Disclaimer: I do not own Rookie Blue or any of these characters etc..

Author's note:

Okay, so I thought the last chapter was long, but I was wrong this is even longer!

Debby: Gail woke in her own bed but I will say no more except read on.

Thanks for the reviews, favs and follows – it is fantastic to get feedback.

I had hoped to update this earlier but life got busy – hopefully I should have the next chapter up sooner.

…...

Gail closed her eyes and pressed her fingers to her throbbing temple. She remembered the four of them coming back to her room last night. Gail had flopped onto the king sized bed, her back against the headboard, and Frankie had immediately sat down next to her. The only other furniture in the room was a narrow sofa, which was where Holly and girl-cop, as Gail had decided to call Sandra, had perched a little awkwardly.

On the way back to the hotel, Frankie had suggested they get tequila and now took charge of pouring the shots, except instead of shot glasses they were tumblers and Frankie wasn't holding back. Holly had stopped at one and switched to water and Frankie didn't seem to be drinking at all.

The two of them were locked in some sort of battle of wits that Gail now realized had started back at the restaurant. Gail wanted to tell Frankie not to bother. That Holly was too smart, that she'd give as good as she got and then some, that snark just bounced off the nerd, but Gail's head was too clouded by alcohol to form the right words.

If she hadn't been half-drunk and if it hadn't been so ridiculous, Gail might have noticed it earlier but she became aware that she was actually the object of this contest. It was annoying and stupid and confusing because she was fairly certain Frankie's infatuation with her was not only an aberration but had been short-lived and, judging by the number of girls the detective had been with since, she'd moved on quickly, and then Holly, well Holly had chosen San Francisco so why was she even invested.

Girl-cop had watched the verbal sparring with a growing curiosity. She had the eager but awestruck look of a kid allowed at the grown-ups table. Then, after several shots her eyes lost focus and she began to subside into the small sofa. Gail had wondered briefly if she was even old enough to drink and whether, as upholders of the law, they should be giving her alcohol. Perhaps they should have carded her, thought Gail and laughed out loud at the idea. This drew the attention of the two other women - Holly gave Gail a quizzical smile and Frankie just looked peeved.

Gail gave a dismissive, slightly uncoordinated flap of her hand in their direction. She was now drunk, really drunk, and wondered whether it was obvious. She used to drink people under the table but then her therapist told her about the high percentage of cops who were alcoholics and suggested she find other 'coping mechanisms' so she'd decided to cut back. Now she mainly stuck to a couple of beers and saved tequila for special occasions and, though she hadn't admitted it to Holly, she'd actually found exercise to be a better stress reliever.

Holly stood abruptly. 'It's nearly midnight. This has been fun but I'm going to go'.

Frankie gave a thin smile, which made Gail think the detective believed she'd won this round with Holly. Gail pushed up off the bed, which took some effort given her state of inebriation, and then, steadying herself, announced she would walk Holly to the elevator.

Frankie and Holly, but Frankie in particular, had tried to persuade her out of the idea and to lie back down, which she figured meant they had indeed noticed she was wasted. The more they tried to stop her, the more loudly insistent she became. She knew she was acting like the messy drunks she'd lock up on a Saturday night but she had passed the point where she could stop herself.

She heard herself saying over and over, 'Plus one, forever', holding up her index finger each time she said 'one' to emphasize the word. Frankie had finally butted in to say, 'What thrre fuck are you talking about Gail?'

'It is why,' Gail said, slowly and carefully so she didn't slur her words, but in a tone that suggested Frankie was quite possibly dim-witted because she needed this explained, 'It is why I have to take Lunchbox to the elevator'.

At this, Holly titled her head and gave Gail an indulgent smile, but Frankie looked exasperated. 'What lunchbox? Gail just sit down', Frankie said, not disguising her annoyance.

It was at this point that girl-cop stumbled to her feet. Gail realized the girl hadn't said a word –actually hadn't even moved- for the last 30 minutes and she now looked positively green.

