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I can't apologise enough for how long this had taken to update. This year hasn't been the easiest on to cope with and in turn it's been hard to keep up with writing. I won't bore you with all the details but I do seem to be getting back into the mindset now. I am just happy that their are people out there still wanting to read this. I'll try my best to update as soon as I can. Hopefully the length of this update helps take some of the sting out of the long wait. I have not abandoned this story, I still have a lot more of it to write. Thanks for sticking with me
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Disclaimer. - I do not own or profit from this. I only own my own ideas.
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Chapter Twenty Four
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A week later, Gail was sitting at her desk going over files, she had a feeling something didn't fit with the Michaels case, she'd been looking over the file and double checked each forensic report, she had even discussed the scene with Holly the night before. Something just wasn't adding up, like it was too easy or maybe just incomplete "You still obsessing over that case?" Traci asked as she approached, she knew her friend had been reading and rereading the case file since they made the arrest.
"I'm telling you, this case isn't finished or maybe we're just missing something, this is the guy but..." She sighed unable to fully explain her reasoning.
Traci frowned at her "Why are you so fixated on this?" She asked
Gail shrugged, she growled and tossed her pen on the desk "I kept Holly up half of last night trying to work the whole thing through my head" she shook her head "Maybe I should just let it go" she mumbled.
Traci looked towards the detective office, Sam was out following up on another case "Come on" she said grabbing the box of evidence "I'll walk through it with you"
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About an hour later, they were both looking at the laid out case and evidence, Traci now understood what her friend was talking about. There were things they just hadn't covered or hadn't been able to cover because 19 division had told them they'd give them the information but never did, like what the suspects partner was doing at the time of the murder was the very obvious one, it seems they'd zeroed in on the killer and forgotten the rest "I can't believe we didn't even talk to his partner" the detective said shaking her head.
"You two asked to see me?" Frank said interrupting the conversation. Traci sat him down and explained the issues with the case, they had Joel Fisher's DNA on Elizabeth's body so that part was a slam dunk but the other parts of the case weren't so wound up "So we need to bring in his partner and question him and clean up the rest of the reports and get the statements finished" he stopped for a second "You and Diaz handled Jennifer Turners side of the case didn't you?" He asked.
Gail nodded "She would only talk when I was around" she explained.
"That part of the case is good, you and Diaz were put back on the Guns and gangs case after you got her statement" he said "Who took over?" He asked.
The blond hesitated, she always hated putting her friends in trouble, even annoying ones "Epstein and Price" she said "I'm not sure it's their fault, since what happened with Santana its thrown everyone and everything into chaos" she added "They keep opening old cases and everything is such a mess"
Frank sighed "I'll talk to the others, but I need you, Diaz and Nash to clean this up" he said and stood "You should probably call Holly over to make sure the evidence and the science all match"
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It's was almost midnight that night and they were still working on the case, when Sam, Andy, Oliver and Nick had finished their shifts they came and helped where they could. Holly had turned up in the afternoon with all of her reports and files in relation to the case, then set to work ensuring there were full copies of everything. Nick had gone home an hour earlier and Sam and Andy were helping look for Fisher's partner, the man had apparently vanished. They had checked his home and with 19 and it would seem he'd never signed off duty on the night Elizabeth had been killed. There were questions as to why 19 hadn't mentioned it or even reported it. SIU has been called in and they were currently handling that aspect of the case with Sam and Andy's assistance. They'd moved from parade to the break room for comfort reasons. Gail had been dozing and eventually crashed out on one of the couches with her head in her wife's lap. Traci, Oliver and Holly had kept working "Maybe we should call it a night" the older man said with a yawn.
The doctor stretched her neck and looked at the sleeping blonde "She already kept me up last night working on this, I just wanna get it done" she said going back to the laptop resting on the arm of the couch "I don't start until late tomorrow anyway, if we don't get it done we'll be working on it tomorrow morning" she added.
"Coffee then?" Oliver offered.
"Please" Holly said and Traci nodded.
"Ive only got three files left to check" the homicide detective told her.
"I think once I go through those we're done, it'll probably be another hour but at least it will be done" the doctor said as she played with Gail's short hair.
Traci opened the next file "I still can't believe no one else picked up the issues with the case"
"It would have been once it got to court" Oliver pointed out as he put the women's coffee's on the table.
