Author's Note: Thank you for all of the great reviews. This story is 6 parts- and I will have the 5th and 6th installments up soon-ish. I tried not to make the fiance a villian and maybe she is maybe she isn't but whatever. Let me know how it goes, yeah?

Loliizer: Thank you for pointing out the weird time stamps. I fixed them I hope.

1 week Before the Wedding

You motion to the bartender, gesturing to your fourth empty glass. He nods, turns, and within moments you're staring down a shiny new glass, smiling through the wince as the Jack and Coke soothed down your throat.

The buzz in your head is pleasant. Apparently there was a direct correlation between alcohol potency and the tip percentage. He catches your eye and smiles, lingering a bit too long for your liking. A tight lipped smile and raising of the glass and then you're looking down into your phone once more, hovering on her name, Lisa's words from the week before still ruminating in your head.

Another memory as your mind drifts to that morning, sitting in front of Oliver, sweaty palms jittery against your thighs. His face was soft as your words drifted into his ears. At first confused, a little unsettled, and then- sympathy, understanding. It un nerved you, this look, made you want to curl up and just surrender to the growing thickness of tears in your throat.

He's sighing and reaching across the desk to put his hand on your shoulder and nodding his head.

"You have so many vacation days saved up, Peck- and I understand, I-"

Clearing his throat and looking down for a moment, he sighs and reaches into his desk, grasping an object and suddenly throwing it onto the surface in front of you.

"I was going to tell you after shift-"

And it's a badge. With your name on it. And it's not the one that you were currently wearing but different and your breath catches in your throat-

"Congratulations, Detective. We met this morning- it was unanimous. But it can wait. This will actually be a good time to segue, you know? Take some time before your training. So, you take this and take some time."

He laughs a small laugh.

We'll be waiting for you when you get back and whole and healed, yeah?"

And you're holding the badge in your hands, just staring, just-

And then the tears are racing down your face and you're meeting him in the middle of the desk and hugging him as hard as you can manage.

"Thank you," you're whispering, "Thank you so much, Ollie."

He holds you for a moment longer, pulling away to wipe his eye on his sleeve.

He put his hand on your shoulder, met your eyes.

"Take all the time you need."

The memory ghosts a smile on your face and for a moment you do feel a little less broken, a little less empty.

Another rattling of ice as your glass is suddenly empty and another gesture and another smile gets you a fresh one.

Another lingering smile as he meets your eyes with his.

You try to smile back but feel like it comes off more as a grimace.

He's flirting with you. You shake your head. Before- before all of the Holly and the heartbreak- he would have been a perfect candidate with whom to drown your sorrows in- but now, in the after, all you can think of is rough skin, rough hands where they should be smooth and delicate.

Another long pull.

And then another person- a female person- is sliding in next to you and gesturing to the bar keep with shaky hands and slightly slurred words.

"I'll have whatever she's having," the woman, petite, beautiful, is smiling at you and turning her attention to you and you're squinting your eyes in confusion because who the hell-

"You're prettier than I thought you'd be."

The words hand heavy in the air and you let the words settle upon your hot ears before you're opening your mouth to respond but she beats you to it.

"I love your hair. Holly told me that she cut it the first time- that's right?"

And then your eyes are closing because why the fuck does this keep happening to you when all you want to do is drown in your chosen, bubbly beverage.

A smile to the bar keep as he places the drink in front of the woman. She takes a drink, half the glass, grimacing before wiping her lips with the back of her hand.

"She did a good job... But I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Holly's good with her hands."

You gulp as the bomb lands directly onto its intended target, stealing your breath and wrecking your heart.

Fuck it. You could just go to the goddamn grocery and buy a bottle and go home and drink where no one could find you.

You stand quickly and wobble slightly as you toss money on the table top, shouting out your intent to the bar keeper and gesturing to the bills.

You grab your jacket quickly, so intent to get out of the Penny, out of the conversation that you had no desire to be a part of.

You're brushing past her, trying to fight the images she's painted with her provocative words, the churning sickness it sets in your stomach.

But of course she's following you out into the night and before you know it, she's grabbed your wrist and has spun you around and is observing you with glassy eyes.

"She never really talks about you. She never really does. But sometimes it's like she catches herself, you know- getting ready to tell a story with this- smile on her face. But then she looks at me and it goes away and all I'm left with is the idea that maybe it's because- because she's thinking about you."

You're shaking your head, trying to further yourself still as she continues.

"And that- that can't fucking happen, you know? I can't have my fiance thinking about a woman from a hundred fucking years ago. So here's the deal, Officer-"

And she's invading the space that no one ever gets to invade and pointing an accusing finger at you.

"You're going to stop whatever the hell you're doing that has had her distant and quiet and- and- different since we got here. She's mine, Gail. You can't take her."

And of all the sounds that you thought you'd be making in this moment, you're certain it would never have crossed your mind that you'd be laughing.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" You're exploding at her, hands pushing against her shoulders.

"I haven't done a goddamn thing since you got here and you're here accusing me of trying to steal your future wife?"

The words burn and are so bitter on your lips.

"First of all, Doctor- the me Tarzan, you Jane thing? Not fucking attractive. She's not anyone's, yeah? And even if I- God, Sam. It is Sam, yeah?"

And she's opening her mouth to speak but you cut her off.

"Holly's a good person- probably the best person. But that's all she is to me. Like you said- fiance. Done. You good now? Your drunken stalkery thirst sated? Move."

And you're moving away from her once more, brushing her hand away when she once more tries to grab your arm.

"I'm out of patience, Doc. Really. Get your damn hands off of me."

"You're no good for her and you know it! Just let her go!"

And that- it hurts because as much as you want to turn and look at her and walk over and shred her to fucking pieces, flay her flesh with your bare hands and deny her words and their validity, you think she's probably right.

You don't turn but you pause, your shoulders heaving with labored breath.

Words escape you. But they don't with your counterpart, her words softer when they hit the night air.

"I just can't- I can't lose her. She makes me better. She makes me-"

And the words are harsh but sincere as they husk out of your mouth.

"Into someone that you actually like? Yeah, she does that."

And then you're walking away, her eyes boring hard into your back.

You walk to the corner market, go immediately to the liquor section.

You buy a bottle of bourbon and check out less than three minutes later.

Chris knocks on your door four shots in when you stumble into the bedside table and knock your clock on the ground.

You tell him you're fine and to fuck off with one breath.

He goes away soon after that.

The next morning when you're all bleary eyes and chugging coffee, you and Chris share a long look. You think you both decided in that moment not to mention or acknowledge the evening before- the drinking, the unsteady body- and the keening, muddled cries that persisted through the night.

4/6

Let me know what you think!

Thanks!

Whit