This is from Gail and Sam's perspective. I don't think there will be any more chapters (unless something hits my creative plot bunnies). And for those who are following my other story, Blast From The Past, there will be a new chapter up soonish.

"Sammy, man. You look like hell," Oliver commented in the locker room the next morning. He was feeling pretty chipper, because Zoe let him move in again. Third time's the charm, he thought to himself. Now if he could actually sleep in his own bed again, he'd be happy. But he'd settle again for living under the same roof. Again. He had convinced her to let him take her on a date next week and boy did Oliver have his fingers crossed.

Sam just grunted. "I feel like hell," was all he said. And for Sam to admit he was hung over, that was a sign that something was pretty wrong. He had to get Epstein to drive him and Gail home. Respective houses. Him and Gail sure let the alcohol flow last night, though. Both of them were pretty pissed at Nick and Andy not showing up.

Oliver sat down on the bench and began doing up his buttons on the uniform. "Why are you so hung over?"

Sam sat down and whispered to Oliver. "McNally and Collins were supposed to show up at the Penny last night. Both of them didn't. So Gail and I had a couple shots together." He didn't really want to tell Oliver what he had told McNally, how he loved her and wanted to try, but he knew his best friend would keep pressing on him for information.

"McNally and Collins both didn't show?" Oliver asked as they headed to the gun locker room. "That's a little odd."

"I know," Sam admitted. Both him and Oliver put their magazines in their guns and loaded them and headed for Parade.

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"Well I guess neither McNally or Collins aren't showing up," Sam looked at Gail, who honestly did look pretty pathetic.

She shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. That was not the case however. She desperately wanted to celebrate her getting her badge back with the man she loved. Wait. Gail Peck… in love. Ever since she had admitted to Nick earlier that they were pretty awesome together, Gail had thought about it, even harder. And when he gave her that kiss…. Gail almost couldn't believe. "I guess not. It's just me and you, Swarek."

"What has SIU said?" Sam asked, trying not to pry for details. Frank had told him and Oliver to stay out of it. And that's exactly what Sam did, but he did want to know if Gail would get reinstated. She was a good cop and she had the Peck name going for her.

Gail shrugged. "Frank told me that they gave me my badge back."

"I guess this calls for a celebration round," Sam said. He nodded for the bartender and asked for 4 tequila shots. Gail had just looked at him but took the two in consecutive shots and he had done the same. Gail deserved to celebrate with someone. Epstein was nowhere to be found, Diaz was at home with Denise and Christian, Frank and Noelle were at home with the baby, and McNally and Collins were well… MIA. So Sam decided he'd celebrated with Gail. Call it his good deed of the week.

After about 4 tequila shots and 2 beers later, Gail was definitely feeling her alcohol. She wasn't a lightweight, she could drink the boys under the table but she was so nervous so the alcohol was just going to her brain. "I told Nick that we were pretty awesome together. I actually told him my feelings."

Sam looked straight ahead. "Well I told McNally that I loved her."

Gail looked at her drinking partner. "I mean, I actually said how I felt. Sam, I never tell anybody my feelings. I never even told Diaz that I loved him," she looked straight ahead. Tonight, there was no sarcastic comments directed towards Sam, no flirting, it was just two colleagues, sharing their feelings. Gail wasn't really sure if she could call Sam her friend. That was going a little too far. But tonight, they were drinking buddies. "I wanted to celebrate with someone about me getting my badge back and he doesn't show up."

"I told McNally I would do anything to get her back. I begged her to give me another chance. And I'm here alone," Sam muttered.

She looked at Sam again and laughed. "We're pretty fucking pathetic, Swarek." And with that, commenced another couple rounds of shots and drinks and some pool, with Heather, the girl Oliver was supposed to play pool with. There was another cop, from 27th, that also played pool with them. Liam was kicking them out at 2 am and Gail called Epstein to come pick her and Swarek up.

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After Parade, and not a peep about Collins or McNally, Sam finally got the nerve up to ask Callaghan where the hell they were. Gail had been calling and texting Collins all night and it went straight to voicemail every time. He had asked Peck how she was doing this morning, even with the hangover, she remained herself. Caustic wit, now being directed towards Collins but Sam knew it hurt her. He finally went into Callaghan's office. "Where's McNally and Collins?"

Luke shrugged, looking up from paperwork. "I don't know."

"What do you mean, you don't know? This obviously has something to do with your fucking taskforce!" Sam raised his voice. He damn well wanted to know where the two were, but it screamed UC job. Leave in the middle of the night. Hell, Sam had done it himself. He just really didn't expect McNally and Collins, of all people, to get up and disappear.

"I don't know, Swarek. I really don't know where they are."

Sam rolled his eyes. "Can you at least tell me if this has to do with taskforce? She's my partner!"

Luke crossed his arms. "No, she isn't. Collins has been her partner for the past six weeks. And I can't tell you if this has to do with the taskforce."

Sam stormed out of the office, furious. He had his answer at least. They were both undercover. He had no idea Andy or Nick were even in the running for the taskforce. He semi expected Peck to get in on it, before the whole SUI debacle or maybe Diaz. But definitely not Andy or Nick. Nick had only been on the job for eight months, even with having done tours in Afghanistan, still didn't make him a prime candidate for the taskforce. Sam rubbed his unshaven jaw as he went to the squad car, partnered with Epstein today. It was going to be a long undetermined wait, for Sam and Gail, until Andy and Nick got back.

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"What is up with the bitch attitude?" Diaz asked, Gail, that afternoon in the squad car as they were doing patrol. Gail had been… nice, lately. Even with the SIU investigation and getting suspended, he expected Gail to be a lot more frosty and ice queenish, but she wasn't. However, the old Gail was back and her sarcasm was directed towards Diaz today.

Gail started out the window. "Nothing's wrong, Diaz. Why does something have to be wrong?"

Chris rolled his eyes. He had dated her for 8 months, he knew her better than what she was giving him. "Yeah, right. You've been nice lately. You were even polite and friendly towards Denise. And now you're the old Gail."

"Maybe I just wanted to see if you were your old self and could handle my sarcasm today?" Gail lifted an eyebrow towards him.

He just shook his head. "It has something to do with the reason that McNally and Collins weren't in Parade," he told her.

She shook her head back and continued looking out the window. "The fucking guy ditches me when we were supposed to get married. And now he does it again. Disappears in the middle of the night. I fucking can't believe I trusted him again." She looks a little startled, just blowing up like that. Well, if she had to blow up at someone, it was better that it was Chris. He knew how to handle her a little bit.

"He's undercover, Gail," Chris said softly. "He didn't have a choice."

Gail just looked at Chris. "He's a fucking asshole," was all she said and shut up about the subject. She thought she never say this, but she just wanted Nick and Andy back.