You guys are all so awesome. Thanks for all the kind reviews. Hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Chapter Two

Growing up under the watchful tutelage of her mother Gail knew how to personify professionalism. It was a particular knack that she had to always be able to switch on the Gail Peck professional persona at the drop of a dime. But even with that innate training Gail found that every time she saw Holly in a professional capacity Gail couldn't think of anything other than she wanted to be as close to the brunette as possible. And she wasn't as able to keep the smile that came to her face whenever she saw Holly. In the few weeks that followed their first date the two of them fell into an easy sort of relationship. Though neither one of them had actually said the world, relationship or girlfriend, it went without saying. It was understood.

"Officer Peck." Gail bit the inside of her cheek when she heard the familiar voice of her girlfriend over her shoulder. There was a tone that Holly used when she was there for personal reasons and not professional ones. It was slightly more playful, there was just something that gave Holly away.

"Dr. Stewart." Gail returned spinning around in her chair and seeing Holly standing holding a file in front of her. Not unlike the day that Holly had come to check on Gail during the chaos of the shooting. Only this time Gail didn't feel guilty that her eyes drifted down the sloping neckline of Holly's blouse. She could see the fabric of Holly's tank top and the hint of cleavage. Gail suddenly felt very warm.

"Hey, my eyes are up here." Holly teased in a low voice making Gail's attention snap up to meet Holly's chocolate eyes that were alive with amusement.

"What're you doing here?" Gail asked clearing her throat trying to regain some of her dignity as she turned to straighten some of the papers that were on her desk.

"Courier was sick?"

"I think the interrogation room is busy at the moment."

"Too bad. Anyway, I came up here to drop this off with Traci thought I'd stop by and see what true police work looked like." Holly said leaning against Gail's desk. She'd been hesitant to approach Gail, she remembered the panic that had crossed over Gail's face when she had come to visit Gail before. It was why Holly usually avoided approaching Gail at work. But she couldn't help it when she saw Gail looking bored at her desk trying to finish paperwork. So she'd taken a chance and she was glad to see that Gail didn't seem as opposed to the idea this time.

"Oh it's a ball of excitement right now. Right now I'm filling out the paperwork for a traffic stop that McNally and I had earlier today. Guy was going a whole 15 over the speed limit." Gail said. Holly rolled her eyes, she hated speeding tickets. She had gotten tickets for going five over the speed limit before. Thankfully she wasn't dating a cop then.

"Wow practically a high speed chase." Holly indulged. Gail smirked knowing that Holly was humoring her but appreciating that the brunette was.

"How's the morgue?"

"Death unfortunately doesn't take holidays. But no autopsies for me." Holly answered with a shrug. She didn't mind. There was always something that she could do to fill her time. But Holly also knew how much Gail hated being bored.

"How's your research?" Gail asked casually. Holly paused for a minute not sure how to respond. She hadn't thought that Gail was paying attention when she was explaining the research she was doing. She was commissioned for at least one research project and expected to write possibly a follow up piece to it. But if Gail was honest she appreciated that Holly had told her what she was researching. She expected Holly to tell her that she wouldn't understand the scientific terminology and the basic subject matter. Instead, Holly had explained it in a way that Gail could understand.

"It's slow going. But I'll probably go to the body farm later and see if there has been any progress." Holly answered with a shrug.

"The what now?" Gail demanded catching what Holly had said and being beyond intrigued.

"The body farm. It's a patch of land owned by the forensics lab that is contracted out to Universities and other research facilities. They take donated corpses and expose them to a variety of different conditions and study the effects so that we can better determine the actual causes of death for bodies when we find them." Holly explained very matter of fact. Gail was trying to wrap her had around the idea that there were people that actually donated their bodies to that kind of science.

"Gross."

"It's actually really helpful."

"And weird."

"It's science."

"It's weird science."

"I'm going back to work now." Holly put a stop to their playful volley. As much as she would have loved to stay and converse with Gail for the rest of the day she didn't want Gail to get in trouble.

"Am I seeing you later?" Gail asked not liking the idea that Holly would be leaving. Her hand twitched with the desire to reach for the brunette and physically stop her.

"I thought you were going to the Penny tonight with your friends." Holly remembered that they'd talked about it. Gail had told her that she needed to at least make an appearance. Her friends were starting to comment that she didn't spend any time with them anymore. And it was true. She spent most of her time with Holly, coming home only to sleep. If she was home she was on the phone with Holly.

"I can blow them off. I'd much rather be with you." Gail said in a quiet voice. One that Holly recognized immediately as Gail's honest tone. Whenever Gail made a confession or an admission of something that made her uncomfortable her voice would get quiet and she would speak slower as if each word she spoke was more important.

"I'd rather spend tonight with you too. But I don't want to steal you from them."

"You could come. I mean they've been bugging me for days for me to bring you along so that they can meet you in a non-professional capacity." Gail looked up at Holly briefly before averting her eyes, finding the paperwork in front of her suddenly very interesting.

