AN: Hello lovely wonderful people! I am sorry for the delay between chapters; life has proven to be a major time suck as of late.
This chapter as the last will shift between Gail, Holly, and Steve's narratives, the sections are labeled.
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Gail
Everyone dreams, I used to fear my dreams, I still fear them I guess. Knowing that every time I fell asleep, I could have a nightmare terrified me; I had no way of predicting them. A perfect day and a wonderful night could result in me screaming, freaking out and in tears from a nightmare. When I have trouble sleeping, Holly usually tells me facts about dreams, sleep, and astronomy. Her soft ramblings were my version of a lullaby, they worked to quickly put me to sleep.
I knew that 90% of people forget their dreams within a minute of waking up.
People sleep better during the new moon than during the full moon.
People who fall asleep within the first 5 minutes of lying down should be considered sleep deprived, the majority of people fall asleep within 10 minutes of lying down which is the scientific norm.
In our year together, Holly had filled my head with facts and random bits of information. I could answer nearly half of Dov's trivia questions without the assistance of Google and I found myself relaying these nuggets of knowledge to other people without conscious effort.
There seemed to be no other explanation for my current situation, it had to be a dream. I stood in our shared apartment, our main floor stood exactly as it should; the books lining the shelves were in alphabetical order, the blankets were neatly folded on their shelf under the end table and the coffee table had been recently polished, meeting Holly's standards of living. The fact that I had no sense of touch queued me into my current state of unconsciousness, I couldn't tell you if the kitchen counter felt cold, warm or if it had texture, I couldn't feel the difference between walking on the hardwood in the kitchen or the carpet in the living room.
I had been here for a while, at least it felt that way, I couldn't tell you if minutes, hours, or days had past. The clock on the microwave remained blank, the TV wouldn't turn on, and I couldn't find the stairs that lead to our bedroom. I had spent what felt like hours staring at my hands, at the angry red scrapes that lined my palms and wrists. I had no recollection of how I had gotten them, If I pressed on them, I felt no pain , they worried me none the less, I had never seen cuts in my dreams. The harder I thought the less I could remember, I had no idea when I last worked, when I last saw Holly, or when I had last eaten. The house was devoid of the usual racket, missing the hum of the lights, and the sounds of the neighbors and the building were gone, the lack of noise and stillness made me uneasy.
My dream to a point had become rather uninteresting, I had been left alone with my thoughts and I couldn't come up with anything worthwhile. Except the weird breaks where my dream shifted from our flat to the other room, I had been back to the too bright white room three times. Our living room slowly faded out to reveal the bright white walls with the disembodied voice, I only heard the voice's in the bright room, each time the voices and the commotion grew to alarming volumes. I panicked every time it happened, my heart rate would speed up and my thoughts grew fuzzy and confused. The brightness always faded back to the familiar setting of our living room where I sat trying to simply feel the texture of the cushions.
I wondered if I would remember my dream when I woke up, I always tried to tell my dreams to Holly, the details I remembered at least. Holly always tried to interpret them, offering insight into their meaning, the subconscious meanings and environmental causes. Could my lack of feeling be a subconscious definition of my walls or my lack of emotions, Holly would know the meaning of my dream if I remembered it once I woke up.
Holly
Lisa and Rachel had shown up to the hospital with a gym bag filled with clothes and toiletries, Dr. Payton had made a phone call keying them in on both Gail's condition and my current hangover. I showered in the resident's locker room, needing to smell less like a liquor cabinet. I kept my shower short, I needed to return to the ICU waiting room they had moved us to when Gail had been brought out of surgery. It's been 8 hours since Tracie had picked me up and 2 hours since Gail had been out of surgery, the last update 30 minutes ago let us know that we would be able to visit her just after 9 this evening if her vitals were stable, 4 hours away.