'I think I'm going to be'. Girl-cop clamped a hand to her mouth.

'Anderson if she pukes in my room, one I'm not sleeping here, and two you're picking up my tab at the Penny for the next month', said Gail, sounding surprisingly sober.

Frankie pulled girl-cop into the bathroom with a sour expression, clearly unimpressed by the sudden turn of events. The diversion was all Gail needed to slip out of the room. Pausing at the door, she turned to look at Holly with a mischievous grin, and said 'Are you coming Stewart'.

Once at the elevator, she had pressed Holly against the wall and kissed her sloppily. Holly had pushed her away gently, saying 'You are too drunk, Gail'.

And that, Gail had to admit, was all she could remember of last night.

…...

Holly couldn't understand why Gail had allowed Frankie to hijack their dinner, although to be honest the detective hadn't given them much choice. Short of being outright rude, which normally didn't faze Gail, they had had to acquiesce. She found herself wondering, and not for the first time that evening, what sort of hold Frankie had or wanted over Gail?

They found a Thai restaurant not far from the hotel, and once they were seated Frankie gave Holly her full attention and largely ignored the other two women. There was something calculated about Frankie's scrutiny that Holly found slightly unnerving.

'So I guess you and Sandra have worked cases together', said Frankie, with a nod in the direction of the young cop, who blushed furiously.

This was why Holly had been vague about knowing her. Officer Sandra Wolek either had a crush on her or was pathologically shy because every time Holly encountered her at a crime scene she turned crimson and dropped her gaze. Holly was fairly certain it was the former, because she'd then overheard the rookie begging her partner not to make her accompany Holly to the morgue because she 'just went to pieces in front of the doctor'. Her partner had laughed and told her to 'just ask the doc already, what's the worse, she can say no'.

'A few times, yeah', said Holly in answer to Frankie's question and if anything Officer Wolek's face became redder. God, she hoped Gail didn't pick up on that because she suspected she might be merciless with the officer. On the way here, Gail had already asked with faux innocence when the San Francisco Police Department had started recruiting children.

While she hadn't stopped Frankie and Wolek from joining them, judging by the acerbic comments she was aiming at them, Gail was clearly annoyed by their presence. Frankie seemed unperturbed and Wolek was too distracted by her proximity to Holly to take offence or perhaps even comprehend that she was the target of Gail's snark, which only seemed to spur Gail on.

It came as something of a relief to Holly when Frankie started to question her about San Francisco and her job. Holly described at some length and with increasing enthusiasm how charming she found parts of the city, how the mix in her job of research and the practical, working with the police and performing autopsies, suited her perfectly, how she never tired of solving the puzzle of how someone died, and how she was working with a colleague from New York on a book which was making a number of claims that could shake things up in the forensic field.

Drawing breath, she saw that Wolek was hanging on her every word, Frankie was smirking and Gail was sitting still and silent. Gone was the openness of earlier and instead Gail had withdrawn into herself. Morose, thought Holly, she looks morose, and suddenly Holly saw what Frankie was trying to do. The more Holly described her life in San Francisco the more out of reach she was to Gail – well she suspected that's what Gail would believe - that there was no place for her in Holly's life and no hope that the doctor would ever return to Toronto.

Back in the bar, Holly had been impressed by the transformation in Gail, but now she realized Gail hadn't shed her old insecurities and self-doubts. Clearly Frankie knew this too and her questions were calculated to make Gail feel that Holly had left her behind, and not just by physically leaving but also by carving out a successful life without Gail.

With this realization, Holly looked pointedly at Gail, 'But I miss Toronto and everyone there. And my contract i s up soon and, while I love the job, it's a job right, and I spend too much time there and my social life is practically non-existent and I need to get a better work-life balance. And, well, every city has dead bodies right, well I mean not that that's good, but it gives me a lot of options of where to work and live, so you know, who knows'.

Holly knew she was rambling. Something about Gail always seemed to set her off. Secretly she knew that Gail had found it adorable, but it didn't seem to be having that effect now.

