The night at The Penny was just like old times. Holly completely annihilated Dov at darts, but then Chris was quick to beat her. Chloe and Gail stayed at the booth, laughing about random things that happened that week. Traci and Steve showed up as soon as the babysitter had arrived. Traci insisted Holly tell her all about San Francisco and help convince Steve it would be a great place for a family trip.

Holly definitely missed all of this. She had gotten to know people in San Francisco, but nothing like this. She glanced over at Gail who was showing Traci something on her phone. She had definitely missed Gail. If she was being honest, being close to Gail again was a big reason why she was so willing to come back to Toronto. She just hoped that Gail wanted her here as much as she wanted to be here.

Gail looked up from the phone to see Holly looking at her. She gave the doctor a quick wink, causing Holly to blush furiously, before turning back to the phone and her conversation with Traci.

"So everything good between you two?" Traci asked quietly, looking up at the doctor and then back at Gail.

"Um…I'm not sure. We haven't really talked yet," Gail said with a shrug, not daring to look up at Traci fearing she would have noticed the blush creep into her cheeks.

"But you must be glad that she is here," Traci pressed.

Gail looked at Holly. She had her head thrown back in laughter over something Oliver and Chris were telling her. Gail loved it when she laughed. She couldn't help but smile.

"From the look on your face, I would say that you are very happy she is back," Traci teased.

Gail turned and scowled at Traci, which only caused Traci to laugh.

"Okay, fine, I may be a little glad," Gail admitted.

"A little glad? Oh please girl, I saw the way you have been watching her all night. Why don't you just go and talk to her?"

"The timing hasn't been right," Gail said with a shrug, as she took a sip of her drink. "She's been busy chatting with everyone else."

"What's the saying? Nothing's better than the present?"

"I know, I know," Gail agreed before slinking down into her seat a little more.

"Come on, Gail. I've never known you to shy away from getting what you want, and clearly you want our young doctor friend over there," Traci smiled.

"Okay, okay, I get it. I promise, I will talk to her eventually," Gail said as she turned to focus back on her phone.

As the night slowly slipped away, the crowd began to dwindle. Gail failed to find her opportunity to talk to Holly and in defeat, she decided it was time to just head home. "Um…I think I'm going to call it a night, does anyone need a ride?" Gail said, looking around the group, but stopping when she got to Holly.

"And how much have you had to drink, dear officer," Chris asked.

"Nothing but coke for me tonight," Gail smiled. "I take my DD duties seriously," she winked.

"We already have a cab coming, you guys can hitch a ride with us since your place is on the way," Steve said, pointing to the three amigos. After a quick word with Traci, he knew how his sister needed some quiet time with the doctor.

"That sounds great," Dov answered.

"How about you, Holly? Can I give you a lift?" Gail asked.

"Um…yeah, that would be great, thanks" Holly said, trying her very best not to look too excited.

Gail couldn't help but smile. "Great, right this way. I'll see the rest of you later," she said with a wave before turning towards the door.

"Thanks for tonight," Holly said, looking at the group. "It was fun."

"We are just happy you are back," Traci said, pulling Holly into a hug.

"Don't be a stranger," Chloe added as she also gave Holly a hug.

Holly nodded before waving to the rest and following Gail towards the door. Once outside, Holly couldn't help but notice how cold the air had gotten. She thought it was cold earlier, but now it was absolutely frigid. She gave an involuntary shudder as she stood there on the sidewalk.

"Got to toughen you up again" Gail laughed as she turned to look at Holly. She walked over to stand right in front of the shivering doctor. "And you have definitely got to get better at doing up your coat before leaving a building," she continued as she reached out and began to zip up Holly's puffy jacket.

Holly just stood there, savouring the proximity to the officer. Gail then grabbed the pom pom sticking out of Holly's pocket and pulled out her hat. She reached up and plopped it on the doctor's head.

"There, that's better," Gail smiled, taking a step back to look at Holly. She flashed her a quick smile before turning to walk towards the car.

Holly stood there for a moment, not sure how to take in what just happened, but knowing that her heart was pounding a mile a minute and she was definitely not cold any more.

"Are you coming?" Gail called before opening her car door and getting inside.

Holly laughed to herself before taking a few quick strides and getting into Gail's car.

The ride to where Holly was staying was surprisingly short. As Gail stopped in front of Rachel's house, she put the car into park, and turned to look at Holly. "Um…it was great seeing you," she said softly.

