Gail is sitting with Steve in the bleachers watching Leo play soccer. A nice overcast day, Gail doesn't have to worry about the sun. She's sitting next to her brother, watching her pseudo nephew run around the field. Gail's not much of a cheerer, letting the rest of the viewers yell to their hearts content. She just enjoys sitting there, being passive. The wind starts to move the clouds and the sun starts to shine. Everyone reaches for their stowed away sun glasses, Gail included, putting on her pair of aviators that she looks hot in. "Damn, I wish I was corral," she mutters.
"What?" asks Steve, who has super good hearing, and heard exactly what his sister said. "You wish you were corral?" he half laughs.
"Yes, I didn't think I needed sunscreen today, so I didn't put any on. Some corrals produce their own form of sunscreen to protect themselves from the harmful rays."
Steve gives her a 'what the fuck?' face.
"Holly's really into sciencey shows, we were watching one on reefs the other night," Gail gives as an explanation.
"Yes," says Steve, hoping he could ask her question about the brunette, "how is Dr. Holly?"
"That's disgusting," says Gail.
Steve brings his hand up to his face, thinking there is something on it; he was just eating a hot dog with all the fixings on it a little while ago.
Gail rolls her eyes and informs her brother, "I think it's disgusting when someone says Doctor and then their first name, Dr. Michael or Dr. Brenda, either just call them Brenda or Dr. and their last name or just doctor."
Steve laughs at his little sister's little rant, "ok, how is Holly?"
"She's fine, why do you ask?" she makes sure to stare at the game, not wanting her face to give anything away.
"I don't know, you two have been spending an awful lot of time together, Leo told us he met her at your place."
Gail shrugs her shoulders, "we like each other's company." Which is true, but there's definitely something else that keeps Gail agreeing to spend her time with Holly, but she's not going to discuss it with her brother and definitely not at a soccer game.
"Well, okay, as long as you're happy," Steve concedes, knowing he's not going to get any further with his tight lipped sister.
Gail nods her head.
But he does try one last thing, "I don't have to have the big brother talk with her do I?" he half jokes, he doesn't want to see his sister broken hearted again, he will have no trouble having the big brother talk with Holly if he means saving his sister from being completely hurt.
Gail flips him off.
Steve laughs and says, "you're at a child's soccer game, put that away."
Gail rolls her eyes, "like they don't know what the middle finger is." Gail knows she can talk to Steve about her personal life, but she doesn't want to put it into words just yet, she knows how she feels about Holly and she truly hopes that Holly feels the same way, but she doesn't want to over step with it or even jinx it, Gail's not really into superstitious stuff, but when it comes to Holly she wants to be sure to cover all the bases.
An eight year old girl's body washes up on shore; Holly gets called in to the crime scene. Steve happens to be the detective who gets the call to the scene. He sees the way Holly's face went from horror to blank, when everything gets catalogued and done, he heads back to his car and texts his sister, letting her know what kind of a day Holly's having.
Gail texts Holly saying they're hanging out tonight. Not a question, a statement. According to her brother's observation, the Peck siblings would guess that this is Dr. Stewart's first child autopsy. Every case with a child is hard, but the first is the worst.
Gail walks over to the labs and collects Holly after work; she takes the doctor to the Penny, knowing being around people sometimes makes things easier, even if Gail and Holly don't intend to interact with the other patrons. The two ladies take a seat at the bar; Gail starts off by ordering them two shots of tequila. They down them quickly. Gail orders herself a beer and she orders Holly a double Jack and coke. Gail takes her time sipping on her beer as Holly orders herself another drink and two more shots; Gail declines the shot so Holly takes both. At first the conversation is light, discussing what the two have been watching or reading in their time off, but then as the alcohol starts to take effect and Holly's lips become more lose, she starts to talk about her personal life. Gail is well aware with what's going on in Holly's life, the brunette has easily become the blonde's best friend, and Gail likes to think that Holly thinks the same of her. The two are avoiding the case Holly had to work on today, sometimes it's helpful to discuss the difficult cases but other times it's easier to avoid them and let the thoughts work themselves out. Holly starts to talk about Trish and how Trish keeps bringing her coffee in the mornings, Holly thinks it's a nice gesture but it really doesn't make up for what Trish did. "I don't know why she doesn't just leave me alone," Holly wonders out loud.
"You want her to leave you alone?" questions Gail.
"Kinda," Holly furrows her brow, downing her drink and signaling for the bartender for another, the alcohol hasn't really caught up to her just yet, but Gail knows in a few short minutes the alcohol will take effect, "does that make me a bad person? I know she's my fiancée, but I mean is she my fiancée?" Holly pauses for a second, Gail has been her sounding board, the one she's been pretty much telling everything too, "she cheated on me, whether she slept with Lisa or not, in my mind she will be a cheater and I will always feel like maybe she will do so again, but on the other hand we've been together for over five years, I love her, I don't think I love her the same as I did though," Holly furrows her brow and continues, "she's my best friend, it's difficult to throw that away." Holly shakes her head, "I just need some space to think things through."
"I understand," says Gail, considering last week her and Holly were totally making out on the blonde's front porch, just the thought of that kiss makes Gail's cheeks redden, but Gail did tell Holly to take as much time as she needed, that she wasn't going anywhere, that she will continue to be there for the brunette.
"I knew you would," Holly smiles at Gail, which makes the blonde smile back.
Gail can see that the doctor's eyes are starting to get a little glassy. Gail knows she will be driving Holly home tonight as she continues to slowly sip her pint of beer. "I guess it depends on whether you two feel like you're still together or not."
"It doesn't feel like we're together," Holly sighs. "What do you do after you break up with someone?"