When Holly had finished speaking, Frankie had smirked again and looked at her knowingly, as if acknowledging that Holly had found her out. Now she tried a new tack. Instead of questioning Holly, Frankie started to talk about some of the more bizarre cases she and Gail had been involved in, constantly turning to Gail and touching her arm, trying to draw her in to corroborate the stories.

'Gail, do you remember that time we got that call at 4am. We'd practically had no sleep that night', Frankie directed a sly smile at Gail, 'and you almost threw my phone at the wall. Luckily we picked up though. Three bodies. Frozen in Black Creek. They'd turned up in the spring thaw. Ever see something like that Holly?'

Holly nodded. 'Run of the mill in a place like Canada'.

She noticed Gail was looking increasingly irritated. Wolek had perked up when Frankie intimated sI he and Gail had been sharing a bed. Holly groaned inwardly. Wolek probably thought the two were together and it gave her a chance with Holly.

Perhaps this was part of Frankie's plan. Maybe that's why she'd dragged Wolek along, in the hope that her presence would muddy the waters and so make it difficult for anything to happen between Holly and Gail. Surely, reasoned Holly, Frankie couldn't be so devious. And why did she want to come between she and Gail? Gail had indicated that the thing she and Frankie had had was over, hadn't she? Or is that what Holly had wanted to believe? She sighed. Why was everything with Gail so complicated?

Excusing herself, Holly went to the restroom. She splashed cold water on her face. Looking in the mirror she could see she looked tired and a little drawn. She felt exhausted by Frankie's games - unable to let her guard down for a moment and unsure of Frankie's motives. She needed to get Gail alone to talk to her.

As she approached their table on her return from the restroom, Holly heard Gail snarl, 'What the fuck Anderson. Why do you keep touching me'

'You liked it in the past, Gail', Frankie said tartly and Holly realized that it was the first time she heard her call Gail by her first name.

'Not that much, believe me', came Gail's reply.

Holly couldn't help smiling. She looked at the three women and said brightly 'Shall, I get the check?'

…...

Frankie woke to find Gail shaking her roughly and demanding, 'What the fuck are you doing in my bed Anderson?'

'Good morning to you too, Peck', Frankie said, deliberately sounding unconcerned knowing this would infuriate Gail even more.

'What did we do last night?' Gail's eyes were hard and her mouth twisted in disdain, but Frankie detected dismay beneath the contempt. Frankie laughed. Pulling back the bed sheets to reveal that she was dressed in a t-shirt and boy-shorts, she said, 'Don't worry. You're virtue is safe Peck'

'So we didn't…' Gail trailed off.

'Believe me you'd remember if we did', said Frankie, and if Gail hadn't been feeling so hungover she would have rolled her eyes. 'After Holly left, you and girl-cop both passed out. So I thought the responsible thing to do was to stay and make sure you were both okay. She had the sofa, you were snoring loud enough to wake the dead - I didn't think you'd mind if I crashed here'.

Gail noticed that girl-cop was indeed lying rather awkwardly on the little sofa. She must still be drunk. She hadn't even stirred when Gail was yelling at Frankie. Gail was certain she and Frankie would not have had sex when someone else was in the room, even if that person was comatose. And looking down, Gail saw that she herself was fully dressed. Not that that necessarily meant she hadn't had sex, but it did reduce the odds somewhat.

'But wait, I thought I went with Holly?' said Gail.

'Yeah, you did, but when you came back you collapsed on the bed and said you didn't want to talk anymore. Not that you had been talking much anyway'. Frankie shrugged, 'And now, you probably need water and painkillers'.

Gail started to nod, but winced when it intensified the pounding in her head. After gulping down some Tylenol, she decided a shower might clear her muddled thoughts. At the very least it would give her some space from Frankie, who was becoming more and more overbearing as the conference progressed.

