AN: Hey guys. Thanks so much for all the love! Like seriously... woah.
AN2: These characters aren't mine. The mistakes are. Yeah, yeah yeah...
It hurts. Everything hurts. Gail feels like she was hit by a truck. Wait. Is that what happened? Did she really get hit by a truck? The last thing she can remember is Oliver responding to dispatch. Gail wracks her brain, trying to figure out what happened after that. It just makes everything hurt worse. Her limbs feel heavy; so heavy that she can't lift them. The last time that happened, she was being held against her will. Oh God. That can't be happening to her. Not again. She can feel her breathing speed up, causing a harsh, shooting pain in her throat. Gail forces herself to calm down and focus. She has to figure out where she is before she can even think about doing anything else. The room is bright even though her eyes are closed. And the beeping noises. She's heard them before. It sounds like she's in a hospital. Her eyes open against the harsh light and scan the scene in front of her. Yep. Definitely a recovery room.
Gail looks around for something she recognizes, anything that will help put her mind at ease. That's when she sees Holly curled up in the chair beside her bed. It feels as if a huge weight has been lifted off her chest. She has no idea how in the hell she wound up in the hospital, but at least she isn't lying in a ditch somewhere. And she had Holly which always made any situation better. Gail tries to say something, anything to get Holly's attention, but it's like she's forgotten how to speak. No matter how many times she opens her mouth, no words will come out. She swallows, trying to clear her throat, but the pain is almost unbearable. Something between a yelp and a groan escapes her lips, causing Holly to stir. Her eyes open and for just a second lock with Gail's. Almost like her brain is trying to decide if Gail is real or merely a figment of her imagination.
"Holly…" The sound of her name brings her back into the present. Gail is awake. Awake and calling for her. Almost instantly Holly is sitting at the edge of the large chair, hands tightly gripping the rails on the side of the bed.
"Gail. Oh… Oh thank God. You're awake. Th-They didn't think you were gonna wake up." Holly's voice is still rough with sleep. Did she get any sleep? It sounds like it, but the dark circles under her eyes say otherwise.
"What happened? How long have I…?" The words come out no louder than a whisper.
"You got a call… Last night… Oliver. He said… He said you guys had… You had to check out… A… A house."
The memory hits Gail like a ton of bricks.
"I… I was shot." That's when Gail notices the bandage on the right side of her neck. The white gauze feels soft beneath her fingertips.
"Mmm hmm…" Holly nods, unable to stop the tears from streaming down her face. She had come so close to losing Gail. But she didn't. Gail is still here. Still alive. Holly doesn't understand how that's even possible, but right now she doesn't need to.
"I was shot. I… I remember now. I… was watching myself bleed to death and… And then I was with you. We… we were…" Gail can feel tears begin to pool at the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill over any minute. "We… I… I was dying… And…" She pauses for a moment to catch her breath. "I was dying and all I could think about was you."
Silence fills the air and settles itself between the pair of them. Gail can see the wheels in Holly's head turning as she mulls over the simple statement, analyzing every word as if it were evidence in a murder case. Usually she wouldn't even notice, but the combination of painkillers and her own nerves have left Gail feeling anxious and jittery.
"Okay now would be the perfect time to say something." The nerves clearly visible by the slight crack in her voice.
But Holly doesn't say anything. Instead she leans over the railing and places a feather light kiss to Gail's forehead. Then another to her lips, singlehandedly calming every ounce of nervous energy that had worked its way through Gail's body.
"I love you. You know that right? And… And the thought of… Of losing you…" But another sob chokes her up, stopping Holly before she can continue.
"Holls… Hey it's okay. I'm okay. You on the other hand… Babe when was the last time you slept?"
"I… I don't know. Couple of nights ago maybe. I'm sure I look as awful as you feel."
"You don't look that bad." Holly gives Gail a pointed look. "Okay maybe you do." Gail pauses, biting her lip. "But… I mean… you're still kinda beautiful though."
"Hey isn't that my line?"
"Yeah. I guess it is…" Gail exhales, a small smile escaping her lips. "Maybe you should go home. Get some sleep. I'll be fine here."
"No I'm gonna stay. It's not like I would be able to sleep at home anyways. Not while you're here." Holly slumps back into the armchair, exhaustion getting the better of her.
Gail grabs the railing with her right hand, pulling herself to the edge of the bed, and pats the empty space next to her.
"Come on. I'm sure they won't mind if I share my bed for a little while."
"Gail… I don't think…"
"Holly."
"But… It's against…"
"Just get up here already."
Realizing there was no way she could win this one, Holly unlatches the side rail, slides in the space next to Gail and carefully clicks the railing back into place. It reminded Holly of her college days. Two people squeezed into a small twin bed. Nice, but definitely not something she missed very much. Holly settles on her side, head against Gail's chest, left arm thrown across her middle. She can hear the slow beating of Gail's heart beneath the hospital gown. A heart that had almost stopped beating entirely. Tears trickle down Holly's cheeks again and she hates herself for it. Gail was going to be okay. Not something she should be crying over. She holds on to Gail tighter, settling herself deeper against her chest.
A comfortable silence settles between them. Holly feels herself starting to drift off as her breathing falls into the same slow rhythm as Gail's.
"Thank you." Gail's voice, still hoarse from being intubated, is barely intelligible over the steady beeping of the heart monitor.
"For what?"
"For not running."
"Why do you think I would run?" Holly sits up, turning her torso so she's facing Gail.
"Because I've given you every reason to." This is the third time in the last 24 hours that Holly finds herself speechless. Leave it to Gail to almost die, then thank her for sticking around. As if she would ever leave.
"Come here." Gail tugs on Holly's sleeve, pulling her in until their noses are almost touching. They stare at each other for just a moment before their lips meet in a tentative kiss.
"I love you Holly." Gail's piercing stare all but breaks what little composure Holly has left.
"I love you too." And with that Holly settles back against Gail's chest and within minutes falls asleep.
Gail places another kiss to the top of her head. For the first time in her life, she couldn't care less about what was going to happen. The man who shot her was still out there and who knew when she would be cleared to go back to work. But right now none of that mattered to Gail. No. All she cared about was the beautiful woman asleep in her arms.
AN: So I've decided that this is where this story ends. Not saying that there won't be more Golly stories in the future, but I think that this one has run it's course. I just wanted to thank you all for sticking with me through this process. Here's to hoping and praying that our two lovely ladies finally catch a break in season 5. Cheers!