1.10 - Mercury Retrograde

And now for our thrilling conclusion!

The gunshots ricocheted off the metal they were hiding behind and then stopped.

Okay.

It was terrifying. Vivian hunkered down and tried to think about something Gail might say in this moment. Something cutting, probably, or sarcastic. Mean. Gail would deflect her fear with bitchiness. That was something Vivian never mastered. "I have never in my life wished to be short," she muttered, mostly to herself.

Beside her, Lara hissed. "Shut up."

"I think they know we're here now, Lara," snapped Vivian. Oh look. There was her inner Gail.

"You're the one who said if they figured that out, we were dead," Lara replied.

Yeah. She had. Vivian sighed and made herself as small as she could and still look over at the gangs. It was a three way now, the gangs shooting at each other and, any time they moved, them. "If they decide to gang up on us, we still might be."

Rich, his face ashen, stared at his gun. "What do we do? We're not supposed to be here!"

There was that too. Technically Rich was supposed to be in charge of their little group. Clearly that wasn't working. "Jenny, check where they think we are?" It was starting to be a little long for backup to show up.

Jenny nodded and raised a hand to her radio. "Uh, Dispatch, this is 4749. Can you confirm where we're supposed to be?"

The somewhat familiar voice of Tassie, one of the dispatch coordinators, replied with an address. The address where they were. And then Tassie muttered, "Oh. Shit. That's the wrong location."

Jenny snapped, "Are you fucking kidding me?"

Vivian rolled her eyes. "Well that explains a lot." She thumbed her radio, "Dispatch, 4727. It's still a damn 10-33. We're taking fire now."

"How the hell are you calm?" Rich stared at her.

"I'm not," admitted Vivian. "I have no idea what the hell we're supposed to do. But screaming and crying and wailing isn't going to help." Like Gail often said, being calm in a crisis meant for a really fun break down later on. She did not enjoy the idea of that, given how soul sucking the shooting had been earlier.

"4727 and 4749, switch to alternate channel."

"Copy," replied Vivian, wondering who's voice that was. It sounded like Andy but it was hard to tell just then.

Lara asked, "What's the alternate?"

"Nine," said Vivian, confidently. She switched over and kept her voice low. "4727, Peck. We could really use you guys right now."

"I want a SitRep." That was John. Thank god.

Jenny hesitated. "I got it." When Vivian nodded, she replied. "This is 4749. We all ended up at the wrong building—"

"I got that from Dispatch, kid. What's your status?"

Jenny looked terrified. "Well. Taking fire off and on."

"Are both gangs there?"

"Yes, sir."

"Copy. Sit tight. Anyone hurt?"

"None of us, but Dr. Van Lowe got shot in the knee."

When Jenny paused, Vivian added, "By Bobby."

The pause from John felt like the one before he laughed at something malicious. There was a reason he kept up with Gail all these years. "Can you give me a visual?"

When no one else moved, Vivian swallowed her fear. Look up. She crouched and leaned her head around. "Simmons, I see ten from Hill and about the same from Rivers. The three ringleaders are having a standoff."

"Can you hear them, Peck?"

"Not right now. They were arguing about how Jackie's dad was Anton Hill, and the doctor, Veronica, was sorry and ... I think they're siding against Bobby."

"And they stopped shooting?"

"Yeah. They spotted us. Kind of." The gangs didn't actually know they were cops, which was to their advantage right now.

"Kind of?" John sounded skeptical.

"They're arguing over whose gang we're from," she explained.

"But you can't hear them now?"

"No they're too quiet— Wait, hang on." She grabbed Rich. "Read!"

"What?" He almost dropped his gun.

Jesus, Fear made people stupid. "Read their damn lips, Rich."

He stared at her, aghast. "You want me to stick my head out there?"

They all heard someone shout. "Who the hell is over there?"

Crap. Vivian tabbed her radio. "Yeah, yeah we can hear 'em again. They still think we're each other's spies."

"Any way out?"

"One door and they'll see us."

"Okay. Sit tight. Don't try and negotiate. We're coming up silent."

"Copy." Vivian exhaled and rested her head against the metal.

Rich was staring at her. "How are you calm?"

She was about to say she had no idea, but the thing was, Vivian did have an idea. Because logic had been simmering in her head for months. If she'd seen her father die, then she'd been the one who called 911. Vivian shook her head. Telling them she'd seen worse wasn't going to go over well. "They're coming."

"So are they," say Lara darkly.

Now they were in trouble. Vivian got to her knees and looked. Shoot or surrender? They knew backup was, really now, on the way.

"Who the hell is there?" Bobby stepped forward.

Rich apparently remembered he was in charge. "Police!" He rose partly, gun drawn and raised. "We have the building surrounded. Give up."

Oh fucking awesome. Now he could do something.

Cringing, Vivian drew her gun. Lara and Jenny were a heartbeat behind. Four rookies with 23s against … well it looked like fifteen gang members with semi-automatic weapons. What could possibly go wrong?

Holly knew better. She knew not to listen to the police radio. She knew not to look out at what Fifteen was doing. In twenty five years, in thirty years, she knew not to look. It would give her nightmares to be aware of everything the cops were doing every day. Yes, it was sticking her head in the sand, but that was how she made it through the day knowing people shot at the woman she loved.

It extended logically to her daughter. It was just better not knowing sometimes.

Still, when she stared at the request from Guns & Gangs at Fifteen, Holly's knee jerk reaction was to wonder about her wife and kid. "Benton, run that by me again." It was only from years of practice that she kept her voice still.

"The date got moved up to today. I know it's a rush but can you have some ballistics experts on hand? We're gonna have a lot to do."

The bust was moved up a day. Everyone knew Gail hated changes in schedule. That meant something was up. Holly looked up from her desk and over at where Fifteen sat in the distance. "Just ballistics?"

"Uh…" The tone told her everything she needed to know.

"Right. Three Divisions worth of evidence. Guns. Drugs."

"Possibly bodies."

And now Holly felt cold. "Possibly bodies. Thank you for the heads up." She hung up and covered her face. That was not good. She hadn't lived with cops for years not to know what the tone meant.

"Hey... Everything okay?" Rodney showed up and sounded worried.

"Has it occurred to you that we're too cavalier about these things?" Holly took her glasses off and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"Like death? Sometimes." He came in, closing the door, and sat on Holly's couch. "I heard you were on the line with the Ds. Everything okay?"

Holly sighed. "I need you to stay late and cover the case."

There was a pause before Rodney spoke. "You know I was totally in support when you said we had a schedule and we'd stick to it, even if that meant we caught cases we hated when it was our turn..."

Sliding her glasses back on, Holly nodded. "I did. This happens to be Gail's case."

"Oh. That is ... Yeah." He paused and frowned. "Wait, is this the warehouse case?"

Holly blinked. "Yes. Why... How did you know that?" She hadn't mentioned it, and the case had been kept on the quiet even from her own assistant medical examiner.

"Uh, it's all over." Rodney got up and walked around to her side of the desk. "Can I?" She nodded and scooted back, watching Rodney pull up the details on police dispatch. "I know I'm not supposed to watch it, but you remember how we were talking about optimizing our roll outs and boosting efficiency?"

"Of course." Holly smiled a little. She'd given Rodney free reign on organizing his plan to streamline the lab's field deployments, to experiment and test. So far he'd improved their response time by almost half an hour on average. "Besides the obvious, how's that working out?"

"Not bad." He stopped and waggled a hand. "The problem is too much information. I started by trying to do something I know is stupid. I was trying to build a predictive model based on who was dispatched where."

Holly smirked. "That's never going to work."

"I know. Can't predict crime without the right data. It was all fake in Person of Interest. But. While I was doing that, I found out you could figure out what places the other cops thought needed attention. Based on the rookies."

The rookies? Holly didn't have to think about it at all. The idea bloomed in her head, fully formed, right away. "They don't send the kids out to the hotspots."

"Right. So I watched how Sgt. Epstein organized people. McNally's a little different, but it's the same idea."

"Which... Warehouses?"

"Oh, right, because this." Rodney pulled up a page and showed deployments for the rookies for the last month. "Three weeks they've been watching nothing but empty buildings."

He was smart. Holly smiled tiredly. "Can't fool you. Yes, they're working on that gang case, the one with the drugs? I gather its escalating."

Rodney started to smile and then looked worried. "Oh god, you're right. We are way too cavalier about this shit." He walked away to the window.

With a shrug, Holly scooted back to study his little app. "It's the nature of the beast, as my wife would say. Speaking of wives, did yours help you with this?"

"A little, yeah." His wife was a computer programmer. "Nothing secret. I didn't violate the NDA."

She shook her head. "I was thinking we should hire her, but the overhead for a project like this is weirdly insane." Holly skimmed the output from that day.

The pieces slid into place without asking her permission. The phone in her pocket suddenly grew heavy. The scientist in her brain, which Gail would say was most of her, sorted and filed the evidence. The rookies had been at the outlier locations. They'd rotated the groups, give them all the experience of a boring surveillance gig. Fifteen and TwentySeven and ThirtyFour. But today was different. Today was all the rookies at a separate location except Fifteen. Fifteen's rookies were all at one location.

Holly tapped the keys and felt cold. 4727. She was on location. And that was the same location they'd just deployed ETF. And ... Yes. That was where Gail was headed too.

"Whoa, boss. You okay there, Holly?"

"No." She shook her head. "Not at all. Rodney, the kids are there."

"There... Where?" He stared at her and then came around to look. "Why are they all at the same location..."

"I think someone screwed up," she said softly and pulled her phone out. Who could she call? Gail was going to be on site. Steve would be. Vivian would be. All of them would turn their phones to true silence if needed, and if not, she didn't want to distract them. There was a number. She tapped it.

"Hey doc!"

"Duncan, what the hell is going on?" No preamble, no warm up. She was just going to ask him.

