Title: Now or Never
Author: dagnabit87
Show: Rookie Blue
Pairing: Gaily/Holly
Rating: Pg-13/T
Disclaimer: I do not own Rookie Blue or any or the Characters. They of course belong to the creators. I am using said characters to create my own little spin on the Rookie Blue world.
Sorry for the delay with this chapter, I can guarantee that future chapters won't take as long to be unloaded. I recently got a new puppy which has taken up a lot of my free time, toilet training and all that jazz.
Anyway enjoy!
Now or Never
Chapter Five
The Penny is bustling tonight as Gail pushes open the door and steps into the bar. Removing her scarf she cranes her neck trying to catch sight of the guys as she steps further into the mass of bodies. The blonde quickly removes her coat as she catches sight of Chris waving at her from across the room and begins pushing her way through the crowd muttering under her breath as she is jostled around as the patrons compete to get to the bar.
'Thank God you're here.' Chris directs at the blonde as she lays her coat over the back of the only vacant chair at the table and sits down ignoring the duffle coat that is already residing there.
'Chloe's sat there Peck.' McNally informs her.
'Don't care.' Gail quips before turning her attention to Chris. 'Thank God I'm here?' The blonde questions.
'Yea.' Chris brings his beer up to his lips taking a long drink. 'Dov's on another trivia kick and you're the only person who's worse at it than me.' He explains boyish smile planted firmly on his face.
'Dick.' Gail snipes snatching Chris' drink from his hand and chugging the remaining mouthful from the bottom of the bottle. 'I'm out Diaz.' Gail says offering him a cursory look unable to keep the smirk from her face as he gets up without argument and heads towards the bustling bar.
'I'm calling time out.' Traci says rolling her eyes as Dov tries to protest. 'We've been at it for,' the detective looks closely at her watch as she puffs out her cheeks, 'thirty three minutes Epstein. So put the cards down and step away from the trivia.'
'Fine.' Dov concedes a pout on his face. 'Just because I'm smarter than all of you.' He huffs and slumps back in his seat upon receiving no reply, the three women sat across from him immersed in their own conversation.
'So how's things going these days Peck?' Traci asks Gail really wanting to know how things are sitting with her and Holly but trying to ask under the guise of a casual enquiry about her day.
'Hey Gail.' Gail rolls her eyes at the chipper greeting from Chloe as she arrives back at the table appearing not to mind that the blonde has taken up residence in her seat as she plonks herself down on Dov's lap.
'Price.' Gail retorts flatly before directing her attentions back at Traci. 'Things are good.' Traci catches the twinkle in Gail's eyes and raises her eyebrows asking the blonde a silent question. The slight nod of the head she receives from the blonde gives the detective all the answer she needs.
'Glad to hear it.' Traci smiles at the blonde.
'What's going on between you two?' Chloe asks from across the table as Chris returns placing six beers down in the centre of the table. 'With the eyebrows and the head nodding.' Chloe explains as the other officers look on in confusion.
'Nothing.' Gail shrugs not wanting to get into this conversation with her fellow officers and certainly not with Chloe.
'Something's going on with you Peck.' Chloe giggles as Gail tries and fails miserably to hide her discomfort as she fidgets in her chair her face flushing a light shade of pink. The blonde feels herself wilting under the stares of her friends. 'We spent all of yesterday in a squad car and you only insulted me once.'
'No way!' Chris shouts in disbelief catching the attention of the people on the table beside theirs. 'Now I think about it you were whistling whilst you worked on Tuesday.' He lowers his voice a little embarrassed by his own sudden, unexpected outburst.
'Shut it Diaz.' Gail mutters catching sight of Dov and Andy staring back at her eyes wide, jaws slack. 'Nothing's going on, I'm the same as always.' Gail says. 'You guys suck.' The blonde says attempting to sound threatening but it just comes out sounding whiney.
'Cut her some slack you guys.' Traci interrupts trying to intervene sensing the blonde's discomfort and witnessing their friend's pleasure in being able to make the usually stoic blonde squirm.
'Maybe we'll ask Holly when she gets here.' Dov says smugly his eyes widening gleefully as Gail's head whips around to the door at the mention of the pathologist's imminent arrival.
'Holly's coming here?' Gail her body language immediately changing as she sits straighter in her seat her features overcome with a face splitting smile. The sudden change doesn't go unnoticed by Chloe.
