Part 18

Andy sat at the table in the corner of the Penny. It had been such a strange shift and she wanted nothing more than to head home with Sam and just forget all about it. But first she had to get through a few rounds of drinks with her friends.

As Sam waited for his drink order he felt eyes on him and turned his head to spot Luke glaring at him.

Luke shifted closer and leaned in to keep from being overheard. "They're both on suspension." He informed Sam.

"Yeah, I know." Sam replied turning back to see if the barman was done yet.

Luke narrowed his eyes at the other detective. "Happy?" He asked casually as he leaned on the bar top.

Sam snorted and gave Luke that little half smirk that tended to irritate everyone but Andy.

"I didn't have anything to do with what happened today." Sam defended himself not that he felt he should have to.

"Don't kid yourself." Luke replied. "Every time you went after Gail with nothing but an agenda makes you responsible. And while Frank has been willing to cover for you, he'll be lucky if he can keep Collins in uniform, but that rookie's gone and you know it."

Sam swallowed uncomfortably, then he shook his head, he couldn't be held responsible for other people's actions. He was saved from finding a counter for Luke's accusations when his drinks were sat down in front of him. He smiled at the barman and handed over a twenty.

Luke knew he was wasting his breath, but he thought Sam needed to hear this. "You know she won't let this go. Gail's always known you had nothing on her so all she did was laugh at you, this," He said, meaning the shooting involving a close friend of Pecks. "This will get a reaction. I just hope you're ready for it."

Sam pocketed his change, picked up his drinks, and left Luke with a smile as he headed over to the table Andy had sat herself down at.

"Here you go." Sam said as he sat a beer down in front of his girlfriend.

Andy sighed as Sam took his seat. She glanced around the bar nervously. Chris had been in such a mood after Gail had left 15, snapping at everyone and point blank refusing to come for a drink tonight.

It was weird and confusing and Andy wasn't sure how to deal with it. Not when she knew how Sam felt about the Gail. It wasn't like she could talk about it to anyone. Not Chris, not Traci or Sam, or even Dov talked about Gail much anymore. She was the one subject they all seemed to silently agree never to discuss.

But then today happened.

"Okay what?" Sam asked as he could tell there was something playing on Andy's mind.

Andy shrugged and looked away. This time she spotted Dov and Chloe at the bar. She kept looking their way and as Dov turned with their drinks in his hand she caught his eye and gestured him over.

Sam smiled at the new arrives but concentrated on his beer, not really in the mood for talking with the officers tonight. The redhead talked way too much for his liking, it gave him a headache just thinking about spending time with her.

"Today was intense wasn't it?" Chloe asked as she shuffled her stool closer into the table. "I mean Chris was just, wow, right?"

Dov scowled, keeping his eyes on his beer.

Andy winced, not sure what to say, she knew Sam didn't always treat Gail fairly, neither did Nick, but weren't they all just trying to do their jobs? And if Gail did nothing wrong then she never had anything to worry about. Chris never felt like that though, he saw it as targeting Gail because of Jerry's death.

Now Andy was left considering that maybe he was right.

Sam hadn't really heard anything about Chris. He'd been more conscious of Nick and Duncan being interviewed by SIU after Frank had got done with them. He took a drink from his glass and glanced at the redhead and quirked an eyebrow up.

Chloe grinned and focused on her audience. "Yeah, he was so mad when Gail left. At Nick and he shouted at Dov just for bringing him a coffee." She made a face wondering who did that when someone does something nice for you. "I mean I know they like, used to date or whatever but seriously, wasn't that a couple of years ago and isn't she like a criminal now?" She asked glancing between Andy and Sam for answers because her boyfriend hadn't given her any and Nick had been stuck in a room with SIU and she hadn't seen him since.

But she thought his relationship to Gail Peck was weird because she'd been told that he'd dated Gail and almost married her until he ran away to join the army. Or at least that was the rumour at 15. "And isn't that just strange for you guys? Her being an ex-officer from here? And she's Steve's sister!" Her eyes widened. "I didn't even know he had a sister."

