A/N: I just want to preface this chapter by letting you know that I've posted 3 previous chapters in the past couple days and I wouldn't want you to accidentally miss one :)

Shout out to Gabe for your kind words and for seeing a little ways into the future ;)

Another snow day for me, another chapter for you.

"Can you heal my wounded heart? Save me from myself tonight"

Gail made it through the seventh day without incident. She had been partnered with Cross for the first time. So far it seemed like, out of the rookies, Cross was the most intimidated by Gail. She shut her locker and clicked the lock shut.

"Gail you ready to go?"

What? Gail grabbed the strap of her bag and slowly turned to face Traci who was smiling in front of her own locker. "What's it to you?" Gail asked cautiously. She could tell Traci was up to something.

"You're buying me a drink," Traci smiled and threw her own bag over her shoulder and took a couple steps forward; waiting.

"Since when?"

"Leo's with Dex tonight and Steve took your dad to the Jay's game, so you're stuck with me," Traci looped her arm through Gail's and started to drag her out of the locker room.

Gail began to protest, "I really-" but Traci paid her no attention.

"There's this really cool new tapas bar by my house that I've been dying to try but I just haven't had the chance. It's supposed to be really great and their mixed drinks are supposed to be killer."

Step 1: detain the prisoner; complete.

Through their first drink Gail deftly skirted the topic Traci had been trying so hard to breech. Traci was pretty sure the second drink was loosening Gail up though. Traci switched to water but ordered Gail another gin and tonic. The arrival of the cheesy fries really marked the opening of the flood gates. Gail was rambling, she was telling Traci everything, and she couldn't stop herself. She couldn't stop herself from talking and she couldn't stop herself from eating all the cheesy fries. Traci listened as Gail told her that she broke up with Holly, that she was miserable, that she couldn't sleep, she barely liked taking it out on the Rookies, that she'd been happier with Holly than ever before. Traci took a deep breath when Gail told her that she thought about the future and it scared her how much she wanted everything. Traci was a little confused when Gail asked her "what's the point of getting a puppy if it's just going to die one day?"

"Gail, you don't know that your relationship will die though."

Gail dismissed Traci's comment by saying it was a "bad analogy," and continued rambling on. Traci forced herself not to feel insulted when Gail asked how on earth she could do her job and not keep Leo locked in a "padded room in a basement fallout shelter." Traci knew it was time to go home when Gail's eyes started to well up with tears. On the two block walk back Gail made Traci promise not to tell anyone. Well anyone, "but Steve. I already told him. But we don't talk about that stuff."

Traci smiled and said "sure, if you want," when Gail said that maybe Traci should just tell their friends for her. The only new toothbrushes Traci had were Star Wars and Batman themed. Gail grabbed the Star Wars one as she said, "Star Wars is way cool." Traci felt a little badly when she gave Gail a large glass of water and instructed her to "drink up."

Gail's eyes welled up and she said, "that's exactly what Holly would always say." Gail could picture that smirk and the twinkle in her eyes. Gail could hear Holly in her head. She couldn't help but think that Holly could've had a lucrative career as one of those people that read books on tape. Gail was a little weirded out at first when Traci gave her a pair of Steve's sweatpants and one of his Toronto Blue Jays shirts to sleep in. "They're clean," Traci told her. So she put them on. They were comforting though. Gail hadn't told anyone, but when Steve had gone off to University and left her to the wolves she used to pillage the clothes he had left behind. Just for lounging; it made her miss him a little less. Traci set up the couch for Gail and tucked her in. Partially for safety sake. Traci turned out the light just as Gail said, "today's the thirteenth. We met on Friday the 13th. I just miss her so much. It hurts so bad, but it's all my fault. So I guess I deserve that." Traci wished her a goodnight and headed off to bed. She'd have to wait until Gail was sober to beat some sense into her.

On the eighth day Holly finished all her backlogged paper work. She did it meticulously and thoughtfully. It took hours. Long, beautiful, mind numbing hours. She felt pretty accomplished afterwards. She felt pretty miserable, but at least she had some accomplishment sprinkled on top. The final round of reviews and edits on her article for Science Magazine were supposed to come in tomorrow. Her final draft was due in a week and spiffying it up could probably occupy almost all of her free time until then.

On the ninth day Gail was on desk duty. She didn't mind the air conditioning at the very least. Noelle was on desk duty until the baby was born and Gail liked hanging out with her. Gail respected her, and she was funny. But she didn't put up with people's crap. Once everyone else had gone out on patrol Gail had gone to the kitchen to grab herself some coffee. Noelle was in there toasting herself a bagel; second breakfast much? Noelle told her that she'd heard about her and Holly breaking up. She said she was sorry. She said she was there to talk if Gail wanted, but that didn't really seem "like your style Peck," so she wouldn't bring it up again. Gail appreciated that. She mostly appreciated that Noelle didn't treat her differently that day; no kid gloves. Noelle was good company and it was a relief not to be waiting for her to bring Holly up. Gail thought about her enough without other people reminding her. It was a pretty slow day though. Noelle shared some of the more horrific names she and Frank had come across in the baby name books. Gail laughed at those easily. They also reminded her of that night at the Penny though, and that made her insides churn.

