Looks like I've decided to continue this story after all. The therapy session was a bit difficult to write, as I'm not sure what therapists ask their clients/patients during these things. So please bear with me if it's not great! Do let me know what you think and if there are any errors! Might have scrambled up this chapter while feeling a bit more sleepy than usual ;)
"So, what's on your mind today?"
What's on my mind? If I were to tell you what's on my mind, we'd be here all day. Gail is at the shrink's for her mandatory session again. She is starting to take these sessions seriously, since she has issues she needs to sort out, and insurance is paying for it anyway. Might as well make use of it.
"Well, two of my fellow officers are still in the hospital, their lives hanging by a thread. We're all worried."
"What about you? How are you feeling after getting shot at? That must be quite a traumatic experience." Dr. Reese asks.
"I'm just glad I'm not lying on a hospital bed or dead or something." Gail shrugs as her hand absentmindedly dust off imaginary specks of dirt on the leather sofa. She really feels lucky and thankful for coming out of that nightmare unscathed. She can't say the same for Oliver, Sam and Chloe. However, she did wake up a few times in the middle of the night hearing gun shots in her sleep with her heart pounding out of her chest, unable to go back to sleep. She tells herself this is nothing compared to her kidnapping. Gail tries not to go there right now and shakes that thought out of her head.
"What about psychologically? Are you really alright?" Dr. Reese probes further, both the doctor and Gail know this is what she's really asking about.
"I'm fine, okay? Besides, I have someone who's looking out for me."
"Oh? Do you want to talk about that someone?" Dr. Reese is intrigued by this confession from the blonde. Gail is usually rather closed off and distant during their sessions together.
"You know, that friend I told you about a couple weeks ago when I was here. Holly?" Gail wasn't sure if she told Dr. Reese her name before.
"Right, Holly. It's nice to have a friend who looks out for you." Dr. Reese nods.
"I don't think she's just a friend anymore. To be honest I don't even know. Like, is she my girlfriend? We had this fight yesterday and it was totally my fault, I treated her like crap and I finally realized what an asshole I was being. I'm just glad she's giving me another chance." Gail blabbers in one breath, not at all sure where all this is coming from. But deep down Gail's glad she can talk to someone about Holly.
"Why did you treat her the way you did?"
"I guess I didn't want to deal with being in a relationship, since all my relationships in the past failed. Then I realized that, without these failed relationships, without going through what I've been through, I wouldn't be here with Holly. And I know Holly wouldn't hurt me. Also, I don't want to hurt Holly too. But my actions in the past have proven me guilty. "
"And do you want her to be your girlfriend?" asks Dr. Reese.
Gail's eyes widen. She hasn't exactly given much thought about this. Sure, she and Holly made up after their fight, but they haven't talked about their relationship status. Is there a status? Are they girlfriends? Girlfriends. Holly being her girlfriend. Holly being hers, and only hers. Gail likes it. Yeah, she wants Holly to be her girlfriend. Gail affirms to herself internally.
By the lack of response and the look of shock on Gail's face, the doctor continues. "Maybe you should have a proper conversation with her, ask her how she feels and then you two can figure it out from there."
"Thanks doc, you're kind of useful after all." With that, Gail saunters out of the office. She's meeting Traci and the Penny in a few. By the time she arrives at the Penny, Traci's about to polish off her first mug of beer. She takes a seat beside Traci and waits for her to finish her beer.
"Hey Gail, how was it at the shrink's?"
"Oh, nothing much. Hey bartender, can I have a coke please." Gail brushes off the question.
"Gail Peck ordering a glass of coke at a bar? Who are you and what have you done with Gail Peck?" Traci has a look of surprise on her face.
"I'm trying to lay off the booze for a while. Last night was not pretty." Last night's incident flashes through Gail's mind. She wonders when the guilt and embarrassment will go away. Probably not for a really long time.
"Chris told me you weren't home last night. Where did you spend the night?" Traci enquires.
"At Holly's." Gail shrugs, hoping Traci would drop the interrogation, but she knows that won't happen.
"I take it she wasn't happy when drunk Gail turned up at her front door last night?"
"Yeah, I acted like a lunatic and then I begged for forgiveness earlier today." Gail explains vaguely, not wanting to go further.
"What did you do?" Traci asks, like she expected Gail to do something stupid sooner or later.
"I don't want to talk about it." Gail's tone let Traci knows that this discussion is about to end here.
"Fine, fine. Wow, she must be real special for Gail Peck to beg for forgiveness and stop drinking, even if it's for a little while." Gail rolls her eyes at this statement. But it's true though. Holly Stewart is pretty darn special. The conversation moved on to Sam and Chloe. Traci told her that they're both stable and everybody's a little more relieved for now.
They talked for an hour or so before Gail remembers she's going to hang out with Holly at her apartment. During her drive over to Holly's, she thinks about how she's going to ask Holly to be her girlfriend. Should she plan a whole speech or just straight up ask her? She figures even if she has a speech all planned out, it probably won't come out of her mouth once she sees the brunette anyway. That's what Holly does to her. She stops Gail in her tracks with her beautiful smile and charming personality. Gail sounds like a stuttering fool next to her. So she decides to wing it.
She climbs up the stairs to Holly's apartment. What if she says no? What if she doesn't want to be my girlfriend? These thoughts keep appearing in her head, anxiety taking over. She wasn't even aware she has reached Holly's front door and subconsciously knocks on the door. The door flings open in a flash, presenting a pair of warm chocolate brown eyes staring into her own bright blue ones. Holly is wearing a tight light blue tank top and a pair of shorts that hangs low on her hips, showing off tanned bare skin between her tank top and shorts. Her hair is hanging loosely over her shoulders. She looks perfect. She always does.
"Be my girlfriend." Gail blurts out while she closes her eyes. She doesn't think she can say anything to Holly with her looking like that. She'd rather kiss her all over the place. When she opens her eyes, Holly gives her the brightest smile Gail has ever seen in the world.
"Only if you'll be mine first."