She was sitting in the hospital with phone in her hands waiting for some news on Chloe, Sam and Oliver. She was so happy Oliver was fine and finally safe with all of them. Since he had to rest and stay for observation, doctor allowed just Celery to stay with him. She would leave the room on some occasion and tell them that Oliver was fine and ask about the others. She noticed Gail sitting alone. She got to her and sat beside her.
''Is something wrong with Oliver?''
''No, he is fine. Doctor sent me to eat something and have some coffee until he examines him. Why are you alone? Where is that doctor of yours?''
''Holly?''
''Yes, if that's her name…''
''I don't know… I suppose she is at home…''
''Did you talk to her?''
''No, why?''
''Does she know they found Oliver and what happened to Sam?''
''I…. I'm not sure she would want to hear it at two in the morning…''
She smiled at Gail…
''I think she would be happy to hear anything from you at any time of the day Gail…Imagine how would you feel if the roles were reversed. Would you like her to call you?''
Gail looked at her surprised…. She didn't think about that. She didn't think about Holly needing her as much as she needed her. She took her phone out of her pocket and dialed Holly's number. She picked up after first or second ring.
''Gail! Thank God…. Are you Ok? How is everyone? I heard what happened… I wanted to come, but… I was not sure after today you would want to see me…''
''You are right… I don't want to see you…''
''Oh…''
''I need to see you Holly…''
''Tell me where you are?''
Gail tells her the name of the hospital and twenty minutes later, Holly is there. Gail can't believe she actually came to her. She gets off her chair and runs into her arms. Holly holds her and she finally can fall apart.
''I'm so sorry ….''
''It's fine Gail…''
When Gail turned she noticed her brother and Diaz standing behind her back. Aparently it was now or never…
''Holly, this is Steve, my brother… And you know Chris…''
''It's nice to meet you Holly. I've heard so much about you…''
She and Gail blushed…
''My girlfriend, detective Nash, has a lot of nice things to say about you. ''
''Oh, Tracy Nash? Yes, we worked together… She is very nice…''
Gail let out the breath she was holding. Tracy talked about her… Not her… She never talked about Holly… Good… No one knows Holly is the part of her confusion and new feelings…''
'' Thank you… I hope I will get the chance to work with you.''
Chris and Steve went for coffee. Gail was looking at the floor and her eyes were full of thears…
''Gail? Is everything Ok? Are you ok?''
''No, it's not…. I kissed you today and afterward, when you came to see me I pretended like nothing happened…''
Holly had to tell her something so she wouldn't feel so bad…
''It was also wrong for me to expect you to change your act in two hours. You are private person when it comes to your feelings… I know that and I respect that Gail.''
Holly looked around and noticed some of the officers starting to look at them…
''Let's go Gail…''
''What?''
''We'll be back soon. I promise… I just want to go ant talk somewhere where we are not the main attraction…''
Gail followed Holly to the elevator. Holly pressed the roof button and their ride beguine.
''Why the roof?''
''It has the best view…''
''How do you know?''
''This was my training hospital… I spent here more time than at my own home…''
Gail smiled at her. She could imagine younger nerd Holly running around…
''What's funny?''
''I can't imagine you working with someone who is alive…''
''I was very good actually…''
''Really?''
''Yes… Chief of surgery wanted me to stay and work of him… But I didn't…''
''Why?''
Her smile faded. There were still things Gail didn't know about Holly and Holly didn't know about her. They had so much fun in their bubble that they almost never talked about things outside of it. Holly saw Gail's mother at the station one day, but Gail gave her a sign not to come to them, so she kept her distance. Gail knew nothing about the Stewart family and Holly's demons.
''Long story…I promise some other time I'll tell you about it…''
They got to the last floor and Holly opened the door. Gail hesitated to get out. Holly turned to her and waited for her to come.
''I'm afraid of the heights…''
''Give me your hand. I promise you will be safe…''
Gail took a deep breath and gave Holly her hand. They went outside and Gail relaxed after some time. The view was amazing.
''You wanted to talk to me Holly…''
''I just want to know how you are?''
''I don't know… I am scared…Doctors come out and tell us bunch of doctor stuff we don't get and then… It all comes back to not knowing how they really are. Ant I hate it… I hate this feeling. I felt this powerless just once in my life…''
''It's normal to feel like that…And maybe those nerdy doctor stuff they are saying are good news? Did you think about that? Can you tell me what they said? Maybe I can help you decode nerdy doctor stuff?''
