HOW TO BE A PECK
Hi everyone! I wanted to update before Christmas, but with the family, decorations, lights.. and all that stuff.. let's just say that my brain wasn't working at full speed.
Anyway, this is a long chapter.. I hope you enjoy the reading :'D
CHAPTER 14
REFEREES AND RULES
Gail Peck got home a few hours later, she was physically tired and mentally dazed .. She stripped quickly, trying to keep her mind blank and then got into bed but the events of the night were piling on her head like a whirlwind, preventing her from sleeping.
Feeling restless, the blonde turned around under the covers to watch the clock on the nightstand .. Still 2:00 am ... she heaved a sigh as watched the ceiling, trying to escape from her own head.
"What the hell have I done? What was i thinking?" Gail whispered as she put a pillow over her face to smother her voice. 'Maybe that's the problem .. thinking was the last thing i was doing at the time ..' She thought bitterly.
She was aware that Holly had made a mistake by lying to her.. but she should not have reacted that way.. and still the blonde felt unable to avoid her overreaction. The two of them had made mistakes .. 'It seems that no matter how hard you look, no one is perfect.'
A buzz coming from her purse caught her attention.. the phone rang insistently, the sound contrasted with the silence of the room, letting her know that she had a new text message. At first she just ignored it, but curiosity was eating her from the inside out.. so she stood up slowly and picked up the cellphone to examine the screen .. It was a message from Holly.
-I'm a bit confused about what have happened..
I would like to talk to you.. Call me when you can-
"Confused?" Gail could not repress a burst of false and empty laugh. "I know how that's feels like." She mocked herself as she made the decision not to answer. The blonde did not know how .. she threw the phone across the room and went back to bed.
No.. Gail did not feel like talking.. in fact, that was the last thing she wanted. That night had lost control, the mask that she carefully placed on her face every morning to protect herself had fallen. And the thing was that Holly was there to witness it.
"For the love of god.. i told her i love her.. We barely know each other, and i go and tell her that i love you like a lunatic teenager.. She must think i'm out of my mind, crazy or insane..like she said before." She thought vehemently while her own words were assaulting her with questions that she was not sure she wanted to respond. 'Someone I love.' Her own voice echoed inside her head like a hammer. "Yes Gail, you've been brilliant .." She protested wryly. "You could have said -Someone i care about-or something similar.. but no, the damn word had to get in the middle .."
Gail shifted on the bed and covered her head with the sheets, as if that would hide her from the personal nightmare .. and at some point in the night, her thoughts granted her a truce and she managed to doze for a couple of hours.
IT was December 24, it had been two weeks since the party to raise funds and so far, Holly had not managed to contact with Gail . Her day of work was over, but she was still in the parking lot, sitting in her car with the phone on her left hand.
The number of the blonde was on the screen, she just had to press the call key to hear her voice, to make sure she was okay.. but one more time, she decided not to.
That had been her ritual during the last few days ... she went to work, kept her mind busy, and once she had finished, she just sat and watched her number .. hoping that would be enough for Gail to call her.
-I'm sorry, but I need some time to think.-
It were the vague words she had received a couple of days after the party. And since then nothing, they hadn't seen each other, had not spoken, no contact at all...
The doctor had decided that she would give her all the time and space that she needed but with each day that passed was more difficult to fulfill her own promise, and her patience was running out.
She wanted to see her, hold her, help her.. she wanted to be with her instead of be sitting in her car, hearing how her mind rambled.
Almost half an hour later, Holly awoke from her trance and started the engine.. She was waiting for the ice of her windshield to melt when she saw Matt coming out of the building. He greeted her, waving his hand and the brunette responded with a distant smile before pressing the accelerator and pulling away.
WHEN she got to her apartment, she headed directly to the shower, thinking that maybe the hot water could get rid of her discomfort .. then she put on some comfortable clothes and looked for something to do to kill time.