"Do you want me to come?" Holly asked cautiously. She couldn't tell if Gail was offering because she thought that she had to. Or if she was offering because she genuinely wanted Holy to meet her friends. Of course they knew each other in the professional sense. They'd all worked cases together or seen each other around. But as far as who Holly was when she wasn't at work, and more importantly who Holly was when she was with Gail, they were all very curious.

"I want you to meet them. I want you to get along with them."

"If you're sure." Holly replied.

"Do you not want to meet them?" Gail asked.

"I want to do whatever you're comfortable with."

Gail hesitated. It wasn't that Gail didn't want them to meet. She wanted the people that were important to her life to get along. But she didn't want to share Holly with them yet. She didn't want to share Holly with anyone. And realizing how ridiculous that sounded in her head Gail felt herself burn with embarrassment. She sounded like a possessive asshole. To keep her girlfriend from her friends simply because she was afraid that she would then have to share Holly's attention. It was childish, and it was stupid, but it was also powerful and all encompassing.

"That's what I thought. It's okay Gail. I'll talk to you tonight when you call me." Holly said pushing off from the desk. Gail wanted to stop her but she couldn't bring herself to.

"Shit." Gail muttered to herself. Mentally kicking herself for how she handled that. She should have just told Holly how she was feeling. Holly would understand. Holly always understood what she was feeling even when Gail didn't understand.

"You okay?" Andy asked sitting down next to Gail and seeing the torment on her friends face. Gail didn't look angry she looked distraught. Andy had watched Holly walk away but the brunette didn't look upset.

"Fine." Gail said going back to her report but from the sound of it Gail was going to break her keyboard with the intensity she was typing.

"Something happen with Holly?" Andy tried again. She wasn't really expecting Gail to open up and tell her. Things were still so tentative between them. But Andy wanted Gail to know that she was there if Gail ever wanted to talk.

"Everything's fine McNally." Gail snapped though her tone carried with it less of a bite than it normally would have.

By the end of her shift the feeling of guilt had settled full force into the pit of Gail's stomach. It nagged at her, she knew that she'd hurt Holly. And the thought made her feel as if she were worse than the criminals she arrested for heinous crimes. She had to see Holly. Explain to Holly that it wasn't that she was ashamed. Shrugging her bag over her shoulder Gail wandered out of the precinct. She was going to go see Holly and she was going to find a way to make it right. Even though she was due to go to the Penny Gail knew that she wouldn't have any chance of having a good time if she knew that she had managed to cause Holly pain.

Looking up at Holly's town home, seeing the lights that were on inside Gail knew that Holly was home. But she couldn't bring herself to go and knock on the door. How could she hope to explain to Holly what she didn't even understand herself? Gail felt the panic seep through her system like ice water and she shivered violently as she thought about it. Could she make Holly understand? Why was she having such a hard time with going to the Penny to hang out with her friends who already knew that she and Holly were a couple? It would be more understandable if they didn't know. If she was taking Holly to meet them as a way of coming out to them. But that wasn't the case. So why was she so afraid?

An hour passed but it felt like minutes. Gail leaned against the side of her car where she parked on the street. Looking at Holly's townhome lacking the courage to go up and knock on the door. Finally she heard Holly's front door open and it shook her out of her thoughts. Holly had been shutting things off for the night and happened to look out the window. Gail was hard to miss with her platinum blonde hair.

"Gail? Is everything okay?" Holly asked seeing the clearly distraught look on Gail's face. The way that the blonde had seemed to fold in on herself. Arms crossed tightly over her chest but hunched over like she was trying to protect herself. Walking towards Gail, Holly gave no thought to what happened earlier that night and immediately wrapped her arms around Gail pulling her in tightly.

"I'm so sorry Holly." Gail whispered, her breath hot against Holly's neck as she clutched the fabric of Holly's shirt tightly in her fist keeping the brunette to her.

"I told you, you have nothing to be sorry for. I understand Gail. I really do. I was there once I had to come out to." Holly offered calmly. She had felt the sting of Gail's hesitation, she wasn't going to lie and say she didn't. But she also knew that coming out wasn't easy. And finally feeling comfortable around her friends to bring Holly along might take Gail some time. Holly was willing to wait for that.

"I'm not ashamed of us. I don't want to hide what we have." Gail said pulling away needing to look into Holly's eyes so that Holly could see that she meant it.

"I know."

"I couldn't stand the thought that I'd hurt you. It-"

"Shh Gail. Come inside. It's freezing out here." Holly said ushering Gail inside and locking the door behind them. Gail wandered into Holly's living room tentatively. Not with the usual confidence and force of nature that Gail was. Holly's heart broke a little for Gail. It had been a while since she'd come out. Several years in fact and she'd forgotten what it felt like.

"It isn't what you think." Gail announced suddenly halting any attempt Holly had planned to make to calm Gail down. Now concern bled into confusion as Holly wasn't sure what Gail meant and therefore didn't know what to say. "My friends know about us Holly. Everyone knows, it's the newest hot gossip around the precinct. That's not why I hesitated when I invited you to the Penny tonight."

"Okay, so then why did you?" Holly asked patiently. She could see the wheels spinning in Gail's head. Gail sat down on the sofa and covered her face with her hands rubbing tiredly at her face.