"That could have completely destroyed the case" Holly pointed out "All the evidence all of the investigation could have become inadmissible, meaning he would have gotten away with killing this girl"
"It'll become about her being gay once that fact hits the media" Traci said "Her parents are already talking about doing a press release so it comes out their way instead of by tabloids"
"Probably a good way to handle it" Oliver said as he sat back down.
Frank walked into the break room followed by an SIU officer "This is SIU Detective Parker, she's the one who'll be handling the investigation into 19 and how it's effected the case" he explained. He looked at his officer that is currently asleep.
"So who is Officer Stewart?" She asked.
The three looked at each other "This is" Holly said, still running her hand through the blondes hair "this is my wife, Gail Stewart"
"Ahh former Peck?" She asked.
The brunette nodded "I'm sorry I can't wake.."
She cut her off "It's fine" she said with a smile "it's well past midnight"
"She's pregnant and exhausted" Holly pointed out "Otherwise she'd be awake working too" she didn't want the woman thinking Gail was being lazy.
"It's fine and congratulations" she said, she realised why the doctor was defensive "I'm not here to investigate anybody from 15, investigation slip ups happen but you had 19 actively blocking your investigation, I'm actually impressed you still managed to catch him"
"Brilliant forensics" A mumbled voice said from Holly's lap. Gail looked up at the brunette "I'm sorry I fell asleep"
"It's okay sweetie" Holly said "We all just want it wrapped up"
The blonde looked up at the stranger "No offence but who are you?" She asked, she was still laying with her head on her wife's lap with the brunette playing with her hair.
"I'm from SIU, Detective Parker, I'm investigating the issues in regards to this investigation at 19 division" she explained.
"Gail Stewart" Gail said as she sat up.
"You were the one who realised there were issues with the case" the other officer asked.
"It just felt incomplete" the blonde said with a yawn, she turned to Holly "I need to use the bathroom then I think we should head home" she said then got up and left the room.
The SIU officer looked at the group "She's like that when she's tired, trust me leave it till morning" Traci said.
The doctor closed the folder she was reading "I have two more reports to check, I'll go through them at home and drop them in before work tomorrow" she said packing up.
"Yea I think we should all call it a night" Oliver agreed.
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Gail woke up a few hours later, she sat up and waited a few seconds then took off for the bathroom. Holly was up and following her fairly quickly, she walked into the bathroom, grabbed a face washer and dampened it. She squatted down next to the blonde, put it on the back of her neck, then rubbed her back as she vomited. She waiting until she sat back before speaking "I'm sorry" she said softly and kissed her temple.
"All part of the joys of pregnancy" Gail groaned "I think I'm done"
Holly grabbed the bucket they kept in the bathroom for these occasions "We should have come home earlier, it's always worse when you're exhausted" she said as she helped her wife up.
"My choice to work last night" she said taking the bucket "I'm sorry I woke you"
"I'd be upset if you didn't disturb me, in sickness and health remember" the brunette said as she helped her shaking wife to the bed.
"I'm not exactly sick" the blonde pointed out.
"Doesn't matter" Holly said "Lemonade?" She offered.
"Please" Gail said resting her head back on the pillow as she laid back down. They'd found out that the soda usually settled the officers stomach as long as she didn't eat until after about 3pm she would get through the day without getting sick again if she stuck to only the lemonade..
The brunette returned pretty quickly with a glass "Do you want me to call in for you in the morning?" She sat next to her wife on the bed and offered her the glass.
"I should be alright by then" Gail said, she leaned up on her elbow, took the glass and had a sip of the drink.
"Actually tell me if you're not this time" Holly said as she took the glass, she put it on her bedside table and turned off the lamp. She'd had to pick the blonde up from work the week before because she'd been unable to hold even water down.
Once she laid back down Gail cuddled into her side "I will I promise" she said then yawn.
"I love you" the brunette said and kissed the top of her head.
"Love you" the blonde muttered as she dozed off.
