Picking

It had been a hapless adventure; trying to pull herself from the allure of Holly in the night leading up to her four day departure. Gail had actually managed to leave; only because Theodore had been "caught" and it was essential that this fact didn't mess up her investigation. And she had seen Theodore, Traci, and her father, Jason; and then the fallout in the family once Traci realized that Chelyn had "betrayed" her trust. This was perhaps why Gail hadn't done what she should have done and interrogate the shit out of Theodore and pinned his ass to the wall…at least for something. Either the beating of his girlfriend; or the string of murders that Gail and Chelyn were sure he was connected to; yet instead, Gail had done what Traci demanded and left the bastard alone. Gail had rationalized that it was the weekend and there was no way Theodore was getting sprung from that tiny holding cell used for all the weekend scum until at least Monday morning. She had time…or at least she thought so...

"So, you let the person, who was a direct connection to your lead suspect in a string of murders, be released?" Elaine Peck's voice was eerily calm as she looked over the paperwork on her desk. Her daughter sat across from her, and her blue eyes darted from side to side. "No words Detective Peck?"

"I thought I would have until at least today…no one gets released on a weekend…"

"Yet, Theodore Nash did get released?" the disappointment was evident in Elaine's voice.

"It was an unexpected development…Traci's father has more pull than I assumed…"

"Speaking of my daughter-in-law," Elaine said through gritted teeth, "she has officially taken a leave of absence, because of this little stunt that you didn't follow through with! If you had Theo Nash on the hook…why would you let him go!" she slammed her hand on the desk so forcefully it shook. "It's a truly thorough shame that the only person with enough sense or determination to get a case closed is a twenty-two year old kid!" Another voice raising, fist slam. "While you were wrapped up in your girlfriend…" it was a bitter recognition of Holly's presence in Gail's life, "she was doing you and Traci's job by finding a gun outlet in a strip club…"

"I owe her a beer for that one…" Gail muttered.

"You think this is funny, Detective?"

"No ma'am…I think…no, I know I screwed up and it's my job to fix it. I don't need a lecture. I'll make it right."

"You damn sure will…because you have two weeks to close this Joshua North case…and I suggest you get ready for some undercover work, because that's the only way I can see it being closed!"

"We can get it closed without putting them in that type of danger…"

"Really…do you really have any credibility after spending most of your weekend wrapped in bed while your subordinate closed your cases? At least Chelyn closes her cases…so you should assume that the Joshua North case is now Chelyn's…because I want it closed!

There were a million things that people don't say to one another each day; and a million things that Gail Peck failed to say on a daily basis too. For this, she knew most people had to be grateful. Gail Peck was a self-described "picker," and if people didn't know how to take her, they were bound to get their feelings hurt. She had been lucky enough, however, to have friends like Traci, Chelyn, and Holly; because for the most part, they ignored her sharp words and sometime blatant torture. This was why when she sidled up to the barstool that Chelyn occupied, she didn't feel the least bit apprehensive about the teasing she was about to lay on Chelyn.

It perhaps started innocently, with the hot pink pants that adorned Chelyn's slender frame. "Do you not own any normal colored pants…not just like, a pair of blue jeans…?" Gail questioned, sitting on the barstool beside Chelyn and beckoning the bartender over. It was a little before eight and although Gail had just left the station, she had dreaded going home to an empty apartment. Holly wouldn't be back until tomorrow evening and the boredom that occupied her absence only served to make Gail less pleasant. Well, that and the doting of Elaine Peck on Chelyn…Gail hadn't wanted to admit it, but her mother's approval of the girl hadn't tempered Gail's mood at all.

Chelyn peered down at her attire, smiling at the way the hot pink played off of her dark brown skin. She had even been so nice as to pair the pants with a simple button up white shirt, because she knew she was going to get some slack from Gail about the color of the pants. "What is wrong with what I have on?"

"Your outright refusal of primary colors?" Gail asked. The bartender put a glass in front of her and filled with bourbon; she was a regular here. "You know…I think you do that so you don't look so much like Traci..."

Chelyn narrowed her eyes at the mention of her sister's name…the sister she hadn't heard from in days even though she had been compelled, not once, but three times, to try to contact her. The girl took a swig from her beer, "I don't look much like Traci," she shrugged away the similarities in their look. They both had the blemish-free, smooth, dark chocolate skin tone of their father, but everyone had to admit that Chelyn's eyes were a bit darker, more soulful. Chelyn was also a bit taller, maybe an inch or so over Traci's five-foot six statue, and decidedly more slender than her sister. Chelyn had went about her "rebellious" phase, where she had cut her beautiful shoulder length hair, but it had grown back it seemed quicker than she had cut it; oh, and there was the epic body art that she had inscribed vertically on her ribcages. Still, none of this struck down the fact that Chelyn and Traci looked just alike…

"Didn't you say one time…that the fact that you and Traci looked so much alike cemented the fact that Jason Nash was your father?"

