Late Sunday evening, Holly and Gail returned to Holly's house. They were starting work tomorrow and none of them wanted to go back to that hell. They wanted few more minutes of being together and somewhere far from real life. Mexico was perfect destination for honeymoon and for getting Holly's nerdy side. She made Gail go with her to sightseeing and she returned the favor in the sheets so Gail never complained about going somewhere. Her health was getting better and she was learning to accept her new imperfections on the body. She had ugly scars, but Holly made her love and learn to accept her body. Gail was happy in this new bubble she and Holly made, but she was afraid how it would be when the reality hits them hard on the head. Gail was in the bathroom and Holly was already in the bed. Tomorrow they had an early shift and none of them was happy.
''Gail, are you coming to bed?''
''In a minute…''
Gail left the bathroom and turned off the light.
''I so do not want to go to work.''
''I know love.''
They cuddled up and fell asleep. They had six hours to rest and then the crazy week of long shifts starts. Morning came too soon. Holly got out of the bed first and took a shower. She got dressed and woke Gail up. Gail was very sad to leave the bed but she went to get ready and Holly made them coffee and breakfast. After they were done, Gail put dishes in the washing machine and Holly poured coffee into their cups and got them to the car. Gail locked the house and got into the car.
''Ready Babe?''
''As ready as I can be…''
Holly drove her to the station and it took Gail few minutes to get out. She kissed Holly and left the car.
''See you tonight.''
''See you love.''
Gail got into the station and the locker room. She had ten minutes to get ready and get to the parade. Oliver was not looking very happy when she saw him this morning talking to some white shirts. She changed and got her gun and west when Andy came in.
''Hey. It's nice to have you back.''
''It's not that nice to be back, but… I had to… My time off was only few weeks.''
''You look amazing.''
''Holly and I took some time off and traveled.''
''Somewhere nice I see. In this snow and winter, there is no way you could get that tan…''
''Mexico… She took me to Mexico….''
''Nice… I hate you…''
''I know that…''
Gail stood in front of her locker mirror fixing her hair. It grew a bit so now she could get it into small pony, just like when she was a rookie… New inches, new beginnings…. Andy saw the ring and started jumping and yelling…
''Shut up! Shut up! Oh, my God!''
Tracy, Chloe and other girls in the room run towards them. Tracy looked at Andy worried.
''Are you O.K.?''
''I am… Gail is married…''
They all looked at Andy as like she was crazy.
''What?''
''Peck is married…''
Tracy looked at her like she was crazy.
''Andy, where did you get that idea?''
''Her ring finger…''
Now they all looked at Gail. She put her hands in the pockets and left the room. At parade they all tried to see if she really had a ring. Oliver noticed that no one paid attention to him.
''McNally, is there something you would love to share with us so I can go back to work?''
''Gail is married…''
Oliver seemed surprised but then he smiled…
''So, do I have to order new name tag officer…''
''It will be Stewart… I am Officer Stewart now…''
''Well, I wish you all the best…. Your assignments are on the board and that's it…''
She got up and saw she was riding with Nick that day. She picked up her bag and put it in the car. First few minutes they were silent. Gail noticed he was looking at her direction.
''Just say it and let's get it over with…''
''You are really married?''
''Yes, I am really married…''
''To doctor Stewart?''
''Yes, to her…''
''Are you happy?''
''Very much…''
''That's all I wanted to know…''
The rest of the ride was less tensed. They talked about what happened when she was away.
''You mother will be pissed when she learns you got married and you gave up the Peck name…''
''She will, but I don't care… I can't anymore…I'm so tired of her. She really messed me up.''
''She is mama Peck for a reason…''
''She was never mama… ''
Nick felt that there is something more than anger in her voice.
''She never showed me love, she never did anything mothers do. Most maternal thing she did was give birth.''
''I'm sorry to hear that.''
Gail smiled at Nick…
''You know, there was time when we were dating I really envied you for not having a family.''
''That is sad Gail.''
''That is how I felt.''
''With parents like yours, I can understand the feeling.''
They got the call about some domestic disturbance and answered it. By the time they got there, they found a wife pretty beaten up and husband in the pool of blood. Apparently wife had it and she stabbed him with pair of scissors she found during the beating. Dead body meant that someone from Holly's office might come. Few minutes later Holly entered the room.
''Officers, what do we have?''
''Male, Caucasian, in his forties multiple stabbing with the pair of scissors that are still inside of him.''
''And the wife?''
''She is the one who stabbed him.''
Holly looked at us and then at her…
''Oh…''
''Yes, apparently he used her as a punching bag. Ambulance is on the way. We think she should see a doctor.''
Holly examined the body, gave her preliminary findings and then said that body can be taken to the morgue. She got off the floor and went to the wife. She took another pair of gloves and took pictures of the injuries and then she helped clean her up.
''You will need some stiches… But I guess that is not the news to you…''
''Twenty years…It's been happening for twenty years, but today I had it… He hurt our son…''
Gail and Nick looked at each other. They didn't see anyone else in the house.
