Part 8
Holly pulled into the 15 Division car lot and switched off her engine to turn to Gail. "Are you sure you're going to be okay today?"
Gail lifted her head off the headrest where she'd been lightly dosing while Holly drove them from the hotel to drop her off. She was in the same clothes she'd worn out to the boat that morning. They'd stayed there on deck until the sky had started to brighten. The both of them just curled up together under the blanket in a ball of joy that still caused a smile to appear on her face even though she'd had almost no sleep at all.
"I'll be fine." She said leaning over to kiss Holly. "I'll survive on coffee and being mean to everyone I see." She answered with a wiggle of her eyebrows.
Holly chuckled and pulled Gail back for another kiss. "They won't know the difference."
Gail laughed because it was true.
"I'll see you tonight?" Holly asked as Gail opened her door.
"You gave me a key, asked me to move in," Gail said getting out before ducking her head back down to look at her girlfriend. "Yes, you'll see me tonight Holly. You're kinda stuck with me now."
Holly grinned happily.
"I'm going to get Chris to help me pack some of my stuff up and bring it over if that's okay?" Gail asked.
"You know it is, there's even some beer left at the house, you can bribe him with that." Holly offered.
Gail closed the passenger door and went around to the driver's side and knelt down to rest her arms across the open window.
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Holly asked again, smoothing some of the blonde hair back away from Gail's face gently.
"I'll be fine." Gail said quietly, enjoying this last little moment with Holly before her day started. She sighed and leant up for another kiss before stepping away from the car. "I'll see you tonight, you know, unless I get stuck with body detail." She added with a grin.
Holly rolled her eyes and started her car back up. "My last girlfriend just brought me flowers."
Gail scowled at her.
"Just saying." Holly added with a grin and slowly drove her car away.
Gail sighed and shook her head, starting for the entrance. She hoped there was coffee ready and waiting by the time she got to the break room because she was going to need it.
And she still had her fingers crossed that her spare uniform was in fact in her locker and not hanging up at the apartment where she thought it was, because if it wasn't here her day was going to get a whole lot worse.
xxxxxx
"Okay, so for all you guys patrolling," Frank said from the front as he eyed the officers and detectives in the room. "Peck and Martinez are working with undercover officers in Leaside this week so stay out of the area as much as you can, otherwise assignments are on the board."
And with that officers stood and huddled around to find their assignment for the day.
Gail waited to make her way forward. Her uniform had been in her locker, not only that, it was clean and pressed. She'd even had some spare time before roll call. She grinned wondering what Holly would think of her little gift later.
Frank paused in sorting his notes as he noticed McNally spot something on the board and make a beeline for Oliver. He watched her lean over and whisper something to him, observed Oliver's face go from his usual happy and laid back demeanour to stone cold seriousness.
It made him pay closer attention.
The room was thinning out as officers went to pick up car keys, kit bags and any paperwork they needed for their shift.
Gail hid a yawn as she stepped up to the board and her eyes scanned for her name.
15-04 Peck/Collins
She grinned excitedly, she could take out all her sleep deprived annoyance and temper out on Nick and not feel a shred of guilt about it after the way he had acted yesterday.
Sweet! She thought turning to look for the idiot.
Andy shuffled along behind Oliver as they crossed the room, her eyes on Nick who was now stood in front of Gail.
"Change of plans," Oliver said, smile plastered on his face as he brought his hand down onto Nick's shoulder and squeezed. "Collins' riding with me today, Gail. We need some bonding time, man to man." He said.
Nick shrugged at her, trying not to wince at the grip on his shoulder, and turned as Shaw pushed him towards the door.
"What? No!" Gail cried as she watched the pair leave. She then looked at Andy with narrowed eyes.
Andy backed away quickly. "Heh, nooo," She said feeling nervous about the way Gail was eyeing her. "We've had our bonding time Gail. Last week." She said and left the room quickly.
Gail huffed and turned her head to eye the board as she heard Dov and Chris chuckling at her. Then who was she with?
Diaz….Wilson…Connors….Riley...Shaw with…
"Oh, come on!" Gail cried out as she turned back around to find Chloe Price stood there in front of her with that annoying smile and wide-eyed innocent look, eyelashes batty away at her.
"Seriously?" She asked the redhead.
Unruffled by the attitude Chloe just shrugged as Gail continued to scowl at her.
Frank made his way over. "Problem Peck?"
Gail looked at Frank and then back at Chloe. "Sir, no, Sir!" She muttered.
Frank covered up his grin by turning his back to the pair and walking away. "Glad to hear it." He said as he left them to sort it out by themselves.
Sighing Gail looked over Chloe's shoulder to see the amusement on Dov and Chris' faces. "Switch with me Dov?" She asked as if Chloe wasn't even there.
Dov chuckled. "No way, you heard Shaw, it's a bonding day, so I don't know…try bonding!" Then he slapped at Chris and they both laughed and headed out of the room.
Groaning Gail eyed the ceiling. Taking out her lack of sleep on Chloe would be like kicking a puppy only to watch it come back over to her again and again and still sit at her feet wagging its tail.