He hesitated. "Man, Doc, you know I can't talk about this sorta thing."

"Duncan. My daughter has kindly not informed her entire class about your nickname, or your history." Holly could hear him swallowing. "Why are all the rookies at one warehouse and why is ETF on the way?"

There was a strange sound on the phone. "Uh. Hold on."

A different voice picked up the line. "Holly, stop making Duncan piss himself." The voice was calm, comforting, and familiar. Holly closed her eyes and listened to Nick. "It looks like there was a logistical issue with dispatch. They were deployed to the wrong location. We're going to get everyone back, right and tight."

"Nicholas." Holly breathed through her nose. "I'm not asking as Gail's wife. I'm asking as Vivian's mother and I'm asking as someone who drove you home more than once and tucked you into your own bed."

Her friend sighed. "Holly, that's playing dirty."

"I don't really care. I want to know how dangerous this is. Please." In general, Holly knew the power of her 'please' with their friends.

"Relatively... High." He wasn't lying. "I thought you never wanted the details."

She exhaled and looked over at Rodney who was a little horrified. "Apparently things change. Please keep me updated?"

"I will. I promise."

Hanging up, Holly wanted to text Gail or Vivian. She wanted to tell them to stop all this, to be safe. "Vivian's there? In the middle?" When Holly nodded, Rodney winced. "I don't know how you do it," said Rodney. "How do you not go insane?"

Holly shook her head. "The first thing... The very first thing I learned about being in love with Gail is that she will always go back out there. I can't really be surprised Vivian takes after that... The selflessness." She sighed. For both, it came from their abandonment issues. They couldn't be themselves and let someone else hurt if they could stop it.

It was what she loved about Gail. It was what drew her in so completely. And she loved seeing it in their daughter. To see the person they'd raised care so much about people.

But she really should have kept her head in the sand and not looked.

At least everyone had stopped shooting. Vivian exhaled.

"Cops? Who the hell tipped the cops off?" That was Bobby Blue. Vivian was starting to memorize his nasal tone. Also the other men spoke in a more nervous, unconfident voice.

"Don't look at me," said a woman. Jackie. That sounded like Jackie. Vivian craned her neck to look without giving herself away. "Sounds like a damn kid. Did some baby cop on his own find us?"

The calmer voice was the doctor, and by the way, who was calm after being shot? "There are two cop cars out there." She was holding her phone, her leg bandaged already. "Damn. Look." She held up the phone to Jackie.

"Shit, that was smart of them. Rerun the tapes for the last couple hours?"

"Yeah, yeah," said Veronica. "How about you give me a goddamned minute first? You shot me, you asshole."

Oh. Shit. "They have a camera," whispered Vivian. "They can see our cruisers." Jenny nodded and pressed her radio, quietly relaying that to the officers on the way. It was Lara who pulled her own cellphone out and pulled up the wifi network. Of course. Why hadn't she thought of that?

"They must have found the guns right before we came back," said Bobby slowly.

"Found?" Jackie sounded angry, but was injecting Veronica with ... something. They were incredibly calm people.

"Well I sure as hell put the lid back on." Fuck. That was her fault, realized Vivian. Bobby waved his gun in their direction. "Two cars. That's four cops total. We can take 'em. You." He pointed at one of the minions. "Go see if the cars are empty."

"And ... What?" The minion was either stupid or smart.

"And if they are, jack 'em and hide 'em. If they aren't, make 'em."

But there was a hesitation. An uncomfortable tension. "They have radios," said Veronica. "Hold on." She did something on her phone. "They're not on the normal frequencies. Smart. If we block them all, we won't be able to call out either."

"Can you snipe it?" Jackie seemed like she expected this of her cousin. Great. They were technologically smart too.

As the cousins argued about how to block their radios, Vivian turned to Lara. "Can we block their wifi?"

"They'll still have wireless data," said Lara, her voice low.

"Knock the cameras out." Beyond making it harder for the idiots to access anything, the cameras being out would make it safer for the rest of the officers coming to rescue them.

Lara frowned. "You want me to crash their wifi? How do you think we do that?"

"We could google 'how to crash wifi'?" That was Rich. And it wasn't a bad idea.

"Yeah, even if we do, I have no idea how to do any of that!"

But Vivian did. Or at least she thought she did. It was in her engineering classes. They'd played around with the idea of blowing up wifi and, one evening, she'd experimented at home. Gail was pissed for days. There were a lot of ways. She could overrun the bandwidth and slow it down. She could simulate a Denial of Service attack. She could use Bluetooth...

Vivian pulled her own phone out and stared at it. Packet spam. She thumbed open her shell script app and checked. Please please have luck. Please. Vivian was raised by an atheist and an agnostic. Gail didn't believe in any God. Holly was an agnostic, accepting the possibility of a higher power, but wanting science to prove it. And Vivian? She didn't know. She couldn't prove God, and that bothered her, but not having an ounce of faith in anything ephemeral meant she could only have faith in humanity. And if anything had betrayed her, it was humans.

Right then, sitting behind a broken boiler, Vivian would pray to anything or anyone listening just to be sure she hadn't deleted the script she'd written for the class.

"Yes!" She kept her voice a low hiss and tapped the commands. It was illegal as hell. It was stupid and reckless and it was possible a two year old script wouldn't work right at all. She pressed the run command. "If you guys believe in God, start praying," Vivian said softly.

Wait. Wait. Wait.

"What the hell? The network is down."

Yes! Vivian grinned ear to ear. Technology for the win!

"What did you do?" Lara's eyes were wide.

"Crashed the network. Jenny, tell 'em the video's down."

Rich stared at her. "You know how to do that?"

"I majored in engineering." Vivian shoved her phone away. "It's not perfect. If my phone dies, it'll stop." And using Bluetooth gave her a couple hours at best. That should be enough time though. She hoped. If they were still in there after another couple hours without any backup, they had a lot of problems.

The cousins were still arguing.

Finally Bobby shouted. "Enough! This is stupid. Go check the cars."

There was a clatter of the door opening and then they all heard what was, to Vivian, the most beautiful sound she'd ever heard. Sirens. The gangs started to swear and Rich spoke up. "Killing us would be a bad idea right now," he shouted at them.

Lara gaped. "Rich!"

But Vivian nodded. Right. That was a great idea. "Go on," she said softly.

Rich poked his head up. "Look, Bobby. Jackie. Veronica. Here's the thing. We know." He glanced at Vivian and mouthed 'help.' Help. He wanted information, and the shit head didn't know ASL or anything helpful. Well. Okay. Slowly she mouthed that they knew about the drugs. "We know about the drugs. And the guns. And Jackie."

"Shit," said Bobby. "We shoulda killed them. See this is the problem. I get it, coz. I do. You hate the killing. Well. They killed my old man, they killed our grandfather. And yeah, Jackie, we killed your old man. I'm sorry. I really am. But we have to stand together."

Jackie sighed. "Bobby. You can't just keep running around shooting people. You've got to have a plan."

"I do. And I got an even better one. What if... What if I forgive Anton for offing granddad?"

"Uh, Anton's dead," said Veronica slowly, hauling herself to sit on a gun crate.

But Jackie seemed to follow. "And I forgive you for killing Anton?"

Veronica spoke up. "Who was dying anyway." She winced. "You shot me, you fucker."

"Please, it's a through and through." Bobby hesitated. "You stabbed me last year." He patted his stomach.

Smiling, Jackie shook her head. "We kiss, we make up, we join forces?"

"You run Hill. I run Rivers. Spikes keeps us both in check."

The three cousins stared at each other. "Works for me. What about the cops?"

It was enough to that Vivian wanted to bash her head in. Lara groaned and said, "Seriously? They had to be the only reasonable fucking gang members on the damn planet?" They all gripped their guns a little tighter.

And Vivian prayed to whatever the hell was up there that someone on their side was smart enough to do what had to be done.

"Catch me up, John," said Gail as she walked over to her sergeant.

"Four rooks, hiding but they've been spotted. They're behind cover." John had his vest on and an radio earbud in his hand. "Here, we're getting updates from Aronson."

Gail took the earbud and wiggled it in. "Anyone hurt?"

"No, sounds like the earlier shooting was to scare them. Rookies are fine." He pointed at the building. "They poked their heads out, the gangs, right as we came up. Apparently their camera is out."

They had a camera? Gail stared at the building, studying it and trying to spot the camera. "Why is the camera out?"

John smirked. "Apparently Peck blew up their wifi with some kind of packet burst?"

Pausing her look for the camera, Gail blinked. Then she grinned. Nicely done. That was her kid alright. She smothered the smile and nodded. "And where are we now?"

"Hanford's actually doing a decent job of talking them down. Or he was until the gangs decided to stop fighting each other and team up."

"I thought orders were to not engage?"

"Sure, and that worked until they got shot at, boss. Can't blame 'em." John shrugged. "Who do you want to negotiate?"

Gail hesitated. "How far out is ETF?"

"About ten minutes. Give or take. I told Tran about the wifi business and she wanted to adjust her troops."

Fair enough. Sue would know best. "Steve," she said decisively. "This is his baby." As John turned to make it happen, Gail finally found the camera. It was in the sign. "Hey, do we have the paintball gun?"

Much like the beanbag gun, non-lethal weapons had been all the rage for the last decade. Gail was very much a fan of anything that took people down without a high risk of loss of life. Weasel words. She didn't want to kill people, or be the one to make the call that they died. More than once Gail had been forced to make the call and give a sniper a go signal. Those decisions haunted her still and always would. They felt like failures.

"Yeah, it's in my cruiser," said Dov. He too was a fan of non-lethal methods.

"Give it to Nick. I want to take out the camera even if they get wifi back."

A few moments later, Nick showed up with the paintball rifle. "Where?"

"Look at the sign." She pointed. "The fourth screw from the left, top row, doesn't match the placement of the others."

