I do not own Rookie Blue or any of the characters.
Thanks for the reviews, favs and follows and for reading. I always say it, but it is so great to get your feedback.
Lisa is a really divisive figure and I get the very strong feeling a lot of you don't want to see her redeemed. We shall see what happens! To the guest who wants to see Gail in a more supportive role that will happen I promise! I think Gail is supportive of Holly in this story in more subtle ways. I guess though she's the one always being kidnapped and attacked and going after criminals and Holly has to pick up the pieces.
Hope you enjoy. Let me know of course!
…..
'Drop the knife and get on the ground.'
Gail couldn't see Andy but she could hear her and she was close by. It struck her how authoritative, how in control Andy sounded and it made her remember Rookie McNally who'd been so klutzy and uncertain. In truth they all were. Even Gail who had spent her lifetime preparing to be a cop. It struck her too how she was thinking about that - graduating form the Academy and being let loose on the streets – when a man with madness in his eyes was bent over her, his arm raised as if preparing to plunge the knife he held into her chest.
It was that weird sensation again where time was elongated and her vision tunneled on Zaheer. Holly had told her about it. The fight or flight response. Although this time Gail didn't feel like she had the strength for either. She could feel her shirtsleeve sticking to her where the blood was steadily oozing out and guessed the blood loss was the reason she was feeling so faint.
The pain, that had been hot and piercing as Zaheer sliced the knife through her skin, was now mainly cold. Then it was like someone had placed dry ice on her arm so it felt freezing and fiery and numb and oversensitive all at once and altogether her arm seemed overlarge. In between, directly where the knife had sliced her skin, Gail had the sensation that her arm had been split in two, that a crevice had opened up, which was strange and out of place here on her body. She wondered then if it was the pain, not adrenalin or the loss of blood that was making her mind wander.
'Drop the knife and get on the ground,' Andy said again, louder, closer.
Gail saw Zaheer's eyes flick over to the side and then the adrenalin finally kicked in. Ignoring the pain, she pushed off the sidewalk with all her might, rolling to one side and then over again before staggering upright. As she went she heard shouts and sensed commotion and prayed to whoever that Zaheer had been disarmed and wasn't coming after her.
Gail heard some stifled gasps, and realized they were coming from her. Then a dog barking manically on the edge of the small crowd that had formed to watch the drama unfold, and floating above this a rap song coming through the open window of an apartment, a horn sounding and finally a rushing in her ears.
As she stood, Gail saw that Chris had Zaheer on the ground, his knee in his back, and was roughly pulling Zaheer's hands together to cuff them. Andy had her gun in one hand, which she kept trained on Zaheer, and was reaching for her radio with the other hand and asking for an ambulance and back up. It was then that Gail's knees buckled.
'Whoa,' said a voice behind Gail, catching her before she fell. With an enormous sense of gratitude, Gail realized it was Chloe.
…
'Dr Stewart,' Sally, Holly's assistant was at the door to the autopsy suite with Officer Robinson by her side.
Holly looked up from where she and the interns were reviewing the evidence taken from Rahmi's apartment.
'Yes,' Holly said, wondering why Sally looked anxious and what Anna Robinson wanted. Maybe she had more evidence for them.
Rodney appeared behind the two women.
'I'll take over here,' he said kindly, moving past Sally and Robinson.
That's when Holly knew.
'Is she okay?' Holly breathed.
'Sergeant Shaw sent me to take you to the hospital,' Robinson said.
Holly pushed down the panic, conscious Robinson hadn't actually answered her question.
Natasha looked from Holly to Robinson and back again to Holly. She saw the color drain from Holly's face, noticed her white knuckled grip on the edge of the table. Natasha quirked a questioning eyebrow at Wilson, and he responded with a half shrug.
Holly rose out of her chair as if on autopilot. She didn't say a word. Not even to excuse herself or explain what was happening. Didn't even look at the interns. As Holly reached the door, Sally handed over her phone.
'You left it upstairs,' she explained, 'It's been pinging like crazy. I was on my way down with it when Officer Robinson showed up.'
Holly nodded her thanks and followed Robinson out.
'What was that about?' Natasha asked Rodney once the three women had left.
'A personal matter,' Rodney said.
'Personal?'
When did interns get so nosey, Rodney thought. He was sure he was never like this when he started out in forensics. He just kept his head down and did as instructed. He would never have dreamed of prying into his supervisor's private life.
'Dr Stewart's partner was injured on duty.'
'Oh,' Natasha said knowingly, 'Dr Stewart is dating a cop.'
''Yes,' Rodney said tersely.
So,' Natasha started to say.
'So we should get back to work. Dr LaPaige can you tell me where you're up to with the evidence review,' Rodney said, deciding he needed to steer the intern away from questions about Gail and Holly.
He just hoped Natasha was better at analyzing evidence than reading people. For someone so interested in Holly and Gail how could she have possibly missed that they were together. Even he had figured that out and he wasn't exactly clued in when it came to social situations. In fact, Rodney suspected his ineptitude on these occasions might be a sign that he was somewhere on the edge of the autism spectrum.
…
'Can we not tell Holly?' Gail said.
'Uh Gail, you have a gash in your arm which is being held together by more stitches than I can count. Somehow I think she's going to notice,' Chloe said, smiling.
'Humph,' Gail pouted.
'Anyway it's all over social media and the TV. Dov just sent me a link.' Chloe held up her phone.
'Really, let me see.'
'Is that a good idea?'
'Yeah, yeah Chloe, don't be such a killjoy.'
'Killjoy?'
'Party pooper,' Gail clarified.
Reluctantly Chloe held out her phone to Gail.
'I'm here and there,' Gail said with wonder, 'there and here. You're right Price. That is weird.'
'What are we looking at,' Lisa said, as she pushed back the curtain, which had been pulled around Gail's bed to provide some privacy from the other patients in the Emergency Ward. Lisa took it as a good sign Gail was not only sitting up but was so animated. That was one nasty wound she came in with.
'I'm on Chloe's phone.'
'I can see that. Did you lose your phone?'
'No, no I mean I'm in her phone. Look,' Gail held up the phone for Lisa to see for herself.
'Oh that. It's all over the news. Let's hope Holly doesn't see it,' Lisa said.
'I'm here but there,' Gail said, scrunching up her face in concentration as she peered at the screen, 'here and there.'
'Did she take a knock to the head as well?' Lisa asked.
'No,' Chloe shook her head, 'it's the drugs. Gail has a low tolerance.'
'Man that's a big knife,' Gail said, still glued to the screen, the wonder back in her voice so she sounded almost childlike, 'I just can't figure out where he was hiding that.'
'It is big,' Lisa said, moving closer to Gail so she could see the screen, 'no wonder you needed so many stitches.'
'Bang,' Gail said loudly, as she watched herself fall over on the screen, 'that's gonna be another bruise. Holly will probably notice that.'
