Gail felt Holly's presence one moment before the smiling doctor stepped into The Penny. Most of the officers from 15 Division were at the bar for an after-hours celebration. Everyone was pumped after arresting a serial burglar who had been targeting senior citizens. The effort had taken them nearly a month.
Gail usually went home after work, preferring to be by herself. The place was quiet and dark. Since her breakup with Holly, Gail's mood fit the silence of the night. But tonight, her friend had talked her into joining the late night fun. Ultimately, Gail submitted because she did not want to hear them lamenting about her aloofness yet again. But as she watch Holly take her seat and grab the hand of the woman sitting with her, Gail wished she had went with her first course of action.
"Your friends really know how to have fun."
The deep voice startled Gail out of her thoughts. She looked at the lieutenant sitting in front of her. He smiled sweetly but his smile did not hold her attention. Gail's gaze fell once again steps behind him onto Holly. She looked different since the last time they had been in a room together. That was the day Holly had told her she had moved on and was seeing someone else. It was a day Gail could not forget but never wanted to relive.
Gail watched Holly taking note of each change. She recognized it was a borderline crazy, even slightly stalkerish, move. But she did not look away. Since their breakup, Gail had kept her distance. Some would call it avoiding. And by some Gail meant most of her friends and her brother. Steve, in his protective way, had tried to push Gail to try again with Holly. Pecks did not run away from a challenge he would say. Gail answered back Pecks also did not stick around where they were not wanted. And Holly had made it clear after Gail had insulted her and her friends then walked out on them that she was no longer wanted.
Anyway, Gail knew what she was doing. She was not avoiding Holly she reminded herself. She was accepting that Holly had moved on. She accepted it even though the thought still caused Gail some physical pain in her chest. She promised herself it would eventually go away. It's not like their relationship ran deep. Hell, when she thought about it she realized they had barely spent time together.
Gail hurt but she could tell Holly was doing just fine. And why wouldn't she? Gail's entire life changed after meeting Holly but she could not think of one significant change she had made to Holly's life. She did not need the reminder of seeing the perky forensic pathologist to know she had lost her. Seeing her now brought mixed emotions. Gail scanned Holly's face as Holly leaned into the conversation she was having and the beat cop's heart skipped a beat. Then old memories flooded her mind including their last goodbye and the lightness of her heart dissipated.
Gail would have gladly stayed inside her own thoughts but Holly's guest looked away and Holly suddenly turned around. She did not scan the room. Her eyes fixed immediately on Gail. In that moment, Gail knew Holly felt the same connection she had when Holly had walked through the door. If her look did not confirm it for Gail, the smirk Holly wore did. In it, Gail saw Holly's twisted joy of the awkward circumstance. She also saw a sadness that could not be ignored or hidden and a longing for more. But Gail could not tell if it was Holly or if she was simply reflecting her own emotions onto her. Ugh! This was why Gail hated emotions.
Before Gail could turn away, she felt a finger press the side of her chin and lead her away from Holly. Where she was once staring into warm brown eyes, she instead found light hazel eyes questioning her.
"I'm starting to think I can't hold your attention," the owner of those eyes said softly. "That makes me sad and intrigued."
Lt. Brian Crowley was just visiting Fifteen. It was because of his help they had been able to solve the Blue-haired Burglar case so quickly. Still, his cheesy grin irritated Gail.
"Do you always put your finger on the faces of strangers?" Gail asked in her perfected dead tone. "Or should I feel special?"
Brian leaned back, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "Gail, I'd hardly call you a stranger. We've worked together for weeks."
"That's good to know then." Gail took a sip of her drink, gave him quick nod and a chilled look. "So you only lay your hands on minor acquaintances then?"
Brian frowned as he sipped out of his own glass. Gail could tell he was wondering what had he gotten himself into by asking her to share a drink. She was thinking the same and not for the first time tonight.