''Where is he?''
''I told him to leave the house when he started beating me… He is only eleven….''
Gail remembered that they were told a child made a call.
''He must be somewhere around here. I think he called the Police.''
''That is possible. He told Tom he would.''
Ambulance came and took woman to the hospital. Gail, Nick and Holly stayed behind looking around. House seemed like one of those you see in decorating magazines. It had beautiful garden, pool and all it takes to mask the real story behind the walls.
''I would always believe ritch people are happy…''
Holly smiled at him..
''Only few of them…''
''It's good to be broke…''
''You are not broke Nickolas.''
''Are you sure Gail?''
''Yes, I am… You have your money from the Army and you have money at the end of the month.''
''Yes, but never enough for house like this and all the toys they have.''
Gail looked around. House was full of things anyone with less money than this family would want. Killer surround system, big TV, garage full of expensive cars, jewelry to die for , art… They all were impressed but Holly.
''What is it Holls? You don't seem impressed…''
''I grew up in a place like this. I was just lucky my parents liked each other.''
''I can understand it. We didn't have this much, but I guess we had plenty.''
She turned to Nick.
''House like that broke me Nick. I had no one in it. My parents were to busy building their career as lawyers. They had each other, but forgot about me. I skipped few grades; they had no idea about it. Yes, now I have big trust fund and all, but I don't have anything more form my parents but money.''
''Are they alive?''
''Yes, they are. They live in France. They moved their offices there. They still work and now they have one or two clients and gain a lot of money of them.''
Nick saw her differently after things she told them.
''Do they know you are…?''
''Gay? Yes they do. They found out in a way they would never doubt it.''
Holly had an evil smile and Gail realized that story Holly told her about being caught was story about the parents.
''Oh, my God ! It was them?! The kitchen?''
''Yes, it was them…''
She turned to Nick.
''I had sex with my first girlfriend in the kitchen. They were not supposed to be home. Long story short, they saw us…''
''Oh, so not what parents would like to see.''
''I agree.''
''Well we all have story about being caught…''
''Gail never sheared hers…''
''Which one? She has a few…''
''Nickolas, don't you dare!''
Holly looked at them…
''Oh, two of you…?''
''Yes, few times…''
''It's time to leave… I might kill him if he speaks again… See you at home Holly…''
She kissed her wife and pushed Nick out of the door. Holly smiled and looked at them… Gail was really insane. She would have to ask later about that being caught. Gail now has to tell her. She told her. It's the only fair thing to do. Holly went back to do the autopsy and she didn't find anything she didn't expect. He was in a good form, he had expensive watch and wedding ring, he was taking pain meds with alcohol and his knuckles indicated he was hitting someone.
Gail and Nick found a boy not very far from the house. They found his aunt who took him in. Ms. Cole was a doctor and she was very surprised to hear about her brother's death, but she was not that surprised about the beatings and the fact her sister in law killed him.
''I knew it would end up like that. It's my father's fault. He thought them to treat women like that. My mother died of the injuries caused by one of the ''falls'' but no one did anything. When my father died, I was relived. I felt free. But, then my brother started the abuse.''
''You never reported it?''
''My dad's friend is chief of police. It would never be processed.''
''He knew about it?''
''Of course he did. He knew it all.''
Gail was now a little disappointed at her good father.
''Could he stay with you?''
''Sure. I can take him. He is my blood after all.''
One of the doctors told them that Mrs. Cole is patched up, but he would love to keep her for an observation a bit longer. Oliver sent rookie Moure to sit in front of the room and make sure she doesn't escape. Gail knew that escape would be difficult with her injuries, but she liked seeing Gerald, as she called him, busy. After the shift, Gail couldn't wait to get home to Holly. She still had to talk to her about where would they leave and when could she move her things into Holly's place or somewhere else. When she got home, Holly was already there making dinner.
''Hi love.''
''Hey Nerd…''
Gail gave her a quick kiss and went to bedroom to change. When she got into her swets and shirt, she got down.
''It smells amazing.''
''Thank you.''
''Holly, I was thinking… Where are we going to live?''
''Here? Or do you want to move?''
''I like it here, but I wouldn't mind moving…''
''House in the suburbs?''
''Like the one today?''
''Maybe? Why not babe?''
''That is expensive…''
''What if I told you we already have it…and it's empty…''
''How do we have it?''
''It was my parent's house… We can keep the apartment too…But there we have five bedrooms, big yard and plenty of space for kids and all we want.''
''Are you saying that you want to have children with me?''
''Yes, I am…''
''Well, I married you and did all I never imagined doing. Living in a fancy neighborhood is one more thing I never believed I would do. So, Nerd, let's do it…''
Holly called her friend and she told her to put her apartment on the market in two weeks. She and Gail had some things to do before they move into the house. Gail was very excited to see the house on Saturday and to plan decorating it with her wife. Now, they were real couple with big house, potential dog and children in their future. Past Gail was choking on her drinks on that thought, new one, loves every single moment of it.