Freedom's Just Another Word

by snarcasm318

A/U: College is supposed to be their first taste of freedom, but for the last year Gail Peck had real freedom. Now she's back, within the grasp of her controlling parents, and forced to face the nightmares she's tried to leave behind. She's used to dealing with it alone, but does she have to?

21. Chapter 21

Ch. 21

A/N: My insomnia right now is rivaling Gail's. But it does mean a lot of writing. I really contemplated splitting this chapter in half because it feels long to me and very busy. But I'm feeling impatient, so you get to enjoy it all in one sitting. Fair warning though: it may give you whiplash...

---

Gail stealthily made her way down the stairs, careful not to wake anyone who might be sleeping in the house. She threw herself onto the long couch in the living room and plugged her headphones into her ears. She didn't actually think she would be able to fall asleep, not when her mind was whirling at a breakneck pace, but this was an added precaution. She just didn't trust herself, or rather, didn't trust her brain when she wasn't conscious. She flexed her left hand instinctively; ever since it was sprained smashing through the wall it still felt sore sometimes, usually when the weather was bad. But right then it served as a reminder of why she couldn't be in her own bed next to the deliciously soft and sweetly sleeping girl she had left behind.

She tried to focus on the lyrics of the songs on her device, to the soft crooning, to the steady bass, but it wasn't working. She could still hear Frankie's words at the party. All the snide comments she had heard about Juliet around campus suddenly made sense, she just hadn't realized how connected they really were before she moved in. She questioned if there was more to Oliver's suggestion of living in this specific house, but to talk to him about that would involve talking about what happened and that was something she didn't do, not even with him.

She also couldn't stop thinking about how many girls those boys attacked before they were stopped. She knew the general statistics: one out of three women would be sexually assaulted in their lives, that only a fraction of women (and even less men) would report it, that it was more likely to happen by someone the person knows than a stranger. She had sat through all the same lectures as most girls: never accept an open drink from someone at a party, don't leave your drink unattended, watch out for yourself and for your friends. But those numbers, those rules, they didn't always matter, they weren't always enough protection.

Gail tried to get out of her own head. These were things she had thought about too many times and she, well she was technically one of the lucky ones, even when she didn't feel that way. She had had Oliver, they had run the tests, she had been saved.

She could hear the beeping of the machines and voices of people talking over her. They were saying how lucky she really was. How much worse it could have been. The room felt too bright and the noises too loud. She wanted to get up but her legs felt like lead. She glanced around and noticed a window where people were looking in on her. She could see the disappointed look in her mother's eyes before the redhead walked away. The door opened softly and she saw warm brown eyes and the slight quirk of a crooked smile. The crisp white coat crinkled with each step she took into the room. She tried to sit up in her bed but she felt a tightness around her wrists. She looked down at the restraints and tried to pull against them but they didn't budge. "I'm sorry, you couldn't be trusted," She looked up again at the approaching brunette, and suddenly she could see the bruises, the dark purples, the greens and yellows, and small cuts along her perfect face. She could feel her heart shatter in her chest. She did that.

Gail sprang awake, sending the device on her stomach tumbling towards the ground but the wire from the headphones had caught around her wrist and tightened, keeping it suspended. She slowly unwrapped the white coil while breathing deeply. These stupid fucking dreams were going to destroy any semblance of sanity she had left. She thought a part of her should feel vindicated in knowing that she had made the right decision leaving her own bed that night, but all she could feel was the sinking disappointment that she was as broken as ever.

She glanced at the clock and saw that she still had twenty minutes before Holly's alarm would go off. She got up and went into the kitchen to brew some coffee and make breakfast. It was a small gesture meant to make amends for not being able to follow through on her attempt to be better. It was also an excuse for why she wasn't in bed when the brunette woke up.

Gail finished the last drops of her desperately needed caffeine fix as she turned off the burner on the stove. She plated the pancakes and grabbed a fresh mug of coffee before tackling the stairs. After gently opening her door, she hovered in the doorway taking in the sight before her. Holly was sprawled across her bed wrapped around her pillow. Her one shoulder and arm bare from where the sheet had slipped down. Her dark locks were sprawled across her face but she looked content. Gail smiled softly, she liked the way Holly looked wrapped up in her sheets but another glance at the time told her that she needed to get the brunette up and moving if she wanted to catch her flight. She walked over to the bed and sat with her back against the headboard, tucking one leg under the other that was hanging off the side. "Hey sleepyhead, wake up."

"Mmm five more minutes." Holly grumbled as she buried her face into the side of Gail's thigh, resisting the best she could.

"Your coffee will be cold in five minutes."

Holly tilted her face up and cracked open one eye, "You made me coffee?"

Gail smiled and brushed the hair out of Holly's face, "And breakfast."

The smile on Holly's face grew into a full-out grin, not only had the blonde made her coffee but whatever was on that plate smelled delicious. With a stretch, she picked herself up and leaned against the headboard as well. She tugged the sheets up to cover her and tied her hair into a loose bun. She accepted both her glasses and the coffee with a content sigh. After tasting the food and complimenting the chef she got the chance to really look at the girl next to her. Gail looked exhausted, beautiful of course but worn down. There were dark circles under her eyes that stood out even more against the pale skin.

"Is this what you've been doing the last three hours while I was sleeping in your bed?" Holly had been vaguely aware of Gail leaving the room the night before but had been too tired to comment at the time.

"Oh...ummm...I uh...I couldn't sleep and I didn't want to wake you up with my tossing and turning." She explained with a shrug but didn't meet Holly's inquisitive eyes, focusing her attention on the comforter she was nervously plucking.

Holly studied the blonde for a minute, slowly chewing her food and contemplating whether or not there was more to the story. When Gail had offered for her to spend the night she had been pleasantly surprised, considering Gail never stayed at her place. So it really shouldn't have surprised her that even in her own home, Gail had left her on her own. But why go to all the effort? It's not like Holly had asked to stay. She couldn't wrap her mind around the inconsistencies, she invited her to stay but then slept somewhere else, only to pamper her with breakfast. It didn't make sense.

"If you didn't want to share a bed, it's okay, I get it." Holly kept her voice neutral but Lisa's words from the day before played bitterly in her mind 'She doesn't even spend the night. You're not a couple. You're just a fling to her.' Gail's disappearance hurt more than she was willing to admit. Holly liked sex as much as the next person and she really liked it with Gail, but she craved more intimacy, she couldn't help it. And every time she felt like she was getting closer to the blonde, she was reminded that the other girl was a runner.

"No, it's not that," Gail rushed to reassure Holly. Her grand gesture from the day before to prove Lisa wrong had clearly backfired. Gail hadn't been able to stay but it wasn't Holly's fault. "My sleep schedule is all out of whack from finals. You in my bed's not the problem, me in my bed is." It definitely went way beyond a messed up sleep schedule, but now wasn't the time or place to have that conversation. She wasn't sure there would ever be a time or place, no matter how much she liked Holly and being with her.

There was something so sincere in Gail's tone that Holly believed her, but there was still something those blue eyes were holding back. There was definitely more to this sleeping thing than Gail was letting on to but there was only so much she could push, and the girl beside her already looked extremely tense. She decided to lighten the mood and put the blonde back at ease. "So I wasn't snoring or hogging the covers or something?"

"No." Gail smirked, "Well, you were snoring a little but it was cute."

Holly smiled and playfully smacked Gail on the arm before digging back into her breakfast-in-bed. She finished the food and Gail ushered her into the shower quickly so they could leave. Holly had tried unsuccessfully to pull the blonde in with her but when Gail was being responsible there was very little one could do to sway her. She was oddly punctual about everything, so she was way too determined to get Holly to the airport on time.

Once Holly was ready Gail snagged the keys to Frankie's car, figuring that she would be back from the airport before the senior untangled herself from Chloe long enough to even notice it was missing.

"Does Frankie know you're borrowing her car?" Holly asked suspiciously as she climbed into the passenger seat. Frankie never let anyone else drive her car, not even Holly.

"It'll be back before she wakes up."

"So that's a no."

"Semantics."

"You do realize how much danger you'll be in if she finds out."

"Well, it is my middle name." Gail flashed Holly a wicked smile as she started up the car.

Holly laughed and rolled her eyes as she made herself comfortable. The drive was relatively quiet as the brunette rested in the passenger seat, her eyes closed and her breathing slow and steady. Gail wasn't sure if she was asleep or just relaxing but she looked as beat as the blonde felt. At least the med student was going to be able to nap on the flight, and when they got to the airport, she sleepily smiled at the driver and thanked her for the ride. She also forced Gail to promise to take get some sleep before work. It was with a sweet, chaste kiss that Holly finally said good-bye and headed off to Vancouver to spend the holiday with her grandparents and extended family. She promised to be back in time for the Peck Party on New Year's Day; Gail just had to survive until then.

That was going to be easier said than done considering she had to spend the night at the Peck mausoleum for Christmas Eve. Her mother had already tried to get her to stay Christmas night as well, but she had no intentions of following that even if it meant sleeping in her own house alone. The housemates were scattering for the holidays. Juliet, a military brat, was due to leave for Vancouver where her father was currently stationed the day before Christmas Eve. Traci would be with her family, helping her mom and grandma wrangle her younger siblings and cousins for the holiday. Andy would be with her Dad, no doubt. Chloe was jubilantly talking about spending time with her exuberant family. And even Frankie would be heading back to her hometown. She was the only one who seemed to be looking forward to the family bonding time as much as Gail was, if her becoming quieter and moodier the closer it came time was any indication. At least Gail didn't have to drive as far as Frankie did before getting trapped.

The boys would be distributed as well. Jerry would spend it with just his mom and her family, his dad having lost his life in the line of duty protecting a fellow officer. Sammy would be with his sister, who he apparently argues with constantly. Nick would be with his foster mom for the most part, except when he takes time to see his brother. And even though Dov was Jewish he was splitting his time between his parents due to their divorce. Chris would be the only person not returning, but he promised to come back to visit. It wouldn't be the same the following semester but everyone was doing their best to not think about that.

Gail tried to push thoughts about winter break out of her mind as she rolled down the windows and turned up the radio in Anderson's car. It really was a smooth ride. Deciding to take advantage of the freedom those wheels provided her Gail opted to take the long way home.

---

The angle of Frankie's room meant the light came in at a ridiculous hour (she lost the coin toss with Juliet at the beginning of the year). The night before she had been too distracted to pull her black out curtains so now the sun was doing its best to bring her back to the land of the conscious. And she wasn't the only one as she felt the girl in her arms start to stir as well.

"I didn't realize how cuddly you were when you slept." Chloe muttered into her skin.

Frankie could hear the smile in Chloe's groggy voice as the redhead shifted to press herself closer to the older girl. She already had one leg draped over the senior, an arm across her middle, and her head was resting on Frankie's chest, while Frankie had a hand resting securely on her back.

"Hmph." The stubborn brunette grumped before she untangled herself and turned her back on the freshman to prove a point. But her theatrics didn't work as she felt Chloe just mold herself behind her. "You're the one that's on me like a frickin' koala." Frankie mumbled into her pillow, she kept her eyes tightly closed and worked to keep the smile off her face.

"Really Crankypants? Because I'm pretty sure every time I moved last night you pulled me back."

"It's a small bed, Muppet, next time I'll just let you fall off."

"Oh, so there's going to be a next time?"

"Not if you keep talking instead of letting me sleep." Frankie continued to grumble. "I should've let you stay on the couch."

"Hmm...you could've," Chloe conceded as she moved her hand to Frankie's stomach, trailing it slowly along the tight muscles as she pressed a kiss to the letters running across Frankie's shoulder. She felt the senior's breath stutter as she continued her slow descent, "But then I wouldn't be here for morning sex."

Frankie couldn't help the way her spine curved and legs shifted to give Chloe more access. "Valid point."

After a round of the proposed morning sex, the two girls fell back to sleep for a bit. But it was all too soon for Frankie that the ever-energetic freshman was up and moving again.

"Have you bought your Secret Santa gift yet?" Chloe asked as she pulled a shirt over her naked torso.

"No." Frankie grunted as she cracked one eye open and shot Chloe a look for putting clothes on.

Chloe ignored her and got off the bed to retrieve her panties. She slipped them on and returned to kneel on the mattress next to the older girl, which caused the bed to dip, and earned her another disgruntled look. "Want to go with me to get something?"

"No."