Nick leaned against the cruiser and steadied his little paintball rifle. "Yeah. Yeah, I see it. Okay." He slowed his breathing. Gail envied his ability with shots like this. It was both too far and too rifle oriented for her. She could see it, but her ability to hit the target precisely like that was limited at best given the distance. If it was a handgun, she'd ask Dov to shoot. A rifle? You asked Nick.

Three soft pops from the gun went off and there was a faint tinkle from afar. "I think you broke it," said Dov, amused.

"Happens." Nick straightened. "Definitely a camera, though."

"John, tell the kids we think we knocked out the camera on us, but we don't know if there are more." Her sergeant nodded and dropped his head to talk to the rookies. Gail was confidant John would make sure Vivian kept whatever blocking she had going on until ETF showed up. Pushing her hands through her hair, Gail studied the building. "Dov, tell me you know why the rooks are here?"

"Dispatch fucked up. I had them yank Tassie off the line."

Gail nodded. "I want to say good but Jesus, what a fuck up."

Her friend, ex-roommate, and soon to be ex-sergeant, nodded. "I don't know how the hell you're calm, to be honest." Dov jerked his chin at the building.

That was a good question. She certainly had been anything but calm when Vivian saw a guy blow his head off. And she'd been really a basket case one night when she thought Vivian hadn't come home. But today... "She's a cop, Dov."

It wasn't like Vivian was going to be stupid and reckless. Certainly Vivian was the kid who was calm and collected in a crisis. Gail trusted her daughter, in skills and sense. She was terrified her kid might get hurt, but at the same time she knew this was Vivian's choice. Scared and confident. This was what Elaine must have meant when she said she was always worried when Gail or Steve went on a dangerous case, but at the same time she was certain they would be fine because she knew her children and their abilities.

So did Gail.

Her brother walked up, pulling a warmer jacket on over his vest. Steve's thinning, grey hair waved in the winter breeze. "John caught me up. What's my limit?"

"Try to keep it under a million," Gail said flippantly.

Steve smiled and hefted his bullhorn. "Somehow they don't strike me as the money people."

"That's why you're my guy, Steve. Me and you."

"You and me." He nodded at her.

They bumped fists and Gail stepped back behind the cruiser. She thumbed her radio. "I want eyes on Steve. Any target lights him up and I want him down and safe."

Glancing back at her, Steve smirked. "I knew you loved me." And then the goofy, genial mask Steve nearly always wore faded away. He was all business. "Hello folks. Bobby Z. Jackie. Veronica. Or if you'd like, Blue, Red, and Spikes. This is the Toronto Police. You're in a bit of a pickle. See. You have four of our folks in there, but we have you surrounded."

Gail's earbud came to life. "Someone's headed up to the catwalk... Looks like Jackie." The voice was Jenny Aronson. So the kids were still able to watch. Good.

A window on the upper level opened. "We have phones, asshole."

Smirking, Gail nodded at Steve. "Whom would you like me to call?" He was so polite it was hilarious. If only they knew that was Steve's tone for idiots.

Jackie shouted down a number and then leaned forward. "You fucking paint balled the camera? Ugh." The window closed.

Gail rubbed her face to hide the smile. "Mom would be so proud of your grammar, Steve."

"Blame your wife." He tossed the megaphone to Dov. "AV, you guys recording my phone?"

The tech gave Steve a thumbs up. "Put your earbuds on channel 87, ma'am," the tech said to Gail.

"John, stay on with the kids." When John nodded, Gail gave Steve a go sign.

He dialed. "Hello-"

"Listen, assholes, I'm gonna say this once. Go away."

Steve rolled his eyes. "Hello, Bobby. You know I can't do that."

In the background of the phone, Gail could just make out a woman telling Bobby it was worth a shot. "Hang on..." The phone took on an echo quality. "You're on speaker. What deal you got for me that you won't kill us as soon as we walk out?"

"Kill you? Why would we do that? Have you seen the hassle that happens if we shoot a civilian?" Steve shook his head. "Look, I'll make this easy. Put down your guns, kneel in a circle, and we'll arrest you. There's not much else going for you. I mean, let's face it Bobby, you are literally surrounded."

"We're also well armed," said a cool, female voice. "And you can't shoot us."

"Don't want to and can't are very different," Steve said earnestly. "That would be my last choice, folks, but if that's the only way to end this, then that's what'll happen."

There was a very tense pause on the phone. "What if we let them go? They go and then you let us go and we all walk away."

Steve shook his head. "Can't do that either, Bobby. You know it."

"So you want us to give up and rot in jail? Because death is pretty much how this ends. That's what happened to my old man."

Gail blinked and pulled out her phone. Her Mountie contact might be able to help her out here. Texting the case number, she explained that they were working with the son of the main protection and were trying to peacefully end a standoff. The Mountie replied right away and promised to contact Bobby Zanaro Sr and see if he was willing to help.

Meanwhile, Steve kept going. He knew Bobby Z. was alive and Gail wondered if that was coloring his approach. "That all depends on what you give us, Bobby. The drugs are one thing. The guns though, that's new. I'd love to get some info on that."

The phone cut out for a moment. They'd hit mute. Steve waited patiently. Then Jackie's voice cut in. "No."

Steve glanced at Gail and signed that at least now they knew who'd gotten the guns. "You've got to give me something, folks."

"There's no way we're getting out of here safe and sound," said Jackie, angrily. "Why would we?"

Looking thoughtful, Steve asked something obvious, but odd. "How about your men? They come out, with our cops, and we'll nickel them for accessory. Serve three. Out in two for good behavior. Minimum security." Obviously he was banking on them actually caring about family.

The mute type silence went on again. "Half."

"S'cuse me?"

"Half. Two cops. The chatty guy and one other stays. Hostages."

Her brother turned, arching an eyebrow. Half. Not great. "Hostages is a pretty big step," said Steve, cautioning them.

"If I call 'em collateral, is it different?" Bobby's tone was derisive.

Steve smiled a little. "It sets a better expectation."

"Fine. Whatever makes you feel better. But we want 'em unarmed."

Gail wanted to say no, but the fact was two cops held hostage by three crazy cousins was a hell of a lot of a better situation. "Do it," she said softly to Steve, signing as she spoke.

"The other cops get their guns," Steve said firmly.

The deal was accepted. The door opened not even ten minutes later and a handful of gang members walked out. Frankly Gail was surprised they gave in that fast. "Swarek, take 'em," she said to the man. As TwentySeven's units rounded up the gang, the door opened again and another group walked out, followed by two uniforms.

It was Aronson and Volk. Of course. Gail's heart thudded in her chest. Was this how Elaine had felt? No, no, her mother had never stood and watched her like this. Superintendent Peck had not worn a vest and waited while her children were at the hands of some insane people. She'd sat behind the desk and trusted them to do their damn jobs.

And that? That helped. Gail took a long, slow, breath. "Dov," she said quietly. "They're yours."

Her friend, one of her oldest and truest friends, nodded slowly. "I'll find out." He walked over to the rookies, still his rookies, and sat them down by the EMTs for a once over.

Her other friend, her partner of over fifteen years, came up beside her. "She's really a Peck," John said thinly.

"My kind of Peck." Gail gripped her belt. "You know. The one thing I've missed, not being a uni, is the duty belt."

John glanced at his waist. "God. Yes. That always felt so solid and safe. Like a shield."

And Vivian still had hers. There was that at least. "She knows we're here," Gail said for her own sanity's sake.

Which worked just fine until there was a gunshot.

It was really easy to hate people. Vivian pressed both hands to Rich's leg, wishing she had a cloth or a shirt... What had Gail said? She'd used Chris' own shirt when he'd been stabbed. Vivian didn't really want to rip Rich's shirt off. He needed to keep it on, in case of shock. And it was already cold in the room.

There was that weird thing about stress and overstimulation that calmed her down. Vivian had no idea why it worked that way, but whenever there was a crisis, or too much was going on, her brain was able to compartmentalize everything. Her therapist said it wasn't the best thing in the world, but it wasn't the worst either.

Right now, her brain knew the following: Gail was in charge outside. Steve was on the phone, or had been until the shot rang out and Bobby hung up. ETF was there, or nearly there. Rich was shot in the thigh and bleeding not too horribly.

"Hey," she said to Veronica. "You're the doctor. If my partner bleeds out, you guys are in a whole mess of trouble."

Jackie pointed her gun at Vivian. "Shut the hell up."

Well. That was new. Vivian swallowed. The bile in her throat receded as the adrenaline rushed through her. Looking at the gun, she was no longer afraid of it. She knew Jackie wouldn't shoot her. She could just tell. Vivian was certain in a way she'd never felt before. "You want him to die? Seriously?" She turned to Veronica. "Primum non nocere."

The least criminal of the trio looked worried. "Screw it," she said to Bobby. "I'm not letting a kid die."

Bobby looked at Jackie. "Stop waving that around, idiot. That running off half cocked is how we got in this trouble in the first place." He grabbed Jackie's gun. "Jesus, you're so fucking meticulous about money and so impulsive about this... That's why we gotta be a team, Red."

And Jackie looked dejected. "Shut up. You already shot Ronnie."

It was the family kind of arguments Vivian saw with her own parents. Gail and Steve were just like that. For all the three idiots were dumb as a bag of hair, they stuck together. "You two use your brains to get us out of this," ordered Veronica. "They can trace the drugs, but they want the guns. We could give up that, and Jackie can show them how she hid the money trail."

Vivian knew Gail had pulled in a forensic accountant already, so that was a dead end. Not that she was telling them that. "Thank you," she said quietly to Veronica. That was what Steve had told her. Make a connection with the criminals and they'd treat you like humans.

"I'm not doing it for you," replied Veronica, bitterly. "I don't want Jackie to do time for murder."

"After your cousin shot you." She squeezed Rich's hand, encouraging him to lie down.

