Gail watched as another virtual body fell in front of her, but the carnage on the television screen did little to help her mood. Still it did not hurt, Gail thought as she took out another one of her opponents. She heard a swear word go out over her headphone set and quietly chuckled. Whoever she killed did not sound old enough to even know the meaning of the word he had spewed. He probably should not be playing such a violent video game anyway. When you think about it, Gail thought to herself, she saved him by killing him. Even on her day off, Gail Peck was saving lives.

Gail leaned back against the couch and grabbed another cheese puff from the bag at her side. She washed it down with the tequila still in its bottle. Dov had been hiding the bottle in his room under the bed, the jerk. Wait until he found what she left on his bed.

Gail had taken the day off from work. Actually, it was more accurate to say she had been given the day off after complaints about her attitude reached Oliver. She was a little crabby. So what? It was Oliver's fault. Her last assignment has been with Chloe, who had spent the entire time trying to commiserate with her over their screwed up love lives. Like Gail would ever want to hear about Chloe, Dov and her ex-husband drama. Before the Chloe-filled calamitous day, Gail had been told to ride along with Andy who was blissfully unaware of anyone except her and Sam. After putting up with those two, anyone who expected a cheerful Gail should get a boot in their ass.

Gail groaned. There were worse things in life than a day off. Usually Gail considered a day spent eating junk food, getting wasted and killing terrible online gamers as a perfect day. Recently though these kinds of days gave her too much time to think. And much like Gail herself, her thoughts could not seem to stay away from Holly.

No, she shook her head viciously. She would not think about the forensic pathologist who had taken to haunting her since their breakup. Gail had come as close as she could to begging for Holly to change her mind. What was there left.

She really should just give her mind a rest. Thinking about reaching Holly only left fail feeling empty. It was a pipe dream. Plus, she hated the thought of another crying fit. The guys were not home yet but she did not want to be caught again with red eyes. She really hated the way they looked at her when they knew she was crying. That look on top of the look they already gave her simply made her want to do violent things. There were actual moments where it looked like they were going to hug her and Gail could not handle that. She would not be pitied. She felt like her emotions were already on edge. It was as miserable as being in a constant state of PMS. One hug or sincere word and Gail was pretty sure she would break apart. And for whoever made that happened, there would be true hell to pay.

As her body count grew on the game, Gail's mind switched to autopilot. She worked best when she was not thinking. She let the angry noise of pseudo-gunfire and screams block out her inner monologue. For nearly one hour, it worked. Then her idiot of a brother walked into the apartment.

Gail said nothing when she saw Steve enter without even a knock. The look on his face said it all. Her friends had sent him to deal with her. Pity, she thought. They should know by now Steve was not any better at handling her than they were.

"Looks like you've been keeping busy." Steve said as he took a seat beside her. Just like Steve to not even say hello, like he belonged there. He stretched out on the other end of the couch, finding his comfy spot before sinking in with a smile. He then looked at Gail, eyebrows raised, waiting for her comment.

"Hello, brother." Gail muttered as she took out another bad guy onscreen.

"Did the troops call you in? Are you their captain?" Gail shot down another opponent with a shot in the face, a move she found particularly pleasurable. Steve grimaced as he saw the virtual blood splatter.

"Not if that is what you are planning to do with the captain."

Gail smiled. It was strained but it existed for a moment. Then feeling out of place, the smile disappeared and Gail's blank stare returned.

"They are thinking of kicking you out." Steve said matter-of-factly. Gail sat up, instantly worried.

"Out of 15?" she asked, shocked at the news.

"No," Steve chuckled. "Out of the apartment."

Gail sat back, her back hitting the couch with a loud whoosh.

"Bullshit." She rolled her eyes at the absurdity of the notion. "I'm the best roommate here."

"You threatened to murder Chloe in her sleep."

"She was giggling while I was watching tv. Dov understood." Gail answered back in a still tone, as rational as an insane man's ramblings. Steve sighed.

"Chloe refuses to return here until you change."

Gail looked at Steve with antipathetic eyes.

"I'm not hearing any negatives there."

Steve sat up and grabbed up the remote control from where it sat off of the floor beside Gail's feet.

"I guess we are doing this the hard way." He said and turned off the television. Gail yelled his name in surprise. She jumped at him, trying to grab the remote from his grasp. But Steve was quicker. The two wrestled around, but he held on tightly to the device. Gail finally sat back with a huff but not before shooting him a murderous look.

"Are you ready to talk now?" Steve asked calmly.