"Come on it'll be fun."

"No, it won't. Shopping right now is awful. My person's getting a gift card." Frankie buried her head under a pillow in an attempt to end the talking.

Chloe promptly pulled the pillow out of the senior's grasp, "Oh, come on...that's no fun."

"Don't care."

"You have no idea what to get the person do you?"

"No."

"Alright, so I'll help."

"No."

"Suit yourself." Chloe tossed the pillow back gently and got off the bed. She sauntered out of the room to let the stubborn girl sleep, alone.

Frankie put the pillow back under her head without opening her eyes and enjoyed the silence for a few minutes. But it didn't last long before she heard the shower turn on in her bathroom. She was up and out of the bed in a flash, all thoughts of sleep quickly forgotten.

---

"Stop looking at me like that. Carlotta wouldn't start." Chloe reached for the radio dial in Frankie's car only to have her hand swatted away. The senior took her eyes off the road for a second to glare at the bouncy girl beside her, but Chloe's smile didn't waver.

"Because you left a light on in her and your battery is too old for me to jump it."

"The boys left the light on when they went for an ice run last night, which they turned into a Wendy's run."

"Then don't lend your car to idiots."

"Their cars were blocked in. Plus, it doesn't hurt being nice to people." Frankie shot her a disbelieving look. "What? It doesn't. And we're out now anyway so we just have to add a battery to the shopping list."

"You're just happy you got your way." Chloe's smile grew even bigger, confirming Frankie's suspicions. She rolled her eyes and focused back on driving. She glanced at her dashboard. "Huh?"

"What's wrong?"

"I could've sworn I had more gas in my car than this."

"How much is missing?" Chloe asked as she changed the station to a pop one while Frankie was too distracted to stop her.

"A quarter tank, I think."

"Have you been driving it?"

"No, I've been day drinking remember?"

Chloe turned to give Frankie a serious look, "You didn't drive drunk and forget, right?"

"No, of course not." Frankie was certain she hadn't driven her car in at least a few days and no one was insane enough to borrow it without asking (not even Sam). Suddenly the light bulb went off. "Oh, your roommate is so dead."

"What? Why?"

"She totally stole my car to drive Holly to the airport this morning."

"Aw, that's so sweet." Chloe sang out before she caught the murderous look on the driver's face. "I mean sneaky. That's so sneaky."

"You're such a sap."

"I prefer a romantic."

"Hopelessly so."

Frankie and Chloe fought over the radio for the rest of the car ride until they reached the first store on Chloe's list. Frankie didn't make it easy to shop, dragging her feet along every aisle. The place was mobbed like she had predicted but Chloe stuck close to her. They finally made it to the toy aisle and after being threatened about being left to walk home for the fifth time, Chloe had decided physically holding onto Frankie as they looked at things to buy their friends was the only way to guarantee she didn't make good on it.

"You know when you said we were going toy shopping, I really thought you were talking about the fun kind." The woman standing a few feet away shot Frankie a look, but the senior tried to ignore it.

Chloe poked Frankie in the stomach, "I'm not shopping for you, I'm shopping for Gail." She finally released her hold on the other girl to pick something up to check the price.

"Well then it could have been a gift for Holly too." Frankie joked and Chloe shook her head as she laughed.

The woman from before made a disgruntled sound after the comment.

Frankie turned her attention to the stranger and narrowed her eyes, "What?"

"There are children around, you should watch how you're speaking." The older woman primly admonished her.

But Frankie scoffed, "Like they have any idea what I'm talking about."

"Well, it's still not appropriate, neither is your little display." The woman gestured disgustedly between the two girls, referring to the way Chloe had been looping her arm through Frankie's or holding her hand to prevent her from abandoning her.

Frankie could feel her hackles rise, "Lady, I'll be more than happy to show you something inappropriate." Chloe placed a hand on Frankie's arm in hopes of calming the other girl.

But the woman continued to spew her vitriol, "Your parents must be so ashamed."

Frankie's eyes darkened dangerously, "Oh trust me, they are."

"You're on a path straight to hell."

Before Frankie could respond, Chloe wrapped her arms around her and rested her chin on the slightly taller girl's shoulder. She offered the woman a saccharine smile, "Don't worry, I'll bring the marshmallows."

The woman huffed and stormed off, probably to report them to the store's management. Chloe could feel the tension in Frankie's body and released her hold on her to give her some space. Frankie didn't say anything as she picked up random items and tossed them back onto the shelves rather forcefully. Chloe watched and worried her bottom lip for a moment, she wasn't used to seeing someone actually get under Frankie's skin like that. The older girl always seemed so indifferent to the opinions of others. "Hey, ignore that lady. She's just a close-minded asshat."

"No shit." Frankie grumbled and slammed down the silly putty in her hand. Really, Frankie had encountered much worse from other people, people whose opinions actually mattered to her. But she had thought she had a few more days of peace before she had to face those types of comments. It seemed fucking Christmas had come early.

Chloe caught Frankie's hand when she reached for a more fragile looking action figure, "So don't let what that fucknut said bother you."

Frankie couldn't help but laugh at the second insult that slipped from Chloe's normally dainty mouth, "Since when do you curse so much?"

"I'm not innocent."

"Oh, that much I know." Frankie replied with a leer.

Chloe laughed and pushed her gently, "Plus, I've been living with Gail and you for months now."

Frankie nodded, they turned down a different aisle and Chloe's eyes lit up. "Oh, this is perfect for her."

Frankie quickly agreed and Chloe picked out a similar gift for Frankie's person as well. After picking up a few more things, Chloe offered for Frankie to wait in the car while she stood in the absurdly long line at checkout. But the brunette surprised her by staying and whispering jokes to her about the people around them. And when the lady from earlier passed by them with her full shopping cart, Frankie purposefully wrapped an arm around Chloe's waist and tugged her closer. But the two left the store without further incident. After picking up the battery for Chloe's car they headed home, both deciding that they were shopped out.

While Chloe started to make herself busy in the kitchen, Frankie settled herself on a stool to watch the chef. The Christmas tunes Chloe selected indicated that she intended to bake. Despite Frankie's protests, the redhead was able to convince her to help and it wasn't long before she was laughing as Chloe goofily danced in the kitchen.

But Frankie sobered up when she caught sight of a platinum blonde head bobbing down the stairs, "Peck, you're a dead woman." She shouted.

"Kill me after shift, Anderson, this way I can be a rich dead woman." Gail unapologetically replied as she sped out the front door on her way to work.

"I will." Frankie managed to growl before the door slammed shut.

Chloe poked the senior to get her attention back, "Come on, you can be homicidal later, we have cookies to bake."

Frankie rolled her eyes but dutifully picked up a handful of flour, she glanced at the redhead and got a wicked smile on her face before tossing it at the girl.

"Oh, you're gonna regret that one Anderson." Chloe armed herself with a cup of sugar.

The kitchen was a mess by the time they were done but both girls were laughing and panting and the stress from earlier in the day was forgotten.

---

The following days flew by in a frenzy. Most of the houses' occupants had pushed off their holiday shopping until after finals. Gail had done all her shopping online of course. So while everyone was rushing and packing, the blonde spent most of her time working and trying not to think too much about the boring Christmas she would have.

On their last night together, the boys started up the fire pit in their backyard and gathered seats for the group.

The twelve of them drank and joked and tried to distract themselves from the fact that in the morning most of the group would be on their way to see their relatives. The travelers in the group: Juliet, Chris, and Frankie were mostly packed and ready to go, each needing to get up early and on the road, while those staying in Toronto would all head home over the next two days. Gail would be the last one to leave and the first one back, considering she had offered to work on Christmas Eve until Steve got off shift so she wouldn't be trapped with her parents alone. But none of that mattered right now as they were just going to enjoy their last few hours together.

"Alright, it's time for the gifts!" Chloe decided as she bounced in her seat with childish enthusiasm.

Around the circle they went.

Jerry had broken the budget when he got Traci a knife that was engraved with 'You so fine', but the group let it go considering they were one of the few couples that were actually official.

Juliet gave Sammy a flask, and received a pair of aviators from Dov, apparently the only one in the group of future coppers to not have some.

Dov and Gail both received a Nerf gun and extra ammo from Frankie and Chloe, respectively, so that they could be on equal footing.

Chloe got a bunch of gag gifts in various shades of pink from Nick including a feather boa and princess crown, but what caught Frankie's attention were the pink fuzzy handcuffs. (The senior had leaned over when the others were distracted and commented that those were closer to the toys she had had in mind).

Frankie got specialty coffee from Andy, while Andy got boxing gloves from Traci, and Duncan got pads from Sam to defend himself since he was still on the group's shitlist.

Duncan gave Nick condoms (while muttering something related to how often the boy was banished from the room they shared) and Chris gave Jerry a new razor with instructions from Traci to 'shave off the damn mustache'.

The last gift exchange was from Gail to Chris. She had gotten his kid an onesie that said 'Daddy's little football buddy' that was appropriate for a boy or a girl, and a child-size football. "I figured you could teach your kid a thing or two." She explained with a shrug.

It may not have seemed like much, but Chris was touched that the blonde had given him something related to his kid, knowing how much she hadn't approved of his choices. "Thanks, Gail." He said sincerely before pulling her in for a bear hug.

"No problem, Pops." She reciprocated for a minute before squirming out of his grasp and picking up her new toy to shoot Dov with; this lead to a war with the two of them chasing each other throughout the yard and opening fire on the rest of the group.

Eventually, the night wound down and the group dispersed, each person taking extra time to say good-bye to Chris until both Chloe and Andy left in tears. Gail hung back the longest, waiting for everyone else to go in while Chris put out the fire.

"Thanks again for the gifts, Gail, they mean a lot to me."

"Don't be getting sappy on me, Diaz." She gave the boy one last quick hug and followed it with a punch to the arm.

"I'm going to miss you too." Chris gave her one of his boyish smiles as he threw his arm over her shoulder, tucking her into his side as they headed home for one last night.

---

"Come on Anderson, you're going to make me miss my flight." Juliet complained as she tossed her bag into Frankie's car before heading back to the house to grab the other senior's bag as well.

"Why am I driving you when you have a boyfriend?" Frankie sipped on her coffee as she climbed into the driver's seat and started up the car while she waited for Juliet to finish securing their luggage and to join her.

"Because it's tradition and probably the last year we're going to get to enjoy this ride together." Juliet explained with a smile as she clicked in her seatbelt and made herself comfortable as Frankie navigated them through the streets of Toronto.

"You're lucky the airport is on the way." It wasn't and they both knew that, but Frankie had been driving Juliet to the airport every year since they started living together as freshman. Juliet knew that Frankie used it as a stalling tactic. She wasn't exactly in a hurry to get to Nowheresville.

They drove for a while in a comfortable silence through the quiet streets of the metropolitan city. It was still pretty early in the morning so the traffic was manageable. After a while of staring out at the passing scenery, Juliet cleared her throat. "I told Nick, you know."

"Told him what?" Frankie was distracted as she checked her mirrors and signaled before switching lanes.

"The whole story about Bibby." Juliet expanded quietly as she looked out the window. It had been a while since her and Frankie had really talked, and she was still careful about bringing up anything involving Nick, knowing that the other brunette wasn't a fan. But she wanted to be able to talk to Frankie, she was still her best friend and she missed her.

"Oh." Frankie knew that story all too well. She hated that story. "How'd he take it?"

Juliet sighed. She had told Nick about dating Bibby during her sophomore year, how they had been friends before and how popular he was in the senior class. She told him about the night Bibby had shown up to the house drunk, he was being aggressive about sex that night, and even though she had said no, he hadn't wanted to stop. She had still been sharing a room with Frankie then, and if it hadn't been for the unexpected arrival of her roommate, she was certain he wouldn't have stopped at all. But he had and Frankie had threatened him before he left. She told Nick about how she broke up with him the next day when he was sober and how he tried to trash her reputation. Then a couple of months later, she caught him selling drugs at a party and reported him, that was when the truth came out about who he had gotten the drugs from and his involvement with the creep, Perrick.

"Well, Nick wanted to kill him." Frankie nodded in agreement with the sentiment, "But he was great about it." Nick had listened quietly and intently, he held Juliet close while she told him the story, and thanked her for telling him, for trusting him.

"Good, I wouldn't want to have to hide his dead body before heading off to the Academy if he had decided to be stupid."

