Your Chapter 4 reviews were hilarious, so thank you for that.

Let me know what you think about Chapter 5. Happy reading.

Chapter 5 First Date

Gail's hectic schedule at work had continued, but instead of going home alone, she had slept every night at Holly's. Between work and Holly, Gail was utterly exhausted. No amount of exhaustion, however, could dampen the bliss that Gail was feeling, since she had spilled her guts to Holly. She had laid herself bare, naked in her vulnerability, and Holly had acted with compassion and understanding. And then they had laid each other bare, in a very different, more enjoyable, kind of way. Every time Gail thought about it, she knew her face broke out into a dopey grin. She would catch herself and try to compose her features into a more serious, professional kind of face.

In the days before she had confessed her feelings to Holly, Gail had thrown herself into her work. She had relished the most difficult calls, because they were a distraction from her own loneliness. Now the difficult calls didn't bother her for a very different reason. She walked around in an impenetrable bubble of happiness. She walked with a bounce in her step. She found herself shooting little finger guns and winking at her fellow officers, until Chris had confronted her, and told her she was freaking everyone out.

All of the horrible, shitty things that had happened over the past weeks seemed to be resolving themselves positively. Chloe had just come home from the hospital, though she was restricted to bed-rest. She had apologized profusely, in a raspy, injured voice, to Dov for not mentioning that she happened to have a husband. Dov, of course, had taken one look at her bandaged neck and pale face, and had forgiven her instantly. He was now doting on her at home. Last night, they had gotten word that Sam was finally conscious and would be moved from the ICU. Things were looking up all around, and Gail couldn't remember a time she had had such a sunny disposition towards life.

Gail was getting ready for morning parade, when Andy walked into the locker room, and it felt like the sudden scratching of a record. Gail hadn't had to interact with Andy since their hospital confrontation, and that had been just fine by her. She had been able to forgive Nick, because he was a former lover, and she truly didn't have those feelings for him anymore. They had both made mistakes, but now it was over. Andy's betrayal had cut much deeper though, because it had been the betrayal of a friend.

Andy sat down next to her, while Gail attempted to studiously ignore her while tying her shoes.

"Sam's awake and doing better," Andy said, quietly.

"Yeah, I heard," Gail replied, uncomfortably. "That's great news."

"I don't know what to do Gail."

She watched in horror, as Andy began to cry. Gail just sat there awkwardly for a moment, annoyed that she had to be there for this.

"Oh, for god's sake," Gail sighed. She patted Andy awkwardly on the back, harder than was necessary. "It'll be ok."

Andy grabbed Gail into a hug. "I'm so sorry Gail. Can you please just forgive me? I miss you."

"um, Andy…we talked about this. This isn't really how I communicate."

"Right, sorry." Andy released her, and looked pleadingly into Gail's eyes.

Gail looked at Andy's tear-streaked face and thought about how good it had felt when Holly had forgiven her. Holly really was making her a better person.

Gail let out another big sigh. "I forgive you, ok? If you want to be with Nick, that's fine by me. I'm not going to get in the way of anyone's happiness."

Andy's face went from relief to pain at Gail's words. "That's the problem – I don't know who I want to be with. No matter what I choose, someone is going to get hurt."

"Yeah, you're right, someone is going to get hurt. But you cant always be the 'good guy', Andy. You aren't perfect. You need to decide what's going to make you happy. Think about who you can't live without, and your decision should be easy."

"You're right, Gail…That was very insightful of you…You seem different." Andy looked at Gail, quizzically. "Holly?"

"Yeah, Holly." Gail couldn't help smiling at the mention of her name.

"I'm happy for you, Gail."

"I'm happy for me too. You better hustle your ass, or you're going to be late for parade."

Gail walked from the room, smile plastered on her face. The next officer she saw in the hall got the finger gun and wink.

