A/N: I am so sorry that this took so long. School. Thank you so much for your comments and thoughts. Please continue to write them. It feels great when I get them. Also, I apparently forgot the whole disclosure thing. The "I don't own Rookie Blue or their characters" mumbo jumbo.

It's been two weeks since Traci left for her undercover operation and Gail is starting to notice her absence emotionally. She knows Traci is her friend, but she had not realized how much she depended on her to keep her grounded and focused when she started to panic about things. She realizes that this is one of her mother's reasons for wanting Traci on this operation. The other is to turn Steve against her. She and Holly have been trying every which way to stay connected, but the fatigue and strain of long days and early mornings has made their physical life together limited. Days are getting more and more unbearable and then…

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Of course it had to be Andy. Somehow they managed to get through these last several weeks without much conversation. They had been partnered a few weeks earlier, before her mother's wrath really began to descend upon 15. Gail hated patrolling with her because she can't stop talking and now she is sure she is going to want to talk about her and Holly. Their friendship never got back to the way it was before Nick. Even though Gail doesn't want him anymore; she still feels betrayed by her. Probably more than she felt by Nick. And she is still a little pissed. So, here she is and as if on cue..

Andy: "So, Gail. How are things going with you and Holly?" Andy looks over while she is driving to catch a quick look at Gail.

G: Gail rolls her eyes. "Things are fine, Andy. You know how much I just love talking to you about these things. But I have an idea, let's NOT just to see if we can do it. Whatta ya say?" Gail gives a fake, condescending smile to Andy.

A: "I see, Gail. So, you really don't think you should talk to me about this at all? You don't think that maybe I might be interested in what is going on?" Andy sneaks a glance at Gail and narrows her eyes. She is annoyed.

G: "Um, Geez, Andy. I am sorry. I didn't think that my love life was any of your damn business! Oh, wait, you do have a habit of rubbing your business where my love life is, now don't you?" Gail fires back narrowing her eyes and ready for whatever Andy is going to say. Gail can't help but think that fighting with Andy may get rid of some of the frustrations she has had lately. Nothing major, just good ol' fashion verbal warfare. 'Come on Andy, make it a good one!' Gail thinks.

A: "Actually, Gail, your love life has become everybody's damn business! In case you didn't notice, my ass has been taking double-shifts and standing out in the cold, too. Apparently your mother didn't get the memo that we aren't friends anymore. But you know what, Gail? I didn't say anything to Best or complain to anyone because I felt bad about what your mom was doing to you over Holly. I didn't want to make it worse for you. I was just hoping that she would eventually give up. Despite what you think, I don't hate you, Gail, and I am sorry for the thing with Nick. But, it is times like these, when you are being a totally selfish jerk that I wonder 2 things: What the hell Holly sees in you and why I even bother."

Okay, maybe that one was too good. Gail didn't expect it but she knew it was true. Andy had not been left out of all the extra work responsibilities and Gail really did not consider that at all. She thought about Traci being undercover, her brother on the verge of losing his mind, and her other close friends who were struggling, but she didn't think about Andy. It's funny, Gail thinks, how annoying it is that Ms. Perfect, never-hurt-a-fly McNally would be so considerate of her. It proves she is nuts, Gail is convinced. As touched as she actually is, she isn't giving up on a fight just yet. Besides, how dare she question Holly's reasons for being with her?

G: "Well, I never asked for your support, McNally. Let's face it, you just love a good love story and you probably feel like you are playing an extra. And frankly, I think sucking up a few extra shifts is the least you could do after what you had done to me."

Andy looks at Gail with absolute anger.

A: "How long am I supposed to pay for that, Gail? And I will have you know, I have done more for you than just take my own extra shifts. I took some for you, too. So screw you, Peck!"

Gail was quiet. She looked sideways at Andy unsure of what she was saying. Her eyebrows knitted tightly together.

G: "What are you talking about?" Gail asks cautiously.

A: "I am talking about me trying to help a friend who doesn't even treat me like a human being anymore! Last week, Oliver told me that Best was going to have you work a double. It was right after you got back from Montreal. We all know that your mom has been having you and Holly globetrotting, so Oliver and I went to Best and told him that you had been feeling sick during your patrol with Oliver and that I would be willing to stay for you. Oliver probably would have told you, but I told him not to. I didn't want you thinking about all of us conspiring to help you. I knew you would hate it and probably say no. Then, two weeks ago you actually had a chance to go to the morgue to meet Holly for lunch. Chloe and I took a call that put us within the vicinity of raw sewage. Did you hear that, Gail? RAW SEWAGE! They were going to ask you to respond, but Chloe and I did it."

