Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Rookie Blue. Not even a little bit.
A/N: I don't have a beta reader, so all mistakes are mine. Please let me know what you think, it really helps motivate me.
She knew not to expect Gail to stay. She knew that Gail was a cat, and didn't like to commit to things easily. That doesn't mean it didn't hurt when Holly woke up the next morning to an empty bed. There was nothing in her room to even indicate that the blonde had stayed with her, just a cold spot on the bed.
It shouldn't have hurt, because if there's one thing that Holly knows, it's Gail. She laid back and closed her eyes, she didn't want to face the day without Gail yet. She thought back to the night before, and how it had felt so right to sit holding the other woman, even though the circumstances weren't good. Gail had reached out to her last night, calling her, introducing her to her brother and friend, holding her hand, wanting to be held. All of this flashed through Holly's head as she lay in bed. She thought about how much she cared for Gail, and how she would play this game by Gail's rules.
Seeing Gail sitting at the kitchen counter threw her for a loop. She hadn't been expecting that.
"Hey." Gail must have heard her coming down the hall because she was staring straight into her eyes.
"I thought you'd left." Said Holly quietly, stopping in her tracks.
"I made breakfast." As badly as Gail wanted to say 'Of course not' they both know it was entirely feasible that she would simply leave. Gail felt a pang in her chest as she realized that she'd been so close to hurting Holly when she'd almost left without saying anything. "Well, I made coffee."
The cup was sitting on the counter next to Gail, an invitation. One that Holly was more than willing to accept. As she sat down she realized that she was still wearing her pajamas, she hadn't been expecting Gail to still be around when she got up so she hadn't changed yet.
"Thank you." The words were soft, and Holly almost missed them. She looked up at Gail, keeping the shock out of her face. "For last night, I needed that."
"Anytime." They both knew how true it was. When Gail called, especially from the hospital, Holly would be there. She thought about cracking a joke, but the time wasn't right. There was still so much pain in Gail from the night before. "Do you want me to make something? I can make toast, or cereal."
"Just no-"
"Eggs, I know." The smile that appeared on Gail's face was small, and unintentional, but it was there. She knew she had something good going with Holly, the two of them just fit together so well, even her little quirks.
Breakfast passed quietly, not much needed to be said between them. The phone buzzing on the living room counter drew both of their attentions. Before she could realize what was happening, Gail was answering it.
"Peck."
"What?"
"Which one?"
"Fine."
"Keep me posted." She turned slowly, her faced closed off as she faced Holly. "I have to work today."
"What? After yesterday? They want you to work?" She was out of the chair in an instant, walking closer to the smaller woman.
"We're shorthanded now. Three of our officers hospitalized, Andy and Dov won't leave the hospital. I have to go." She wanted to reach out, to touch Gail, to bring her into an embrace. But Gail was standing so tense again, she knew it wouldn't be welcome.
"I – I know." This was the second time it happened, always around Gail, this stuttering thing. It was new, and Holly didn't like it. "What time?"
"Afternoon shift." It finally caught up with her, the idea of going to work again after everything that had happened. Facing the streets knowing that her friends were lying in hospital beds, fighting for their lives. She sagged a little, slipping onto the couch, with the phone still clutched in her hand. She felt better as soon as she felt Holly's arms around her again. She wasn't one for hugging normally, but she needed it. "I don't want to go."
"I know." The words were whispered against her head, she could feel Holly's lips pressed against her hair. It made her feel better, to feel close to someone. She normally didn't like being so close. Normally she would have left before Holly woke up. Normally she wouldn't have made coffee, and wouldn't talk to Holly for days. But things with Holly weren't normal.
"What do you want to do today?" Asked Holly after giving Gail a few moments to calm down. "Did you want to go back to your place? Or you could stay here. We could watch a movie, or read. Or just do nothing, that's okay, we can just stay here." She was babbling again, but luckily Gail knew how to shut her up.
The feel of Gail's lips on hers startled her. Again, she hadn't been expecting a kiss. But she couldn't help how drawn she was to the other woman. All she could think about was how soft her lips were, and how warm. They broke away for a breath, if Gail opened her eyes, Holly didn't know it because she kept hers closed. She felt their foreheads pressed together, the rough breaths coming from Gail. After the next exhale she leaned forward to capture Gail's lips again, she couldn't get enough of them.
When Gail pulled away she was breathing heavily, staring at the woman next to her, glad to see that she was having a little difficulty catching her breath as well, her lips slightly swollen. "I want to explore." She was off the couch in an instant, rifling through the bookshelves in the apartment. Holly stood up and followed her with a laugh, she wasn't sure she'd ever fully understand Gail.