"Let me preface this with, I promise I'm not as chauvinistic as this is about to sound." Gail started. Holly couldn't hold back the laughter that came as a response. Whatever Gail was about to say was going to be good. Sitting down on the coffee table Holly waited patiently for Gail to begin.

"I'll try."

"I'm not ready to share you yet." Gail blurted out with her usual brashness and utter honesty that always surprised Holly.

"I don't understand."

"Good things don't happen to me very often. And if they do it doesn't last. I really want what we have to last a really long time. But I guess I just want to enjoy just being us for a while before adding in whatever everyone else's opinion might be." Gail explained as best she could. Finally looking up at Holly unsure what reaction the brunette would have to her confession. Holly didn't really know what to say. She wanted to believe Gail. But she couldn't help but fear that Gail was hiding them whether it be out of shame or fear or maybe both Holly didn't even want to hazard a guess.

"Don't they know about us?"

"They do. I told them weeks ago."

"Okay." Holly sighed standing up and walking to the window on the opposite side of her living room. Needing to put some distance between them so she could think.

"Okay what?" Gail asked watching Holly and wishing she could read Holly as well as Holly could read her.

"I meant what I said when I told you I wasn't upset. Just confused. But I remember coming out and how confusing it was telling everyone I was dating a woman. It's hard. So I can be patient. Just…I've done this before. Dating straight girls that are only experimenting-"

"Holly that's not what I'm doing." Gail interrupted.

"I know. And I'm having faith in us that this is more than that. I'm willing to take that risk because I think you are worth it. I think we're worth it. But if you can't do this, if it's too much I need you to tell me because I've been someone's secret girlfriend before and I promised I would never do it again."

Gail was silent for a long moment while she took in what Holly said. Appreciating Holly's honesty and seeing the deep routed pain there. It was a story Gail wanted to hear. Hear about the woman that was stupid enough to want to keep Holly a secret. Who didn't flaunt the fact that someone as amazing as Holly.

"I promise I'm not trying to hide you. I just don't want to share you yet." Holly wasn't sure if she understood exactly what Gail meant but she knew that Gail wasn't trying to be possessive. That wasn't what this was about. Gail wasn't treating her like property to be shared but Gail wanted to cherish the time that they had together before adding the complications of the outside world. Holly could respect that.

"I think I'm okay with just being yours. Doesn't sound so bad." Holly offered the same lopsided grin that made Gail's stomach flip flop spreading across her face. Gail breathed a sigh of relief as she stood up from the couch and walked towards Holly looping her arms around the brunette.

"So uh, girlfriend huh?" Gail had tried to ignore the way that the word had made her feel when it had accidentally come out during Holly's rant. Gail was kind of surprised how much she liked the idea. It had never been like that with her past relationships, even if it was generally accepted that she was dating Chris or Nick they didn't throw terms like boyfriend or girlfriend around. But with Holly, Gail really liked the idea of being Holly's girlfriend and vice versa.

"If you want. I don't want to push."

"I want." Gail insisted. The two women stood in Holly's living room for several minutes letting what had just happened sink in with them. Now they were firmly established as a couple. The thought was both thrilling and terrifying to both of them. Ultimately it was Holly who broke their embrace first, pulling out of Gail's arms and walking towards the kitchen.

"Hungry?"

"I'm always hungry." Gail fired back causing Holly to laugh while she scrounged around the kitchen for something to cook.

Holly had been looking at her computer screen so long her eyes were starting to burn and the words were blurring together. It was the fourth time she'd read the same report. She didn't know why she kept reading it. The information wasn't going to change. There were no matches in any database for the heart that had been in the victim's body. Traci and Luke had the officers looking for the identity of the body that they had found but that was also slow going. It was a puzzle that was getting harder and harder to crack.

"Brought you coffee." Holly welcomed the excuse to look up from her computer when her lab assistant came in holding two large cups of coffee. Accepting the cup with a grateful smile Holly took a generous gulp welcoming the warmth.

"Thanks." Holly said finally. Zach had been her assistant since she started at the lab and he was probably her favorite. He was more than competent, and they got along and worked in sync with one another. Often times she didn't even need to say anything and he knew what she needed. Hence the coffee.

"Any progress?" He asked looking at the reports.

"Nope. Lab couldn't find any fibers or particulates that would help identify where this guy died. And the wounds are surgical. It's remarkable in its own way."

"It just seems weird that a doctor would do this." He mused. Holly felt his words hit her like a lightning bolt and she quickly rummaged through the photos looking for one in particular. There had been something that just didn't look right when she had looked over her initial photos of the body before her autopsy. When she found it she looked it over and realized what it was that seemed so odd about it.

"Jesus Christ." Holly whispered looking up at Zach as if he could read her mind. But he just looked at her confused while she picked up the phone and dialed Traci's phone number telling her she'd found something and then grabbing the photo and heading out of her office.

Holly navigated the hallways of 15th division with a practiced ease though her feet carried her with a bit more urgency than they usually did. Photo clutched tightly in her hands concealed within a manila folder. Her eyes automatically sought out Gail, like it was a muscle memory. She was so used to visiting 15th to see Gail that it seemed strange not to be there to see her then. Gail spotted her too and looked confused when Holly bypassed her desk and quickly ascended the stairs to the detective's offices.