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The next morning they officially handed in the entire Michaels case to SIU. Gail spoke to them about how she came across the mistakes and what they perceived as evidence that a few members of 19 had helped cover some aspects of the crime and didn't notify them of the missing officer that had been found dead, his body was in a shallow grave near the creek behind Fisher's house. Four officers from 15 found him when they'd gone back to the house to check for any sign of him. Both Gail and Chris had been given desk duty today to keep them in the precinct incase SIU needed them. I was a good thing because the pregnant blonde had spent much of the morning in the bathroom, after her fifth trip to the bathroom in an hour, Frank met her outside the women's locker room "You should go home" he said his hands in his pants pockets.
"I'm alright, just having a bad morning sickness day" she said and looked at her watch "2 more hours and I'll be fine"
"Officer Stewart, good, I need you to explain a couple of things" the SIU detective said as she walked towards them.
"One more trip to the bathroom and you're on leave for two days, I mean it" he said. She nodded and followed the detective.
As she walked away from Frank he pulled his cell phone and made a quick call.
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Holly walked in the front door of 15 to find Chris on the front desk but no Gail "I thought Gail said she was on front desk with you?"
"She is, when she's not with SIU Detective or being sick" he said as he filled in paperwork.
"I got a call from Frank saying she needed to go home because she was still vomiting" she explained.
He buzzed her in "I think her last trip was to the bathroom"
The brunette made her way through the bull pen and headed down the corridor to the woman's locker room. She found the blonde looking pale and rinsing her mouth with mouthwash, something she already had a habit of doing but it worsened since her pregnancy "Hey" she said letting her know she was there.
Gail spat the liquid out and sighed "Frank called you" she stated.
"Yea, I hear I'm taking you home and you're having two days sick leave" Holly said moving over to her and leaning her hip against the sink.
The blonde turned and rested her hands on the brunettes hips and her head on her chest "I'm so tired" she whispered.
Holly rubbed her hands up and down her upper arms "I know honey" she said and kissed the back of her head "You think your stomach can hold off long enough for me to get you home?" she asked.
"I hope so"
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They managed to get home without any issues, Holly got Gail set up, laying on the couch with a bucket, towels, some crackers and lemonade. She'd wanted her to go to bed but the blonde insisted she stay on the couch and the brunette wasn't really going to deny her anything right now "Shouldn't you be going back to work?" Gail called out to Holly from her spot on the couch.
"When Frank called and explained, I went and organised a couple of personal days" she explained.
The blonde half sat up "But..."
The brunette walked in with a cup of tea for herself and her laptop under her arm "I'm still doing paperwork but unless any thing comes in that specifically needs my attention I'm here with you"
Gail didn't have the energy to argue "okay" she said then yawned and laid back down. Holly moved to her feet, she lifted them so she can sit down under them. She rested her laptop on the blondes legs and got to work while Gail started to doze
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The brunette had been working on the laptop for a good hour before the blonde started moving around, she glanced over at her, she seemed to settle then she heard a familiar gurgle, grabbed the bucket and didn't quiet managed to catch it when the blonde suddenly sat up and vomited. She missed the couch and towel but got herself and her wife. Holly held the bucket while Gail's shaky hands held onto hers. When she finally stopped, she looked down at herself "Crap" she said as she laid back "I'm sorry" she said, realising she also got the doctor as well.
"No need to be sorry, I've had worse things on me than a little vomit, Do you think you can handle a shower?" The brunette asked as she put the bucket on the floor "We can use the downstairs one so you don't have to step up into it" The blonde slowly sat up and leaning forward, Holly could see she was visibly shaking "Stay here, I'll get everything ready and we can both shower" she put her laptop and files on the floor, she kissed the blondes forehead, she was actually a little warm. She made a mental note to check her for a fever after they cleaned up.
Within about five minutes, Holly had everything ready and led Gail into the bathroom. She carefully undressed them both, trying not to spread the mess. Her wife just looked completely exhausted. She knew morning sickness wasn't anything to worry about and she also knew that Gail would probably be fine tomorrow but she'd still call Rachel just to check in. They got in the shower together and Holly washed Gail while the blonde held onto her "You doing okay?" The brunette asked.
"I'm really tired" the blonde said wearily "I shouldn't have pushed things with that case"
"Maybe not but instead of just stopping a killer you also found problems in 19 division" Holly pointed out "You just also learned your body is gonna punish you if you over do it like that again"
"Yea I know" Gail said.
The brunette tugged her head up "I love you" she said.