Juliet laughed, even though she knew her friend was at least 90% serious. "Thanks for standing up for me against Bri."

"You shouldn't still have to deal with idiots like that. You didn't do anything wrong."

Juliet knew that, she knew that after all the choices she made and everything that it cost her, she could still look in the mirror and see herself. Sometimes that was all one could hope for. "Still, I appreciate it."

"Well, you paid me back by running interference with Gabi so I could escape."

Juliet made a face, she really hated Frankie's ex and the mind games she liked to play. "What the hell were the boys thinking?"

Frankie snorted bitterly and rolled her eyes, "They weren't."

Deciding to push her luck a little, Juliet shifted the focus of the conversation. "So have you talked to Chloe yet?"

"About what?"

"Home and your family."

Frankie's face turned to stone, her green eyes glinting like steel when they flickered to Juliet, "Why would I need to talk to her about that?"

"Because every year has been the same, Frankie, you go there and come back all silent and broody and basically disappear for the week. You don't talk to anyone and barely even come home from your various conquests. Not to mention all the times you went back to Gabi." Juliet had watched her friend self-destruct each and every time she went back to the place she grew up. Something about those visits chipped away at her in ways she wouldn't readily admit. But Juliet knew some of it; the bits and pieces Frankie chose to share. "I just don't want to see you mess things up with Chloe by repeating the pattern."

"There's nothing to mess up."

"Yes, there is, and I'm happy for you because I want to see you happy, Frankie." Frankie grimaced at the word 'happy' but Juliet ignored the face. The fact that the redhead had gone after Frankie the night of the party and neither had returned would have been evidence enough of something more going on between them. The excessive touching and looks and whispers when they were all hanging out were also getting to be too obvious to ignore. More importantly though was Frankie's smile, it was genuine when she was around Chloe rather than her irritatingly haughty smirk she usually wore, and it had started to make a more frequent appearance. "Just don't throw it away, no matter what they say to you."

As much as Frankie wanted to deny it, she knew where the concern was coming from. Juliet knew more about Frankie's home life than anyone else. But Frankie wasn't sure what exactly was going on between her and Chloe other than her enjoying having sex with the freshmen, and that was definitely not something she wanted to stop anytime soon.

"I'm not planning on throwing anything away." Frankie replied quietly as she pulled up in front of the airport.

"Good. Thanks for the ride."

"Yeah, yeah, you owe me tequila when you get back."

"Hey Frankie, don't forget that you're not alone and you can call me anytime if you need to hear a friendly voice."

"I know, Jules, have fun with your family."

Juliet nodded once and gave her friend a wave before grabbing her bag and heading into the busy airport. Frankie let out a deep sigh and brushed her hands through her hair. It was going to be a long weekend.

---

By the morning of Christmas Eve, Gail was the lone survivor of the two houses, everyone else having left to spend time with their families. Steve had managed to convince the Peck parental units that he would pick Gail up after his shift, so she didn't have to worry about one on one time with her mother and her incessant criticisms. After working a short shift at the bar for Charlie, Gail was enjoying her last bag of cheesepuffs for the next two days. Her mother had a special disdain for Gail's favorite treat and since she didn't want to give her any more ammunition about her weight or eating habits she figured she'd binge now.

She was in the middle of responding to a text from Holly about something her little cousin did when a loud banging on the door nearly sent Gail and her delicious snack flying off the counter she was perched on.

"Police, open up!" Steve's voice rang out.

Gail rolled her eyes but opened the door for her brother, "Not funny dorkface, you almost made me drop these." She gestured with her bag of cheesy goodness.

"Well we couldn't have that now, could we?" Steve joked as he tried to snatch the bag from Gail's death grip.

"Get your own, you know I don't share."

"I was hoping you'd have grown now that you're in college."

"Never." And she popped another curl into her mouth with a stubborn smile.

Steve shook his head at her antics and clapped his hands together, "Well, sister, are you ready for a fun-filled family Christmas."

"Let's get this shitshow over with."

---

"Really, Gail, what do you expect to do with a major in languages?" Superintendent Peck questioned for the hundredth time since her daughter had started at the university.

"I enjoy it, Mother." Gail replied quietly as she pushed her food around on her plate. They hadn't even been home an hour and she had already been the focus of every one of their mother's criticisms.

"I would have thought a year of running around on one of your foolish whims would have been enough to get it out of your system. At least that had been the deal."

"It was also part of the deal that as long as my grades don't suffer in my criminology classes, then I can take whatever else I choose. I currently have a 4.0."

"Yes, but grades are not everything. You also need experiences and right now you are wasting valuable time working at that bar."

"It pays the bills, Mother."

"Well, you wouldn't have those bills if you had just stayed at home as was planned."

Steve intervened on his sister's behalf, "Having experiences outside of the force can only help Gail, Mother. It can give her a different perspective."

But the redheaded matriarch merely tsked. "As long as she doesn't lose sight of what's important. There is an upcoming taskforce with Guns and Gangs, Steven, I trust you have applied for it."

Finally the attention shifted away from Gail and she felt like she could breathe a little better. Not much, but enough to finish her meal at least.

A few hours later, Gail laid on her bed staring up at the white ceiling. She contemplated why she had ever come back in the first place. She had escaped it all, she had been free, and now she was back in her childhood bed feeling no different than she had when she was ten years old and had been sent to bed without supper because she came in second at a riding competition. Ten years later and she was still just as much a disappointment as then, actually she was probably more so now.

The tapping on her door was light but loud enough for her to hear it over her internal musings, Steve cracked open her door and popped his ginger head in, "Still awake?"

"College sleep schedule."

"Well, I've been working nights and can't sleep either, so what do you say to a movie marathon?"

"Fine, but there better be popcorn." Gail grumbled and dragged herself from her bed.

Flipping a coin had earned Steve the right to choose what Christmas movie they watched first so it came as no surprise when Gail found herself on their parents' couch watching Die Hard for what would've been the fifth Christmas in a row if she hadn't been away the previous year. It was Steve's favorite and they both knew nearly every line, not that that was saying much. But the explosions were cool so Gail could ignore the fact that it was somewhat cop-based. As the credits started to roll the sibling pair started to argue over Gail's choice for the next flick in their marathon.

"Edward Scissorhands is not a Christmas movie." Steve staunchly refused the selection.

"It totally is."

"We have this argument every year. One scene does not make it a Christmas movie. Or you have to concede that Harry Potter is a Christmas movie."

"Fine, Nightmare before Christmas it is. And before you start, 'Christmas' is in the damn title." The blonde decided to trade one Tim Burton film for another.

"You're so twisted."

"We just watched Bruce Willis take out an entire army of bad guys and you consider that a Christmas movie."

Steve's blue eyes twinkled, "I never said I wasn't twisted too."

Gail snorted and she unlocked her phone as her brother grabbed the remote to start the next movie.

Officer Danger: Edward Scissorhands = Christmas movie: yes or no?

One of the only good things about Holly going to Vancouver was that it put her three hours behind Toronto time so Gail didn't have to feel as guilty when she texted her late at night. The response was quick.

Nerd Champion: Yes!

Officer Danger: Tell that to Steve

Nerd Champion: I'm surprised he would pass up on young Winona Ryder...he's a foolish man

She snorted a laugh at that one, but still felt vindicated. At least Holly had a good taste in movies.

"Who ya talking to?" Steve tried to lean over to see his sister's phone screen but she shoved him away.

"None of your business, Gingerbread."

Steve smirked at his sister, "Tell Holly I say hi and Merry Christmas."

Nerd Champion: We can watch it when I get back if you want the company

Officer Danger: Sounds like a plan

Gail smiled one more time before locking the screen and turning her attention to Halloween Town breaking into song.

---

Christmas day went much the same as Christmas Eve had, but it wasn't too long after dinner that she was able to convince her parents to let her head back to her own house. Steve had offered for her to crash at his apartment while the housemates were away, but Gail figured she should at least get her rent money's worth. She thought that she would like the quiet and emptiness after feeling the stifling influence of her parents for two days but it was kind of creepy. So Gail set about turning on all the lights in the house and making herself comfortable with her Netflix, cheesepuffs, and taser within reach.

She found herself walking through the precinct that had been like a second home to her in her youth. She couldn't recall the faces of the people at the desk, or the blurry-faced officers walking the halls or those on the phones or computer. But she kept walking until she heard the familiar voices of her parents and brother discussing the case. "Victim was an 18-year old Caucasian female, found in a trunk after being abducted from a party. Suspect was stopped by a student passing by. Victim had a laceration to the face and needle sticks in her arm. Forensics is checking for signs of sexual assault. They are still determining cause of death." Cause of death echoed in her head and when Gail looked up at the murder board she felt her heart stop when she realized the victim was her.

Panting, Gail woke up in her bed soaked in sweat. She gathered her hair up into a loose bun to get it off of her sticky neck. A glance around her empty room reminded her that she had the house to herself. Grabbing her weapon, she walked through the lit halls and down to the kitchen to grab some cold water in hopes of calming her nerves. It soothed her dry, scratchy throat but little else. She moved into the open living room and tried some of her yoga poses, hoping that stretching her muscles would relieve the tension.

It didn't.

Forgoing running due to the fact that it was only 4am, she hopped into the shower instead. She let the scalding water cascade across her skin as she breathed in the steam and focused on washing away every ounce of fear she had in her bones. That helped slightly. She skipped clothing and dropped into her bed slightly damp and naked. None of this was helping and she still had at least 6 hours to kill before going to work. So she reached for her computer and did the one thing that used to calm her down when she got like this. She opened a new search and started looking at flights for anywhere else but Toronto.

---

As much as she tried to avoid it, Gail found herself at the station the Monday after Christmas.

"I'm sick." She complained as her brother literally dragged her through the doors of the precinct.

"You're not sick."

"Am too."

"You just want a certain med student to take care of you." Steve teased as they crossed through the computer stations on their way to the Staff Sergeant's office.

"She's in Vancouver still." Gail replied without thinking, she was too distracted with her mother's plans to realize that she hadn't put up the proper denial.

Steve smirked, "So you admit it?" He nudged her through the open door before she could respond and left to change into his uniform while she spoke to the Staff Sergeant about what was expected of her. She shot him a glare through the glass windows before plastering on a polite smile and greeting her brother's boss.

Sergeant Boyko was polite enough, though that may have had something to do with being her mother's subordinate. He explained that she was mostly to follow the coppers around, get them coffee, help with files, and whatever else they asked of her. She was to stay in the office and learn the ins and outs of everything they did. Then he welcomed her to 15 and sent her on her way to talk to her brother before parade.

"I still don't know why I have to be here, I didn't sign up." Gail complained again as her brother handed her a cup of coffee and planted her at his work station after receiving his assignment for the day.

"No, but the Superintendent demanded it so you have no choice."

"Why can't she just be happy with harvesting my soul after graduation?"

"It's not that bad around here." Steve promised as he pulled out some busywork for her to do before he headed out to the streets.

"You get paid to be here." Gail pointed out as she slumped down in his chair, spinning it slightly from side to side.

"Peckling!" Oliver greeted as he bounded happily across the bullpen. "I know you missed me but you didn't need to cross enemy lines."

"She doesn't have a choice Shaw, she's our new intern 'til her classes start up again."

"Lucky me." Gail grumbled.

Oliver smiled even wider, "Yes lucky you, you're riding with me today."

Gail narrowed her eyes, "I thought I was just supposed to hang out at the station."

"And what are you going to learn doing that, plus since when do you do as you're supposed to?" Oliver knew his friend well and she would be bored out of her mind if she was forced to spend the entire day doing grunt work. Plus, he actually did want to show her that she could enjoy doing this line of work.

"Good point." Gail hopped out of the seat and went to follow Oliver to his cruiser.

"Oliver are you sure you want to take her with you?" Steve asked as he followed the pair out to the bay. He glanced worriedly between the two, if anything happened to his little sister, his mother would slaughter him and Oliver, but mostly him.

Oliver was on his own for the day, so the company definitely wouldn't hurt. "Come on Steve, we've been cut loose now for almost a year. Plus most people are still away for the holiday. We're just doing speed traps today. Traps of the speed."

"Wow, it's gonna be gripping." Gail scoffed but followed Oliver to his squad.

Ignoring her lack of enthusiasm, Oliver handed Gail a Toronto PD ballcap and unlocked the car, "Ready to roll my Petulant Peck?" The girl grumbled but got into the car. He flashed the elder Peck a thumbs up before slipping into the driver's seat. It was going to be an awesome day, he could feel it.

