a really short chapter about Gail and her last struggle

Chapter 4 – Back Home

About an hour before arriving to Toronto, Gail pulled out her phone from a bag and made a call.

"Hey, any plans for tonight?" She smiled hearing the answer. "About an hour I'll be at the train station," she announced and hung up.

Once in the station her smile grew wide as she saw the tall dark haired man waiting for her there. She left her baggage and run to him jumping around his neck like she had done many times before. "Thank you," she whispered to his ear.

"Whoa," he said pulling slightly away, looking at the young woman thoroughly. "Who are you and what have you done with Gail?"

"Jerk," she punched him to his shoulder.

"It's Chris." He took the bag, wrapped his arm around her shoulders and led them to his car. "So everything went well?"

"Yup." And she told him everything about her trip. Well, not everything, even though Chris was her close friend, he did not have to know about details. On her way home, she sent a message to Holly she was safe and home.

It was the middle of a week and during another double shift, late in night, Gail started to realise what Holly meant by leaving her alone to settle her thoughts. She had not told anyone about her new girlfriend except Chris, her brother and Traci, but somehow she envied the other couples who could be open about their relationship. She was afraid to come out to the whole division and be judge or worse hear people talking that they would not judge her, because they would. That was what most people did on daily basis. Anyway the rookie herself was not very sure of where to label herself. She had confidence in the sexy pathologist, she was an amazing person anyone would be lucky to have her by their side, if Holly was a man, there would be no slightest problem and most probably her mother, the Superintendent Peck, would plan a marriage as soon as possible. But what would this highly positioned officer say when she found out that her own daughter, a Peck, was dating a woman? It scared Gail the most, that her mother would do something to separate them.

So the young woman agreed on another date her mother had set up, but chose a location herself just in case. The Penny was unusually crowded that night and Gail was grateful for that. She took her place with her flatmates and they chatted, laughed and had fun until the date would appear. Deep inside, the blond officer hoped she could hide between her friends and then just say that she had not noticed him at the crowded place. It was her turn to order drinks so she went to the bar. While waiting a tall strawberry blond man came to her side.

"Gail?" he asked.

"Hm."

"I am Brian, the Brian," he emphasised to make sure the woman caught the appliance of their set up date.

"Oh hi," she replied but not very sure how to start a conversation. Suddenly it felt weird to be on a date with a man. She looked him up and down. He was tall, muscled, with a square face, dark blue eyes and shaggy ginger beard, which made him look older that he actually was.

"So, how do you do?" he started.

It took several other drinks to make Gail talk but at the end they managed to find their line and actually it was not that bad. He was condescending, but the officers' snarky comments settled him down every time. They also played darts and had fun, especially when the young woman won for the third time.

"You know I let you win, right?" he said with a meaningful grin. Well not so meaningful for the blond girl anyway. "Because I am a gentleman."

"Gentleman my butt," responded Gail. "You were stripping me by the look since the first moment we met."

"Well, you are really hot."

"And you don't stand a chance," she told him, stood up and was about to leave to her friends.

"Oh really?" he stood up as well and made a few long steps. "Let's see."

He set his glass on the bar and pulled the female police worker in a bone-crushing embrace, slammed their lips together and quite immediately demanded the entrance to push his tongue quite literary down her throat.

Gail was shocked. Her alcohol dumb brain did not manage to kick itself up fast enough to stop this craziness before it had begun. She felt the beard scratching her face, one of his hands on the nape of her neck not allowing her to turn away and the other hand down on her buttock pressing her to his pelvis. Gail felt disgusted and pushed him away, "Yuck."

"Oh c'mon, we are both hot, it will be great. I promise you the best sex ever."

"I told you it's not gonna happen."

"Your mother said you were difficult, but I am the conqueror," he said with a cocky grin and pulled her in another kiss.

Fortunately it did not last long as Chris pushed him away and Dov stood in front of his blond partner protectively. "This is not how you treat a lady," said the smaller male officer.

"She is far away from being a lady," Brian commented angrily, trying to get loose of the tight grip of another man. At once he was slammed against a wall, a forearm under his throat.

"One more bad word and you will be very sorry," warned Chris not letting go of his neck.

Gail stood there upset and her eyes sent deadly glares to the rude man. If a look could kill he would be six feet under.

"Time to leave, my friends," said Dov and he put his hand on Chris's shoulder making him let the blond man go. The guys took Gail between them and all three left the bar.

"I swear I limit my alcohol a lot," moaned the blonde.

"For a moment I thought I would have to slap you," admitted Chris.

"Yeah, my brain was really slow. Just because Holly gave me a green light does not mean I have to sleep with every man I meet."

