AN/ Because, really, who needs sleep?

Part 2

Holly looked fondly down at the figure inching its way over to snuggle at her side. She was sat up in bed reading while she allowed Gail to catch up on her sleep. She was content to remain there as long as needed, it was only just after three in the afternoon so she could still drag her girlfriend out to the shops if she wanted.

But for now it was just nice being with the blonde. She'd witnessed Gail change over the time since they'd met at the body dump in the woods that day. There was still a measure of hurt behind those expressive crystal blue eyes of Gail's but it had faded some, replaced with a lightness that Holly hoped she had some part in.

She sighed, turning a page of her book. She had the same book and many more on her Kindle, but there was just something about laying there in bed with her girlfriend and a book in her hands that brought a smile to Holly's face.

Because it bordered on routine.

She desperately wanted to have 'the talk' with Gail soon, but there was still that tiny bit of fear in Holly that held her back. She knew Gail looked at her sometimes over breakfast with a confused look on her face, her brow furrowed and her nose scrunched a little.

From the few conversations they had shared about their previously relationships, Holly knew that while Gail professed to be the one that always created situations to get out of relationships in reality, it was the other person that often did the leaving.

Nick.

Chris.

Nick again.

Gail had admitted to cheating on Nick the second time but she'd also confessed to having watched him falling for her friend while still coming to her bed at night. That had to have hurt, so Holly didn't judge her for it. Everyone had a past and everyone did things they wouldn't normally do if they were thinking and behaving rationally.

Holly had her own troubled relationships with men and women and she'd been on both sides of the coin when it came to heartbreak.

But she'd give everything to never be the cause of that to the woman beside her.

"Hey." Gail muttered, pressing her face into Holly's shoulder as she shifted and curled around her girlfriend. "You let me fall asleep." It came out sounding less accusatory than Gail had been aiming for but then she yawned and gave up trying to talk in favour of closing her eyes again. It was just too much of an effort to try and be mean when she felt this well rested.

Holly smiled and set her book aside along with her glasses. "You needed it." She answered back softly and scooted lower in the bed to gather the blonde into her arms.

"Morning…or afternoon really." Holly said as Gail automatically crawled on top of her and lifted her head for a kiss before settling back down to rest her head on her shoulder.

"Hm." Gail replied with a sigh as Holly started to gently run her hands over her bare back. It was a wonderful way to be greeted.

After a few minutes of quiet Gail took a deep breath and wriggled about on top of Holly making the older woman giggle, which had been what Gail had been hoping for.

"Just for that, I'm going to shower alone." Holly said flipping them over and pinning Gail down and kissing her just long enough to get away with scrambling out of the bed.

"Hey, get back here!" Gail called out not ready to start the day again just yet but Holly was already closing the shower room door.

She sighed in defeat before laying back and stretching out her body. She really like Holly's bed, it was big, comfy beyond belief and it smelled of the other woman. She could happily live here, although the list of places she could say that about had been growing in previous weeks and they all had a common denominator. They were all places Holly was.

Not that she planned on thinking about that one fact too much because then she risked scaring herself into doing something stupid and she'd already done enough of that to last a lifetime.

Maybe she was actually starting to mature.

Getting out of bed Gail slipped into a pair of Holly's sweatpants that had been cut off just below the knee and the tee that Holly had slept in last night while Gail had been on shift. The blonde went out of her way to grab those when she could, they were always a little baggy on her but the level of comfort they provided her was just shy of awesome. It was like having Holly wrapped around her all day.

Moving out into the living area Gail found her spot and took a calming breath before going through her yoga routine as she waited for her turn to shower, she could have gone upstairs and used the full sized bathroom but she'd rather wait and use Holly's shower and maybe complain about the towels hanging up or hair in the drain, like Holly expected her to.

It wasn't like at Dov and Chris's where it was a race to shower before they ran out of hot water, Gail could take as long as she wanted and there'd still be hot water. And Holly never complained.

Gail stretched and turned into another pose.

One of the first things she'd realised about Holly wasn't just her smile or the twinkle in her eyes when Gail snarked at her, it was that she genuinely saw the good things first, second and third. The woman wasn't a complainer and it took a lot to get her riled up about anything unless it was poor handling of evidence samples, then watch out, because Holly Stewart would let you know what you were about to die of.

Gail grinned at that thought. She hadn't been on the receiving end of that particular event, yet, but she'd heard stories in the lab when Holly wasn't around. It actually made her a little proud to know Holly could instil that kind of fear into her colleagues.

But maybe that was why they worked so well together, Holly just had it in her to deal with Gail when she was being rude, obnoxious and downright childish. Holly was the oldest of three siblings, so maybe that had something to do with it.

Whatever it was, Gail was just happy Holly had given her the time and space to work out that being with Holly was a damn sight better than being without her.

She had just about finished her routine when she heard soft footsteps heading her way.

"Hey, all yours." Holly said as she walked into the room towelling her hair dry.

"Hm." Gail took another few breaths then eased out of her final pose just as Holly stepped over and kissed her. "Hey."

"Hey." Holly replied with a grin as she stole another quick kiss. "Go shower."