The blonde gave her a smile "I love you too" she leaned in and kissed her wife softly. Just enjoying the quiet moment together.
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Within a week Gail's morning sickness was becoming easier to handle. She had gotten use to avoiding triggers, been careful not to over do it things physically and about what she ate. It was her first morning as a TO to a new rookie. Chloe had been freaking out about being transferred but no one had been moved from 15 aside from Nick who'd gone to ETF training. They'd all seen him once at the Penny since his transfer but that had been about it. It was Monday morning and Gail walked into Parade, she was early, only Oliver and Frank were there "Morning" she said as she walked in adjusting her radio.
"Morning Darling" Her ex TO said "You ready for your first rookie?" She asked.
She said on the table at the back "As long as you don't give me a McNally clone, I'll be happy"
"So when's the announcement dinner?" Oliver asked.
"Tonight, Holly's brother is moving out at the end of this week so he wanted us all to have a sit down dinner so we figured we'd invite our parents and tell them" Gail explained "They'll be happy so it's not a big deal"
"What's not a big deal?" Chris said as he walked in and handed Frank a file "Andy and Sam said you were looking for this"
"Dinner tonight" the blonde said.
"I think the bigger thing will be explaining why I'm at a family dinner again" the taller man said.
After that comment there was a constant stream of officers into the room so the conversation ended. Traci, Steve, Sam and Andy joined her at the back of the room. Frank did his normal speech to the new rookies then started assigning them their TO's "Ok so Fox, you are with Officer Stewart" the young man turned and looked at Gail who gave him a blank look "Who now looks suitably horrified" he said with a chuckle and continued to give out the assignments.
When parade was done she stood and went to leave, the rookie trailing behind her. She smirked, grabbed the keys to her squad for the day and her go bag and headed out to the parking lot.
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"So..." The rookie said after Gail hadn't spoken in the first hour they were driving around on patrol.
"You expecting some type speech?" the blonde asked, glancing at the nervous rookie sitting next to her.
He looked at her "Not really, I've heard some TO's do it but you're the teacher, I'm here to learn, it's up to you how you teach"
Gail smirked, kid seemed intelligent, good start "I have some rules, do not talk when I'm talking, do not touch anything until I say you can, listen when someone who knows more than you or is your superior and is speaking as you might just learn something, write down everything and the most important one is don't fuck up" she glanced at him again, he was furiously writing down what she'd said "Any questions?" She asked.
"No ma'am" he said.
She smirked again, before she could speak the radio crackled "15-19 911 call for possible break in, 1123 Lakeside Drive can you attend?"
Gail picked up the radio "15-19, responding, on our way" she said "You know the switch?" She asked as she put the radio back.
"Yes" he said, pointing to it.
"Well.." She said, he flicked the switch to the lights and siren and they headed to the address.
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Their first call had been pretty straight forward. It turned out it that the home owners teenage son had been stealing from him. Gail had offered to press charges but had the father had decided against it. They had gotten back on the road when the young officer tried to make small talk "I'm Will by the way" he said, expecting the blonde to introduce herself back but her gloved hands just gripped the steering wheel tighter "So are you married or single?" He asked "I just broke up with my girlfriend she wasn't..."
"Enough" Gail snapped "New rule, don't try and make small talk" she huffed, she turned the car around and headed back towards 15.
She got two blocks and was at a set of traffic lights when the radio sparked to life "15-19, Gail what's your 20?" She heard Oliver's voice.
She picked up the handset "Just at the traffic lights on Park and West" the blonde answered.
"There's an incident unfolding at the bridge on main, you need to get to here as soon as possible" he said,
She frowned that was way out of their patrol area today, there was 4 other units closer and he sounded worried, something in his voice made her stomach drop, realising it had to be Holly "Is she okay Ollie?" She asked, as she switched on the lights and the tyres squealed as she ran the red light.
"She's okay Gail, just get here" he said "No siren when your on approach" he added.
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When Gail pulled the squad car up to the bridge, instantly she saw Holly's sedan sitting sideways on the bridge, the other cars front was smashed into the side of the doctors car, it looked like her lovers car got the worst of it "Gail" Oliver called when he saw her.
She stopped the car and jumped out leaving the door open "She's been in a accident" She said gripping his arms "Where is she?" She said starting to panic "Where's my wife?"
