Part 17

Holly giggled as she tried to pull away from Gail but the blonde just held her tighter, her lips still eager to continue the kiss.

"Gail!" She said, finally escaping from the blonde. "That's the second bus we've missed."

Gail just shrugged. "So? We'll get the next one." She told Holly as she tried to capture her lips again but Holly continued squirming until she finally released her. "Fine." She complained with a huff.

Holly smiled at the blonde. It was cute and endearing, but making out in the middle of the sidewalk with a bunch of college students in full view? It really wasn't Holly's thing. Or at least it never had been before, even when she'd gone to college. Both times.

Gail sighed and took Holly's hand. Now she felt self-conscious about it and wasn't sure if she had upset Holly or not. "Sorry." She muttered as she turned her head to look down the street for another bus.

Holly grinned as she watched Gail. The blonde looked like she was pouting.

"It's okay, really." Holly insisted as she squeezed the hand in her grip and knocked her shoulder against Gail's. "Just feeling a little too on display out here." She told Gail quietly as her eyes flicked back around to the student strewn common. And now she was starting to feel old.

Gail looked at Holly then, wondering at the frown, looked past the doctor to the students. She didn't particularly think their kissing had drawn a crowd of onlookers but if it bothered Holly then Gail was fine with stopping. At least she still got to hold hands.

She snorted to herself for that thought.

"Everything okay?" Holly asked as she watched the blonde shake her head.

"Head injury." Gail muttered with a scowl as she went back to looking for that bus.

Holly grinned, and wondered if that was going to be Gail's stock answer from now on. It could apply though, especially considering how strange the ex-cop behaved. "Then count yourself lucky that you have a doctor nearby."

Gail smirked as she tilted her head towards Holly. "Don't you mean 'on hand'?" She said giving their joined hands a little shake.

Holly laughed then bit her lip, staring at Gail for a moment. As she leaned over she paused, letting Gail shift closer, and when their lips were just an inch apart, Holly pulled away.

"I think that's our bus." Holly said, trying her best to keep a straight face as she slipped her glasses back into place from where they had slid down.

Gail narrowed her eyes but glanced back down the street to confirm that yes that was indeed the bus they were waiting for. But part of her wanted to stay right where she was because Holly was being a tease and Gail wasn't used to having someone get the better of her like this.

And then the bus pulled over into the stop they were standing to let someone out and Holly shifted to board, their joined hands forcing Gail to follow the pathologist or break away from the older woman. And that wasn't how Gail wanted their evening to go.

But as Holly slipped a few coins into the machine Gail found her pass and swiped it over the detector before trailing after Holly toward the back seat, letting the brunette have the window seat just past the exit door as she slid in next to her, carefully eyeing the rest of the passengers.

"You have a pass?" Was the first question Holly asked as they sat there and the bus pulled back out onto the road.

Gail blinked as Holly took her hand again, only this time she also hugged at her arm. Then there was a head leaning against Gail's shoulder and it made Gail glance down at the other woman. She wondered briefly how drunk Holly was, they'd only had a couple of beers each, and Gail certainly didn't feel that drunk. But here she was taking a Forensic Pathologist home to her well secluded apartment, the same pathologist that she'd tied up and gagged not that long ago.

It was a very strange feeling for Gail to realise that Holly had somehow slipped under all of her well-built defences and now thought nothing of sprawling all over her. That they were attracted to each other wasn't in question, that Gail trusted Holly after so little time together was going to freak Gail out if she thought about it for longer than a passing second.

"Gail?"

"Hmm?" Gail knew she had looked into Holly's background when she was first made aware of her being around the detectives of 15 Division, but Gail's interest went above and beyond what was necessary to reveal who Holly Stewart was and that she was as harmless to Wolf and his boss as most other individuals that were involved in law enforcement. But that hadn't stopped Gail following the woman, learning her habits, her routines, her favourite foods or sneaking into her home and familiarising herself in the older woman's life.

Gail felt like she knew almost everything there was to know about Dr Holly Stewart but the reality was that it was mostly all superficial, the real Holly Stewart was the one sat beside her right now, trusting her to not take advantage of her.

Gail had to look away because wasn't that exactly what she was doing?

Holly giggled and lifted her head away from the blonde to stare at her. "Gail? You're not falling asleep are you?" She asked and finally got a reaction as Gail turned her head around towards her but the blank stare let her know that the blonde had no idea what she'd been saying.