Frankie lay back on the bed. Gail was such a prickly thing, she thought. Although to be honest, she wasn't much better and maybe that's why they looked out for each other. She wondered if she should wake girl-cop or just let her sleep it off. Her musings were interrupted by a knock on a door. She suspected she knew who it was and, when she opened the door, she did indeed find Holly standing outside expectantly.

Holly was clearly surprised to see Frankie and her eyes narrowed as she took in her outfit. At that moment, Gail emerged out of the bathroom, saying 'Anderson, I know I'm irresistible but if you were going to sleep With me, you should have asked first'. Never one to be too concerned with modesty, she had a towel draped rather carelessly around her.

Frankie hadn't taken her eyes off Holly and she suddenly knew what people meant when they said someone's face dropped. Holly looked devastated.

'I didn't mean to disturb you', she said backing away from the door. 'You obviously are…I'm just going to go'.

'Holly, wait. Its not what it looks like', pleaded Gail, but Holly had gone. 'Shit, Frankie, stop her', Gail said, not bothering to hide the desperation in her voice.

Frankie gestured to herself. 'Not appropriately dressed'.

'Well, neither am I. Go after her'.

'Isn't that your thing', said Frankie.

Gail pushed past her and out into the corridor but there was no sign of Holly. Fuck, fuck, fuck, she thought. She hadn't believed this morning could get any worse but once again the universe seemed to be conspiring against her.

…...

After dressing quickly, Gail headed downstairs to look for Holly. She tried the café first, but there was no sign of the doctor. It was the final day of the conference and the morning sessions were about to begin. Gail frantically searched each of the conference rooms but with no luck. Perhaps Holly had gone back to her room, but Gail realized she didn't even know which floor she was staying on, let alone her room number.

Approaching the reception desk, she gave the rather solemn looking concierge a big smile. 'I wonder if you can help. I'm at the conference and I'm trying to get a message to a friend who is also part of the conference but I've forgotten her room number'.

The concierge drew himself up, as if ready to be challenged. 'Ma'am, I think you'll understand that it is a matter of policy that we don't give out the room numbers of our guests'.

'Yes, its just that I promised to get this information to her first thing this morning, and I over slept sooo…', Gail tried to wheedle but the concierge was impassive.

'If you'd like to leave a message for the guest, we'd be happy to pass it on', he said, the officious sound in his voice unmistakable.

'Its okay, I'm a detective', said Gail, drawing out her badge, 'You can trust me'. In the past Gail would have worried that such an abuse of power would have sent her to Peck hell, but now she thought bitterly it probably just made a little more like her brother and father but she was desperate.

The concierge was not to be swayed however. 'Detective, I'm sure you'd be aware that we have obligations to protect the privacy of our guests. However, if this was a police matter? 'He raised his eyebrows questioningly.

'No, no its not', said Gail backing down, 'But could you at least phone her room to see if she can meet me here downstairs. It's Holly Stewart'. The concierge nodded and wordlessly put a call through to Holly's room but she didn't pick up.

Gail couldn't imagine where Holly had gone. She didn't think Holly knew anyone in Chicago. She decided to wait in the lobby just near the conference area to see if Holly showed. By mid morning she hadn't reappeared and the concierge was giving Gail some very pointed looks.

Having skipped breakfast, Gail was starting to feel hungry. She was dehydrated from the night before and desperate for a coffee. Realizing the conference would be breaking soon for morning refreshments, she decided to head over to the conference break room. Here she found Rodney helping himself to a muffin and very milky tea.

'Rodney, have you seen Holly?'

'Gail, ah hi. No, but I heard Dr Stewart was called out this morning by the Chicago forensic department to consult on a case. A tricky one by all accounts and they needed a second, expert opinion. One of our colleagues from Chicago who is here at the conference recommended her'.

'Oh', said Gail, trying to disguise her relief, 'That makes sense'.

'Yeah, she is so sought after. My boss said she's been headhunted by the National Forensic Science Institute in France. Its like a world leader in forensics', Rodney said, with some awe.

