Chapter 4

Holly entered her apartment after what felt like the most exhausting and hectic day at work. She was now in week 3 of her new job and diving in head first, welcoming the distraction a hectic work life offered. She tossed her keys onto the counter and paused when she looked down at them. Another reminder of Gail, another recent memory she couldn't get out of her head.

Gail had insisted, no, practically demanded that she be the one to take Holly to the airport on her last day. It's not that Holly didn't want her to, it's that she was afraid she wouldn't be able to say goodbye. They had spend most of the early morning in silence, neither of them really knowing what to say to the other. It was as though a dark air filled the room, a cloud of angst and sadness hovered over them. Gail watched as holly finished packing the last of her things into her suitcase, the rest of her belongings tucked away in a storage garage Gail had helped her with the day before. Holly could feel Gail's gaze on her, but didn't want to look at her for fear she would start crying.

Holly locked the door to her apartment for the last time and they took Holly's luggage down the elevator and out to Gail's car, still silent, not a word passing between them. After they loaded up Gail's trunk they sat in the car and Gail hesitated before putting her keys into the ignition.

"I need you to tell me that we will still be friends, that we will still be in each other's lives no matter what. I need to hear you say it Holly" Gail quickly blurted out, a hint of desperation seeping out of her voice.

Holly finally mustered the ability to look into Gail's piercing eyes, she could feel herself resisting the tears that were building up behind her eyes. "Gail…I don't want to lose you. I want you in my life, you're too important to me for there to be any other option. But I need you to also understand that I'm going to need a little bit of time…I can't just shut these feelings off. You're more than a friend to me. I…I love you so much."

Gail looked at Holly as if she misheard what Holly had just said. "You…You love me?"

Holly's heart almost broke at the thought of Gail actually believing she wouldn't love such an amazing person. "I love you, Gail Peck. Like, utterly and hopelessly in love with you that it makes me feel like I'm going completely insane."

Gail was still staring at Holly, bewildered. "wow. I…I just… I think I've loved you since that day you kissed me in the coatroom. It scared me. A Lot, as I'm sure you could guess by my temporary disappearance…but Jesus Holly I love you like I never even knew was possible."

There was no stopping them now, the tears had freely started flowing down Holly's face as she broke her eye contact. She had felt that Gail loved her, she knew it deep down by the way Gail was with her, the looks she gave her. But She wasn't sure she would get to hear Gail say it out loud. She had wanted so badly to hear the words, but not like this. Not when she was about to get on a plane and fly over 2000 miles away and force herself to keep her resolve, that it was what would be best for Gail right now. Gail interrupted Holly's thoughts by pulling her in for a kiss, a kiss that confirmed all the words that had just been said.

Gail pulled back and started, "I understand if you need time, hell I probably am going to need time and daily cold showers to try and get to the point where I can even pretend to be just your friend. But I'm going to try my best to give you that time and respect the decision we made. I just want to see you happy Holly and I want to know that I can still be a part of your life."

Holly nodded, "we will figure this out. I won't lie and pretend it's going to be easy, but we will get there."

The drive to the airport felt excruciatingly long. There had been little other words spoken as they drove, hands intertwined across the center console.

Once they parked and Holly went to reach for her bags, Gail quickly grabbed her carry on and insisted she be the one to carry that plus one of Holly's other suitcases. Holly took the other suitcase and they made their way to check in. Holly checked her suitcases and Gail followed her until she got as far as she was allowed to go. She set Holly's carry on bag on the ground and embraced Holly in a hug, the tightest hug she had ever felt, pressed up tight enough against Gail's chest that she could feel her heart pounding against hers. They stood there for several moments before breaking apart slightly.

"You're going to kick ass out there Lunchbox, I know it." Gail said, initiating what would be their goodbye. "I'm going to give you some time, but can you at least send me a quick email once you are at your new place so I know you made it safely? Otherwise I might use my connections to send a search party over there for you, and maybe even an air squad"

Holly couldn't help but let out a little smirk. "I will Gail, don't worry, the minute I step foot in my new apartment I will email you." She put her hands on each side of Gail's face and pulled her in for one last kiss. "Gail…I better get going because the longer I stand here with you the less likely it is that I'm going to be able to get on that plane."

Gail bent down to pick up Holly's bag and pass it to her. "I'm just going to stand here and watch until you are out of sight. I can't force myself to move until you pass around that corner so I'm going to need you to take one for the team here." She gave Holly another gentle kiss as she let go of the bag that was now in Holly's hand.

Holly had managed to get herself on the plane and was searching for her phone to turn it off before putting it in the cabin above her. She opened it to find a message from Gail.

Gail: left side pocket. I slipped something in there when you weren't looking. Safe flight….I love you

Holly dug her hand into the pocket Gail mentioned and pulled out what she had left there. A keychain. A red lunchbox keychain with inscriptions on both sides. She turned it to the first side

"Officer + Lunchbox"

She flipped it over to see the other inscription

"Plus 1 forever"

She closed her hand around the keychain and felt her eyes water again. It was a small gesture, but coming from Gail it meant everything. She put it onto her keychain right away and decided to keep them in her pocket for the duration of the flight. She sat back down in her seat, turned her head to gaze out the window and clutched the keychain in her hand.

Holly shook herself from her memory she found herself lost in as she turned her eyes away from the lunchbox keychain sitting on her countertop. She was further shaken from her recollections as she heard a buzzing from her phone. She picked it up and her heart nearly flew out of her chest.

It was Gail. The first contact they have had since she left to get on that plane. She took a deep breath before sliding her finger across the screen to answer the call.

"Hey there Officer"

"Hey there yourself, Lunchbox"