Then as Gail saw Zaheer lean over her in the video, knife raised, she shivered.
'I don't want to watch anymore, Chloe,' she said in a small voice, pushing the phone back in Chloe's direction, 'You need to hide the phone from Holly.'
'Why Gail?' Chloe asked perplexed.
'So she doesn't see the video,' Gail explained as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
'Um Gail, I think she'll be able to see it on her phone too.'
'It's on her phone! How did that happen?' Gail asked in alarm, 'oh wait, wait. It's on everyone's phone isn't it?'
Chloe nodded.
'Am I dreaming this?'
Chloe shook her head. Gail considered that for a moment.
'If I was dreaming this and you were in my dream you probably wouldn't tell me anyway,' Gail said and then turned to Lisa as a thought struck her all of a sudden. 'Lisa, you know Holly well. Should I apologize or ask her to marry me?'
'I thought it was me who needed to apologize to Holly.'
'Is this some sort of perverse version of fuck, marry, kill?' Gail asked.
'No, and I wouldn't play that with you Peck because I know exactly what you would want to do with me and it wouldn't be fuck or marry.'
'Pfft,' Gail said, 'it would depend if McNally was playing. That would make the decision a little tougher.'
'Who's McNally?' Lisa asked.
'Doesn't matter,' Gail shook her head, 'If I asked Holly to marry me would she say yes?'
'In a heartbeat,' Lisa said.
Chloe, who had been observing the exchange with some amusement, looked sharply at Lisa to see if she was messing with Gail, but the doctor appeared to be completely sincere.
'Lisa, you better start treating Holly right if you want to be one of her bridesmaids,' Gail said. Oblivious to Lisa's guilty expression, she turned to Chloe, 'you can be my best man, Chloe and then I'll make Frankie my bridesmaid so she'll be forced to wear a dress.' Gail was clearly tickled by that thought.
'You're going the whole traditional route?' Chloe asked.
'Price you've met my mother. My life wouldn't be worth living if I didn't have a big wedding. Although, I bet Holly would agree to elope,' Gail smiled impishly, clearly pleased with this final idea.
…..
Holly was out of the squad car and though the doors of the Emergency Department before Robinson had completely stopped the car. The officer hadn't been able to tell her much. Only that Gail had been chasing a suspect when he turned on her and slashed her arm with a knife. She was had been taken to Toronto General - Lisa's hospital Holly thought wryly- and Robinson didn't know how serious Gail's injury was.
As she came through the doors, Holly was hit by a blast of hot air and a huge queue leading up to the reception desk. It was a long counter with glass on the top separating the reception staff from the people waiting on the rows of plastic chairs lined up opposite. There were three reception staff behind the counter. Even so the queue was progressing slowly. Holly's heart sank. She couldn't very well push past the people lined up in front of her, especially as a number of them looked like they needed medical attention.
As she shuffled along the line with growing impatience, Holly noticed a large television set mounted on the wall and facing the waiting area. With a jolt she realized she recognized the blonde haired woman up on the screen. The footage was clearly recorded on a phone. It was shaky and a little blurry in parts.
Holly watched as Gail chased a man. The sound was turned down on the TV but it was obvious Gail was calling out 'Stop. Police.' Holly saw the man turn and Gail stop. Then the man pulled out a knife. God it's huge, Holly thought a chill running through her. She wanted to turn away but couldn't. It was only when she saw Gail roll out of the way and Chris cuff the man that Holly finally did look away, expelling a rush of air she didn't know she'd been holding. By this time she had reached the top of the queue and she became aware the receptionist was asking how he could help.
'That's one brave police officer. She deserves a medal,' he said, noticing what was distracting Holly.
'That's my girlfriend,' Holly said, her voice small and flat with shock.
'Man, she is badass,' the receptionist said.
He was the third person to say that today. Holly wanted to tell him she didn't want a badass girlfriend. She didn't want one who took risks, who bodily threw herself at fleeing suspects, heedless of her own safety. She just wanted Gail to come home to her everyday and preferably in one piece. Holly also knew that all these things – Gail's dedication to her job, her compassion and determination to do everything within her power to protect and serve – all these things were part of the woman she loved.
'Are you Doctor Stewart?' one of the other receptionists, a woman with a perky smile, asked.
'Yes,' Holly nodded, fishing out her ID.
'Detective Price asked us to let you go through,' the receptionist said, indicating a double door to the left of the counter, 'Detective Peck is in the third bed along.'
Holly nodded and thanked the receptionist.
'You should be proud of her. We need more police officers like her,' the receptionist said, pressing a button to release the doors and give Holly access to the ward.
As she approached Gail's bed, Holly could hear laughter. The curtain was partially pulled across so she couldn't see who was with Gail, but she guessed it was Chloe.
'Holly,' Gail said brightly, as Holly appeared, and then with a huge smile breaking across her face again said, 'Holly.'
Holly wanted to go to Gail. Wanted to gather her up and hold her close. Wanted to say how relieved she was Gail was safe, and whisper over and over that she loved her. But she couldn't because Lisa was standing right next to Gail and short of bodily pushing her out of the way there was no room for Holly. So instead of doing all those things, Holly said, her voice cold and her anger barely in check, 'what are you doing here Lisa?'
'She stitched me up literally and metaphorically,' Gail laughed happily.
'And I did a fine job if I don't say so myself. If there is a scar, it will be very faint,' Lisa said, 'it was a deep gash. Just missed a major artery. Even so, Gail lost a bit of blood. If the cut had been any deeper, I would have insisted she be admitted. Seems like she's allergic to hospitals though.'
'Who gave you permission to treat Gail?' Holly asked tightly.
'I,' Lisa faltered, thrown by the hostile expression on Holly's face.
'Chloe,' Gail whined to her colleague in a stage whisper, 'they're killing my mellow.'
'Why are you even in the ER, Lisa?' Holly asked.
'She came down to flirt with that doctor over there,' Gail said, nodding in the direction of the nurses' station directly opposite them where a woman in a white coat was laughing with a nurse. 'You didn't think I noticed that did you Lisa, but I'll let you in on a secret,' Gail tapped the side of her nose, 'I'm a detective.'
'What did you give her?' Holly turned on Lisa, not bothering to hold in her anger anymore.
'It was the paramedics,' Chloe spoke up, 'they gave Gail fentanyl before I had a chance to stop them.'
'In any case Holly, she was in a lot of pain,' Lisa said, looking a little apologetic that she had to remind Holly that Gail would have been hurting, 'they needed to give her something.'
'I've been watching her Lisa,' Gail said, continuing as if there had been no discussion about her pain meds, 'you haven't got a hope. She and that nurse have totally got a thing going on. Did you see that look,' Gail said excitedly, 'oh and there's the covert brush of the fingers and one last lingering look before – boom - they walk off in opposite directions, moving briskly to give the impression they are totally focused on work. Do you think they'll have sex in the on call room later?'