The house was spotless, not a speck of dust in sight.. because she had spent the last few days cleaning each room thoroughly .. Holly was blindly convinced that if her environment was clean and tidy, somehow it would influence positively in her life and her problems would vanish..
The brunette hadn't thought deeply about that logic, but the important thing was that cleaning work was not an option available anymore. Watching TV was a hobby that had never particularly liked, so I rejected that option too..
Dragging her feet, the doctor went to the shelves of the living room and picked up a book at random.. One of the stories of Edgar Allan Poe was the chosen.. She collapsed on the couch with a snort, and began to look through the pages ..It wasn't long until she realized that not even the irony or satirical humor of one of his favorite writers could distract her from herself.
Gail's words gave her hunt every day, and often she found herself reflecting about them, looking for double meanings and hidden truths that escaped her perception. 'She probably didn't mean it..she said without thinking.' It is what she thought. 'But then why doesn't she want to talk to me? Why is she avoiding me?' Holly knew she had to either stop thinking about the subject or accept the headaches as part of her daily life.
"God.. my head is gonna explode at any second." The doc muttered in low voice as she rubbed with her fingers both sides of her head.
"Great Holly, this is one of those situations in which your IQ is extremely useful." She sneered sarcastically as she watched how the snowflakes were piled in the windows's frames.
Gail was confused .. her life was changing, and in some ways because of her .. She didn't need to be a genius to figure that out .. The sound of the phone distracted her from her ravings and she quickly rose.. Gail didn't have her home number, so it was highly unlikely it was her the one who was calling but still, felt a knot in her stomach as she lifted the device.
"Hello?" She said, bringing the phone to her ear.
"Holly honey, How're you?" A sweet voice with an european accent greeted.
"Grandma!" Holly exclaimed at the instant she recognized the familiar voice. "Hi! I'm good.." She felt how her shoulders's muscles relaxed as she perched on the arm of the couch.
"You sure? You don't sound quite convincing." The voice on the other line said with a touch of concern.
Holly swore mentally .. her grandmother had the ability to detect when something was wrong just by hearing her voice. "I'm fine, granny .." and then added with more determination. "Everything is fine."
Her grandmother was silent for a few seconds as trying to decode her granddaughter's vague reply. "If you say so, darling .. I'll have to believe you .. At least until i can speak to you in person."
"If i did not know you better i would say That You're calling to checking up on me .." The Doctor scolded her, using a smooth tone
"How can you said that?" Her grandmother said, pretending offense. "I just wanna make sure That I'm gonna see my fabulous granddaughter tomorrow."
Although she could not see her, the doc Smiled as she answered the phone. "Don't you worry .. My plane will take off first thing in the morning.. and i'll be in my seat"
"That's what i wanted to hear ... by the way .. "Her voice paused, perhaps wondering if she should finish the sentence .. "Your brother is gonna join us this year .. i hope you don't mind. "
"Jason?" The brunette felt the blood froze under her skin for a moment. "Why? I have not Talked to him .. since .. well, a long time ago .. "
"I know Holly .. but he insisted about coming .. and i couldn't say no .. "Her grandmother sounded cautious, as if she was measuring her words. "I think he finally wants to make amends. "
The doctor tried to control her voice, but the mention of her brother had caught her off guard. "Well it's a little late for that .. it's been a long time.." She noticed that her tone was increasing in volume and urgency and made an effort to control her breathing. "I'm sorry grandma, we don't really need to talk about it right now.. We'll have plenty of time when i get there. "
"I understand darling .. See you tomorrow, right? I'm baking those chocolate cupcakes that you love so much. "She said with that loving voice that relaxed Holly since she was a child.
"Thanks .. See you soon granny." The brunette murmured, ending the conversation. "Ohh and Happy christmas!"
"Happy Christmas eve, my little girl."
Holly hung up the phone and lay on the couch.. the week had been exhausting and even though it was Christmas Eve she didn't have a plan for the rest of the evening.
Plus she needed to rest .. so she limited herself to lie on the comfortable surface and close her eyes, thinking about nothing.
