CHAPTER 6
It is a slow day. Gail was just assigned to do desk jobs, answer calls, do some paper works, organize files, etc. By this time she should be really grumpy. She loves action, being on the streets, adventure. But today was a good day even without them. It has been another 4 weeks since her first official date with Holly (she calls her girlfriend now to herself, shhh.. No one can know-yet). That's why she felt really bad to have to ask Holly if they could keep their fresh relationship under the radar.
"It's not that I am ashamed of you, but it's that thing when you just want to keep ourselves in this bubble for a bit? You know, enjoy us with us only and with no one actually messing it up by sinking their noses to our business, and it's something with my mother of course and…" Gail said obviously weighed by the guilt.
"You meant sticking?" Holly commented.
"What?... Oh, what the hell Holly same banana. Holly be serious" Gail glared at her smiling woman like as if it's not hard for her to discuss this.
"Gail, I told you, it's not like I'm not used to these request you know?" Holly pushed her eyeglasses back to the bridge of her nose as she types away on her laptop.
That bit Gail. She doesn't want to be like one of those people who have done this to Holly. But what can she do? She knows if she pushes something she is not ready for, it may ruin the relationship more. So she just need to suck it up. As always, super Holly's senses have detected something, Gail couldn't really hide anything from her.
"Hey..." she put down her laptop and went beside her in Holly's bed.
"I get it Gail. You don't have to explain anything to me, I understand" she placed a gentle kiss on that soft lips she was eyeing just as the moment she saw the officer.
"Yeah, you always do. It's kind of scary you know?" Gail let out a very deep exhale.
Holly laughed.
"Life does that to you, or at least to me. My past relationships were kind of 'my guide to dating women' kind of thing. I didn't get it at first of course, but as I've told you, it taught me to be more understanding and more patient. Or maybe, just maybe, I just really really like you and I'm prepared to do anything." Her brown eyes got darker as she finished her speech.
Gail tried to take it all in.
"I really like you too"
"See, as long as you're okay and we know where we stand, that's really what matters. We're going to be fine Gail, I told you. Now, it's getting late. I'll take you home." Holly offered her hand to Gail as she stood up from the bed.
She took the hand of the doctor but instead of standing up, she pulls Holly into the bed again and pinned her down.
"In one condition…" Gail stared her down, lowered herself to Holly and kissed her.
Even though they've agreed to set things under the radar, Holly and her have been spending more time chatting through their breaks in between (add up conversations through the phone and exchange of messages), Holly's break times at work are really flexible so the moment the clock ticks for Gail's break, she makes an escape and swings by to Holly's work place to join her for lunch or anything in between. If she is out on the streets, she dials Holly's number and talk to her until it's needed to go patrol again. She just can't get Holly out of her system anymore. Too late, and she's not planning to anyways. It has been like this almost everyday. She hangs out with her friends during some nights at the Penny. They have been talking about how the cop is almost nowhere to be found so she makes up for it. Plus Holly might get sick of her and suddenly feels the need to repel from her-she doesn't want that. Her friends usually comment on how things are changing about her. She is more cheerful and her desire to stomp on people by her venomous sarcasms had dropped from full forced to a just bearable intensity. Gail doesn't think it's gonna totally diffuse off her, no, it's a part of her and will always be. It's just now, she's a bit gentle-A BIT. And that's saying A LOT.
But there are days that she just wished she could be with her friends and Holly. Days where Holly can just walk in the station to just say 'Hi' to her or to take 10 minutes to lay eyes on her. That's one of her favorite Holly lines by the way. Days where Holly and her can just go out, hold hands in public, get some groceries together, and just be, out? She is getting tired of this whole under the radar thing and she is pretty sure Holly is too. She knew what she needed to do.
Gail knows she gotta start somewhere. And that's why today, she has decided.
"Steve, can you meet me at our secret place on our break? There's something I wanted to tell you." Her voice sounded more urgent than she wanted to let on. Yes, she has decided to tell Steve and she is actually excited about it. But there is still an ounce of fear lingering through her. She shoved it down. It's her happiness that is at stake, and the happiness of the person she shares it with.
And if there is something like this in her life, she always chooses her brother to be the first to know. It's kind of their brother-sister relationship thing and she feels safer to share it with him first.
Steve is sipping through his coffee.
"Ahh… I always love the coffee here" he said with closed eyes. His brother is weird.
"Steve" Gail started.
"Gail?" Steve smiled.
Gail took a drag of breath and let it all out
Steve smiled even more.
"Do you, do you remember Holly? I introduced her to you that night in the ford incident?" Gail's heart is pounding off her ribcage.
Steve recalls.
"Oh yeah, brunette, tall, dark, hot, beautiful, se..."
"Yes Steven that one" she cut him. She can't believe that even her brother is checking Holly out, although that prides her a bit.
"Of course I remember." Steven validated.
"Don't worry, she does not have any criminal record, she has a clean slate- a few parking tickets though but that's about it. And oh, very very smart, I like her" Steve added.
"You looked her up?" Gail automatically raised her tone a bit.
"What? I need to make sure that my sister isn't with a psychopath. Don't worry, I just looked at her criminal records. I'd like to get to know her personally." Steve grinned.
Gail was confused and stunned to say the least.
"Steve..." she is struggling with words.
"Gail, I know. I've got killer detective instincts remember?" Steve patted her little sister on the shoulder.
"She, she is a woman." Gail said slowly.
"Yeap, a hot, beautiful one."
Gail kicked him gently and Steve chuckled to that.
"And you're ok with it? Aren't you freaking out?"
"Gail…" Steve shifted beside his astonished sister and brought one arm over her shoulder almost hugging her sideways.
When Gail tried escaping, his grip on her tightens.
"Listen, why would I freak out? The important thing for me is that the person you're with isn't some crazy criminal, is a good person, and the most crucial thing is that, that person makes you happy. And the way I see things she fits the bill. I'm more than happy with that."
Gail is trying to absorb what Steve said. By this, he took the opportunity to have her on headlock and rubbed his knuckles on her head just enough to annoy her.
"STEVEN!" She gave a soft punch on his belly.
He let her go.
"I love you sis. I need to go now. I have a booty call." he chuckles after checking his phone.
"Eeeww, too much information" Gail shivered.
"You should take her to the Penny, let the gang meet her... when you're ready of course."
Gail nodded.
Steve stood up ready to leave and at the last moment turned around and smiled.
"I'm happy for you Gail. Take good care of each other" He wore his sunglasses and head off.
The moment replayed inside Gail's head for about so many times she has lost track of it. Her brother is okay with it, her brother is okay with it. Her brother is okay with her and Holly. And as seemingly a reflex now when something happens to Gail, she gets her phone and selects Lunchbox in her contacts.
"You told your brother?!" the taller brunette contained her surprise.
"Yes, I just told you that Holly. Focus" Gail tried sounding cool with everything although inside her she is really bursting with joy-who wouldn't?
"Whoah… so.. does this mean?" Holly stopped mid-sentence for Gail to finish it for her.
"Maybe?"
"Okay.." Holly smiled.
"Meet me at the Penny tonight?" Gail asked.
"Are you sure?" Holly is trying to sound calm.
"Yes, don't be late" Gail hugged Holly.
"I need to go back to work. See you later" Gail let go of her.
As Gail started walking, Holly wasn't able to stop herself from pulling the officer's arms just to plant a perfect kiss she was really holding back to give to her woman.