Holly had to laugh then. 'I think you've been watching too many episodes of Grey's Anatomy.'
'I don't watch that show Holly. Only that one time I had flu.'
'Uh huh,' Holly said indulgently.
'Oh,' Lisa said stepping aside as she suddenly realized she was blocking Holly's access to Gail.
Before Holly could move though, Elaine Peck appeared at the end of Gail's bed. It was like Zaheer and the knife, Gail thought, she totally hadn't seen that coming.
'Quite a party,' Elaine said by way of greeting.
'I think my mellow just died. It's six feet under. Even the paddles won't help,' Gail said to Chloe, again in a stage whisper.
'Ugh, what pain meds did you give my daughter, Doctor…?' Elaine broke off as she searched for a name badge on Lisa's coat.
'Gordon, Lisa Gordon,' Lisa supplied.
'World famous boob doctor,' Gail said. She could swear she heard Holly stifle a giggle.
'Stewart Gordon's daughter? The cardiothoracic surgeon,' Elaine said.
'You've met him?' Lisa asked.
'We're on the Cops for Kids board,' said Elaine naming one of her pet charities, 'but we knew each other rather well in our younger days.'
'Ew, mother you dated Lisa's father,' Gail said.
'Hard as it might be for you to imagine, Gail,' Elaine sighed, 'there were other men before your father.' She turned back to Lisa, 'so you're a friend of Gail's? She hasn't mentioned you but then again she tells me very little about her life.'
'I'm,' Lisa was somewhat at a loss, 'well yes. I happened to be down here in the ER when Gail was brought in. I didn't want some junior resident botching up her arm so I stepped in.'
'Just don't let her touch my boobs, mother. They're fine as they are. Holly wouldn't like it either.'
Elaine gave a long-suffering sigh. Holly bit her lip as she caught Chloe suppressing her own smile. This situation was getting weirder and weirder by the minute. Holly was beginning to feel like she was the one on drugs.
'Actually, why are you here mother? Aren't you supposed to be visiting Steve?'
'I asked Sergeant Shaw to keep me abreast of the investigation,' Elaine stopped and gave Gail a pointed stare when she started sniggering.
'Abreast. It's apropos for this occasion,' Gail explained, not the least bit perturbed by Elaine's clear disapproval. When Elaine didn't reply, Gail spelt it out to her, 'you know boob doctor and a breast.'
'I understood the allusion, Gail,' Elaine said stiffly, ' juvenile as it is. I returned as soon as I heard what happened to you. I'm here to take you back home, to your house, if Dr Gordon is happy to release you into my care.'
Now that didn't make sense, Gail thought. There was no way her mother could have made it back from Calgary in that time. It was nearly four hours by plane, and even in her addled state, Gail knew much less time had passed since Zaheer attacked her. She decided to file that away and ask her mother later when she was more clearheaded.
After that Elaine set about organizing them. She instructed Chloe to return to the station to question Zaheer Amir, saying she'd asked Detective Nash to sit in on the interrogation.
'Make sure Traci lets you lead the interview,' Gail said, sounding surprisingly lucid, 'you know the case Chloe.'
Then Elaine suggested Lisa must have patients waiting for her and 'we've inconvenienced you for far too long,' she said with one of her saccharine smiles.
Finally she told Holly that she was needed at Zaheer's apartment and Officer Robinson would drive her over there.
'We need forensics to go through the place thoroughly. Probably best if it's you given your involvement in the case. I'll get Gail settled at her house and you can come over when you're finished.'
When Holly hesitated, Gail said, 'you should go nerd. Just think how ecstatic I'll be to see you after a couple of hours stuck with Superintendent Mom.'
Gail hadn't bothered to lower her voice and once again Elaine gave a long-suffering sigh. The pain meds seemed to have completely removed Gail's filter, and that was saying something given she didn't always pay much heed to it at the best of times.
The speed with which Elaine dispatched them made Holly appreciate two things. One, Elaine Peck was a very difficult woman to say no to, particularly when in full superintendent mode. And two, she had somehow picked up on the tension between Holly and Lisa and decided it best to break up the party so to speak.
Much as Holly would rather stay with Gail, it did make sense for her to go over to Zaheer's apartment. Given she was the forensic investigator on this case, she knew exactly what to look out for. Besides it was Gail's first time as lead detective and Holly wanted to do everything possible to make sure she got a sound conviction.
As Holly turned to go, Gail called out, 'Uh, Holly have you forgotten something?'
That's when Holly went to Gail's side and Gail beamed up at her goofily and Holly leant in and kissed her, just briefly. Gail, however, had other ideas. She reached up with her good arm and placed her hand tenderly on the side of Holly's face and then tugged her down for a much longer kiss.
'Hallelujah, it's a miracle. I think my mellow was just resurrected,' Gail said happily as they broke apart.
This time Chloe laughed.
…..
Natasha and Wilson were waiting outside Zaheer's apartment when Holly arrived.
'I'm so sorry to hear about Detective Peck,' Wilson said sincerely making Holly realize he and no doubt Natasha had finally figured out the connection between she and Gail.
'Me too. Will she be alright?' Natasha asked, sounding less high-spirited than usual. In fact sounding quite subdued.
'Yeah, thanks,' Holly nodded, 'she needed a fair few stitches but luckily the knife didn't go too deep.'
Wilson winced at that and Natasha looked pained as well.
'That's the nature of the job,' Holly said gently, 'every time a police officer steps out on the street it's a risk they face.'
Then Holly suggested they get to work and find enough evidence to guarantee the police nailed Zaheer. 'Let's not let this bastard get away with this,' Holly said, and if her tone was somewhat vehement the interns made no comment.
Holly found Rahmi's phone in a shoebox beneath Zaheer's bed. There was pentobarbital in the bathroom cabinet and under the kitchen sink a roll of plastic bags that matched the one placed over Rahmi's head. On the grimy little coffee table covered in cup stains and cigarette burns, there was a handwritten ten-page rant clearly penned by Zaheer about the immorality of women and how they must pay for their wanton behavior. It was like he was a self-appointed vigilante – if women couldn't be modest and docile, if they couldn't conduct themselves with propriety and if they refused to be deferential to men, then Zaheer said it was his duty to make them.
Holly had sent Wilson and Natasha back to the van and was just finishing up when she overheard Duncan and Officer Robinson talking. Well, it was more a case of Gerald – Duncan, Holly mentally corrected herself – prattling on and Anna Robinson listening. They were posted in the hallway just outside the door to the apartment.
'Man, you should have heard Detective Peck when the medics gave her the pain meds,' Duncan said, 'it was like she was instantly tripping.'
'Yeah,' Anna said non-committedly.
'Yeah, she must be really sensitive to that stuff,' Duncan said.
'Yeah.'
'She kept asking Detective Price if she should apologize to Hol – the Doc,' Duncan corrected himself, 'or ask her to marry her. It was kinda cute. Then she started singing that song, you know the one – going to the chapel and we're gonna get married.'
