Holly smiles. This time, it is less wide open. The weight of understanding, of the empathy of experiences undesirable pulls on the smile and adds depth to Holly's eyes.

She starts to put on her shirt.

"Satisfied?"

"Oh Holly. It will take more than a brush of fingers and a partial lack of clothes to satisfy me." Gail is thankfully quick with the comeback.

"Says the female heterosexual," Holly tacks on, relaxing back into the air of comfortable flirtatiousness that still manages to permeate the room despite the temporary foray into unexpected intimacy.

Even through the playful banter a new level of connection pulls between them. More than smiles or smirks and teasing insinuations. What they shared had been more than surface interest. They had been into each other's darkness while managing to continue seeing the other's light.

The silence lingers a few more seconds as decisions are made.

Holly slides the shirt back over her head before Gail can blink. The motion has the grace and speed of a dance choreographed and rehearsed a thousand times over. There is a fluidity that Gail can only marvel at.

"I wish I could tell you how strange yet surprisingly amazing this afternoon has been," Holly says manging to look slightly perplexed but entirely comfortable.

"Holly, I don't know if you know this, but I have been here the entire time. There's no way it couldn't be amazing."

Holly looks down and shakes her head. When she looks back up her smile has returned.

Gail allows herself to smile back. The smile evidently cracks her snark cover because a little unshielded honestly slips out.

"Actually, this has been really great."

Holly's smile gets bigger.

"Says the topless girl who may or may not be bleeding after losing a bet and having a mortal enemy's badge carved into her chest by you," Gail finishes.

"Well, I must be pretty spectacular to overcome those obstacles and still have you like me. Or at least like spending time with me. Well, not like that . . . but . . . you know being here and not hating me and . . . "

"Holly."

Gail steps forward and cups Holly's face with her hands. Moving on instinct, she closes the gap and presses a light kiss to Holly's lips.

As she pulls back slightly, still cupping Holly's face, Gail shifts her eyes up to Holly's.

"Sorry. You were rambling."

Holly shuts her eyes briefly and sighs.

Gail takes a step back. This is so like her. Being too rash or harsh or forward. She scares or pushes everyone away. If she could just take a second and fucking think before she speaks or acts maybe she wouldn't end up alone all the time feeling like an ass for yet another mistake she knew she was going to make.

Holly opens her eyes to see Gail reeling. She can practically hear the self doubt dialogue in Gail's head.

"Hey." Holly reaches forward and grabs both of Gail's hands.

"Hey," she repeats more softly trying to convey her sincerity and, for lack of a better term, affection, to Gail.

"I would love nothing more than to continue kissing you but, A, any second you are going to realize you are topless and cold, and, B, unfortunately, I have a 5:30."

Holly reaches up and brushes the back of her fingers across Gail's collarbone, above the irritated, freshly tattooed skin. Gail shudders and feels the goosebumps spread across her torso and arms.

"I have to finish your mortal enemy's badge." Holly speaks the joking words with earnestness.

"But, I really want to see you again."

The two women search each other's faces looking for a reason not to trust what is happening in the room. It is Gail who finally breaks the silence.

"How did you know I was cold, Holly?" Gail says while looking down at her chest where her nipples are threatening to split the fabric of her bra.

With those words, Holly lets go of Gail's hands, strides to the chair with her bag, and returns with her phone.

Gail takes Holly's phone, puts her number in and sends herself a text, completing the transaction.

Holly taks the phone back and returns it to her bag. Gail swears when Holly retuns she sees a flush across that tan skin.

"Please, have a seat Officer Gail." Holly gestures toward the chair.

In another couple of minutes, Holly has resumed her position in Gail's personal and mostly naked space. The cold is forgotten. Holly is hot and sweaty and close - so close. She is leaning on Gail and administering the dull torture so intently. Even the drilling of the buzzing machine feels delicate in Holly's hands.

Is it wrong that Gail is already jealous of Mr. or Mrs. 5:30?