Gail's already at work, has been for a couple of hours now. With Holly's parents home she doesn't feel right staying over, she knows she works odd hours and she doesn't want to disturb them, so she's been staying over most nights at the frat house, gives her the opportunity to pack anyways. Holly emerges from the basement, she hears rustling at the front door and sticks her head that way to see what's going on. She sees her mom with a bag, "you going somewhere?"

"Your father and I will be staying the weekend at Cindy's, her and Alfred are going away for the weekend and we volunteered to watch the kids," informs Carol.

"What time do you want me over so you can have a break?"

Carol laughs, "that's very kind of you, but it's only for three days, I think we'll be able to manage the kids. Plus then Gail can stay here with you. Did you tell her we don't mind her coming in late, it wont bother us."

Holly sighs, "I told her, but she can be stubborn. This week she's working nights so she'll end up sleeping for most of the weekend, but yeah I'll tell her to come over. Maybe we can go to one of the conservation areas for a walk or something."

"Do you worry about her?" Carol asks innocently.

Holly sighs again, "more than you can imagine. It's her job and it's what makes her her, and she's really good at it and she loves it, and-"

"I get it, but it is still tough on you."

"On her too, she knows it sometimes worries me. The first time she got hurt we were just texting back and forth when I was in California, sure it was a bit of a big deal her getting hurt, but I didn't really see it, didn't really experience it. I knew it happened but I was distanced from it and I feel terrible saying this, but it didn't really affect me, you know? A month and a half ago she came home with a bruise, and I questioned her about it and she shrugged her shoulders saying she had 'worst'." Holly takes a big gulp of air, "I want to know when she gets hurt, but sometimes I wish I was still in California experiencing her job at a distance."

"Oh," says Carol. She pulls her youngest daughter into a hug, "I know what you mean, sure your father and I didn't have very life threatening jobs," Holly rolls her eyes, her dad is a retired accountant and her mom a retired mortician. "But, he would go away on business trips or go on vacations with his friends from college, and sure I'd worry about him, but when he would walk through the door and we were back together again, I knew we were all right. Same thing applies to you and Gail, you both have interesting jobs but when you both get home-"

"I do feel a sense of relief when we are together."

"Good."

"Thanks mom, talking makes me feel better."

"Anytime, but you should probably talk to Gail too," suggests Carol.

"I will, I do, but I don't want her to be scared."

"Scared about what?"

"Scared that I would leave her."

"Would you?"

"NO!" Holly says more forcefully than she meant too, "no," she says again. "I love her and I'm so excited that we're moving in together-"

"Moving in together is not going to solve your problems," Carol points out.

"I know," Holly says in a teenager like way, "but I don't want to receive texts saying that she's home, I want us to be home, I don't know it's stupid."

"No it's not," assures Carol.

"Ready to go?" calls Doug.

"You okay?" Carol looks at her daughter.

"I'm fine, thanks mom. I need to getting going anyways or I'll be late to work."

"Don't work too hard!" Doug calls.

Holly's resting against the headboard of her bed in her parents' basement; Gail is lounging partially on top of her with her head resting on the brunette's torso. "How long's your sister gone for?"

"Two more nights," Holly says, running her fingers lazily through Gail's hair.

"When do your parents want us over so they can have a break from the kids?"

"They don't, they said they'd be fine." Holly pauses before she says, "they seem more worried about your work schedule, about you and me and us."

Gail doesn't say anything; she's not sure how she feels about Holly's parents worrying about her or her and Holly.

"How's work going?" Holly continues to run her fingers through Gail's hair.

"Fine, a bit boring, we've had barely any calls this week."

"I think I prefer it when you say you've had a boring day at work."

Gail takes a long breath of air, she knows Holly's train of thought, "boring doesn't always mean safer."

"I know."

"I follow my training; I make sure everyone including me is safe."

"I know… I just don't like seeing you hurt."

Gail leans her head to kiss Holly's naked body, "I know." A little bit of quietness that Gail breaks with, "I would kill for a crime scene."

Holly laughs and slightly tugs Gail's hair. Wanting to change the subject, Holly says, "I feel like a teenager, spending all my free time in my parents' basement." Holly continues as she gently runs her fingers through the blonde's hair, "but I was mostly reading down here, hiding from Cindy."

Gail lets out a chuckle, "why am I not surprised that you were trying to hide from your sister while you were reading a book?"

"And what were you doing in your parents' basement?" questions Holly.