'So it's to do with Holly.' Chloe informs everyone and Gail's first instinct is to kick her hard under the table in the hopes of wiping the smug look of her stupid Disney princess face. She pulls her leg back beneath her chair ready to unleash the beast but Chris' next words stop her in her tracks.
'Maybe we'll ask Holly now.' Chris says looking over the blonde's shoulder. The hairs on Gail's neck stand on end and she knows Chris isn't winding her up. Her Holly sense is tingling. Traci's eyes move back and forth between Gail and Chris at a loss for how to intervene now the Chris has the bit between his teeth.
'Hey guys.' Holly's soft dulcet tones are like music to Gail's ears.
'Holly. Hey.' Gail says and before even realising that she's done it she stands from her chair to greet the brunette even going as far as offering Holly her seat. 'Sit down, please.' The other officers around the table look between each other in surprise. What is going on with Peck at the moment? Chris nods his head in Gail's direction as the blonde pulls grabs a chair from the table beside them and sits herself down next to Holly. Dov shrugs his shoulders. Andy tries to make eye contact with Traci but the detective is avoiding her gaze.
'So Holly maybe you could help us?' Chloe asks sweetly.
'Help you with what?' Holly questions her eyes flittering around the table taking in the bemused expressions on the faces of all but one of it's occupants. Upon receiving no immediate response the brunette makes to ask Gail about her day when Chloe finally speaks.
'Gail's been all happy and,' Chloe mulls over her choice of words, 'chipper for the past couple of days. She's being very un-Gail like. She's even being nice to me. ' Chloe points her thumb at her chest. 'Chris said he heard her whistling whilst she worked.'
'Don't get used to it My Little Pony.' Gail hisses.
'And there she is.' Laughs Traci.
Holly looks at Gail sat beside her arms crossed defensively over her chest pinched expression on her face. 'She's been extra happy.' Holly drawls. Gail rolls her eyes as the brunette teases her. 'What's got you so happy Gail?' The brunette questions. Holly shifts slightly in her seat bringing her knee to rest against the blonde's both women taking such great pleasure from the smallest of touches.
'We were kind of expecting you to already have the answer to that Stewart.' Andy says in exasperation. 'What's got our very own Peck walking around with her head in the clouds?' Andy starts chuckling to herself, 'any one would think that she was in love or….'
McNally trails off as the realisation dawns on her. She watches the way Holly's hand comes to rest on the blonde's forearm. She quickly looks to Traci who is attempting, admirably, to avoid looking at the two women seated beside her. Gail uses her free hand to link her fingers with Holly's as she smiles up at the pathologist like she's not seen the brunette in years when in actual fact they've been spending every spare moment together. Andy chances a look at Dov and finds her friend and colleague also staring at the display opposite him his eyes the size of saucers. It's as if Gail and Holly are in their own little world totally unaware of everything around them.
'So, Holly.' Chris says loudly. He clears his throat gruffly to try and get the brunette's attention which is currently focused steadfast on the blonde who has shifted her chair even closer towards the brunette. 'Holly.' Chris says even louder this time. Relieved when the brunette looks his way but he doesn't miss Gail rolling her eyes in annoyance. 'Is Joanne coming tonight?'
The question is innocent enough. Unlike Traci and Gail he and the others haven't been made privy to Holly's recent change in circumstances and Chris isn't used to seeing Holly anywhere without the lawyer firmly attached to the brunette's side.
Holly's fingers slip from Gail's and her hands land ungracefully in her lap her shoulders sagging a little at the sudden change in atmosphere. Everyone is looking at her expectantly if a little nervously as the pathologist pales at the mention of the lawyer.
'Me and Joanne we erm….' Holly trails off as she runs a nervous hand through her hair. She looks to her left for support her heart warming at the encouraging look being reflected back at her. Gail's eyes always say so much, they give away exactly what the blonde is thinking or feeling and right now they're saying you've got this. ''We've broken up.' The brunette says her voice unwavering as there is not a single slither of doubt that she had made the wrong decision. The rest of the table's occupants sit watching Holly, stunned expressions on their faces.
'Finally.' Dov cheers literally shaking his fists in the air with joy. 'I mean no offence Holly but she was so….' He trails off as he attempts to think of the right word looking straight at Holly when he finally settles on one. 'Boring!'
