Chapter Thirteen

She's strapped to the table, her eyes bound. She can hear his shoes against the concrete. Every time he comes close, she feels her heart beat faster. This time, he's going to do it. This time, he's going to kill her.

She doesn't flinch when the knife pushes through skin, because she knows that in the end, everyone else is better off without her.

Only he doesn't. He holds the knife up, sticky with somebody else's blood. "Why didn't you tell me you were a cop?!" he says, and it's in the same tone of voice that people use when they find out who her parents are, who she is. And that's when she knows that somebody is dead. That's when she knows, beyond shadow of a doubt, that her life is over.

There's no more cavalry coming. He gags her, and

She wonders how he'll do it. Had the knife just been a weapon of opportunity? Does he have a slower, more painful death planned for her? He drags her up the stairs, and all she can do is let him.

There's a blur of movement, and for a second she thinks that it's Swarek, because this is exactly the kind of gung-ho thing that Swarek would do, but he's wearing a suit, not a uniform. It's Jerry.

Traci's Jerry, and he's covered in blood, and he's trying to get her out of there, to give her a chance, but she just can't move. The drugs and the fear have paralyzed her, and she knows that Jerry is going to die, that she is going to die, because she can't do anything.

And then, in a flash, she felt that stabbing pain in her wrist.

She was back in the basement, IV stuck in her, and his drugs pumping into her system.

It was a nightmare that she would never wake from.

The sudden loud beeping startled her.

Breaths came in short, sharp gulps.

Someone was saying her name, but their voice was so loud, so blurry that she couldn't quite figure out who it was.

'Gail,' the voice said. It was Dov, and she was kind of confused as to why. What the hell was Dov doing there? 'You're okay. You're okay.' And then she remembered.

Perik was in jail.

He'd killed Jerry, and he was going to (hopefully) the rest of his life in prison. Gail's testimony, and the overwhelming amount of physical evidence had seen to that.

Her body calmed slightly at the realization, and only then, did she start to notice what she'd missed.

Her body was simultaneously both aching and numb, and her shoulder felt like it was on fire. Clearly whatever they had put her on was starting to wear off. Maybe that was what had woken her up. The memory of canvassing with Callaghan hit her all at once. The man with blood under his fingernails. The chase. The bullets.

Dov seemed to have decided that she was still unconscious, so he took her hand in his and squeezed it tightly. He jumped about a foot in the air when she squeezed back.

'Jesus Christ, Gail!' he said, with a voice with was simultaneously terrified, amused, and relieved. Gail pulled off her oxygen mask, not particularly caring that doing so was probably a very bad idea. She wanted to be able to talk properly.

'I'm sorry,' she murmured, and her throat hurt like hell when she spoke. 'I just thought it'd be really funny to scare the crap out of you.'

'So these are the lengths you go to for payback when I finally beat you at Death Domain?' he asked. He was clearly trying to keep the conversation light, but she could see the haunted look in his eyes.

'How long have I been out?'

'Two days?' he said, some measure of uncertainty in his voice. 'All things considered, the doctors say you were pretty lucky.' Gail didn't want to ask what that meant. She didn't want to know how close she'd come to dying, or...or anything else. She just wanted to...

Dov apparently noticed her eyes drifting around the room, as though she was hoping that someone would be hiding behind a cabinet or something. Dov was…awesome, but he wasn't who she needed to see.

'Hey,' he said, voice suddenly soft. 'I'm just the replacement crew. The last two days, these seats have been so full, I had to kick them out just to get half an hour to myself. I'm gonna give Traci a call on my way out of here.'

Gail nodded, appreciative of his words. The last thing she wanted was people to make too much of a show caring for her. It was bad enough that people would be funnelling in, trying to give her attention. At least when she'd been kidnapped, people had been focused on other things (not that she wouldn't have changed that if she could).

'That means you're leaving now, I guess.' Gail wasn't sure why that fact upset her much. It was Dov.

'Chloe and I have plans tonight. Oliver was going to take the next shift.'

'Oh,' Gail said, not sure of exactly how to respond to that. 'Well, tell her I said hi.'