---

Oliver finished handing a ticket to a guy in a hockey shirt who had tried to convince him that he was on his way to an interview. He was on reeling duty, not that he minded as he quite enjoyed handing out zingers.

He walked back to his cruiser where Gail was perched on the hood with a bag of chips.

"Oh officer, please, my speedometer's busted." He mocked as he slumped against the hood snatching the bag from his friend.

Gail let him since she had stolen them from him in the first place and played along, "My wife's in labor."

"I got the runs. Blah, blah, blah." Oliver grumbled as he stuffed his face with some chips.

"You ever let them off?"

Oliver handed the bag back and dusted off his hands as he received the call to switch duties with 1505. They got into the squad and Oliver answered the question. "Yeah, once. There was this guy who was late for his tenth wedding anniversary. He was sweating bullets and, uh, even had the..." Oliver was distracted from his own story as he drove up the road a bit, "the diamond earrings sitting there in the...in the seat next to him. Cutest little blue box."

"God, you are such a sap."

"Romance, Peck, is not dead. Whatever my girl wants, she gets, that's the secret to a happy life. Keep that in mind."

They switched off with the other pair of officers, taking over the radar gun, which Oliver handed to Gail for entertainment. "Gonna run the beam, nothing fancy. Just remember to point it directly at the car you're targeting, alright?"

"Yeah, I know how to use it."

"Of course you do."

The blonde aimed the device and watched as cars drove around the bend. As much as she loved Oliver, she tried to focus more on the cars than on his need to continue to wax poetic about romance and love. She took her attention off the road for a minute to turn and tell him to stuff it.

"Watch out." Oliver pulled Gail aside as two cars flew by dangerously close to them. Too close as the sound of scraping metal rang out when the red truck side-swiped the cruiser but continued going. The pair hopped into the car and Oliver grabbed the radio as he fired up the engine.

"Dispatch, 1519, we got a red truck and a gray two-door that swept by at warp nine. They nicked the squad, no injuries."

"Copy, 1519, did you get a plate?"

"Uh, no, they were moving way too fast."

Gail grabbed the radio from her friend's hand, "Car's Tango-6-Whiskey-4-Delta-4." She handed it back with a smug grin.

"Nice work, bright eyes. Now hit the lights." The two took off to back up 1505, who were in pursuit.

Hours later, Oliver and Gail returned to the station still riding their adrenaline high. Not only had they caught the people driving the vehicles but it turned out one of them had abducted a neighbor's little girl. Gail had watched the cops track the girl and her captors down to a bus and Oliver had been the one to carry her off and reunite her with her parents. It had been a crazy first day but seeing the family reunite without the girl being hurt had been amazing.

"A high speed car chase, seriously?" Steve immediately confronted the two the second he spotted them entering the hallway.

Gail just shrugged off her brother's theatrics. "What?"

"You're going to be in so much trouble when the Superintendent finds out."

"Me? No. What did I do? I wasn't driving the car that clipped us." Gail immediately protested. It hadn't even been her idea to go out, not that she would throw Oliver under the bus. Okay, she might throw Oliver under the bus if it involves her mother. Actually, she'd figure out a way to throw Steve under it. Yeah, that seemed like the best solution.

"Doesn't matter, she is not going to be happy that you were out there and involved in the case."

"Relax, Steve, we caught the bad guys," Oliver tried to reassure the elder Peck sibling. He winked at Gail and offered her a wide grin but she only returned it with a small twitch at the corner of her lips.

"That's all she cares about anyway," Gail tacked on, her words dripping with resentment.

"You know it's not."

"Oliver was just doing his job and even found a missing child, plus I'm supposed to be learning. No one needs to tell her the details." She gave her brother a very pointed glare.

"She'll find out anyway."

Checking the time, Gail realized she was going to be late to work if they kept arguing. "Then we'll deal with it when she does. I have to get to my real job, which one of you is going to give me a lift?"

Since Oliver had to file the paperwork for the damage to the cruiser, Steve had to take Gail over to the Penny. At least it gave him even more opportunity to lecture her.

---

"Hey, how was your holiday?" Traci greeted her blonde friend with a wide beaming smile as she came into the bar. It was the first time she had seen her since leaving for her mom's house before Christmas. Traci had decided to spend the days during winter break there to help babysit and whatnot, but nights were going to be at the bar and hanging out with whoever was home.

"Wonderful, stupendous, truly magical." Gail sarcastically replied as she put on her apron and stepped behind the bar. She was still annoyed from the nonstop talking her brother had made her endure on the ride to work. It was bad enough being forced to go to the station every day of her break, but if she had to listen to Steve drone on and on she just might just tase herself in the eye.

"Why do I feel like you got coal in your stocking?"

"That would imply Santa came to the Peck residence. He knows better, my family wouldn't hesitate to arrest him for breaking and entering."

"Supercops."

"With an insane gun collection."

"Well, my Christmas was great thanks for asking." Gail rolled her eyes but Traci ignored her and just smiled wider. "And thanks for the video game suggestion, my brother loved it."

"Of course he did, I have imPECKable taste."

It was Traci's turn to roll her eyes. She grabbed her orders and went back to serving her tables, while Gail made herself comfortable behind the bar. The crowd was thinner than usual since many of the college students had dispersed for the holidays, but it was still a steady enough flow to keep her busy. It wasn't long before another familiar face dropped by the bar; only this one was a little less friendly.

"When did you get back?" Gail asked the newcomer.

Frankie didn't reply but grabbed a stool.

"Okay," Gail had been expecting a snotty reply but seeing as how she wasn't going to get one she held up the tequila and whiskey, but Frankie pointed past her and at the vodka on display. "You don't like vodka."

But Frankie just glared and pointed again. With a sigh, Gail grabbed the bottle and poured out a shot, which the older girl promptly threw back with a grimace. She slammed the glass down and gestured for another, which Gail poured out. The pattern was repeated before Gail went to serve someone else. When she got back, Frankie impatiently tapped her glass again.

"Alright, what's your problem Anderson?" But again there was no response. "You're not getting another shot 'til you verbally ask for one."

"This place was better before you started working here." Frankie muttered under her breath.

"Go easy on her, Frankenstein." Sam clapped his friend on the shoulder and dropped into the seat next to the brunette. "Already on the vodka?"

Frankie didn't respond but glared at Gail who returned the look with equal intensity.

"You should just give her the shot, she's not going to talk." Jerry explained as he grabbed a seat on the other side of Sam.

Traci swooped by to greet the upperclassmen, after saying hello to Frankie and Sam she got pulled in by Jerry. Brushing her hand along his smooth face, "You shaved."

"Yeah, well, I was forced to." Jerry replied shyly.

Traci smiled brightly, "Lookin' good." She gave him a quick kiss before grabbing food and rushing off to her next table.

Gail rolled her eyes at the lovesick couple and poured out the shot for Frankie. She watched it get quickly consumed before looking at Jerry. "Who broke Anderson?".

"She gets like this every year, you just gotta ride it out."

Accepting that they knew her better, Gail gave the boys their beers and poured out an extra shot of whiskey for Sam before refilling Frankie's. Hopefully, the other seniors would be able to keep her in line.

"Wanna be my wingman?" Sam asked Frankie after drinking his shot and getting another from Gail. He seemed unbothered by the silence and just continued the conversation himself. "Okay, I'll be your wingman." He glanced around the bar and pointed to a girl that was looking in their direction. "That girl has been checking us out since she got here. Think she's into you or me?"

"Leave her alone, Sammy. You know she doesn't want to talk to you." Jerry chastised as he slipped slowly from his drink. He knew where tonight was going and it would be his job to look out for his friends.

"I'm just trying to help her out, the sooner she gets laid, the sooner she'll start talking again."

"Maybe she just wants to quietly enjoy her alcohol." Traci commented as she passed the group again. Frankie held up her glass in agreement. But the boys continued talking to their tightlipped comrade and the bartender, catching up on the few days they were apart.

"Apparently it was you." Sam remarked as Gail placed a drink in front of Frankie and gestured to the girl in question. She had mocha skin and a dazzling smile, which she flashed at Frankie when the senior glanced in her direction. But Frankie merely nodded before she downed the drink and turned her attention to the phone in her hand. The girl came over anyway.

"Hey."

Frankie turned to the girl and gave another slight nod but stayed silent.

Swarek interjected when he saw the unsure face the girl was making, "What she means is thank you for the drink."

"Umm, ok. Well, would you maybe like to grab another with me?" The girl's smile returned to her face and she gestured to one of the open booths.

Frankie studied the attractive girl for a minute. This was usually exactly what she needed after a trip home but she wasn't ready to pull the trigger yet.

"Sorry, she's the strong, silent type." Sam attempted to smooth over the awkwardness again. He tried to push Frankie from her seat only to have Jerry shove him. The two boys started bickering and hitting each other.

The girl frowned slightly at the display of macho foolery before turning back to Frankie, "So what do you say?"

Frankie's phone buzzed in her hand but she ignored it and stood up. She gestured for two more drinks, which Gail dutifully poured despite her better judgment. She wasn't sure what Frankie was up to, but it seemed like a poor choice was about to be made. She knew her roommate wasn't due back for a couple more days, but last she checked things were going well between the two of them.

Frankie offered the girl a drink and followed her to the booth before sliding in across from her. Traci passed their booth before making a pitstop at the bar. "What is Anderson doing?"

"Getting some." Sam smugly commented into his beer.

Both Gail and Traci fixed him with a glare.

"And what's your problem?"

"Don't have one." Sam replied before getting up and pursuing a girl of his own.

The two freshmen turned to Jerry for an explanation. He sighed and finished his drink. "Home's rough on both of them. Frankie deals with it by not talking and distracting herself." He gestured to the booth where the girl was talking and Frankie seemed to be offering short responses if any. "Sam deals with it by being an even bigger asshole than usual and picking up as many girls as he can." He pointed to the table of girls Sam had planted himself at to schmooze.

"Home's not exactly a picnic for everyone but that doesn't mean they have to act a fool." Gail pointed out and Traci nodded.

"Hey, don't look at me, it's their demons not mine." Gail poured him another beer while Traci gathered up an order for a table.

The blonde looked up when she heard the door chime, "Oh, what the actual fuck?"

Both Traci and Jerry turned to look as well.

"Shit." Jerry grumbled. Juliet was going to kill him.

"Is that...?" Traci started to ask.

"Yep." Both Gail and Jerry replied in unison.

"Did Frankie text her?"

"Probably." Jerry answered with a sigh.

They watched as Frankie's ex, Gabriela, made her way over to the booth and sat down on Frankie side. Whatever she said to the other girl had her fleeing the booth quickly. She continued to drape herself over the brunette while her friends watched.

"Should we go over and intervene?" Traci asked and both Gail and her turned to Jerry for an opinion.

"We can try, but when Frankie gets this self-destructive there's little we can do to stop her."

"Fuck that." Gail decided before telling Traci to watch the bar.

---

"I knew you'd call." Gabi smugly stated as she traced her fingers along Frankie's forearm after the other girl left the booth.

Frankie didn't say anything, she just reached for the untouched drink the pretty girl she had been talking to had left. She finished it in a couple of gulps.

"I've missed you, you're still the paixão da minha vida. Have you missed me?"

The alcohol was starting to muddle Frankie's thoughts. She could hear the words and the sweet voice Gabi used to say them. That voice used to spark every fiber in Frankie's being. It spoke of passion and want and every word was uttered with an unapologetic confidence. It's what pulled her in when they first met, but right now it just reminded Frankie of all the pain it had caused her over the years. But pain was what Frankie craved at the moment; pain was tangible. Her self-hatred wasn't.

"So you're in one of those moods, huh Frankie?" Gabi pressed herself even closer to the silent senior. "We both know what will make you feel better so how about we get out of here?"

"Hey." Both Frankie and Gabi turned to face the blonde who slipped into the seat opposite them. "I know you want to make me jealous, Frankie, but really, inviting this trash into my bar is completely unnecessary."

"Excuse you. We were in the middle of something, you aren't welcome." Gabi's accent grew thicker with every annoyed word she aimed at the girl. She recognized the bartender as the same woman who had interrupted them the last time she had been drinking with Frankie.

"Frankie wants me here, don't you muffin?" Frankie narrowed her eyes at the cutsie name Gail dropped, but the blonde kept her focus on Gabi.