"Did you call me here so we could talk about Traci?" Chelyn questioned finishing her beer.

"I actually called to thank you…for getting the information we needed for the Guns and Gangs case…"

"Operation Striptease?" Chelyn smiled. "Well, it was a hard job…"

"Oh, yeah…I know it was terribly burdensome…" Gail said toying with the top of her highball glass. "Breast in your face…women taking off their clothes…"

"I actually spent most of my time in the backroom talking to someone who wanted to feel me up and smell of a mixture of tequila and piss…" Chelyn admitted. "Luckily, he spent his most of his time looking at my tits and spilling his guts about everything he ever knew about anything…"

"He didn't have a lot to look at…" Gail said talking a large swallow of the bourbon.

"Does Holly get back tomorrow…because this Gail is terrible…"

Gail ignored the comment. "My mother is giving us two weeks to close the Joshua North case."

"She's pissed that Theodore got lifted without a charge?"

"That would be an understatement. She's demanding undercover at this point…two weeks to close…you and Elle…"

"That's not a problem…we'll close it in two weeks," Chelyn said confidently.

"Yeah, you must be tired of having Elle around all the time…you can finally get rid of her when this operation is over," it was a taunt, a tease for information. Chelyn knew it was a trap, but the mixture of alcohol and overall giddiness at the mention of Elle made Chelyn less tightlipped.

"I don't know. We'll still see each other when this operation is over."

"Like at work?" Gail asked for clarification. Chelyn shook her head slowly. Gail rolled her eyes and let out an aggravated breath. "You just have to put yourself through the most pain possible don't you?" Gail finished her drink and beckoned over the bartender, who refilled her glass.

"What does that mean?"

"It means that you are unexplainably nice and open to everyone for reasons I have yet to understand…and she is… Chelyn could you just take a step back and think about this." Gail was genuinely concerned about Chelyn now. All joking aside, the girl was too open, too trusting when it came to relationships and although Gail wanted to believe that Elle cared about Chelyn, it was a bit soon after her break-up with Holly. Hell, she had broken up with Holly and she couldn't get over her in nearly a year, never mind a month! "Why do you constantly have to wear your heart on your sleeve?"

"I'm not," Chelyn shook her head. "We just like each other…we're exploring that."

"She's a month of out of her relationship with Holly and she moves in with you on a mission. How much could she really feel for you right now?" When Chelyn wouldn't respond or even look at Gail, Gail sighed. "I'm just trying to look out for you…I don't want you to get hurt."

"I can't live like that, Gail. Afraid of getting hurt all the time. I like her, a lot and if she likes me for me, great…if I find out later on that I was her rebound, it'll feel like shit, but I won't regret it and I'll deal with it." Chelyn stood and pulled a wad of bills from her back pocket.

"I got it," Gail said quickly dismissing the girl's desire to pay for her drinks. She felt strangely and tragically sad for her friend; sad because Chelyn was bound to get hurt, but also envious because at least she was willing to get hurt. She failed to comprehend how someone could put herself out there with such ease and fervor as Chelyn seemed to be able to. "My mother thinks I'm a shit cop, Chelyn."

Chelyn offered her friend a bright smile. "She thinks we are all shit cops compared to her, Gail. But she trusts you, because you are smart and a great leader. We all trust you. She took a chunk out of your ass for letting Theo go; but we'll get him again, and Josh," Chelyn whispered.

Gail wanted to tell Chelyn the truth; tell the girl her secret about having panic attacks and feeling unsure of herself more than she felt sure. But would that change the trust and admiration she was now sure Chelyn had for her. Gail shrugged, drowning the contents of the glass; "Che…" Gail began, her blue eyes searching Chelyn's dark brown ones, "I'm not as strong or great as everyone thinks."

The girl nodded her head in agreement. "None of us are…"

"I was a bitch to Chelyn today," it was a confession because Gail knew that Holly would give her absolution.

"She will forgive you," Holly said easily. "She's used to you…why were you a bitch to her though?"

Gail pulled her phone from her ear and looked at it. "Do you really wanna know," she asked when she replaced the device to her ear.

"Would you rather hear about the rehydration of tissue technique I perfected today?" Holly giggled.

"Well…my mother chewed my ass out because instead of interrogated a suspect, I had your legs wrapped around my waist until you left. And then, being my luck, the bastard got sprung before I could interrogate him…oh and Traci put in for a leave of absence this morning. Oh, and Chelyn is all but in charge of the Club Amnesia case because she can close cases, but I obviously can't."

