POST 507

Holly didn't see Gail again until there was a Police charity event at the Huxley. Honestly, she hadn't expected to see her there at all but then she remembered who Gail's parents were.

Holly had tried calling Gail over and over until she'd given up. Two weeks was long enough. When Gail came to the lab with Oliver's daughter, Holly had been seeing someone, but seeing Gail again had made her lose interest. She knew it had to have been hard for Gail to make those admissions to her. Probably just as hard as it had been for Holly to walk away from her.

Being a pathologist, Holly had never heard all the horror stories revolving around Elaine Peck. No, her first introduction to the woman was overhearing her talk about her children.

"Yes Steve is a Detective in Guns and Gangs and Gail is currently an Officer at Division 15. Honestly, I have no idea where she plans on going next, but she will not be in uniform forever. If she had showed a little ambition she could have already made detective." Holly could her the distain in the woman's voice even as Steve tried to defend his sister. The topic then switched to budgetary constraints and other things and Holly moved towards the outside of the room. Part of the upstairs balcony overlooked the Orchid Room and the Bar, where she could see Gail wearing a beautiful black dress while she talked with Danni. Suddenly, Holly was hit with another wave of guilt from that night at the bar with Gail. She almost didn't notice Steve slide up beside her.

"She misses you, you know. Even, just as someone to talk to. Well, you know, how Gail has her own way of explaining things...not everybody gets it" commented Steve as he followed Holly's gaze.

"Why? Did something happen?" asked Holly as she glanced worriedly at Gail before turning towards Steve.

"Apparently. Both Chloe and Oliver were worried about her and asked me to check in on her. I don't think they quite get the Peck sibling dynamic. We talk and hang out mainly over alcohol and food and never about anything serious other than how to avoid Mom's dinners. Chris brought her up too, but whatever it is, she's not sharing. Well, scratch that, Danni probably knows." He turned and spotted Traci at the bar with Gail. Holly faintly heard him murmur something about joining his date and wishing her a good night.

Had something happened? If Gail had needed her because something had happened... If that had been what had kept Gail from talking to her sooner... Sighing and turning away from view from the bar, Holly closed her eyes and sighed. God, now she felt like an ass. Of course something had come up, Gail was a cop! Holly knew first hand how busy their jobs could get given her own busy schedule. And it's not like she hadn't heard all the rumors about the new rookie at Division 15. Gail and her Division have had their hands full and Holly should have thought of that before coming down so hard on Gail. She peeked back around towards the bar at the sound of raised voices.

"You need to mingle Gail! I can't keep making excuses for you!"

"You mean my career? I happen to enjoy my job! Despite all your hopes, my dream is not to be the next you!"

"I'd settle for you having a decent position! At least work towards becoming something!" Steve positioned himself between the two while Traci led Gail out of the bar. Steve nodded towards Danni causing his Mother to turn and apologize to whoever had witnessed their spectacle.

"Margot. What are you doing here?" asked Elaine with a forced politeness.

"It's Danni, and I'm serving drinks. But don't worry Mrs. Peck, the Vergers always make a donation to the Police." The two seemed to be engaged in staring contest that neither was willing to back down on. Elaine finally left to return to the event.

Holly made it to the bar after her boss had her glad hand a few donors. Sinking on to a stool she even more exhausted as her thoughts drifted back to Gail.

"I am such an idiot" muttered Holly.

"No argument here" comment Danni, in what Holly considered a very Gail-like tone. "I mean, tonight you got a front row seat to the very Euripides like play that is the Peck family."

"You saw me..."

"Hanging out on the balcony? Yeah. Lucky for you, Gail was too far into her drinks to notice if anyone was watching her. Well, anyone else."

"I was debating whether I had the courage to face her. I overheard her Mother earlier during the event..."

"Well, if you'd come down, I'd have served you some courage. It's very hard for her to apologize you know. She was willing to try and explain. I gathered from her having drinks with me that night instead of you, you didn't let her."

"I didn't know her parents were so..."

"Demanding? They're also pretty influential on the force. Makes it even harder for her to make friends with the other cops and detectives. Then you have trying not appear weak after her abduction and that everyone isn't going soft on her because of her parents. And that's all without even going into what Elaine has plotted out for Gail's career."

"So, Lisa hit a nerve. But I tried to call her and apologize!"

"And was very cold to her today while she was there. Said she was very glad to see you? How often do you think that happens if the person isn't holding alcohol?"

Holly sighed and ran a hand through her hair before hauling herself from the stool and making her way towards her car. Hopefully, she hadn't wrecked things with Gail completely, but when she closed her eyes, all she saw was Gail's crushed expression.

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