It was a good thing that she and Andy had made peace, because they were riding together all day. Andy had asked her a bunch of questions about Holly, and Gail had found herself gushing about it all. Andy had seemed surprised, but pleased for her. She had squirmed a bit, when Gail mentioned how earth shattering the sex was.

"Like, universe-destroying," Gail effused, enthusiastically.

"Oh, wow, um…that's really great, Gail," Andy had replied, awkwardly.

While talking about Holly, Gail had come to the sudden realization that they hadn't actually gone out on a real date yet. The wedding and the batting cages hadn't really counted, since they had still been trying to be just friends at that point. Gail reveled in her time alone with Holly, but she had the sudden desire to take her out. And she wanted Holly to know that she didn't just want to hide away with her in bed. Gail got off early from work that night and had the next day off. She was suddenly very excited.

Gail pulled out her phone and opened her messages to Holly.

Hol, I just realized that I haven't taken you out on a date, like the proper lady that you are. I'm off at 5 tonight, and I don't have to work tomorrow. Will you go out on a date with me?

Holly's reply was quick.

I was a proper lady until I met you. You better take me somewhere really classy to make up for it. I would love to go on a date with you. Dinner?

Gail had that dopey smile back on her face.

Yes, dinner. Since I normally eat Cheetos and doughnuts, maybe you should pick the place. My treat, obviously.

Holly was as giddy as a schoolgirl being asked out for the first time. She was beyond caring at this point though and just let herself be a dork about Gail. This was their first real date, and she wanted it to be special. She thought about where they should go for dinner. Toronto had such an endless list of different restaurants, but Holly wanted it to be perfect. She had jokingly told Gail that she wanted to go somewhere classy, and there were any number of posh, elegant restaurants to choose from. But she also knew that Gail would be uncomfortable in a stuffy, expensive restaurant, and that wasn't really Holly's style anyways. Gail would want to go somewhere with meat…and fries…Holly knew the perfect place - casual, but nice, with delicious food that Gail would actually want to eat.

Holly: Marben 7? It's in the Fashion District, just off King. I can make us a reservation.

Gail: I'll make the reservation, and I'll pick you up.

Holly: You keep playing your cards right, and you might just get lucky tonight.

Gail: I don't put-out on the first date.

That one made Holly laugh-out-loud. Her phone buzzed again.

Gail: Let me be clear - that was a joke. I very much look forward to getting lucky tonight.

Holly let that one hang there for a while, before she texted back.

Holly: See you tonight then.

Holly spent the rest of her day with a grin plastered all over her face. A bit strange given where she worked, but Holly had always been a bit of an odd-ball at the morgue.

It hadn't mattered how late Gail had gotten off work this week, Holly had welcomed her into her bed. Holly was exhausted, and couldn't have cared less. Her body ran on pure happiness-induced adrenaline. Gail had finally let her walls down, and Holly couldn't believe how great it felt.

Gail stood in front of the mirror, holding another outfit over her body. Her hair was still wet, and she wore nothing but a towel. The majority of her closet's contents were strewn over the bed. She had been trying to decide what to wear for the last 15 minutes, and she was no closer to her final decision.

What the hell do I wear on my first date with a woman? Gail wondered. She figured that Holly would probably be wearing pants. So what does that mean for me? I really should have done some research.

Holly stood in front of the mirror, trying to decide what to wear. All she knew was that she wanted to knock Gail out with her outfit. She decided on tight, black pants and a shirt that showed off a generous amount of cleavage. Since their first day in the morgue together, Gail had not been able to keep her eyes from her cleavage. Holly secretly enjoyed watching Gail struggle to keep her eyes away. This had been especially true at the wedding, after Gail had had some champagne.

The thought made Holly have an epiphany, and she laughed aloud, as she imagined what Gail was probably doing at this very moment. She pulled out her phone.

Holly: Gail, you're trying to figure out what to wear on your first date with a woman, aren't you?

Gail: Maybe…

Gail: I'm going to be late. Help me.

Holly: There aren't any rules, you dork. Wear whatever you want.

