This is a little chapter to help fill in the blanks between this story and Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder. I hope you enjoy it. You asked for it. You got it.

Once again, I love hearing from you! Thank you for all of your comments, PMs, reviews, and Tweets!

She received the voicemail from Gail just about an hour ago, something rambling incoherently on about putting her name in for an undercover assignment, trying to fix her career and make something of herself. She sounded so small and shaky on Holly's phone it broke her heart. She hated it when Gail sounded that way. It was pretty clear that Gail had spoken with her mother between the time she had left the morgue and whenever she got back to the station. To make matters worse, Holly was fairly sure Gail had been drunk when she made the call six hours ago, when Holly had been sleeping. Isn't that what people did at three o'clock in the morning? And now she wasn't answering her phone. So much for having a quiet Saturday.

Gail and Dov were sitting in stony silence at the kitchen table when Holly let herself into Gail's apartment. If looks could kill, Dov should have died a thousand painful deaths by now. This couldn't be good.

"Hey Gail. Hey Dov. What's up?" She greeted them cautiously.

"Mister I'm So Fucking Self-righteous over here was just telling me that putting my name in for the up coming under cover assignment is unfair because I'm a Peck." Gail snarled, pointing at Dov with the spoon from her cereal.

"Well it is!" Dov insisted, "You know your name and connections will put you straight to the top of the list!"

"Like that worked out so well for me the last time I thought my family connections would help me out." Gail shot back.

"Oh, come on Gail! You got off with a slap on the wrist because of mommy and daddy. If you were anyone else, well, it would have been their badge." Dov replied.

Holly felt her heart beating faster as a flush of indignation rose in her cheeks. She couldn't believe Dov was being such a jerk! Couldn't he see the damage he was doing to someone he called a friend? Gail lashed out in anger before she could step in and say anything.

"That's not true, and you know it Dov. I don't know why I even cared. And besides, what's it to you if I put my name in for this? It's not like I'm competing against you. Come on Holly, let's get out of here!" Gail got up so quickly it almost sent her chair flying across the room as she grabbed Holly by the wrist and stormed to her room.

Holly stood silently watching as Gail flung open dresser drawers, and began throwing clothes into a waiting duffle bag.

"What are you doing?" She finally asked softly, causing Gail to stand up suddenly.

"Isn't it obvious?" Gail fumed, "I just need to leave these losers behind for a while."

Holly took a step closer. "Ok." She said calmly.

Gail turned to fall into those calm brown eyes that seemed to look right into her very soul. She took a deep breath.

"What if it's true?" She asked quietly, "I mean, nobody seems to think I could possibly be good enough to make it on my own... I donno sometimes I think… I wonder… what if they're right…"

"Gail," Holly reached out to stroke the side of Gail's face gently, cursing every single person that ever made her feel this way, "You are strong, and smart, and good at what you do…"

Gail sighed, leaning in to interrupt Holly by kissing her softly, as she returned the caress. Wrapping one arm around Holly's waist while tangling her other hand in the hair at the base of Holly's head, she opened her mouth inviting Holly in, and allowed herself to get lost in the moment. There were times that she was still amazed at how much Holly could simply love her. It made her dizzy. She whimpered slightly as they pulled apart, missing the intoxicating comfort of Holly's mouth on hers. As they leaned their foreheads together Holly tightened her arm around Gail's waist.

Stroking Gail's cheek, she said softly, "I hate it you know. I hate it that your mother and idiots like Dov can make you feel less than the amazing, beautiful person you are!"

"Really?" Gail's eyes were big and trusting, before she looked bashfully at the floor, "You think I'm amazing and beautiful, do you?"

"Uh huh," Holly breathed out, tilting Gail's face up and closing the gap between them again.

This time, as their lips met, comfort turned quickly to hunger and want and need.

Holly loved watching Gail put on her makeup. There was something so intimate about the complete level of concentration she applied to this task and the satisfied look on her face after she blotted her lipstick that always made Holly feel like a voyeur. It was such an ordinary thing and yet so deeply sexy Holly decided. She was sitting cross-legged on Gail's bed, wearing nothing but an old Star Wars T-shirt that she left here for times like this.

"So, tell me about this under cover assignment…" Holly began softly.

"You know I can't talk about it." Gail leaned forward to examine herself more closely in the mirror, but Holly could tell she was watching her too.

Holly pulled a face that said it all.

"Ok, ok…" Gail continued. She stood up but didn't turn around, "There is a gang running guns and drugs across the border from Detroit, mostly. An international taskforce has been set up with the FBI, and they need one man and one woman to pose as a couple."

"That sounds dangerous…" Holly said, trying to catch Gail's eye in the mirror.

"Yeah, well, I guess it could be." Gail admitted as she finally turned to face her, "The worst part is, who ever gets this will be gone for months with no contact…"

"I know." Holly said quietly, looking down to pull at the hem of her shirt between her legs.

"I wouldn't worry about it. They are never going to pick me." Gail said bitterly, "Not if my mother has anything to say about it."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Holly extended a hand to Gail, pulling her to sit on the edge of the bed.

"I hate it when you put yourself down." She breathed into the side of Gail's neck while wrapping her arms around her waist and pulling her close.

Gail closed her eyes and leaned into the warmth and comfort of Holly's chest.

"I'm gonna miss you terribly. You know that don't you?" Holly whispered.

"Don't worry Holly." Gail sighed, "It's never gonna happen."