Sam blinked then shot Andy a look for inviting the pair over.

Andy smirked into her beer. Chloe really was something to behold once she got going.

"And are Nick and Duncan in trouble? Because of the gun going off?" Chloe asked as she glanced around wondering if anyone could give her some answers.

Andy and Dov shared a look.

"We probably shouldn't be talking about that." Dov finally spoke up but his voice was cold and his eyes weren't on Chloe.

Sam shifted as Dov eyed him. He turned and saw Luke Callaghan and Jo Rosati over at another table.

An idea came to him.

Swallowing down the rest of his beer Sam got up. "Back in a bit." He muttered to Andy before pressing a kiss to the top of her head and going to the bar.

Andy watched Sam go wondering if she should go after him just to get out of the inquisition over Gail Peck that she was sure was about to take place if Chloe got her way. Which with Dov she normally did.

Chloe rolled her eyes. "Okay, keep the new girl in the dark." She muttered then narrowed her eyes at Dov. "I'm staying at my place tonight."

Dov eyes widened. That was Chloe's way of telling him he was going home alone tonight and that they wouldn't be having sex.

He scowled and considered his options.

Andy watched the scene play out and shook her head as Dov sighed and lifted his hands up in defeat, making Chloe squeal.

She was happy for Dov, that he had found Chloe. They were good together, like she and Sam were. Like Traci and Steve. Then her thoughts turned back to Chris, wishing he'd come with them tonight, even for just one drink. She missed the old days when everything was simpler for them all.

Sam sat down between Luke and Jo and smiled at the pair.

"Can we help you?" Luke asked wanting Sam to get lost.

Jo rolled her eyes wondering when both men would get over their past rivalry over Andy McNally.

"I saw a very interesting thing today." Sam started, pointedly ignoring Luke and talking instead to Jo.

"Yeah?"

Sam grinned and nodded his head. "Yeah." He agreed. "I saw Gail Peck get into the car of one Dr Holly Stewart."

Luke scoffed and took a long swallow of his drink. "We already know about them being in the same car today." He dismissed.

Sam pursed his lips then tried a different tact. "How is the investigation into the stolen body at the morgue going?"

Jo sighed, the best lead they had turn out to be going nowhere.

"Right, that's what I thought." Sam nodded knowing the security guard that had been on duty that night still hadn't been traced. "Yet, you now know that Gail Peck and Holly Stewart know each other. Don't you find that strange?" He glanced between the pair now as he saw them both look more contemplative and willing to listen to him. "I mean, on one hand you have a former police officer that has personal knowledge of the morgue and a forensic pathologist who is supposed to be good on the details yet her statement read like she doesn't have a clue about the meaning of pertinent information."

"She did lose her glasses." Luke points out.

Sam smirked as he spotted Jo frowning, and he took the fact she hadn't just dismissed him yet as a good sign. He glanced at Luke quickly. "So she says. We only have her word for what really happened down there."

Jo sipped her drink. "So what are you suggesting here, that they were in on this together? You have no proof that they knew each other prior to this morning. Other than a chance meeting here the day after the dock shootings." Which was what Holly had said to the officers on scene.

Sam's lips twitched and he gave Jo a curious look, wondering if she would go out on a limb for the chance of an arrest. Especially if that arrest was none other than Gail Peck.

"That's exactly what I think, and not only that but if we push Stewart on this I think we can get Peck for it, and for the shootings at the docks." Sam informed them.

Luke snorted. That was a pretty big claim.

"I'm listening." Jo said as she leaned in wondering where Sam was going with this. And if she could use it to make a rock solid case against the blonde.

"Well, for what I'm going to suggest, you'll need Best's approval so this has to come from you, without my name anywhere near it." Sam pointed out, because he knew that most of 15 would think like Callaghan and be wary of anything he said regarding Gail.

Jo's eyes lit up, the less involvement from anyone else the more acclaim she would receive with a conviction. So far Sam was saying everything she wanted to hear.

