Holly went to San Francisco and spent almost five years working there. She met an amazing woman and after few months of dating, she married Anabel. Anabel was a police officer and they met over a case. Almost like she and Gail met. Memories of Gail haunted her for a long time, but Anabel was there and very nurturing towards her. She was patient and very good for Holly's broken heart. Now the roles were reversed. Anabel was the one taking care of Holly and being very patient with her and Holly was the cat in this relationship. Sometimes she couldn't believe that out of all the parallels in the world, she would pick the words Gail told her first day they met.

She never talked about Gail or anything Toronto related. Anabel knew very little of her life before she came to the States and Holly made sure to give her very vague answers about her past lovers. Anabel was fine with it. She didn't care about the past. She had Holly's present and had every intention of having her future for as long as they shall live. At the moment they met, Holly needed that attitude in her life. She was still heartbroken over Gail and how things ended. She didn't come with her… She choose to stay in Toronto… So, in Holly's eyes, Gail didn't love her enough to come with her. Holly tried not to compare her life in US to what she left in Canada. But sometimes some comparison came so naturally. She often worked with a woman who was very much like Tracy. There were no physical similarities, since detective Jones was a very tall white woman and older than Tracy Nash, but their nurturing nature and patience was something that she found comforting and familiar. If she had to compare her wife to any of the officers form the 15th she would be mostly like Chloe. Anabel was very happy, perky and she loved life. It took Holly some time to get used to it, but after dark moment she went through after leaving Toronto, she needed that energy and positivity in her life. She kept out of Canada because she believed it was best for her to be far from Toronto and the one she left behind. Anabel never really questioned why they never visited Holly's parents in Toronto and why every time they see them it's either in San Francisco or some other place they travel together. She didn't understand why Holly cut all of her ties to Canada and why she avoided even talking to some of her college friends who tried to reach out.

Holly knew she had to keep her life clear of any information about the other woman because she still had feelings for her. If she knew something was wrong with Gail, she would be on the first flight to Toronto or would have died if she heard that Gail is no more. So, she had to keep her life simple and free of any details related to the other woman. Her parents were also forbidden to mention the blond. Her dad tried to talk to her about what happened and if she had any feelings for Gail, but she cut that conversation short and told him that she doesn't want to talk about it. She wanted to keep her life ''Gail free''. Sometimes, her mind played tricks on her. She would see some woman on the street and for a moment she would believe it was Gail. Sometimes when she regretted not fighting for their relationship, she imagined Gail happy with Sophie and some other person she formed the family with and she would tell herself that it was for the best, that now Gail has all she ever wanted. She imagined those blue eyes shining with pride when she held her daughter and wife(?) close to her. She could imagine her doing a lot of things. Sometimes, Gail Peck was a super hero in her mind. She mentioned Gail only once and just to her mother. She said that she sometimes wonders what could have been, but that now it was too late and she had Anabel. Her mother agreed. She liked Anabel and she was positive that she was much better for Holly than Gail ever was. Holly's career was getting where she always wanted it to go. She was working with the police and at the same time, she was also teaching. She worked with young men and women who wanted to be police officers and who wanted to go into forensics. She loved her job and lover working with young people who are full of enthusiasm and hope that they would make this world much better place. She missed that in herself, so she sort of fed of their optimism.

One phone call changed Holly's life. Her mom called and told her that her father was not doing well. He was diagnosed with cancer and they didn't give him much time. Holly knew she has to go back and spend all the time she has with her dad. Anabel was very supportive and she got Holly to apply for the positon of chief Medical Examiner in Toronto. Dr. Brown was going to retire and they needed someone to fill his position. Holly had amazing resume and she believed it would work out. She also remembered working with Dr. Brown and him being very pleased with her. Dr. Brown told her that he is very impressed with all the progress that she made and that he hopes she would be selected to take his place. Holly knew that here were some people in higher positions that had to pick her and she hoped they would. She was wondering if Elain Peck would be one of the people to come between her and the job , but after some time she choose not to think of that. She hoped it would work out for her. She and Anabel packed and moved to Toronto before Holly got any news. Just as Holly feared, her dad's life was ending and there was nothing she or anyone could do to save him. She hated feeling so powerless. She knew what was happening to him and she knew what his chances were. For the first time in her life, she hated her job and knowledge of the situation. She wished she was one of the blessed ones who had no idea what was happening and what more was to come. Three days after they arrived Holly got a call from Dr. Brown. She got the job as a Chief Medical Examiner. She and her wife were staying with her parents so when she got downstairs to the kitchen, she could give them all the news. She was starting on Monday and her wife was starting too. Soon after Holly got her news, Anabel got the call that she also got the job and her new placement. She got placed to the 15th division and Holly just exchanged looks with her parents. She had no idea how would that work. Anabel noticed some weird tension between her wife and parents.

''What is it? What's wrong with the 15th?''

Holly's mother spoke first.

''Nothing, honey… It's good that you got your placement and all… We should order in tonight to celebrate you and Holly starting new jobs and new chapter in your lives.''

