The area of 15 Division has been quiet for the past few weeks, aside from the homicide case on the murder of a congressman's nephew. No additional dead bodies or body parts were found. Unfortunately for 27 Division, the past weeks have been hell. Rumor has it that the new pathologist, Dr. Stewart, revealed her true colors. The negative side of her perfectionism showed. One wrong move and then BOOM! Three officers from the 27 Division already experienced her wrath. Even a detective wasn't lucky enough to escape. She's still a 'celebrity' but on a different light. At first, almost every officer volunteer in delivering evidence, but now, she's like a plague that should be avoided at all cost. This really made Gail's day. No more 'Dr. Stewart is very lovely' or 'Dr. Stewart is so pleasant', but there are still 'Dr. Stewart is hot' and stuff. Ugh.
'Oh! It truly is a great day, aside from Chris avoiding me. Hm! Whatever. It is still a wonderful day. No hard feeling Dr. S., whoever you may be.' Gail internally rejoiced. But, alas, all great things must come to an end, and Gail's wonderful mood was about to go downhill.
"Gail!" Traci called, quite in a hurry. She looks like a mess. She's overly stressed about the case.
"I need you to give this evidence to Dr. Ray, wait for the result. It's for the homicide case on the congressman's nephew." As she push the evidence to her hand.
"Oh! Oliver also said to bring the rookie, Officer Wills, with you." Gail let out a huff match with an exaggerated roll of her eyes.
Traci ignored her and left quickly. Who could blame her? Any detective who handles that case will be on a lot of pressure. To make matters worse, there was still no solid evidence found to issue an arrest warrant for their suspect.
"Come on, rookie! Nash needs the result asap." Gail hollered at the rookie who unbelievably got the seatbelt hooked on his duty belt.
"I don't have time for your lame rookie excuse to not enter the morgue. Get your ass moving or I'm gonna make sure you'll be in desk duty for a month."
He was suddenly 'unhooked' to the belt like he was burned. Gail rolled her eyes and walk to the morgue's entrance. She flashed her badge to the security guard and asked for Dr. Ray.
"Dr. Ray is on sick leave today. He caught a terrible cold."
"Isn't he the one on call today?"
"Yes, but he informed the chief a bit late, so the stations weren't informed yet." Gail nodded in understanding and excuses herself. She dialed Traci's number, which was answered immediately. Gail informed her of the current dilemma in which she definitely wasn't happy to hear.
"Who are the available pathologist?" Traci asked irritably. Gail forwarded the question to the guard, who showed her the list.
"Dr. Fanco, Dr. Stewart, and..."
"Dr. Stewart! Perfect! Give her the evidence. I'll brief her about the case later." Gail frowned at this.
The fated day has come for her to meet the infamous Dr. Stewart and she is not amused by it at all. The guard gave her the direction to Dr. Stewart's office. She walked through the hallway with Dave on tow.
As they got near the office, Gail heard a very familiar voice.
"I'll see you tonight?" Gail froze, suddenly stopped at her tracks. She will never forget that voice. Not in a thousand years.
'I'm Hallucinating again, am I? But I'm not drunk. It can't be her.' Dave, who's following her, absentmindedly, bump at her.
"Officer Peck?" Confused by the sudden halt. She started to approach the office again when….
"Of course, my place?" She heard another woman say.
'Another woman. There. Is. Another. Woman.' There's a really weird feeling inside her stomach. Gail's teeth clenched. She slowly approached the door.
"What's going -" Gail glared at Dave and automatically shuts his mouth.
"Ok. Take care." She heard Holly say. Oh, that voice. Sweet, husky voice of her. Hearing that voice after a long time brought shiver to Gail's body.
Gail cautiously peeked inside an like the usual unfortunate tv drama, Gail saw an event that felt like a stab right through her chest, and will now be Gail's most painful memory. Holly kissed another woman. It was just a simple kiss peck, not too intimate, no lingering, no tongue, no lip biting and all, but that's not the issue. What matters to her is that Holly kissed someone else. It seems that it wasn't enough torture for her, Holly smiled warmly at this woman, the smile that was only meant for her. And like A cherry on top of her cake of misery, the smile was match with the loving eyes that will turn any stone hearted bitch soft.
She has moved on from Gail. After her grand exit to Gail's life, she returns again with a bang! Gail knows she was not meant to see that. If she just had knocked early, rather than peek, she wouldn't have to witness that but she did and it shred her heart, her already shattered heart. Holly seems to be totally fine while she's still a mess.
Gail didn't known how long she was standing by the door speechless but Holly's voice brought her back to reality.