"Please tell me you've found something to crack this case." Traci said when she saw Holly.

"I think whoever killed this guy is a coroner or an ME." Holly announced slightly out of breath. It seemed strange to say the words out loud. Knowing enough of the people in that community as she did Holly didn't think any of them were capable of murder.

"Why do you say that?" Traci asked. Holly produced the photo and showed it to Traci who then handed it to Luke.

"I thought something looked off when I was looking at the body during my autopsy. I just couldn't place it. But looking at that photo I realized what it was. The way the heart was removed is exactly the way that we are taught to remove the heart during autopsy. In fact it's textbook." Holly explained. She had all details that they probably didn't want to hear about ready if they asked.

"You're sure?"

"Down to each artery and vein he cut."

"Okay, so if he is or was an ME that narrows down our search." Traci said looking at Luke as they both went to their computers to begin pulling up lists of registered medical examiners in the city.

"Thanks Doc."

"Any time."

Holly left the offices walking considerably slower than she had when she arrived, not in any particular hurry to get back to the lab. Still, it didn't make her feel any better. It was bad enough when they thought it could be a doctor that did it. But for it to be a ME, someone that was supposed to solve the mysteries of how people died not be the cause of it, it made Holly feel sick.

"Hey, you okay?" Gail asked seeing the look on Holly's face and noting how very un-Holly like it was.

"Yeah, just some further information about that murder from a few days back." Holly offered seeing the concern radiate from Gail's eyes.

"You sure?"

"Uh huh. I gotta get back to work. Call me later?" Holly asked not waiting for an answer before she turned down the hallway towards the elevators.

Gail knew something was bothering Holly, probably work related since as far as Gail knew things were going great between the two of them. But in the five hours since Gail had seen Holly at the barn she had not gotten one text message or phone call. Not even something as simple as asking how her day was going. That was unusual. Holly liked to text, she liked to stay in as constant of contact as possible. And while that normally would bother Gail with it appearing to be overly clingy and unnecessary Gail knew that it was in part because it put Holly's mind at ease. If Gail was texting her back then it meant she wasn't hurt. That didn't mean that their conversations were especially deep either, one of their first text conversations had been about the ridiculousness of people putting clothes on their pets.

But the no contact was bothering Gail.

Gail Peck 6:02pm: Hey Lunchbox are you hungry?

Setting her phone down at her work station while she finished her paperwork from the otherwise slow day she'd had Gail waited impatiently for her phone to spring to life with Holly's reply. Five minutes passed, and then ten, by fifteen Gail was reaching for her phone and tapping out another text.

Gail Peck 6:17pm: Please confirm existence.

Remembering when Holly had asked that through the bathroom door that night of the shooting and hoping that it might inspire Holly to respond. Finally after what felt like an eternity her phone buzzed and Holly's name appeared on her screen.

Holly Stewart 6:23pm: Sorry, been lost in work all day. Still hungry?

Gail Peck 6:24pm: Glad I can cancel that APB on you. Can you get away or do you want me to bring food to you?

Holly Stewart 6:30pm: Come to my office whenever you get off. I'll be here a while.

Gail frowned, remembering how Holly told her she never spent time in her office. Submitting the last of her reports and then going to the locker room to chance Gail saw Traci also changing to go home. The two acknowledged each other with a nod and then went about their business in silence before Gail couldn't keep it in anymore.

"What did you do to Holly?" Gail demanded her tone more accusatory and biting than it probably needed to be. But Traci had learned to expect things like that from Gail.

"What are you talking about?" Traci countered.

"She came to see you this morning and then when she left she was different." Gail elaborated.

"Holly brought some information to us about a case we're working on. You know I can't go into details with you Gail. And neither can she."

"She's my girlfriend and she's upset and I don't know how to fix it. So you have to give me something." Gail insisted. She knew that they couldn't talk about active cases it wasn't her first day. But she needed to know what she was about to walk into so that she could come appropriately armed. Traci didn't even bother hiding the smile at Gail's protectiveness of Holly.

"We think that the person that killed our victim is a ME. I think she's handling it the same way we would handle it if a cop killed someone." Gail could understand that. Holly was incredibly proud of her job and in the profession in general. She thought it was noble and she had even managed to convince Gail that it wasn't weird that she spent the majority of her time around dead bodies.

"Thanks." Gail said genuinely.

"You really like her huh?" Traci probed. When she had spoken to Steve about it he knew about as much about Holly as she did. Which was to say that neither of them knew anything about her except in the professional sense. Traci could tell it bothered Steve that Gail wouldn't open up to him about someone that obviously made her as happy as Holly did. But he wouldn't outright say it.

"Yeah I do. She makes me better."

"Gail, you don't need to be better. You're fine the way that you are." Traci insisted.

"I know. And she's not trying to change me or anything. She just makes me want to be better."

"I really want to meet her you know. Outside of work."