Gabi kept a firm hold on the girl beside her as she goaded the interloper, "I know exactly what Frankie wants. And it's not you."

"That's not what she said before. I know you are getting a little impatient since I have to work, but you really don't need to talk to every girl in here. I'll be more than happy to make it up to you later." Gail reached over and gently stroked Frankie's hand that was resting on the table.

Frankie was trapped. Stuck in the booth and she was going to have to speak up soon to escape it. But damn it, she didn't want to talk. She cleared her throat unwillingly, "Gail."

"Yes, sweetcheeks?" Gail batted her eyes for good measure and smiled wider when Gabi practically growled.

"It's ok, I know what I'm doing."

"Maybe, but you don't have to do this." She gestured to the girl beside Frankie. Gail really wasn't sure what had Frankie spinning out so badly, but both Chloe and Holly would be upset if she didn't at least try to stop her.

"I've heard enough," Gabi's voice shifted from the dulcet tones she had used to try to coax Frankie to the venomous one she had displayed at the club when she had been talking to Chloe in Portuguese. She stood up from the booth, "Are you coming or not?"

As Frankie went to slide out of the booth Gail caught her hand, "Really think about what you're doing, Anderson."

Frankie nodded and pulled her hand back. As she got up, Gabi shot Gail a smirk clearly thinking she had won. Without a word, Frankie walked past both of the girls and back to the bar, she dropped into the seat next to Jerry.

Gail got up to follow, but was stopped by a hand grabbing her arm, hard. "I don't know who you think you are, but what goes on between me and Frankie is none of your business."

"I don't know you think you are, but if you don't let go of me the only way you'll be leaving this bar is in an ambulance." Gail coolly replied with a deathly glare and the girl released her. "Find a new plaything and leave Anderson alone."

Gabi narrowed her eyes at the blonde, but didn't say anything else before going to talk to the mocha-skinned girl she had scared off earlier.

Gail shook her head but returned to her post.

"Welcome back," Jerry held up his drink in salute of his blonde hero. As she went to pass him he caught a hold of her and whispered, "Thanks."

Gail nodded and went behind the bar so that Traci could return to her tables before Charlie caught them. It was already shaping up to be a long night, but at least she had company.

---

On Wednesday, Gail had lucked into a couple of hours between her shift at the station and her shift at the bar so she stopped at home to eat something. She made herself some ramen noodles and perched herself on a counter while she answered texts from Holly. She looked up when the front door opened.

"Why do the two of you look like you went a few rounds with Mike Tyson?" Gail asked when she saw Traci and Frankie walk in in their workout gear. There was swelling around one of Frankie's eyes.

"We were boxing." Traci explained as she reached into the freezer and tossed Frankie an ice pack, who placed it on her eye without any comment.

"She talking?" Gail quietly asked in between bites of noodles.

"Barely."

Gail nodded, unsurprised, before shifting gears. "So why'd you need to punch shit?"

"Jerry was being stupid about some book he brought over when he was helping me babysit this morning. He tried to say my siblings messed it up and how he didn't have to worry about these things with his ex."

"Oof, was the bag his face."

"Yep."

"Do you two feel better?" Both girls shook their heads and Gail hopped off her counter and tossed her bowl into the sink. "Well, then there's only one solution."

"We both have to work tonight, we can't get wasted right now." Traci reminded the other freshman.

"Not what I have planned. Grab your keys, Anderson."

Frankie didn't answer but retrieved her car keys, so Traci was the one to ask, "Where are we going?"

"To shoot shit." Gail gathered her apron and work shirt and ushered the two out the door. Spending a couple of hours at the shooting range was just what each of them needed.

---

After dropping both of the freshmen at their job, Frankie went home to shower with the intention of heading back to the bar for the third night in a row. But she couldn't bring herself to get dressed and instead laid in her bed in a bra and a pair of boyshorts staring at the ceiling. She knew that both Gail and Traci had gone out of their way to try to snap her out of her funk, but it wasn't enough to undo the damage a few days at home had done. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear the footsteps outside her room until a cheery voice broke her reverie.

"Hey you."

Frankie propped herself up on her elbows and her eyes trailed over the redhead who was leaning casually on her doorframe.

"I didn't know you were back." Chloe continued.

The brunette merely shrugged in response, but she shifted on her bed so Chloe could join her.

Chloe seemed oblivious to the silence as she made her way over. "If I had known I would've given you a proper hello." She sat down next to Frankie, placing one hand on the other side of the stretched out brunette to support herself. "Hello," she purred before leaning down to kiss the senior. The brunette's lips responded automatically, but didn't push the kiss any further.

When she pulled back, Chloe's furrowed eyes sought out Frankie's. She could taste the sadness on her lips. "What's wrong?" She noticed that puffy skin around Frankie's one eye and gently traced over it.

Frankie shrugged again and tugged on Chloe so that she would lay next to her instead of hovering over her. The redhead took the hint and dropped onto her side so that she could tangle her jean clad legs with Frankie's bare ones. She felt the senior wrap one arm around her as the red head rested on her chest. Chloe could hear the steady beat of the other girl's heart, but it was the only sound that Frankie was making. It was weird for the senior to be this silent; normally she was filled with piss and vinegar, making comments that amused the redhead greatly. "I know you don't always like talking, but you know you could if you wanted to."

Still no response, so Chloe shifted gears, "Or I could cheer you up in other ways." She let her hand begin to trail suggestively as she tilted her head up to pepper Frankie's jawline with kisses.

Frankie caught Chloe's hand before it could reach its destination, earning a confused look from the freshman. She brought the captured hand up, turning it over to press a reassuring kiss to the inside of her wrist before intertwining their fingers together. She cleared her throat, "How was your holiday?" Frankie's voice was raspy from lack of use.

"It was great. Mom and Dad were happy to have me home..." Chloe went into a long diatribe about her family celebration. She talked about her parents and siblings, plus her entire extended family that had come to see them too. Frankie knew that Chloe's parents traveled a lot for their work; in fact, Chloe had dropped them at the airport that morning, so it was obvious that she had been excited for them to be home this break. She could feel the excitement radiating off the freshman wrapped around her. It was almost enough to lighten the load that Frankie felt weighing her down. Almost.

"How was yours?"

Frankie contemplated what to say. She wasn't used to talking about home; in fact, she purposefully avoided it. It was why whenever she returned from that godforsaken town she would find a new girl to distract herself with. One girl to tease and please and work into a frenzy until she turned Frankie's name into that of a deity. She would give, but not receive, and leave just as quickly as she arrived.

It was how she met Gabriela after sophomore break.

Turned out that Frankie really was that damn good and the other girl sought her out for more, which somehow morphed into a relationship until the following year when Gabi wanted to meet Frankie's family during winter break and Frankie had staunchly refused. It was clear even then that the two were toxic for each other, breaking up and making up was the only way they could communicate, but that had been the deal breaker. Not that it stopped Frankie from seeking her out any time she wanted to punish herself.

But not this year. After her friends' intervention that first night, she made the decision herself to return to their house each night alone rather than seeking out a new girl to distract herself with. Except, she still felt unsatisfied. But could she really use Chloe the way she used strangers? The only other option was to talk.

She opened and closed her mouth a few times, the words failing to be voiced. She could feel Chloe's warm eyes watching her, but she couldn't meet them. It was enough though to get her to try. "I don't like going back there."

"Home?"

"It's not home, it's just my family's house. It hasn't been home since I started college and moved in here. Actually, it didn't feel much like home even before that." Frankie spoke quietly as she kept her eyes trained on their linked hands. She brought Chloe's knuckles back to her lips, gently brushing them with small kisses. The normally verbose freshman was silently waiting for the older girl to continue. She was filled with questions, but she knew that getting Frankie to talk about her family life at all was a miracle. It wasn't long before her patience was rewarded.

Dropping her voice into a small town drawl Frankie continued, "So Daddy is a preacher and Mama is just the perfect wife. She runs the Sunday school and makes the best apple pie in all of Ontario. She even has the ribbons to prove it." Frankie let her voice return to normal. "We are the perfect Christian family living life just as God intended. Pillars of the community, really."

"And I was the perfect daughter 'til I wasn't anymore." Frankie chuckled humorlessly, "I never belonged in that town. I always wanted more than to just marry my high school boyfriend and become a baby factory. Plus, I just knew I was different. But I was in denial about how different I really was..." She remembered trying to fit the mold her family and friends wanted her to fit. It never felt right.

Chloe understood, "What was her name?"

Her name had been LauraLee. She had been smart and popular; captain of the cheerleading squad, and just a genuinely nice and friendly person, everybody who met her loved her. She was two years older than Frankie but her family was part of Frankie's father's parish, so they had known each other their whole lives. So when Frankie needed help in French her sophomore year, LauraLee's mother had volunteered her as a tutor. What started as teaching Frankie the language, quickly morphed into a friendship where the girls would end up talking for hours. LauraLee was going to Montreal for college and encouraged Frankie to break out of the town too. She was the one to push her to not let the others hold her back. She was also the one who initiated the kiss. A kiss that sent Frankie's whole world spinning.

"Doesn't matter. We kept it hidden for a while, but one day her Daddy caught us fooling around in the front seat of his truck when she was supposed to be giving me a ride home. He kicked me out and called my parents."

"What did they do?"

"They decided I needed to pray the gay away." Frankie could still feel the way the pew bit into her knees, bruising her, as she stayed there from before the sun had come up until well after supper. She was supposed to be praying to God to forgive her sins and to give her the strength to overcome the devil's temptations. Praying for her soul's redemption. Frankie did spend the whole day talking to God. She asked him why he had made her different. She asked why he would let her feel the way she did if it was so wrong. She didn't get an answer that day.

"They finally let me come home some time after dinner and told me to stay away from her. So I did. I ignored her in the hallways, walked away anytime she tried to talk to me, avoided her at all costs. There were rumors, of course. So I started dating a guy on the hockey team just to get people to stop talking. Soon enough she left for college and never came back."

Frankie spent the rest of her high school years trying to lock away that part of herself. But then she went to college and one day hanging out with Juliet, she just blurted out the words she had been too scared to say. And when her roommate had just smiled and asked if Frankie wanted to grab lunch and talk, she had been incredibly relieved. Juliet never treated her any differently and she decided she was done hiding.

"It was when I came home from college that first winter that I decided to tell my parents, since at least if they kicked me out I had this place to come back to. It probably would've been easier if they had. Instead Daddy refused to hear it, while Mama took it worst. She slapped me, told me my grandmother, who's my namesake by the way, would be rolling over in her grave for having such a sinner in her family. They were pissed for about a day and then they dropped it and decided it was something never to be discussed again."

"So they...what? Just pretend you never said anything?" Chloe was trying to wrap her head around everything Frankie was saying. She couldn't picture the confident, swaggering senior letting anyone tell her who she had to be.

Frankie shrugged, "They barely talk to me when I'm there, I guess they think they can just ignore it, ignore me, and the rest of my family just kind of follows suit. I don't even know that my uncles know, I'm pretty sure that just going to college and leaving them all behind was enough to get ostracized. They seem to think that I think I'm better than them."

"So why do you go back?"

"My brothers, mostly. Mark is 18, I tried to convince him to go to college but he wants to be a mechanic. Simon is 15 and Paul is 12. Mark had it the worst since we were in school together. I ignored the taunting for the most part, but he always wanted to fight back and defend me. I didn't deserve the defense though and when he found out that what everyone was sayin' was true, things changed. He's taken my parents' cue though and just pretends it isn't true."

Chloe picked herself up so she could look at Frankie. She waited until the green eyes met her own. "You are."

"I am what?"

"Better than them."

A small sad smile tugged at the corner of Frankie's lips and Chloe shifted over to press a light kiss to them.

"You are better." She repeated and pressed a firmer kiss, one that Frankie reciprocated before pushing Chloe onto her back.

She parted Chloe's lips forcefully with her tongue as she pinned the redhead below her. The moan that she excited from deep within the younger girl was enough to spur Frankie on, but she had to catch the wandering hands once again. Frankie didn't want to be touched. She didn't deserve it. Instead she pulled Chloe's shirt up until it was wrapped around her wrists, using it to restrict her movement above her head. Chloe tried to struggle against the binding, but as Frankie moved her kisses lower she focused on pushing her body against the senior, trying to create any form of friction. Frankie pulled back enough to give Chloe a look that told her to keep her hands were they were as she released her hold so she could rid the freshman of the tight pants and soaked panties that were clinging to her lower half. Finally exposed, Frankie repositioned Chloe to the edge of the bed before dropping to her knees on the floor. She was determined to forget, no not forget, she wanted to replace the memories of that day on the pew. And as she parted Chloe's legs, taking a moment to take in the sight of her, she reminded herself that this was the only temple she wanted to pray at.