The nap was not long enough acerca Because half an hour later, the vibration of the phone Suddenly awakened her.
This time it was her mobile phone, que was moving under one of the couch pillows ... apparently had fallen asleep the brunette over it.
With narrowed eyes she checked the screen Whose light dazzled her in darkness of the room .. Tracy had sent her a message, a very cryptic one.
- 9:30 pm at Penny's. You better be there! -
She arched an eyebrow, a gesture That was not common in her while she was trying to decided whether accept or refuse the strange invitation.
HOLLY parked on the street, in front of the door of the bar and immediately spotted Tracy who was in plain sight. She got out of the car and walked toward her.
"Thanks for coming" Tracy said when he saw her approaching and Holly gave her a nervous smile as response. "You should go inside."
Holly tilted her head, looking her through her glasses. "Is Gail inside?"
She nodded impatiently.
"Does she know that I was coming?"
And this time, Tracy shook her head in denial.
The doctor stepped back but Tracy stopped her by grabbing her arm. "Look, I have no idea what happened between you two but the truth is that it doesn't matter. I know that you care about Gail and you know her.. It is difficult enough to deal with her and her particular sense of humor when she's on her habitual mood, so imagine how it's like when she is pissed off.. not pretty." Tracy claimed, knowing that the doctor knew what she was talking about. "Dov lives with her, and she is driving him nuts! I know we barely know each other and have no right to ask you, but please.. talk to her."
"I'm not sure, i don't want to make a bad situation even worse." Holly excused herself, repositioning her glasses on her nose.
"You won't.. look, somehow you know how to manage her jokes and outbursts better than anyone, and she may not have told you but I'm sure she will like to see you here." Tracy said, showing a confident smile. "Besides I'm the messenger here.. if Gail decides to kill someone tonight, it will be me."
Holly smiled back, unable to do anything else. "Holly, you seem to be one of those people who always do the right thing..." Tracy turned around as if she had heard something. "I have to go back inside.. Do what you think you have to do."And murmuring those words, she went into the bar, leaving the brunette standing at the doorway.
THE blonde police officer was at the bar with her fellows of the 15th division .. she took a swig from her glass of whiskey which was half empty already, wondering where Tracy was.
"This is just great! First, she drags me here against my will and then she leaves me high and dry .. That's classy." She muttered sarcastically.
"You said something?" Dov who was sitting beside her asked with curiosity.
"I didn't smartass.. have you seen Tracy?" The blonde replied drily, glancing around.
"Geez .. you are the kindness itself, you know? "He said with some bitterness. "And she's heading to the platform right now." he added, pointing with his head.
Gail followed his gaze and saw Tracy making her way through the crowd. "What the hell is she doing?"
Dov shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "Who knows?"
The blonde let out a noisy sigh and led the glass to her lips. She definitely was not in the mood to solve riddles ..
The last two weeks had been like a blur for her .. work, sleep, eat, more work, go back to sleep.. an unbearable routine day after day.. but somehow she was grateful for it.. routine meant no surprises and that idea was tempting for her right then.
At least she had been lucky with the work department.. In those weeks, she had managed to avoid her mother, which was an achievement itself. And one of the new generation of rookies had been assigned to her to patrol, which meant that no one would be asking uncomfortable questions about her personal life during that time.
The blonde tried hard not to think about what happened with Holly, and she had discovered that a glass of whiskey once in a while was a good way to keep her mind at bay.
A loud noise sounded in the room when Tracy grabbed one of the microphones, prompting groans from the crowd.. but also catching the kind of attention from the public that the detective was looking for. Meanwhile, Gail was still staring blankly at her glass until she heard her name, coming from the loudspeakers of the local. She slowly lifted her head to direct a menacing look at Tracy who was watching her expectantly from the stage.
"Gail Peck!" She Repeated. "Get your skinny ass up here and sing with me.."
Gail shook her head sharply. "No way.. That's not the right way to convince a lady.. Besides I haven't got the right amount of this in my system yet.. " She responded, lifting her glass as her friend looked at her with disappointment.
