Part 28

"Where are you now? Is she still in sight?"

Traci rolled her eyes as Jo's voice crackled through the radio in her lap. Glancing at Holly's Range Rover just ahead of her own car, Traci didn't understand why the other detective was so worried, it was clear where the pathologist was headed.

"Traci!"

"Yeah, yeah." Traci muttered as she carefully picked up the radio. "She's heading back to the station Jo." Where else would she be going?

Jo's voice sounded slightly calmer when she came back on. "Good, we're in traffic behind you so just make sure she doesn't leave."

"Yes Jo."

Whatever had happened in the café it hadn't made Rosati any more rational to deal with but Traci didn't know if it was because the operation had gone well or because it hadn't.

Traci pulled into the parking lot of 15 Division just in time to see Holly slamming the passenger door closed of her car. Hurrying out she approached the woman she still considered a friend. "Holly?"

Spotting Traci Holly gave her what she hoped was a warning look not to get too close and kept walking.

Traci stopped and let Holly storm off into the station on her own.

A minute later and the surveillance van pulled in with Jo, Steve and Luke getting out soon after it was parked.

"Where is she?" Jo asked quickly.

When Traci pointed towards the entrance, Jo headed into the station followed closely by Luke.

Steve lingered quietly beside Traci as Andy waved over then followed the detectives inside.

"So what happened?"

Steve rocked on his toes as he studied the concrete of the parking lot ground, his hands tucked into the pockets of his trousers. He shrugged at Traci as he lifted his head to meet her eyes. "I think she really likes her." He commented.

Traci scowled, not completely following. "Holly?"

Steve smiled sadly at his girlfriend. "Gail." He replied before turning and slowly making his own way back into the station.

Traci sighed. "Pecks." She muttered to herself then walked after Steve. Looking as despondent as he did Traci had to wonder if Steve had just gotten the evidence they needed to put his sister away for a long time.

It would explain why Jo didn't want Holly out of her sight.

She had to wonder how Steve would really cope with that, and if Holly would ever speak to her again.

xxxxx

Oliver scowled as he heard yelling that was ruining his zen like calm as he tried to work through the mountain of paperwork he had found on his desk. Who knew running a station involved so much red tape, forms that needed his signature and timesheets that he nothing of but had to finish off because no one had bothered with any of it before he'd arrived. But given the shouting that was still going on he welcomed the excuse to ditch his office and find out what the hell was going on.

"Officer Epstein," Oliver called out as he noticed his old rookie sitting at his own desk. "What is disturbing my nap time?"

Dov smirked then swivelled around to look at his new Staff Sergeant. "I would only be guessing Sir."

Oliver rolled his eyes as he made it down the small stair case. "Guess away, I'll only hold it against you otherwise."

"Well Sir, operation 'Get Gail' has recently just ended and-"

"Wait!" Oliver cut in as his scowl deepened. "What 'Get Gail' operation?"

Dov's stomach dropped a little. His eyes widened and he glanced around looking for some backup. Andy was there but she ducked her head down further and avoided his gaze. He turned back to his waiting, irritated boss and swallowed nervously. "Inspector Jarvis not tell you?" He stalled.

"Tell me what Epstein?"

Dov tried to smile, it would at least help combat his sudden need to throw up. He knew Oliver still talked to Gail occasionally, so this was not going to be Dov's day for spreading good news. "That Rosati, Callaghan and Detective Peck are using Dr Stewart to try and dig up some dirt on Gail, enough to get her to cooperate in bringing down Damien Wolf and his gang, Sir." He answered in a rush.

Oliver put his hand on his hip as his eyes trailed over to the back corridor where all the noise was coming from. "Is that right?"

Dov pursed his lips not wanting to say anything else.

"Hmm." Oliver started walking towards the sound of raised voices. Now detainees he could get to tone down easy enough but detectives could be tricky. Luckily he had a new shinny white shirt that would help with that and if it didn't well, he also had his trusty cane.

Dov exchanged worried looks with Andy that made him get to his feet. "Would you like me to go see what's up back there?" He offered quickly.

Oliver grunted, and without looking back at Dov he pointed a finger. "Sit, and stay. I'll deal with this."

Dov blew out a breath then did as he was told. "Yes Sir."

Andy glared at Dov as Oliver continued walking away.

"What?" Dov hissed back at his friend, he'd tried, if things were blowing up with the detectives that was their business, he had Nick problems to deal with as it was and that meant trying to keep out of Inspector Jarvis' way. And while he might not be here now, he was bound to show up to find out if the detectives had enough from Gail to move on anyone.

Hell, chances were even Superintendent Peck was going to be here as well. There was no way he wanted to get in the middle of all that ego and pride.

Andy shook her head. She knew Holly was going off on the detectives, Jo especially, but after what she'd overheard in the back of that van she was just as reluctant as Dov was to put her own neck on the line.

She clearly remembered Steve's partner from Narcotics and how she and Chris had been pressured by Steve to leave it alone. Had he been just as guilty?

Dov glanced over his shoulder as the shouting died down suddenly. It was unnerving. After a minute he got up again not wanting to stick around. "You wanna?"

"Yeah." Andy said hurriedly and they both escaped before the fallout started.

xxxxx

Holly was fighting tears as she glared at Detective Rosati. She understood why Staff Sergeant Shaw wanted to hear about this whole mess from the top but all she needed was to get her cell phone and get as far away from these people as she could. "Just give me my damn phone!" She ground out once more.