"What does the doctor have to do with this?" asked Dov frowning.

Gail looked up at Chris in question. She thought he had mentioned to their flatmate the reason why she took days off. "Ah well," they stopped and Chris sucked out a twenty. "You won the bet," he said handing it over to his friend. "These two ladies really are an item."

"Really?" wondered Dov. "Since when? What did I miss?"

"A lot, Einstein," smiled Gail and linked their arms.

The rookie officer was lying in her bed, sleep was not coming and she had to think about the incident at The Penny. The blonde man was right, they were both attractive and most likely having an intercourse with him would be good, nevertheless there was something stopping her. Holly stated clearly that the week apart was for Gail's benefits to find out herself so any extracurricular activities would not be counted as cheating. Once the doctor came back they would make themselves exquisite or break it up whatever it was. Yes, the brunette was fine and noble like that. And still there was something stopping the young officer accepting the offer. She could care less about the cocky character of Brian, he was appealing enough for one night stand and yet…

Gail moaned and rolled on her other side. She thought about her experience with men. Some was awful, some good, some bored, and some even great. They had fun sharing experience and trying new things. Alas it always seemed like there was something missing. Something that would make her loose her mind and scream without actually pretending.

She rolled back to fetch for her phone to see the time. The screen lip up and Gail noticed the picture that was set as wallpaper. It was her and Holly in front of a fountain giggling like school-girls. A wide smile spread across the blonde's face, she put the phone down without noticing the early hour, and fell asleep.

Groggily entering the parade room, Gail was barely awake. Her sleep was short and restless having dreams about old times, future times and even hot times. As her luck could not get any worse, she was paired with Collins that day. She let him drive so she would be able to doze away having a nap while patrolling, but it would not be Nick without the need to talk.

"We haven't had the chance to talk since you came back."

"Hmm."

"I am not sorry for what happened. It was really exciting like when we were together for the first time. We were great together. And I don't mean just sex."

"And yet you left, not even taking our engagement serious."

"I didn't know what I wanted that time. I wanted everything all at once. Let's give us second chance, we can make it this time."

"We had the second chance."

"Well then, let's give it the third. You know, they say that third time is a charm."

"Nick, I already told you I am in love with someone else." Gail was tired from this conversation. Fortunately she was saved by the radio announcing a domestic disturbance about two blocks away.

"We'll talk later," said the male officer.

"No, we won't. We are done as a couple and that is my final word," emphasised the blonde clearly and got out of the car going to break the disturbance.

At times like this the young woman wished she could just stop her brain from overanalysing things. Nick made her think about their relationship again. The time they were together and almost got married. The time she was happy with men. Well, she was happy because she did not know anything else. She did not know Holly that time. She retrospect her life since her teenage years trying to find out if there were any hints of her having different preferences. She needed to call someone who knew her the best.

"Gail, it's 1 am," said a tired male voice. "What is going on?"

"Have you… I mean have I ever… you know?"

"No?" replied the other person slowly. "Try to use some subject in the sentence."

"Erm, were you surprised when I introduced Holly to you?" A long silence was on the other end. "Steve?"

"Will you be mad if I say I expected it for some time?"

"I should be. How come you knew before I did?"

"I did not KNOW, I just thought so."

"What did I do?"

"For example, do you remember the time in seventh grade when I wanted you to pass a message to one of your classmates?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember what you said to me?"

"That you could do better than a flat chest school-girl and you should choose someone like the gym teacher with big boobs and trained butt."

"Yeah and then… I don't know. You have never been the typical girly girl even though you hate sports. Men were like a lower existence for you. You used them and left them or made them go away."

"Damn, this is bad."

"It is not. On the contrary, you have changed since you met Holly."

"I have not!"

Steve laughed. "Gail, it will be alright. I am here for you. I can be your wingman and you can be miiine," he sang the last part. "Oh wait, you already are. I got Traci."

The blonde woman smiled too. Only until next thought came to her mind. "What about Mother?"

"Honestly I have no idea."

"She is desperate to find me a husband."

"And meantime you find yourself a wife, it's kinda cool."

"Only because you are a perv and dream about two girls together."

"You see, I don't have to dream anymore."

"You are disgusting! I am your little sister!" They burst out laughing.

"Seriously Gail, don't let Mother interfere. It is your life and Holly is great, she keeps you in line and I really like her. And you know I don't risk being demoted just for anyone."

Of course, typical Steve, he always had to mention he made her a favour. On the other hand he never expected anything back. "Thank you, Brother," she said and hung up. A wide smile spread on her lips. Before she placed her phone down on the bedside table, she sent a message.

Please come home soon (:

thank you for reading!