It was a while before they dressed and went to meet up with their friends at the bar. But when they did, Frankie actually participated in the conversations again. She was still quiet and more reserved than usual, but it was progress. Chloe, for her part, stuck close to the senior the rest of the night. If anyone noticed, they didn't say anything.

---

Early morning on New Year's Eve found most of the freshmen girls sprawled across the couches of the mancave playing against Dov on his game console. Nearly all of the occupants of the two houses had made it back in time to celebrate. Both Gail and Traci would have to work that night, but it was nice to relax for a bit while they didn't have classes or homework to worry about.

"So when does Holly get back?" Chloe asked as she attempted to take out Gail's character with a grenade.

"Not 'til tomorrow." Gail replied absently as she got her character under cover.

"Sucks that she won't be here for the ball drop." Traci commented as her character was killed for the third time.

"Doesn't matter, I'll be working." Gail was just glad the med student would be back for the party. She was going to need as many friendly faces there as she could get.

"Yeah, but you won't have anyone to kiss." Chloe pointed out.

"Oh my god! You're right! How will I ever survive?" Gail fake cried as she launched a flaming arrow at her roommate's character.

Dov took out Traci's character again before trying his luck with the blonde's. "She's going to be at the Peck Soiree, right? As Steve's date?"

"Is there a point, Epstein?"

"Must be weird having you girlfriend pretend to be your brother's girlfriend."

"She's not my girlfriend." Gail immediately replied before shooting Dov's character's head off. "Not that it matters."

"I'm just saying that if my girlfriend was pretending to be someone else's girlfriend right in front of me I'd be upset. Plus, it would be even worse if it was with my parents. I mean if you can't just tell your parents you're dating Steve's girlfriend." Dov noticed the look all three girls were giving him. "Uh...Just a thought."

"Clearly, you've been giving this a lot of thought."

"I think about you two all the time," Dov's voice was almost wistful before he realized how it sounded. "That came out wrong."

"You came out wrong." Gail snarled and the other girls laughed.

The group shifted the conversation to tease Dov about Sue, which set them all commenting on each of the group's 'relationships' until they heard the front door open.

"Honey...I'm home." Chris called out as he dropped a bag onto the hallway floor.

"What?!" Gail exclaimed as she launched herself over the couch and onto Chris, dangling from him like a sloth from a tree. She was the first one to reach him.

Chris chuckled and caught the blonde, clearly just as happy to see his friend. "Hi."

"We've missed you." Traci took her turn greeting the boy once Gail released him from her spontaneous hug. Chloe followed soon behind. None of them had been expecting him, but it felt good to have him back.

Chris glanced around the house, "The place...it looks the same." He had only been gone a little over a week, but that already felt like an eternity to him once he had gotten back to Timmons. He tried to keep a smile on his face and not let it show how much he missed Toronto.

"Smell is different, thank God." Gail remarked.

"Told you that smell was you." Dov pointed out as he joined the group.

Chris ignored the taunting as Denise came in behind him. He pulled her into his side, wrapping his arm around her waist and placing a proud hand on her pregnant belly. "Thanks for letting us stay here."

Gail couldn't hide her irritation, "You're staying here?" Dov, Chloe, and Traci shot her a look so she plastered a fake smile on her face and forced cheer into her voice, "I mean you're staying here."

Breaking the tension, Chloe cheerfully spoke up, "You guys ready to paint the town red. We're gonna rock out with our -" But Chloe was cut off by Dov's hand clamping over her mouth.

"She gets a little excited first thing in the morning." Dov explained to Denise, who wasn't used to the chipper girl.

Chloe elbowed her friend and he released her, but she continued to smile excessively. "It's true I had an espresso this morning so..."

"Just give us like ten minutes and we'll take you all out for breakfast." Chris offered as he carried their things up the stairs to his old room, which was now barren on his half.

The rest of the freshmen returned to their game to finish the round before taking the boy up on his offer for free food.

---

That night the Penny was a madhouse and Charlie had Dov help him rig up a big projector to watch the ball drop. Both Gail and Traci had been running around the whole time and even their boss was up front to help at the bar.

Charlie had sent her to grab some more bottles from the back, when Gail overheard a familiar voice talking to someone in the hallway. She started to head in the direction of the voice to tell the person they couldn't be in the back. The closer she got, she realized that it was a one-sided conversation.

"Gene you can't keep calling me. I already told you, Chris and I are back together...No, we're over...It doesn't matter, I don't care if you're its father, as far as I'm concerned Chris is going to raise this baby with me and he's the only father its ever going to know." Denise hung up the phone and turned around to head back to the party, but stopped in her tracks. "Gail."

Gail shook her head in disgust, "I knew you were full of shit."

"Gail, I don't know what you heard but-"

"I heard you tell some guy named Gene that he is your baby's father. You have to tell Chris."

"Please, Gail, please..."

But Gail was unmoved, "You have to tell Chris he is not the father."

They heard someone turn the corner, "Denise? Gail? Everything ok?" Chris looked between the two girls. Denise looked upset and Gail looked royally pissed.

"Chris, hey baby...sorry...everything's fine. We were just talking."

"Are you kidding me? You're such a lying b-"

"Gail!" Chris interrupted and shot her a look.

"Chris, she's been lying to you this whole time. I just heard her on the phone with some guy named Gene."

"Gene?" He looked at Denise; there was only one guy by that name they knew. "Gene McKenzie? Captain of the soccer team back at Timmins." He had been in the same classes as them in high school.

"He's been calling me nonstop, he's been asking me out since we broke up." Denise tried to explain, but her tone sounded desperate.

Gail couldn't let her talk her way out of this. "Chris, I heard her on the phone. He's her baby's father."

Chris looked like he had been slapped, "Is that true, Denise?"

"No. Baby, are you really going to believe her over me?"

Gail watched as Chris looked between the two of them. She could feel the knots in her stomach, certain that he was going to doubt her. He hadn't taken anything she had said before well and they had barely been on speaking terms towards the end of the semester. But Gail refused to back down on this and she looked her friend directly in the eye, letting him know that every word she had said was the truth.

He looked at Denise, "Yeah, I am." He turned his attention to the blonde bartender, "You should probably get back to work before your boss fires you."

Gail grabbed the bottles she had been sent back to get. "You going to be okay?" She asked Chris one more time on her way back to the front of the bar.

The boy nodded before turning his attention back to Denise, who had taken to staring at the floor as tears streamed down her face. "We'll meet you up there."

"Hey, what took you so long?" Traci asked when Gail opened up one of the bottles to mix the order for the waitress' table.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Gail shook her head. Chris could tell the group what had happened himself. She returned her attention to the crowd of partygoers. It wasn't too long before everyone starting paying attention to the screen.

Gail missed the chime of the bells above the door over the noise in the bar. It was almost time to start counting down and the crowd was buzzing with excitement. From her usual perch she looked out over the patrons in search of her friends.

"10..." Chris had already left with Denise after the confrontation.

"...9..." Nick and Juliet were off somewhere in Vancouver. Gail had helped her ex get a cheap flight out and he was crashing with some friends he still had from when he went to the university there. He was meant to surprise his girlfriend with the visit.

"...8..." She caught sight of Dov and Sue. Dov had finally mustered the courage to ask her on a proper date after Gail almost showed her the karaoke video from Oliver's birthday of Chris and him singing their duet.

"...7..." Sam and Andy were 'on' again by the looks of it for tonight.

"...6..." Jerry managed to catch up to Traci as she bounced between tables. He had his arms wrapped around the waitress as they counted down.

"...5..." Frankie and Chloe slipped out of sight of the crowd and into a corner for just the two of them.

"...4..." That's when Gail saw her. The dark hair, the glasses, the crooked smile. She had to be a mirage. She barely managed to set the bottle of champagne in her hands on the bartop before almost dropping it.

"...3..." The brunette walked behind the bar with purpose.

"...2..." Gail met her halfway and pulled the girl to her.

"...1..." Their lips finally connected.

"...HAPPY NEW YEAR!" Erupted throughout the bar, but Gail and Holly didn't break apart. Gail's heart was hammering in her chest as she got lost in how good it felt to have the med student back.

When they finally broke apart, both girls were grinning widely. "I thought you weren't coming back 'til tomorrow."

"I wasn't sure I'd make it in time and I kind of wanted to surprise you." Holly explained as she smiled broadly at the blonde. She kept her arms looped around her waist, keeping their bodies close.

"I usually hate surprises."

"But you liked this one?"

"I did, but I'm stuck closing tonight." Gail pouted adorably.

"That's ok, I'm just going to say hi to the other hooligans then I'm going to head back to my place and shower. You're more than welcome to come over after."

"I wish, but it's going to be ridiculously late by the time we get everyone out and I have to be up early to be at the Death Star to help set up for the party."

"Alright, then I'll just have to see you there."

Gail continued to smile as Holly walked away to say hello to the others. She watched her despite the crowd of people surrounding the bar counter. Before she left Holly turned back and sought out the blue eyes, she gave her a smile and wave before heading out the door. The butterflies were still fluttering in Gail's stomach even after the brunette was gone. She hadn't realized the full extent of how much she had missed her until then. But she shook herself from the feeling and turned her attention to the rest of the revelers.

---

Gail was barely surviving the day in the Peck house. She had been forced into an early arrival to help her mother 'prepare' for the day. Considering the Superintendent's method of preparation consisted of berating the hired help from the moment they arrived until the guests showed up when she would have to play the perfect hostess there wasn't actually much for Gail to do. Tried as she might to stay out of the way, her mother managed to constantly find her. Each time resulted in an order to do something accompanied by a condescending remark about her hair, what she was planning on wearing, her posture, etc. But so far the blonde had managed to bite her tongue and do as she was told, trying hard to make it until reinforcements arrived.

After what felt like a lifetime of incarceration, Gail had finally been relieved of her duties and sent to her room to get ready. She had purposefully ignored the dress her mother laid out for her and changed into the midnight blue slinky one she had chosen for the night. The dress hung off one shoulder and fell to mid-thigh, but she chose it because the color complimented the blue in her eyes. She threw her hair up in a "messy" bun, leaving a few blonde waves to hang out, which helped to cover the scar on her forehead. She tried to not go too heavy on her makeup, knowing that it would just draw even more unwanted scrutiny from the Superintendent but couldn't resist her signature red lips. As she heard the doorbell ring, she gave herself one more look in the mirror before heading for the stairs. She couldn't wait to see Holly's reaction to her.

By the time Steve and Holly arrived Gail was already bouncing around the room, trying to get as many introductions in as possible so she could find a corner to hide in. She spotted the pair first and Gail's heart stopped for a beat when she saw the curve-hugging maroon dress Holly was wearing. It then went into double time when Holly turned and met her eye. She couldn't hide the smirk on her face when Holly stumbled slightly while walking with Steve when she caught sight of the blonde. It seemed her effort had been well worth it.

The party carried on and eventually Oliver arrived. Gail made quick work of escaping the geriatric gentleman that had some kind of political affiliation but didn't know how to keep his hands to himself to meet up with her friend and his date. Steve and Holly soon joined them and the group was able to find some refuge in the crowded room from the schmoozing.

After everyone did a run down of how their work and school commitments were going, the boys filled Holly in on the car chase on Gail's first day at the station. They talked some more about policing and the Peckspectations.

"How many guys do you think Superintendent Mom has lined up for you?" Oliver asked his friend, one arm resting comfortable around the waist of his girlfriend Celery and the other holding his champagne.

Gail groaned; she had been purposefully avoiding her mother for that exact reason. "Probably a million. She doesn't want me to end up a lonely spinster."

"At the ripe old age of 20?" Holly teased. She looked Gail over again, this time at a closer angle and could barely contain her heart pounding in her chest. There was no way the blonde would end up alone in life.

"What can I say? Low expectations." Gail replied with a shrug.

"All you have to do is talk to them. They can't be that bad to talk to." Steve was used to his mother's incessant need to set them both up with appropriate dates. If he hadn't brought Holly as a stand-in for his real girlfriend she would be introducing him to women as well.