"We'll figure something out." Traci knew that was a polite Gail Peck brush off but she wasn't going to push it. She watched Gail go with a pleased smile and then grabbed her bag to go home to Leo.

Gail knocked on Holly's office door and waited to be invited inside. When she heard the sound of her girlfriends voice Gail pushed open the door and instantly found herself squinting to adjust to the darkness she found in the room. The only light came from the small desk lamp that sat on Holly's desk and the glow of her computer screen where she was typing away.

"Hey." Holly greeted with a smile. Gail hesitated, she'd thought that Holly was upset. She'd come in expecting that she would have to find some way to cheer her girlfriend up. But Holly didn't look upset, the smile that she gave Gail was even genuine and reached her eyes.

"Hi." Gail said warily.

"You okay? You look like you're afraid I'm going to bite you or something." Holly said saving the changes to her report and then turning her attention back to Gail.

"I thought you were upset. You looked upset."

"I try not to let this job get to me." Holly said. It did sometimes, she couldn't help it. There were some cases that still haunted her but she couldn't let them all get to her.

"It's okay if it does you know."

"I know. Thanks. Come on, let's get out of here." Holly said gathering her things and following Gail out of her office. Gail still wasn't sure if she believed Holly or not. Holly seemed fine but Gail was terrible at reading people.

On their way back to Holly's they picked up take out for dinner and then ate while talking about their days. Gail wanted to ask about the case but she didn't know if Holly wanted to talk about it yet.

"Gail, I promise I'm okay. I'm just frustrated that I can't find a break in this case." Holly said after the fourth time she'd caught Gail glancing at her instead of paying attention to the movie they were watching.

"Okay. I just worry you know. When things upset you." Gail offered bashfully. Holly's heart melted a little at Gail's confession and she reached out for Gail's hand and squeezed it gently.

"I'm okay I promise. If I wasn't I'd tell you."

"Good, because we talk about things right?"

"We do."

Gail leaned into Holly's shoulder and cuddled into Holly's side while they watched the rest of whatever movie they had turned on. Neither of them were paying much attention to it. Gail's attention was on the circles that Holly's hands were drawing on the inside of her palm that were beginning to drive her crazy. It was such an innocent and sweet gesture but it was also incredibly erotic and Gail wasn't sure why that was. She felt each stroke of Holly's fingers shoot tendrils of pleasure through her body making her shiver with excitement. Holly pretended not to notice Gail's reaction but she couldn't help the smug smile that soon spread across her face.

It was unclear which one initiated the kiss, but before Gail was aware of how it happened she was pinned against the cushions of Holly's couch with Holly's weight pushed deliciously against her. Gail wasn't sure if it was possible to actually combust. But if it was possible she was convinced she was about to. Her entire body was on fire, tingling with a deep rooted pleasure that she felt everywhere. Their mouths melded together in an effortless way, tongues dancing erotically around each other's as they remained locked in a deep, languid kiss. Gail used to hate being the submissive one during making out or sex. She was always on top. And she was always the dominant one. But with Holly it was different. Gail didn't mind Holly taking control of their kisses.

Feeling Holly withdraw from their kiss hovering over Gail, her dark hair falling around them like a curtain Gail couldn't resist reaching up and brushing Holly's hair back for a better view of her girlfriends beautiful face. Both of them were breathless, but Gail didn't care. She wasn't done kissing Holly yet. She doubted there would ever be a time where she wouldn't want to kiss Holly.

"You're so beautiful." Holly whispered. Gail was always beautiful, breathtakingly so. But there was something about the additional flush of her usually pale skin, and the way her chest heaved as she tried to regain control of her breathing. It made Gail very sexy.

Their bodies were pressed tightly together though Holly was resting her weight mostly on the couch. Their close proximity made Holly dizzy. She wanted Gail. It was such an all-encompassing desire Holly had never felt anything like it before. And the way that Gail's hand kept rubbing small circles on the small of her back, keeping her close made Holly's head spin.

For a long time they allowed themselves to just stare at one another. Drink in the subtleties of each other's faces. Commit them to memory. They could have stayed like that forever and Holly would not have considered it a wasted life. But then Gail slipped her hand under the edge of Holly's shirt and ran her fingers along the skin she found there. Both of them felt the air shift. Gail's ice blue eyes looking up at Holly silently asking for permission. The faintest nod was the only permission Gail needed to pull Holly's lips crashing down upon hers.

The kiss was all passion and desperate need to consume the other. There was no playful caressing of tongues just the need to dominate the kiss. Holly moaned into Gail's mouth as Gail drug her nails across her back hard enough to leave angry red marks. Arousal pumped through their veins so potent it was impossible to think clearly. Feeling Holly's hand clutch tightly at the hem of her shirt Gail knew that Holly was holding back.

"Holly." Gail breathed against Holly's lips before being drawn into another deep kiss. Holly didn't sense any hesitation so she didn't stop her kisses. "Touch me."