She grinned at Luke then sipped her drink again before gesturing for Sam to continue. "Keep talking."

Sam chewed on his bottom lip. Could he really be this close to finally getting Peck on something that would put her away for life?

Damn he hoped so.

xxxxxxx

Holly smiled to herself as she realised Gail had been over in the kitchen for a lot longer than necessary. They'd eaten and talked a little but mostly it had been shy smiles and lingering, teasing looks.

And right now Holly needed to do something about the arousal that had been building all day.

She'd been expecting Gail to make the first move, had been waiting for it now that they were in the blonde's apartment on her territory. But so far that wasn't looking likely.

So, the question was should she go after the blonde and try and coax her back into the room or should she give Gail some time?

"Wine or beer?" Gail's voice suddenly called out to her.

"Beer please." Holly answered and soon Gail was returning to her place beside her with two bottles of beer in her hands.

Gail smiled at Holly and sat down, passing off the doctor's drink. The TV was on but neither of them had paid any attention to what was on, using it more as a way to divert their eyes from each other more than anything.

After another swallow of beer Gail's leg started to bounce gently as her eyes flitted about the room as she wondered how to start this. Gail wasn't very good with people, she was great at sex, but when it came to relationships and before and after stuff, well, Gail just hadn't the first clue. She normally stumbled through those parts or became surely and distance because she was unsure of herself and she hated that.

She knew she could come off cold and uncaring but that wasn't true, it never had been.

And the last thing she wanted tonight was to make Holly think that she was being used, that was why she'd tried to slow things down tonight. But here she was second guessing herself again.

Holly watched the younger woman closely. "I can just call a cab if you want." She told Gail softly trying to ease the other woman's tension. They'd had a nice time today, if you glossed over the hospital visit and being held at gun point by the police.

Gail put her beer down and shifted around to face the pathologist. She smiled at Holly and reached over to take her hand, gently stroking her thumb over the back of it as Holly squeezed.

"This is going to sound really weird, and if you want me to call you a cab home afterwards, then I'll totally understand." Gail said in a rush.

Holly grinned, put her bottle down and then turned so they were both facing each other. "Okay." She drawled wondering where this conversation was going.

Gail blew out a breath and looked away to try and compose herself before turning back to a pair of waiting, curious eyes.

"You know I have sort of been, kinda, following you around?" She asked with a wince.

Holly chuckled. "Officer Diaz did imply that, and you do knowing where I live and being in my home in the middle of the night has sort of tipped that off, yes." She replied with a wry nod of her head.

Gail sucked in a breath, not having any defence for her actions. At least not one any rational person would want to hear never mind accept and still want to have anything to do with her.

Holly saw the range of emotions play across the blondes face. "And while it may be very creepy and under any other circumstance would probably send me into a tailspin and demanding police protection." She told Gail seriously.

Gail looked down at their joined hands with a sigh.

Holly shook her head. Was the blonde actually pouting? "But given the very unique events of the last few days, and the fact that I probably owe you my life, I think I'm willing to cut you some slack." She joked.

"Oh, really?" Gail asked with a grin, leaning over the short distance to kiss Holly on the mouth gently. She didn't like to think about Lucky pointing his gun at Holly down in the morgue. "That's mighty generous of you Doc."

Holly grinned and lifted her free hand to cup Gail's cheek gently before pulling her back into a kiss.

"I have my moments." Holly whispered before kissing Gail again, this time using the tip of her tongue to trace Gail's bottom lip before accepting the invitation inside.

They kissed softly for long moments before Gail eventually pulled away, not quite finished talking.

"Plus I'm very stalkable." Holly continued with a soft laugh.

Gail's eyes darkened and she scowled. She didn't like the idea of anyone stalking Holly, and if she ever thought that someone was, she'd deal with it very quickly.

"Hey," Holly watched Gail's expression change and she used both hands to capture Gail's face and stare at her. "That was a joke, Gail, just a joke."

Blinking, Gail took a deep breath and tried to settle her emotions. No one was going to hurt Holly. Not if she had anything to say about it.

