Bring Your Child To Work Day.

A/N: This is set about 3-4 months after The First Meeting. This is the response to a prompt on tumblr, if you have any prompts you can find the link to my tumblr in my profile :) Also I posted chapter 3 tonight as well so make sure you don't miss it!

Gail has just finished setting the table when Holly announces that dinner is ready and they settle down to eat once Rory is lured away from his toys.

'So are you excited to bring Rory to work with you next week?' Gail asks Holly.

'Yeah I actually can't wait, we'll have to stay in the lab of course I can't bring him to any crime scenes but I can show him all the tests we do and I think he'll really enjoy it' Holly explains.

'Where are we going Mama?' Rory enquires

'Well Ro, next Friday there is a thing called 'Bring Your Child To Work Day' so instead of going to preschool you're going to come to work with me and see all the cool stuff I get to do, doesn't that sound fun?' Holly asks.

'Um...can I go with Gail? And be a police officer instead?' The little boy asks innocently, Gail has to clasp a hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing at the look of absolute betrayal on Holly's face, which earns her a glare once Holly has recovered. Honestly, neither woman had considered the fact that Rory might go with Gail, although Holly will admit later she should have seen it coming, given Rory's minor obsession with the police force since meeting Gail.

'I don't know Rory I'll have to talk to Gail about it later on ok?'

'I guess' He mumbles, while shooting a 'Please Gail' pout in Gail's direction.

/

'Gail, you don't have to bring him if you don't want to, I know you like to keep your private life separate from your work life, your colleagues barely know about me let alone about Rory' Holly begins once Rory is settled in bed later that evening.

'Hol really, I think they know a lot more about you than I've told them, Steve is the worst gossip in the precinct and I think I've probably been a lot nicer to them than they deserve since meeting you. They just don't know about Rory because I was trying to protect him, but it's fine, they were going to find out eventually. Plus I did tell Oliver, so he can help me out. How could I deny that face any way, you can tell how badly he wants to come. As long as you're ok with it, then I'm fine with it. I know it cut deep hearing he didn't want to nerd out with you all day'

'Hey, hey, he loves to nerding out with me! He just gets distracted with all the shiny new toys you show him! He loves science! He's just also a normal three year old so he loves the idea of driving around in a police car all day too'.

'I'll try help you out a little and show him the stuff we send over to you guys so he doesn't forget you exist during his excitement!' Gail replies, earning her a smack on the arm from Holly.

/

Gail collects Rory from Holly's house early on Friday morning and he is just about able to contain his excitement but Gail can tell from his wide eyes and non-stop babbling that he is beyond excited.

'Ready to go little man?'

'YEP!' He almost shouts in Gail's face, his voice more high pitched than she has ever heard it.

'Ok Rory come here for a second' Holly calls him over to her 'Try to relax ok? I know you're excited and that's ok, you're going to have a great day with Gail, but you need to be on your best behaviour and listen to everything she says to you ok? No funny business!'

'Ok Mama' Rory replies looking a little calmer

'Have a great day, I love you and I'll see you later ok?' Holly gives him a squeeze as he starts heading towards the front door.

'BYE MAMA, love you!' He shouts over his shoulder.

'We'll be good I promise' Gail says playfully to Holly, 'and I'll take loads of pictures don't worry'

'Bye, have fun' Holly gives Gail a quick kiss as she turns to leave.

'You're still bitter he picked me aren't you?'

'No' Holly scoffs 'ok maybe a little…'

'Bye Holly, I'll call you later' Gail laughs as she scoops Rory up to head out to the car.

'Right little man, let's go!' Gail says to him as Holly watches them from the front door.

/

When they arrive at the precinct they are quite early and there aren't very many people around, and no one has arrived with their children yet, so Gail guides Rory into the women's locker room so she can put on her uniform.

'Ok Rory can you wait here for two minutes while I go get changed really quickly? No wandering around ok?'

'OK'

Gail heads into the toilets to change as quickly as she can, but while she's in the bathroom Chloe wanders into the locker room and is shocked to see the little boy in there by himself.

'Hey kid, are you ok? Did you get lost?'

'Nope'

'You're not really supposed to be in here by yourself maybe we could go outside and find your Mum or Dad?'

'I didn't come with my Mama, I came here with my Gail' Rory replies 'and she said I have to sit here until she comes back'

Chloe's eyes go wide at his statement about 'His Gail' but she tries not to let him see her surprise 'You're here with Gail?'

'Yep, and she's gonna show me all the things bout being a police officer'

'Ok little man I'm ba...Oh hi Chloe, sorry I didn't think anyone had come in, I was just gone for a minute'

'Not a problem Gail, I was just making sure this little guy was ok, I'll see you outside' Chloe says as she leaves.

'Ok Rory ready to go? Oh wait actually I have a surprise for you, I almost forgot!' Gail opens up her locker and rummages around until she produces a tiny navy t-shirt with Toronto Police Force across the back and the crest on the front.

Rory nearly falls off the bench in excitement recognising the police logo 'is that for me?' he squeaks.