"You've had a long, terrible day," Holly felt sorry for her girlfriend. "I wish I was there to kiss it and make it better.

Gail closed her eyes and her mind went directly to the reason she was in this mess anyways. "Storing orgasms," with Holly had been the undoing of her Friday night, and Saturday during most of the day until Holly got on a plane to Boston. Holly was sexy, in a smart kind of way and it seemed like the smarter she seemed to Gail, the sexier she became.

"Where exactly would you kiss me?" Gail questioned devilishly.

"We were talking about you being a bitch to Chelyn…" Holly laughed.

"She was an easy target. She's still upset about Traci, but she won't admit it. And, on top of that, she all, but admitted that she and Elle were having a thing. I kinda threw a wrench into that too."

"You have been busy today. Have you talked to Traci?"

"Her phone goes straight to voicemail. Baby, I really need you to come home and take care of me…" Gail whined.

"Take care of you, how, Gail Peck?"

"I would settle for just being held right now," Gail admitted. "In the next two weeks, my life is going to be 'to catch a predator,' so disregard my attitudes and behaviors, okay?"

"Just promise me you won't start pulling away and shutting down."

"I promise…you just promise not to take any snarky or jackass comments personally."

"I never do. I'll be back home around six tomorrow evening, if my flights are on time. My place or yours?"

"I was planning to pick you up from the airport."

"It sounds like you have a long day tomorrow and I don't want you rushing to try and pick me up. I'll catch a cab and you can meet me at my apartment?" Gail didn't like it, but agreed. "And then you can tell me about the strip club…" Holly poked.

"Oh…I didn't go, Chelyn was on her own, but she handled it."

"So me going to a club here in Boston was all in vain?"

Gail couldn't help, but bust out laughing. "I don't know, how are the girls in Boston?"

"They have NOTHING on you…" Holly laughed too. "And I plan to make you prove it when I get home…"

"That is a challenge I'm looking forward to…"

Elle found that the tiny pleasure that spread through her body when she allowed herself to thread her fingers with Chelyn's was increasingly delightful. Chelyn had agreed to meet her at the grocery store after meeting with Detective Peck. It was time to restock the fridge and cabinets again; and although Elle was accustomed to doing these menial tasks by herself, it felt good that Chelyn had at least agreed to come too. So Elle had waited outside of the store, looking around the parking lot until Chelyn pulled up on her motorcycle. And when Chelyn had gotten off of the bike, removed her helmet and made her way over to Elle, Elle instinctively threaded her fingers with Chelyn's. And there it was; that spreading feeling of delight that was put there by physical contact with Chelyn.

She hadn't wanted to notice when Chelyn offered her a tiny, regrettable smile; one that didn't quiet reach her dark eyes, or that when they reach the line of pushable carts, that Chelyn unceremoniously un-threaded their fingers. "Did you make a list?" Chelyn had tried to smile fully, and Elle shook her head hard enough to make her dark brown curls bob up and down.

"I even put your cereal on it…the one that is all chocolate, no nutritional value," Elle said stopping to pick up rye and wheat bread.

"It's funny how I haven't even thought about my cereal lately," Chelyn offered, playing with the long sleek ponytail that she had now pulled the top of her head. She had fussed with her hair a few times since getting off of the bike; a mixture of nervous tension-releaser and the fact that the helmet produced an unbearable amount of static in her hair. She had managed to pull it into a messy ponytail that made her look even younger than her twenty-two years, but her soft beauty wasn't lost on a sporty-looking girl milling around the bread aisle also. The girl had taken her time to look over Chelyn more thoroughly than the bread and offered her a cocky grin when Chelyn finally acknowledged her presence. Elle couldn't help but feel a bit of jealousy.

The girl was tall, probably even taller than Chelyn's five-seven frame, and athletically lean. "She was pretty," Elle offered when they had moved on to another aisle.

"Who?" Chelyn wasn't feigning ignorance; she had been lost in thought and the girl had barely even registered on her radar. "Oh…the girl back there? Yeah, I guess so. What's on the list?"

Elle frowned, but pulled out her phone that held the list. "Are we in a rush?" Chelyn shook her head and pulled Elle a bit closer.

"It's just when I shop without a list I end up getting lots of alcohol, chocolate, and sodas without anything else."

"Well, I won't let you do that," Elle said giving Chelyn a quick peck on the lips. This was the other thing that Elle couldn't rightly ever figure she would get used to. The delicate feel of Chelyn's lips on hers. Her lips were soft and it seemed always ready to receive kisses. It was probably the availability of Chelyn's lips that was even more fascinating for Elle. It hadn't been like that with Holly, or for that matter, the girls before Holly. Holly had been distant and secretive as if she were still cheating on Gail; and the girls before Holly, well both of them had been closeted in a small town, so there was no public affection. But Chelyn… in the past few days, Elle realized that Chelyn had been serious about letting her take the lead. So whenever she wanted to kiss Chelyn, she kissed Chelyn, and it felt wonderful.