Veronica shrugged. "You don't have family?" She held out the first aid kit.

A gamble. "Not like that." Vivian took the kit. "In my family, shooting each other is kinda how you get promoted."

That got Veronica's attention. "Promoted?" She was laying out the tools needed. Scissors. Gauze. Padding. "You skip a gang for cops?"

"No, I'm a Peck. We've been cops since Toronto has had 'em." Three faces stared at her. At her jacket. "At least one Peck killed another to get his job. My mom got her mom fired."

"Your mom is a Peck?"

"Yeah. Pecks keep their name when they marry. Can we actually stop my idiot partner from dying? I will never live it down if he dies."

Bobby snorted a laugh. "What and being held hostage is okay?"

Pointing at Rich, who was wisely silent, Vivian stated the obvious. "He's my partner." The less obvious of course was she was still blocking the WiFi from her phone. "We're supposed to stay with our partner."

"Yeah? You always do what you're told?" Veronica cut Rich's pants.

"Well. Last time I didn't, I ended up held as collateral while the guy who asked me that was bleeding on the floor." She took gauze from Veronica and held it in place. "I think I'll stick to the status quo."

Grunting, Veronica wrapped the bandage around Rich's leg. "Easier said than done. Help me up, cop."

She wasn't in a position to argue, but she did take her jacket off and cover Rich with it. His eyes were wide open and she mouthed 'keep calm and listen' to him. Rich shivered in reply. "Where... Um, where do you want to go?"

"Over to my computer. Crap you're tall." Veronica leaned on Vivian and shook her head. "Nope, no good. Jackie, bring me the laptop. Cop, you seem okay with blood. Change my bandage."

The less they paid attention to her as more than a minion, the more they'd talk around her. She sighed a little and undid the bandage, re wrapping a clean one in place. Then she sat by Rich's head, putting the arms of her coat under his head. "Hang in there, Richie," she said softly.

He gripped her hand. "How bad is my leg?" Rich was shaking, probably from shock.

"You'll be fine," said Vivian, promising something she couldn't know was true. It was something she sincerely doubted. She felt eyes on her and looked up at Veronica.

The doctor narrowed her eyes. "Your dad's a doctor."

Vivian reflexively shook her head. "No... Well. Yes, technically." That was still funny, though they had finally gotten the new paperwork drawn up and Holly was no longer listed at her father. "Not a people doctor. Lab doctor. No patients."

Veronica nodded. "Smart man." She tapped on her keys. "Jackie, someone's microbursting the wifi. I'm not getting it back."

"Which means what?" Jackie sat down next to her cousin.

"Means I'm stuck using my cell to contact anyone, which you can bet your ass they'll start blocking any second now." They both looked at Vivian, expectantly.

She hesitated. "Yes," said Vivian carefully. "It's SOP to cut off your contact. They've probably been tapping all calls. The block only happens if we think you're escalating."

All three women looked at the pale and sweaty Rich.

"Fucking Bobby." Veronica shoved the laptop aside. "Bobby, we gotta figure this out."

The man sat on the other side of Veronica. "They keep texting. He wants to know who was shot."

Vivian blinked. "You may want to answer that." They all looked at her. "Unless you like the idea of them busting on in here."

Grunting, Veronica shoved Bobby off the crate. "Help me prop my leg up. I'll call the guy back. What's his name?"

"Steve. I didn't get the last name." Bobby handed the phone over and helped with her leg. "How come you're in better shape than the kid?"

"You got me in the calf, not the knee. Through and through. You nailed the kid in the meaty part of the thigh. Didn't Nick a vein at least."

"Plus you're probably high on painkillers already," said Jackie. Veronica just shrugged. Well wasn't that interesting. "You sure you're up for this?"

Nodding, Veronica tapped the last number. "Hello, Mr. Steve. You're on speaker."

Her uncle's voice came across the line. "Hello. Is this Veronica or Jackie?"

"Veronica. How long do I have before you cut off my phone?"

"Well. The trigger happy techs want to do it now, but I'd rather not. Then we can't have our little chats." Steve waited and then spoke again. "Protocol, we hear gunshots, we have a green light to go in. But my boss wants to keep things calm. How about ... Who did you shoot?"

Veronica looked at Bobby. "We give to get." She tapped the screen. "The annoying boy model. In the thigh. He'll live." She tapped again. "Okay. What do we want? Cause we're not getting a chopper."

"Lighter sentence," said Jackie. "Maybe this whole gang thing was a bad idea. I was making more as an accountant."

"I was having fun," Veronica admitted.

Bobby sighed and wiped his face. "I just wanted ... Fuck. I don't know anymore. I wanted all those assholes who killed our granddads, our dads, our uncles... " They all fell silent.

On the phone, Steve spoke up again, asking if they were okay. Veronica sighed. "Hey, Steve. You been a cop for a long time?"

"Yes, yes I have. Thirty-five years."

Veronica looked surprised. "That's a hell of a long time."

"My old man had fifty. Died in uniform." He waited and went on, chatting. "I'm from a long line of cops. As long as Toronto's had 'em, we've been 'em." Vivian went cold. Shit. He was going to do the Peck story! And yet he stopped. "Kinda like you guys. We are what our parents make us. But... Me and my sister, we broke the mold."

Snorting, Veronica winced. "What can you promise us?"

Steve hesitated. "That depends on what you give us. Right now, you're cooperating. So I can get you down for drugs, guns, and the deaths. We can talk it down with the Crowne's office."

"That's not an assurance, Steve." Veronica looked up at the ceiling. "I'm hanging up. I'll call back." She pressed a button. "We, my cousins, are fucked."

"Maybe I should just kill the kids?" Bobby gestured at Vivian and Rich. "I mean, we're going to rot or we can go out fast."

"End the way that makes a legend?" Jackie shrugged.

Veronica nodded. "The detox woulda been a bitch anyway." Bobby cocked his gun and aimed at Rich. "Hit him in the head. It'll be fast."

And Vivian had to speak up. "This is a really bad idea guys." The gun aimed at her calmed her. A gun wasn't something to be afraid of. The man behind the gun, he was just a person holding a tool. She could handle people now. That was the best gift she'd gotten from her mothers.

They all stared at her. "What do you know?" Veronica looked interested.

"You don't get it, which is weird." She turned and looked Blue in the eyes. "Death is final. Death changes things forever. If you do it, see it, face it, it changes you. You will never be anything but this. A killer. You will all be known as the ones who killed and died. Is that how you want to be remembered?"

Bobby's hand wavered. He repeated Veronica's question. "What do you know?"

"About Three Rivers? A lot. You were never about killing until those yahoos who punted your dad took over." Vivian glanced at Veronica. "You knew that, right? About the nurse who was helping them do body dumps out of old ambulances? That's how they got caught."

The doctor stared at her. "How the hell did you know that?"

"You already know," said Vivian calmly. "You know that Steve, on the phone? He's been a cop forever, just like me. So when I tell you he was the cop who was stabbed by the nurse, and his sister is the one who took them down..." She trailed off.

Veronica nodded. "And they're running the show out there. Son of a bitch. You're the worst hostage ever."

"I'm not a hostage if you let us go. Put the guns down. Sit there. Let me let them in. Then it all stops. No one dies."

Bobby shook his head. "So what. So we die. The end."

She had expected that. A man giving up. "Death is really final, Bobby," Vivian said softly. "I've seen people blow their heads off. I've seen people murdered, Bobby. And I've picked up the pieces of the people they leave behind. Like you. Jackie. Veronica. I know how this ends. Don't do it."

There were no dead bodies. That was the only good thing. Had there been one, Holly would have been tapped herself to come over. Still, as she sent out her ballistics and evidence retrieval experts, Holly kept staring at her phone. Ring.

It wouldn't, though. It couldn't. Gail wouldn't call until it was all well and truly over. Vivian too. Holly had dared to use the 'find my friends' app and verified that Gail and Vivian were at the same location. Then she'd turned on the news and watched, which was not a good idea. The news reporters weren't allowed in or even close, but she could make out most of the cops she knew. Dov had a walk, Gail had a stance even when she had a hat covering that hair.

"Jesus, Holly..." The tired voice of her sister in law surprised her.

"I know, I know." She rubbed her face. "Don't watch."

Traci closed the door and sat next to Holly on the couch. "Everyone's fine. So far." She took one of Holly's hands.

"Vivian's in there," Holly said flatly.

"What?" Traci stared at the television.

Holly sighed. "See... I know my wife. That's her in the baseball cap over by the EMTs. And there's Steve in that God awful purple shirt. Is he colorblind?"

"No..."

"Huh. I've always wondered... Anyway. There's Dov and Nick and Andy. And I see the rookies over there. Volk and Aronson. And there's Christian. Which means Vivian and Abercrombie are ... They're in there."

Traci squeezed her hand. "Okay, Holly, look at me." She reached over for the remote and turned the TV off. "They kept Hanford, and Viv's his partner. So she stayed. She's fine, though."

"She's in a warehouse with the same crazed assholes who stabbed Steve," Holly said bitterly.

Her friend and sister-in-law sighed. "You can't watch this stuff, Hol."

Holly nodded, not crying. She couldn't cry. She was sad, but not like that. She was more angry. "You know, Trace, I thought I could handle it. I thought because Gail did this, because I was used to it, I'd be fine."

"Holly..."

"I'm mad at myself, you know? For being so supporting and ... And taking Viv's side in all this. She wanted to be this so bad, Traci." And that was something Holly understood. She'd been nearly Vivian's age when she stepped up against her parents' wishes and changed her direction in med school. Holly had sold her motorcycle, started the process of getting a loan, looked up every scholarship, and then, only then, had her mother broken down.

When a person wanted something like that, like she wanted to be a pathologist and like Vivian wanted to be a cop, nothing stood in the way.