Without even thinking Gail answers, "I usually find someone to sleep with; just have some sex for sex."
Holly's eyes go wide, "that's what I need, I need to find someone to have sex with," she looks at Gail with that lopsided grin, her full attention on Gail, ready to say something.
Gail shakes her head, although so many of the blonde's dreams would come true, she knows she cannot be the one to just simply sleep with Holly, "no, not me, someone else."
"Okay," agrees a semi-reluctant Holly, "not you, for now," she smiles then laughs at her semi-flirtatious joke. "We should dance, can we dance, let's dance," Holly says in one breath.
Gail can't help but smile at drunk Holly, the alcohol has clearly taken effect, "one," for whatever reason Holly holds up one finger counting for Gail, "this is not really a dancing place. Two," Holly holds up a second finger with a furrow on her brow not liking that Gail is clearly turning her dance idea down, "I don't really think you're in a state to dance."
"What?" Holly starts to protest, "I can dance," she says all wide eyed, "I brought my feet," she looks down at the ground to check, just to be on the safe side, "see!" she says pointing at her shoes.
Gail might love drunk Holly, she leans in and places a kiss to Holly's cheek, she couldn't help herself, Holly is just too cute.
Gail sits back on her stool and there is a new furrow on the brunette's face, "how come you get to kiss me but I can't kiss you?" Holly sees the smile on Gail's face and feels the need to explain, "like sometimes you say goodbye and kiss my cheek or you greet me with a kiss, or you place a kiss on my head for whatever reason. How come I can't do that to you?"
Honestly, Gail didn't realize she kissed Holly so much or that Holly sort of kept track of it, plus Holly has kissed her, last week for example, but that was a different kind of kiss. The smile on Gail's face just keeps getting bigger and bigger; she doesn't remember the last time her face started to hurt from smiling so much. "You can kiss me," says Gail simply.
A look of pure joy crosses Holly's face; she leans forward to kiss Gail's cheek. Holly's lips touch Gail's cheek, Gail can't help the tingly feeling she gets, Holly rests her head into the crook of Gail's neck, she lets out a sigh, "I'm tired," Holly says.
Gail smiles, "we should probably get you home."
Holly sighs into Gail's neck again, quite comfy where she is, "you're probably right." She struggles with the word probably; Gail can feel Holly furrow her brow at the troublesome word.
"Where does Rachel live?"
"At her house," Holly answers helpfully.
Drunk Holly is absolutely adorable and Gail's smile has yet to leave her face. "No, what's her address?"
"Ummm…"
"Hand me your phone, I'm going to call Rachel," says Gail.
Holly sits up, a slight look of horror on her face, "don't tell her I'm drunk."
Gail half laughs, "I wont, I promise."
Holly retrieves her phone and gives it to the blonde.
"Holly? Where are you?" asks a concerned Rachel.
"Hi Rachel, it's Gail, Holly's friend."
"Hi Gail, is Holly with you, she hasn't come home from work yet and she was supposed to be here hours ago."
"Yes she's with me, sorry, I should have had her text you earlier. She had a rough day at work, and we were getting a few drinks at the bar and I think it's best if I drove her home."
"Ohhhhh," says Rachel, fully understanding what Gail is implying, Rachel tells her the address.
"Ok," says Gail, but then Holly starts to talk in a voice louder than normal.
"Thanks for not telling her I'm drunk, I don't want her to think I got drunk without her, she might get sad, we usually get drunk together..." a pout crosses Holly's face and Gail thinks it's incredibly adorable.
Rachel hears the whole thing and starts to laugh, "see you in a bit, I'll turn the lights on on the garage and unlock the front door, her room is the third door on the main floor."
"Ok," says Gail, "I'll help her inside."
"The kids are already sleeping, so try to be quiet."
"Will do." Gail hangs up the phone and passes it back to Holly, "car keys?"
With a little bit of effort, Holly makes the exchange. Gail stands up and stretches out her hand for Holly to take. Holly gets off of her stool and grabs the blonde's hand. They walk to Holly's car. Gail opens Holly's door for her and helps the brunette with her seat belt.
A very uneventful drive to Rachel's house where Gail has assumed that Holly has passed out in the passenger's seat, with all the stress of the day's case and the alcohol consumed at the bar, Gail's sure Holly is fast asleep. They get to Rachel's house, Gail parks the car and goes around to open the passenger door; she helps with Holly's seat belt again. Holly's eyes are closed, she has a smile on her face, a look of pure bliss, "I'm not walking, you have to carry me."
Gail lets out a laugh, "the only person I carry is Leo, and I only give him piggy backs."
With her eyes still closed Holly nods her head, "yeah, your arms are kinda tiny, but I'll take a piggy back, thanks."
Gail laughs, she doesn't remember offering to give a piggy back ride, but if that's what's going to get Holly out of the car… "Okay Stewart, if you get out of the car now I'll give you a piggy back ride, but you have to be quiet when we get in the house" Gail smiles as Holly's eyes shoot open in excitement. Gail likes drunk Holly, she's so happy, not that Holly normally isn't happy, but she seems ultra happy with multiple drinks in her.
Gail helps Holly into the house and into her room; she takes off the brunette's shoes and jeans leaving her in her underwear and shirt. Holly is lying in her bed under the covers, eyes closed, "no good night kiss? I like it when you kiss me," Holly reveals.
That makes Gail smile. Hard to refuse that request, Gail walks around to where Holly is, she leans down and kisses the brunette on the forehead, "good night Holly."
"Night honey." And that's all it takes for Gail to melt. All those feelings of maybe Gail loves Holly, are overwhelming yes Gail loves Holly.