Holly can feel everyone else's gazes settle on her as they nervously await her response. None of them expecting the one they are met with. Holly breaks out into a fit of giggles which builds into a hearty laugh. Holly's reaction to Dov's apt one word description of her ex-girlfriend catches the others off guard, even Gail who thought that the mention of Joanne might bring the brunette down a little but the brunette's laughing fit is contagious as the officers surrounding her also start chuckling to themselves.
'You're right.' Holly splutters out. 'She was boring.'
'So you're not upset or anything?' Andy asks as the laughter dies down. 'Weren't you two getting kind of serious?'
Holly feels Gail tense beside her, she has never been so perceptive to another human's moods before. 'I'm not upset. Joanne wasn't all that she seemed and….and….' Holly shrugs as her mind flashes with memories of the worst times she shared with Joanne and for a moment it makes her sad that those memories are probably the only ones that will stick with her. 'She didn't make me happy…we didn't make each other happy.' Holly catches herself off guard, her own honesty taking her by surprise.
'So,' Chloe begins looking suspiciously between Gail and the pathologist. 'What now?'
Holly reaches beneath the table and squeezes Gail's knee tenderly. 'Now I get to find someone who really does make me happy.' Gail flushes violently under the intensity of Holly's gaze which unfortunately for her doesn't go unmissed by Chloe.
Or Diaz, 'I'm sure you will.' He says smirking at the blonde but Gail is now snarling at Chloe and her inane levels of sunshine and happiness.
Stupid My Little Pony.
Gail has never been a fan of Holly's friends. Well, that's not entirely truthful. Gail has never been a fan of Lisa. Lisa is Holly's oldest friend and Gail can't for the life of her work out what Holly gets out of this seemly one sided relationship. To say Lisa isn't Gail's biggest fan might also be one of the biggest understatements of the century. You see, Lisa is elitist, she's self-righteous, she's a self-proclaimed know it all and if that wasn't enough to top it off the women is a cosmetic plastic surgeon, her speciality, boob jobs. Gail finds the women abhorrent but if there's one thing she can't fault Lisa for it's how much she cares for Holly. Sometimes Gail wonders if the reason Lisa tries to get herself so involved in the way Holly lives her life is because the plastic surgeon has an unrequited crush on the pathologist and it doesn't matter how much money or big shot friends that Lisa has, Holly doesn't reciprocate her feelings.
Gail can't help the sneer that slithers across her face whenever she has the unfortunate luck of being in her company. The police officer's distaste for Lisa has only grown in intensity over the last couple of days. Lisa loves Joanne. Lisa would always rave about the lawyer whenever Gail was within earshot, gloating. Looking back Gail realises how obvious her adoration for Holly must have been, everyone morning when she catches herself in the mirror she can see it in herself, its unmistakeable. Lisa takes great pleasure in pressing Gail's buttons and quickly realised that championing Joanne was the easiest way to ruffle the blonde's feathers.
Gail looks up from where she's seated at Holly's kitchen table the ever present butterflies in the pit of her stomach growing in excitement as she is met with Holly's face smiling down at her warmly as the pathologist places a bottled beer in front of her. Gail subconsciously slides her chair closer to the brunette's as Holly takes the seat beside the blonde. Gail is hyper aware of Lisa watching her as she watches the way Holly elegantly, gracefully, pours three bottles of far too expensive red wine, obviously brought by Lisa, into three large glasses. Holly would rather being sipping on an ice cold beer any Gail recognises the envious look in brown eyes as Holly keeps looking to the beer being delicately cradled in the blonde's hands.
'Sorry, I had to take that.' Rachel says apologetically as she stuffs her cell back into the Dior handbag that's been discarded on the breakfast bar. 'Is this mine?' Rachel enquiries as she throws back her drink consuming half the glass in one attempt.
'That's my favourite Chilean red it cost me a fortune.' Gail internally huffs as Lisa speaks. Everything is about appearances with this women.
'Well then top me up.' Rachel says winking at Gail as she gulps the rest of glass before sliding it along the table towards Lisa. Now Rachel, Rachel Gail actually quite likes. Unlike Holly who is always the diplomat Rachel thoroughly enjoys winding Lisa up which Gail loves being witness to and even better than that Rachel calls the plastic surgeon on her bullshit.