"I don't think I'd be half as calm as you if it was Leo," admitted Traci. "How the hell do you do it?"

"I don't know." Holly sighed and took off her glasses, pressing the heels of her hands into her eye-sockets.

Her friend got up and brought a mug of tea over. "You have the MOM mug," said Traci, amusedly.

"You're trying to distract me," Holly complained.

"I know. I'm really bad at it. Or you're just really hard to distract." Traci put the mug down. "I've seen how Gail does it. No offense, we're not that close."

Holly cracked a smile and closed her eyes. "Thank you. That helps." She took a deep breath. "It just makes me a little crazy."

Traci sat beside Holly and touched her back. She didn't say anything though. She sat next to Holly and was quiet and supportive. When Holly picked the remote back up and turned the news back on, Traci didn't speak up.

The talking news head was being escorted, by Andy, away from the area. "ETF has arrived on scene and Sgt. McNally has asked us to leave the scene for our own safety. Sergeant, do you have a statement for us?"

Andy looked a little surprised on the screen. "No, no comment. Please keep back here across the street. Officer Fox...?" The man nodded and took a stance at the line, looking grim faced.

And Holly laughed a little. "Poor Andy. Is that why she never went for sergeant before?"

Traci smiled. "You should have seen Gail the first time she was supposed to give a speech for her mother. I thought she was going to puke."

"Vivian has all her TV appearances recorded." Holly sighed softly. "The one at the dance party for the LGBT centre was my favorite." Gail had worn a handful of glow necklaces and introduced a young woman named Katie to the media, who had lived in the same group home with Sophie many years ago. Much like Sophie, Katie had ended up in social work. Where Sophie was a child advocate lawyer, Katie ran a shelter for LGBT youths.

Of course Gail had gone, in her dress uniform and all her glory, to the gala opening. And that meant, when the news showed up, Gail was tasked with talking to the reporters about the event. At home with the flu, Vivian had been wrapped up in a blanket, watching the news, and had shouted that Holly had to record things, because Mom was on TV.

Holly had actually thought Vivian was hallucinating, knowing how much Gail hated public speaking. But there was Gail, glow necklaces and all, telling them how she'd known the women in charge since they were children and how very proud and honored she was to be invited. And when the reporter asked Gail if she minded being around so many openly gay kids, Gail had flashed that smile with her canines bared and said she and her wife were used to seeing gay every day.

"That was a good one," agreed Traci.

"I think I should have known Vivian was into computers and electronics then." Holly thoughtfully watched the news focus on the ETF agents. "She figured out how to download the recordings of Gail off the DVR."

"She also blew out the wifi at the your house with that toy of hers." Traci pointed at the TV. "She did it there too."

Holly blinked a little. "At that warehouse?"

Traci nodded. "Yeah. She shut down their wifi, so they couldn't get to the camera and see backup coming. Pretty damn smart, your kid." With a smile, Traci added, "Gail would've never thought of that."

"Oh, she would have. And complained and made someone else do it." But Holly felt a smile tug at her lips. Her nerdy, into math, kid had done that.

So many people, even Holly sometimes, looked at Vivian as the Peck she'd desperately wanted to be at eighteen. It wasn't anything their daughter had asked or talked about with them. She had just announced to Holly that she wanted to change her name and to be a cop. But she wanted to be both Gail and Holly. Vivian Stewart Peck.

Really, Holly didn't care. She absolutely didn't give a shit that Vivian wanted to be a Peck. Really. Holly understood her daughter's somewhat manic craving to reinvent herself as something that could withstand a tsunami of shit, a life where the unthinkable happened, and a life where Vivian would be able to walk away. That name was, unarguably, Peck.

Sometimes Holly wished she'd taken the name herself. There was something comforting about the Pecks. "Traci... Why did you change your name?"

Her friend looked surprised. "To Peck?"

"I know Steve didn't ask you." After the proposal, impromptu as it turned out, Steve had come to their house to ask Gail to be his best man. He had been on cloud nine and bouncing. All the wedding details were planned at by Gail, surprising Holly with how much talent Gail had in the arena. The Pecks likened it to tactical work. But one thing had come up early. Steve had no interest in Traci changing her name.

Traci smiled. "A few reasons. Those two needed backup for being Pecks who didn't suck. And Peck is a pretty powerful name."

"You'd already made your name, though."

"As a detective, sure." Traci shrugged. "I wanted the cheaters path, a little. People don't give you as much crap when you're not a pale, pale, Peck. They figure you had to earn the name and shut the hell up."

Well that was interesting. "You wanted to be a Peck for the power?"

Traci nodded. "Afraid so." She paused. "Why?"

Quickly Holly shook her head. "Oh no. No. I get that. I was just ... I was trying to distract myself and I was thinking..." Her eyes drifted to the television and Traci made a noise of understanding.

"Why did Vivian change her name?"

"She's never really explained it." Holly nibbled the skin on the edge of her finger. She had her theories, but Holly had let Vivian find silent comfort in her name. Understanding came after acceptance.

"I don't think I would have been alright if Leo wanted to."

"Leo ... Leo doesn't have bad memories about being a Nash."

Traci winced. "I forget ... It feels like she's always been a part of the family."

Smiling, Holly put her hand in her lap. "Thank you."

"I'm serious, you know." A warm hand rested on her knee. "We're a family. And coworkers, but we take care of each other."

It was clear Traci had come not for any reason other than she and Holly were family. That was the thing about marrying into Gail's life. While the blonde would loudly argue she didn't have friends, the number of people who were there for them was uncountable.

Maybe Gail knew that, maybe she didn't. Holly certainly appreciated the people Gail had brought into her life.

The window shattered inward.

It was what Vivian had been hoping would happen for the last few minutes. The cousins that made up the stupidest gang in the history of ever had been arguing about shooting it out or selling it out. The odds of everyone walking out alive went down with every second, and Vivian knew it. She had to wait, though. She knew ETF was out there by now, and she knew their procedures.

The second the window shattered, Vivian reacted. Danger. Threat. Move. She heard the canister clatter and spin on the cement floor. Smoke grenade. Time to run. There was a small chance, a slim one that the cousins would shoot her. But Vivian had to bank on the fact they were going to care about the ETF team about to storm in from the front and side doors.

"Sorry about this, Rich." Squatting, Vivian heaved Rich into a fireman's carry.

He grunted louder than she did. "Fuck... Don't care." He was tense and Vivian felt the blood from his leg on her arm as she turned for the side door.

That meant running through the smoke. "Hold your breath," she told Rich and ran. There was no way she wasn't going to get a lung full. Rich was heavy and it was totally unlike the wall dead-lifts she did at the gym. Fifty pounds and a hundred pounds, lifting the walls on sliders was easy compared to hauling a person whom she didn't want to hurt across the room.

Gunshots rang out. Well now that was terrifying. Vivian hoped Rich couldn't hear her heart thudding as she made it past the smoke. "Why aren't you going to the door." Rich was wheezing.

"Because-" The door was kicked in and ETF was right there. "It's me, Peck! Don't shoot!"

The familiar brown eyes of her friend Duane met hers. "It's Peck. 4727 secure. 4765 needs the bus. You got this?"

"As long as no one's going to shoot me in the back." Vivian coughed. Duane gave her a thumbs up and ushered her out the door. Right away, Ivan was there and steered her to the EMTs, where a woman near her mother's age was waiting. The name on the tag said M. Maclean. Of course it was Mac.

As much as she wanted to look over at what the others were doing, especially since she heard more gun shots, Vivian found herself wracked with coughs as soon as she put Rich on a gurney.

"Jesus, Peck, that hurts," he swore. And coughed. "You had to run right into the damn smoke."

"You're welcome." Vivian bent over, hands on her knees, trying to get a full breath.

The older EMT touched her arm. "Hey, come sit down, kid." Nodding, Vivian sat and coughed again. "Put a mask on him, will you Barrows? And stop the bleeding on his leg?" Turning to Vivian, Maclean smiled. It was nice having someone she knew. "Okay, where were you hit?"

Vivian shook her head. "Not me. Rich's blood." Now that the adrenaline was washing out of her system, she felt cold.

"Hey, Barrows, gimme her coat." Maclean caught it on the fly. "Here, shock's a fun one. You get this back on."

The shivering kicked in. "I remember." Vivian pulled it over her shoulders and huddled a little.

"I'm gonna check your heart and BP, okay? And get you some oxygen." The mask went on first, which was a welcome relief. Her brain felt less fuzzy. As Maclean checked her out, the EMT shook her head and marveled. "You are incredibly calm. Is that a Peck trait?"

Vivian smiled dryly. "Good in a crisis," she said. The sound of gunfire stopped. Vivian looked up and over at the police heading in. Her mother and Steve were following the ETF troop in. Swarek was with Chloe, going around the corner, and she was pretty sure she saw Christian there too.

Maclean looked over as well. "You know she's okay, right? It's not like when your mom tore her leg on the ice."

When Vivian snorted, the other EMT (Barrows) asked, "You know her?"

With a nod, Mackenzie Maclean gestured at Gail. "This is Gail Peck's kid. I've known her for years. First time I met her, she was freaked her mom was going to die."

Around her mask, Vivian sassed. "Did your parents hate you, Mac Mac?" Then to the other EMT, she added. "I was like twelve and my mom was bleeding all over the place."

"Oh yeah, she's Gail's." The other EMT rolled his eyes.

Maclean laughed. "Need a blanket? Or do you feel okay?"

Vivian pulled the mask off. "I'm okay. I think."

The EMT nodded and helped her into the jacket properly. "Put a watch cap on." Maclean pulled one out of her rig and yanked it over Vivian's head. "And keep the mask on."

"Right." Closing her eyes, Vivian sucked in the oxygen. God that felt good.

"You're going to need to go to the ER and get checked out," said Maclean. Vivian gave her a thumbs up. "You are the most compliant cop I've ever met. Especially for a Peck."