"Hey it's okay, she's over there" he said pointing to the bridge, there was a girl sitting next to her on the edge of the bridge, both of them were facing the road thankfully.
"What the hell is going on?" She asked him, she still had a vice grip on his clothes, barely keeping herself from going into a full blown panic attack.
"Holly was headed back to the lab after attending a scene, she saw the girl swerve towards the railing from the other side of the road, she was trying to kill herself and Holly turned in front her to stop her thinking it might have been a mechanical problem. The girl got out and started yelling and trying to jump off the bridge, she keeps trying to get up on the railing, every time she does the doc just pulls her back down next to her" he looked Gail in the eye "We've spoken to her, she's okay, a bit bruised but she's fine, she just talking to her trying to talk her down while we get someone close enough to grab her" Gail let go of Oliver with one hand and ran it through her hair. She only then remembered her rookie, she looked back and he was leaning on the edge of the squad car, she tried to take a few breaths to calm herself down but it didn't seem to be working "Gail, you've gotta calm down and take a few breaths" her ex TO said, he lead her to her car. The rookie opened the drivers side door and Oliver sat her in the car and squatted in front of her "Come on Darlin, you've gotta slow your breathing down, deep breaths okay, breathe with me" he said.
"Shaw" one of the rescue workers called.
He looked at the blonde and up at the rookie "Alright kid your up, you need to get your TO here out of her panic attack while we go keep her wife safe, she passes out or goes into.." He stopped remembering they hadn't told everyone about the baby yet "shock, her wife will take it out on your ass and trust me, you don't want that" he waved him over and Will knelt down in his place. Her fingers gripped his arm as she had on the older officer.
"So, you aren't single then?" He asked, she gave him a look "Alright so your gonna breathe with me okay" he said, she looked over at the bridge "No Officer Shaw will look after her, right here, look me in the eye" he added getting her attention. Once he knew he had it, he started breathing with her.
They sat breathing in and out in sync for a few minutes "Thank you" Gail said softly, once she was a bit calmer.
"Anytime, my brother has PTSD from the army and he has lots of panic attacks" he explained "Are you feeling okay?"
The blonde ran a shaky hand through her hair "I'll feel better when I can see Holly" she said her hand was fisted in the arm of his jacket.
Will moved so he was sitting on the ground with his back against the open door "Tell me about her. How did you meet?"
Gail let a small chuckle "At a crime scene" she said, she let go of her rookies jacket and flexed her hand "I was watching the perimeter, she ducked under the tape and I told her she wasn't allowed in" she noticed he didn't understand "She's a Senior Forensic Pathologist, she works for the city" she explained.
"Wait, so your wife is the one who helped break the Allen Serial case, that means that you're..." He trailed off.
"Gail Stewart" she said holding out her hand for him to shake, he took it "I was Peck when we caught him"
"You saved that girl because you recognised him" he said as he shook her hand.
She pulled her hand back "Yea and I got run over for my trouble" She said "How do you know so much?"
"At the academy they used it as an example of how important forensics is to a case and that its vital to keep a crime scene preserved until it's properly inspected by the lab" he explained "Wow so the cop who caught a serial killer is my TO and the doctor who helped is her wife" he shook his head.
The blonde watched him for a second, she felt she needed to inform him that her being his TO was going to be temporary "There is something I should tell you, in about 16 weeks I'll be on a desk or possibly on leave" she said "so you'll get another TO after that" He frowned at her "I'm about 9 weeks pregnant"
Will smiled at her "Congratulations, now I get why Officer Shaw was so worried about you"
"I'll make a deal with you ok, you say nothing about my almost panic attack, me being nice to you or me being pregnant and I'll introduce you to my wife and get her to go over the details of the case with you" Gail said.
He smiled "You are feared amongst the rookies and half 15 from what I've heard" he said "Deal" he said holding his hand out for her to shake.
"Hey" a weary voice interrupted them.
The blonde ignored her rookie, she stood and walked over to her wife who threw herself into Gail's arms "Hol" she said softly into her neck "Are you alright?" She asked pulling her back so she could look at her.
"I'm a bit shaken up, bruised, maybe a concussion" she said brushing her hand over a lump on her forehead.