Anabel didn't really buy what Mrs. Stewart said. She was sure there was more to it, but she let it go for now. She went to the bedroom to call her parents and give them the news of Holly's dad and new job. Holly just sat and stared at the paper where it was written where Anabel would be placed. Her first thought was about certain blond cop that her wife will cross paths with and now she was out of her mind scared.

''Out of all the places, Anabel has to work there!''

''I know mom.''

''Will you tell her? Now you must…''

''I have no idea if she is even there.''

''She might be…or she might be somewhere else… But I am sure that there are some people who remember the history you had with that woman. Don't let Anabel learn it from someone else… People gossip…''

''I know mother… Just give me few days to get used to it.''

''Love, you don't have few days. You start on Monday.''

''I know.''

With that she got her jacket and left the house. Holly needed a moment to get her mind and feelings in line. She had no idea how should she approach the topic of Gail and should she even do it. Anabel kept her maiden name, so no one would know they were together and married. All could be fine and under wraps until she sees Gail and talks to her. She would make sure to see who stayed in 15th and what were the chances of Anabel knowing anything about her and Gail. Holly had such a good plan.

It was Monday morning and Gail was getting ready for work. She hated Mondays, especially ones that she had to have staff meetings. They had few huge operations going on and she loved being on top of everything. Fact that her work phone was quiet for the entire weekend made her very happy. It gave her some time to enjoy her book and some wine with it. She couldn't remember many weekends that were that quiet. Usually her phone never stops ringing and people never stop asking her what to do or needing her help. Part of her loved being needed and enjoyed the knowledge how hard it was for many of them to dial those digits of her phone number. She tightened her bun, adjusted her skirt and shirt and put on her jacket. She got new black high heels and now she was ready for the job. She was promoted a year ago and she still couldn't believe it happened. There were people in the force who had more experience than she did, but they wanted her. She was their pick and she would be damned if she said no. She glanced towards the bed. Familiar shape was under the covers and she felt relived her spouse came home at one piece. She was off the streets, but she never forgotten how cruel they could be for the cops. Walking those streets at night turned out to be death for many on the force. So, she was relieved her spouse made it. Gail went to the kitchen and started the coffee. She didn't eat this early, but her cup of coffee was something that had to happen as soon as she gets ready. She had her coffee in the kitchen and after it she fixed her uniform and left the house. Her driver was already in the driveway waiting for her and the instructions.

''Good morning Chief Superintendent.''

''Good morning Harris.''

She got into the car and her driver got in after her.

''Madam, where do we go today?''

''We go to the office first, I have to get some things in order and then we have two meetings in the afternoon. One is in the 27th division and the other in the 15th.''

''I'll make the arrangements for the parking.''

''And please check when is our turn for the car to be checked. It should have been done long ago.''

''I will call when we get to the building.''

''Thank you Harris.''

Gail got into her office and her secretary was already there with fresh coffee and her timetable for the day.

''You are free to go Eva.''

She nodded, but still stayed close to her desk. Gail noticed that Eva had something more to tell her.

''Is there anything else?''

''You had a call from Staff Sargent Shaw. He said it is urgent to call him.''

''Thank you. I will give him the call right away.''

Gail was worried about that call. Oliver never used words urgent unless it was something really urgent.

''Did he say something?''

''No, he just said that you should call him as soon as you come.''

''Thank you.''

Eva left the office and Gail picked up the phone.

''Hello, Oliver. Eva told me to call you. What is that urgent situation? Is something wrong with some of the undercover operations?''

''No, everything is going well…''

''Than what is it?''

''Gail, I'm sorry to inform you, but your father has passed last night. He was found in his cell.''

That was unexpected news. It took her a moment to get back into conversation.

''What happened? How did he die? Did he…?''

She didn't dare to finish the question. She had doubts about him killing himself, but she didn't want to believe it.

''They found him in the bed. He didn't respond to the raw call so they entered his cell and found him dead. It is possible that he died in his sleep. You know his heart was not that good in last few years.''

Gail felt some sort of relief. Natural causes were better than suicide.

''Is anyone there?''

''Two officers are there, but we are waiting for the CME to get there. They insisted someone with a high rank handles the case.''

''Because of the fact he is my father?''

''No, because he is Peck. After all that happened, they don't want any doubt it was natural cause…''

Gail felt there is more to it and Oliver was not sure how honest he should be in this moment.

''You know your family made a lot of enemies in their career… So prison wants to prove they are cleared of any responsibility for his death. If he died of natural causes, there is no cause to thing he was killed. And if someone with a very high rank does the postmortem, it's better for them. It's different to be cleared by some doctor and to be cleared by ME.''

Gail understood where they came from. And she understood that twisted logic.

''Oh.''

''You want to go there?''

''Yes, I will be there in thirty minutes. No one touches anything or approaches him. Are we clear?!''

''Gail, I don't think…''

''Staff Sargent Shaw, that is an order! No one enters the cell until I come.''

Oliver knew lost cause when he saw one. He knew there was no arguing with Gail, especially with Gail pulling rank.

''Yes, Mam.''