"Her mother is a doctor, Mac, you know that. She'd never hear the end of it." Sue Tran had taken off her body armor already. She was smudged and sweaty. "Can I talk to her?"

"Sure. Just keep sucking that O in, kid." Maclean clapped a hand on Vivian's shoulder and went in the back to check on a Rich, who was complaining that he needed more painkillers.

Sue sat on the bumper next to Vivian. "Well that was a hell of a day." Vivian snorted and signed a yes sign. "You blocked the wifi?" She nodded. "And fireman carried your partner out." Sue exhaled loudly. "Fucking badass."

Taking a deep breath, Vivian took the mask off. "Except for getting talked into going in the warehouse instead of checking dispatch, and leaving the lid off the guns." As she put the mask back on, Sue was smirking. "What?"

"Not all of us are made for patrol stuff. Some of us think and plot and scheme." She pointed over at Gail, who was walking with Steve. They had Bobby Zanaro Jr. cuffed to a gurney between them and were looking sad and smug, the way only the Peck siblings could. "That one never stops thinking and unraveling plots. And she's the kind of person you want to stick with because she'll get you out of anything." Vivian smiled a little. "She was a good patrol officer. She's an fucking amazing detective."

She smiled. "Yeah," said Vivian around her mask. After all, Gail had gotten them out.

"You. You're a good cop, Vivian. A good patrol officer. But you don't think like a patrol officer. You like puzzles on a deadline. Crisis brings out the best in you." Sue tilted her head. "Follow?"

Vivian blinked. She looked at Sue and then over to where Gail was ordering Swarek around. As a younger girl, she'd wanted to be Oliver. She'd wanted to be the guy who was trusted and relied on in a crisis. But what if she wasn't that cop? What if Sue was right? What if Lara's jokes about being an adrenaline junkie weren't a joke? What if the cop she was going to be wasn't a beat cop or a detective? "Yeah," she replied. "Follow."

Sue smiled. "Good. Good."

"Who died?" When Sue startled, Vivian gestured. "I'm guessing Jackie Reynolds, but..."

The lieutenant shook her head. "Yeah. She ran right into things. Shot your friend Sabrina in the vest."

Vivian winced. "Well. She okay?"

"She is. And so are you. And so is that guy. Okay?" Sue looked at her until she nodded back. "Okay. Mac shut your partner up enough, so you get a nice ride to the hospital. I'm going to keep your old lady busy, but she'll come by."

Nodding, Vivian watched Sue head over to the other officers. Maclean reappeared. "Okay, Peck. Time to get you checked out." Nodding again, Vivian let Mac help her into the back of the ambulance. "You don't mind riding with Officer Whiney Boy here?"

Vivian smiled and took her mask off. "He's a good cop. Brave."

"Yeah?" Mac eyed him. "Well. I'll take your word at it." She rapped on the wall. "Okay, Barrows. Let's go."

And Vivian closed her eyes, leaning against the side of the ambulance as they drove to the hospital. Hell of a long day.

Everyone sang like a damn canary, which Gail felt was the first time anything had gone really right on the whole damn case. Of course, they'd also shot Bobby (in the shoulder), and he had earlier shot Veronica, and Jackie had died in the firefight. Holly did the preliminary autopsy, but suicide by cop was pretty clear cut. That meant Gail's first stop was the hospital for confessions from the survivors and then, finally, she could hunt down the rookies.

They were all hanging out in the waiting room, still in uniforms that were dirty and, in the case of Vivian, a bit bloody and probably sticky. It reminded Gail of the time she'd sat in those chairs, waiting to hear if Sam and Chloe were going to live. Absently she touched her hair. That night, that day, had changed her life irrevocably. That was the day she knew without a doubt that she was in love with Holly. And chopped off all her hair.

The rookies did not yet seem to be at that manic stage of things. Vivian was slouched as deep as possible in a chair beside Christian, who was hovering. Lara and Jenny were on Vivian's side, talking quietly. They all looked fucking beat and tired.

Gail cleared her throat. "Well. You guys look like a mess."

All four looked up and startled. Only Vivian smiled, and she almost absently signed. The doves were singing.

Lara stood up. "Detective! Um... Andy- I mean Sgt. McNally told us to stay here until Rich ..."

"He's still in surgery." Vivian signed that Rich was probably going to be fine.

It was news Gail already had and she nodded. "Good. When he gets out, you can tell him that both gangs are in custody. Biggest damn bust ever." Two of the four looked delighted. Christian did not. He looked guilty and sullen. Gail looked at her daughter again and arched an eyebrow, but Vivian just looked tired and a little sad.

"We're not in trouble," asked Jenny. "I mean, we were at the wrong warehouse."

"Not you. No. Dispatch is getting a hell of a lecture though. They're damn lucky no one died."

Vivian looked pained. "One of them did."

Yeah. That was her kid. The only person who would miss Jackie 'Red' Reynolds, aka Jackie Hill, was probably her cousin Veronica. The Hill gang collapsed in moments after her death, scattering to the wind. "None of you did." Her daughter nodded at that. "Okay, Volk, come here. We're gonna go over this, one at a time, now."

Gail sat down with the rookies, one at a time, to go over the notes. But they all shared the same explanation of what had happened. Even her daughter, who was last. Christian had been with Gail and her team the whole time, there was no need to ask him what had happened.

As the only person who'd been in the warehouse the entire time, Vivian's story included the horrifying moment of Rich being shot. "I guess I should be glad that Bobby was such a good shot."

Tilting her head, Gail asked, "Where was he aiming?"

"I thought his chest," said Vivian thoughtfully. "And then when Rich grabbed his leg, I realized he'd hit his thigh." She jerked her hand. "He just flicked his wrist." Vivian shrugged and went on, detailing what had happened with remarkable accuracy. It was impossible for Gail not to smile at her. "What?"

"Remember the car accident?"

Vivian blinked. "The... Up at the cottage?" Gail nodded and Vivian blinked again, the words sinking in and having meaning for her. "Yeah?" The girl sounded hopeful.

"Yeah. You can do it too." Her daughter looked surprised and abashed. "Listen, tell me the truth, will you? Are you guys really okay?"

Her daughter— no, the cop in front of her looked back at the three other uniformed officers. "Yeah. I think we are."

Gail nodded. "Smoke tasted like shit, huh?"

Vivian made a face. "Nasty shit. They checked my lungs out though. I'm totally fine." She paused and pulled her phone out of her pocket. "Battery is bone dry. Can you call Mom?"

"She knows. She was watching the news with Traci." Before anything else, before getting in her car or even questioning a single person, Gail called her wife to explain what had happened. Of course, Vivian hadn't been able to and winced. "Don't worry. I told her you fried your phone." Gail tossed over an emergency charger. "Fuel up. As soon as Rich is out of surgery, you guys should head home."

As she plugged in her phone, Vivian bit her lip. "Actually... I'm kinda wired. We all are. We were going to change and hit the Penny."

Gail tilted her head and then nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I remember that. Call if you want a ride."

The younger Peck nodded and then, as they both stood up, hugged Gail. Those moments were rare, when Vivian instigated a hug. They always had been. They probably always would be. Vivian didn't say anything. Not a thank you or an explanation. She just hugged and accepted Gail's in return for the moment. Then they let go and Gail nodded. It was moments like this that made Holly think Vivian was more Gail's daughter than hers. It was because they didn't need to talk, that Gail and Vivian could express their feelings in silence, that they seemed closer.

But it wasn't really true. When Vivian needed to talk, it was always to Holly. When she needed to unload her feelings and understand things, that was for Holly's ears. Gail was needed for other things. The same things Holly needed her for, in many ways. Both Holly and Vivian needed Gail be the rock. They needed someone who would survive the darkness and be there for them to fall apart on.

And Gail needed them for the exact same reason. They were, all of them, strong and capable in different ways.

She watched her daughter sit back down, taking a cup of coffee from Jenny who was being earnest. Gail was strong in the dark and the unknown. Vivian was strong in the storm. Holly was strong when it all fell down.

Pulling out her phone, Gail tapped and called her wife. Holly answered right away. She always was there when Gail needed her. "Hey. You okay?"

"I am. I love you."

Holly exhaled, saying so many things in that sound. "You sure you're okay?"

"Our kid is going to unwind with a few drinks tonight. And she's probably going to need you later."

"Ah." Holly sounded understanding. "Rodney's going to do the full autopsy on Ms. Reynolds tomorrow. I was going home."

"Want me to come home first?"

"Hm. No, you'd just have to leave to finish. Once you're home, I'd really like to have you for 24 uninterrupted hours."

Gail smiled. "They all pled guilty. Lawyers think we'll have my part done, except the trial, tonight. And Viv is benched for at least the rest of the week. So."

Holly made an amused noise. "We'll see. If the kid needs moms, we may stay."

"I was thinking she could come to the cottage too," said Gail, drawling her words. "You know the place isn't just so we can have hot and heavy sex."

Her wife laughed. "Touché. Try to get home tonight?"

"I will. My very intelligent wife taught me that the whole point of having minions was to make them work all night and come in and snatch up all the credit."

Holly laughed again. "Also documentation. Which is why you'll be done fast. You've written everything up, haven't you?"

"Chance favors the prepared mind," joked Gail, throwing one of Brian's quotes back at her. "But really... I love you, Holly. I'll see you soon."

"I love you too, honey."

The phone clicked off and Gail smiled. She was damn lucky to have her family and she knew it. Looking at what had happened to the Zanaro clan, she wondered if that was what the Pecks were headed for before she upended their apple cart. Were they self-destructive and suicidal? Most definitely.

They sure as hell weren't now.

Two beers in and Vivian finally felt like she wasn't twitchy anymore. It wasn't enough to get her drunk. Just enough to make her calm. Because Jesus tap dancing Christ had the day been weird.