Any restraint Holly had snapped at hearing the request. Though deep in the back of her mind she knew that she should put a stop to this dangerous dance they were lost in before it went too far. But she couldn't. Not when Gail was laying under her, requesting to be touched. Holly wasn't a saint. Her touch managed to remain soft though there was a frenzy lingering just underneath. She wanted to feel the silkiness of Gail's skin, commit it to memory. Remember the sounds that Gail made as Holly's hands slid up Gail's rib cage and the blonde arched off the couch encouraging her.

"We should stop." Holly cautioned against the skin of Gail's neck. Despite her words Holly made no effort to stop. Gail just felt too good under her.

"That's a terrible idea." Came Gail's eventual reply masked in a moan that only further made her point. In truth, Gail knew they should stop. Neither of them were ready for this step. But Gail really didn't want to. So when Holly withdrew from their embrace a few moments later after mustering up every bit of her willpower Gail had to fight to keep herself from pulling Holly back to her.

Both women took a few minutes to right themselves and neither said anything. Holly moved to the far end of the couch, her skin still buzzing and her need to touch Gail still high enough she didn't trust herself to be close to the blonde. Gail was lost in thought, processing what had just happened. Before Holly she'd never thought of a woman in any sort of sexual capacity. If anything other women were competition. But kissing Holly was fast becoming her favorite addiction.

"What are you thinking about?" Holly asked after the silence stretched on for almost ten minutes.

"Loaded question. I think my brain is still trying to remember how to function properly." Gail said with a slight blush.

"Yeah, you're pretty amazing at that." Holly praised. No one had ever had the power to make Holly come completely undone like that before. She had always been the composed one in relationships. Not that she didn't ever lose herself in passion but she'd never felt so out of control than she did when she was around Gail. She liked it.

"Of course I am." Gail said with the same playful arrogance that Holly found charming.

"I'm going to get some water. Want some?" Holly asked already standing up and finding her legs were unsteady beneath her. Even with the distance between them it didn't take away the fact that Holly was still incredibly turned on.

"Sure. Thanks." Gail watched Holly walk to the kitchen and grab two bottles of water from the fridge and begin walking back. It filled Gail with an enormous sense of pride that Holly was hers. That someone as amazing as Holly had found something redeemable in her. Enough to give her a chance.

"You look a million miles away." Holly commented. Mostly concerned she might have done something to spook Gail.

"No. Just thinking about you. And how glad I am that I'm here with you." Honesty seemed to come so easily with Holly. Even if Gail had had no intention of making such a confession, with Holly the words came before she could stop them.

"I feel the same Gail." Holly returned sitting down and taking a deep, calming breath. Gail knew that Holly was still as affected as she was from their making out. If she were smart she would leave, go home and take a cold shower and pretend that she wasn't going to dream about it. But she didn't want to leave. She couldn't fathom leaving Holly's. She'd rather endure the unsatisfied arousal.

"I don't work tomorrow." Gail announced. The sudden exclamation drew curious raised eyebrow from Holly.

"Are you asking if you can spend the night Officer?" Holly teased.

"Maybe. Not to you know…do anything. I just don't want to have to go back to my apartment alone. My bed sounds very unappealing to me right now." Gail offered with a shrug.

"You are more than welcome to stay Gail." Holly replied thrilled that Gail felt comfortable enough to even request such a thing. Though Holly wasn't sure if Gail meant that she wanted to sleep in her guest room. The same room she'd stayed in the night of the shooting. But Holly doubted that was what Gail meant. Gail wouldn't have looked so unnerved if that were the case.

By the time they were getting ready for bed both of their ardor had faded enough that it wouldn't be torture for them to cuddle. Holly gave Gail first pick of which side of the bed she wanted, normally sleeping in the center of the bed Holly had no idea what it would be like to sleep with someone again. Gail crawled onto the queen sized bed as if it were her own and kicked her way under the covers.

"Your bed is comfy." Gail commented laying back against the headboard. Holly laughed at the adorable scene playing out in front of her.

"I am quite fond of it." Holly answered circling around the far side of the bed and pulling the covers back. Gail had thought a lot about what clothes Holly wore to bed, imagining Holly in bed was something that had fueled most fantasies of Gail's. It turned out that Holly wore a tank top and navy blue cotton pajama pants.

"I sleep with my socks on." Gail said kicking her feet under the blanket.

"Okay." Holly replied looking at Gail expecting that there might be something more to it. It was something Holly was learning about Gail, outbursts of random facts about Gail sometimes just happened. They didn't come with explanations. Most of the time they didn't even make sense. But they formed a snippet of who Gail was.

"You don't think that's weird?"

"If it makes you comfortable why would I think it's weird? If you want I can go put some socks on." Holly offered pointing to her dresser. With a laugh Gail shoved Holly playfully until she was laying down and looking up at Gail.

"You're so weird."

"Says the girl who announces randomly she wears socks to bed."

"I just thought you should know."

"And now I do." Pushing herself up on her elbows Holly reached for the lamp on her bedside table but before she could flip it off she felt Gail lean over her stopping her before she could turn the light off.

"Is there anything I could say that would freak you out?" Gail asked mostly out of curiosity not because she wanted freak Holly out. But the older woman seemed to legitimately be pondering the question.