Ten more minutes and then she could change and leave. Just ten more minutes. But what exactly was she rushing off to anyways? She'd made a pretty comfy space out of the day in the precinct with Noelle. Shit. Could she just stay here? She finished rinsing out her coffee cup and put it in the dish drainer to dry. Gail turned to head back to her desk when she almost walked straight into Noelle's ginormous belly. Noelle looked apologetic. Uh oh. What now? "Peck...your mom's here. I'm 'fetching' you for her. I'd let you to run but.."

'But she's Elaine Peck," Gail got it. And that's how her mom kidnapped her for dinner. She had been ignoring her mom for a week but when she called last night Gail finally picked up. She told her mom over the phone that Holly wouldn't be joining them for dinner on Sunday. When her mother asked why Gail knew there'd be no point to lying. Her mother could smell a lie a mile away, even over the phone. So here she was, sitting in a booth at her mom's favorite Italian restaurant.

"What did you do?" The Superintendent's words were direct, straight to the point, but somehow they were also soft and knowing. They weren't accusatory because they were said simply as fact. The sigh she released at the end of her question suggested pity, is that what it was? Or was it understanding? Gail couldn't tell.

"How do you know she wasn't, like, a serial killer?" Gail tried to sound offended, she would have been if her mother wasn't so right.

Elaine opened her eyes a little wider and leveled her head, "Gail, please, let's not pretend we're any less intelligent than we are."

Gail decided to try and turn the tables, "how come you didn't care?" She asked with wide eyes; she wanted to know.

"How come I didn't care that you fell in love with a woman?" Elaine didn't miss a beat. She didn't so much ask as she stated the full question for the sake of being correct. Kind of the same way she used to correct Gail's speech when she was a toddler. She was telling Gail to speak in complete sentences. Gail continued to look at her mother, unmoving, choosing not to acknowledge what her mother said aside from maintaining eye contact. They both knew that's what she meant and she knew her mother would continue soon enough without prompting. "Why would I?" She brought her shoulders up to her ear, turned her palms face up on the table, and smiled brightly. Gail continued to wait. "I wasn't born yesterday, sweetheart. I like her." The Superintendent nodded with a closed lip smile before continuing, "you deserve to be with someone who has drive and purpose. You're not someone who should be slinking back into the shadows, Gail." She raised her eyebrows to accentuate her point. "You'd grow bored, or worse, dull with someone who couldn't match your intelligence and wit," she smirked and her eyes twinkled. Gail forced herself not to smile. "The person for you happens to be a woman, who am I to belittle that? You and I, Gail, have unique personalities."

"Speak for yourself," Gail interjected with an eye roll.

Her mom continued as if Gail had nodded her agreement, "Chris is a lovely boy. You're lucky to have a friend with such a big heart. But you deserve to be with someone who's charmed by your eccentricities, not someone who wants to crack you open." She paused to take a sip of water and then continued in her sing song voice, "no need to break someone apart when you can already see all the way through," she topped it off with a wink. "You don't think your father's put up with me for the past thirty five plus years do you? He loves all of it," there it was; that devilish Peck smile.

"Mom, gross," Gail leaned back against the booth and planted her palms on the table in front of her, locking her elbows trying to create some distance.

"Oh, Gail, grow up," she dismissed her daughter's protests quickly and with ease. "You love her; I can tell. And she loved you, and I'd bet my pension she still does." Gail continued to sit stoically, trying not to give away any of her tells. "Ever since you were a little girl you've baulked at the things you've wanted the most. That's why I've tried to push you; so you don't miss out on what matters to you most. Promotions and commendations with come around again. It may be quite a while, but they'll come around. People don't really work that way though. Do you remember what I always told you?"

Gail's mom told her a lot of things. "Untied shoes are the quickest way to start the day in the dirt?"

"Well, yes. But no. Ninety percent luck," She paused, waiting for Gail to finish the saying.

"Ten percent timing," Gail finished it like she had for years. She didn't need her mom to check that she still knew it. It was ingrained in her.

"Ten percent timing," the Superintendent repeated with cheer. "You got very very lucky with Holly. Don't throw away that last ten percent."

Gail was starting to become overwhelmed with all the truths her mother was dishing out. It was really really annoying. It was time to put an end to this conversation, "well, thanks for the motivational speech mom. The Oprah show's been cancelled, maybe now is your chance. Ten percent timing."

"You asked, dear."

Gail knew that meant they could move on. For now at least.

"Can you heal my wounded heart? Save me from myself tonight"
-Rebecca Raabis "Firefly"

A/N: I know it's been rough going guys but thanks for hanging in there! Just a warning that I definitely won't be posting another chapter for at least a couple days. The good news is that there's some Gail & Oliver times in the next chapter, who doesn't love that? And don't worry, Traci's work isn't done yet :)

Thanks again for all the views, reviews, favs and PMs! You all are truly the greatest. If you need to take a break during these rougher waters I totally understand, but don't give up! Holly sure hasn't...