"So." Lara sat down and poured Vivian a full glass. "Jenny can't figure out how to score today."

Blinking, Vivian looked over towards the stupid board. "We all kinda sucked," said Vivian.

"Sucky heroes. They wouldn't let us in on the raid."

Jenny scowled as she sat down again. "I don't know. Maybe we just net a zero for the day."

Christian sat beside Vivian and nearly put a hand on her shoulder. "I don't know why. You guys did great."

"For captives," said Lara. "Oh and we're why they had to kick the raid up a couple days..."

Actually. Vivian cleared her throat. "If you think about it, Bobby found the guns so their timetable was going to be upended anyway." They all looked at her. "What?"

"So we screwed everything up and saved everything?" Lara looked skeptical.

"Pretty much. Let the old guard sort out your scores. I'd just give us all the net zero."

Jenny snorted. "You don't even like the scores in the first place."

That was true. "I don't," agreed Vivian. "I don't put a value like that on what we do."

Both Christian and Jenny, her fellow legacies, had the grace to look abashed. "Why are we cops?" Lara looked thoughtful as she asked.

"Because." Vivian sighed. "Some of us are on a power trip. Some of us are idealists. Some of us are a little crazy. And some of us are broken and trying make the world less shitty."

Her friends stared at her. Lara hesitated and started to ask, "Which-"

"Doesn't matter," said Christian, cutting her off.

Jenny nodded. "He's right..." She got up and walked over to the board, unpinning it and rolling it up. When she sat back down, she held it out to Vivian. "Keep or chuck?"

"Don't ask me, my mom's a minimalist." Vivian sipped her beer.

"Chuck." Jenny bent it in half a few times until it was a broken lump. "We should try to be better cops, not screw around with scores." She sighed. "Don't know how we'll sort out drinks."

Lara smiled. "I do. I bought the last round. Viv got the first. Christian had the second. Next is yours. And Rich can buy for a week when he gets back."

"I'll drink to that." Vivian tapped her glass to Lara.

Jenny did the same. "So wait, are we allowed to call you Viv now?"

They joked about things like that most of the evening. The old guard came by to check on them, buy drinks which Vivian put on her tab for later, and there was even a little of karaoke. Vivian finally was feeling less jittery and more relaxed. As they got closer to a time when it would be smart to go home, Christian sat next to her at the then empty table.

"Hey." He gestured at her glass. "Need another?"

"No. Thanks. I was thinking about going home and sleeping for 36 hours."

Christian nodded. "No kidding. That must have been scary as hell."

On the tip of her tongue was the pithy remark that she'd had worse days. Vivian just nodded, though. "It was. Glad Rich is okay, though." They'd stayed until he'd come out of surgery and woken up, which was surprisingly fast. Rich had been cranky as hell, but he was going to be just fine.

"Never thought you'd say that," said C with a grin. "Abercrombie asshole."

"Yes, but he's our Abercrombie asshole." Vivian grinned back. "If you'd been there, I bet we never would have gone in, in the first place."

Christian smiled. "Maybe. I just... When I heard the gun shots. I worried."

She blinked. "What?" He looked actually scared. "Worried about what?"

"About you. You know you're my best friend, right V?"

Vivian stared at Christian. She was pretty crap at friends. "Thanks, Christian. But I'm okay."

The man nodded. "Yeah. Yeah. I just... I had this fear. Y'know? That you'd die before I told you."

Grinning, Vivian put her glass down. She was sure she was missing something. "Told me? C, you're my friend, you can tell me whatever."

Pale and nervous, Christian nodded again. And then he leaned in and kissed her.

What the absolute fuck?

Vivian shoved him away and knocked her glass over as she got to her feet. "What the hell is wrong with you?" With the back of her hand, she wiped her mouth. The amount of wrongness that had just happened couldn't be measured.

"I needed- I had to, Viv!"

She gaped. "You are ... You're an idiot, Christian!" She shoved him in the chest, hard, as he moved closer again. "God. What the fuck were you thinking?"

"I love you!"

The Penny had quieted in the moment and everyone was staring at them. Great. And worse, it started the stupidest argument Vivian had ever been a part of. Jenny seemed to think Christian's declaration was romantic, while Lara was pissed he just kissed her. And the other non-rookies, but still the new guard, they seemed to be fairly divided on the matter.

As Christian reached for her arm, Vivian snapped. "Don't you dare," she said, her voice a snarl. "Don't you fucking dare touch me, Christian. You're my friend, but I swear I will forget that in a heartbeat."

"God, stop being a Peck, Vivian."

Now. It was possible Christian was just trying to make a joke, to defuse the situation. It didn't work. Vivian bristled. All year long she'd been finding out exactly why Elaine had been against her being a Peck, how sharp that stupid sword was, and how people looked at her because she had chosen to be one. It was the last straw. Here was someone who should have understood, but was throwing it at her. And when he caught hold of her right wrist, Vivian turned.

Her left hand came up in a snapping jab, the kind Holly had taught her to help train Christian just a few months ago. The fist nailed Christian in the nose hard, square on. Blood spurted out and he staggered back. Her hand started to sting immediately. "Screw you," said Vivian, snarling.

Lara moved towards Vivian. "Woah, hey, Viv. You-"

"I'm going the hell home." Vivian grabbed her jacket. "Don't call," she shouted at Christian, who was holding his nose. Ignoring the shouts of Jenny, who was calling out her name, and Lara, who was trying to find out if Vivian was okay, she stormed out of the Penny. Not a single person had the balls to stop her in what Holly would no doubt call 'full Peck mode.'

She'd cooled off by the time she walked back to her bike. The anger at Christian was gone, replaced by annoyance at him and everyone else. Even if she had been interested in him that way, grabbing someone and kissing them was not cool. So what if she broke his stupid nose? Why the hell would Jenny take his side?

Why were there even sides to this? Ugh. She kicked at the slush on the side of the road and walked into the Division parking lot. Her helmet was in her top box, safe from the weather, and her bike had its cover on. Cover. Helmet. Then home. Maybe her moms wouldn't mind if she wanted to get blitzed. Drunk sounded nice right now. Drunk and safe and sound. She yanked the cover off and winced. "Fuck."

Her left hand was swollen already. Never hit them in the face like that. That was what Gail had said, and then told her about the time she'd punched Nick. It had sounded funny at the time, and now it felt prophetic. Crap her hand hurt. Using the clutch was going to be a bitch. The cover wasn't too wet, so she folded it up and popped the top box to put it in place of her helmet.

Just picking up the helmet hurt. Ugh. This was going to suck. Vivian tried to start the bike and shift into gear and her heart sunk. "Shit. Shit. Shit." She turned the bike off and wanted to bash her head into the wall. Not only had she punched her best friend in the city, she'd fucked up her hand.

It was enough to make her want to cry. Instead, she pulled her phone out and tapped a number. "Mom. Can you pick me up at the station?" Vivian knew her voice was quavering. It probably wasn't making her mom feel better.

To her credit, the only thing Holly asked was if Vivian wanted to leave her bike at the station or not. Vivian hesitated and Holly said she'd be right there. Thankfully, no one came by and Holly did show up remarkably fast. In a taxi. "Give me your keys."

"Thanks," mumbled Vivian, handing over a helmet as well.

Riding back on a bike meant they couldn't talk, which was just fine by Vivian. The moment they walked into the house though, Holly hugged her. Then her mother slapped her shoulder and hugged her again. "You scared the hell out of me."

"Sorry," said Vivian, and instead of trying to squirm away, she hugged Holly tightly. "I'm okay, Mom. I really am."

"You called me to drive you home and you're not drunk. You had a hell of a day. And you were almost crying on the phone, Vivian. I love you, you're not okay." She held Vivian at arm's length, studying her face seriously. "You look like Gail."

Vivian wasn't sure what that meant. "Okay?"

"You look a little tired. And a little sad. And a little relieved." Holly tilted her head. "And like you want to get drunk and I should probably hide the scissors."

That was all true, too. Except for the scissors part. "Right now I'm just tired, Mom. And sore." She held up her left hand.

Holly frowned and plunked Vivian on a stool, sitting across from her. "What happened to your hand?" She took a hold of it and gently probed the damage. "Who did you hit? Gail said you had your lungs cleared at the hospital."

Vivian stared at her hand as that went on. It was already dark and swollen. "Oh. Yeah, they're fine. I bruised the hell out of my hand on Christian's face."

Her mother scowled more. "You punched one of your best friends?"

"Yeah..." She exhaled. "Can you be secret keeper Mom who's my friend?"

Still inspecting Vivian's hand, Holly was gently bending fingers back, watching as Vivian winced. "Do you want me to twirl my hair and chew gum?"

It made Vivian laugh. Neither of her mothers were girly in that way. "He kissed me."

The hand poking stopped and Holly stared. "What? And you cold cocked him?" Vivian nodded, a little morosely. "What ... The hell?" Holly got up and got an icepack out. "Why the hell did he kiss you?"

"He was worried about me. So at the Penny, y'know, we were unwinding. I didn't want to come home all wired. And he kissed me." She shook her head. "I really don't understand boys."

"God, do not try me either," said Holly. "What a tremendous asshole move there. What did he think, life was a movie?"

"He is not the guy I'm gonna fall in love with," said Vivian firmly.

Her mother smiled. "You couldn't use the clutch could you?"

Vivian shook her head and let Holly wrap the icepack to her hand. "No, and I wanted to cry."

"You have tomorrow off, so at least there's that." Holly kissed her forehead and went to make her something to eat.

Since she'd been with Rich when he'd been shot, Vivian had longer than a day off. "I have a week," she said. "Off. Andy said it wasn't negotiable. Which is probably as big a word as she knows."

Holly snorted. "Don't be a Peck," she said, admonishingly. "Nothing's broken, but you're going to feel like shit tomorrow."

"Makes me glad I hit him with the left." Vivian test clenched her fist a couple times.