Duncan sang the lyrics and Holly was quite impressed by his voice and how well he carried the tune.
'Chapel of Love,' Anna said.
'Yeah, that's the one.'
'Duncan, can I give you a word of advice.'
'Sure,' Duncan said, sounding anything but.
'If you value your life, or your job or any man bits you may have, I would not repeat that conversation to anyone, especially Detective Peck.'
'Detective Peck and I, we're cool,' Duncan started to say but then gulped as Holly appeared in the doorway.
'Officer Robinson, Officer Moore,' Holly said, 'I'm done now.'
'Okay Doctor Stewart,' Anna said, 'we'll lock up.'
As Holly made her way down the corridor, she could hear Duncan cursing.
'Oh fuck, fuck, fuck. I think my life is over,' he said.
When she reached the top of the stairs, Holly couldn't help it. She turned and said, 'Oh, Officer Moore.'
'Yes ma'am,' Duncan snapped to attention.
'You know being a forensic pathologist I know a lot of ways to make a body disappear.'
As she sauntered down the stairs, Holly could swear Anna Robinson was laughing. Then after a moment she heard Duncan say very distinctly, 'I'm a dead man.'
….
Gail woke in a sweat and reached out for Holly, forgetting she wasn't there. She could smell Holly on the sheets though. That combination of vanilla and cinnamon Gail associated with Holly. The bed also smelt like sex, which was unsurprising given how much of it they had had last night and then again this morning, which left them no time to change the sheets. This morning seemed light years ago given the events of the day.
She smiled as she remembered waking Holly with a trail of kisses down her neck. Then when Holly stirred and began making appreciative little noises, Gail slid her hand up to cup one of Holly's breasts, thinking she would never tire of the perfect feel of the them, or the way at the flick of her finger tips Holly's nipple would harden. After that Gail ran her hand down Holly's stomach to her center, teasing Holly's clit with light touches, then dipping further down to find a wetness that caused a flip of excitement low in her own belly.
Holly had pulled Gail around and on top of her, thrusting a thigh between her legs. The combination of this pressure, the thrusts and the friction, and the way Holly felt as Gail pushed her fingers inside her, and then the sounds Holly made as she began to come, had been enough to tip Gail into her own orgasm. It had startled Gail how quickly, how easily and yet how intensely she had come. Holly laughed and maneuvered Gail onto her back, saying 'let's try and give you something a little more sustained'. Which indeed Holly had, and so it might have continued had Chloe not banged on the bedroom door to say they really needed to get to work.
It was much more pleasant thinking about this than the pain in her arm, which was heavy and thudding and impossible to ignore. Infinitely better than thinking about the nightmare that had woken her. Gail knew the pain meds were to blame.
It seemed she now had a new bogeyman to add to her line-up. In the dream Zaheer had been flicking the knife ever closer until he left little slices in her cheeks so that rivulets of blood began to flow down her chin.
They were in the cabin in the woods where Aaron had taken his victims. Aaron was there too and he took the knife from Zaheer and, pushing Gail back on the table, pulled up her shirt and started to carve letters into her stomach. Even though she was not restrained, Gail felt paralyzed, unable to sit or stand or make a break for it.
Perick showed up then, making tsking sounds and shaking his head. He roughly pushed Aaron away. Producing a huge needle and thread, Perick sewed the cuts in quick rough stitches so Gail began to resemble a patchwork doll. 'Now you're ready,' Perick said, bending over her, leering and so close, too close. Gail felt like she was drowning, like life was being sucked away and she couldn't resist because she was floppy like a ragdoll.
It was then the door to the cabin swung open and Holly was standing there, the light streaming in from behind framing her like a halo. Gail found she could move then. Standing, she approached Holly, who smiled and took her hand. As they walked out of the cabin, Holly shut the door. Gail looked down at herself and saw that the patchwork stitches had disappeared and she was whole again. After that Gail woke. She wondered what her therapist would make of the dream.
Checking the beside clock, Gail saw it was a little after 7pm. She'd been out for several hours. It was then that she heard voices downstairs. One definitely belonged to her mother, but the other sounded a lot like Lisa. A little more high pitched and louder than usual, but it was Lisa for sure.
Gail got out of bed, swaying as she stood. It made her realize how weak she was. Maybe food would help. She hadn't actually eaten since a hurried breakfast this morning. Looking down Gail saw she was in a t-shirt. She didn't remember changing. Perhaps Elaine had helped. She wondered if her mother had noticed the marks Holly had left on her body, although the various bruises she had accumulated during the day had probably disguised them. Pulling on sweat pants, Gail made her way downstairs. She stopped as she reached the landing. It was definitely Lisa. Sounding mildly hysterical now and possibly quite drunk.
'I've pushed them both away,' Lisa was wailing.
'Lisa, I don't understand,' Elaine said, her voice even but Gail could detect the underlying irritation.
'I thought Gail was just a straight girl experimenting and she was going to break Holly's heart so I told Holly Gail wasn't good enough for her. And after Holly came back to Toronto I resented how much Gail monopolized her time so whenever I see Holly I can't help myself. I tell her she's out of Gail's league and try and set her up with other women. I'm just a bitch.'
'Let me get this straight,' Elaine said, her tone now cool, 'you believe my daughter is out of Holly's league.'
'Believed,' Lisa insisted.
'Dr Gordon, Gail is smart and beautiful and, despite her pretense otherwise, extraordinarily big hearted and unwaveringly loyal. Any woman would be lucky to have her.'
God, Gail thought, am I still tripping? She assumed the drugs would have worn off by now.
'I just didn't want it to be Holly,' Lisa admitted miserably.
'Are you in love with Holly,' Elaine asked sharply.
'No, no,' Lisa protested, 'that's the good thing. Our friendship has never been complicated by that. But Holly and Rachel are my best friends. They are the oldest friends I have. I've known them since college. In fact, if I'm honest, they are the only real friends I have.'
'So if you know Holly as well as you claim, you must see how in love she is with Gail and that Gail makes her exceedingly happy. And if you're concerned it's one sided, I can assure you my daughter is deeply in love with Holly and I have never seen her so happy. If you can't accept that I don't think there can be a place for you in Holly and Gail's lives.'
'I've fucked up. I've fucked up. I've fucked up.'
'Dr Gordon, I can see you are a little drunk but self-pity never achieved anything.'
'Well, what am I to do?' Lisa whined.
'Make amends, apologize.'
'I'm trying but Holly won't listen.'
'Well, perhaps perseverance is the key. Maybe you need to prove by your actions how sincere you are. Don't get me wrong. I don't believe my daughter is perfect, but she and Holly seem to delight in one another's eccentricities. I hate the notion that we all have just one soul mate, but these two are clearly made for each other. I think it's about time you accepted that.'