"Yeah, sorry." She mumbled, shifting back and running her hand over her face.

Holly kept her eyes on the blonde.

"It's just, I did follow you and check on you, and I just, I don't want that to be an issue right now. With us." Gail said as she tried to get her conversation back on track.

Holly bit her lip as the blonde looked at her, waiting on her response. "Can I ask you something?"

Gail felt a lump form in her throat but she gave the pathologist a nod.

"Why did you follow me? I mean, I know you broke into the morgue, but that couldn't have been it." She said, because she knew from Gail's previous existence as a police officer of 15 Division that she had probably been in and out of the forensics building countless times.

Clearing her throat Gail decided to just be honest. "You were a new face." She explained. "My boss' boss runs a lot of illegal activities. International activities. It wouldn't have been the first time a new face turned out to be CIA or some other outfit looking to come into Toronto under the radar."

Holly frowned. She'd heard a bit, a very small bit, about Wolf's dealings with drugs and extortion, and even being linked to several deaths, but she had no idea that he was part of such a bigger criminal operation. Or that Gail might be.

Gail saw the worry and took Holly's hand back slowly, grateful when the other woman let her.

"We know you're not anything like that." Gail said trying to prevent Holly freaking out or scaring her further, that hadn't been her intention. "I just had to check."

Absently Holly nodded.

"I didn't mean to scare you Holly." Gail told her softly. "If you want me to call that cab, it's okay."

Holly licked her lips and studied the blonde. "What you do is really dangerous, isn't it?" It must be if Gail had to worry about the rest of the people that worked with her, as well as the police and maybe international law enforcements.

Gail shrugged. She hadn't really found it to be that different to what she used to do, now she was just extra vigilant. Now she didn't have a uniform on and a visible gun to ward off anyone that thought they could take her in a fight.

"Not really. It's not that more dangerous than when I was a cop." She replied.

Holly gave the blonde a look, clearly not believing that. "Yeah, but now there's no bullet proof vest to protect you, or any backup on hand at the touch of a button."

Gail just offered a smile, there wasn't any way to counter that or pretend that her work wasn't dangerous because it clearly was.

Holly let out an aggrieved sigh.

"So, should I call that cab?" Gail asked again, her eyebrows hiking and when Holly glanced at her she pushed out her bottom lip, trying to sway Holly's decision.

Holly tried not to smile as she shook her head at the blonde's antics. Then she turned serious and lifted her hand to Gail's face, tracing her fingers gently over the scar there. "You're careful aren't you?" It pained her to think of the blonde getting hurt.

Gail's eyes fluttered closed at the touch and she leaned into the hand.

Holly watched Gail sigh, her other hand moving to the blonde's hip and when Gail opened her eyelids to reveal a darkened shade of blue it was for an entirely different reason than before.

"Yes." Gail whispered in a breath before capturing Holly's lips again. This time she took her time and as she sensed pressure at her hip she shifted up and over Holly's thighs to straddle the other woman, never once breaking the kiss.

Holly moaned into Gail's mouth as she felt their bodies press together, separated only by the fabric of their clothes.

As their tongues danced and teased Holly slipped her hands under Gail's top and scratched her nails lightly down the blonde's spine to drift further and squeeze at Gail's ass.

Gail gasped into Holly's mouth and rolled her hips into the older woman. "Bed. My bed." She managed to get out as teeth started to nip at her lip and then trail down to her neck as her head lolled back to give Holly better access.

"Fuck!" She hissed out as she gripped Holly's hair and held her against her neck as she sucked hard.

Holly tightened her hold around the blonde and finally released the delicate skin between her teeth and gently lapped at it with her tongue.

Growling, Gail pulled Holly's head back and attacked her mouth.

Holly's chance at leaving had gone now and if they didn't make it to her bedroom, Gail didn't really care as Holly started to pull her top off over her head.

xxxxxxx

AN/

Oh, what is Sam up to now?

Can't be good right?

Find out next time. Maybe ;)

Thanks for reading!