Of course Holly was sought after and not just here in Chicago, but internationally. With sudden clarity, she thought Lisa was right when she said Holly was out of her league, and not because she was a beat cop but because Holly was going places and Gail would just hold her back. Holly could get a job anywhere in the world but Toronto was in Gail's blood. Policing in Toronto was who she was. She couldn't leave the city. After the Peck scandal, the sensible thing to do would have been to cut and run, but freed from the suffocating weight of ExPecktations she had realized that she liked her job and was good at it. Turning her back on it would make no difference to her family but it would destroy an important part of her.

Suddenly Gail understood what Frankie had been tying to do the night before. By getting Holly to talk about her life and her work, Frankie wanted Gail to see that she did indeed have no place in it, and in her own twisted way Frankie was trying to protect Gail.

Gail knew she had no right to hold Holly back. She was overcome by the same inestimable sadness that struck her in the locker room when Holly asked her to go to San Francisco. While every part of her had craved to be with Holly, they had arrived at such vastly different points in their lives and in that moment she realised that this, not physical distance, is what would separate them and that she had no choice but to let Holly go. And it was that same immeasurable sadness that filled Gail when she came to the decision that Sophie would do better with another family and that she'd have to relinquish her too.

…...

It was late afternoon when Holly returned to the hotel. The autopsy had taken longer than anticipated and she was running late for the final session of the conference. It was a panel discussion that she had agreed to chair. As she crossed the lobby, she came face to face with Frankie. God, she thought, what does this insufferable woman want now?

…...

Gail was standing outside the conference room chewing her lip nervously. She knew Holly was scheduled to chair the final session and thought this might be her last chance to speak with her. She looked up to see Frankie walking towards her, followed by Holly. Frankie gave her the thumbs up before disappearing into the conference room. Holly came to a stop to in front of her, her face breaking out into a lop-sided smile.

'Frankie told me about last night. I'm sorry Gail, I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. But it hurt, because, well I think you know why'. Holly had been surprised that Frankie had sought her out to reassure her that her presence in Gail's room was innocent, telling Holly 'if you don't believe me ask girl-cop, she was there too'.

At first Holly could not understand why Frankie, who had been so unyielding last night, was now so determined to clear up this misapprehension. Then it dawned on her. Frankie had been testing her. Frankie was Gail's family now and she looked out for her. When they first met she had warned Holly not to break Gail's heart, and last night had been all about making certain Holly was worthy of Gail. Frankie had done everything possible to chase Holly away and Holly hadn't been scared off.

'And we need to talk', Holly continued, 'About this, about us and other things, but especially us. I mean we tell each other things, right. And there is something you need to know. I've been offered a job back in Toronto, a promotion, deputy chief of forensics', Holly said in a rush.

'But its not the only job offer you've had is it Holly', Gail's tone was soft and resigned.

'Yeah, I've had one from a place in Paris', said Holly, clearly surprised Gail knew about this.

'You can barely speak French, Holly'.

'Well you do Gail'.

'Shit, Holly are you asking me to go to France with you, because that is even stupider than when you asked me to go to San Francisco. We haven't even spoken in nearly two years!' Gail exclaimed.

Before Holly could respond, a conference organizer was at the door. 'Ah, Dr Stewart, you're here. We are just waiting on you to start'.

Holly looked from Gail to the organizer and then back again to Gail. 'Please, can we talk about this after?' she said.

'Dr Stewart, we really need to get started', the organizer said, her impatience clear, and placing a hand on Holly's elbow steered her into the conference room.

…...

Gail was back in the hotel bar. It really is a depressing place, she thought. She had placed a tumbler of whiskey and two shots of tequila on the table in front of her. Gail sighed. She should just accept it. She was going to grow old and bitter with Frankie.

…...

For the second morning in a row, Gail woke to find a familiar brunette in her bed. However, this time instead of cursing, Gail smiled and ran a hand down the brunette's very naked back and then over her stomach and lower still till she heard a delightful moan. And this time, she could remember every single delicious detail of what had happened the night before.