But the dark-haired woman didn't give up easily. "Could anybody give a mic to that blonde who is leaning on the bar over there?" Tracy demanded and automatically one of the waiters placed a black object over the bar, next to Gail. "Just in case you change your mind Peck." She explained with a half-smile.
The blonde looked at the mic strangely, as if she didn't know what to do with it and then the first notes of the song "Blue Christmas" began to sound in the room.
Gail gulped the last drops of whiskey like if they were water while the sounds of the piano, the guitar and the drums reached her ears.
With a voice full of enthusiasm, Tracy intoned the first verses easily over the platform while Gail was watching her, amused herself by humming the song quietly ... Her hand unconsciously slid along the bar to grab the mic. "Maybe it's not such a bad idea." She thought as she led the mic to her lips to complete the following verse.
Her friends made way for her as Gail headed to the platform, singing the chorus of the song with Tracy. Everyone in the bar watched expectantly, enjoying the unexpected karaoke session.
They finished the chorus, just before the guitar solo started. The place was filled with applauses and laughter as the two women danced cheerfully, teasing each other. Gail took advantage of the the time to look around.. she was looking for the rest of her friends when a figure that was watching her from the bar caught her attention.. causing her mind to go blank almost instantly.
She was so amazed, looking that precious smile that she could barely remember the lyrics of the verses that she had to sing.
After a while, the music began to slow down the volume as the last few notes died away, ending the song. Gail turned to her friend and took a bow, which caused more applauses from the already pretty drunk public. "Thank you Nash .. this has been kinda fun "
"Anytime." Tracy answered with a grin as she saw Gail's brother among the crowd. "And now, let me got back to my other favorite Peck."
The blonde rolled her eyes in exasperation. "That's gross.."
Her friend could not stop smiling as she said. "I'm sure you'll survive." And then she gave her an affectionate pat a on her shoulder and got down the platform to mingle among people.
Still over the stage, the blonde examined the place, trying to locate the look that had caught her eye minutes before.. Once she spotted it again, she headed to the bar with determination.
Holly was in a corner of the room, a few meters away of her friends.. her elbow was propped on the bar, causing her body to lean slightly forward. She was looking straight ahead, which meant that she hadn't noticed the blonde's presence yet.
"Hello stranger," Gail said as she stood beside her.
The brunette looked at her for a second and then avoided her eyes. "Gail.. Hi"
Gail stared at her, trying to decide how to start a conversation but her brain was failing at finding something smart to say. "Hi .." She repeated, a little confused.
With her arm still over the bar, Holly turned her body to her. "You said that already.."
"I kn.." The blonde started saying but she bit her tongue and added. "I didn't know you were gonna be here."
"Neither did I.." Holly murmured more to herself than to Gail. "Do you want me to leave? "The brunette said as she lowered her head.
"I haven't said that .. have I? "Gail reassured her as she touched her shoulder.. The doctor flinched sightly due to the contact on the arm but she didn't pull away.
"Then you want me to stay?" The brunette asked as she lifted her head. Her tone gave away her nervousness
"Okay, Stop!" The blonde shook her head before speaking in a lowered voice. "Can you stop answering my questions with more questions?"
The doctor said nothing, she just merely nodded.
"Okay, I'm gonna start over .. Hi Holly, can i buy you a drink? "The blonde said with a hint of a smile.
"I'll have whatever you are having .." The brunette replied as Gail raised her hand to call the waiter to ask the drinks. "I didn't know you sing so good." Holly added slowly.
"Well .. I hadn't mentioned it before" She grabbed a stool and sat down next to the doctor. "When i was a kid i wanted to be a singer.. but the idea turned out to be highly unrealistic."
A laugh came from the brunette's mouth. "Why?"
"I have some serious stage fright going on" Gail blurted out. "And don't! Don't tell me to picture the audience naked, because i've tried and it doesn't work for me.