Gail pouted then sighed dramatically before walking away.

Holly smiled after her then lifted an eyebrow as the blonde paused and turned back to her. "Yeah?"

"I was just wondering…"

"Uh huh?" Holly had found it best to never close off Gail's train of thought because it was still hard for the blonde to share parts of herself, and Holly treasured every bit that was offered to her.

"Your friend, you know, the one that set you up on that date," Holly nodded knowing Gail was referring to the night at the Penny, before the shootings and before their first proper kiss together. "You never told me who she was and you need to."

Holly blinked slowly. "Why?"

Gail shrugged then turned away heading for her second shower of the day. "I just owe her a beer or flowers or something."

Holly grinned.

She'd already paid her friend back for that, even if she had been trying to stop Holly from falling for yet another straight girl after having had to listen to Holly bemoan Gail passing on spending time with her due to being set up on yet another blind date by her mother.

She'd spent a weekend babysitting her friend's four year old while she and her husband had taken off for a break which Holly had paid for. It wasn't much, but Holly knew it was a combination of going on that date and the shootings the following day that gave Gail the push she needed to kiss her, because Holly couldn't put herself there, any change in their relationship had to come from Gail.

Holly was just grateful that change hadn't come as a result of a bullet.

xxxxxxx

Gail scowled as she walked beside Holly along Queen Street. It was a little after five and the crowded street was doing nothing to lift Gail's mood. She might have managed a smile if she'd been able to appease herself with the knowledge that she'd be able to go home with Holly after this, but no, she still had to suffer through whatever torture Steve had planned for her over dinner.

It made her stomach revolt thinking that he'd spend the evening trying to get her to go to a Peck family dinner because Holly wouldn't understand her refusal. She snorted. Steve didn't even understand it and he was her brother.

"You had enough?" Holly asked, looping her arm through Gail's as they came to a coffee shop.

Gail shrugged and headed them toward a table that was just being cleared. She smiled at the waitress that scurried away with dirty cups and dishes, and placed the few bags of shopping Holly had done so far down by her feet.

They sat down across from each other and both picked up a menu.

"What's this all for anyway?" Gail asked kicking one of the bags lightly.

Holly shrugged without looking up. "Just some things for tomorrow."

Gail grinned and shifted closer to the brunette. "And just what is it you have planned for me anyway?"

Holly laughed. "I'm not telling you. You'll just have to be patient a little while longer and all will be revealed."

Gail was still pouting by the time the waitress returned to take their orders, but that was okay, Holly knew by now what she liked so she was happy to leave the ordering to the older woman.

"I don't know what the big secret is but it sure better be worth it." Gail muttered as she reached for her cell as it buzzed in the pocket of her jeans.

"Work?" Holly asked nervously as she watched her girlfriend frown at whatever it was.

"Nah," Gail replied as she kept her head down and typed out a reply to the text message she'd got. "Just the geek squad wondering if we're going to the Penny tonight, someone from one of the other divisions is have a bit of a party after getting a promotion. Open bar. Sadly we're throwing that over for the fun of whatever scheme my brother has going with this dinner tonight."

Holly smiled her thanks as sandwiches and coffees were set down at their table.

She spent a few moments fixing Gail's coffee and then her own before asking, "You really think your brother's up to something?"

Gail snorted finally looking back up from her phone. "How many times have we been invited over for dinner Hol?"

"Uh…this would be the first."

"Exactly!" Gail replied taking a bite of her food. "And this invite only happened after he wanted me to turn up for dinner at mom and dad's. Pretty sure those two things are connected."

"Hm."

Holly waited until they were both almost finished before trying again, content for a while just to people watch in between her favourite pastime of Gail watching. Her girlfriend didn't seem too upset, a little annoyed maybe but not enough for Holly not to try digging just a little deeper into the subject.

"Do you not get on with them?" She asked carefully, keeping a close eye on Gail's body language but the blonde didn't tense up or even glare at her. "I'm mean you have that mug at your desk, the one that says 'dad'."

Gail chuckled and had to swallow quickly to prevent a choking incident. "That is there as a dig at my mom. Just so that in the event that she happens to turn up at 15 and amuse herself by checking out my station she can see which one of my parents I like best."

Holly had to wonder as to why Gail would go to the trouble for that. "Sounds very mature."

Gail shrugged. "My therapist seems to think I'm becoming more self-aware." She said with a sniff.

"Clearly."

"He was around more when I was growing up, that earned him points. But he didn't want me becoming a cop although my mom was pretty clear on it, and she was louder. They both lost points on that one." Gail explained.

Holly tried not to look as panicked as she felt by this turn in the conversation. "But you like being a cop, right?" Because if the answer to that was no, then Holly wasn't sure where to start helping her girlfriend.

"I don't think I'd know how to be anything else." Gail replied sipping at her coffee. "I would have rather joined under anything but the 'Peck' name, but I love my job Holly, I really do."

Holly let out a quiet, relieved, sigh.

"This one time they drove us out into the middle of nowhere and I got left to make my own way home. It took hours. Steve had told me about his turn but I hadn't really believed him until they drove away without me."