"You're being quiet," Elle commented as they moved throughout the store. "Is something wrong?"

"We are going to that club," Chelyn offered, but Elle could tell something else was on her mind. Undercover work did not frighten Chelyn Blaise.

"Is that a problem?"

"Of course not…we are prepared, we are a good team. But we do only have two weeks so it's important for us to be efficient…Gail is counting on us."

"Is that what she told you at the bar?"

"More or less, and to thank me handling Operation Striptease…" Chelyn laughed at her given name for spending three nights in a strip club.

"You are very good at what you do," Elle agreed with Gail for once. Elle watched Chelyn giggle, not really comfortable with many compliments. "We won't have a problem with the club case, will we?"

"No…" Chelyn said even though she had a sticky feeling that this case closing was going to have a grand impact on her life.

"Is there something else wrong, Chelyn?" Elle asked softly. She and Chelyn had made it back to the cabin, unloaded and put away the groceries and now Chelyn was sitting in her favorite chair beside the window.

"What do you mean?" Chelyn feigned innocence, but she had to admit that she couldn't the fact that Gail's words were playing over in her head.

Elle pulled her brown curls back into a ponytail before coming to lounge on edge of the chair where Chelyn sat. "You know what I mean," Elle accused tenderly. She allowed Chelyn to pull her onto her lap and kiss her softly.

"Elle…" Chelyn could hear the reluctance in her own voice, "do you think we are moving too quickly?"

"What do you mean?" Elle wrapped her arms around Chelyn's neck.

"You are still getting over Holly…" Chelyn looked away. "I don't want to pressure you into anything, and you need time to heal, Elle. I can back-off…I can …just be your friend. I didn't mean to pressure you…"

"What did you pressure me into, Chelyn?" Elle was suddenly confused, but above all afraid of what Chelyn was saying. "I wanna be with you...like this." She tried to kiss Chelyn, but the girl pulled back. "Chelyn…what happened?" she asked carefully. "We haven't done anything that is worthy of being called pressuring…"

"I'm not talking about sex…I mean getting into something like a relationship before you are ready.

"Are you having doubts?" Elle's eyes clouded with worry. Elle realized that she wasn't Chelyn's typical girl. From what Elle understood, Chelyn didn't have a 'type' but she couldn't help, but feeling a little inadequate anyways. "Am I not what you want, Chelyn?" She tried to stand, but Chelyn held her steady.

"You know I do …just not if you aren't ready. You are beautiful and smart and sweet…but you could just not want to hurt my feelings…" Elle refused to look into Chelyn's dark eyes. "Listen…Gail and I were talking…"

Elle's eyes shot to Chelyn's now. Just hearing Gail's name had flushed her slightly tanned skin and her green eyes darkened a bit. The girl pulled nervously at one of her brown curls and tried not to scream. "And Gail told you to leave me alone…or that I was using you?" she didn't need the blanks to be filled in for her.

"Not exactly…she just thinks it's soon and I wouldn't want to pressure you into anything."

"You aren't!" Elle said pulling Chelyn closer. "And I'm not pining for Holly…I'm here with you, I want to be with YOU, Chelyn."

"A couple of days ago you were going on other dates," Chelyn said absently.

Elle rolled her eyes to the ceiling. She finally stood up. "Yeah…I did that…" she frowned shaking her head sadly. She couldn't escape that mistake now. Instead of trying to run from Chelyn, she should have stood fast and talked it out with the girl, but it was too late to go back now and it was biting her in the ass.

Chelyn stood, taking Elle's hand, "I'm not trying to throw it in your face, but if you want to date other people…"

"I wanna date you," Elle said quickly. Chelyn's eyes seemed to soften and the girl smiled. "Trust me, I wanna date you…" Elle promised again. She left out the part that she also wanted to KILL Gail Peck.

A/N: Hey guys! I saved the A/N for the bottom of the page because 1, I wanted everyone to have an unbiased take of the chapter before I explained anything and 2, because I wanted to explain some things :) Now, I know Gail may seem like a bit of an ass in this chapter, but I really do think she wants to kinda protect Chelyn from herself. Also thanks for all your comments and reviews and I will definitely try to address how Chelyn and Elle look more. I keep taking for granted that most of these characters have established images and these two do not. I apologize and I know it's a little late in the story, but I will definitely be working on that.

Well as always, feel free to review and comment and thanks, all your comments help me become a better writer and this, an infinitely better story! Enjoy :)