"Sorry, what?" Gail asked, doing her best to not scowl.

Chuckling Holly just sat back and patted Gail's arm gently. "That head injury playing up again?" She asked teasingly. "Maybe I should give you a check over when we get to your place."

Gail felt herself grin despite her reservations. This woman was something else.

"Oh, don't be coy Doc, we both know that you want me." Gail replied in a whisper that dripped with desire and want.

Holly's breath caught.

"And when we get to my place, you can do all the checking you want." Gail continued in a slow, seductive tone which ended with a press of her lips to Holly's cheek.

"Um."

Gail sniggered as Holly licked her lips. But she decided to give Holly a break and turn her attention back towards the rest of the passengers.

The bus had travelled a few streets now and had stopped and let people on and off. One new passenger in particular drew her attention as the boy, no more than high school age, made crude comments to a couple seated in front of him.

As Gail paid closer attention she heard racial terms used that had her scowling.

And when the couple in front of the boy failed to react, choosing instead to simply put up with the comments in the hopes of just getting to wherever they were headed.

But the boy was having none of it. Now he got louder and started to kick the seat in front of him.

That made the boy with his girlfriend turn and glare at the kid but his girlfriend forced him back around.

Smart girl.

However, seeing the boyfriend back down just seemed to egg the kid on and now he wasn't even trying to keep his voice down as he racially abused the couple.

"Back in a sec." Gail muttered as she stood quickly and moved up the aisle some way. She pulled the cord to let the driver know she wanted off at the next stop. And then she inched closer to the kid who now had his cell phone out and looked to be filming his actions as he continued kicking at the seat the boyfriend was in.

The kid didn't pay any attention to the bus stopping but as the door opened and another passengers got off, Gail grabbed the by the back of his top and pulled him from his seat, taking his phone out of his hand as she shoved him towards the exit door.

"Hey!" He yelled as he grabbed for his phone, but Gail had already went through its functions and deleted all the video content he had on it. And as she let him take it she went for his pocket where she spotted a belt chain that went from a belt loop to one of his front pockets.

She reached in and pulled out his wallet, quickly spotting his student ID and that there was money there that meant he'd still be able to get another bus.

He grabbed for his wallet when he saw it in her hands and she let him snatch it back, she had what she needed anyway. It wasn't like she'd planned to rob the kid.

She stood in front of him, giving him nowhere to go but behind him out of the open bus door. Unless he was feeling brave enough to try and get past her.

He eyed her warily. "What?" He asked.

Gail pointed over to the couple he'd been harassing. "Next time there might not be anyone to stop you getting beaten for comments like those."

He snorted, clearly thinking nothing of that. "Yeah, whatever."

Gail shook her head. "Take the next bus." She advised him, gesturing for him to step from the bus.

"Who the fuck do you think you are, bitch?" He asked her as he calmly stepped backwards off the bus.

Gail just stood there as the door closed and he was locked out of the bus.

She rolled her eyes as the kid threw a rude gesture at her before turning and walking away.

Satisfied that the kid was dealt with, and that she hadn't left him with no way to get home, Gail finally turned and made her way back to her seat beside Holly.

As Holly gripped her arm again the boy with his girlfriend turned in her direction and gave her a nod of his head, acknowledging that she'd done something to help him out and that he appreciated it.

She nodded back and he turned around.

"You're are just a big softy at heart aren't you?" Holly mumbled into her ear with a chuckle.

Gail narrowed her eyes at Holly but it just made the other woman cuddle into her more. She sighed. Maybe she just didn't like little thugs picking on people for stupid reasons.

"Are you blushing?"

Gail sighed. This is what she got for her efforts? Almost wasn't worth it.

And then a kiss was pressed to her cheek and she had to rethink.

Maybe she'd pass the kids name onto Chris after all. She'd just make sure he didn't mention it to Holly. She'd never live that down.

Another kiss and Gail was grinning, turning to look at Holly despite the heat she felt in her cheeks at her teasing.

"That was a really nice thing you did." Holly told her softly.

Gail shrugged. It wasn't really that big of a deal. But she like the way Holly was looking at her. Like she was proud of her. It made her smile broaden and spread a warm feeling over her.

"Thank you." Holly said quietly.

Gail frowned and eyed Holly wondering at the serious tone.

"A crowded bus and you were the only one to do anything." Holly explained. "Having people all around you pretending they see nothing wrong is almost worse than being called names from someone like that." She continued.