It was just wrong.
"I need more coffee." She muttered and wandered away from the rookie.
Chloe glanced after her. "I'll get the car keys then?"
"Do what you want Chloe, I'm getting coffee."
xxxxxxxx
The shift hadn't been going too badly, three traffic violations so far, those always put a smile on Gail's face and helped the division's numbers.
There'd also been a call-out to a domestic disturbance. Father and son had been arguing about the son's lack of housework and contribution to the bills. The guy had reeked of alcohol and Gail had been about two seconds away from arresting him just for the smell, but the son decided to take off to stay with his mom instead.
Good decision on the son's part but bad for Gail, she'd really wanted to arrest the father.
They had been back on patrol for close to an hour when Gail felt her phone buzz in her vest. She grinned guessing it was from Holly but as she was driving she'd have to wait until they stopped before she could find out how her little gift went over.
Snorting to herself Gail pulled up at the first coffee shop she could find then turned to Chloe. "I take mine black with two sugar." She said handing over a twenty and shooing the rookie out of the car. The redhead scowled but took the money and left Gail in peace.
Chuckling Gail quickly reached for her phone to check the message.
It was from Holly.
No.
"That's it?!" Gail muttered, shaking the cell in frustration as if that would magically make Holly send her a better answer.
Sighing Gail wondered if she should respond but chances were Holly had given her that one word answer on purpose. To annoy her. And it was working.
The blonde checked the time and then looked to see if there was any sign of Chloe returning but there wasn't. Flicking through previous calls on her phone Gail selected a number and placed a call, willing it to pick up quickly.
"Hey, you deliver right?"
xxxxxxx
Chris grinned as he sat down beside Gail in the break room, opening his sandwich and taking a bite.
"Yesterday was so cool!" He told her.
Gail shrugged, her head still bent down staring at her phone.
"I mean, not Nick, because well…but the karting! Dov and I are going back for a re-match next day off." He continued, "And Holly can cook! It was so great of her to invite us all out, and for paying, I mean we all coulda chipped in. Hey, is she coming tonight?"
Gail frowned when Chris fell silent, she could feel his eyes on her. She looked at him blankly having no idea what he'd been saying to her. "What?"
"Penny. Tonight. You and Holly."
"Oh, sure." She answered distractedly as the buzzing of the phone in her hand caught her attention. She grinned and stood quickly, heading for the parade room for somewhere quiet.
"Cool!" Chris called after her before going back to his lunch as Chloe and Dov sat down around him. He wondered where they had been, they'd been right behind him as he left the canteen.
Pleased to find the room empty Gail quickly closed the door behind her and sat down before looking at her phone.
She had 1 text message.
From Holly.
Gail opened it eager to find out how her latest idea had gone over with her girlfriend.
She laughed as she read it. It was an improvement this time. Two words instead of one, but then the message was pretty much the exact same.
Not even.
Again, Gail wasn't upset by the reply, in fact she was enjoying the game. She'd find something that would work eventually but there was no harm in trying a few little things until the right thing came to her.
Plus, she thinks Holly's enjoying this as well.
She sent back a message she hoped expressed her disappointment and plan to try harder in the future. And also that she trusted Holly still ate the food.
Her phone buzzed again.
No comment.
"Yeah, that's what I thought Nerd."
Shaking her head Gail got up and left the room, securing her phone away for the time being while she headed back to the break room. Another coffee wouldn't go amiss before she had to pry Chloe away from Dov and head back out on patrol for the rest of their shift.
"Peck!"
Gail turned and saw Frank up by his office door and he didn't look very happy.
"My office, now." He told her and she changed direction climbing up the steps and walking into his office as he waited there, holding the door open for her.
She tried her best to school her expression as she sat and waited for him to start. He looked angry but she was positive she hadn't done anything out of line recently. And even if he had heard about Chris hitting Nick it was off shift and not really a factor as long as it stayed out of work.
Frank cleared his throat and shifted his chair again, looking at the email on his computer once more before clicking it closed and focusing on his officer. "This is about your application for the skills training post with ETF,"
Gail only just managed not to react. Applications still had another two weeks to be sent to Frank so for him to be pulling her in here to talk to her about hers couldn't be good.
"We just don't think this is the right time for you,"
We. That word stuck in Gail's head like it was on repeat. The application process was for Frank to put forward the best 5 candidates who'd then go for testing and interview with the guys running the ETF unit.
We.
All Frank had to do if he didn't think she was right for the post was simply not to put her forward for interview.
Gail didn't get-
We.
Gail licked her lips as it clicked. "How is my mother?" She asked, cutting Frank of mid flow as he went on about what a tough year they'd all had. She would have rolled her eyes if she wasn't seething with anger right now.
"She's…ah…" Frank looked away from the blonde, not able to meet her accusing gaze.
Gail stood, there was really no need to have to put them both through more of this when nothing either of them could say was going to make a blind bit of difference. "We done then, Sir?"
Frank sighed trying to find the words but Gail was already half way out of his office.
"Next time Gail!" He called to her but she just kept walking.
Damn he really hated his job sometimes.