice it …much. Maybe Holly won't look at her face. WHAT IS SHE SAYING! Where else would she want her to look? Oh god, never mind!
"Are you okay, I feel like you are anxious or giddy or I don't know, just not acting like yourself, which is kind of terrifying?"
"Well, maybe I am happy Dov, did you ever think that might be it?"
"No."
"You're an ass."
"C'mon Gail! You just got your lip ripped open and your eye is still a bit of a mess so forgive me if I am leery of this new found happiness you are claiming at this particular moment."
"Forget it, let's just get back to the station and get this paper work done, so I can get off shift on time. I have to be out of the station by 7:15pm and not a minute later."
"Why? Got a date?"
"Nooooo! I don't have a date, who would I have a date with? I am meeting a friend."
"You don't have friends, Gail. You have me, Chris, Traci and Andy. Well not really Andy but you have me, Chris, and Traci. We are all going to the Penny tonight. What gives?"
"You don't know the person, and stop being so damn nosey. Drive Dov!"
"Fine, but you better do magic with your make up, that lip it looks awful."
"No one likes you, Epstein."
"You love me, Gail and you know it. They don't call us Peckstein for nothing."
"Oh my god Dov, please stop any future words from coming out of your mouth!"
Back at the station with the day's paperwork done and filed Gail has time for a leisurely extra hot shower. She lets the water wash over her sore muscles, she should be exhausted but feels oddly excited at the idea of meeting Holly for dinner. What scares her is that meeting her for dinner does not excite her quite as much as the thought of having her on the back of the bike. She questions if she might have been better served by taking a cold shower. None of this makes sense right now, but as she puts the final touches of makeup on her lip, she looks at herself in the mirror and finally proclaims out loud, "Who cares if she is a girl?"
"Care if who is a girl?" asks Chloe as she dances into the room, "Hey are you going to the Penny tonight, cause we are all going and I heard what happened today from Dov, Let me see your lip, does it hurt? Did you have to get stitches? Ugh, stitches in the lip totally suck!" Gail throws her stuff into the open locker, grabs her jacket and slams it shut. "Do you ever come up for air, Chloe? You're like one of those sperm whales that does not require a breath for like 90 minutes at a time, it's pretty remarkable Price even for you." Maybe for the first time since arriving at 15, Chloe has nothing to say, she just watches dumbfounded as Gail breezes out of the locker room.
Holly Stewart is not sure if inviting Gail to dinner so soon was the best move or not. Perhaps her "What have you got to lose?" mentality could have waited a week or so until she found her footing a bit around the workplace. Gail was stunningly beautiful and even though Holly did not know for a fact if Gail was gay or not, she felt the tremendous spark and the undeniable rush between them when the cop pulled her out of the wreckage, not to mention the adorable way Gail stumbled and fumbled over her words at the crime scene. She liked the fact that behind her irreverent disposition, the woman she experienced at the accident was unbelievably kind and sweet. The question now was what the hell do I wear for a ride on the back of a motorcycle? Holly had been thoughtful about her options finally deciding on a pair of her favorite jeans which were button fly Levi's with a black fitted shirt over a pretty form fitting indigo tank top, her favorite leather jacket and perfectly broken in cowboy boots. Grabbing her Ray Ban aviator sunglasses just because it seemed like the thing to do being on a motorcycle and all. Hair pulled back away from her face, she also made sure to wear contacts so she didn't have to fuss with glasses. Admitting to herself that she normally did not put this much effort into what she would wear for a date, or a non- date…or whatever this was… there was certainly a lot of effort going on in her world for tonight's outing.
She heard the rumble approaching her place and peaked out the window as Gail rolled up her drive way. She had to admit the motorcycle thing was very sexy, Gail was very sexy; she went downstairs opening the front door just in time to see Gail bounding up the steps with her very state of the art, fancy motorcycle helmet still placed on her head.
"Hey there, you found it okay?"
Gail flipped up the face shield to reveal her radiant sky blue eyes.
"Yep, very good directions! You ready?"
Pointing with her thumb behind her, "Um, did you want to come in for a minute, I just have to grab my bag and jacket."
"Oh sure." Following her into the house, Holly asks how the cop's day went.
"It was great, and you?"
Holly turns to see the blonde has not removed her bulky accessory ,"Gail, are you going to take your helmet off, I kinda feel like I am talking to Darth Vader here." Flashing her a quick grin, because she thinks Gail incredibly cute in this moment.
"Yeah about that, I don't want you to think I am not a good cop. Or that I am not good with my hands, Oh god what am I saying, I mean not able to defend myself, because I am and well it is crazy this happened right after the eye thing but I kinda …." Gail feels like Chloe Price has entered her body and she can't stop talking so finally she just resorts to reaching up and pulling off her helmet revealing the bruised and cut lip... "did this today."
"Oh my god, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I am fine. Remember at the accident when I said this happened all the time? Sheepishly grinning up at Holly, "Well apparently that was not just some line to make you feel better."
"Do you still feel like going out, or would you rather order something in?"
Fiddling with the strap on her helmet, "I would really like to still go out if you're not embarrassed to be seen with me like this."
"Are you kidding me? Never! Let's get out of here."
Outside Gail hands Holly her helmet, which she slips on letting Gail adjusts the straps for her until the fit is snug and perfect.
Walking over to the motorcycle, "I am going to hop on and then you can just slide in behind me okay?"
"Got it." Holly feels her cheeks begin to flush simply watching Gail in her perfectly tight jeans fling her perfect leg over the bike to straddle the seat. She swallows hard, thinking here goes nothing. She follows Gail's lead and slips in right behind her on the bike. Okay well that's incredibly hot and we have not even started the engine. Holly reminds herself to stay focused!
Gail turns around looking at Holly, "Remember to hold on tight, and I am not kidding!" Holly can tell she is smiling even though she can only see her liquid blue dancing eyes through the small visible space of her helmet, and it takes her breath away. "Don't worry you're going be lucky if you can breathe at all."
Gail stops just as she is about to start the engine, "Hey where are we going anyway?" Holly leans in closer, Gail's breath hitches, "The Rectory Café, on Toronto Island."
Gail simply shakes her head in affirmation, flips down her face mask as the vibrations of the motorcycle come alive. Holly is not quite sure how she is supposed to endure all the stimulation that is currently coursing through her body. She slips her hands around Gail's waist pulling herself up tight against the cops back, so close she can feel the pounding of hearts, so loud and strong she is not sure whose is whose. Holly clasps her hands tightly together confident this just might be ride of her life.
Gail feels like she is on fire, her whole body absorbing the radiant warmth of the woman behind her holding on for dear life. She has no idea what is happening to her, but she knows she is going to let it happen. Gail pulls the bike upright, knocks the kickstand backwards with the rigid heel of her boot and they are off, barely down the driveway when Holly lets out an excited yelp as they blaze down the road.