Gail pulled Holly into her side, pressing a kiss to her head before facing forward as she struggled with Holly's confession. That's what it had sounded like, Holly talking about something she had personal experience with. The thought of that stupid kid making a comment like that to Holly made Gail's blood boil.

She didn't like the idea of Holly being picked on, whether that was for her skin colour, her nerdiness, or her sexuality. No one should be subjected to that.

But Gail knew it was a fact of life, especially during adolescence. Even Gail hadn't escaped it. Hell, Gail hadn't even escaped it in her own home growing up, not with Elaine Peck as her mother.

She sighed and pressed another kiss to Holly's head.

"I'm not sure Doc, the glasses, the lab coat, you're just begging to be teased with that big brain of yours on show." She reminded Holly.

Holly chuckled. "You haven't seen me in my lab coat."

Actually, Gail had. "I guess I just have a very good imagination." She covered, now wasn't the time to admit to anything that could upset Holly.

Holly grinned, lifting to whisper into the blonde's ear, "Oh really?"

"Hmm. Sexy." Gail muttered as she closed her eyes and grinned as she pictured the image in her head. "Ow!" She chuckled as Holly slapped at her.

Holly shook her head at the blonde until Gail pulled her over and kissed her softly. Damn, this woman was making her lose her mind. As Gail pulled back Holly kept her eyes closed, licking her lips before whispering, "How far is it to your place?"

Gail snorted then glanced around before pressing her lips to Holly's again quickly. "It's not far."

Holly sighed and put her head back down against Gail's shoulder and started to play with the hand that wrapped around her and pulled her closer. She sighed again as Gail's fingers fought back when she tried to interlace them. She huffed and heard a chuckle at her ear before finally she had secured Gail's hand with her own. She grinned and glanced out the window as the bus turned another corner.

Another few turns and Gail stood and pulled at the cord to alert the driver she wanted off at the next stop. Then she tugged Holly up with her and moved them over to the exit door.

"This is us." She informed the other woman in case she hadn't guessed already.

"Finally." Holly muttered as she blinked and took in a deep breath to try and wake herself up some. She wasn't sure if it was the bus ride or her lack of sleep last night but she was feeling very lethargic right now and was grateful to be leaving the bus soon so she could stretch her legs out.

Gail grinned to herself, wondering where this grumpy side of Holly had suddenly come from. Maybe they should have gone for a proper meal somewhere earlier instead of the junk she got them at the bar.

As the bus stopped she tugged Holly out along with her then, keeping hold of her hand, directed them across the road and along another street.

"We can get take out or something to take up with us if you want?" She offered as she spotted a few of her favourite restaurants on the street.

Holly frowned as they walked. When the number of people around them dropped she slowed to a stop and looked at the blonde questioningly. "Are you hungry?"

Gail blinked wondering if she'd done something wrong by asking Holly if she wanted food. She shrugged. "I don't really have much in the way of food at my place."

Holly's lips twitched and she ducked her head to cover for it. She found it incredibly endearing that Gail was concerned over the state of her stomach.

Gail scowled at the bowed head as she thought she heard a giggle. Okay. So maybe this wasn't the hot and heavy passion filled night Holly might have been expecting, but Gail had never really done that before and besides, she was out of practice.

But she was hurt that Holly thought it was laughable to ask if she was hungry before they got back to her apartment. A place where Gail literally had almost nothing to offer the other woman.

"Whatever." She muttered, pulling her hand free and walking on.

Holly bit her lip and lifted her head to watch Gail from behind. She shook her head and hurried to catch up, slipping her hand back in to Gail's even as the blonde seemed intent to ignore her presence.

"I could eat I guess." Holly finally admitted with a squeeze of Gail's hand.

"Oh, no you've ruined it now." Gail muttered with a shake of her head. "You'll just have to go without."

Holly smirked and bumped shoulders with the blonde. "I guess I just have to eat what you have laying around."

Gail bit her lip. It wasn't really what Holly had just said but the way the pathologist had said it that was making a blush work its way up her cheeks. She sighed and turned into a shop on their way making Holly stumble to follow her.

The man behind the counter greeted Gail big a big smile asking if she wanted her usual.

Gail nodded and pulled her hand free from Holly's. "You can get your own." She told her with a scowl, still clearly unhappy with Holly.

Holly grinned and took her time as she went over to look at the chart on the wall to see what appealed to her, besides teasing Gail.