"I'd rather clean the floor with my tongue." Gail replied with all seriousness, causing the group to laugh at her obvious despair.

"You might want to start mopping." Oliver gestured to the quickly approaching woman.

"Shit." There was no escape this time.

"Ah, there you are sweetheart. I have someone very special for you to meet. His name is Chet Forester and his father is the head of Forester Inc. and a very important donor. If you all would excuse us, I'd like to introduce you. Steven, I noticed that Inspector Brown is right over there, why don't you introduce him to your lovely girlfriend." The formidable woman merely smiled politely at both Oliver and Celery.

"Certainly, Mother." Steve dutifully replied.

The Superintendent nodded and turned sharply on her heels, expecting her daughter to follow.

Gail snatched the champagne flute from Oliver's hand and downed its contents quickly while her mother's back was turned. She handed it back to her friend, "You're a good man, Charlie Brown." Then she straightened her back, steeling herself before entering the lion's den.

Holly followed Steve automatically, but she watched as Gail made her way across the room with her mother. The Superintendent introduced the blonde to a tall boy with slightly long hair and just the right amount of stubble. Even from across the room, Holly could tell he was attractive by societal standards, and she could see straight girls everywhere swooning for him. Holly watched as the Superintendent smiled and walked away, clearly pleased with the matching and satisfied that her daughter would behave. She couldn't seem to keep her eyes off of the blonde even as she was introduced to the man the Superintendent had mentioned to Steve, her insides crumbling each time the blonde threw her head back and laughed at something the guy said. And when he reached forward and touched Gail's arm, she could feel the jealousy course through her, pooling right in her beating heart. But there was nothing she could do, but watch from the other side of the room as she continued to play Steve's perfect girlfriend.

Finally Holly was forced to pay attention to the conversation at hand. After politely answering the Detective Inspector's questions she returned her gaze to where the two had been stationed before but neither was in sight. She hoped that Gail had simply escaped alone like she had at the last party.

She was making her way down the hallway upstairs when she felt someone grab her suddenly and pull her into a room. Gail's insistent lips swallowed up any sound of surprise Holly made, as she pinned Holly forcefully against the door. Holly returned the kiss with as much passion as she pulled Gail even closer. The desire she had felt the moment she had seen the blonde was raging in her.

"What took you so long?" Gail asked after their kiss broke as she moved her lips to the underside of Holly's jaw.

"Next time you should tell someone you're leaving." Holly breathlessly sassed.

"Thought you would've noticed." Gail's kisses continued down Holly's neck. "I noticed you."

"You did?"

"Mmhmm I can't seem to take my eyes off of you tonight. Who'd you wear this dress for?" Gail's hands slid across the smooth fabric and along Holly's curves while her lips continued to trace the elegant slope of the brunette's neck.

"Who do you think?"

"Steve doesn't deserve this."

"Wrong Peck."

Gail smiled against Holly's skin before biting down on her pulse point, eliciting a moan. She released the reddened skin and her lips returned forcefully to Holly's. She could taste the sweet champagne Holly had been drinking and was fairly certain she could get drunk on the other girl's soft lips alone. The kiss broke and Gail rested her forehead against Holly's. "It's a great dress. Almost looks as good as what's underneath."

"Maybe if you're lucky you'll get to see later."

"Think I might need to take a peek now." Gail decided, letting her hands drift down and slip under the hem of Holly's dress as they traced the smooth contours of the other girl's muscular legs.

Holly's body was on fire but she tried to keep some level of control on her hormones. "Gail, what are you doing?"

"Holly, I can't wait any longer."

"We can't do this. Not in your parents' bathroom while there's a party going on underneath us." Holly wasn't sure if the reminder was more for Gail or for herself. But she knew that if Gail kept kissing her and touching her like this she was going to lose all control.

"Yes, we can, no one is going to hear us."

"Gail..." Holly started in a warning tone.

"Holly. I just want to feel something good for a change while I'm here and you...you feel so good." Gail let her hands wander some more and could feel Holly shift under her touch, seeking more contact. Taking that as permission, she let her fingers slip under the waistband of Holly's panties and slowly pulled them down the long tan legs before dropping to her knees on the cold, tiled floor. She lifted one of Holly's legs onto her shoulder and pressed a kiss to Holly's inner thigh, "But you taste even better." She pressed a kiss higher.

"Gail..." But this time the name came out more as a whimper than a warning as the blonde continued to trail kisses higher. Holly knew it was wrong but Gail's lips felt so good and they were still moving slowly higher. Whatever misgivings she had flew out of her mind as Gail's mouth reached her throbbing flesh. She tried to suppress the moan that sprang from deep within her but failed miserably as her head slammed back into the door that was supporting her. Her hands reached down to the blonde hair as she tried to pull the other girl closer, locking her in place right where she needed her.

The Pecks might kill them if they ever found out, but it was a risk worth taking. She was only human after all.

---

Eventually returning to the party, Gail quickly found Oliver and accepted the champagne flute he handed her with a smile. He didn't comment on her absence, though the look in his eyes implied that he had definitely noticed. But Gail merely smirked at her friend and sipped her glass. The two stood together silently watching the party unfold around them. It was only a few minutes later that Holly returned to Steve's side. Gail couldn't hide the smile on her face as the brunette glanced around the room seeking her out. Once Holly's eyes landed on the blonde, she let out a crooked smile.

Oliver had noticed the entire exchange, specifically the look on his little friend's face. He had never seen her show such adoration. He cleared his throat, shattering the silence between them. "It's funny how relationships start, I mean, who you end up with. Sometimes it's the last person that you would expect, or who other people expect." Oliver's eyes continued to glance around the party, only briefly flickering in the direction of his friend.

Gail let out an audible groan, "We're not having this conversation, are we?"

Oliver continued on as if she hadn't said a word, "But who cares what people think right? As long as you're happy. Of course it's gonna mean some life changes, I guess it's, well I just said it: life changes. So you want to date a witch, or after knowing her for an insanely short amount of time, ask her to move in with you, but that's ok, because she makes you happy."

Gail turned her head to look at the man standing beside her. It was hard to think of Oliver as a man, when she had first met him he was only a freshman in college. He had just been another one of Steve's friends back then, but he had always gone out of his way to look out for her. No more so than that one night his senior year. It was weird to see him as a grown-up, but he was. He was a fully-fledged cop, and apparently a man about to move in with his girlfriend.

"We're talking about you." She pointed out.

Oliver turned to his friend, giving her his undivided attention. "Who else would we be talking about darlin'?" He questioned innocently, which if Gail hadn't known him better, she might have thought was sincere. But Oliver had a special way of doling out advice that always seemed to apply to her even if he didn't flat out say it. He would make a great training officer one day.

Gail actually liked Celery, she was weird but at least she wasn't as controlling as Zoe had been. Zoe who had dated Oliver all through college only to break up with him when he joined the force, declaring that she couldn't be with a cop. Her friend had been heartbroken after trying everything he could to make things work, but no matter how many ways he bent over backwards it was all for naught. So if living with the wiccan was going to make her friend happy, she couldn't begrudge him that. But she still wasn't convinced that she could handle a relationship herself. Yet, when she glanced across the room and saw Holly laugh at something Steve whispered to her, she felt a warmth in her chest at the sight. Shit, it kind of felt like happiness.

---

Holly had been looking for Gail again, but this time so were Steve, Oliver, and Celery. They were all gearing up to leave, but the blonde had vanished once more. So when Holly had overheard Gail and the Superintendent's voices on the other side of the corner that she was about to turn down she stopped in her tracks. She didn't want to rudely interrupt, but she really couldn't help that she could hear their conversation.

"Really Gail, the things I do for you and you just want to throw away every opportunity. It was hard enough keeping your name out of everything related to that incident, but now you won't even take advantage of the chance to learn in the field."

Gail had been trying to convince her mother to let her out of the internship. But of course her mother was instead using it as an excuse to bring that up again. She tried to ignore the sting. "As usual it doesn't matter to you that I could have been killed." They had argued about the car chase, the one that had started after the truck almost pinned her between it and the cruiser if Oliver hadn't pulled her back.

"I raised you better than that young lady. Pecks are not victims and Pecks do not show fear."

Fear was weakness and Pecks were not weak. Gail knew this, she had been hearing some variation of it her entire life. It had only worsened since the incident a couple of years ago and had been part of what drove the blonde across an ocean.

"Speaking of squandered opportunities, why have you not spent the night getting to know the Forester boy?"

"I'm not interested in him, Mother." Gail refrained from telling the older woman that she wasn't interested in anyone that she wanted introduce her to because she had already met someone who was more than interesting enough.

"You never are, really Gail, I have seen your choice in men. And after everything that happened with that Ned boy, I thought you would be more willing to meet someone better."

"His name was Nicholas, Mother, which I know you know."

"That isn't the point. You know what chasing after that boy nearly cost you. If it wasn't for him you never would've been at that party in the first place."

Gail could feel the icy chill run down her spine at the second mention of that fucking party. She tried not to let it show, but her voice was quiet when she replied, "It wasn't his fault." It hadn't been Nick's fault, though Gail had wanted to blame him for a long time. Blame him for ignoring her, for getting with her friend, and for not even noticing she was gone. But Nick hadn't intended to hurt her and he certainly never meant for her to get hurt by someone else.

"No, it wasn't. He didn't force you to sneak out or to drink. Your judgment is clearly not up to par."

It had been McNally who had convinced Gail to sneak out that night, but she had never told her mother that. She was way too loyal to throw her under the bus even after everything. Especially, because Andy had been underage at the time. Gail's mother loved to mention the drinking but Gail hadn't been drunk. That hadn't been the problem.

Before Gail could reply, a throat cleared. "Hey Gail, we were looking for you. Are you ready to go?" Holly stepped forward, drawing the attention of both Peck women.

Gail searched Holly's face for an indication of how much she had heard but all she saw was a reassuring smile. "Uh, yeah."

"Thank you for inviting me, Superintendent. It was a lovely party." Holly politely shook hands with the elder Peck.

"I'm glad you could come, Miss Stewart. Did you speak to Dr. Harris about the lab?"

"I did, thank you for introducing us, ma'am."

"Of course."

"Anyway, the guys are waiting so..." Holly gestured behind her.

Gail nodded and said good-bye to her mother before following Holly. Her father was waiting at the door talking to Steve, Oliver, and Celery, so after another round of farewells Gail was finally out in the fresh air. She took a deep breath before climbing into the back seat of Steve's car. She didn't speak the entire car ride, too lost in her own thoughts about the argument with her mother and what, if anything, Holly might have heard. She was only vaguely aware of the conversation going on between the friends in front, they were talking about the people they met at the party and Holly was gushing about some Medical Examiner. When Steve pulled up in front of Holly's apartment, Gail didn't say a word but got out of the car as well.

Steve shot Holly a look but the brunette just shrugged in response.

"You two stay out of trouble." Steve laughed before pulling away as Holly waved. Gail ignored him, suddenly extremely interested in the sidewalk.

Holly turned to face the blonde and smiled. "Coming up?" She was surprised when Gail shook her head.

She flexed her left hand, feeling a quick jolt of pain through it. "Nah, not tonight. Think I'm just gonna head home." Gail knew that with the way her thoughts were spinning out of control she shouldn't go up to Holly's, but she also hadn't wanted to be stuck in the car with Steve when he dropped her off at her own house. She'd rather walk the couple of blocks.

It was a windy night, pulling the long blonde hair out of its tie, splashing it across Gail's face, making it difficult for Holly to read the other girl's expression. She was confused over where the sudden change had come from when Gail had literally jumped her at the Peck party because she couldn't wait to be with her.

She reached up to move the blonde hair back, her fingers inadvertently brushing along a rough line on Gail's forehead. "Hey, what's wrong?"

The gentle touch of Holly's fingers across her scar was too much and Gail jumped back out of reach. "Nothing, I'm just tired."

Holly continued to look at Gail with concern, "Okay, you know we don't have to do anything? We could just hang out, watch a movie...or talk."

Gail's eyes sharpened, "How much did you hear?"

Holly bit her lip and adjusted her glasses. She hadn't meant to eavesdrop on the conversation between the Pecks but she had heard part of it, not that she understood any of it. Right now though, it was obviously Gail was upset and Holly just wanted to calm her down. Adopting her most soothing voice she started, "Gail..."

