"McNally, can you come here a minute?"

Andy was walking through the bullpen when Oliver called to her from outside his office. He waved her in. She took the stairs the led directly into the office. "Sir?"

"Take a seat McNally."

"Uh-oh. What did I do now?", Andy asked with a grin.

Knowing she was joking, Oliver didn't answer that. "I want to talk about Gail."

"Oh."

"Yeah, so it's been a couple weeks since, well you know. Anyway, I wanted your take on how she's doing."

"Well, from what I can tell she's showing no troubling signs. Which in itself would be troubling in most people. But Gail is different from most people."

"Heh, yeah."

"I've had Chris or Nick paired with her and they haven't said anything to me. I honestly think she's okay. I don't know how but she is."

"That was my read as well," Oliver said. "I was just looking to hear it from somebody else, you know, to make sure I wasn't seeing what I wanted to."

"Well, this is Gail. She doesn't project her emotions like we do."

"She's a hard read, yeah. But the shrink apparently didn't see a reason for her not to return and if she's doing fine then I guess we should be happy about that."

"Wait, she actually went to see a shrink? Gail?" Andy couldn't imagine Gail opening up and talking to anybody, especially somebody she didn't know when it wasn't mandated.

"Yeah, I was surprised too. She resisted for a while but one day she just went in and didn't even put up a fight about it."

"Huh, maybe this is a new Gail."

"Yeah, maybe," Oliver wasn't sure if 15 could handle a new Gail. Almost seven years and they still hadn't figured out the first one. "Well, let's get to parade. The class is probably getting anxious."

"Attempted carjacking on Hastings. Unit to handle, code two."

Chris indicated the radio, "You want to take that?" He and Gail had been out of the barn for a little while now, but this was the first call they were in range of. A pretty quiet day, so far.

Gail grabbed the transceiver, "This is 1504, mark us on that assault." She hung it back in its cradle. TO Chris, "So what have you got planned for Dov?"

"What?"

"Bachelor party. Dov. You, best man."

"Oh, right, we're just doing something at the Penny. Mostly beers."

"So, big plans," Gail said sarcastically.

"Why, you guys doing something big with Chloe?"

Gail shook her head. "Honestly, no clue. Andy and Traci are taking care of all that. They haven't bothered me with any details other than to confirm I was going."

"And are you?"

"Yeah, why not? Gotta party and get drunk while I still can."

Gail turned the corner onto Hastings and located some civilians waving them down a block or so away.

"Yeah, Chris replied. Then when he understood what Gail said, "Wait, what do you mean 'while I still can'?"

"We're here, time to go to work." Gail never answered Chris, didn't even acknowledge the question.

In truth, Gail had talked to more people than just the psychiatrist. Traci had been an obvious person to talk to. True, Gail and Frankie didn't have what Traci and Jerry had, but still, she could help. Traci's best advice came over a glass of wine at her place, on a cold, rainy evening soon after Frankie died.

"Gail, the biggest thing I realized with Jer is that life is short. I know that's cliché but it's so true. Add in our job and it can be even shorter. But my point is that you can't waste time. Don't push anything off, don't save it for later. If you want something, go get it. Because you might not get another chance. I lost time with Jerry when I was trying to work things out with Dex and I'll never stop wondering where we would have been if I didn't walk away for a time."

Gail soaked it all in and recognized the heartfelt truth that was realized through heartbreak.

A couple of nights later, while Gail was out driving around came a call from San Francisco. Gail, I know you won't like this, and maybe I'm only saying this because I'm of the medical profession, but I think you should try talking to the Service's psychiatrist. There you can say whatever you have to. Get whatever you need to off your chest. If it's nothing, then so be it. But at least then you know."

So, the next day Gail wet in and talked to the shrink. She didn't have much to say but what little she did made her feel better and Dr. Papanault was happy to listen. That night she and Chris had a quiet drink at the Penny. "Gail, you just need to find whatever it is that will make you happy, right now. I'm not saying that in terms of another relationship, but only you know for certain what it is that would make you happiest. What would complete you the most. If it's nothing, at the moment, then make that assessment day-by-day.

And so, she spent many nights lying in bed. Soul-searching and being on the brink of returning a call she got a day after Frankie died. Why was she hesitating? Why was she indecisive about it now, when she was so certain before? Certain enough to live with the fact it may end her relationship with Frankie. Certain enough that she was willing to put the heartbreak from it in the past and try again. Certain enough that she had done all the classes and was now a phone call away from committing.

Commitment. Was that it? Gail had always been uneasy about it before. those times were about her relationships but this time was different. No, she wouldn't be scared off anymore. With a smile she hopped out of bed, completely unaware of the early morning hour and hit return call. Unsurprisingly, it went to voicemail.