''No, I want something else…''
''What?''
She looked at her feel and mumbled….
''Iwantyoutoholdme..''
''What?''
''I want you to hold me..''
''Oh…''
Holly took her in her arms and Gail placed her head on Holly's shoulder.
'' I hate how you make it all better…''
Holly smiled at her…
''Why?''
''You make me think about things in a positive way… No one ever did that in my life…''
''There is a first time for all things…''
''I know… Heard that before... Too bad first times are bitter…''
''Not all of them…''
''What Nerd? It was sweet for you?''
''It was nice…''
''Mine was a disaster…''
''Why?''
''He was boring...''
''Oh, we are talking about sex?''
''Of course… What were you thinking?''
''I'm just teasing… But , not to disappoint… My first time with a boy was nice but it felt like something was missing…''
''Missing? I would have thought you would say there was something…extra rather than missing…''
Holly gave her a look…
''Funny…''
''It was…''
''I came out at twenty… I was a late bloomer Gail… I didn't really dare to think about possibility of being gay. I was not raised like that. I dated a lot of boys and at college a girl caught my eye and I fell for her. There was nothing I could do… I fell for her and we dated for three years.''
''Why did it end?''
''She died...''
''I'm sorry… How?''
''She was shot…Robbery gone wrong… A bullet hit her lung and they couldn't save her. It was too complicated and bleeding was too much to handle. She even lost a lot of blood until the ambulance came. It was a bad time for me…''
''What was she like?''
Holly smiled at some of the memories, and Gail felt sting of jealousy.
''She was nice. Her family was very warm, welcoming and Dora was like them. She was in art school. When we met she was senior and after finishing her school, she started working like an art teacher. Kids loved her. Compared to her, I was the grumpy one.''
''That's impossible… You ?''
''Yes, it is… She was like Chloe…''
''Oh, God… I hate people like that…''
''I know… Me too…But I was in love with her, so I had to live with it…''
''Did you ever get over it?''
''It was seven years ago Gail… I did in a way… I think her death changed me. It got me into forensic pathology…''
''How?''
''I wanted to be able to give people closure I didn't get. Her parents didn't want any work done on her. They had influence. They were Jewish so, they got some document that didn't allow her autopsy. Her body couldn't be opened.''
''That is stupid…''
''I know. But there are people who live by the rules of their religion.''
''Did her family know about two of you?''
''No, they had no idea. She didn't want to tell them. She was scared they will disown her if they knew. As I said, they were grate people, just they believed too much in what their religion said that they wouldn't be able to bend the rules for us or her with anyone else who is not a man.''
Gail took her hand and just held it. There was pleasant silence. Like they were making peace with things that have been bothering them. It was interrupted by Gail's stomach.
''When did you eat last time?''
''Yesterday…Who knows when…''
''Let's feed you Peck…''
Holly was headed for the door when Gail stopped her.
''Wait...''
She came to Holly and kissed her.
''I wanted to do that most of the day…''
''Me too.''
Holly planted a small kiss on Gail's lips and they went to the cafeteria to eat. They got food and Gail found them the table. They were eating and Holly just loved how Gail blushed on some occasions. She was probably remembering their kisses or imagining something more than just kissing. A tall good looking older doctor got in the cafeteria. Gail saw him and remembered he was Sam's doctor.
''That man was working on Sam. I heard that he would have died if that man wasn't in the room.''
Holly turned to see who it was and her mouth stayed wide opened.
''Nerd, what is it?''
The man saw her sitting there and stopped walking. Gail stood up and took Holly's hand. She got to the doctor and introduced herself.
''My name is Officer Peck. You worked on my friend…Detective Swarek… Can you please tell me will he be all right…? You can even speak in your doctor language. My friend here is a doctor nerd and she will explain later….''
He looked between Holly and Gail and his eyes stayed at their joined hands…
''Oh… Hm… I can tell you he will be fine… He is strong and we managed to repair his artery in the stomach. His recovery might take time, but I believe he will be fine in no time.''
''Thank you doctor…..?''
''Stewart… Robert Stewart….Take care Holly…''
''I will….Dad….''
Doctor Stewart left and girls stayed alone. Gail's eyes were wide open looking at Holly…
''Dad?''