"The classic trying to sneak down my boyfriend and whatever alcohol we could acquire, trying to drink enough to feel a buzz, letting him kiss me and touch me, trying to convince myself that I felt something that all my friends were talking about, but never actually feeling anything," Gail says nonchalantly.

"Oh," is all Holly says.

Gail feels like that is a weighted 'oh.' "Don't 'oh' me, don't pity me."

"I would never honey," says Holly truthfully, "whatever happened in your past got you here with me, I like that you have a past that you're willing to share and talk about with me."

Gail turns her head to look up at Holly, "and that's why I love you, you love me for me."

Holly sees a reflection of that love in Gail's eyes, she leans down to connect their lips, she smiles into the kiss and whispers on the blonde's lips, "I love you."

Gail smiles too, "you ready to go outside now? It looks like the sun is shining."

"Maybe a few more minutes inside…"

Gail and Holly both took two days off work to move themselves from their current living situations to their townhouse. Holly went over to the frat house with Gail to help pack up the blonde's belongings. "Are we taking the dresser?" asks Holly.

"No," says Gail, "it was here when I moved in, it stays."

"That's fine," Holly says, "I have one you can use." When Holly moved to San Francisco, all of her furniture went to her parents' house, some in the basement some in the garage, it's like they knew she would eventually need it again. Holly grabs one of the bags and starts to empty a drawer. "You're a Bills fan?"

"I'll have you know Stewart, that 40% of the Buffalo Bills fan base is Canadian," Holly gives her a 'who you kidding look.' "It was Chris'. I just like the size and the feel of it. Can I keep it? or would you rather I give it back to him?"

Holly slips it on over head, she was starting to get a little chilled, "this is comfy, this is coming home with us," she brings the sleeve up to her face, "and so soft."

"I know," says Gail, "I only wear it when I know Chris isn't coming home, he thinks he lost it somewhere. You'll have to put your coat on over it when we leave or he'll spot it," warns Gail.

The two go back to packing up all of Gail's stuff. The two work in a comfortable silence, making sure they don't miss anything.

"I still think its funny how we met."

"In a bar?" questions Gail.

"In a mop closet," reminds Holly.

Gail says in a very serious voice, "well, someone was throwing some obnoxious going away party." Holly laughs. "I needed a bit of quiet to enjoy my free beverages. You know how rowdy you nerds from the lab get; I think I saw Dr. Pleok drinking an actual coke, not a diet coke, not a coke zero, a real coke."

Holly laughs again, "you're insane, why did I even agree to move in with you."

"Because I come with a cat."

"Speaking of, looks like we're done in here. Come here Charlie," says Holly standing up, "I'm ready to bring my human cat home and my cat cat." Charlie looks up from the bare mattress where she's been watching the packing extravaganza, she sees that the blonde one has her arms full so her only option is getting picked up by the brunette.

Gail shakes her head, "I should have never compared myself to a cat."

"No you should not have," Holly smiles, "come on Charlie," Holly bends down to pick up the cat.

"I'll throw your coat into my bag," offers Gail.

"Are you ready to spend a night in your new home?" Holly asks Charlie.

"I am," says Gail.

"I was talking to the cat," smiles Holly.

"Oh."

The two ladies walk into the main room where the boys and Chloe are watching some television. "Nobody get up to hug me, my arms are full and I'll be seeing you all tomorrow," Gail declares.

"Do we get to hug you tomorrow?"

"No Price."

"You guys leaving, we could order some food?" offers Dov.

Chris turns around, "yeah, wait…are you guys taking the cat?"

"Uh, yeah, she's my cat," reminds Gail.

Chris spots his jersey on Holly, "is that my Bill's jersey?"

Holly looks at Gail, Gail shrugs her shoulders, Holly says, "no?"

"Damn, I lost a jersey just like that a couple of years ago…" Chris laments.

"It's a great jersey."

"Yeah," Chris says sorrowfully.

Gail steps in before her girlfriend gives away her favourite comfy cover up, "well, we're going to go, if I left anything just let me know."

"Yup, see you at work tomorrow," says Chloe, "enjoy your first night in your new place!"

Gail rolls her eyes, "thanks," she means it though.

Gail's done her shift; she just needs to finish changing then she can go home, hopefully nobody stops her. "Oh Gail," Chloe says upon entering the locker room. "I was printing out pictures the other day-"

"Who still prints out pictures?"

"Anyways, I had this one of you and Holly, and I couldn't not print it. You two look so happy and in love and I wanted to give it to you." Chloe hands over said picture.

Gail looks at it; it was them at the Penny. Holly in her lap the night she met Gail's friends/coworkers. The two are smiling at each other on the verge of laughter. Gail runs her fingers over the picture, "thanks Chloe."

