THANK YOU: To all who have begun to read this story, and especially to those who have left comments. I am always grateful to those who have taken the time. Apologies to those who think the chapters are too short. Right now, due to everyday life, my options are too short and no updates. With those two options, please accept too short.
DISCLAIMER: Rookie Blue and its characters are all owned by others. No infringement intended.
WARNING: Story includes scenes of violence.
EPISODE: A reimagining of things that occurred during Season 5. Diverges from the show storyline prior to Season 5 Episode 7, "Deal with the Devil." So at the start, Holly and Gail haven't spoken since the fight at the Black Penny in Season 5, Episode 3.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
THROUGH DARKNESS
CHAPTER 3
Stepping out of the hospital's main security office, Gail ran into Steve Peck. She wasn't surprised to find that he was the lead detective assigned to the case. An attack at a city hospital was the kind of thing that would be high priority for the department, putting Steve in a position of high visibility in the Peck family.
"Any video?" Like any good Peck, Steve was all business.
"Hello, brother." Pulling out her notebook, Gail started to run down her notes as the two of them walked through the busy hallway towards the elevator bank. "They're going to pull anything they have for the garage, far back as it goes, not just today. They'll send that over by courier later today. Also, they recently outsourced management of the garage, which includes garage security, to an outside company. A place called Vetter Properties." She handed over the relevant business card, provided by hospital security.
"Good work." The two rode down to Rachel's floor in silence.
And were met outside Rachel's room with anything but silence.
"Why are you here?"
The emphasis on the pronoun coupled with the shrill sound of sarcasm informed Gail that Lisa had also arrived. Knowing that now was the time to make nice, Gail pasted on a tight smile and introduced her brother to the Plastics resident.
"Hello, Lisa." Gail kept her voice neutral. "This is Detective Peck, he's in charge of the case."
"Should have known," Lisa muttered. "A whole family of beat cops."
The generally more-composed Steve ignored the barb. "I assure you that we are taking all steps required to find the perpetrator."
Lisa's answer was a snort.
For reasons that primarily involved Holly Stewart, and with some deference to the injured woman, Gail tossed in a soft, "how's Rachel?"
The question, of course, was tantamount to waving a red flag before a bull. "She's been beat up. Her jaw's broken." Lisa's voice was rising in anger. "How do you think she is, Gail?"
Taking a lesson from her brother, Gail tried to not let the emotion show on her face. "As the Detective said, we're gathering information as quickly as we can."
"Well, let's see how you'd feel being told 'you're gathering information quickly' if you were a woman who'd been mugged at work. How would that be?"
The nastiness was beginning to weigh on Gail. Even so, she tried to empathize. "You're right, I haven't been mugged. I don't know how I'd feel."
But all empathy did was put a smug grin on Lisa's face.
Before she knew it was happening, Gail heard herself adding, "I'm more the sort of woman that you hold hostage in a basement."
The groan Steve gave in response was bad enough. But the gasp followed by "Gail" coming from a shocked Holly Stewart told Gail that she'd not only crossed the line, but that she'd picked the absolute worst time to do so. The look on Holly's face just made Gail feel worse. It was as if she had slapped the other woman.
Now was the time to remove herself from the situation before she did any further damage. "I apologize," she said in a calm voice, meeting Lisa's gaze. "That was inconsiderate."
The apology, while sincere, could not undo the words. "Steve, can you work with Collins on the interviews here? I'll check the situation in the garage."
He crossed his arms and nodded. "Good idea." No question that this would not be the last time that she heard about this incident.
Gail couldn't look back at Holly as she left. She'd seen the other woman's disappointment already, and could not bear to see it again. Instead, Gail headed back to the parking structure, wishing that she could take back yet another ten second slice of her life that involved Holly Stewart and wondering why she could never get this right.
# # #
Traci Nash was still working the scene in the corridor. "How's are victim?" she asked as Gail approached.
That information was something that Gail could not fully answer. "Besides beat up, I'm not really sure." Traci shot her a questioning look, so she tacked on a quick, "Steve's up there now. He'll have the details."
The patented Nash drawn out "Ok" followed. The two had been friends long enough that Gail could read Traci's implied 'what aren't you telling me'?
"Holly's up there," Gail explained, followed by a small shrug. "And another friend, and maybe I should just go join a convent now."
One of the Techs handed a form to Traci for her approval. Turning back to Gail, "I'm sure it wasn't that bad."
"Anyway, I need to talk to the Garage Manager. Have you seen him around?"
"Try the office." Traci pointed towards the primary entrance. "He was here earlier but I wanted to make sure he didn't contaminate the scene. I'll join you in a little bit."
Gail mumbled a quick "thanks" as she headed off, careful to avoid the areas marked out in the hallway.
She may not have Holly for her own anymore, but Gail was damned sure she wasn't going to be the cause of this case failing. Out of everything that had happened, Gail knew she couldn't stand to again be the cause of that look of disappointment that she saw on Holly's face.
(to be continued…)