Gail found her crying in front of the building. Holly was on the floor sobbing. Gail took her hand and lifted her into her arms.
''I'm so sorry Holly… I'm so sorry my love.''
''No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said all that.''
''Baby….Do you want to go back there?''
''I can't…. Please take me home…''
Gail took her to the car and drove to their home. Holly was very quiet. As soon as they entered their apartment, she went to the bathroom and locked herself in. Gail was having some water when her phone rung. It was Jason Cole. He was working in the lab and she and Holly had good working relationship with him. He was good at what he was doing and Gail loved that he never messed up the evidence.
''Hey, it's Dr. Cole. The idiot from the lab misplaced your samples so I just got to them few days ago. I am really sorry for that.''
She forgot about the evidence and the Caveman since she got pregnant. Her baby and Holly were all she thought about.
I think you and Holly should come to the lab…''
''Can it wait?''
''No, it would be better if you came NOW.''
''Fine, we'll be there…''
She knocked at the bathroom door and called for Holly
''Babe, we have to go to the lab…NOW!''
Holly got out of the bathroom. Her eyes were red, she cried in there.
''Why? What is happening?''
''Hm… I don't know…Cole said we have to come.''
Cole was in his office when they came. In front of him was big pile of papers.
''What is it Cole?''
''Your prisoner is not Caveman…''
They went pail…
''WHAT?!''
''The man whose samples you brought is not the man it says he is. That is some other person. His name is Jacob Plumb. He was in prison for some petty theft and he was supposed to be out a little after the time riot happened. And since he is listed as dead, my guess is that Caveman left as his ''body'' in the bag.''
Holly, got up from the chair and started pacing over the lab.
''He is out for years, why now?''
Cole looked at them and after long debate in his head; he said the words he was afraid to use…
'' I think you pulled out the reason out of the victim…''
Gail looked at them?
''What are you talking about? What was in the victim?''
''Photo of you and Holly. One from the past and the other was recent…''
''Us? You think it's personal?''
''I believe it is… You shot him and he didn't finish his…thing with Holly….''
Holly felt sick. She got up and went somewhere. Gail spent almost an hour looking for her wife and she found her at the last place she expected her to be. Holly was at the shooting range. During their dating and first years of marriage, Gail could almost never get her to come there and shoot with her.
''If someone ever told me I would find you here, I would call them mad.''
''I just had to blow up some steam.''
''What happened to your betting cages method?''
''I don't know. I wanted to shoot or blow up something…''
Gail put on the glasses and headphones.
''Stewart, you are my wife, and you still have no idea how to hold a gun and shoot. I think that is a ground for a divorce…''
Holly smiled at her.
''We can't allow the CS Peck's reputation to me destroyed because the wife doesn't know how to shoot.''
''You have no idea how hard it is to be a Peck and to keep the Peck name… impeccable….''
''Is that why you took the Stewart name?''
''No, that was because I loved you….''
''Loved me?''
''Let me remind you I have gun in my hand… Do you want to change that statement?''
''Hm… Good thinking Stewart… I must say that I still love you..''
''Thank you…''
''…for my own safety….''
''I must remind you I have a gun.''
Gail came to her and kissed her.
''Let's teach you how to shoot that bad boy honey…''
Gail made her turn and showed her how to stand. She took her hands and placed gun into them.
''Now, shoot baby…''
Holding her hands over Holly's two of them fired four rounds. Holly never shot that much in her life.
''That felt therapeutic…''
''I told you so… I love that… I always imagine my mom…''
''Gail…''
''But, I do…''
Holly smiled and kissed her wife.
''You are insane…''
''But you love me.''
''I do…''
There was short period of silence.
''Gail…What will we do?''
''About Caveman?''
''Yes…''
''Honestly, I have no idea…. Part of me wants to pack it all up and leave.''
Holly looked at her surprised.
''You do?''
''Yes, I would do anything to keep you and the baby safe. You and our baby are my everything.''
Holly kissed her and smiled at her.
''But I know Gail that we will not be going anywhere in the end. You will always choose to face him and face what it brings to us. And I know that it's part of who you are and it will never change. I just hope we will be O.K. and that he wouldn't get to us again. I can't relive it all Gail.''
''I promise we will be fine. You, me and this baby….We will be fine...''
They got home and finally went to bed. Their night filled with drama ended. In the morning, they went to work and the news of the pregnancy was already all over their offices. One of the biggest gossips came to her office with her friend.
''Dr. Stewart, we didn't know you are married to CS Peck… Well, all the best with the baby. Do you know the sex?''
''No, we want to wait. It's up to Gail if she wants to know it earlier.''
''Whatever it is it will be amazing with you as parents.''
''Thank you…''
With that, Holly picked up her case file and went to the autopsy she had that morning. That was the place no one would dare to come and bug her with stupid things. She worked on an older man who ODed on pain meds. She had to call police and inform them about it. Dove and Chris came to the morgue and she informed them about the case. She had doubts about it being a suicide, but she wanted them to check it up. Chris went to make a call so she and Dove stayed alone.
''So, we are to became parents.''
''It looks like it…''
''I'm so nervous…''
''No need, it will be fine.''
''Easy for you to say. Two of you are woman, you know what to do.''
Holly gave him a look he interpreted as WTF Dove.
''It sounded wrong. I wanted to say that you girls have different approach to being parents. You know what to do. I don't know how to be a dad.''
''It will come to you in the most natural way.''
''Not so sure… Not even sure I wanted to be a dad. I mean…Now I have to…''
''Dove… Breathe…''
Chris came back and found Dove looking pail.
''What is wrong with him?''
''Scared of being a father.''
''Oh, I remember when Christian was born… Man, I was so scared, but after few days I was proe…''
''And it turned out he was not your son…''
''Just by blood. He is mine in every other sense.''
''I can't talk about it now…''
Dove left and two of them stayed alone.
''Don't worry… You will be amazing…''
Holly rolled her eyes…
''Because we are two women?''
''No, because you really want it… In a way it has to do with being two women. It can't happen to you by accident. You had to plan it all… And when you give it some thought, money energy and time, it is different as it is when it just happens, like it did for them. I see how you look at her and how careful you are around her. You are part of her pregnancy. You know her habits, what she likes what she doesn't like and that makes you better at the very start. You and Gail are having that baby together, regardless of you not being biological parent. You are parent in every other way. I can't wait for the baby to come and see your little family.''
''Thank you…''
He winked her and left. Holly went back to work and at four she went to meet up with Gail and go to their checkup. Doctor told them that everything is fine and he gave Gail some more vitamins to take. Holly got them right away and Gail was grumpy because she hated all the pills. When they got home, Holly made dinner and Gail took a short nap. She was starting to feel tired and sleepy and Holly teased her that the pregnancy brain is next. After dinner they watched some realty thrash TV and Holly had so much fun listening to Gail make rude comments about the participants. She felt a bit tired and sleepy. She cuddled up to Gail and that is where it all got black.