Holly's straight mouth puckered slightly in the corners as if she was suppressing laughter "You and Tracy make an incredible duet." She said and picked up her glass.
The police agent showed a shy smile, as she played with the cubes of ice in her glass. "Thanks.. So, how is it that you're here?"
"You're not good at taking compliments, are you?" The brunette commented but she only received a crooked smile and an elusive look that wanted to say: not-my-strong-suit for an answer, so she decided to answer. "I received a text message .." She said cryptically, without giving details of who sent it.
Gail turned around to look at her friends, and soon realized that Tracy was watching them. "I guess I'll have to thank her later." She muttered as look at her friend, then turned to Holly to find she was staring at her. "What is that face for?"
The doctor pulled herself together when she noticed that her jaw was dropped. "Nothing .. It's just that Tracy thought you were gonna go after her for ther .. ut not to thank her." She shrugged as she took the straw from her glass.
Gail showed a puzzled face. "Why?I'm not that bad.. and I'm really glad to see you.. I know how to say thanks once in a while, you know?" Holly nodded again and the blonde got serious. 'Okay Gail.. it's time, just say it! '. "I also know when i have to apologize."
Holly lifted her head and her eyes locked on Gail's, not so much on her as through her. The conversation had changed, and with it the doctor's interest. "The other night, i overreacted.. I'm sorry, I just lost my temper and i couldn't control myself.."
Holly was silent, her stare still on her before answering. "It's okay ..we both have made mistakes." The doctor admitted while Gail was taking a sip of her drink. "I thought that if I told the whole story, you would start thinking that there was still something between us, and I didn't want you to doubt of me or to feel any kind of pressure on Liz's part."
"That's what I thought, but a week late.. I understand why you did it and it's forgiven and forgotten" Gail declared sincerely.
"So we're good?" Holly let out a husky laugh but her smile suddenly faded. "Because I'm a bit confused for what happened afterwards, on the street"
"Aww.. that? "The blonde muttered as a sigh escapes from her lips. 'That has been what has been tormenting me for the last two weeks' Gail thought nervous and automatically her protection system was activated, forcing her to pronounce a few words that she was not sure of wanting to say. "Could we just forget that part? At least for now..?" The blonde looked at her directly into the eyes, with a plea in her face.. "Would you be okay with that?"
HOLLY watched her as she sipped from her glass, she could feel how the features of her face slightly changed by the words of the blonde but she couldn't avoid it.. She also felt the dissapointing hitting her chest. "Okay, if that's what you want, I suppose I could ignore it.. or at least try.. but for now, i'm not making any promises on long term." She managed to curve her lips into a supportive grin but she didn't fool Gail who replied almost instantly.
"I'm sorry.. it's just that I'm a mess right now." Holly covered the blonde's mouth with her hand gently as she dedicated her a smile, full of affection and understanding, more convincing than the last one. "I said it's okay, okay?"
"I appreciate it nerd.." Gail whispered apologetically and shrugged. "I know I'm not an easy going person."
"Cheers for that." Holly quipped as she raised her glass, breaking the tension of the moment ...and Gail's attitude automatically changed. It still amazed her how quickly her partner's mood could change from one end to another just in a few seconds.
The blonde lifted her glass as well, laughing. "Cheers for us."
The corners of Gail's mouth tugged slightly, drawing the doctor's attention to its kissable perfection and Holly had to use all the self control she had left not to bend down and attack her lips.
If Gail noticed her repressed impulse, she didn't say anything but her smile grew wider, forcing the doctor to look away.
"So.. are you staying in the city for the holidays?" Gail asked, reclaiming her attention and Holly turned to her, trying not to stare at her lips.
"Actually not.. I'm taking a plane tomorrow. My grandmother lived in Montana and I used to spend the Christmas with her." Holly responded with calm.
"Ohh.." The blonde pouted as she swallowed the rest of her drink. "What about the rest of your family?" She asked, apparently with genuine curiosity.
The doctor remained silent for a moment. "I don't talk to my parent or my brother much.. since a long time ago, since college to be more precise."