Gail crept away then. Back upstairs. She decided she needed a shower more than food. She was suddenly conscious of how nasty she smelt. Nothing like an encounter with a knife-wielding madman to work up a sweat. Anyway she didn't think she could face her mother or Lisa quite yet. That whole conversation was surreal. Maybe she was tripping.
Holly found Gail in the shower.
'Hey, you probably shouldn't be showering on your own. You don't want to get your stiches wet,' Holly said.
'You offering to get in and help me,' Gail said, arching her eyebrows but stopping when she realized how much that made her head hurt. Post painkillers. Post trauma. It made her head feel dull and achy.
'I'm not sure that would be the best way to keep your stitches dry,' Holly gave a lop-sided smile. 'Anyway, I'm guessing you're feeling a bit weak?'
Gail nodded, careful this time to just incline her head slightly. Holly grabbed a towel and, shutting off the water, wrapped the towel around Gail, careful not to knock her arm.
'I wasn't going to have a shower. I was hungry but then Lisa and Superintendent Mom are downstairs having a deep and meaningful. Actually I think they are or did I dream that?'
'No, they are still there,' Holly made a face, 'Elaine has decided to make a hearty soup and she's pressganged Lisa into chopping vegetables.'
'Really, I thought Lisa didn't cook. Actually I'm not even sure my mother can cook.'
'Elaine did point out Lisa is a surgeon so she expected the vegetables to be diced with precision.'
Gail laughed. 'No pressure then.'
'I think Lisa's scared of your mother,' Holly said, helping Gail into a fresh t-shirt.
'That's a first for Lisa,' Gail snorted as she pulled on sweat pants and sat down on the bed.
Holly joined her, kicking off her boots and stretching out lengthways on her side. Gail moved across to snuggle into Holly. As Holly placed her arms around her, Gail thought this place, here in Holly's arms, this is happiness and safety and calm and a kind of peace. Here she was cherished. Here was love and understanding and acceptance. This was a place she had nearly given up hope of having admission to.
'Actually, in a strange way and for a lot of very complicated reasons, mainly to do with her own insecurities, I think Lisa has always been intimidated by you,' Holly said after a moment.
Gail screwed up her face. 'You think? I don't see that. But do you want me to throw her out? Show her the door?' she said, using Holly's words from earlier that day.
'No. I don't want to fight about Lisa now or in fact ever.'
'I'm sorry I pushed you on that,' Gail said, 'it's your decision if you want to speak to Lisa. I shouldn't have interfered.'
'No you were right, Gail. I do tend to run rather than resolve things. I hate confrontation. It never really mattered before. I never cared enough about anyone to change that until you. And you're right. San Francisco was totally me running away from us, but,' Holly put her head on one side and gave that half smile Gail loved so much, 'but then I realized I wanted to resolve things with you, that you were worth fighting for.'
Gail tipped her head up and kissed Holly.
'Does that mean I'm better than those girlfriends who were lovely?'
'What do you think, Gail?' Holly laughed.
'Well, I am pretty awesome,'
'Very awesome,' Holly gave Gail a quick kiss, 'in fact, at the risk of swelling your head, extremely awesome.'
Gail smiled widely.
'Until you, I never once went back to an ex and tried again.'
'But then I am completely irresistible,' Gail's grin was impish.
'You have no idea,' Holly agreed, kissing Gail again.
'So you know how you hate confrontation. Is that why you've never had it out with Lisa.'
'Yeah partly. She wasn't so bad when I first met her and then, as she got meaner and meaner, I'd just brush it off.'
Gail nodded.
'So if I'm to resolve anything with her, I need to be honest with her about how her behavior affects me and how it makes it hard to remain her friend. And if she's not willing to change,' Holly stopped and shrugged, 'I will wash my hands of her.'
'Okay,' Gail said, taking Holly's hand in her own and squeezing it lightly.
She wished Holly had had the courage to make this speech two years ago that night at the Penny. But maybe they weren't ready to be together then. Maybe they needed that time to figure out what they really wanted. Gail knew it was pointless to regret what might have been, especially when she was here now with Holly.
And they might not be here if they hadn't had to negotiate all that had gone before. The misunderstandings and misgivings, Gail's insecurities and self-sabotage, and now it seemed Holly's stubbornness along with her own. As well as the two years apart where the longing, the aching for the other was impossible to suppress.
'Okay,' Holly pursed her lips.
'You know Holly, I have a feeling after her heart to heart with my mother Lisa may be quite receptive to hearing you out.'
'Were you eavesdropping?' Holly feigned shock.
'Kinda. I didn't mean to. I was on my way downstairs when I heard them. I thought perhaps I was tripping.'
Holly laughed. 'Speaking of that...'
'Oh god, I said some really stupid things didn't I.'
Holly nodded.
'Did I tell Elaine not to let Lisa near my breasts.'
'Uh huh.'
'And am I imagining it or did my mother once date Lisa's father.'
'Uh huh. And apparently there was some talk of proposing to me.'
Gail went bright red.
'You heard about that?'
'Don't worry Peck, I won't hold you to it,' Holly leaned in again to give Gail another quick kiss.
'Is that something you'd like to do. Get married?'
'You mean "we're going to the chapel and we're gonna get married",' Holly sang rather tunelessly.
'You really have an awful voice, Holly,' Gail scowled, but Holly could tell it was in jest, 'I just figured if we were married and something happened to me then you'd know.'
'I'd know?'
'That you're the love of my life.'
'Gail, honey I don't need a ring to make this real,' Holly gestured between the two of them. 'I know you love me and I'm fairly sure you know I feel the same way about you,' Holly paused and Gail nodded, 'besides my parents were very anti-establishment. They didn't believe in marriage and I kinda took that onboard.'
'Yeah,' Gail said, not surprised to hear that Holly's parents held such views.
Holly's parents, Kurt and Becca, had never married. In fact, Stewart was Becca's family name. They were basically hippies or had been. Too young for Woodstock, Becca and Kurt had spent two years in the early seventies driving across Canada and the US in a Kombi van painted with rainbows and peace symbols. Perhaps unsurprisingly they weren't that thrilled to discover their daughter was dating a cop, despite Holly's reassurances that Gail 'was one of the good ones.'
'Isn't that an oxymoron,' her father had teased, but Holly wasn't entirely convinced he meant it as a joke.
Growing up, Holly remembered her parents explaining the police were there to prop up the system. Kurt and Becca had attended their share of demonstrations and sit-ins. Not that they had ever been arrested, although a number their friends had been hauled in for acts of civil disobedience. Kurt was secretly proud when Holly spent a couple of hours in the cells following that vivisection protest.
Her parents had mellowed over the years and were now highly respected academics at Columbia in New York. Kurt taught political science and Becca anthropology. Early on, Holly's parents decided Holly's love of all things scientific came from her mother's side of the family. Becca's father was a retired science teacher and Holly spent hours with her grandfather in school holidays happily conducting science experiments that had started simple but became increasingly complicated the older she got.