Lisa and Rachel had called in a few favors when they arrived, Gail would have a private room with a maternity bed, a pull out couch and as many chairs as they could fit into it. The hospital staff quickly realized that while they had visiting hours and guest policies that the police from 15 wouldn't be denied access to Gail's room.
"Hey, can we talk for a minute?" Steve asked, standing in front of my seat, I glanced up at him and nodded. Standing up hurt, the combination of spending the last few weeks on my office couch, spending last night on the floor, and the unforgiving plastic chairs that lined the walls of the waiting room caused my current discomfort. I followed Steve to the elevators in silence, I had been preparing for the Steven Peck Detective Big Brother speech for days, I knew that Gail confided in both him and Tracie. We took the elevator to the lobby; Steve led us towards the coffee shop before pointing to a table. "Have a seat, I'll buy coffee." Steve nodded before joining the line of people waiting to ordering.
I watched Steve move towards the counter while aimlessly playing with the ICU pager. "How's the hangover?" Steve asked, placing a large coffee cup in front of me, I had lost count of the number cups I had today. When one emptied, it seemed to be instantly replaced by a full cup that I drank without much thought. "Thankfully gone." I gave Steve a tight-lipped smile while wrapping my hands around the warm cup. "You couldn't have known Hol." Steve muttered, pulling the cardboard sleep from his coffee. "I couldn't have known what?" I asked, staring at him, a million thoughts ran through my mind. "The DNR, you couldn't have predicted that." Steve muttered and I felt the tears well up, I had tried my best to avoid thinking of the DNR. "Steve, I could have been the reason we would be planning a funeral if I had followed through with that. If she wakes up, she'll ask me why I didn't follow her plan." I sniffled trying to concentrate on Steve, how he shredded the cardboard sleeve. "When she wakes up Holly, not if. She will thank you, she's alive." Steve shrugged and pulled a napkin out of his pocket.
"We discussed it when she put me as her emergency contact; she explained it all when she later made me her medical proxy. No life support, no extensive care, and if she coded to stop treatment." I shook my head before wiping my eyes. "They asked me if they should enact it, that the decision was mine and I couldn't make it. For purely selfish reasons I couldn't say yes, I've spent the last month doing everything I asked her not to and I desperately need correct it." My words came out in broken sobs; I couldn't tell you if Steve understood me, he watched me with sad eyes before moving to wrap his arms around my shoulders.
"Gail will forgive you the second you ask for it, if you ask for it, she won't let you back in right away, she's afraid that she's the reason you shut down and pulled away from her. Gail will open her eyes and tell you that she loves you, and you'll continue being the grossly in love couple we all love." Steve laughed as he pulled away from me, I couldn't stop crying. Every fiber of my soul told me that Gail would wake up and that we would be ok. That voice in the back of my mind though, the whisper made me doubt that she would forgive me, that she would blame this all on me.
"Steve, could this be my fault?" I asked, chewing on my lip, I couldn't meet his eyes, I didn't want my fears confirmed. "How could this possibly be your fault Holly?" Steve asked, moving the pieces of cardboard confetti into various shapes along the table. "My family, digging into my past. They ran the cartel Steve." I watched as he picked up his coffee cup and slowly sipped from it. "I don't have information on the case. Hol they're not your family, your name in a report that's 30 years old doesn't mean you're involved." Steve set his coffee cup down and leaned back in his chair.
"Everyone thinks that Gail is this cold and angry person, she never made friends easily, she's a Peck and people fear the name in the force. Gail used to be open and fun loving; you wouldn't recognize her today if you had known her 8 years ago." Steve smiled to himself; he always filled the silence between us with stories of Gail. "Gail used to joke around and laugh freely, she was spontaneous and unguarded. Nick will back me up on this too, he knew that Gail." I cringed at the thought of Gail and Nick together.