'Well it's not going to fit me Rory! You want to put it on?' It's a pointless question really considering he has already dumped his coat and sweater on the ground and is attempting to pull his t-shirt over his head. 'Ok whoa, slow down, let me help you out there!' Gail laughs as she lifts him up to stand on the bench and pulls his t-shirt over his head and puts the new one on.

'Wow, Rory, you look like a real police officer now' Gail grins at him.

'Freeze' Rory yells while pointing his fingers in a gun shape at Gail. Gail can't help but laugh even harder, she's not sure she's ever seen anything so adorable.

'Ok, let's get out of here and go meet some people ok?'

'Yes!' Rory agrees as he jumps off the bench while Gail shoves all their things into her locker.

/

The duo walks out of the locker room and into the parade room where Gail explains to Rory how her day normally starts. She tries not to be too distracted but she can see all of her friends standing around trying to look like they are working when really they are all staring at her and Rory. 'Stupid Chloe and her big mouth' Gail thinks, although of course it was inevitable they would spot them eventually. She realises she probably should have come up with some kind of a plan to introduce them all. While Rory is distracted looking around Steve comes over to Gail with a confused look on his face.

'Gail, where did you get that child? You know you're not supposed to just procure children to bring today, you're supposed to bring your own children, which last I checked you didn't have any? Actually he does look kind of like me, did you find a long lost child that belongs to me?'

'Relax you moron, I did not procure him! He's Holly's son.'

'HOLLY HAS A SON?' Steve whispers dramatically.

'Would you calm down please, yes Holly has a son, his name is Rory. She had him by herself a few years ago. Wait, wait, wait, you've never donated stuff have you?'

'Stuff?'

'Yeah, you know, stuff?'

'Stuff like sperm?'

'Yeah' Gail is starting to get a little panicky. A look of absolute horror passes over Steve's face and Gail feels like she might pass out. 'Steve? HAVE YOU?'

'Haha no thank god, I was just messing with you Gail! That boy ain't mine' Steve cracks up, 'You should see your face right now'

'Oh my god Steve, are you trying to kill me?' Gail takes some deep breaths and punches Steve in the arm.

'So I can meet the little guy?'

'Only if you promise never to scare me like that again?' Steve nods his agreement.

'Rory? Will you come over here?' Gail asks and the little boy comes running. Gail bends down beside him 'This is my brother and he's very excited to meet you'

'Hi Rory, I'm Steve, how're you doing?'

'Hi' Rory replies, shyly curling in towards Gail 'I'm good'

'So Rory, how about you, me and Steve go over to the finger printing station and get our finger prints taken?' Gail asks him.

'Yes please!' Rory grabs Gail's hand and drags her out the door, causing Steve and Gail to laugh.

/

A few hours later when Rory is passed out for a nap in Gail's desk chair Gail makes her way over to Dov and Chris who are still looking at her warily.

'So…' Dov starts.

'Yes Dov?' Gail asks.

'Holly has a son? A son who likes you enough to spend a whole day with you by himself?'

'Yes Dov, Holly has a son and he likes me because I like him and he isn't super annoying like all of you people so we actually enjoy spending time together. Is that quite alright with you?'

'Yeah Gail, totally fine, it was just a bit unexpected that's all' Chris responds. 'You're really great with him, he's lucky to have you'

Gail blushes a bit unsure of how to respond to something that actually means an awful lot to her 'Thanks Chris, I suppose you can meet him if you wish once he wakes up'

'What about me?' Dov asks.

'No, not you Epstein, I don't want you messing up the kid'.

/

A few hours later after Rory has woken up and the two have tried out all the games set up in the station Gail decides to head over to the morgue so Holly doesn't miss out on the day completely. She manages to convince Rory that it will be fun over at the morgue and promises they have science games for him to try out.

'Want to surprise your Mama Ro?'

'OK!'

'Ok try and be quiet though' Gail says. 'This is her office just down here'

Gail pokes her head into the lab to make sure there is nothing on display that will terrify Rory but thankfully Holly is just sitting at her desk writing a report. She slips back out 'OK little man lets go'

She holds the door open for Rory and he bounds in heading straight for Holly 'MAMA WE CAME!'

Holly jumps and looks very confused as Rory launches himself into her lap, but she recovers quickly 'Rory Stewart you nearly gave me a heart attack!' She exclaims 'How was your day with Gail?'

Rory quickly starts babbling on about all the things they did while Gail shows Holly some of the photos she took of him in action, ending with a picture of Steve holding Rory surrounded by Traci, Dov, Andy, Chloe and Chris.

'Wow Sweetheart it looks like you had the best time! And is this a new t-shirt you're wearing?' Holly asks.

'They sell them in the gift shop and I wanted him to fit in with the other police officers' Gail answers with a small blush.

'Well I think you look great Rory, you look like a real police officer! You just need a badge now'.

'Mama? Can you show me science stuff too?'

Holly's face lights up 'Of course, there's loads for us to do with in the other labs'.

When Rory is distracted by one of the interns showing an experiment Holly asks Gail 'So it really went well? He wasn't too much of a handful?'

'Holly of course not, he was great, he was charming everyone once he got over his shyness. It was really adorable. I loved every minute of it, but I'm glad we got to come here and see you too'

'Yeah?'

'Yeah. The only thing that would have made today better would have been if you were there too' Gail grins at Holly.