If she was honest, Gail was in no particular hurry to meet Holly's parents. Particularly as, judging from the things Holly had said, Gail suspected Becca and Kurt would not be that open to having a cop for a daughter-in-law. In any case, she didn't exactly have a good track record when it came to getting married. It felt like she and Holly were in a good place and maybe she shouldn't jeopardize that, disturb that equilibrium, especially as it had only been six months since they got back together. But then, as Frankie's brother had said, sometimes you just know.
'What are you thinking,' Holly asked, tilting her head to one side, 'don't want to get hitched to someone born out of wedlock.'
'Out of wedlock,' Gail laughed at the quaint expression. 'I was thinking getting hitched would be a good excuse for a party and might get that intern off my case,' she said deflecting, not quite ready to admit what had actually been going through her mind.
'There is that,' Holly laughed, 'although Natasha has finally figured out we're dating. Anyway, you hate parties.'
'There is that.'
'Gail,' Holly said, turning serious. She shifted down so she was directly facing Gail. 'I don't want you to propose to me right after you've had another, well there's no other way to describe it, near death experience.' Holly smiled at Gail softly then. 'But I'm not ruling out marriage altogether. Are you okay with that?'
'Very okay,' Gail smiled, 'oh, on the subject of near death experiences, I wouldn't watch TV or look at social media for a while if I were you.'
'Too late, I've already seen it, Gail.'
After that Gail fell asleep. Holly held her close, and felt indescribably grateful that she could. Today could have turned out very differently. She was well aware of that. Holly sighed. She wanted a lifetime with Gail but with a job as dangerous as hers that might not happen. So she would cherish every day, even the ones like today.
Did she want to get married, Holly wondered. She didn't feel like she needed a ceremony or a piece of paper to prove how much Gail meant to her, which come to think of it was one of her parents' justifications for not tying the knot. It would certainly surprise Kurt and Becca if she told them she was getting married, and that was saying something because not a lot shocked them.
Holly had never contemplated marriage. Until Gail, she had given up on finding someone who so totally got her, who she could love so unconditionally and feel equally loved in return. In truth, Holly still experienced a thrill at the thought that Gail was her girlfriend. Imagine then, if Gail was her wife.
Holly was pulled from these thoughts by a soft knock on the bedroom door. Chloe was standing there with a tray on which were placed two bowls of streaming soup. Gail stirred.
'Oh, I didn't mean to wake you,' Chloe said apologetically, 'but the Superintendent thought you both might be hungry.
Holly got off the bed and took the tray from Chloe. Gail struggled to sit upright, wincing a little at the pain in her arm. Chloe must have noticed her expression.
'You okay, Gail?' she asked with concern.
'Yeah, yeah,' Gail said dismissively.
'Are you sure,' Holly asked, 'I've got some painkillers you can take. They're not as strong as fentanyl but they'll take the edge off without the side effects.'
'Maybe later,' Gail said, 'So did you interview Zaheer?'
'Yep,' Chloe nodded, 'confessed to everything. He denied it at first, but then when we confronted him with the evidence Holly found at his apartment, he folded. Claimed it was an honor killing. He gave her the pentobarbital and then when she passed out put the plastic bag on her head. From what Traci and I could glean, Zaheer planned to suffocate her, but then was overcome by such a rage, he strangled her.'
'Shit,' Gail said.
'Yeah, it seems he became very religious after his father died. He said he had no choice but to kill her because she had brought shame on the family.'
'Honor killings have nothing to do with religion,' Gail said angrily, 'it's all about control of women.'
'Yep,' Chloe nodded sadly, 'let's just hope Zaheer doesn't get away with this on the grounds of diminished responsibility.'
'Is that a possibility?' Holly asked.
'He came across as fairly deranged in the interview. Ranting and incoherent a lot of the time. A defense attorney is bound to use that.'
'But it was clearly premeditated,' Holly pointed out, 'the plastic bag and the pentobarbital came from his apartment.'
'Yeah, which is why we've charged him with murder. And Robinson found a clear image of him wheeling the pink suitcase out of the subway.'
'Wait, I thought Robinson didn't get anything from the CCTV footage.'
'Not on the original footage from the subway down the street from the bus terminal, but she decided to take a look at surveillance footage from a subway two blocks away. He turned up there.'
'Wow, impressive,' Gail said, 'we've got him now.'
'Yep,' Chloe agreed.
Have you told Frankie?'
Chloe nodded. 'Actually she is downstairs with Alannah. So are Andy and Chris and Dov. Oh and Lisa, although she seems a little drunk. They all came to see how you are doing. Your mother is making them eat soup.'
'Oh god. Is she behaving?' Gail groaned.
'She is being quite charming,' Chloe smiled, 'oh and Leo was at the station waiting for Traci. He asked me to give you this.'
Chloe pulled a folded piece of paper out of her pocket.
It was a get-well card. Leo had drawn Gail with a shock of yellow hair and her arm in a sling but a big grin on her face. Gail felt herself tear up. She hadn't seen much of Leo and Traci since Steve went to prison. It was just too awkward and painful for Traci, even if she tried to pretend otherwise. Until this moment, Gail hadn't realized quite how much she'd missed them both.
'Traci said maybe she and Leo could come visit when you feel up to,' Chloe said.
Gail smiled widely then, making her face light up in that way that made her breathtakingly, achingly beautiful. Holly couldn't help thinking Gail's smile was exactly like her grin in Leo's drawing.
Frankie came up a bit later when Holly took the empty soup bowls downstairs.
'Thanks,' she said, lurking a little uneasily in the doorway, 'for everything you did for Tom, for us.'
'It was my job,' Gail replied.
'But you did it well and that's what counts.'
'I'm sorry we had to go so hard on you and Tom.'
'Like you said. It was your job,' Frankie shrugged, 'I wanted nothing less from you.'
'How is Tom?'
Frankie shrugged and sighed. 'You know, heartbroken. Destroyed. How do you come back from something like that?'
'I don't know,' Gail said honestly.
'Typical of my mother,' Frankie gave a bitter half laugh, 'even from the grave she's fucking up her children's lives. If Tom hadn't been in Kitchener, he could have stopped this happening to Rahmi.'
'You can't think that way, Frankie. From what Chloe told me, Zaheer was hell bent on doing this. If it hadn't happened then, he would have tried another time. You can't blame your mother and you can't let Tom blame himself either. Zaheer is the only one responsible for Rahmi's death. You know that.'
Frankie nodded and then looked down at her feet, seemingly at a loss for what to say.
'So you and Alannah,' Gail said.
'It's nothing,' Frankie shrugged again.
'Someone a lot wiser than I am once told me everyone deserves to be happy, including me.'
Frankie looked up.
'Yeah?'
'Yeah, so I took her advice and called Holly and asked her out on our first pseudo date.'
'Pseudo date?'
'I was still pretending to be straight,' Gail chuckled, 'I almost convinced myself that spending half the evening staring at either Holly's lips or her ass was quite normal for a heterosexual woman.'