"It became a weakness though, it left her open for heartache and pain. I remember her calling me a 2 in the morning laughing about how she and Nick were in Vegas and they were eloping and she would have pretty boy pale babies." Steve smiled to himself for a moment; the smile fell from his lips as he met my eyes. "Gail didn't build up her walls because Nick left, when she woke up to and empty bed and an empty room it broke her heart but that didn't change her. The main factor of change came from the person who's supposed to love you unconditionally from the second you're conceived." Steve shook his head before picking up his coffee cup, I had let the warmth of mine seep into my palms, I couldn't stomach the thought of drinking.
I tried to imagine a fun loving Gail, a woman who laughed and loved openly, my brain couldn't conjure the image. Even though Gail was open with me she was still cautious, she still held her cards close, even drunk Gail seemed overly calculated. "Elaine gave Nick an ultimatum; either join the military or jail. Elaine hated the idea of Gail being in love and generally happy, it fell outside of her master plan for Gail's life. Nick joined the military to expunge his record and to not face jail time for his past indiscretions. Gail knew that Elaine had plotted it and she didn't deny it when Gail confronted her. Our mother has meddled in Gail's life since birth, pushing her back on the path, eventually Gail stopped fighting her, and she turned into Elaine cold and calculated." I felt sick, I couldn't understand the concept of turning your children into drones, how a mother could choose her own ideals over her child's happiness.
Gail told me once in the middle of the night after a particularly awful nightmare that she didn't blame Nick for leaving her in Vegas, that she understood the decision he made. I couldn't understand it, the person she loved had walked out of her life, leaving behind a note that said I'm Sorry- Nick. Gail had dealt with such heartache thanks to her mother, giving birth to Gail gave her the right to control her life.
"My Gail, the one I grew up with started coming back though. Gail's never been one to discuss her relationships, Elaine always got overly involved. I knew you different though, my little sister started talking about the nerd from the lab, which quickly turned into the brunette with chocolate eyes, and it turned into Holly and Holly's lips. Gail stopped trying to hide her happiness, she smiled and laughed openly." Steve finished his coffee and took the lid off, quickly scooping up the bits of cardboard from the table and discarding them in his cup.
"She tried to hide you from Elaine; she protected you for months. Every time Elaine asked or invited you to dinner, Gail would change the subject, she asked me to help her avoid the family dinner after your invitation showed up. Afraid that Elaine would shove her back into the box she had created for Gail's life." Steve looked around the coffee shop for a moment, his eyes scanning each face a habit Gail also had when sitting in public places. "I'm sorry that you sat in Elaine's house and witnessed how Gail's treated. Gail loves you and I bet she's dreaming of you right now, she'll wake up and tell you she loves you and all of those sappy things that come out of her mouth when she's on pain MEDs." Steve smiled as I just shook my head. "Let's head back upstairs and pester the nurses until they let us into her room." Steve laughed, pulling me out of my seat and back towards the elevators.
It had been 48 hours since Gail's surgery ended, 40 hours since I took up vigil in her room, and nearly 72 hours since I had last heard her voice. Gail's room had been occupied by the officers from 15 nearly the entire time, rotations of her friends sitting with me and bringing food. Rachel and Lisa had stopped by with clothes and my laptop and iPad.
Medically I knew the statistics that Gail would undergo months of recovery, that the trauma she endured often lead to other complications, the loss of blood could possibly lead to brain damage. Dr. Payton had ordered a medically induced coma, he wanted Gail to be sedated for at least 2 days to allow her body time to heal. The first step in an extensive recovery plan, which included dietitians, medical leave from work, physical therapy, and bed rest.
The worst part of my day had come when the nurses changed the surgical dressings this morning, 42 stitches covered a large portion of Gail's left side, 4 different incisions, one from the bowel and kidney resections, the other three from her attacker. Her torso had turned various shades of blue, black, purple, and yellow. The site made me sick, I knew what people were capable of, I witnessed it in my lab nearly every day, but nothing prepares you compare for the reality of someone you love being treated for those actions.
