I am starting to think I have become sucked into writing this story.


Holly locked the door behind her. She turned back to find Gail sitting on the edge of the bed staring at her. She put her best poker face on and made her way to the mini bar. She pulled out a couple small bottles, tossing one towards Gail. She put hers on the nightstand and unzipped her bag, pulling out some clothes for them both. Gail took the pajama pants and tank top Holly tossed her and kicked off her heals. Holly had already slipped out of her dress and was pulling on a pair of shorts. Gail walked over to her, turned around and pulled her hair out of the way, wordlessly revealing the zipper to her dress.

Holly got the hint and slowly unzipped Gail's dress, letting her fingers run down the length of her spine in the process. She really couldn't help herself. She could feel Gail breathe in at the touch, and felt her own body react. Determined to control herself she put some distance between them. Luckily Gail dressed quickly, giving Holly no chance to let her vision wander. With slightly shaky hands she opened her bottle and took a drink before taking the time to pull her own shirt on.

Gail was digging through the mini bar again, moving bottles around before she satisfied, removed the couple bottles of tequila hidden in the back. Holly made a grab for the remote and turned to the guide, looking for the music channels.

"So, what are you in the mood for? Just be warned, I refuse to play country." Holly spoke breaking the silence.

Gail nodded in agreement and took the remote from Holly's hands, browsing through the options before making her selection. Holly busied herself by turning the bathroom light on and the main lights off, easing the severity of the brightness in the room. Her attention turned back to Gail and the channel changed. It was somewhere between electronica and rap, reminding her of the clubs she used to hang out in a few years back. She hadn't expected Gail to choose this though. Holly quirked her eyebrow up at her. Gail just shrugged at her innocently.

"What? Just because we aren't on the dance floor doesn't mean we can't dance." Gail tossed the remote on the bed and walked over towards Holly. Holly gave in and took Gail's offered hand and followed her to the center of the room. The music pulsed through her as she let herself fall into the rhythm. Holly watched Gail's body move to the beat, and felt her own inhibitions fall away.

They drank and danced, slowly getting more and more comfortable with each other. Before either of them noticed they were fairly drunk and had thrown any barriers out of the window. Holly currently had one hand on Gail's waist, while the other inched further and further up the back of Gail's shirt, flush against her skin. Gail in turn had one hand placed on the small of Holly's back, pulling her in closer, whereas the other hand was currently distracted running its fingers along the back of Holly's neck.

Holly was trying to keep her fairly inebriated mind off of kissing Gail. She was about to give into it when Gail suddenly turned around, placing herself against Holly. Gail slid her hands back behind her, finding a place on Holly's thighs. Holly was barely able to move as Gail slid down her body, and back up, making sure not to break contact with Holly. She heard herself moan and let her hands wander from Gail's hips up her sides, finally resting against the material covering the sides of Gail's bra. Gail leaned back against her fully, placing her own hands on top of Holly's. They moved against each other to the music, Gail's hands guiding Holly's against her sides, and abdomen, and hips and then back up again.

Holly felt her mouth go dry. She closed her eyes, and let her fingers paint a picture of Gail's body. Between the pressure from Gail's hands on her own, and the sensation of the woman's body beneath her fingertips, Holly was having difficulty remaining lucid. Any coherent thoughts that remained fell away the second Gail slid Holly's hands down to her hipbones, then urging them up under her shirt. Holly allowed herself to be led. She let the pads of her fingers graze the bare skin on Gail's stomach and sides. She could hear her heartbeat. Every sensation became multiplied.

Gail let her hands fall from Holly's as she turned back around. Their eyes met and there was something in them that had never been obvious before. Holly couldn't tell if it was the alcohol or if it was something else, but she was too drunk to reason. Instead she allowed her hands to find Gail's shoulders, letting her fingers caress their way down to her hands. This time Holly was the one guiding Gail. Pushing her hands across her hips and up her torso, lingering when she heard Gail's breathe catch. She could feel Gail's hands slip from under hers and start to carve their own path. Holly could sense Gail's fingers dusting her shoulders. She felt the gentle pressure on her collarbones, and then her chest, slowly falling lower and lower until they were dangerously close to be completely on her breasts.

Holly had no idea how she finally broke from her trance, but it was in that moment she realized she had to stop before she ripped Gail's clothes off. Holly pulled Gail in tightly, embracing her for a moment before releasing her fully. She mumbled something about water and stepped into the bathroom. The second she closed the door behind her she let out a shaky breath. After taking a drink of water, she splashed some on her face, trying to sober herself up a bit. When she finally felt she could keep herself from crossing any more lines with Gail, she returned to the room.