Jo stood firm beside Luke, her arms crossed across her chest. She shook her head. "You need to calm down and go through the debrief with us before anything else happens." She insisted.

Luke sighed but said nothing hoping Oliver would say it for him.

"Just, explain it to me slowly this time. Just so I've got this right." Oliver said, directing his comment to Jo who seemed to be the major road block to Holly's departure from the station. "You wanted to trap Gail Peck, our ex-colleague, using the good Doc here, but it blew up in your face and now you want her to go through your mistakes with you again?" He said looking puzzled at the situation. "Did I get that right?"

Jo clenched her jaw as a blush worked its way over her cheeks.

"Phone." Holly repeated, sensing that Oliver was going to let her leave like she wanted to.

With great reluctance Jo reached into her jacket and pulled the item out, then place it hard into the outstretched hand Holly was holding out.

"Thank you." Holly muttered to Oliver before walking out the door he held open for her.

"I'll be in touch. Thank you for your cooperation Doctor Stewart." He said as he let her slip out before closing the door again just as Jo headed for it. He chuckled at her. "Oh no, not so fast. You two are going to come to my office and we will have that sit down and debrief." He said before he frowned. "Where are Detectives Peck and Nash? Shouldn't they be here?"

Jo snorted at the mention of the couple. "Probably off trying to save their relationship." She told her new boss.

"After you." Luke said with a smile as he gestured Jo forward.

Jo stared at him then stormed out leaving Luke to walk with Oliver.

"Was she being serious?" Oliver enquired.

"Most likely." Luke replied. "You can hear it all for yourself soon enough, trust me, Gail just let off a warning shot. I feel sorry for anyone she sets her sights on and gets serious about."

"That bad?"

Luke shrugged. "Maybe, depends. If your girlfriend was being harassed by rogue cops, would you let it go?"

Oliver mouthed 'rogue cops' to himself wondering what else was going on in this station that he had no idea about.

Luke smirked at his friend's reaction. "Just wait, I sent the recording to the S drive so you can load it up in the office and have Jo give you the blow by blow rundown." He told him.

Oliver grinned at Luke. "Sounds like fun!"

"Oh yeah."

Oliver spotted that he was missing a few officers with only a few lonely desk chairs to greet his return. So he had no goffers to run his errands for him even though he'd specifically told Dov to stay put. He have to find something unpleasant for his old rookie when he did find him.

He turned and gave Luke another plastered on grin. "Luke my friend, thank you for volunteering to go round up the rest of our wayward detectives so I only have to sit through the joy of this one time."

Luke took one look at Jo pacing Oliver's office and quickly did an about face more than happy to find Traci and Steve, if he had to deal with Jo then so should they. He wasn't even going to feel bad if he interrupted them in the middle of a fight. "On it."

Oliver eyed his office too and chuckled. "Dodged a bullet there my friend." He muttered wondering how Luke to still work with the woman every day. He could barely have a civil conversation with his ex and he only did that because he loved his kids.

xxxxx

Holly pulled up in front of Gail's bar and switched the engine off. She didn't know if her nightmare was over or if she was still in the middle of a raging storm but she'd made it through the last few hours and she felt like she wasn't drowning anymore.

But she still took a minute to sit there and rest her head against the steering wheel.

Gail had acted almost normal with her at the café, even knowing why she was there, the blonde didn't treat her like a traitor or like she'd just stabbed her in the back. It gave her hope and just enough courage to get out of her car and walk head inside.

It was busier than she would have guessed for mid-afternoon but the crowd at the bar gave her the time to spot Gail behind the counter handing drinks over to a couple of customers. The sight of the blonde laughing did something to Holly as she stood back and watched. And then blue eyes turned and held her gaze. Holly smiled back at Gail and walked the distance to stand across from her girlfriend. "Hey."

Gail just stared back at Holly, feeling strangely at ease with the way things had developed back at the café. Not even ten minutes ago she was scolding herself for putting too much trust in the woman now stood in front of her. But time and again, even when by rights Holly should have turned the other way, she kept choosing Gail.

She realised now that they both had found a level of trust in each other and given who they were and how different their lives were it should have been near impossible but here they both were, stumbling forward together.

"Hey." Gail replied casually, and then she wiped the counter down in front of Holly before eyeing her body, lingering at the open button on her shirt. "What can I get a pretty lady like you?"

Holly blushed. When Gail chuckled at her reaction Holly shook her head and leaned over the bar to grab at Gail's t-shirt. "Just shut up and kiss me." She whispered as she pulled on Gail.

Gail went with the motion and managed a wiggle of her eyebrows just as her lips met Holly's and they kissed. Someone whistled at them and she raised her middle finger in their general direction before Holly's tongue distracted her and instead she used her hands to pull the brunette closer as the kiss deepened.

When Gail heard the cheering start she reluctantly pulled away from Holly but kept her hands on her girlfriends face. "Go out with me tonight." She asked, staring into Holly's eyes.

"Yes." Holly said quietly. She needed a night out, just to let loose and forget the hell of the last few day.

Gail's smiled brightened. "Yeah?"

Holly giggled wondering if Gail seriously thought she'd say no. Gently she took one of the hands at her cheek and kissed it before tracing three letters onto the plam, much the same way she had done earlier.

Y

E

S

xxxxxx

AN/ The other fic is taking a little longer than I hoped, so here ;)

Thanks for reading!