"I bet Leo secretly hates you." Gail whispered harshly. "That snide look you get on your face when you think you've beaten someone is so much like dad. I bet you've given it to him before. And I bet he hates you for it."

Steve inhaled sharply as her words hit him, the force of them pushing him off of the couch.

"Damn, Gail." He uttered painfully, standing over her astonished by the levels she went to avoid their conversation.

Gail quickly regretted her words, but she refused to show it to Steve. Sitting up, she crossed her arms against her chest and held her head high.

"What do you want, Steve?"

Steve paced the room for a moment. Gail had seen the look on his face before. He was questioning where he wanted to take the conversation. She hoped he realized it was a waste of his time. Her hope disappeared, as she sighed, leaned against the wall and frowned at her.

"You have to snap out of this."

Gail huffed. "I'm not in anything to snap out of."

Steve rolled his eyes.

"I get it. You and Holly—"

"This has nothing to do with Holly, Steve." Gail interrupted. Steve shook his head in disbelief.

"This has everything to do with Holly, Gail."

Gail looked quickly away from Steve. She was tired and the constant blinking was causing her eyes to water. It was all Steve's fault.

"I don't want to talk." Gail murmured. She looked wide-eyed at the television, imploring Steve. "I just want to murder things."

Steve approached his sister, his eyes never leaving her face. Gail couldn't meet his glare. She was having trouble keeping the wet in her eyes from overflowing. She was just too tired and did not need her big brother to break her. Gail was surprised when she felt the remote control land into her lap. She looked down to see if it was really the device then looked up at Steve in confusion.

"Jerry died." Steve said quietly.

"Why do you have to bring that up?!" Gail screamed incredulously, falling back on the couch.

"Because that's where it ends, Gail. That is when there are no more last moments left to waste. There is nothing left." Steve exhaled harshly. "That's when you get to be this way. You and Holly are at not the end. So I suggest you get your act together. You either want to be with her or you don't."

"I do!" Gail said defiantly. "She doesn't want me."

"Gail," Steve said her name as if he was talking to a ten-year-old. "You are a police officer. Look at this as a case. If you were interrogating someone who was head over heels in love with someone else less than a month ago would you really buy that they didn't care now?"

"I don't know." Gail threw her hands in the air. "I've said everything I could say to her. What's left to do?"

"It's your case. Figure it out. Then be with her. Or don't. Just get over yourselves."

Steve stormed out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him. Gail frowned as she looked down at the remote control. After a few minutes of indecisiveness, she tossed it to the side. She no longer wanted to finish her game. Damn Steve.

Hitting the lights she decided a nap was in order. As she walked into her room she saw her phone on dresser. Grabbing it, she tossed herself onto the bed. Gail paused, trying to talk herself out of what she was about to do. Only despite her own concerns Steve's voice still rang in her head. Get over yourselves. She let her fingers type her thoughts and hit send before she could rethink her actions. She waited until the text had gone through before she read it.

Me: I hate your face.

She inhaled slowly and shook her head. Still she waited. She was never more relieved when she heard her phone beep. Looking down she read the new message.

Lunchbox: Do you now?

Gail sighed at the sarcasm she read in that statement, eased into the bed and replied.

Me: I hate your new glasses. I liked your old glasses. Your old glasses are so much cooler.

The reply came quickly this time.

Lunchbox: I'll take that into consideration.

Gail smiled and shook her head. It felt like old times. Her smile died as she realized it wasn't. Times had change. She wondered if while she was not looking if Holly had changed as well. Before she could rethink her thoughts, she typed up her reply and sent it out.

Me: Do you miss your old glasses?

Another quick reply came.

Lunchbox: You are certainly hung up on my eyewear. Who knew?

Gail groaned in frustration.

Me: Holly, do you miss your old glasses? At all?

Looking at the lighted phone screen Gail held her breath and waited. The next reply came a minute later.

Lunchbox: Yes, I do.

Lunchbox: Maybe its

Gail watched, waiting for Holly to finish her thought. Another text balloon popped up within seconds.

Lunchbox: My old glasses may not fit me.

Gail frowned and quickly typed her reply.

Me: They fit you beautifully. Don't give up on them. They were made for you.

She waited. After several minutes, Gail gave up on a new reply, setting her phone down. She laid against the pillow closing her eyes against the rest of the world. As she drifted off, she was awaken by her phone beep. Gail quickly grabbed the phone. Her heart lifted as she read.

Lunchbox: I don't know. But nothing compares. No matter how many new ones I try. Nothing compares.

Gail rested her head back on her pillow and for the first time in a while, her smile did not disappear. It lasted even she slept.