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Dawn comes too early as I find myself slumped on our couch still wearing yesterday's clothes. Ugh. My mouth tastes sour and dry and my eyes feel like they are full of sand. The house is empty without her, and the world is cold and grey. I need to get up. Andy will be by soon to take me to the hospital, the boys dropped me off last night, Oliver is probably with her right now. Gail has been having nightmares and other PTSD symptoms ever since she woke up from surgery two days ago. She earned herself a longer hospital stay by thrashing in her sleep, ripping her stitches, and re-injuring herself. I drag myself off the couch and into the kitchen where I start the coffee. My phone begins to ring just as I am heading for the shower.

"Holly! Hi!" It's Traci sounding much too chipper.

"Oh hey Traci. What's up?" I stifle a yawn into the phone.

"Well, Andy and I were just wondering if you would like to join us for a run before heading in to the hospital." Her voice is full of what Gail likes to call overprotective motherly concern.

I was going to run later, but this may be just what I need!

"Uh yeah, that sounds great!" I reply "See you at the park in twenty."

I listen to the satisfying sound of my sneakers on the pavement and the soft huff of my breath coming in gasps now, pushing harder for the parking lot ahead. Dark clouds loom ominously over the lake and thunder can be heard in the distance as we make our last lap around the park. I am several yards in front of Andy, and Traci is gaining at my heels. Winner gets a free breakfast at the hospital cafeteria. I can see her look of determination out of the corner of my eye. I put forth one last burst of speed, sprinting into the lot and practically falling over the hood of my Jeep with Traci laughing, just seconds behind and Andy coming in a close third.

"Wow, that was fun!" I gasp, watching Andy lean heavily on her thighs, panting, Traci pulling me upright by the hand with a giant grin on her face.

"If I knew Gail's partner was actually athletic, I might have reconsidered our bet." Andy gasps.

"Told ya'!" Traci slaps her on the butt, "Now let's walk and stretch." She starts to head for the athletic obstacle course with its chin up bars and yoga diagrams.

"Thanks guys!" I say. I am feeling warm and loose, better than I have since Gail went into the hospital. The wind picked up, carrying with it the cool scent of ozone and rain as I do my first set of twenty chin-ups on the bar.

"Damn girl!" I hear Traci say, as I swing my legs up, hooking my knees over the bar for a set of inverted sit-ups.

"What?" I ask innocently.

"Oh, I don't know," Andy smiles, "because it would be embarrassing if we let a scientist kick our butts. Now we have to keep up with you."

I laugh, "No, really, you don't! I just do this for myself because it makes me feel good!"

"Oh, yes we do!" Traci replies, grabbing the bar next to me and starting in on a set of chin-ups.

"Ok. Suite yourself!" I laugh, dropping to the ground after my second set of each.

I walk over to the open rubberized area on the course and begin my Yoga sun salutation routine to stretch.

"Why can't she be the cop in the family?" I hear Andy grumble

"I know, right?" Traci snickers.

I ignore them.

I am just finishing my last downward dog as the rain begins. I grab my water bottle and run for the car, pulling my keys out of my waist pack as I go. Thick heavy drops pound on the roof as Traci hops in beside me.

"Andy is going back to the station first, so I hope you don't mind." She begins

"No problem, but I want to go home and change before we go to the hospital." I answer. "If you want to shower at our place, I'm sure I can find you some sweats or something to wear. Or you could just step back out in this." I wave my right hand absently at the downpour.

"Yes," She smiles at me. "You know Jerry used to love this weather. He used to think it was romantic to just stay at home and cook all day, or open a bottle of wine and watch the rain from our bed."

"I'm sorry I didn't know him." I say quietly, watching her smile sadly out at the rain.

"I love Steve. I do. But there are moments like this, when the sky opens up, and I can't help but think of Jerry." She turns to look at me then. "I know Gail still blames herself for his death, but it's not true. The only one to blame is Ross Perek, and he did enough damage to Gail without Jerry."

I don't know what to say, so I keep quiet. There is a blinding flash and thunder shakes the car.

"I can't tell her this, but I know what he did to her." She continues.

"Ok…" I say slowly, not wanting to reveal any more than I should.

"Holly, I know that he raped her, even if she denies it." Traci says softly, her eyes locked into mine.

I know I can't lie to her. So I nod slightly, feeling the lump forming in my throat.

"I just want you to know that I know, and I'm here for her too. Ok?"

I reach out and squeeze her hand. "Does Steve know?" I ask in a shaky voice.

"No… Or if he does I wasn't the one to tell him." She replies shaking her head.

"Oh." I can't think of anything else to say.

"But I think Elaine might…" She is looking worried now.

"What! Wait, how…?" I am alarmed

"I overheard her having a curious conversation with Steve when Gail didn't wake up right after her surgery."

"And where was I?" I wonder

"I'm not sure. Filling out paperwork or something. Anyway, Elaine was speaking with the nurses and looking at Gail's medical records when Steve came up to ask if she should be doing that without Gail's consent. The nurse sputtered something about Elaine being her mother, and how it was only right. And you should have seen the look on her face! Elaine's that is. And then later, right before Gail came out of ICU, Elaine was saying something about how she gave birth to two children, but it was clear that only one of them would ever amount to anything as a cop." A bitter expression creeps across her face. "I mean, what is wrong with her?"

I sigh. "I try to be compassionate. I try to be understanding. But that woman is pure evil sometimes."

"Yeah, I know. It isn't easy being in a relationship with Steve either. And she does everything in her power to bring us down." Traci sighs

This is news to me, although I can't say I'm surprised. Elaine has always held Traci up to Gail as a shining example of what a career minded, tough, policewoman should be. I know that this is not only to destroy Gail's self confidence, and negate all of the hard work and undercover assignments Gail has undertaken over the past year, but also to try to drive a wedge between Gail and anyone she feels close to. All I can do is laugh, or I think I'm going to cry.

"Yeah." I shake my head still laughing, "She sure is a piece of work, Superintendent Peck!"

Traci is laughing too "Careful what you say Holly, you never know who might be listening."

"Ok, so I want to know," I look Traci in the eye, "does Steve go through your house and cars with a radio frequency scanner at random intervals to make sure there are no bugs, or is it just Gail?"

"Oh no, he does that too!" We sit there and look at each other before cracking up again. The rain stops as quickly as it began. I start the car as misty rays of sunlight pierce the clouds and illuminate the parking lot making everything glow.

"Thanks Traci!" I say, turning to her once more, "It's nice to get to talk with you, you know, alone."

"Yeah, " She smiles back at me, "Yeah, it is."

The text comes just as Traci is getting out of the shower. I am sitting at the kitchen island drinking coffee when she calls to me.

"Hey Holly! I just heard your phone go off in your bedroom." She appears wrapped in a towel with my phone in her hand.

"Thanks Traci! Want some coffee?" I reply, taking my phone, and setting out a mug for her.

I'M FREEEEEEEEE! COME GET ME! XO G

I smile and look up at her. "Looks like there are going to be four of us at breakfast!"

"Ok, well let's not keep her waiting!" Traci's eyes sparkle as she smiles back.