Sorry for the delay, I have been really busy. thanks for continuing to read...

When Gail had opened her eyes, she was very disoriented. She felt nauseated and exhausted, like she hadn't slept in days when in reality that is all she had done. There were cards and balloons all over the room, but next to her bed on the nightstand sat a dozen red roses and a card that was unopened. She went to grab it but was too weak to turn so she pressed the call light button to alert the nurse that she needed some help. When the nurse had arrived Gail had asked if anyone had been into see her since she was taken off of the machines, and was pleased to find out that indeed everyone including Holly had been there. She then told the nurse she felt sick to her stomach and asked if she would so graciously hand her the card off the nightstand. When all was said and done the nurse went to grab the medicine and left the blonde to her card.

Blue Eyed Beauty,

There are no words long enough to encompass my apologies, no sentences strong enough to show my feelings and no emotions wide enough to express these past few days. I know that things have been rocky between us and I take full responsibility for that, you came to apologize and I threw it in your face. There are things I would like to say, emotions i would like to share and thoughts i would like to indulge in but know that this is not the time nor place. This is my apology, this is me asking for your open mind and forgiveness. From the moment you stopped me in that crime scene, you have meandered in my thoughts. You sparked something in me when you returned my kiss and you propelled my emotions when you expressed similar ones. I am asking for you to be my friend, to erase the past few weeks and to start fresh, because if almost loosing you for a lifetime isn't a good enough reminder as to how much I need and want you, then I do not know what is!

-Lunchbox

Gail had realized that there was a smile from ear to ear after she had read that last sentence, Holly had said she wanted and needed her That was a step in the right direction after two steps back. Her thoughts were interrupted with a knock on the door and she welcomed the unknown guest with a "Come In." Elaine Peck had graced the blonde with her presence and as soon as Gail was waiting for the speech on safety and precautions, her mother let out a sob. "Oh Gail, I am so pleased to see you awake and doing well. I refuse to ever fear losing you again and that means you have to be more careful." As she grabbed Gails hand, the blonde felt sorry for this strong willed woman, the woman she had never seen broken. The mother sat in silence before looking directly at her daughter and started to ask a question when the nurse reappeared with her medication. After the medication had been administered the mother couldn't resist anymore, and while stroking the back of her daughters hand she asked "Who is the beautiful brunette who refuses to leave your side?" Gail was shocked, had they met and if so what had they talked about? "Holly! Is she here? have you met her? what did you talk about?" Gail was suddenly anxious at the thought of the two interacting. A simple smile appeared on the superintendents face and she just nodded with a simple, "I like her and I approve." Gail needed nothing else but to return a smile and all was settled on that topic. As the blondes eyes started to close, her mother kissed her cheek and slowly exited the room.

Gail was running extremely fast, she had been running for miles when she felt a sharp pain in her back and then hot breath on her neck. He had captured her and she was very aware of what he would do to her. She felt her clothes being ripped off, one by one and her skin became cold and sensitive. She started yelling and shaking and that is when she woke up in a fierce panic to find the room was still and the tv on with a small petite figure curled up in the chair fast asleep. "Holly? Holly?" Gail spoke in a whisper hoping to wake the women who seemed so tired. Holly had opened her eyes and turned to face the blonde. The lopsided smile had emerged onto her face and she stood up with a stretch and sauntered over to Gail who was still sweating from her nightmare. "How do you feel?" She asked the blonde who was now sitting up. "I feel okay, a little better each time I sleep. I got your card, thanks for taking the time to write that, meant a lot." Holly was unsure of what that meant, but with a small gesture she was sitting on the side of the bed and scooped the blondes hand into her own. A tear started to form in the corner of her eye and she couldn't fathom looking at Gail, not in this broken state anyway. "I thought that I had lost you before, and I moved on, but in reality you were always right there. The moment of real pain and real loss came when I saw the live video of you laying on the floor, naked and lifeless and there was absolutely no reason to believe you would hold on." Holly made a small movement and looked into the icy blue eyes that latched onto the dark brown ones. Gail reached up and wiped the falling tears from Holly's cheek and with the sheer contact, Holly had goosebumps. Gail noticed the chicken skin and a smile ignited on the inside knowing that she still had as much effect on Holly as the brunette had on her. Holly slowly and carefully climbed into bed and positioned herself very carefully next to Gail to not crush or hurt anything and as the two laid in comfortable silence, the clock continually turned until both were fast asleep.

It had been a week since Gail had left the Intensive Care Unit and was now residing on Medsurge. Today was hopefully the day that discharge options would be talked about. All felt right except the surgical wounds, but her friends were all okay, her mother had been sweet and Holly had a sudden shift in perspective. As the doctor started to talk about options, the door opened and in walked the brunette that made Gail shiver. "Sorry, am I interrupting something?" She asked as she clung to the door as an easy escape. The doctor asked if it was okay to talk in front of her and Gail nodded knowing full well that Holly would be a great set of ears for a second opinion. The older women sauntered over to the chair and sat watching Gail intently listen. The doctor started rattling off options for the blonde and none of them sounded appealing until the last one, "You can be released to a home health care agency that will come to your house 3 times a week with physical therapy 5 times a week." Gail thought that was excessive, but considering she would be able to be at home and not in a facility she immediately agreed. The doctor then proceeded to enquire about her living situation, if she had any extra space or spare rooms that they would be able to utilize in the healing process and when Gail had said that "she unfortunately lived in a three bedroom apartment with two boys," the doctor apologetically told her that home health care would be an option but she would have to leave for physical therapy. The blonde frowned realizing she couldn't drive due yet to the bullet in the leg and would have to heavily rely on her friends, that was until the brunette chimed in. "I have extra space, two extra rooms, so she can stay by me and have PT in the other room..." Gail looked at her and the unexpected offer and asked "Really, you would let me come and invade your house with all of these doctors and nurses coming over." Holly looked at the doctor and stated that "she would be able to monitor her closely and was a medical professional as well and could take care of her if need be." The doctor agreed to that plan and handed the brunette the discharge instructions. "With that, you are free to go home, just know that the home health care will last two weeks and physical therapy for one month." Gail smiled and thanked the doctor for his care and Holly stood and shook his hand and then he disappeared behind the door. Holly then retreated back to the bed and sat on the side of it while they waited for the nurse to come discharge the blonde.

Gail looked at Holly with a huge smile on her face, "Look nerd, I know you feel bad about what happened and all but you don't have to put your life on hold because of me. This will mean a hectic home for you after you leave a hectic job and I know you have a personal life and people will expect things of you and what about Addis-," Holly could not let Gail think about that woman for another moment, and with that she cut her off just as Gail had taught her, with her lips. Gail returned the kiss timidly, it was slow and sweet and when Holly pulled back just enough to rest her forehead on Gails, she spoke. "Do not mention her name again, right now in this moment I have one mission, to make sure you are taken care of and get back on your feet." That was all Gail needed, she grabbed the brunettes neck and pulled her into a hungry kiss, one that spoke volumes, one that changed from sweet to needy very quickly. Gail bit at Holly's bottom lip and provoked a guttural moan from the woman sitting across from her. Tongues danced, and hands gripped until the door opened and the nurse coughed. "Sorry to interrupt but I need to disconnect your IV so that you can leave, once that is done, you can change and I am assuming that your she will be taking you home?" Gail nodded and smiled internally at the thought of that, Holly was taking her home, to the town-home she had grown to love and to a life she had learned to live. She didn't know why Holly offered to keep her for the month, but all that she cared about was for a month, Holly would be hers.