Gail had already turned the TV off and climbed into bed. Holly turned the bathroom light off behind her and carefully traveled the room through the dark. She climbed into bed and Gail found her instantly, tangling into her. Holly shut her eyes, trying to push the thoughts of Gail against her out of her mind and eventually sleep came.


They both awoke the next morning only slightly hung over. Gail left the bed immediately walking into the bathroom to down three consecutive glasses of water before bringing one for Holly.

"Thanks." Holly offered, downing the water quickly. She handed the glass back to Gail and watched her walk into the bathroom again. Holly lay back on the bed groaning to herself. Last night had been intense to say the least. She knew Gail had feelings for her, there was no denying that, but she seriously hoped they hadn't pushed it too far last night. She closed her eyes and almost fell back into sleep. She felt the bed dip next to her and then felt Gail's body curl up against her.

Holly draped her arm around the other woman as she turned to face her. She could sense Gail staring at her so she forced her own eyes open. "Good morning." Holly's greeting was barely recognizable through her yawn.

"Morning." Gail offered and leaned in to place a kiss on her cheek. Holly felt herself smile at the contact and pulled Gail closer into her body. "I had a lot of fun last night."

"Me too." Holly admitted, although she would keep just how much to herself.

They lay together for a little while before Gail suggested they go grab breakfast. Holly agreed, separating from Gail to begin getting ready. Gail excused herself to take a shower, leaving Holly to dress in private. Holly pulled a change of clothes for Gail out of the bag and placed it on the counter in the bathroom. The thought didn't escape her that Gail had left enough of her clothes behind at Holly's over time to put together this outfit, and a few others.

Gail emerged from the bathroom fully dressed and smiling. Holly grabbed the room key from the nightstand and led Gail from the room. Luckily it was late enough in the morning that most of the guests had eaten, and they were left mostly to themselves. Holly was relieved to find that their conversation was just as natural as always. It seemed last night hadn't shaken anything in their friendship. Holly breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back in her chair, listening to Gail talk.

After breakfast they headed back up to the room and relaxed for a while before giving into the inevitable need to check out. Holly packed her bag back up and took Gail's hand in hers as they left the room. They left the key at the front desk and climbed into Holly's car. Gail adjusted the seat back, and closed her eyes, leaving Holly to her thoughts as she drove them back to her place. It was early afternoon when they got back. Holly suggested they grab some lunch, but Gail declined saying she really had to get home and do some laundry and clean up.

Holly gave her a hug and walked her to her car before making her way up to her apartment. Once inside she dropped the bag at the door and sank into the couch. It had been a really great night with Gail, but she just needed to detox her mind. Whatever was going on between them was getting harder and harder to keep in check.


The next few days were just as slammed as the week before had been. Gail was stuck doing surveillance for the first three nights, leaving Gail and Holly to communicate only by texts. Holly felt her missing the other woman more and more as each night passed. It wasn't like her to get so wrapped up in a friendship, but she knew that what she and Gail had was beyond a normal friendship. She worked diligently for the first three days, knowing Gail would be off Thursday. Thanks to her extra hours, she was able to leave early Thursday and meet Gail for lunch.

Gail told Holly about the old man that had nearly ruined the whole stakeout because he thought they were loitering. She told her how he had tried to call the cops on them, only to realize he couldn't get his phone unlocked, so he turned to shout up at his wife, who was about a deaf as could be and ended up dumping a bucket of water on him to get him to shut up. Holly told Gail about the crazy scene in her office the day before. One of the lab techs had started an all-out prank war with one of the guys in ballistics. The lab tech, Greg, finally thought he won, only to be caught off guard when he came in to work to find all of his lab coats had been shrunk. Holly told her how he had thrown a fit in the middle of the lab when he couldn't get his arms back out, shouting at the guy with his t-rex hands. They talked about work and TV, the unusually nice weather, and one of Gail's many conspiracy theories, anything and everything really, except their relationship. Both women were well aware that there was a line that they both kept sticking a foot over, not daring to cross it altogether. A line that on one side held their friendship, and on the other held something substantially more. It wasn't that they were avoiding the topic, but neither felt that they needed to discuss it yet. Whatever was changing between them was not awkward, or rushed, or strained. It was a natural progression, and neither Holly nor Gail wanted to intrude upon it. At least not yet.

So instead they spent the afternoon together at a bookstore. Holly found her place in the sy-fy section, and Gail in the mystery section, meeting in the middle to read and sip on their coffees. It was quiet and lax, exactly what the week called for. It was moments like these that Holly felt she could remain happy with only Gail's friendship forever, nuzzled in a crook of the bookstore, content to sit side by side in their own worlds for hours. She didn't take what they had for granted. She cherished what they had grown into for what it was, regardless if this was all she would ever have. She was perfectly content right in this spot, in this moment until she felt Gail lean into her and lay her head on her shoulder. And just like that Holly was reminded of exactly what is was about Gail that called her out. The way she could always hold her own, never fearful of the world, yet still able to melt her cold exterior and offer a more caring and gentle version of herself to Holly alone. In that that moment she was reminded why she sat up some nights thinking of ways to tell Gail how she felt, and dreaming up the response she would get in return. She thought about the looks they often found themselves sharing, and the nights that they spent curled up together, closer than intended, watching TV on Holly's couch.