Holly: You will look beautiful in whatever, Gail.

Gail's whole body went warm, as she read Holly's last text. She also realized she was being really stupid again. She pulled a nice dress out of the pile on her bed, and quickly finished getting ready.

Anticipation coursed through Gail's body as she drove over to Holly's place. Gail felt equal measures excited and nervous. It's just dinner. With Holly. Gail had always felt unusually comfortable talking with Holly, spending time with her, but her stomach trembled with butterflies now. We've hung-out before. But this was different, and no amount of self-reassurance could convince Gail to relax.

Gail texted Holly when she got to her building and waited in the car for her to come down. Finding street-parking in central Toronto was unrealistic, plus Gail was worried that if she went upstairs and saw Holly looking like Holly, they wouldn't make it out on their date.

Her heart beat a little harder when Holly stepped out of her building and walked towards Gail's car. As she got into the car, Gail tried heroically not to stare at Holly's cleavage. She failed utterly.

"Hey," Holly said, flashing her crooked smile.

"Hi," Gail replied, suddenly shy. "You look really great."

"Thanks, so do you."

Gail allowed herself to take Holly in for a moment. Great didn't begin to cover it. Holly leaned over and placed a kiss on Gail's mouth. Gail started to drive, while she still had the capacity to do so.

Holly sat back in her chair and gazed at the stunning woman across from her. It had taken no effort to convince Gail that you couldn't eat at Marben without getting the short-rib burger. Gail had eaten all of her generous portion of burger and fries. She had then proceeded to eat the fries off of Holly's plate without asking. Holly was now watching her polish off the 'cookies and milk for three', which had really been more like 'for one'. She knew that Gail liked to eat, but this was an impressive performance even for her.

They had talked and laughed throughout the meal. Holly loved Gail's wicked sense of humour, though she knew that some people found it crass and insensitive. But Holly could give as good as she got with Gail.

She watched with quiet amusement as Gail ran her finger along the now empty plate, scooping up the last traces of chocolate. She was surprised that Gail hadn't abandoned civility completely and just licked the plate.

"When did you first know you were gay?" Gail asked suddenly, now that her mouth was empty.

"Well, it wasn't like a blinding epiphany or anything," Holly replied. "It was more like a gradual understanding."

"OK, so when did you start to suspect?"

Holly smiled across at Gail. "If I tell you this, you have to promise not to make fun of me."

"I can make no such promise. Just tell me."

"Fine. I was eight-years-old, and I was watching Star Wars for the first time -"

Gail did an inelegant spit-take into her wine glass. "Of course this is how the story is going to begin. You really are the queen of the nerds."

"Do you want me to tell you or not?"

"OK, I'll shut up. Please tell me."

"So I was eight –"

"Wait, did you have little glasses back then?"

"Yessss…"

"OK, just trying to get a good visualization of a miniature eight-year-old Holly in my head. Tragically adorable. Got it. Please, continue."

Holly glared across the table, trying to hide a smile. "So I was eight-years-old, and I was watching Star Wars for the first time. And I fell totally in love with Princess Leia. I wanted to be Han Solo so bad, I went as him for Halloween for the next four years. We dressed the dog up as Chewbacca and everything. I may have gone out in my Han Solo costume when it wasn't actually Halloween too. Of course at the time, I didn't realize what my feelings meant. It took me a number of years before I realized that that was the first time I had fallen in love with a woman – hindsight being 20/20 and all that."

"Wow. Just…Wow."

Gail had listened to Holly's ridiculous story with increasing affection. It was the most adorable thing she had ever heard, but she wasn't about to let that out. Is it possible to be jealous of an eight-year-olds crush on a fictional character? I have got it so bad. She stretched her foot out and drew it along the inside of Holly's calf and was rewarded with a smile.

"Will you tell me something I don't know about you?" Holly asked her.

"I wake up every morning excited because you are in my life," Gail said, without hesitation or thought.

"Wow, I just meant, like, did you have any pets growing up?"