Holly looked at her. How did she ever think leaving here, leaving Gail, was the right choice? "It was great seeing you too. I'm sorry I…"

Gail quickly cut her off. "No, no apologies tonight," she smiled. "It was a good night. Let's leave it there."

Holly sighed, knowing that Gail was right. "Okay, I can do that. Thanks for driving me home," Holly smiled her lopsided smile.

"It was my pleasure," Gail smiled back. It suddenly hit her how desperately she wanted to lean across and kiss that lopsided smile. "Um…I'm sorry we didn't get to chat more tonight."

"No, none of that, we just said no apologies," Holly laughed.

Gail couldn't help but join in the laughter. "Yes, you are right. How about we just apologize to each other on another day. I'd love a chance to chat without everyone else hanging around."

"Are you asking me out, dear officer?" Holly teased.

"Would you say yes if I was?" Gail questioned.

Holly smiled at the officer, before leaning across and placing a soft kiss on her cheek, lingering slightly. "Goodnight Gail" she said before turning and opening the door. As she got out of the car, she stole one last glance back at Gail who sat there with her mouth open, eyes shut. She chuckled to herself before shutting the door and making her way into the house.

"So I'm guessing by this late hour that your first week back at work went well" Rachel called from the kitchen as Holly came into the house.

"Why are you still up?" Holly chuckled as she walked into the room to see her friend putting away some dishes..

"Oh, no reason in particular. Why are you so late?" Rachel smirked.

"Oh no reason," Holly blushed before heading upstairs to her room knowing full well she had the best reason ever.

It was several days before Holly heard from Gail, not that she was keeping track. She was down in her office going over the latest case when Gail suddenly showed up at the door.

"Hey, Doc, got a second?" Gail asked, carrying a file folder.

"Sure, Officer" Holly nodded, "come and have a seat." She gestured to the chair opposite her desk. "What can I help you with?" Holly couldn't help but notice how hot Gail looked in her uniform. That was definitely a sight she never would get over.

"Well, I have a bit of a problem that I thought you could give me some insight on," Gail said, taking a seat. "It's been puzzling me all week," she added as she looked at the paper inside the file.

"Oh, okay. Let me see," Holly said, gesturing for the file as she slid her glasses back on.

Gail handed it over to Holly who looked down at the page before bursting out in laughter.

"So do you think you could help me?" Gail asked again in all seriousness.

"Gail! You can't be serious," Holly continued to laugh as she held up the paper. On it, it read 'Will you join me for dinner tonight?'

"Oh, Doctor, I am very serious," Gail said in her most professional voice. "This is a very serious matter."

Holly couldn't help but laugh even more. "And here I thought you were coming to ask me about a case or something to do with work. You could have just called me."

"Ah, but then I wouldn't be able to see you," Gail winked, causing Holly to blush. "So, will you join me for dinner tonight?"

Holly looked at Gail. She knew that Gail was being very sincere despite the humour of her approach. She couldn't stop the pang of hurt or sting of guilt that surfaced as she looked at the blonde officer before her. Her heart hurt thinking about how she had come back from San Fran unannounced, after months and months of not talking to each other. She had been a terrible friend, and yet Gail still wanted to go out for dinner with her. She didn't deserve this person in her life. She looked back down at the paper as she felt her eyes well up with tears. Her shoulders shook as she tried her best to keep the tears at bay.

Gail quickly jumped out of her chair and rushed around the desk when she saw the first tear hit the table. "Oh my gosh, Holly. I'm sorry. This is too much. I should have let you settle. I'm so sorry" she apologized as she knelt beside Holly and rubbed comfortingly up and down on her arm.

"No, it's not that," Holly said, grabbing a tissue off her desk and wiping her eyes. She swung around in her chair to face Gail who still knelt in front of her. "Why?"

"Why what, sweetie?" Gail asked as she rested her hands on Holly's knees.

"Why do you even want to talk to me? I haven't exactly been that great of a friend. I traveled to the other side of the continent, I stopped talking to you. I didn't even tell you that I am coming back!" Holly said all in one breath before blowing her nose.

Gail couldn't help but laugh. She got up from her crouching position and walked back around the desk. "I'll tell you what…I'll pick you up at your place at seven and I will tell you all of my reasons why over dinner," she smiled before disappearing out the door.