The blonde took her face in her hands "I was so..." Her voice broke and the tears flowed.
"I know, I know" Holly said as she started cry too.
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They took Holly's statement then her and the girl to the hospital, the brunette was discharged with a few bruises from her seatbelt and a bump to the head and the young girl had been placed under a 72 hour lockdown so they could assess her. Holly's car had been towed to the wrecking yard as it was beyond fixing. The brunette had been quiet the whole time. When the couple got home, Matt was cooking in the kitchen as soon as they opened the door her stuck his head into the entry "How are you feeling?" He asked, the blonde had called him from the hospital.
"Tired and sore" Holly said as she put her bags on the floor and dropped her coat on top "I'm gonna go shower" she said to Gail and headed up the stairs.
After she went her brother turned to the blonde "Is she okay?" He asked.
"Physically, she's got some bruises and a bump to the head, maybe a very slight concussion" Gail sighed as she picked up the bags and coat that had been dumped on the floor "Psychologically.. I'm not really sure, she hasn't said much after her statement, I offered to put off dinner tonight but she wants to have it. Oh and they're making her take two full days off because of the possible concussion" she put Holly's things in the office. She reappeared "I'm gonna..." She pointed up the stairs.
He nodded "I've got about an hours more prep work, you've got till then and I can stop Dinner, otherwise you two will be taking it for lunch for the next two weeks"
"Noted" the blonde said. She found Holly standing looking out the window at the small, snow covered yard they had, she walked up behind her and moved in close enough that their bodies were touching, not wanting to overwhelm her wife "Matt said we need to let him know within an hour if we wanna cancel tonight" she said.
"'No I need the distraction" she said as she reached back and took Gail's hands and pulled them around her waist.
The silence stretched out between them until the blonde spoke "I'm sorry I broke down earlier, it wasn't about me" she said tightening her hold on her wife "When I saw the car I freaked out, I thought maybe..." She stopped not wanting to say it out loud.
"I know sweetheart, don't apologise please. I made a split second decision that in hindsight could have gone very wrong and left our baby with only one of its mothers" the doctor took a shuddering breath "That girl she was trying to drive off a bridge because of a fucking boy. Because this boy dumped her, she almost died. If I hadn't... She might have" Gail knew she was crying she could feel it, she didn't move, she didn't want to change anything while Holly was talking "I could have died cos of a fucking boy" she spat out. The brunette turned in her arms "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have... I ..." She sobbed.
The blonde didn't speak, she tugged her towards the bed and they laid across it together, just holding each other. Thanking God they still could.
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About half an hour later, Holly was more settled and more like herself. Gail was on her back with the doctors head on her chest. The brunettes hand was currently resting over her lower abdomen, she suddenly undid the officers belt and uniform pants and tugged her shirt free "What are you up to?" She asked lifting her head up but she couldn't see past Holly's head.
"I think it's grown" she said as she rested her hand over Gail's now exposed lower belly "It's just not quite as flat as it was" she moved her head out of the way and ran her hand over the very slight bump.
The blonde looked then looked at her wife "Thanks for pointing that out" she said with a pout. The brunette smiled the first genuine smile she'd given Gail since the bridge, the blonde smiled back, she moved the other woman off her, she moved over her, pushed her into her back and straddled her hips "How about you and I jump in and have a nice hot bath before dinner?" She suggested.
"Sounds good" Holly said, she picked up Gail's hands and linked their fingers "I love you" she said and tugged the blonde down and kissed her.
"I love you too" Gail managed to get out between kisses.
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Within an hour the couple appeared downstairs, slightly dressed up for dinner. Both were wearing black slacks with different coloured button ups. Holly had a jacket on as it was still pretty cold even though it was Spring. Gail hadn't bothered and her buttons were undone with a camisole underneath since becoming pregnant she'd become very warm. It was like the baby was her own personal heater. Rachel had explained that it was normal. Chris was already there, wearing a suit and watching Matt as he cooked "Hey" he said when he saw them "How you feeling Holly?" He asked.
"I'm okay, tired, sore, emotional. You know, feeling crappy" she joked.
He nodded "I know the feeling well" he said and had a sip of the soda in front of him.
