A/N: Snow day today so you get a super fast update.

"If I should stay, I would only be in your way. So I'll go, but I know I'll think of you each step of the way"

Gail shoved her key in the lock. The door creaked as it opened. Dov and Chloe sang their greetings from the couch but Gail only acknowledged them by curtly huffing "night" on her way to her room. Chloe and Dov swiveled their heads away from the television towards each other.

"What time is it?" Chloe scrunched up her face as Dov whipped his hand around to look at his watch.

"It's only seven thirty," he said confusedly.

Chloe pulled out her phone to confirm, "what the hell?"

Dov shrugged, "probably just Gail being Gail. She has been going in early since we've got the rookies." They both shrugged and turned back to their show.

Gail closed her bedroom door before leaning up against it, dropping her duffel to the floor. She slowly slid down to the floor and rested her left arm atop the duffel. It made a nice armrest. She sat there until the sun went down. Time for bed; if she could sleep.

On the first day Gail was partnered with Mini McNally. Jackson, or "Amelia if she preferred."

"I do not prefer," was Gail's cool response as she turned the ignition. She was not in the mood for this. Not in the mood for a doe eyed, bright and shiny rookie who would have made her want to stab herself in the ears on a good day. After enough looks dripping with icicles Jackson took the hint and shut up. She was still there though. Smiling in the passenger seat. It was so annoying. At least she could tell her gun from her coffee. Gail couldn't deal with teaching her how to tie her shoes today. Jackson also paid for lunch; probably the best part of Gail's day. No; the only good part of Gail's day. She closed her locker door and snapped the lock shut. Another shift over. Freedom to wallow. She was halfway down the hallway when Chris caught up to her.

"Comin' to the Penny?" He asked cheerily.

"Nope. Goin' home," Gail kept walking.

"What? Come on," Chris added a smile.

Gail stopped in her tracks and turned to face him, "Chris, I've been partnered with Jackson all day. I'm all chatted out. I need quiet." She turned and kept walking towards the door, "I'm goin' home."

But she didn't go home. She went to the beach.

The second day went pretty much like the first. Jackson kept talking and Gail tried her best not to listen. It was easier to ignore her with a day's practice under her belt. Today it was Andy who asked Gail if she was going to the Penny. Gail felt less of a need to be nice to Andy than to Chris. She replied with a cool "negative" and left it at that. Once again, she drove out to the beach. The sand felt good on her bare feet; soft and conforming after a long day. The waves provided a calming background noise that didn't pester her for attention. She could listen and think about the waves. Gentle lapping. The moon was getting fuller again and it's light danced on the water.

"Hey."

Gail hadn't heard anyone coming along but she'd know that voice anywhere. It made every bit of her smile. It was like lying in the sun on a cool day. It was clothes fresh out of the dryer. It was the towel that had been sitting in the sun being wrapped around you after getting out of the pool. It warmed her inside and out. But tonight it broke her heart. It split her open. Gail steeled herself.

"Hi," but she didn't look away from the water. She heard the sand rustling next to her as Holly took a seat. She didn't sit as closely as she normally would. Gail couldn't help but thinking it was probably for the best. Gail couldn't help but want her closer.

"Care to share?" Holly asked lightly but her sigh at the end didn't suggest levity.

No. Gail didn't care to share. But she would. She still loved her. So much. "It's usually you that has to spell things out for me," it wasn't cutting. It was an observation and it was very close to being fact.

"That may be so," Holly conceded half a smile. It wasn't her usual half smile that suggested more joy, mischief, and pleasant surprise than a full smile could. This was only half a smile; not a half smile.

"We're happy now. You love me now," Gail swallowed, "but what about when you need more. You deserve more. You deserve everything."

Holly interrupted, "Gail, you're what I want," she shook her head.

"Holly. One day you're going to want a wedding, and a house, and a baby, and a puppy, and a swing set, and a disgusting minivan. And I can't. So I have to let you go."

Gail chanced a look at Holly's face. She looked sad. Confused. And a a little bit of something else. Gail couldn't place it.

"I'd never want a minivan," it was a joke but Holly could barely make it sound like one.

"You know what I mean," Gail sighed. Holly wasn't going to let her off that easy.

"You're stubborn, you're thick headed, and you're strong willed. You commit. So you have to figure this out on your own. I can't do it for you," Holly's eyes were welling; tears waiting to fall.

"I'm sorry," she was so sorry.

"I know," Holly's voice broke and she forced half a smile.

"I love you," if only Holly could see this was why she had to.

"I know," Holly's voice broke again and she wiped away a tear with her left hand. "I love you too."

"Thank you. Thank you for letting me be me and for loving me for it. Not in spite of it."

This time Holly smiled for real, even though it broke her heart. "If I don't ever see you again, I will probably love you forever. But I won't wait around forever. So figure it out and don't take your time."

Gail didn't say anything. What could she say to that? She looked back to the water.

Holly didn't blame her, "be safe, Gail."

Gail turned back to look Holly in the eyes when she told her "I will. I promise I will, " because she deserved that. Holly worried sometimes. Most times.

"Good," Holly rose to her feet, "goodbye, Gail. Maybe I'll see you around."

"Maybe I'll see you around," Gail hoped she would. She hoped she never saw her again. She hoped for both. And then she was gone. Gail had been waiting for the other shoe to drop. She knew it would. So she cut the laces; she had to.

"If I should stay, I would only be in your way. So I'll go, but I know I'll think of you each step of the way"
-Dolly Parton "I Will Always Love You"

A/N: It hurts. I know it hurts. I've said this earlier but I'm gonna say it again. This story is way more about Gail's character development than Holly's just because we know way more about Gail than Holly. I knew that would be biting off way more than I could chew. So let's buckle up and see where Gail goes from here.

Why not distract yourself by suggesting a name for Noelle's baby? :) Love yous!