"Have you been home?" Bailey asked from the doorway to Gail's room, looking towards Andy, who had fallen asleep a few hours ago. "What?" I asked my gaze fixed on Gail as traced my fingers along the lines of her palm. "Doc, you need to head home and sleep. Gail's going to wake up and scream when she see's those bags under your eyes." Bailey motioned behind her before stepping over the threshold, my mom and dad quietly walked in and stared at Gail. "Mom." I breathed, feeling the need to cry, I had no tears left to cry though, my body had given up on nearly every display of emotion. "Hi Hol, why don't you head home with your dad for a little while, you need fresh air, me and Bailey will sit with Gail until you come back." My mom set her bag on the chair at the foot of Gail's bed before turning towards Andy.
"I'm fine." I shook my head and turned my attention back to Gail, trying to will her eyes open, wishing for her to be awake. For the last 48 hours, I had been living in my worst nightmare. "I figured you would say that." Bailey rolled her eyes before picking a seat. I didn't bother responding, I just reached up and combed my fingers through Gail's hair, I missed the pout that usually followed the action. "How is she?" My dad asked, standing on the other side of the bed. I had called my mom in tears after seeing Gail for the first time; my heart had shattered into a million pieces. "She's healing; she's sedated to lessen the strain on her body." I shrugged staring at her heart rate monitor, the steady spikes calming me down, they told me she was still alive.
"She's having good dreams." My dad nodded and turned to sit with my mother, pulling a newspaper out of her purse. My parents had fallen in love with Gail after meeting her, they kept in contact exchanging phone calls and emails periodically, my dad loved hearing Gail's patrol stories. "Price is bringing lunch in an hour." Bailey shrugged and held up her phone before walking out of the room. She had been in and out all day never staying for more than a few minutes, her eyes never meeting Gail's form. "Bailey told us you've been sleeping here?" My mom asked, reaching out to touch my arm; I kept my gaze fixed on the pale fingers resting on the white hospital blanket. "I won't leave, please stop asking, stop telling me, and stop thinking that I need to leave. I need to be here." I chewed on my lips, trying not to yell.
"I've spent the last 60 hours in this hospital, I will be here when she wakes up, I'll be here after she wakes, and I will be here until I can take her home. Please." I muttered before shaking my head, they had all tried to convince me to leave. Rachel and Lisa when they brought me a bag with clothes and toiletries, Tracie and Steve when they left for the night, Dr. Payton when he came to check her vitals. "I can't leave mom." I turned to watch Gail again committing every minor detail to memory, feeling my heart rate pick up with every twitch; Gail never slept this way, flat on her back with her arms at her side. Gail slept on her stomach, one leg kicked over mine, her head under the pillow. "She'll wake up Holly, she'll recover and it's going to be ok." My mom moved to wrap her arms around me. Gail had to wake up; I needed to tell her I loved her, to find a way to make up for the last month that we had spent apart. I rested my head on the mattress, letting the steady rhythm of the heart monitor lull me to sleep, hopefully she would be done with the sedatives today and she would wake up soon.
Steve
As a cop, I don't have the ability to leave well enough alone, my division had caught Gail's case, I knew every cop working the case personally, they also knew that I wouldn't stand by and wait for them to come to me with the news. "Look peck, I'll call you when we have something, be with your family." Detective Rodriguez shook his head at me, I had been sitting on his desk for 10 minute's trying to pull information out of him, anything I could tell Holly to ease her mind. "What information do you have, it's been 48 hours!" I glared at him; I needed a break from the hospital, the sorrowful stares from my friends, and the look of desperation on Holly's face. "Not much, we're still trying to ID the guys in the videos; the files you brought over didn't offer up leads." Rodriguez frowned before scratching his head, for 35 he surprisingly enough had less hair than Oliver did.