Finally decided she turned to give her order over only to see Gail had disappeared. She frowned and glanced outside into the street before looking back at the guy in the apron and head protection behind the counter.

"She be back." He told her dismissively as he waited for her order.

Holly wasn't sure what to think but gave him her order. He then pointed to the bench along the window that was currently occupied by two other people.

"You sit. You wait." He instructed.

Holly sighed and moved to a free spot and took her place. She pulled out her cell phone and noticed the missed calls from Traci. She wondered what she'd say to the detective. But right now she didn't want to think about that so she switched the device off and tucked it away then looked around for something else to do while she waited.

A few minutes later the guy behind the counter produced several white bags and glanced her way.

Holly frowned, she and Gail had ordered after the other people she was sat near, so this couldn't be their orders.

"Here. Go." The man said, holding the bags out for her.

Gingerly Holly stood, adjusting her glasses as she avoided the gazes from the other customers. She shook her head as she approached the counter. "There must be some mistake, we just ordered." She told him quietly.

The guy sighed when Holly wouldn't take the bags from him. "Ah! Here. You go now." He said with a wide grin now.

Holly glanced behind her shoulder and spotted Gail stood in the entrance with bags of her own.

"Thanks Lou." Gail said, holding the door open with her body as she waited for Holly to take the bags on the counter and come out of the takeout area of the restaurant.

Blinking rapidly Holly quickly grabbed the food and walked out back onto the street.

Gail felt Holly's eyes on her as they walked. "I'm a regular and Lou always puts my orders first." Or was it that Holly had been too busy looking at the food chart to notice Gail had paid Lou more than enough to cover for both their orders?

Holly dismissed that, choosing instead to ask, "What are you carrying?"

Gail glanced at Holly then blushed. She hadn't been joking when she said she had nothing at her place, she really truly did not have anything to eat or drink in her apartment.

"Is that milk?"

Gail ignored her and kept walking as she saw the entrance to her apartment block just ahead of them.

"And bread?" Holly asked, her amusement clear in her voice.

Gail sighed. What had she said to Romi early at the bar, that he was cramping her style?

What style? Gail was so out of practise at this that she was embarrassing herself.

She shook her head at herself. What was it with this woman that she had no idea what the hell she was doing? "Keep it up Doc and I'll just have the doorman call you a cab home." She warned.

Stopping to buy groceries when they'd both made it clear this had been heading to the bedroom?

What the hell was she thinking? Real smooth.

Holly grinned and pressed her body against Gail's awkwardly given they were both carrying bags in their hands. "But I thought you needed my services tonight?" She whispered teasingly.

A shiver went through Gail's body at the idea of Holly checking her over. She bit her lip as they entered her building, she nodded to the security guy on the front desk as she headed towards the lift bank.

The guard had taken a long look at Holly but he quickly glanced away as Gail glared at him.

The wait for a car to come down, standing beside a giggling Holly was definitely making Gail question herself once more.

"Oh Hol, I think I need more than my head checked." She muttered to herself but the laugh from beside her let her know she was heard clearly.

Holly watched Gail shake her head and as the blonde walked into the empty lift she stood outside it, eyeing her for a moment before stepping slowly into the car with Gail.

"I'm going to give you the kind of check-up that would normally get me arrested." Holly told her.

Gail snorted, not finding the image that created in her head a particular turn on. "I would hope so Doc, all your patients are dead."

"Shut up." Holly said with a smirk and as the door closed behind her and started to travel upwards, she put the bags in her hands down careful before stepping into Gail's personal space and pulling her into a deep kiss.

Gail didn't hesitate and matched Holly every step of the way in the kiss. Neither stopping nor pulling away until the lift stopped and dinged loudly to announce their arrival on Gail's floor.

Holly slowly eased out of the kiss and grabbed their takeout as she walked out into the hallway. "You're going to have to show me the way." She whispered to Gail.

"What?" Gail frowned. Show Holly the way? Holly was the card carrying lesbian out of the two of them, Gail was pretty sure Holly knew every way there was.

Holly took one look at the puzzled face on the blonde and burst out laughing. "To your apartment, which way?" She clarified.

Gail blushed heavily. "Totally knew that." She muttered.

"Of course you did."

"Shut up."

Holly shook her head and followed after the blonde.

Her life had definitely taken a very strange turn in these last few days.

Strange yes, but it sure was fun.

xxxxxx

AN/

Thanks for waiting.

Thanks for reading.

And I'll see you all next time!