That change in Holly's thought process was the epitome of where she stood with Gail, marking their exact spot in the universe. Seemingly content to remain in possibly the best friendship she had ever found, yet unable to stop thinking of what they might become, if only given the chance. Holly knew that either path they ended up taking would be the right one, as long as it meant that sometime far from now she would be still be sitting in a bookstore next to Gail.

"Holly…?" Holly pulled herself out of her own mind to find Gail looking at her questioningly. "Care to explain why you have been staring at me for the past 15 minutes looking like a weirdo."

"Sorry, I just blanked out I guess."

Gail's look didn't falter. "Um hm. Well if you are finished I think it is time we head out of here before we are mistaken for furniture.

Holly laughed and nodded pulling Gail up off of the floor they had been sitting on. Gail walked Holly back to her apartment and promised to return for dinner later. Holly pulled her in for a hug before turning towards her building alone.


True to her word Gail arrived a few hours later. Holly had busied herself straightening up the apartment and cooking dinner for the two of them while Gail ran her errands. The whole apartment now smelled amazing, and looked unusually organized.

"Damn Hols, got a hot date tonight or something?" Gail asked as she dropped her bag on the counter.

Holly walked out of the kitchen to meet her with a quick hug and kiss on the cheek. "Just you."

"Well you didn't have to clean up or cook; we could have just sat in your messy living room and ordered Thai food you know." Gail said pulling a beer from the fridge.

Holly gestured for Gail to bring her one as well. "Are you really complaining? I could just eat all of this myself and you could make a sandwich or something."

"Hey, no need to resort to threats. I am sure whatever you made is a million times better than take out. Look a piece offering." Gail pushed a bottle of beer in Holly's direction.

She took the bottle and glared at Gail. "You can't make a piece offering to me with my own beer. You better do better than that."

Gail rolled her eyes at Holly. "Fine, I won't make you watch the scary movie I brought."

Holly shook her head. "Liar. The second I give you your food, you are going to put in on anyways. Once you decide what we are watching, there is usually no stopping it."

"Damn it." Gail stood in the kitchen a moment longer trying to think up a reasonable offer. "Okay, well since I am forcing you to watch the movie anyways, I guess I can at least offer my services as your personal body guard from whatever supernatural being you decide is after you at 3am. And as an added bonus, I will even stay in your room so you aren't forced to embarrass yourself by crashing into every belonging you have ever owned in your attempt to save yourself with a plastic spatula."

"Deal." Holly held her pinky finger out to Gail. She got a weird look in return, but Gail placed her own pinky finger around Holly's anyways.

Dinner had been ridiculously good, Holly had surprised herself even. They had in fact ended up watching the movie Gail brought, and Holly did get really creeped out by it. When the movie ended Holly made a mad dash for the bedroom before Gail could turn all of the lights off. She was pretty sure she could hear Gail laughing at her from the living room but really didn't care. Holly got ready for bed while Gail finished locking up. By the time Gail made her appearance in the doorway of Holly's bedroom, she had curled her knees up defensively to her chin, arms holding them in place.

"Don't worry; I cleared the whole apartment, no zombies, or ghosts, or werewolves hiding. I think you are safe to act like an adult now." Gail told her with a perfectly straight face on.

Holly hurled a pillow at Gail barely missing. Gail broke into laughter and tossed the pillow onto the bed. Holly waited patiently for Gail to get ready to go to sleep. She was pretty sure Gail was taking extra time just to mess with her. A few moments later Gail finally emerged from the bathroom in an extra-long t-shirt.

"You aren't going to make me sleep in front of the door all night to keep the monsters away are you?" Gail almost sounded genuinely concerned.

Holly pulled the covers back signaling Gail to climb in with her. "No. I probably should after that spatula comment earlier. But I think I would feel the safest if you were here instead."

Gail sat on the bed and turned off the bedside lamp. Holly's other senses instantly intensified. She was still not unconvinced that something would appear out of nowhere and rip her organs out or try and possess her. She was about to ask Gail to turn the light back on when she felt Gail's arms wrap her up protectively. Any thoughts of goblins and ghouls vanished from her mind. She slid back into Gail completely and placed her arm over Gail's taking the woman's hand in her own. She felt herself calm as a sense of security washed over her. Holly let her eyes fall shut and drifted easily into sleep.