Chloe's bursting with emotion, "I'm so happy for you and proud of you," she can't help herself, she hugs Gail.

Gail does a really long eye roll, not like Chloe can see it, "I'll give the picture back so you will stop hugging me."

Chloe let's go of her fellow officer, "no, keep the picture, it's yours."

Later that night at her house, Gail likes that, her house, Gail was emptying her bag, putting her empty water bottle by the sink to get washed, throwing some of her clothes in the laundry basket, she finds the photo Chloe gave her. Gail lifts a magnet off of the fridge and hangs it on the refrigerator. Her mom didn't like pictures or anything on the fridge because she thought it looked messy. Gail smiles at the idea that her fridge looks like one of those family's refrigerators on television. Holly and Gail's fridge is starting to look like a family's fridge. Gail likes that too.

"Gail?" Holly calls into their dark bedroom, "is that you?"

Gail opens the bathroom door a crack, but not too much so the bathroom light wont overpower a previously sleeping Holly, "did you give a key to another girlfriend?" Gail tries to joke. Holly doesn't answer, she either didn't hear Gail or is choosing not to answering, Gail continues, "yeah it's me, I'm just going to finish washing up, I'll be out in a minute."

"'kay," Holly mumbles.

Gail emerges from the bathroom into the dark bedroom she shares with Holly, a flick of Charlie's tail catches her attention, she sees the cat on their bed, she's happy that the cat is able to keep Holly company, "scoot over," Gail requests standing at the side of the bed.

Without thinking Holly moves further into the bed, leaving the warm spot on the bed open for Gail, Gail slips into bed behind Holly, "Burr…you're cold!" Holly exclaims.

"My shift was mostly outside today, haven't been inside for more than maybe twenty minutes." Gail snuggles closer to Holly, "you're so warmmm…I'm just going to stay here forever and you'll have to stay here too to keep me warm."

"Pfft, I doubt it; I don't think you'd be able to stay away from those cheese puffs I just bought today that are right down stairs in our pantry."

Gail takes a long breath of air, "drats, foiled again."

A few moments of silence before Holly says, "just for the record, I don't think I could handle two girlfriends."

"How about three?" helps Gail.

"I never thought about it," Holly jokes. "No, you're all I need."

"I'm glad," whispers Gail as she can feel sleep taking over her.

A month has gone by, Holly and Gail are at their new townhouse, Charlie loves the new place, now not always having to be confined to Gail's room, Charlie gets the whole house to herself sometimes. Charlie also likes that Gail is around more, she doesn't seem to mind Holly, but the cat is always glad to plunk herself in Gail's lap and be petted while the blonde watches tv or a movie or is just sitting there with an open lap perfect for a cat to sit in. Gail's on the couch playing with Charlie. The blonde's phone rings, she answers it, "hello? Hi Steve…no I'm at home." Charlie bites Gail's finger, Gail giggles, "ow Charlie, don't bite me, silly girl." Gail pushes Charlie away, only to have the cat pounce on her, another giggle, "yes, I'm still seeing Holly, we just moved in together idiot. What do you mean who's over here? Who Charlie? Charlie, my cat? What the fuck Steve, why do you always think I'm being unfaithful, no I'm done talking with you." She looks over at Holly who's just entered the room, "Phone's for you," she tosses her phone to her girlfriend.

Holly, "hello? Oh, hi Steve. I'm fine thanks and you? Good." Holly makes eye contact with Gail, "you need to talk with Gail."

"I'm not here," says Gail. She addresses the cat, "ow, Charlie bit me, and it really hurt."

"You heard that," says Holly into the phone. Holly presses the phone to her shoulder so she can talk without Steve hearing her, "he says he needs to talk to you and that he didn't know you got a cat. Seriously, did anyone know you got a cat?"

Gail kind of shrugs her shoulders; Gail's never been a very good sharer, she stands up and takes her phone back, "what?" She walks out of the family room area, "what do you mean am I going to be busy for the next couple of months?" That peaks Holly's interest and follows Gail into the other room to listen to the conversation, "uh-huh, I see, can I think about it? You need a decision by tomorrow…I need to talk to Holly, okay, yeah, bye." She hangs up her phone and sighs.

"What was that all about?" asks Holly, startling Gail.

"Um, he wants me to go back undercover, see if we can find Lex."

"Who's Lex?"

"Exactly," says Gail, "who is Lex?"

Happy New Year! Thanks for reading and leaving comments and i hope your week goes well