Dov gave her a look of mock confusion. 'Am I supposed to prefix that with "Gail says she hates you"?'

'I don't know. Whatever feels like it works. Maybe "Gail says you have weird cheekbones."'

'Weird cheekbones?' Dov repeated, clearly amused. 'Not one of your best.'

'I am currently on a lot of drugs, Dov. Cut me a little slack. What about "chipmunk cheeks"?'

'A little better,' he agreed. 'But unfortunately for you, those chipmunk cheeks are awesome.'

'Well whatever you two end up doing, please do not defile the couch. I have to sit on that thing.'

He stayed until Traci arrived, looking like she hadn't slept in a year. Gail almost felt bad for making Dov wake her, but at the same time, she wanted – she needed – someone to be there.

'I'm an idiot,' Gail said, by way of greeting.

Traci gave a look, as though she was about to start laughing.

'You know, the two of you would be adorable if you weren't so frustrating,' Traci said.

Gail stared at her, thoroughly confused.

'Funny thing happened the other morning, though,' Traci continued, almost conversationally. 'I ran into someone who told me that she thought she'd screwed things up completely.' Gail stared at her. 'I told her she was dating an idiot. And from the moment you were brought in, she's been here for every second of it.'

Gail looked around, as though she was expecting to find Holly hidden behind Traci's handbag.

'She hasn't slept in two days, so I sent her home. I haven't told her you're awake yet, because I figured she'd probably kill herself trying to get her.'

'G—' Gail coughed, and cleared her throat with a wince. 'Good,' she said, but she was taken by a sudden feeling of sadness.

'I'll tell you what,' Traci continued. 'Since your brother is pretty much twisted around my little finger now, I could always make him go pick her up.' Gail immediately regretted laughing at Traci's words. A lightning bolt of pain coursed through her, lighting what felt like every single nerve ending in her body on fire. Traci's concerned voice echoed in her ears, and she gritted her teeth all the while, as she said, 'I'm okay. I'm okay.'

Traci didn't look convinced.

...

Half an hour later, Holly was standing at the edge of Gail's bed, and Gail was trying so fucking hard not to leap out of the bed and hug her.

'We're going for…coffee,' said Steve, pulling Traci out of the room. Gail was kind of glad – Steve had walked in on enough of her make-out sessions to make the whole thing kind of awkward.

'Gail?' Holly's voice was small, and more than a little fearful. 'How're you feeling?'

'I got shot, genius,' muttered Gail. It still hurt to talk, and she couldn't look at Holly for fear of starting to cry again.

'I know,' Holly said pointedly. 'You...' There was a long pause. 'You scared me, Gail.'

'I'm sorry,' Gail murmured. 'I'm an idiot.' She wasn't talking about the shooting anymore, and both she and Holly knew it.

'I know.' Holly grasped her hand tightly. Gail pulled her roughly down towards the bed, and they shared a short, simple kiss. Anything longer, and Gail knew she would have wanted to go further, which probably would have torn some stitches. 'I am too, so I guess we're in good company.'

Gail laughed, softly this time, and in addition to a brief burst of pain, she felt an unfamiliar sort of warmth, a kind of...satisfaction that she'd never really felt before.

She took Holly's hand in hers, and refused to let go. Gail Peck was not going to screw things up again. Not this time.

...

Steve stepped into the room, slipping his phone back into his pocket. 'Everything okay?' Traci asked, noting the almost troubled expression on his face. They'd been there for almost three hours, and yet this was the first time he looked even remotely worried.

Steve didn't say anything, but gave Gail a look. Apparently, they'd gotten pretty good at the "silent communication" thing over the years. Traci was glad, at least, that Holly seemed just as confused as she did.

'Do you want to tell us what's going on?'

Traci had a sudden realization. She'd seen that look before. 'The Superintendent.'

'As in…'

'Superintendent Peck,' Steve confirmed. 'Which means I'm about to get my ass kicked again because somebody chased after a crazy guy with a gun.'

'Oh, like you wouldn't have done the same thing,' Gail retorted, but Traci could tell that she was tired, and drained, and the thought of having her mother visit was just the straw that was about to break the camel's back.

'Holly…' Gail started.