"What happened?" Gail added, wanting to know. "I'm sorry, the curiosity is in my blood."
"Don't apologize, it's okay." The brunette tilted her head and took off her glasses to methodically started cleaning them with the end of the shirt. "Let's just say that they're not the more understanding parents, and when I came out.. well, they didn't take it good..they are so conservative people."
Gail looked at her deeply, a strange hint in her gaze that the doctor couldn't translate. She just took her hand between hers, encouraging her to continue.
A bitter smile played at the corners of the brunette's mouth. She wanted to laugh it off, but for some reason she couldn't.. It still hurt when she thought about it. "With Jason, my big brother is another story.." She left the words, hanging in the air, and Gail didn't push her.
"Looks like we both have a happy and free drama family." The blonde commented with that irony that made her smile and Holly squeezed her hand to thank her for the joke. "Let's get out of here, you have to get to that plane tomorrow." She quipped and they grabbed their respective outerwear before heading to the door.
The doctor turned her head to Tracy who was leaning on the bar, and grinned with a knowing look.. the woman returned the smile with a nod and then Holly followed Gail out the place, to the icy street.
The blonde walked her to her car in silence, holding her hand and she waited Holly her as se climbed into the vehicle. The brunette folded her coat and threw it on the back seat, then put on the security belt and rolled down the window to say goodbye.
"See you soon, Gail." The doc whispered with a smooth voice.. The police officer said nothing which made Holly noticed that she was staring at her again.. so she forced herself to start the engine and pull away.
She hadn't arrived to the end of the street when she looked in the rearview to see that the blonde was still standing in the same position she had left her.. All of the sudden, she stopped the car and turned back; a totally illegal maneuver..
Holly pulled her head out of the window and stared at her with bright eyes once she parked the car again, Gail was walking to her, looking like an invitation to sin, in tight black pants and a butter yellow cardigan which revealed her slender neck.. Her hair was falling off her shoulders, accentuating the features of her face.. she had that provocative crooked smile on her lips that she usually used on her and finally, those blue eyes, those eyes that appeared to bright for themselves.
The brunette unconsciously held her breath and watched how Gail leaned down when she reached the car. That's when Holly knew that there was no way she could resist her. She cupped the blonde's face with her hands and covered her lips with her mouth with a slow and sensual kiss.
"I'm sorry.. I should have done this the minute I entered that door." Holly whispered when she pulled back. "Sometimes speaking is overrated."
Gail blinked a couple of times, making an effort to recover her breath. "Then why do you keep doing it?" She said with a snarky grin. Neither of them noticed the blue and red lights that were advancing toward them.
Holly showed a causal smile and pulled the blonde's face closer again when a throat clearing made her stop.. She tilted her head with an annoyed look to find that a police officer was standing next to the car, behind Gail.
"Good night ma'am.. you have made a traffic violation back there, may I see your driver's license, please?" The tall man demanded with a polite voice.
Holly alternated her gaze between the police officer and Gail, and a little confused she opened the glove compartment to get the license. "Shit.. just when I thought that this day was getting better." She murmured in a voice low enough for the man not to hear her but for the look that Gail gave her, she surely did.
While Holly was occupied, talking to the uniformed man, the blonde was tremendously amused, watching the scene with an arched brow.. When the man asked the brunette to step out of the vehicle, Gail decided it was enough and she intervened.
"Sir.. I'm officer Gail Peck from the 15th division." She said with a bossy voice as she showed her badge to confirm what she had just said.. then she pointed at Holly with her head. "I got this one." She said with a charming smile to convince him.
Holly stared at the blonde as she talked with the officer in a friendly tone, then Gail tilted her head and caught her looking. 'Maybe I would rather to be fined' She thought as she held her glare.'No.. I definitely wouldn't.'
Okay, I cannot write another word today.. I hope it's enough :')
Hopefully I will update before January, but in case I couldn't.. Happy new year to everyone!
AHA