"Look Steve, we have the video, without ID's we can't move forward." Rodriquez sighed before handing me the case file. "They didn't hide their faces, every possible step to figure this out is being taken, you sitting on my desk isn't helping. That copy's for you, I'll keep you in the loop." He stood up and moved towards the break room. "Give your sister our best, we sent flowers." Rodriguez walked away as I skimmed over the file. Holly's phone, Gail's Phone, and Dov's phone had all been checked into evidence, along with Gail's clothes. They had not found a reason or an indication as to why they were attacked or why Dov and Gail were targeted.
I tucked the file under my arm and walked down to Tracie's desk, Oliver had ordered light duty for Chloe, Dov, and Andy until Gail at least woke up. "Hey, I'm done for the day, want to grab lunch and head back to the hospital?" Tracie asked when I sat on the edge of her desk. "Chloe's dropping lunch at the hospital in an hour, I need to head to Holly's and pick up some stuff before heading back over." I watched her carefully before standing up, I was running on a very low energy levels. "The files Holly gave me lead nowhere, The case isn't cartel connected." I handed Tracie the file and rubbed my eyes, sleep deprivation had taken its toll. "Still nothing?" Tracie asked to read over the case summary. "Not yet." I shook my head and reached for her hand. "Hey, they will figure it out, you're stressed, it will all work out though." Tracie stood up and kissed me, her tender touch sparking a small smile. "Maybe the smell of Tequila will wake Gail up." Tracie grinned, pulling me towards the station exit.
"What are you picking up?" Tracie asked once we were outside, the gloomy day fit the current situation. "Holly asked me to grab Gail's boarding school track hoodie, a pair of baggy sweats and a flannel button up shirt. They told Holly that we could put Gail into normal clothes tonight as long as the shirt's a button front." I read the text from my phone, Holly had sent the list a few hours ago. "Steven!" Her voice instantly erased the smile from my lips. "They won't let me see her." She called as I slowed down, Tracie stared at me with wide eyes and I pointed to the car. "You don't need to hear this; I'll deal with it." I muttered, turning to face Elaine Peck, her pristine uniform hurting my eyes.
"The hospital is following Gail's medical guidelines, not that you would know though you've never gone to visit her when she's in the hospital." I chewed on my lip, attempting to control my temper; since leaving the last peck family dinner, I had the overwhelming urge to yell every time I heard her voice. "My daughter is in the ICU and that woman won't let me visit her." she glared and I shook my head, of course, her visit had nothing to do with Gail, Elaine simply needed to show she had the power to force Holly out. "That woman is the love of Gail's life mother, and Gail has written orders in her file not to let you into her hospital room. Holly's only adhering to Gail's wishes." I felt the chill as her shoulders squared and she stepped closer to me.
"The lawyers are working to remove her from Gail's room. She should be with family right now." Elaine turned her attention to Tracie, who watched us from the passenger seat of my car. "She's with family, mother, she has Holly, Me, Tracie, and 15, and she has Holly's family too. You're not her family and I will ensure you never set foot in Gail's room. You're not our family, your just a white shirt who meddles in the lives of her lesser colleagues." I laughed and opened my car door. "I hope you have a lovely day Superintendent Peck, unfortunately I have personal matters to attend to, and I have a family member in the hospital." Elaine stepped back as if my words had come with a physical blow, I knew that she would turn up eventually, Gail had been explicitly clear in her medical records. Elaine Peck was not permitted to visit her during her hospital stays. Holly had simply followed the request when Elaine showed up the night of her surgery, the security team from the hospital forcibly removed her from the building when she started shouting about being a Peck and high ranking in the Toronto police force.
When I walked into Gail's room with Tracie, I noticed Dov and Chris asleep on the couch, I wanted to question his sobriety whether or not he finished the program. Holly's head rested on the mattress, fast asleep, her hand resting on Gail's arm. I had learned my lesson the first night here; Holly wouldn't leave the hospital, asking her to only ended in an impressive verbal lashing and the silent treatment for a few hours. Tracie moved to sit near Dov and Chris while I walked towards Gail, I had noticed everyone's behaviors when walking in the room. Dov gave Gail an apologetic look and squeezed her foot, Andy stood at the foot of the bed for a moment, staring at her before taking a seat, and Tracie never looked at Gail, she walked in and found a seat across the room and stared at the walls.