'I'm not going anywhere,' Holly interjected, before Gail could tell her that she should leave. 'Your Mom was already here this morning.'

'You've met her?' Gail asked, slightly incredulous. 'And you're still here?'

Holly gave a look of confusion, as if she was unsure why everyone was so afraid. It was a look that a lot of people got before they figured out what was underneath that overly cheery persona.

Still, it was with trepidation that they waited, and Traci knew that Gail was wondering if she could get away with pretending to be asleep.

They didn't have to wait long. The Superintendent arrived with very little fanfare, even though she was in uniform.

'Mom.'

'Steven.' The older woman gave her son a look that would have made most grown men weep. Steve raised half an eyebrow, but his mother had already moved on. She gave Traci a short nod of recognition, but said nothing, which was probably about as good as Traci could have hoped for.

Then, the Superintendent stared down Holly, and Holly didn't flinch. 'It's nice to see you again, Polly.'

'Holly,' Holly corrected, not lowering her gaze. For about half a second, the Superintendent looked as though she might say something, but she didn't. Something approaching a smirk crossed her face – a knowing look that Traci had seen Gail (and even Steve) pull. It was the "I don't want to say it to your face, but my level of respect for you just increased marginally" look.

'Why don't you all go for coffee,' the Superintendent said. 'I'd like to have some time alone with my daughter.'

…

For a long time, neither of them spoke. Gail was perfectly happy to let her mother take the initiative in starting the conversation.

'You're applying for the Detective's rotation,' her mother said, eventually. It wasn't a question.

'Yeah,' Gail said, trying not to shrug. She wasn't surprised that that was the first thing her mother said. It wasn't as though she'd been shot or anything.

'Whatever happened to "I don't give a shit if I stay in uniform for the rest of my career"?'

Gail considered the question. 'I'd like to think that I've seen some emotional growth since then.'

'Does that mean you won't pretend to be sick the next time I ask you to speak in public?'

'We'll see. I do have a pretty good excuse this time though,' she said, with a smile, which was not reciprocated in the slightest.

'So,' her mother started, and Gail knew that the thing she'd been dreading had suddenly arrived. 'This...Holly. Is she your girlfriend?'

Gail paused. It wasn't that she didn't know how to answer, it was that she wasn't sure if she wanted to.

'Yes,' she said, eventually.

'Good,' said the Superintendent, and for a moment Gail was sure she'd misheard something. 'I like her.'

'Well now I have to break up with her,' Gail said, a little stonily.

'Oh, don't be like that, Gail.'

'You hated Nick and Chris.'

'I didn't hate them, but even you could see they weren't right for you. Chris is a lovely boy, but he doesn't push, and Nick…' She pursed her lips, and didn't finish the sentence.

'I like her,' Gail said, still a little surprised she was having this conversation. It was the most sincere, the most honest conversation Gail had ever had with her mother and that fact was more than a little terrifying. 'A lot. She...I do things that I wouldn't normally otherwise do.' A pause. 'Chasing down a serial killer was not one of those things. That was my own...idiocy.'

'You made the papers, you know.'

'Really?' Gail asked, surprised. That, people seemed to have kept from her.

'And a little birdie told me that there's talk of a commendation.'

'And I'm sure you had nothing to do with whispering in that little birdie's ear,' Gail said bitterly, wrinkling her nose. She knew her mother meant well, but the last thing she wanted was for the Superintendent to try and pull strings on something Gail knew she didn't deserve. Maybe Steve would be able to talk her out of that.

'You did well, Gail.' There was a long pause. 'I know I haven't said it, but I am proud of you.'

'Thanks,' Gail murmured. Her eyes lowered.

'Next time, perhaps avoiding getting shot might save a few hearts attacks for your father and I.'

Gail couldn't help but give a small smile to that. 'I'll keep that in mind,' she said.

The Superintendent pulled the door to the room open, and ushered the others back inside. She was smiling, but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

'It was nice to meet you, Holly. We'll have to do a nice dinner sometime, when Gail's out of the hospital. You're invited, too Detective Nash,' she added, as an aside. 'Steve speaks very highly of you.'

And with that, she was gone.