Matt came and stood in front of Chris "We've got about an hour until the entrees are ready" he glanced up at the clock "And everyone else is due here around then"
"I did tell you my mother runs at least thirty minutes early if not more to everything" Gail pointed out as she stepped into the kitchen "Coke?" She asked her wife.
"Please" she answered "I told him about ten times and I'm sure Chris told him too" Holly said "They'll wait for food" she pointed out as the blonde grabbed two cans from the fridge, her wife's coke and lemonade for herself.
"So are you telling them about you and Chris tonight?" Gail asked as she put the cans on the bench.
Matt shrugged "He's here for dinner so yea, I've always been freaked out about coming out but I know I need to for us as well as myself" Matt said, smiling, reaching over and touching his boyfriends hand. He smiled back at him.
Gail's cellphone rang and, she tugged it from her pocket "Hey Frank, what's up?" She asked when she answered it.
"I actually need to speak to Holly but I couldn't reach her cell" he said.
The blonde got up and went outside on the front porch without speaking to the others "It's turned off, she's..."
"The parents of the girl want to thank her for saving their daughter" he said interrupting her.
"I'll talk to her" Gail said "But not tonight, we're having a family dinner and she needs some time Frank, she risked a lot to save her"
"I know" he said "Sometimes you act before you think you have a wife and a baby on the way"
"I'll talk to her in the morning, I'll let you know what she says when I come on shift tomorrow"
"Thanks Gail" he said.
"Have a good night" he said.
She ended the call, went to turn and saw Holly standing in the doorway "So what do you need to talk to me about?" She asked.
Her wife sighed and turned her phone over on her hands "The girls parents want to thank you girl saving their daughter" she said, she knew if she didn't just straight up tell her that the brunette would keep pushing until she did.
"Oh... really?" Holly asked shifting uncomfortably.
Gail slipped her phone in her pocket then moved over and took both of the brunettes hands "Not until you're ready and if you're never ready that's okay too" she said.
Holly tugged her in close "You came out here to stop me hearing so I wouldn't feel I had to anything he asked didn't you?" She asked.
The blonde let her hands go and wrapped her arms around the brunette "Ever since we've been together you've spent a lot of time looking after me. When I was sick, got run over, my PTSD, my hand after punching out your brother in law and now the morning sickness" she leant her forehead on the brunettes "I think it's time I looked after you"
Holly smiled "I love you Gail, that's why I look after you. I think it's sweet you want to take care of me. You have looked after me though, that concussion I had after the incident at the morgue" she gave her a kiss "We look after each other" she went to kiss her again but a car pulled into the driveway.
The blonde glanced back "Elaine Peck, the moment ruiner" she said, she gave her wife one last kiss then released her and went to greet her parents.
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Once both sets of parents had arrived, they all moved into the dining room and Matt served the entree "Now I have this overwhelming feeling we've been bought here for some sort of announcement" Wendy said to Elaine "the last time we were together it was for the wedding"
Holly looked to Gail who gave her a smile and a wink "Well yes you've caught us, Gail's pregnant, she's about 9 weeks along" she said happily as she reached out for the blondes hand. Conversation erupted around them wanting details. The couple just smiled at each other and waited until they stopped "The baby is due on the 10th of October, she's 9 weeks on Wednesday and we didn't get an anonymous donor, Matt and Steve were more than willing to help so Matt is our donor this time" she explained and smiled at her brother.
Once their entree was done Matt got up and started picking up plates, Gail got up and helped him "I can start the conversation if you like" she offered.
Her brother in law shook his head "I'll do it, I just didn't want to say anything just after your announcement" he said as he started plating up the main course.
Gail went to go back into the dining room when Wendy was coming in, the older woman grabbed the officer and hugged her "You know, I thought it would be Holly but I guess with her new promotion it makes sense" she released her.
Gail gave her a smile "Holly's turn next time, trust me" she told her and headed into the other room.
"How's life?" Wendy asked leaning on the bench as she watched her son moving around the room.
"Great, actually, the restaurant is doing well, I'm moving into my own place, everything's great" he said.
"Chris is around a lot, he seems like a really sweet guy" she said, prompting him. He glanced at her but didn't speak "I know, Matt" she said "I know your gay and I know your in love with him" she said.
He looked at her, his mouth opened then closed "Did Holly..." He started, once he found his voice.
