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"Come on Harry!" Hermione yells tossing him a broom, "They're gaining on us!"
"Expecto Patronum!" A giant stag bursts from the end of Harry's wand, scattering the Dementors. He kicks off with a burst of speed, his reflexes honed by years of Quiddich. They have to reach the safety of the Hogwarts castle! Ron and Ginny are waiting for them there! They speed through the twisting streets of Hogsmede, a troop of Imperial Storm Troopers hot on their tail. They are almost there when they hear the unmistakable strains of the Death Star theme song…
My mouth is dry, my entire body hurts, and there it is again, louder this time and slightly tinny. I try to open my eyes but it's like the surface of the ocean is still too far away. Damn! That must have been some crazy night at the Penny! I wish I could remember what we did. Note to self: never let Gail and Chris talk me into playing drinking games ever again! The Death Star theme song sounds again. I hear Gail groan and answer her phone, "Hello Mother. No. No, she's not awake."
She is listening to a voice I can almost hear. She is obviously eating some kind of junk food in the bedroom. I can hear her crinkling the bag and munching. I don't know why she's doing that when we agreed to keep all of the cheese puff and potato chip crumbs to the kitchen and the couch!
"No, I don't care if hell freezes over, I'm not leaving." She sighs, "I don't care how bad you think it looks. Frank said I can finish writing the report on my laptop, it's not like they don't know where I am."
Why is Gail talking so loud when she knows I'm trying to sleep? Can't she take her phone and her junk food into the other room? I realize I don't even know if we are at her place or mine.
"Like you care…" I hear her say.
I try to roll over to tell her to tone it down, when I realize I can't move. My whole body hurts. I really need a glass of water. I'm pissed off, and now I'm scared because I can't even seem to be able to open my eyes… I let out a frustrated whimper.
"Listen Mother, I gotta go! Bye!"
I hear the phone hit the bedside table with a clunk. I'm not sure I have ever heard Gail hang up on her mother that fast.
Soft warm hands are touching my face.
"Holly?" I hear her say in a barely audible voice.
My head throbs, my throat is parched, and I desperately want to open my eyes! I whimper again as the tears of frustration begin to come. I don't know why I'm being so darn emotional!
"Holly?" She kisses my forehead with lips so soft I can barely credit them. "Come on Holly! Please wake up!" She is pleading with me and I don't know why, but it breaks my heart.
"Come on Holly! I love you! Please wake up!" She begs again.
I feel her thumbs wiping away tears from my cheeks as her own tears join mine. I don't know why she's crying, but it makes me sad.
I can do this! I gasp for air and open my eyes. Her face is just inches from my own. Her eyes are the grayish blue of the lake in winter and rimmed with red. Her messy blond hair falls around us like a curtain. When did it get to be so long?
I lick my lips in a vain attempt to moisten them.
"Gail…" I croak in a harsh whisper. She is gently holding my face and sobbing my name. She leans in to kiss me briefly. Hands are gripping her shoulders trying to pull her away. I don't understand.
She whips around and snarls, "Fuck you Nurse Ratched! Can't you see we need a minute!"
Where am I? Why am I in the hospital? I try to reach for Gail, but I realize my arms are strapped to the bed.
"Touch me again, and I will personally arrest you for assaulting a police officer!" I hear her snap. That's my Gail!
"Officer Peck," A young resident is addressing her now "Although I understand your attachment to , we need you to leave the room so we can assess her neurologically and get her cleaned up. "
What do they mean assess her neurologically? This is starting to worry me.
"We will notify you once we have met with her parents, and they have consented to your visitation, and whatever necessary treatment plan we advise."
Oh no! Gail is my family! And I'm not letting some wet-nosed resident make my medical decisions!
"No! She stays!" I manage to croak with an effort than makes me breathe harder. "Gail…? Water?"
"She can have some ice chips for now." The woman Gail called Nurse Ratched says in a patronizing tone.
I watch Gail twitch and look like she is about to lose it. She takes a deep breath, narrows her eyes and smiles dangerously. "Ok, why don't you go get us some." Gail says slowly in a soft, deadly voice.
Nurse Ratched huffs and leaves the room. Gail sits on the edge of my bed and begins undoing the restraints on my arms, looking mutinously at the resident who won't meet her razor sharp, icy blue eyes. She pours water from the ugly pink plastic pitcher into a plastic cup on the hospital bed table, and holds it carefully to my lips while cradling my head in the crook of her arm. I sip gratefully, taking care not to take too much in at once. She kisses me on the forehead, her eyes watching the room like an angry panther, daring anyone to challenge her. My stomach grumbles hungrily, and I wonder when was the last time I actually ate.
"So, Miss. Peck," The resident begins again, "I really do need to examine her and getting her cleaned up. Please respect her privacy and step outside."
I reach out and grab Gail's hand. I don't know what's happened, but I do know I want her here!
"First; that would be OFFICER Peck to you." Gail states rather aggressively, "And second," She lifts our hands with fingers entwined, "It looks like she wants me to stay, and I'm not going anywhere!" She looks back at me with a smile.
I tighten my grip and nod my head as best I can.
Here are some things I know for sure. My name is Holly Stewart. I am thirty-four years old, and I am a forensic pathologist with the Toronto Police Forensic Sciences Department. I specialize in crime scene reconstruction and DNA evidence. I am in love with one of Toronto's Finest, Officer Gail Peck. There seems to be something weird going on because she keeps looking at me like I'm about to disappear. I have no idea what day it is, or who the Prime Minister is now, or what my address is at work. I can't tell you what I did last week, only that Gail and I have started looking for a place of our own, and the search has been educational, and exciting, as well as a little bit terrifying. My parents live in Vancouver now, but I grew up here. I have a younger sister named Laurel, and an older brother named Ash. Yes, I know, we are all named after trees. My mother is a botanist, get over it. Anyway, Gail has a brother Steve, who is a detective at Division Fifteen, where Gail works. He is dating her closest friend Traci, and Gail loves spending time with Traci's eight year old son Leo. I've never wanted kids before, but somehow I know that Gail will make an excellent mother someday. Gail's roommates Chris and Dov have become like family to her, and lately to me. Gail likes to say they put the fun into dysfunctional. As I tell this to the resident, I watch him taking notes with a funny expression on his face that I can't place. I wonder what happened, and how long I've been out of it. All the while a small team of nurses are going about the business of removing my catheter, and the monitor wires, and the IVs from my arms. When they are done, Gail pushes them out of the room, gives me a sponge bath and changes me into real pajamas instead of a nasty hospital gown herself. In the end, I am almost too exhausted to speak.
"Gail.." I whisper and pat the bed next to me. It's all I can do, but I want her close.
She sighs, kicks off her shoes and climbs onto the edge of the bed. She seems almost afraid to touch me.
"Please get under the covers and just hold me." I whisper with some effort.
She scoots closer on her back, and I wrap my arms around her ribs, resting my head on her chest. I know I'm going to have a million questions for her later, but right now as I drift off to sleep, this is as close to Heaven as I can imagine I am ever going to get.