'So Gail, still intent on being a cop?' Lisa asks snidely a glimmer of pleasure shining through her eyes as Gail squirms with discomfort. Gal has always been proud to be a police officer but somehow Lisa manages to undermine her profession and make the blonde feel inadequate.
Squaring her shoulders Gail readies herself. 'Of course.' Gail retorts but trying to keep it simple hoping to avoid a fight, for Holly's sake more than anything else.
'Give any speeding tickets today? I know how that excites you and friends. It's the simple things with people like you.' The sneer on Lisa face turns Gail's stomach.
'Stop Lisa.' Holly sighs in exasperation. 'Why do you have to be like this?'
'I arrested a drug dealer today.' Gail interjects. 'He'd been selling drugs mixed with horse tranquillisers that had resulted in the deaths of four teenagers.' Gail takes a long drink of her cold beer. 'That's what I did today.' Gail glares across the table at Lisa feeling a sense of triumph when the surgeon is the one to look away unable to stand the intensity projected in Gail's eyes.
'Well than I say we raise our glasses to one of Toronto's finest.' Rachel holds her glass aloft towards the middle of the table swiftly followed by Holly who looks towards a blushing Gail. Holly squeezes her thighs together beneath the table unable to stop herself from wondering if Gail flushes like that when she's being touched in just the right way. 'To Gail.' Rachel cheers snapping Holly out of her inner musings. The brunette clinks her glass with Rachel, Gail and a slightly reluctant, embarrassed Lisa.
'To Gail.' Holly whispers her eyes trained on the blonde.
'So where's Joanne?' Lisa asks not liking the way Holly is looking so intently at the police officer. 'You guys are inseparable these days.' Holly visibly tenses in her seat, her body curling in on itself a defensive stance that Gail has witnessed on the many victims she has come across during her time on the force.
Keeping her eyes trained on the table Holy breaths deeply. In. Out. In. Out. 'We erm…Joanne and I…' The brunette trails off again and Gail, who can see the stress and anxiety pouring off her in waves, places the bottled beer down on the table and l closes the short distance between them sliding her chair closer still to Holly's so that their thighs are pressed flush together and she can take the brunette's hand tightly between her own. 'We broke up. I broke up with her.' Holly corrects herself.
'What?' Lisa hisses harshly. 'She's a lawyer Holly.'
'Shut up Lisa!' Both Rachel and Gail shout in tandem casting each other an appreciative glance.
Ignoring the venomous demand from the two women Lisa breaks off into an endless tirade. 'Holly she's good for.' Lisa shakes her head at Holly who stares back at her friend like she doesn't recognise her. 'She's a lawyer, she's going places. You need to be with somebody who has some ambition. Some drive. Shit Hols.'
'This is none of your business Lisa.' Rachel interjects but Lisa just keeps on going. Gail feels her blood beginning to boil and she can't bare the despondent look on Holly's face.
'You're a dick!' Gail shouts with such ferocity it stuns the other three women into silence. 'You are a massive, massive dick.' The blonde shoots up from her chair the force of her movement toppling her chair over behind her. She can't stand here for another second and listen to Lisa ramble on about how wonderful Joanne is.
'Excuse me?' Lisa asks as she slowly stands from her seat. 'Who the hell are you?'
'Guys please.' Holly pleads her head resting in her hands. Rachel looks between Lisa and Gail both with fists clenched at their sides for once she is at a loss of what to do.
'I'm Holly's-' Gail starts but is interrupted by a raging Lisa.
'You're Holly's nothing.' Lisa says coldly.
'Lisa stop.' Holly says her voice a little stronger than before.
'I know what you're doing.' Lisa folds her arms as she stares Gail down, her penetrating gaze making the hairs on Gail's neck stand on end. 'You had your chance with Holly and you blew it.' The surgeon's words hit Gail right in the gut. Lisa's gaze shifts to Holly as a look of realisation dawns on her face. 'Please tell me you and Joanne didn't split up because of her.' Lisa points at Gail a sneer coating her features a look of disappointment on her face. She's looking at Holly like a parent would a disobedient child.
'You should leave.' Holly says her voice unwaveringly calm. Inside her heart is breaking a little. Holly is unable to comprehend how one of her oldest friends, someone she always thought was on her side could be so cruel. 'Gail is the most amazing women I've ever met.' Blue eyes that are glistening with pain flitter up to look at Holly. The blonde has never had somebody stand up for her before.
