AN: Post-episode 503

Holly had made her way to the bar at the Huxley after looking everywhere else for Gail. Shoulders slumped, Holly made her way over to the bar where Danni was mixing drinks.
"Uh-uh. No. You fucked up, lady" says Danni as she goes and serves the drinks. Holly sank down onto one of the stools and waited for Danni to come back, with a weary sigh. Wasn't it just a few hours ago that they had been happily sharing kisses in a bar?
"Fun things" started Danni as she came back around the bar, "Horror movies are fun. Laser tag is fun. Cards Against Humanity is fun! Fucking with Gail with that? Really, Doc? You didn't have something better to do? Nick already did a number on her twice and it's not like 15 invited her in with open arms to begin with. I'm pretty sure Oliver is the only person there she can really count on. Well, there was you, but that was just for fun, right?" Holly sighed and rubbed her hands over her face.
"It wasn't like that. Lisa was saying things and I wasn't giving much thought to them and then Gail was right there. Honestly, I started tuning her out the minute Lisa implied I could do better. Look, do you know where Gail is? Is she safe?"
"Yeah, she's in my room". Holly raised an eyebrow and Danni merely shrugged. "When I work nights, the hotel gives me a room for the night since I usually work anywhere until four or six in the morning. As if I had time for a nap. Lately I just have Johanna pick me up, but why let it go to waste? Anyway, Gail got pretty wasted while telling me everything so I tucked her in to let her sleep it off. I suggest you spend your time figuring out how to fix all this. You really hurt her, Holly, and she gets that enough from everyone else."
"I know, I know! I just... I didn't think Gail would take their comments so personally. She usually just shrugs that crap off."
"She does, it's your opinion that matters to her and from what I gather, you didn't jump to her defense. In case you hadn't noticed, Holly, no one ever does. Steve does but that's waved off as him being her big brother. It's not like her parents are going to call with a 'great job' anytime soon. She backs up her division, but over these past few weeks where Gail's been so happy it's nearly made me ill, if you hadn't been there, who do you think would have been? Maybe Chris, when he wasn't taking care of Dov."
Holly rested her head in her hands. She hadn't ever considered what Gail was like before they'd met other than her past regarding Chris and Nick. Thinking back, a chill crept down her spine at how badly Gail's meltdown could have been. Thankfully, it had only resulted in a haircut. She gave a sad smile at the fact that Gail had felt secure enough and felt that Holly was safe enough to go to when her world seemed to be turned on end. It was a little how Holly felt now.

Why are you saying all these words?

It felt like some sort of sick joke that the reason they were both hurt was because she hadn't said enough words.
"I don't know...I just thought Gail somehow...knew...how special she is to me."
"As a playmate or as a person? Because that's what she's wondering" remarked Danni as she went off and took a drink order.
"Of course as a person!" growled Holly into the ginger ale that she didn't remember Danni serving her. She groaned as she leaned back and fumbled for her keys, figuring that she'd be in a better state to fix this after a good night sleep. Danni waved off her money but she stuck it in the jar labeled tips. Her insight into how she had screwed up had earned her that much if not more. She had stepped no more than two steps from the bar when Danni's voice called her back.
"Holly, I like you and you made Gail really happy, so I'll give you a pass this time. But, fuck up and devastate her again...Well, you remember what I did to Nick's car. Now I'm a bartender with access to lots of alcohol and I always carry my lucky zippo lighter."
Although the threat to her car was very real, Holly couldn't help but admire her friend's protectiveness. It sounded like Gail was in need of someone like that and Holly was going to make sure Gail knew she had more than just Danni in her corner.

AN: PLEASE REVIEW!