"Gail?" Their eyes met. After 4 fucking years, their eyes meet again. Clear blue pained eyes met the soulful, brown ones. Gail tried to take in Holly's face as much as she can. To update the image imprinted on her brain. To register the change in Holly's hair, cheek, eyes, lips. The beautiful face 4 years ago was still there. If only there is a way to stop time right at this moment, but their silent moment of reunion was disturbed earlier than expected.
"Hey, Chicken Police." Luck walk out of Holly's office with a smirk on her face.
That really hit her the wrong way. It felt like a slap on her face that brought her back to reality.
'Holly has a new girlfriend. Holly moved on. Holly left her. Holly...' Gail broke her train of thoughts and closed her fists, knuckles turned white, and teeth clenched.
She followed Luck's movement with her eyes full of wrath. As soon as Luck was out of sight, she turned back to Holly, and looked her straight in the eye, emotions all tucked away. What she saw shocked her. She expected to see guilt or sadness or softness or even a bit of a caring look but that's not there, nothing near to any of that.
She saw the wall, the impenetrable wall similar to what she has; the wall that deflects any emotional attacks and enclose any display of emotion. The only difference was that Holly seems to have a better one than hers. The soft warm smile that was directed to Luck a while ago was totally gone, like it has disseminated to thin air. That's when she realized that this is not the Holly she used to know. She is not her Holly. She looked exactly like her but the aura, her persona was totally, completely, different. This Holly is foreign to her.
"Officer, what can I do for you?"
"Officer Wills, give the evidence to Dr. Stewart." Never losing eye contact with Holly. In return, Holly's didn't waiver. Dave gave the evidence carefully and return to Gail's side like she was some protective barrier. Gail then faced Dave.
"Return here later for the results. Let's go." with that, she made her way out of the premises and Dave hurriedly follow in tow.
-START OF FLASHBACK-
"Gail? Hey! You're not listening." Holly slap her on the arm and glared.
"Oh! I am listening. Believe me. I am." Gail replied dreamily.
"Oh yeah? How many liters of water a day do we lose just by breathing?"
"About half a liter." Holly smirked. As soon as Gail noticed the victorious smirk, she knew that she lose this argument.
"What?" She eyed her cautiously.
"You're not listening at all." and Holly started to laugh.
"Yes, I am." Gail stubbornly answered.
"Really Gail? I just obvious caught you and you're still gonna deny it. I'm not talking about water loss at all. If you are listening, you would demand an explanation how that question will prove that you are listening."
She knew it! She knew there was something fishy.
"Whatever." Gail replied with a huff. Holly stopped laughing and smiled, admiring the cute grumpy Gail on display.
"Now, Sweetie, this is the part where you tell me what's been distracting you." Holly reached out and caressed her arm. Gail nibbled her lower lip and look at anything other than Holly.
"Gail." Holly looked at her expectantly.
"It's nothing." Holly gave her the cut-the-crap head tilt.
"It's stupid." Holly sighed.
"I won't laugh at you." She smiled at Gail and she can't help but smile back.
Just seeing that warm smile on Holly's face makes Gail also warm inside. She wonders how she got so lucky. To have Holly as her girlfriend, is more than she ever expected to have and could ever ask for. She have different kinds of smile. Her comforting smile, her teasing smile, her greeting smile and so much more. One of Gail's favorite smiles is her nerdy smile. It is when she talks about nerdy stuff. She just look so cute and bubble like a 10year old kid. The best thing about those smiles is that they are usually just for her. Yes she was selfish but in her defensive, Holly mostly just showed it when they were alone. She smiled at others, yes, but they are usually her friendly or professional smile, sometimes comforting smile. She always made fun of Holly whenever she talks nerd and now it's part of Holly that she adores so much. Admitting it will entitle a lifetime of teasing, so no, she won't admit it.
"Gail. Gail! You're distracted. Again." Holly frowned at her. Gail just smiled and gave her a peck.
Holly just sighed knowing Gail wants her to let it go. So she smiled back and changed the topic.
-END OF FLASHBACK-
The ride back to the station was a disaster. Dave tried to pry some information from her about the scene in Holly's office. Her totally off mood didn't help either. She's sure that the rookie will not show his face to her for weeks, maybe months, unless necessary.
"That was fast. Where's the result?" Gail heard Traci as she entered the station.
"Nothing yet. I just gave it to Dr. Stewart. I will send the rookie there when the results are out." Traci's raised her eyebrows.
"I remember telling you to stay there and wait for the result."
'Shit. I totally forgot that.' Her look must have said it all cause Traci didn't lecture her she just sighed.
"I need you to go back there, Gail." And Traci started to walk away. She was about to protest and make some lame excuse but Chris blocked Traci and volunteered in her behalf. Gail eyed him suspiciously, as he exit the station.