"You're asking me this before I fall asleep next to you? Not the smartest thing you can do officer." Holly replied as Gail got comfortable next to her, her head resting on her hand her weight on her elbow.

"I'm just curious."

"Are you a serial killer?"

"No."

"Have a weird panty fetish and I'm going to wake up tomorrow and all my underwear will be gone?"

"What? No."

"I'll have you know I have some very tasteful stuff that you might see someday if you're lucky." Holly playfully defended.

"I have no doubt."

"Um look I don't want to think of things that might freak me out about you. But I don't scare easily."

"Thank God for that." Gail said curling against Holly.

"Can I turn the light out now or is one of your quirks that you like to sleep with the light on? Because if that's the case you're going to need to buy me one of those mask things." Holly said flipping the lamp off. Gail looked over at Holly, in the darkness she couldn't see if Holly's eyes were open but she could see Holly shifting to get more comfortable.

Gail didn't normally cuddle, she wasn't someone that liked a lot of physical contact. But laying so close to Holly made it difficult not to want to be wrapped in Holly's arms. Inching closer to Holly, Gail found that she was curling around Holly side and nestling into her.

Holly woke the next morning with Gail practically draped over her, wrapped as tightly around her as it seemed possible for two people to be. It seemed that Gail didn't want to stay on her side of the bed while they slept. Struggling to look at the alarm clock that she mercifully hadn't needed to set, it was 6:43am. Ever since medical school Holly hadn't gotten the hang of sleeping in. She just naturally woke up early. But for the first time in a long time she had absolutely no desire to leave bed. On any other morning she would wake up and then get up. No point lingering in bed when there were things she could be doing.

She tried to subtly extract herself from Gail's death grip, just enough so that she could sit up and maybe read a little bit. But every time she moved Gail's hold on her tightened. So Holly took the time before Gail woke up to look at the woman in her arms. When she was sleeping Gail looked so peaceful, there was none of the harsh exterior that she tried to convince everyone she had. Her features were relaxed. It was nice to see.

Time passed by but Holly wasn't really paying attention. She sort of lost herself in memorizing what Gail looked like in this moment. And then as Gail started to wake up, shifting and trying desperately to cling to sleep Holly watched as Gail's subconscious lost and icy blue eyes opened and blinked through a sleep filled haze to look at her. Confusion was the first that Gail felt, she was cuddling. Gail Peck did not cuddle. But as more awareness crept through the cloud of sleep circling her brain Gail realized this was the most comfortable she could remember being in bed with someone.

"Good morning." Holly greeted, her voice low and carrying a slightly seductive lilt that Gail didn't know if it was intention or not. But it made her mouth go dry.

"Hey." Gail replied looking up at Holly. Holly wasn't wearing her glasses, she guessed because at this close a distance the brunette didn't need them. Neither of them knew what to say, not wanting to break the spell that held the room they let silence take over while they both retreated into their own thoughts.

Gail's mind screamed at her to move away, put some distance between the two of them so that she could think more clearly. But every time she thought about moving she found that her limbs refused to cooperate. She was comfortable and thus she was not moving until she absolutely had to.

"Sorry, I'm kind of smothering you aren't I?" Gail asked hesitantly waiting to see if Holly was going to ask her to move.

"You aren't."

"I'm not usually like this. I don't usually cuddle." It was clear to Holly that Gail was struggling with this sudden change.

"How do you usually sleep in bed with people you're dating?" Holly asked before she could stop herself. She didn't want to think about Gail's past relationships. Especially given that they had all been with men, and it was still a prominent fear in the back of Holly's mind that Gail was still a straight girl experimenting.

"Separate sides of the bed. I sleep on my side and they sleep on theirs. I don't know, I'm not a very affectionate person as I'm sure you have gathered."

"Well I happen to know I'm an exceptional cuddle buddy so I don't blame you." Holly said lightening the mood effortlessly. Gail chuckled before resting her head back against Holly's shoulder. She was curious who had told Holly that in the past. Surprised at the sharp pang of jealousy that spread through her at the thought of Holly with anyone else.

"You're alright."

"Well if you disagree then you don't have to stay in bed with me." Holly warned. Laughing as Gail's hold on her tightened.

They ventured outside the comfort of Holly's bed an hour or so later, when hunger and general want to get started with the day took over. Holly disappeared into the kitchen to make coffee and scrounge up some sort of breakfast while Gail settled into the living room with the TV turned to some sitcom reruns.

"You need an Xbox." Gail hollered over her shoulder.

"Then buy me one."

"Don't think I won't. If you want me to spend a considerable amount of time here then you should invest in my needs. Which include an Xbox and cheese puffs." Gail explained as Holly placed a steaming mug of coffee on the table in front of Gail.

"You lost me at cheese puffs. Those things are so bad for you." Holly crinkled her nose at the thought. She did agree that they were delicious and in a weak moment of hunger she would indulge in a bag but she couldn't understand Gail's near obsession with them.

"Shut your mouth!" Gail exclaimed faux outrage pouring from her tone.

Holly just shook her head and sipped her coffee, content to watch Gail as she added her colorful commentary to whatever show she had decided to watch. It was a pleasant day, there was no pressing need to get anything done, and they could just be lazy together and enjoy spending the day. It had been a long time since either of them had been able to do that.