This information knocked the wind out of Gail for a moment. She knew that her friends were taking extra assignments and were being used by her mother in her plan to break she and Holly up. She felt terrible, but didn't know what she could do about it. What she didn't know is that they were taking on even more than she thought in an effort to help Gail. She did not expect that – especially from Andy of all people. And Chloe, that perky little fool. Gail hardly had a kind thing to say to her. She did not hate Chloe, but she drove her crazy with her constant happiness. Now she just found out that Chloe did something for her that she realizes she would not have done in return. And it hurts. Sure she worked doubles when Chloe was in the hospital, but this was different. The people around her were stepping up for her and Holly. Their true characters were being revealed and they were generous. What was she doing for them? Gail wanted to say something snarky back to Andy. She really, really did. She wanted to find some logical argument that she could use on Andy to quench the guilt that was beginning to burn in her chest, but she couldn't. More than anything, she was beginning to have that old "you're not worthy of Holly" feeling that she had not felt for some time. And it scared her.

G: "Thank you." Gail said, after sitting quietly for a few moments. It was so soft, Andy almost missed it.

Andy searched Gail's face for a moment trying to decide if she was sincere or just setting her up. With Gail it is sometimes hard to tell. Gail was looking at her hands in her lap. She didn't want to argue anymore. She didn't want to think anymore.

A: "You're welcome, Gail." Is all Andy says when she glances at over.

After a few minutes, Andy notices Gail's face looks withdrawn and suddenly much more pained than before. Andy knows Gail and whatever she is thinking cannot be good. Andy thinks that someone needs to kick her right in the ass for doing this, but she can't help but ask. "Gail, are you okay? I can tell something is on your mind now. I know I am asking for it, but I have to ask if something is wrong."

G: "Yes. You're right. It is kind of a mystery what Holly sees in me. After all, I have everyone tap dancing around watching out for me and I can't even be kind to people. Holly is always kind to people." Gail answers honestly, surprising Andy and herself. She continues to look down at her lap.

Uh oh, Andy thinks. She knows when Gail is descending into despair based on self-loathing. She has seen it and she knows that there is nothing more destructive to Gail and others around her if it takes root. If there is anything that would shake Gail's foundation, it is her belief that she is less than.

A: "Gail, listen. I am sorry about what I said about Holly. Honestly, it really isn't a mystery. I know exactly what she sees in you. A lot of it is exactly what the rest of us see in you. If we didn't, we wouldn't be doing the stuff we are doing for you now."

Gail turns to look at Andy and shakes her head slowly. She looks back down at her lap.

G: "And what exactly is that Andy? What do you see? Right now I just see a selfish person who is being pulled apart and can't do anything about it. I see a person who can't even appreciate people and sits in a car hoping to get into a fight with you in order to feel better. I see a person who looks at Chloe like soft target. I see a person who hasn't even had the guts to go to her own brother and say she is sorry for what their mother is doing to him because of her. That is what I see, Andy."

Andy pulls the car over and parks. She sits for minute and looks over at Gail who has let a couple of tears start to run down her face.

A: "Gail" Andy starts. "It's my turn. I see one of the most honest, loyal people I have ever met. I have never in my life seen anyone do what you have done for someone you love. Ever. I have never seen anyone go through so much. I don't have any concept of what it is like to have that much courage. Honestly, that is why it was so easy to take those shifts and assignments because I love seeing you at your best. And you are at your best when you are with Holly. Those other things that you mentioned, like the kindness stuff, those are things you can change if you want to, Gail. Don't say you can't, because you have already changed so much. I said what I said before out of anger, but I am saying what I am saying now out of friendship and truth. You are right where you belong and you are worthy of all of it."

Gail wonders if Andy is some kind of medium that has conjured up Traci's spirit for a minute. Sounded exactly like her in her head. And it worked. Gail recognized the direction of her thoughts and put on the brakes. She types out a message on her phone and leans her head back against the seat. Finally she looks at Andy..

G: "Thank you, Andy. I know I have my faults, but I also know that I love Holly and we are right for each other. And you're right; I can start improving on some of the other things that I have neglected to work on within myself. So, today is probably as good of a day to start as any. I promise to make more of an effort. Are you free to have dinner with Holly and me? Maybe Chloe can come, too."

Andy is a little shocked by this turn of events, but then again, not really. Gail is just being the person that Andy just said that she is and could be.

A: "Well, I would Gail, but I am not sure that Holly would appreciate us coming over when you guys barely have enough time together as it is."

G: "Actually, that is where you are wrong. She just replied to my text and said she would love to have you guys over for dinner. We could use some company and fun." Gail smiled a genuine smile.

A: "Okay, then. Sure! But, when did you ask her that?" Andy looks at Gail confused.

G: "Right after you helped me pull my head out of my ass before it got wedged."