"Oh…yeah…I might have over-shot a little there," Gail blushed. It was the truth though.

Holly was looking at her very seriously all of a sudden.

"OK, now you have to tell me something else about yourself, and it has to be something better than a childhood pet," Gail said, breaking the tension.

"Alright." Holly thought for a moment. "Do you remember when I kissed you in the coat-check room?"

"Duh."

"And I called you insane?"

"I remember, Holly."

"What I had really wanted to say was – 'you are beautiful, you know that right?' But sometimes I use humour when I'm nervous, to defuse the tension. So I called you insane instead. I found myself kissing you, and it wasn't planned - my lips just acted without my brain."

Holly was blushing now, and Gail was enjoying every moment of it.

"I make you nervous?" Gail smiled mischievously.

"…Plus, fleece and backpacks, that doesn't make a lot of sense. More like flannel and leather," Holly continued, looking anywhere but at Gail.

"You're doing it right now, aren't you?"

"Yes, yes I am."

"Why am I making you nervous?"

"Because I really want to take you home right now."

Holly's words left a physical impression on her body. She turned around in her seat looking for their server.

"Waiter," Gail said, waving her arm. "Can we get the bill?" She looked over at Holly again. "Please."

Oh god, I am a walking cliché, Gail thought, not actually caring one bit.

When they got back to Holly's, they hadn't been able to make it as far as the bedroom before giving in completely to their desires. They had made it to the kitchen counter, the couch, and finally the floor, however. Gail considered this an achievement, under the circumstances.

Holly had kept her hand on Gail's upper leg the whole drive home, gently rubbing her inner thigh, and causing Gail's whole body to thrum with tension. When Gail had finally parked, she pulled Holly into a starved kiss, and it took all of her willpower not to just pull her into the backseat. When they had gotten into the elevator, Holly had pressed up against her and slowly ran her hand up the inside of Gail's dress. When Holly had found the wetness between her legs, she had seriously considered pressing the emergency stop button. They had somehow gotten through the front door, though the undressing process had already started out in the hall. After they had caught their breath, they had retreated to the bed, leaving their clothes behind.

Gail looked over at Holly, who was lying facedown on her pillow. She traced the contours of Holly's body with her eyes. Lust coursed through Gail's body again. She scooted over so she was lying pressed up against Holly's side and began to trace the curves of her body with the back of her hand and fingers. Holly gave a muffled moan of pleasure.

Gail inched her body down a little lower and placed a kiss on Holly's lower back. She ran her hand between Holly's legs and watched as Holly's body shuddered in response. Gail lowered the side of her body onto Holly, her breasts along Holly's back. Holly bent her opposite leg, lifting her hip slightly off the bed, so that Gail could enter her with her fingers. Holly let out a muffled cry of pleasure. Gail continued to thrust into her, leaving warm kisses along her neck, ribs and back. Holly's back arched in response.

Gail took Holly by the hips and turned her over onto her back. She pushed her tongue into her mouth, as she pushed her fingers back into Holly. Holly's breathing was becoming heavier, and she nipped at Gail's lower lip, pulling down.

"Harder," Holly husked into Gail's ear.

Gail did as told, and Holly buried her head into Gail's shoulder, biting down, before giving a final, shuddering moan.

They didn't move from their positions until Holly's breathing had slowed considerably. Holly finally opened her eyes and looked at Gail. Her eyes burned with such intensity, that Gail was both excited and intimidated.

Holly reached down between Gail's legs, making her gasp. She pushed Gail down onto the mattress and placed herself firmly between Gail's legs. Gail hadn't thought that anything could feel better than having Holly's mouth between her legs, until Holly continued that while she pushed her fingers inside of her at the same time, matching rhythms. Gail's world dropped away for those few precious moments.

"Oh god," Gail moaned, as she felt her body releasing again.

Once Gail's body had relaxed, Holly rested her head on Gail's hip, too spent to move. "Best first date ever," she mumbled sleepily.