Traci Nash 3:11pm: Black Penny tonight. Bring Holly.

Gail chuckled when she saw the incoming text from the detective. Traci had been relentless in trying to get Holly to come to one of their hang outs. And Gail did appreciate that Traci wanted to get to know Holly and make her feel like part of the group. But Gail wasn't ready yet. And Holly seemed in no rush to become indoctrinated into 15th division.

Gail Peck 3:13pm: Nice try Nash. Holly's mine tonight.

Once she hit send Gail realized how that might have sounded. But found that she didn't care so much if it was taken the wrong way.

"Are you aware your smirk is particularly devious right now?" Holly asked looking up from her book.

"I'm aware."

"Which of your friends are you tormenting now?" Holly inquired though there was no judgment in her voice.

"Traci. She wants me to go to the Penny tonight. I told her I already have plans with you." Gail replied tossing her phone aside.

"Inviting yourself to stay over again Officer? Mighty presumptuous." Gail knew that Holly was teasing but that didn't mean she didn't feel that slight nag that she might be bothering Holly. As if reading her look Holly abandoned her book on the coffee table and grabbed Gail's hand. "You know you're welcome here Gail."

"Are you sure?"

"If you want to be here then there is nowhere else I want you to be. Though you do work tomorrow and unless your uniform is now invisible you're going to have to pick it up." Holly said watching Gail groan at the thought. If she went over to her apartment then she was going to have to face Chris and/or Dov and neither of them would let her live down the fact that she had spent the night at Holly's.

"I think I have a spare in my locker at work." Gail was pretty sure she did.

"Gail, go get your uniform and bring it here. I'll make dinner."

"Ooh, what're you making?" Gail's entire demeanor changed at the promise of food.

"I'll figure it out. I'll need to go to the store."

"Just remember..."

"No tomatoes and you hate eggs. I know." Holly interrupted before she stood up and walked to the kitchen. Gail watched her go, a look of astonishment on her face though she didn't know why she was surprised. Holly remembered stuff like that, even if she had only mentioned it in passing Holly would remember. She and Nick were together for years and he forgot constantly about things like that. The thought that Holly took the effort to remember things like that made Gail smile.

Gail pushed open the door to her apartment and listened, hoping that she might have managed to arrive when the place was empty. There was no sound of TV or video games echoing through the living room. Walking quickly from the door into her room Gail closed the door and began collecting the things that she would need for her shift. Her uniform hung in her closet and she folded it into her duffle bag before she heard the door to her room open. Dov stood with his arms crossed and a shit eating grin on his face. Chris stood behind him eyebrow raised expectantly.

"What?" Gail asked in her usual biting tone.

"How's Holly?" Dov asked implication dripping from his tone. She knew very well what they thought had happened the night before. And the thought of them thinking about it raised Gail's protectiveness of Holly. She didn't want her roommates imagining the two of them together, even if Dov and Chris were guys and they couldn't help it.

"She's fine. She's making me dinner tonight." Gail boasted.

"Found her way to your heart did she?"

"She didn't need to make me food to do that." Gail answered automatically her eyes widening when she realized what she'd said. But her friend's beaming expressions told her that they were happy for her. For all the teasing and crap that they gave her they did care if she was happy or not.

"We're happy for you Gail." Chris offered. Gail fought back the snarky response that she normally would have said. Instead she just smiled gratefully at the two guys who had come to mean a lot to her.

"I better go. She's waiting." Shoving past them Gail shouldered her go bag and walked to the door.

"We'll see you tomorrow." Dov called exchanging knowing looks with Chris.

Holly ducked under the yellow police tape, her forensic kit seeming heavier than normal. But she could attribute that to the late hour. The fact that it had been a phone call that had woken her up when she would have been much happier to remain in bed curled around Gail. It was another body, same MO as the first one they found and they needed her to do the autopsy and the forensic analysis because she knew the details of the first case better than anyone.

"Hey Holly, thanks for coming." Traci said looking just as tired as Holly felt. Only difference was that Holly would have bet that Traci hadn't gotten any sleep.

"Who'd rather be sleeping when they could be hovering over a dead body?" Holly replied kneeling over the body and looking for the tell-tale incision that had marked the first body.

"Same as the first one?"

"Looks like it. Same incision anyway. But that is where the similarities end. Victim is totally different than the first one, female, early twenties." Holly pulled out her flash light and went about making her initial observations about the body.

"Killer's changing his MO? They don't usually do that do they?" Traci asked curiously. Truthfully, as morbid as it was she was kind of excited at the prospect that this might be a serial killer. The prestige that would come along with catching the killer alone was like an endorphin rush.

"Statistically? Not usually."

"This one had a wallet on her though. Gretchen Sanders." Luke said coming to join them.

"I need to get her back to the morgue. She hasn't been dead long. An hour, maybe two tops."

"Keep us informed."

Holly watched as the body was loaded into the coroners van. She couldn't shake the sinking feeling that was filling her gut. It was the kind of feeling that came when something big was about to happen, something bad.