I reached out and pushed Gail's hair back gently. "I need you to get better." I breathed as I kissed her forehead, seeing Gail broke my heart. I bent down and kissed the top of Holly's head before moving to where Tracie sat. The calm of the room only lasted for a few moments before Chloe came into the room holding 5 large pizza boxes, followed by Jason Stewart with plates and napkins. Dov's eyes shot up at the commotion and he quickly tried to adjust to the noise. "When did you spring him?" I asked, pointing towards Chris, who slowly sat up and stretched. "He showed up at the house this morning, Gail told him that she would pick him up from Edgewood, considering the circumstances, that didn't happen." Dov stared at Gail as he spoke.
"I didn't what to bring, I raided the vending machine." Nick muttered as he rushed through the door, in full uniform holding a cafeteria tray loaded with soda cans. "Thanks." Chloe smiled, rearranging the table to hold the pizza and drinks. Gail's room was crowded and cluttered; every department from 15 had sent flowers or stuffed animals. "What did I miss?!" Holly sat up and quickly glanced around. "Chris." She smiled and stood up, quickly wrapping her arms around Chris's lanky frame. I watched them for a moment before Jason sat on the couch and laughed. "Can you tell me this story, please?" He motioned towards Nick and Chris, an amused smirk played on his lips as he watched me. "Nick is Gail's ex fiancé, and Chris is her ex. Chris is a teddy bear though, he would do anything for Gail." Tracie quickly interjected before I could call Nick a piece of shit and Chris the ex druggie.
"So I'm sitting in room with Gail, Holly, and two of Gail's ex's?" Jason asked surveying the room and shaking his head. "We're a family at 15; we always have each others backs." Tracie leaned in and nudged me as Holly walked towards me. "Hey." She smiled quickly hugging Tracie and me before sinking onto the couch near her dad.
"Have they updated you?" I asked, staring towards the door, I noticed Bailey walk past the door with Shannon. Bailey told me last night that being in Gail's room terrified her, that she wished she could be stronger for Holly, her own fear of losing Gail made being in the room impossible though. I understood her standpoint; I hated hospitals, the only positive visits to the hospital were for births. "Dr. Payton's stopping by at 8 to update us on her sedation, her incisions aren't infected and her vitals are on target." Holly muttered before closing her eyes again, curling into her dad side. I had a feeling the nap was the first time Holly's slept since entering the hospital.
"So we don't hate nicked or Chris?" Jason asked, kissing the top of Holly's head causing her to laugh. "Chris is a teddy bear, we tolerate Nick." Holly laughed to herself before her body relax finally falling asleep. "I heard that." Nick mumbled between a bite of pizza. "I'm sure you were supposed to nick." I shook my head and stood up, I needed a moment to collect my thoughts the commotion in the room made it impossible to concentrate. I had no idea how Holly or anyone could sleep through the noise. "I need coffee, I'll be back soon." I smiled at Tracie before walking out of Gail's room, I noticed my dad standing by the nurses station staring at the teddy bear in his hands.
"Dad." I walked up to him and sighed. "You're allowed in there." I pointed towards the room and squeezed his shoulder. "I can't bring myself to go in there without your mother." He muttered and I shook my head. "If your here asking Holly to let Elaine in there please leave. After everything that's happened this year with Gail and her I understand her wish to have an Elaine free hospital stay." I shook my head and took a step towards the elevator. "She's worried, we're both worried." My dad fidgeted with the teddy bear his eyes trained on the pink fur. "Gail has an amazing support system in their dad, She is healing, she's through the thick of it right now she's out of the woods." I shrugged and watched him thumb the ear of the teddy bear; he slowly raised his head and sighed. "We don't fit into that picture?" he asked with tears in his eyes, he stared past me trying to hold them back. "Mom no longer fits into the picture, but you do." I reached out and wrapped my arms around him.