'You can't be serious.' Lisa whines indignantly shaking off the hand the Rachel places on her shoulder hoping the slight physical contact will remind Lisa of where she is and that this is Holly she's turning on. 'Holly you can do so much better.'
'Better!' Holly explodes. 'What's better?'
'Holly, baby.' Gail says softly trying to calm the brunette, the term of endearment isn't missed by Rachel who looks at Gail wide eyed.
'No.' Holly huffs. 'I'm sick of this. You think Joanne is better than Gail.' Holly allows her gaze to trail over every inch of Gail's face, her full lips, strong cheekbones, her beautiful eyes. 'If better is someone who calls me names and hurts me then yes, Joanne is better than Gail.'
'Hurt you? What? Holly?' Lisa stutters not comprehending what Holly is saying to her. Joanne hurt Holly?
'Well I don't want that kind of better. I want someone who loves me without question and without ultimatums.' Holly's voice softens as he turns to look at Gail. 'I want to be with someone who makes my heart sing.' Holly steps towards the blonde bringing her thumbs up to wipe at the tears that are falling from blue eyes. 'Someone who makes my heart beat like crazy.' Gail lifts her hands gripping Holly's forearms tightly.
'Holly, we had no idea.' Rachel finally speaks up. 'Why didn't you tell us? We could have helped you.'
'Gail helped me.' Holly tears her eyes away from Gail but her need for physical contact is too great and so she links her fingers with Gail's and pulls the blonde close. 'I think you should go.'
'Holly, please.' Lisa pleads her once steely demeanour has transformed into that of a defeated women.
'Not tonight.' Holly releases Gail's hand as she walks across the room and pulls the front door open nodding her head toward the open door. 'I need you to go.' Knowing that she won't be able to change the pathologists mind Lisa swipes her hand bag up from the breakfast bar and rushes towards the exit stopping briefly at the door throwing one final look back at Holly and offering her a sad smile hoping that it goes someway to showing the brunette how sorry she is.
'Call me.' Rachel says as she approaches Holly leaning in for a hug grateful to have it returned. 'Look after her.' Rachel calls towards Gail receiving a slight nod of the head in acknowledgment. With one final squeeze of Holly's hand Rachel turns on her heal and briskly walks from the apartment.
Closing the door gently behind her Holly turns to face Gail.
And then there were two.
'I'm so sorry Gail.' Holly holds her hand in front of her mouth as she tries to swallow down the lump in her throat. She just can't cry anymore. 'Gail….' Holly whispers. The blonde doesn't respond as she takes steady even steps across the room until she is barely a foot away from Holly. 'You aren't nothing Gail.' Holly pleads misinterpreting the blonde's silence as rejection. 'I don't agree with what she says about you and I don't care what she thinks.' The tears are building again at the back of brown eyes.
'Shhh.' Gail interjects as she tries to look at every perfectly sculptured feature at once. 'I know.' Gail leans in and runs her nose along the length of the brunette's breathing in her sweet scent her stomach flip flopping at the soft hum that rises from somewhere deep inside the pathologist. Holly's eye close, the intensity of this moment, having Gail so close, so close that she can almost taste her is overwhelming. It's too much. Almost.
And then it happens.
This was their moment.
Gail's lips press against Holly's. The faintest of touches. Eyes closed their lips lock together finally and it's magic. It's everything Gail has imagined it would be. It feels like an eternity since the first time she kissed Holly and it all comes flooding back, that kiss in the interrogation room. Now that she is kissing Holly again feeling her plush, warm lips fluttering against her own Gail doesn't know how she went ten months without feeling Holly's lips pressed against her own. She'll never wait that long again, she doesn't want to go a day, an hour, a second without feeling Holly's body pressed tightly against her own the brunette's hands squeezing her slender hips sending a warm tingle all the way along the length of the blonde's spine.
Holly's lips are like nothing that Gail has ever felt before. Her kiss is so warm, so passionate everything that kissing the person should be. The only thought running through Gail's mind as Holly's deft fingers slip beneath her sweater and trace the sensitive skin at the bottom of her spine is made up of three simple words:
I love you.
Ahh, I hope that was okay.