"Matt, honey, I know you, I know things got screwed up for a while and Holly was the one to pull you out of the fire. I should have done more" his mother said "She never said anything about Chris, he was around at Christmas and I saw you dance with him at Holly's wedding, somewhere between those times you two decided not to fight it anymore" she said "You're gay honey, so is your sister by the way" she added, making him smile a little "And that's okay with me and your Dad"
Matt moved over and hugged her "Thank you" he said, his voice cracking.
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Dinner was pretty uneventful after that, thankfully the two sets of parents got on well. They'd all been contacted about what happened on the bridge and they all had the class not to bring it up. After dessert and a cup of coffee they headed out claiming to need rest. Once everything was clean and the washing up was done, Matt left, with Chris in tow, to check on the restaurant and Gail was already yawning halfway through dinner so they headed to bed fairly quickly and went to sleep soon after. About 3 am Gail woke up to use the bathroom and realised her wife wasn't next to her, or in Holly's case, wrapped around her. No matter what, every night, the brunette would sleep with some part of her touching the blonde. Gail got up, went to the toilet, then quietly went down stairs. She found Holly sitting on the couch, her laptop on the coffee table in front of her and papers spread everywhere, one she was holding and reading. The blonde walked over and stood next to where she was sitting "Baby, what are you doing?" She asked.
Holly jumped and looked up at her, her glasses were slightly askew "I couldn't sleep so I figured I'd get some work done" she said reaching out and wrapping her arm around Gail's waist. She tugged her down so she was sitting on the arm of the chair "Why are you up?" She asked as she dropped the paper onto the file on the couch next to her.
"I needed to pee, baby feels like some ice cream and I was lonely" the blonde explained as she put her arm around the brunettes shoulders.
"How about we both have a couple of scoops of the vanilla left over from Saturday's late night cravings then we go back to bed and try to get some sleep. I might be on a couple of forced days off but you aren't" Holly said. She leaned forward and kissed Gail's stomach then got up.
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They took the bowls of ice cream upstairs and sat cross legged on the bed opposite each other, after a couple of minutes silence, Gail spoke "Do you want me to call Janine, make you or us an appointment or do you just wanna come to my one this week?" She asked, she didn't want Holly suffering because of someone else's actions.
The brunette stopped eating and looked at the blonde, her head tilted "You think I need help?" She asked.
Gail knew from her wife's tone that if she said anything wrong, Holly was gonna take all of what she was feeling out on her right now "No, but I'm just thinking you might want to talk to her or just someone whose away from it, about what happened. You don't have to though, I'm just offering" she said, hoping it was the right thing.
The brunette stirred her bowl for a few long seconds "Might be a good idea but I think I'll just come with you Thursday morning" she answered and had a mouthful of ice cream.
The blonde breathed an internal sigh of relief "Did you have a nightmare, is that what woke you up?" She asked.
"Not really, I dozed off for a while, then I had to go to the bathroom and the moment when I hit her car starting playing through my brain over and over. I have enough trouble shutting my mind off without that happening. I was going to read but I didn't want to disturb you, so I figured I'd go downstairs and do some work" she explained "I was sorting through some of the Allen case for court"
"My rookie near burst we he found out it was us who caught him" she said remembering his reaction "I told him today if he kept my little panic attack to himself that I would talk to you about finding some time to show him some of the case. They're already teaching about some of it at the academy as an example of good forensic and police work" Gail explained as she ate the last of her ice cream.
"Really?" Holly asked surprised "They at least usually wait until after the trial but then I'm sure they aren't giving too many details" she grinned at her wife "You know I love talking to anyone about forensics, bring him down for lunch one day when you can, I'll put a few things together while I'm off" she took both bowls and kissed her wife "I'll take this down, I won't be long"
The blonde snuggled down in their bed, she was already dozing when the brunette slipped into bed behind her, moved so she was up against her "I love you, I'm sorry about today" she said as she wrapped her arm around her, resting her hand over her wife's lower abdomen and kissed her her shoulder.
Gail linked her fingers with Holly's "Don't apologise. It's okay, you're okay, that's all that matters" she said and squeezed her hand "I love you too baby" she said sleepily.
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Sorry I had to break this is two peices to post it. 17,000 is too much lol.