Holly just blinked, having no idea what to say about that and she was afraid to ask just how old Gail had been when that had happened.

"I grew up thinking I was playing games every family played together only to find out when I was older that it was all about what it took to be a cop." She continued to explain. "This is all I know."

Holly let Gail finish up her own food after that, and then she pulled out some cash for the bill and they gathered their bags and headed for the boardwalk.

Gail could see the Lake in the distance but the area was still too busy to really just enjoy the walk.

"My dad was, well still is, a heart surgeon." Holly spoke up as they walked hand in hand on their way back to her house. "And my mom worked as an ER doctor, so I kind of understand the family expectations thing you had growing up."

Gail grinned and nudged Holly with her shoulder. "And you rebelled by working on dead people, way to go Holly!" She said with a chuckle.

Holly smiled and stole a kiss because Gail was staring at her and because she could.

"Not really." She replied. "When I was a kid we went to Europe on holiday one year, and stayed in this country house, anyway, Jason and I were out exploring in the woods that surrounded the area and we found, I'm not sure actually, a dead fox, or maybe it'd been a dog." She explained. "So Jason wanted to take it back to show mom and dad but I convinced him it would be better just to bring dad out and show him. So we did, he wasn't as fascinated by it as we were."

"And so began your love of dead things?"

"No." Holly replied, pausing as they cut across the road and turned onto the road that would take them back to her house. "He told us off about touching it, not that we had. Jase took off looking for something else to play with and I just stood there looking at it, I asked him what had happened to it. I'd asked for a puppy for my birthday that year and the idea that someone's dog had died out there alone made me sad. He told me there could have been a lot of reasons it had died, from being hurt to just being old. I made him help me bury it before we left."

Gail studied Holly's face, the older woman still looked sad just recalling the memory. She squeezed the hand in hers and let Holly talk without interrupting.

"Fast-forward to med school and me working on a cadaver and I remembered that animal, and I remembered that my dad hadn't known how it had died." She turned to Gail now as they slowed their steps as they'd left the crowds behind them.

"Helping someone who's injured is important, and saving lives is important, but so is giving the people left behind the answer to the question why? Why is my brother, sister, partner, mom, dad, gone now?" Holly stated as she searched Gail's face for understanding.

Gail nodded quickly. "Of course it is Holly, you do an amazing job." She told her girlfriend earnestly. "And you help people find peace, even if it takes time to accept, it'd be so much harder to always wonder why and just never know."

Holly sighed. "My dad didn't think so when he found out what I wanted to specialise in."

Gail tried to hold back a giggle. She failed and Holly mock glared at her, only subsiding when Gail kissed her softly in apology.

"Luckily for me Jason thought I was nuts as well and told my dad he couldn't wait to become a surgeon and get to hold someone's life in his hands."

Gail rolled her eyes. "That's not ego at all."

"Oh, it totally is, but you need that to be good." Holly went on. "He didn't go into cardiothoracic surgery, he went into reproductive surgery. People are willing to pay a lot of money to try and have kids, and try and not have kids actually."

"Ah, well, good for him I guess."

"Hm, dad was proud enough. And with little sis still in med school he does still hint that she should spend time with him to see a real surgeon at work, but Elizabeth is still pretty set on Paeds."

They turned onto Holly's street and were soon unlocking the door and heading for the kitchen.

"I think we're both in the right jobs." Gail said as they both set about putting away the food Holly had insisted they needed for tomorrow.

Holly grinned and put her arms around Gail from behind to give her a hug.

"We wouldn't have met otherwise so I'm going to have to actually agree with you there Peck."

"The horror." Gail moaned as she tried to turn her head to capture Holly's lips but the older woman playfully avoided her enough that Gail was left pouting.

Shaking her head Holly relented and kissed her, only pulling away when she felt Gail's hands begin to wander. "Oh no, we still have to get to your brother's don't forget."

"How could I forget?" Gail muttered and pulled a face which got her another kiss.

Pulling away Holly swatted Gail on the butt and left her in the kitchen. Returning a few minutes later to place a bottle down in front of the blonde. "Will this do?"

Gail picked it up and read the label. It was an expensive bottle and she really didn't think her brother deserved it. "I guess."

"You are such a brat." Holly told her with a shake of her head and took the bottle from the blonde. "Come on, let's go. Don't want to be late now, do we?"

Very reluctantly Gail followed after Holly and out to the Z4 parked out front.

Steve lived on the other side of mid-town and as they drove Holly could see Gail start to withdraw into herself, or maybe she was just putting up those protective walls she had so many of.

The closer they got the more Holly wanted to turn around but then she was pulling up to the address Gail had given to her and it was too late.

They both sat there long after Holly had turned off the ignition.

"Ready?" Holly asked finally when they either needed to get out or drive away.

"Sure." But Gail sounded anything but as she stared out the windscreen.

Holly got out of the car and came around to Gail's side and held her hand to help her out of the car before locking it up. It was a nice neighbourhood and as they slowly walked up the path to Steve's house Holly saw the car Gail must have been staring at. "Traci's?"

Gail stayed quiet until they reached the door.

"My dad's."

"Oh."

"Yeah."