"Hi, it's me. Gail. Listen, I know you said you could give me some time, because of what happened, and I appreciate that. But I've talked to people and I'm ready. Lauralee, I'm ready to be a mom, and I'd love to prove that to you. So, uh, please call me back."

At the attempted carjacking, Gail and Chris took statements and wrote up a report, giving the car owner a case number for his insurance. They'd pass it along to Traffic Division and the D's there would do what they could. Back in the car, Gail's phone rang and she looked at the screen. It was Lauralee. "I need to take this." She got back out of the car and walked a few steps away and answered. Chris wondered what it could be about that she didn't want to talk in front of him. Must be something pretty private. At least she was smiling, Chris observed. That was a good sign.

Gail hung up and got back in the car. She was undeniably happy.

"That seemed pleasant," Chris said.

Gail radioed dispatch, "1504 is 10-8 off that attempted carjacking."

As she pulled away from the curb she asked Chris, "DO you want to grab breakfast before shift tomorrow? Just you and me. That Pancake house downtown where spilled the syrup all over Dov that one time."

"Uh, sure, what's the occas-"

"Perfect, it's a date.

"Ok, but is there a reas-"

"Chris, just be there.

That next morning, Chris got up early to catch breakfast with Gail only to find her already about to leave.

"Hey, you got up early."

"Well, early bird gets the worm, eh. Is that what they say?"

Chris raised an eyebrow. "Yes, they do say that. But you've never subscribed to it. Why are you so chipper?"

Gail laughed, a genuine laugh, not a condescending one. "Am I? I hadn't noticed." She looked at her watch. "I got go, I'll see you at the restaurant."

"I thought we weren't going for another 30 minutes or so?"

"Oh, yeah, I have to run an errand first. But I'll be there." With that she was out the door.

Chris shrugged then realized that Gail was dressed up a bit more than one would need to be to have breakfast before shift. What was she up to? Chris pondered that as he went to take a shower.

30 minutes later on the dot, he parked his jeep down the street from the pancake house and got out into the crisp air of the spring morning. He loved this weather. To him, this is what Toronto should feel like. He was still caught up in the beautiful day when he got to the door and saw Traci approaching from the opposite direction.

"Traci?"

She looked up from her phone. "Diaz?"

As she got closer, it was apparent that Traci was also intending to enter the restaurant. "What are you doing here?", Chris asked as he held the door for her.

"I could ask you the same question," she smiled. "I'm meeting Gail for breakfast."

"What? I mean, that's why I'm here but she said it was only the two of us."

Traci gave him a confused thing. "She told me the same thing, just the two of us."

Gail must have seen them walk in because she appeared and led them back towards a table. Adding further to the confusion for Chris and Traci, was the fact that the table was already occupied by a lady and a young girl, maybe six.

Chris was at a loss. "What's happening."

Traci was as confused but greeted the two at the table. Chris rebounded and followed suit.

Gail was a huge smile. "Chris, Traci, this is Lauralee. She's the social worker that oversaw my case with Sophie. "And this bundle of joy," she moved over to stand behind a girl that was coloring away on one of the children's menus, "is Kali." Chris was struck by the resemblance of Kali to Gail. Both being of fair complexion and blond hair.

"Lauralee, Kali, this is Chris Diaz and Traci Nash, they both work at 15 Division with me. We're from the same academy class too." Gail indicated for them to take a seat so they did. Both Chris and Traci were getting an idea of what was happening but they were going to let Gail tell them.

"So, you guys are probably wondering why you're here, why the deception. Well, I wanted this to be a surprise, of sorts. See, I've been working through the adoption process for a while now, ever since the Carson girl. Remember her? Anyway, I ran into Lauralee on that case and It struck me that I didn't want to give up on this so I started through the process again and here we are."

"So, you're adopting Kali?"

"Yep, I am." Gail looked at the girl and Traci picked up on a maternal twinkle in her eye.

"How long have you known?", Traci asked.

"Well, this was actually pretty much finalized few weeks ago. But then, well, you know what happened. And Lauralee offered me a little time but after talking to you guys and Holly and the psychiatrist, I was certain I was ready to be a mom. So, here we are."

"It's true," Lauralee said. "Gail is definitely ready to be a mom and Kali is ready to have one."

"Wow, I'm really happy for you Gail!", Chris said.

"We both are," Traci said and they both gave Gail a hug.

"So, we're the first to know, huh?", Chris asked. "From 15 I mean."

Gail nodded.

"Why us?", Traci asked.

"Well, I was hoping you'd agree to be Kali's godparents," Gail said anxiously.

Chris and Traci thought for but a second and gleefully agreed.