"Leave it alone," Holly scolded. "Next time aim for something softer. The gut."

Vivian grinned. "I'll keep that in mind."

Holly rolled her eyes. "You're coming to the cottage with us tomorrow, then. As an apology for not coming home right away."

"Sorry. I wanted... I don't know. It was just nice to be normal for a bit." She'd wanted to be teased and congratulated and have her back pounded. Vivian wanted to get told off by Nick and Andy, then cheered by them for being a cop. She wanted... She wanted to be normal for just a little while. "Of course, then C kissed me, and I hit him, and now everyone probably thinks I'm a bitch and a Peck for turning him down."

Her mother sighed. "Or maybe just a raging lesbian. Honestly people are such idiots."

Vivian smiled. "You're pretty cool, Mom. You know that, right?"

"Not to sound all Gail, but I had figured that out." Holly smiled back. "Well I guess that answers that, though."

"What? The is Viv gay question?" Holly nodded at her and Vivian made a face. "It was gross. It just felt all ... It felt wrong and weird and awkward. And not like the time I kissed that girl and she slapped me."

Holly laughed softly. "That was interesting. Carol, right?" That had happened at the Penny. Vivian, at twenty-two, had been flirting with Carol all night and thought Carol was flirting back. There had been knee touching, lip looking, and Carol had leaned in to her. "I think you should avoid kissing at the Penny, Viv."

"I should just be a nun." Vivian sighed and put her head on the table. "Can I drink?"

"Bourbon or ice cream?"

"¿Por que no los dos?"

When Gail came home, they were on their second bowl and Vizzini was arguing with Inigo about the best way to defeat the Man in Black. "Vivian, why is your bag still here?"

"Uh... Oh, because forensics has my gun and my badge is in my pocket." She pulled it and held it up. With a thanks, Gail took the badge and headed upstairs. "Rule one. Always safe your gun."

Holly shook her head. "Why do you guys lock up your badges? I never asked..."

"So people don't steal our badges and pretend to be us." Vivian yawned. "Didn't Mom tell you about the time someone stole her spare uniform?"

"There are a billion Pecks in Toronto," said Gail, grumpily. "They had to pick me. I'm still shocked no one yelled at me about it. I have a headache. Who has the bourbon?" Vivian handed the bottle over with her right hand. "Uh, junior. What happened?"

"She banged it up at the Penny," said Holly. "Sit with me, Gail."

Never one to argue about those things, Gail poured a glass and settled in next to Holly. "Fine, don't tell me. Where are we?" She looked at the television thoughtfully just in time to see Inigo swear on the soul of his father.

As one, all three recited the next line as Westly spoke: "Throw me the rope."

Sometimes all you needed was a night with your family.

The sun warmed the bedroom and Holly stirred. She loved the way the light came in through the cottage windows. Smiling happily, she rolled over and found the bed devoid of her wife. That wasn't as happy making. "Gail?" Holly sat up and found her glasses, sliding them on and letting the world come back into shape and form.

No one was in the bedroom or the bathroom. Holly sighed and lay back down, listening to the sounds of the house. Animals on snow. The creak of wood. The crackle of a fire. She inhaled and smelled something sweet. Ah. Gail was up and baking. Maybe she should go back to sleep.

They'd been up fairly late, the three of them. Vivian, giving in to parental pressure, rode with them in the car and actually drove much of the way. She'd inherited her mother's distaste of Holly's winter driving. But they enjoyed the drive, singing along with music older than their daughter, stopping at the store for supplies, and then settling in to the cottage with a fire and some good whiskey.

The singing went on for a little while longer, mostly from Vivian and Gail who actually could carry a tune. They talked about sports and the opera and things they all loved (like Doctor Who). By two, Vivian went to bed, claiming she needed to catch up on sleep. Gail and Holly had stayed on the couch a little longer, watching the fire and enjoying just being together in a quiet moment.

When the fire burnt down to embers, they went upstairs to the master suite and, under the warm quilt that Holly's grandmother had made years ago, reacquainted themselves with each other. It was cold, even with the heat on, and any time they weren't actually under the covers it was worth squealing over. Though that was mostly Gail.

The cold didn't bother Holly. She was too busy reveling in the sensation of Gail's smooth skin against her own. She got lost in the taste of her wife, the smell and sound of the woman she'd been married to for nearly twenty years. And in moments like that, in moments where she was consumed by the weight and power of her feelings where there was only the outward expression of physicality... Well you could've dropped a bomb and Holly might not have noticed.

She smiled, thinking about how Gail had played her body like a virtuoso played a violin. And damn Gail for introducing her to the beauty of classical music. But damned if she wasn't right. Damned if she wasn't good. Gail was a natural lesbian. She may have only slept with one woman, Holly, but she'd sorted out things in rapid order. Holly grinned at the various memories of things Gail had been found to be skilled at.

A rap at the door caught her attention back to the now. "Mom?"

"I'm awake," said Holly, yawning and putting dirty thoughts to the side.

"Ah, but are you decent?" The door cracked open and Holly saw a coffee mug held up.

"Vivian. In this moment I have never loved you more." Holly grinned and sat back up. "I'm also not the nudist in the family."

Vivian laughed as she poked her head in. "Yeah, that's still funny. I mean, you're a doctor. Naked people are just naked people."

"Speaking of my wife, where is she?"

"Cooking." Vivian bumped the door open and came in holding two coffee mugs.

"How's the hand?"

Vivian looked at it as put the MOM mug down on the nightstand. "Okay. I can probably ride my bike without wanting to cry now." She sat in the comfy chair with her own KID one. The newest mug in the collection had been a present from Oliver.

Newest. It was over fifteen years old. "Why are you up?"

"Mom woke me up."

But Vivian was dressed in winter running clothes and thick wool socks. "Liar. Where'd you go running?"

"Just around the lake a bit." Vivian sipped her coffee. A small, five or seven kilometer run, depending on her route.

Holly inhaled the scent of the coffee. "Even I take a break up here, kiddo."

Her daughter shrugged. "I wasn't up all night having sex." She smirked at Holly and looked very much like Gail in that moment.

"It wasn't all night." Holly smiled. "You know, you could bring a girlfriend up here, if you wanted."

"That would involve keeping one for more than a couple weeks, Mom," said Vivian with a sigh. She tucked her long legs up, hugging them with one arm. "Beth dumped me. By text."

Holly tilted her head and studied her daughter's face. Even if Vivian had grown up to look like her own person, which was inevitable, Holly still saw herself etched in the smile and the way Vivian laughed. The eyes, though, they were all Gail in the way they studied everything. Right now they were looking out the window, a little lost in thought.

"You know... I don't know what the right reply is here, honey," said Holly at length. Vivian startled and looked at her. "I want to tell you I really don't care if you never find anyone or date, but I do."

"Do want me to find someone or ...?"

"Well. Not to be all Gail, but sex is pretty awesome, and I think you share that opinion." Her daughter laughed. "Right. Thought so. I just ... I want you to be safe and healthy and happy."

Vivian's expression softened. "Mom. I am." She paused. "Okay, most of the time. I am happy."

It was always so hard to see on the outside. Just as hard on the inside, Holly had learned. "You look like you need a hug."

From the doorway, Gail spoke up. "I wouldn't. She smells like nasty sweat. Have you noticed that all the special running gear reeks more?"

"Thanks, Mom." Vivian laughed.

"Any time, kiddo. Bagels are done." Gail sat next to Holly and leaned in to kiss her. "Morning." Her voice was soft and almost tender.

Holly couldn't help but smile. "Morning." Gail smiled back and brushed hair away from Holly's face.

"Okay, if you guys are going to be all sappy and look at each other like that, I'm going to shower."

Kissing Holly again, Gail turned. "Look at each other like what?"

"Like you haven't seen each other in months. It's really annoying." Getting up, Vivian kissed Gail's cheek and then Holly's before heading back out. "But... Never stop," she said as she reached the door. "I mean it."

Holly smiled. "I know, Viv." She kept a hand on Gail's thigh. While she still worried a little about what her daughter would become, where she'd be in another year or two, what kind of woman and police officer she would be, it wasn't something to be answered today. "Go shower. And figure out what you want for your birthday, huh? Twenty-four's a big one."

It was Gail who winced. "Oh no. No no, my child is not almost quarter century!"

"Give up, Mom. You're fifty." Vivian sang as she headed down the stairs. "Gaaaaaail Peck is fifty, she's ooooold."

The singing went on and Holly smothered a laugh as Gail looked horrified. "She's your daughter."

"This is your fault, you know," said Gail, complaining half heartedly. "You wanted to get married so we could adopt."

"Pretty sure that's not how I presented it." Holly finished her coffee.

Taking the empty mug out of Holly's hand, Gail grumbled. "Pretty sure it was." She leaned in and kissed the side of Holly's neck, sending shivers down Holly's spine. "Now that we're alone, you wanna work on child number two?"

Holly burst out laughing and shoved Gail away. "You are insane, Gail." She got out of bed and heard her wife groan and flop onto the mattress. "I want to shower, brush my teeth, eat some breakfast, and then be absolutely, utterly, totally, lazy."

"I just want to be naked." Gail was whining.

"Showers involve nudity, Peck."

There was a pause and, as Holly went into the bathroom, she heard the bedroom door shut. Holly smiled and got out of her sloppy sweats and into the shower. There was all the time they needed to figure things out.

This is the end of 'season one' of my sequel.

I do have season two written out and it's slightly less Vivian centric. The first season had a lot more groundwork to lay to make her a fully fleshed out person. Season two has another season long case, but also some successful romance and some plots that have been requested (like what happens when Vivian gets hurt).

But in many ways, this question is up to you.

Do you want to see what happens next to everyone? Is there anything in particular you're interested in?

Either way, there's a break coming up and I'll be posting a different story as a 'summer' filler.