"Dad Gail loves you and she needs you, she needs the man who used to read her fairy tales in French even though he spoke remedial French at best. Please don't let mom stop you from being here for her." I breathed before walking away. In their nearly 40 years of marriage, my dad had turned into a trophy husband, a white shirt my mother could outrank and belittle. His unconditional love for her often left his relationship with Gail strained and tense; he never stood up for her or sided against Elaine. He had been a bystander in the years of emotional abuse Gail endured, She still loved him though, once a week they would meet for breakfast and he would be the dad she grew up with again.
"Will you go in with me?" my dad asked as I reached the elevator, his voice cracking the way that a child's would. "Yeah I will." I nodded and followed him back towards Gail's room. The commotion had dissipated now that the mob had been properly fed; Jason had moved to let Holly spread out on the entire couch; most of the chairs were occupied by Gail's friends. I watched my dad scan the room before turning towards Gail's bed, were she lay nearly motionless. His hands trembled as he set the pink teddy bear at the foot of her bed. "Please have a seat." Jason quickly vacated his seat next to Gail's bed and moved to stand near Holly. "Hi little bit." My dad breathed as the tears ran down his cheek, I had never seen my dad cry. "I love you, Gail." My dad cried as he pushed Gail's hair back and kissed her forehead. Slowly the room cleared, only Holly, myself, and my dad remained.
After a few moments of just staring at Gail my dad reached into his pocket, pulling out a gold necklace, he smiled at me before securing the chain to Gail's neck. "Get better my love, I'll be back tomorrow." My dad kissed her on the cheek before turning to Holly, who stared at him wide-eyed, the clatter of the room clearing woke Holly. "Thank you for looking after her, she's lucky to have you." My dad wiped his tears and hand his hand out to Holly. "I would like you to have this, they were my fathers." My dad let a silver chain slide between his fingers as he watched Holly, the chain catching the light in the room as it swung back and forth. "He claimed that they eased his mind when his family left for work, 3 sons on the police force after he had retired." My dad waited for Holly to reach for the chain, her fingers gingerly tracing the metal pendants. "St. Michael the archangel to protect you and St. Jude because we all need a miracle." My dad explained, taking a few calming breaths. "I would like to come back and visit if it's ok with you." Holly stared in my dad before she nodded. "Of course inspector peck." Holly nodded and my dad laughed. "Please call me Bill, we're family now." He smiled before quickly turning to me, I knew he was trying to control his emotions.
"See you soon." He squeezed my shoulder as he walked past; Holly stared down at the necklace in her hand, a bewildered expression on her face. "My dad has never taken that necklace off, not that I can pinpoint in the last 30 years at least." I smiled as I rounded the bed to stand near Gail's hand that didn't have an IV. "I should give this back." Holly muttered and I shook my head and laughed. "Please don't, he means for you to have them Holly." I reached down and adjusted the pendants now laying against Gail's chest.
"These were our grandmothers, they're a matching set." I turned to face Holly holding out my hand. "Your mother gave Gail a necklace?" Holly asked, placing the necklace in my palm gingerly. "God no, my mother scoffed at the meaning of the necklace when my dad tried to give them to her. Cops are supposed to be fearless, a trinket won't protect us." I muttered moving to stand behind Holly. "My dad kept his mom's necklace in a shadow box with her pictures." I clasped the chain around her neck and smiled. "What you just witnessed may be the defining moment in my parents' marriage." I smiled and shrugged. "People surprise you." I laughed and left Holly in Gail's room, I need a cup of coffee and Holly needed a moment alone to process the meaning of the pendants.