A/N: Thank you so much for the comments. I appreciate them all. The good and the not-so-good. First fanfic. So, if I write in the future there will be a different writing format. I didn't want to change it once I started. The first chapter was spur-of-the-moment. We are turning a corner here, folks. So hang on. ..

Wow, they were more than a little tipsy! Dinner at Gail and Holly's place turned out to be pizza delivery and beer, but what is wrong with that? Gail enjoyed Andy and Chloe's company more than she expected. Who knew that Chloe had a million great dirty jokes? She wasn't nearly as annoying when Gail wasn't forced to watch her tongue wrestle with Dov. In fact, she was charming tonight. And Gail had forgotten how much fun Andy can be. Holly was more than a little interested in the "drunk Gail" stories that Andy shared and from the beginning to the end of the evening the four women laughed and enjoyed each other's company.

Gail thinks about it now as she is cleaning up the kitchen with Holly and she realizes that the thought of Andy with Nick together never crossed her mind the entire evening. And she is glad. She has her friend back and it seems they have both grown up since the shooting. And Gail gives credit to Holly, too. She realizes that she never would have learned how to forgive someone like that had Holly not provided a demonstration for her that day in her lab. It was that very day that Gail recognized its value. And today she is glad that she applied what she learned. Now her attention is drawn to the person drying the dishes. "What is it about this woman that makes me feel like I have never had the chance to touch her before?" She thinks.

G: "Holly" Gail says softly, wrapping her arms around Holly's waste from behind while automatically seeking out the scent of hair. "Thank you for this. For letting them come over. I hope you had fun. I know that we could have spent this evening by ourselves, but I think we needed this, too. Well, I think I needed this."

Holly turns around in Gail's arms and rests her hands on Gail's shoulders. She draws Gail into the kind of kiss that almost stopped the conversation from going any further, but pulls back and rests her forehead on Gail's for a minute before speaking.

H: "I had a lot of fun tonight. It was a great idea to invite them over. I was just a little surprised, that's all. I mean it was Chloe and Andy. I would have been less surprised if you said you invited Mayor Ford over to do jello shots. I mean, did something happen?"

Gail chuckled and smiled at that beautiful face that she has come appreciate so much and she couldn't help but think.. "what have I done to earn moments like these?"

G: "Actually" Gail says becoming more serious. "Something did happen today. Andy and I kinda got into a fight. Long story short, I found out that she and Chloe had been taking shifts or assignments so that I could spend more time with you. Can you believe it? I had no idea."

H: "So you decided to do something nice for them because of what they have been doing for you? I think that is great and more than appropriate."

Gail inhales deeply and then continues.

G: "Actually, that isn't the reason. Well, it's part of it, but not the biggest reason. You see, somewhere in the middle of our conversation I started to feel really, really guilty. And you know me. I started doubting myself and whether or not I was right for you. I felt like such a jerk being so oblivious to people who were only trying to help that I just felt like I didn't deserve any of this. Basically, Andy got me to cut it out. I am glad because that was the first time since forever that I actually thought leaving might be the right thing. To stop all the hurt that everyone is experiencing. I only thought it for a minute, but it was a minute too long. And it scared me."

Holly's eyes began to fill at the thought that Gail had a thought about leaving. She wasn't angry, just relieved and grateful to Andy. She was still processing when. .

G: "Hey, I have something for you." Gail makes her way over to her coat by the door and pulls out a small box from her coat pocket. She brings it to Holly and places it in her hand. "I got this for you after my shift before I came home."

Holly's eyes widen as she sees the small jewelry box. She looks up at Gail and she can tell that she is nervous about opening it. "Don't worry" Gail says with a smile "It's not an engagement ring, yet. I am a cop and will need to work for quite some time to get you one of those."

Holly smiles and opens the box to find 2 golden tennis shoe charms attached to a keychain that reads "Gail". Holly looks up at Gail a little confused.

G: "Holly. These symbolize my running shoes. I am giving them to you so that you can know for sure that I go where you go. I end up where you end up. And I won't run. After all, you have my shoes."

It is quite possible that an engagement ring may not have meant as much to Holly in that moment as these two small charms on a keychain. They represented more than just Gail's love for her or even her desire to always be with her. What they actually represented was Gail's willingness to lay down a part of herself for Holly forever. A part that at one point had become so engrained in who Gail thought she was that she didn't think she would ever escape it. It is a gift so special that Holly can't help but be overcome. And Holly falls. Deeper than ever before. Right in this kitchen. Right now. And Gail sees it. She knows that the only place her two feet are going tonight is to their bedroom. She is taking Holly and fulfilling every single promise she ever made to her in this one night. And Holly will again turn Gail into a nothing but a pile of kindling where the slightest of sparks engulfs her entire being in flames. Tonight, the world is hushed. And she doesn't care that it's late. And she doesn't care that they have to get up early. And she is not short-changing this moment. Nothing will get between them tonight– and that's a promise.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

They can honestly say that they have never played hooky from work before. Regardless of the late nights and early mornings, Gail and Holly always went to work. But not on Friday. Following their very special evening together, neither one of them could imagine being able to move properly let alone spend the day at work. For the first time, they both called out sick. Not that anyone believed them, but they both had so much paid time off coming to them that neither of the supervisors could say anything.

And the weekend was wonderful. They filled it with all the things they love. Movies, walks, lots of great food and lots of even better sex. Holly couldn't help but joke that it was .. "just what the doctor ordered." Gail was on cloud nine, so perhaps that is why she failed to properly gird herself for what would eventually become … Monday.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A: "I suppose you didn't get tested since you weren't here on Friday." Andy states to Gail in a tone that sounds less than friendly considering the great time they had together last Thursday. Gail can't help but respond in kind.

G: "Tested for what, Andy? I don't know what you are talking about." Gail is more than confused and slightly annoyed.

A: "Chloe and I came in here on Friday morning and were asked to submit to a drug and alcohol test. As you know, we were at your house drinking rather late, so our alcohol screen tested positive. Fortunately for us, it was not above the legal limit anymore, but we took a huge ass-chewing from Best because it was borderline. Now, we have a note in our file along with an informal warning. Best still sent us home."

Gail was stunned. She understood how Andy could think that her mother might have had something to do with this, but how could she? How could she know that they had been together that night? How could she know they were drinking?

G: "Andy, I am sorry. I don't know what to say, but maybe this really was just a random testing. I mean, Best warned us about it weeks ago, and I just don't know how my mother would have found out that you were at my place drinking."

A: "Well, to tell you the truth, Gail. Chloe and I weren't exactly quiet about the fact that we had plans with you that evening. We pretty much talked about it out in the open. As for her figuring out whether or not we would be drinking.. all I can say to that Gail is, seriously?" Gail nodded that she conceded to her point. "Gail, I heard that some people are not even going to the Penny after work. They think that someone is trying to catch us leaving drunk on a work night. Even if Chloe and I are completely random; it seems suspicious. And now I have had my butt handed to me and a note in my file."

And something snapped in Gail. In that moment, she felt like a violin string that was tired of being tightened and broke free. She had waited and waited, but it was clear that her mother was going to take this to the end. And she was tired. She was tired of her mother having all of the leverage and her having none. She was tired of others being punished for something they had nothing to do with. And mostly she was tired of being punished for something she could do nothing about. Holly was her love, but Gail had learned that her sexuality was her part of her life. Her own skin could be separated from her before that could. It was who she is, not what she is or what she chooses to be. And she was tired of being the victim because of it.

And she made a decision..