Frankie laughed, a real laugh this time.
….
Five days later Gail was standing on the sidewalk outside the Penny. She and Chloe had organized drinks to celebrate the successful closure of the case, at least on their end. There was still the court case to come of course.
Over breakfast that morning, Holly had informed Gail that she was bringing Rodney and the interns. She decided it would be good for Natasha and Wilson to get to know some of the officers from 15 in a social setting.
'Does that mean I have to be on my best behavior,' Gail had pouted.
'Well, they know we're together, so I don't think you should be too concerned about public displays of affection,' Holly teased.
'That's not what I'm asking. Anyway isn't it you who can't keep her hands to herself at the Penny.'
'That was that one time, Gail,' Holly protested, 'and who would blame me for being a little under the weather when as far I knew you were missing.'
'Under the weather is that what we're calling it now? Somehow arresting someone for being under the weather and disorderly just doesn't have the same ring to it.'
Holly made a face.
'What I actually meant is do I have to be careful about what I say In front of the interns. In case I offend their delicate sensibilities.'
'Just be yourself, Gail.'
'Holly, I'm not sure that is always a very good idea,' Gail said, deciding Holly was probably the only person who would give her such advice and mean it.
Except maybe Oliver. He seemed to appreciate the unfiltered Gail. Although come to think of it, these days she was pretty much herself with Chloe and Frankie, and those idiot boys Dov and Chris, and even McNally. Gail wondered when that had happened. It hadn't seemed to put any of them off either. They were still hanging around.
'It's always a good idea,' Holly laughed, breaking into Gail's thoughts. She tilted her head to one side, 'because that's who I'm in love with.'
Gail couldn't stop herself. She leaned across and kissed Holly. Soft, closed mouthed at first, but then she placed a hand on Holly's cheek and quite swiftly the kiss became more passionate, in fact a little too fervent when it was a work day for Holly, and Gail heard a soft moan come from Holly.
'Oh jeez sorry,' Dov said as he walked into the kitchen, his face turning red as backed out of the room.
'Ow,' Chloe, who was following right behind Dov, cried out as he stepped on her toes, 'what are you doing Dov?'
'Yeah, what are you doing?' Gail said, having pulled back from Holly as soon as she heard Dov.
'I, um, nothing. Chloe, I just walked in and they were um you know,' Dov floundered and then turned to Gail and Holly, 'I um didn't want to intrude, you know, on a private moment.' Dov reddened even more.
'Does seeing two women kiss make you uncomfortable Dov?' Gail drawled.
'What? No. No. I'm completely comfortable. Relaxed. Totally relaxed. Nothing I like more than seeing two women kiss. Oh shit. That came out wrong.'
'Well, as we know Dov you came out wrong,' Gail deadpanned.
'Play nice Gail. You should give Dov a break,' Holly gave an amused chuckle as she stood up from the table. 'Now, I really need to get to the morgue.'
'Yeah, Dov and I have to go into work too,' Chloe said.
Holly leaned down to kiss Gail goodbye but found Gail regarding her with a furrowed brow.
'I always play nice,' she said.
'Always,' Holly raised an eyebrow, 'I don't know Gail, I wouldn't say always. Sometimes you tease and tease and tease until a girl can't take it any longer.'
'But you like it.' Gail was grinning now.
The two women gazed at each other. There was amusement and a hint of challenge there and a charge so strong that Dov could have sworn he could see it, like a ring of light, a corona shimmering around them. He decided if there were such a thing as a flirtation gauge then the needle would be pushing red for maximum.
Holly's mouth was quirked into a sure smile and Gail was holding her gaze, her own smile a mix of playfulness and adoration. It was as if Holly and Gail were the only ones in the room and Dov did become a little embarrassed by the complete intimacy of the moment and the sense that he was indeed intruding on that.
'Oh god,' he gulped, 'I'm going to wait in the car, Chloe.'
'Will you be alright by yourself today, Gail?' Chloe asked as she gathered up her bag.
Gail was under orders to take the week off to recover and, while people had been dropping by during the day, Chloe could tell Gail was starting to go stir crazy. She would bombard Chloe with questions about the case as soon as she came in the door at night and then ask Holly to go through the forensics in exhaustive detail. The sooner they got her back to 15 the better.
'What are you my mother now Chloe?' Gail snarked, 'But yeah, Superintendent Mom will be over in the afternoon to supervise so that will be super fun.'
Chloe laughed sympathetically. 'See you at the Penny then.'
Gail nodded. Then Holly leant down to kiss her goodbye and Gail flashed her one of those smiles – wide mouthed and sincere – that made Holly's heart melt.
Elaine had offered to drive Gail to the Penny, given her arm was still healing.
'Has Holly spoken to Lisa?' Elaine asked abruptly as they set off from the house.
'Not yet. She hasn't had a chance.'
Elaine nodded and then paused, as if she were considering something for a moment.
'Are all lesbians like Lisa?' she finally asked.
Gail turned to look at her mother, screwing up her face in disbelief.
'What do you mean?'
'Exactly what I asked?' Elaine bristled a little.
'Are all lesbians like Lisa. Bitchy, rude, elitist, self-centered drama queens?'
'That's not quite what I meant.'
'Okay, mom. It's not like Lisa is the first lesbian you've met. I know I can be bitchy but am I like Lisa?'
Elaine shook her head.
'Is Frankie?'
Elaine shook her head again.
'Alannah?'
Again Elaine shook her head.
'Officer Robinson?'
'Oh, Officer Robinson, I didn't know about her,' Elaine said.
'Yep, Officer Robinson. And what about Officer Luck? Actually scrap that. She's not a good example.'
'No, best not to include Officer Luck,' Elaine agreed, 'although I have another. Dr LaPaige. Seems you've made quite an impression on her.'
'Ugh. How did you find out about that,' Gail groaned, wondering if there was anything her mother didn't know.
'It's plain from the way she acts when ever your name is mentioned,' Elaine said, 'it's like you're catnip to lesbians, Gail.'
Gail was pleased she wasn't drinking anything at that moment, because she would have sprayed it over the windscreen. Catnip to lesbians. Where had her mother got that idea from? Where did she even hear these expressions? Elaine said it almost proudly. Like it was a credit to her to have a daughter other women deemed hot.
'Ugh whatever,' Gail said, 'but mother, unlike Lisa, most lesbians are functional people.'
'Yes, yes of course,' Elaine said, 'I wasn't implying that. Lisa is just very unusual.'
'You can say that.'
'I do think beneath all that ridiculous posturing she cares very much about Holly, though.'
Oh, that's what this was about, Gail realized. She couldn't imagine that her mother really thought all lesbians were dysfunctional. No that question about Lisa was her mother's way of finding out if Holly and Lisa had made peace. Not that Elaine would ask her directly like any other normal person. No she had to go about it in a roundabout and, in this case, offensive way. Holly hadn't decided what to do about Lisa yet but Gail wasn't going to tell Elaine that. It wasn't her information to give.