"Don't Holly," Gail held up a hand to try to shield herself from the concern. She didn't want Holly treating her like something that needed to be coddled. Steeling her voice further, "I asked you a question."

Holly let out a small sigh before replying honestly, "I heard you two arguing about boys and some party."

"So you were just listening in on something that was none of your damn business."

"I hadn't meant to, we were all looking for you and I didn't want to interrupt."

"Really? Because you had no problem interrupting after listening in."

Holly had spoken up because she couldn't listen to Gail's own mother tear her down any longer. "You don't deserve for her to talk to you like that. She shouldn't be constantly belittling you." Holly reached out again to lightly touch the blonde's arm.

"It's none of your business, Holly," Gail bit out. She felt weak and vulnerable from her mother's attacks and knowing that Holly had heard more than she should've. Holly was getting too close, everyone had noticed with all their comments about relationships and acting like Holly was her girlfriend. Every inch of Gail's body felt exposed, so she did what she always did best in a situation like this: she wrecked it further. "You're not my girlfriend."

Holly recoiled slightly, like the words had physically hit her. She nodded her head softly and glanced down at the concrete. A small sad smile pulled at one side of her lips and her voice stayed soft, "Oh, ok, so that's how we're going to do this."

"It's how we've been doing it." Gail tried to maintain her hostility, even though it felt like it would break her.

Holly crossed her arms and looked at Gail hard, "I don't have to be your girlfriend to care about you." The sincerity and depth of those words was evident in both Holly's eyes and her voice.

But Gail was too far gone at that point, "I don't want someone who cares about me. I don't need hand holding and long talks about feelings. I just needed someone to get my rocks off with." This time the hurt that flashed across Holly's face mixed with anger, her lips pressing into a thin line, but she said nothing. "Aw don't look so upset, you could probably just swing by the Penny, pick up where you left off with that other girl." Gail threw in the last dig for good measure before she stormed away.

Holly stayed rooted to the spot in front of her apartment building watching the blonde's retreating form. What the hell just happened?

---

It had been two weeks of complete radio silence from Gail. She had even blown off two visits to the clinic without any explanation. Unlike the last time, this time there were no responses at all to Holly's texts and the brunette was at a loss for how it had all gone so horribly wrong. Even after all the hurtful things Gail had said, Holly had hoped she just needed time to calm down so they could talk. It was obvious something was bothering her more than just Holly overhearing part of a conversation, not with the way she overreacted. They weren't even in a relationship but it was clear that Gail had created her emergency situation.

As angry as she was by the things Gail had said and the way she treated her, Holly couldn't shake this feeling of concern for the blonde. Or maybe it was just the lack of answers to the questions in Holly's head. She had never been good at not knowing something, always seeking explanations any way she could find them. But Gail seemed to be the biggest mystery of all. A mystery that didn't want to be solved. So after the first week, Holly had left a final message telling the blonde that when she wanted to talk she knew where to find her and Holly made the decision to stop sending messages to the number. If this was what Gail wanted then Holly wasn't going to push it. Instead she threw herself into her classes, which had already started up, and the new internship she had at the crime lab with the forensic pathologists.

In fact, she was pouring over a textbook when a voice startled her.

"You're going to work yourself to death."

Holly looked up to find Frankie leaning in her doorway, "What are you doing here?"

"Rachel, let me in, she said you've been doing nothing but studying. Though that doesn't explain why you've been ignoring my texts."

"I didn't ignore them, I told you I was busy."

"Busy getting acquainted with Linda S. Constanzo's Physiology?" Frankie asked as she read off the cover of one of the books on Holly's desk.

"Exactly."

"Kinky. She must be a hell of a woman if she manages to keep you in bed all day and night." Holly just shook her head and turned her attention back to the book on chromatography sitting in her lap. But Frankie wasn't going to be dismissed that easily, so she grabbed the chair at Holly's desk and straddled the back of it. "So I'm to assume your newfound isolation has nothing to do with the bitchy blonde I live with?" Gail had been in a worse mood than usual, isolating herself from the group and biting off the heads of anyone who tried to ask her what was wrong. Apparently that had even extended to Oliver the last she heard. Frankie, though, was one of the few people still talking to the freshman, not that she ever got much in the form of a response.

Holly continued to ignore her, but Frankie just carried on anyway, "Or is it your desire to break the curve for class? You know, that's no way to make friends."

"I'm a first year med student, Frankie, not a senior like you. I need to study."

"Holls, I'm not asking you to come out drinking with me every night like the rest of the people I live with. I asked you to grab coffee earlier today, we both know you need caffeine."

Holly deflated a bit and pushed her glasses to the top of her head. She pressed the heel of her hands into her eyes, trying to relieve some of the pressure that had been building from staring at the small print for so long. "I was studying, sorry."

"So you keep saying. How about you take a break tonight and we can go out? Just a couple of hours tops, you don't even have to drink."

"Frankie..."

"Holly..." She mimicked, "We both know that the closer you get to your exam the less time you'll have and we've barely seen each other. You need to take a break before your brain short-circuits."

"You're not going to leave until I say yes, are you?"

"Nope."

"Fine."

"Glad you see it my way." Frankie got up and headed into Holly's closet, grabbing clothes for her change into.

"Two hours tops, Anderson." Holly warned as she shed her sweatpants and pulled on the jeans Frankie had laid out for her. She switched her top too.

"No problem, Stewart." Frankie replied as she made her way into Holly's living room while the brunette turned off the light in her room and shut the door.

"Where are you heading off to?" Lisa asked as when she caught sight of her roommate dressed and heading towards the front door.

"Out." Holly had been avoiding her friend, knowing that she would just bring up Gail and rub everything in Holly's face.

"Hot date?"

"Obviously," Frankie smugly interjected, causing the girl to jump. She hadn't noticed the girl standing by the door and Frankie laughed at the dirty look she received.

"Please tell me it's not with another one of her friends. Not after I've been trying to set you up for weeks."

Frankie rolled her eyes, "Because that worked out so well for her with Jess."

"Better than the bartender."

"Ah yes, the bartender, how dare anyone actually work for their own money." Frankie feigned horror at the idea.

Holly intervened before the argument escalated, "Enough, let's go Frankie before I change my mind."

"Later, BitchTits." Frankie called out before Holly shut the door.

"I'm regretting this already." Holly muttered but Frankie ignored her.

"Come on, Holls, the night is young and so are we."

Holly smiled, it was the same thing the brunette had said the night they ended up at that the tattoo parlor their freshman year, drunk and dumb. Frankie had gotten inked and Holly had gotten pierced. "You're not planning on another tattoo are you?"

"Not tonight. I just want to enjoy your lovely company for the couple of hours I've got you."

"Always the charmer, Anderson."

The two girls caught up with each other's lives since the boys' party at the beginning of break. Holly was spouting off about her internship when Frankie turned towards the door of the Lucky Penny.

But Holly froze in her tracks, "No, not the Penny, Frankie." She didn't want to see Gail. This was supposed to be about relaxing for a bit and getting Frankie to stop harassing her, not a trap to talk to the blonde.

"Why not, Holly? You've said it yourself: the drinks are cheapest here."

"No...just...no. Anywhere else." Holly had refused to tell Frankie about the Peck party or about what happened with Gail after, no matter how many times she asked.

"Come on, it's the closest bar to where we live, and I would rather spend my money on alcohol than a cab."

"Then I'll pay for it."

But Frankie stood her ground, "No, you've dragged me to this bar plenty of times that I didn't want to go, time for you to pay up."

"I'm heading home." Holly tried to leave but Frankie caught a hold of her.

"No, you promised me a couple of hours, you never said where. If you don't want to talk to Gail that's fine, we'll just grab a booth in the back." Holly still looked ready to bolt. "She might not even be working."

Holly looked doubtful but Frankie wasn't relenting and she pulled the taller girl in behind her. They didn't make it more than a few steps before Holly stopped moving, her eyes fixed on the platinum blonde behind the bar. Not working my ass, Holly thought to herself but she couldn't look away. Not even when Chloe came bounding over to them.

"Hey Holly, long time no see. Do you guys want to join us? We have our usual table and a few pitchers. Dov even has his trivia cards and is trying to get everyone to play. Ooo Holly I bet you would be great at that. You could totally be on my team. Give Dov a run for his money."

But Holly didn't say anything; she was too busy watching the girl that was seated at the bar in front of Gail. The one who kept flipping her hair over her shoulder and running a finger along the rim of her glass. The one that the blonde was staring at with her intense blue eyes as the girl talked. The one that Gail was now smiling at.

"Relax, chatterbox, we just got here." Frankie gently chastised the redhead, but Chloe just seemed to smile wider. Frankie turned and nudged Holly with her elbow, "Whaddya say, Holls? Want to crush some people with that ridiculously high IQ of yours?"

"Umm..." Holly felt her stomach drop when the girl reached across the bartop to touch the bartender's arm as Gail said something. But it was nothing on the feeling of Gail looking up and catching sight of her. The small smile fell from the pale face instantly. "I...ummm...I gotta go." And Holly turned and left the bar without another glance.

Frankie scanned the bar and noticed the crestfallen face on the bartender, but Gail didn't move from her perch to go after Holly. She looked at Chloe who's face was scrunched up in confusion at the sudden departure. "I don't think your plan worked this time, Muppet." Frankie sighed before leaving the bar in pursuit of her upset friend.

Chloe watched the two girls and turned to the bar, Gail was glaring at her. She was pretty sure she had just dug her own grave.

---

Maybe Gail should have been more concerned about it, but when she got a text from her brother saying she didn't have to go to the station that day she was just relieved to have the time off before work. It wasn't that she hadn't appreciated the distraction, she did. It stopped her from thinking about Holly, or the fact that they hadn't spoken since the party. She had seen the brunette come to the Penny with Frankie the other night, but she had left quickly without talking to her. She could have gone after her, but what would she say? Holly was the first person in a long time that Gail actually liked and she showed it by insulting her, dismissing what they had, and ignoring her. But she couldn't explain all the ways her twisted brain overreacted to things. She just wasn't ready to let Holly see all the dark parts of her, so really, it was better this way. She had already managed to hurt her, so it was better for Holly if things ended now before either of them got in any deeper. At least that's what she kept telling herself.

Now if only everyone else would stop their meddling. She had refused to speak to Chloe or listen to any of her roommate's explanations about why she had teamed up with Frankie to get Holly to the Penny. She was mad at everyone. Furious with her friends for their interference and teasing. Angry at Oliver for his relationship comments. Pissed at Steve for using Holly as his fake girlfriend in the first place. If he hadn't done that then she wouldn't have been at the party at all. Not unless Gail had asked her to be her date. No, that was stupid, she never would've subjected Holly to one of those parties or the scrutiny she would've faced being Gail's plus one. Ugh, stupid thoughts like that had been planted in her brain by the likes of Dov. She let out a deep sigh and tried to turn off her brain.

She was exhausted. The insomnia was wrecking her body and the nightmares were destroying her stability. She knew this time of year was going to be bad, but she hadn't expected it to be this bad. She had been spoiled the year before, anytime she started to feel haunted she had the freedom to just pack up and move on to the next town or country. But right now all she felt was trapped. Trapped in the stupid city of Toronto. Trapped by the stranglehold her parents were trying to place on her life. Trapped in her own head.

But laying on her bed, drilling holes into her ceiling with her eyes as she mentally berated herself wasn't helping, so she got up and headed down the stairs. She had just been on her way to the kitchen for a snack when she heard a knock on the front door.

"Steve?" Gail hadn't expected to see her brother that day, "What are you doing here?"

"Gail, I need you to come with me." Steve skipped any form of pleasantries. They needed to leave as quickly as possible, hell, he wasn't even supposed to be there, getting her.

Gail's eyes quickly scanned her brother who was still in uniform. It was the dark stains on his vest that told Gail everything she needed to know. She steeled herself before asking, "Who?"

"I'll explain on our way but we have to go." He reached for her arm and gave a small tug. He knew that she would have questions, but he would rather have this conversation sitting down and where he could focus his attention on the moving road instead of his baby sister's face.

But the blonde didn't budge. Growing up in a cop family she had always known that her loved ones could, and probably would, get hurt in the line of duty. Gail could feel the fear prickling at her spine as she took in her brother's grim expression. "Who is it, Steven?"

"Oliver."

---

A/N: ...