They were silent then for a bit. Gail looked out the window at the big oaks with their leaves browning as autumn took hold. Soon they would have to hunker down for another long Toronto winter.
Which reminded Gail, she wanted to get the fireplace in her living room working again. The idea of a fire was nice and not just because she had this particular fantasy involving Holly and lounging in front of a roaring fire. The thought of Holly naked brought a slight blush to her cheeks and Gail decided, given Elaine was seated just across from her in the car, it best to divert her attention elsewhere
'So why did you really come back from Calgary?' she asked.
'What do you mean?'
'There wasn't enough time between me getting hurt and you turning up at the hospital for you to have made the trip from Calgary.'
Elaine sighed and pursed her lips. 'I should have guessed you'd work that out. I decided to come back when I heard you arrested Frankie's brother. I was worried you might do something to,' Elaine stopped, conscious she needed to choose her words carefully, 'to compromise yourself.'
'Compromise myself,' Gail scrunched up her face, 'you thought because Frankie was my friend I'd screw up the investigation.'
'I was worried – incorrectly as it turned out - Frankie would put pressure on you or you might be less rigorous in your investigation because of some misguided loyalty.'
'So you were worried I'd screw up the investigation.'
'No, believe me Gail, no. Once you have children you'll understand the lengths parents will take to protect their children. I simply wanted to make sure that nothing would impede your investigation.'
Gail was silent. She wondered if Elaine was talking not just about her own actions but Bill's when he pushed Gail to lie on the stand for Steve. She had never felt like her parents had gone to any particular trouble to look out for her.
'I know you think we were tough on you,' Elaine said as if reading Gail's mind, 'but you are stronger than Steve. More resolute. You were always going to be better at this than Steve. He needed support. You are very capable Gail and it frustrated me that until recently you never saw that.'
Gail sighed. Nothing in the way Elaine and Bill raised her had ever made her feel very capable. The very opposite in fact. Their exPecktations and ceaseless disappointment had worked to discourage rather than motivate Gail. It was strange that her mother, who read suspects so well had got her so completely wrong.
The sense she was a failure had become a constant like a bad angel sitting on her shoulder whispering in her ear that she would never amount to anything. It had bred a bitterness and resentment and insecurities that had made her defensive and mean. There was nothing to be gained by talking to Elaine about it now though. She realized too that this was probably the closest she'd ever get to an apology from her mother.
By this time, they had drawn up outside the Penny.
'Do you want to come in, have a drink? Seeing as you're besties with everyone now,' Gail said with an edge of sarcasm.
It seemed Elaine and her soup had been quite a hit with Gail's friends the night they had gathered at her house after the knife incident.
'Thank you, but your father and I have an engagement,' Elaine said, 'much as I do like your friends.'
Now inside, Gail scanned the room. Great, the only other person here was Natasha and she was waving Gail over to her table. Gail sighed. Best to get this over with. Holly said the intern had finally acknowledged they were together but Gail had decided it was time she really spelt it out.
'Can I get you a drink,' Natasha gushed as Gail sat down.
Gail shook her head. 'Probably best if I avoid alcohol with this,' she said, indicating her arm.
'True. How is your arm.'
'Better.'
'Oh that's good. Listen Detective Peck –'
'Gail.'
'Gail, I should apologize. I thought you and Holly weren't together anymore. That's the impression Lisa gave that time you came over to our table at that bar. I just figured you were friends now. Otherwise, you know I wouldn't have been so, um, I guess, so forward.'
Gail nodded. Well that was a relief. Now she didn't have to say anything.
'I feel a bit foolish,' Natasha was saying.
'Well, Lisa is to blame for making a lot of people feel foolish,' Gail quipped.
Natasha laughed uncertainly.
'I hope Dr Stewart won't hold it against me.'
Gail pondered for a moment whether she should really mess with Natasha. Say Holly was the jealous type and that Natasha had better watch her step, but then she caught sight of Anna Robinson coming into the bar and she smiled as she was struck by a brilliant idea. Well, at least she considered it brilliant.
Robinson's disastrous night with Luck was common knowledge. Gail wasn't sure how it had gotten out, but apparently things had been very one-sided. After coming, Luck had fallen instantly asleep and begun snoring loudly, and Anna had gone home more frustrated than when her evening had begun.
'Hey Robinson,' Gail called out, smiling as Anna made her way over to the table, 'have you and Natasha officially met.'
'Not officially,' Natasha said, her interest clearly piqued.
Shortly after the gang from 15 arrived, and then Holly and Rodney. Gail was immediately out of her chair, cutting off Holly before she could sit down.
'You're looking very pleased with yourself,' Holly said.
'Mmm, I think I may have achieved some good,' Gail said and, taking one of Holly's hands, gave her a lingering kiss. When it finished, Gail leaned in again, tugging on Holly's bottom lip and she might have deepened the kiss had Holly not pulled back a little.
'I think we're being watched,' she said.
'Watched?'
'By everyone,' Holly said.
'Oh, I could care less,' Gail said, 'I have a proposal for you.'
'A proposal? I know I said you could bring it up again, but here, now in the Penny?'
'Oh god, not that kind of a proposal,' Gail said, 'more like a proposition.'
'Okay, but the same goes. Here, now in the Penny?'
'Jeez, get your mind out of the gutter Stewart,' Gail said, 'not that kind of proposition. I mean I know it's only been six months since we got back together but I feel really sure about this, about us. In fact I don't think I've ever felt so certain of anything. And you practically live at my place anyway. So, um will you move in with me? Well, at the moment with me and Chloe. She will be like our eerily perfect teenage daughter. Never does anything wrong and has a dweeby goody two shoes boyfriend and we'll be itching for her to break out and be bad and –'
Gail broke off as Holly kissed her.
'You just had to stop talking,' Holly smirked.
'Yes,' Gail agreed.
'Yes,' Holly nodded.
'Yes,' Gail breathed, sounding a little unsure, 'yes I should stop talking or'
'Yes, I will move in with you.'
Gail smiled then, big and dazzling, her whole face lit up like a child's at Christmas. This time she really didn't care who was watching. She pulled Holly in and kissed her. After a moment she may have completely forgotten they were standing in the Penny surrounded by work colleagues had Dov and Chris not started to woof whistle. Deciding she really couldn't care less, Gail flipped them off behind Holly's back and kept on kissing her girlfriend.
…
The Natasha and Anna Robinson introduction was included especially for Snarcasm.
Should Gail and Holly get married? I'm not sure they really need to but I'm keen to hear your thoughts. In Australia our stupid government hasn't yet agreed to gay marriage, although I'm not sure if I would get married if they did. I have the feeling that neither Gail or Holly would be too fussed about marriage but I'm happy to be corrected on that. I have another, probably shorter, case planned for this fic so that's where we'll take up the story next.