Holly's first day was starting pretty well. She dropped Anabel off and went to the morgue. She had so many flashbacks on her first day when she started working here all those years ago. Part of her felt like she was coming home and part of her was frightened how wills he manage to do this job. She felt the safest being just one more of the doctors here, now she was the boss and a doctor with more pressure to be the best. She was happy to see Pierce, the guard that worked when she started her first shift all those years ago.

''Dr. Stewart, it's so good to have you back. I couldn't believe when I heard you were back and back in stye.''

''It's nice to see you too… How are you? Your family?''

''We are doing well… My oldest daughter got married and has a baby so my wife and I spend a lot of time with her and the baby girl.''

''I am so happy for you.''

''Thank you…''

He noticed the ring on her finger.

''I see congratulations are in order for you too?''

''Oh, yes… I got married about five years ago.''

''Oh… And how is Mrs.?''

''She is good… her name is Anabel and she is an officer here now. She started working for the 15th.''

''Oh…''

''Why that reaction?''

''Well… Out of all divisions.''

''It will be fine…''

''Oh, I almost forgot…''

He gave her new card DR. Brown had made for her and wished her luck. Both of them knew she would need it…soon. Holly got into her office and put her bag on the chair. She hung up her coat and put on the new lab coat with her name and position. She was filled with pride. She felt like she made it. Small smile formed on her lips and then the phone rang. Here we go…

''Dr Stewart?''

''Yes, this is her spiking.''

''I am warden James Hill… I am calling from Toronto Central Prison. I am sorry to disturb you on your first day, but I need you to come. We have a body…and it's high profile.''

''Is it a murder?''

''We don't know… But what I know is that this has to stay very quiet until we know what happened and why?''

''I will be there in forty minutes.''

''Thank you doctor.''

Holly hung up and changed again. She picked up her bag and forensic kit and left her office. She called few tech guys to join her and warned them that they must keep quiet on the case. Since she picked men she worked with before, she knew she could count on their silence.

''So, something big or messy happened…''

Holly smirked at one of them.

''Or both… But I know that this is something they want to keep a secret for some reason, so let's see what happened.''

''Yes, captain…''

She missed working with these guys. Holly got to the prison and she was on the way to speak to the warden. She saw Anabel with Chloe. Apparently she would have to rush the conversation about Gail she had pending. Chloe was not the one with the filter and knowing how to keep things quiet.

''Holly, you are back…''

''Yes, and how are you Chloe?''

''I am ok.''

Anabel gave her small peck on the lips and Chloe was surprised.

''She is your wife? You are married to Holly? And now you are working here and working this case… Ha, small world…''

Anabel sensed something weird about this conversation and all bit she didn't say anything about it. She played it cool. She noticed that Holly felt uncomfortable.

''Yes, I am… I am married to Holly…''

''Wow! Small world.''

''You said that Price…. So, who am I here to see?''

Before Chloe answered, Anabel opened her small book and found the name.

''I think it's former inspector William Alexander Peck.''

Holly couldn't believe her luck, or lack of it in this case. She will see her soon…along with all the Peck family members.

''Shit!''

Anabel looked at her wife.

''You know him?''

''We met.''

''Before you left?''

''Yes, I was at his house few times on Peck dinners. They made big dinner parties for members of the force and sometimes people form the morgue were invited too.''

''Sounds important.''

''They were… But, let's just do this…''

She got inside and when she approached the cell, she was stopped by two officers.

''I'm sorry, but we have orders not to let anyone enter.''

''But you must let me. I am here to see the body, I am head of forensic pathology.''

''We are sorry, but you are not cleared yet.''

''Cleared by whom? My position gives me cleanse to enter.''

''We are sorry, but no one can enter.''

Holly was angry now. Those two idiots were wasting her time. She was getting ready to tell them a lot of not that nice things when her train of thoughts was interrupted by someone.

''Says who?!''

''Me...''

Holly froze. She knew that voice. She avoided that woman for so long and the time came for them to be face to face again. This was it. The moment she dreaded for so long. She was about to be face to face with Gail. After years of being apart, she was standing right behind her. She turned and faced the coldest blue eyes she has ever seen. She couldn't breathe. She froze and she could just whisper the name of the woman standing in front of her.

''Gail…''

She was taking in the woman standing in front of her. She looked beautiful, but so cold and very much like a robot. She showed no emotions. By the clothing she had, Holly could have guessed she was a white shirt now. She was in a uniform, with her hair in a perfect bun, perfect makeup and she also noticed that she had a wedding ring, an impressive ring when she thought about it. It was diamond band and the engagement ring was with a big blue sapphire. She was surprised that the name tag was Peck. If Gail was married, she wondered why she had no married name, but she didn't dare to ask. It was still difficult seeing Gail.

''Doctor Stewart walk with me.''

Gail walked towards the cell where her father's body was and Holly started following her after she got back to reality. Gail walked few steps in front of Holly and she was not turning to see where she was. Her heels were clicking down the corridor and Holly followed blindly. Gail was also surprised to see Holly, but she managed to cover it better. Her presence stirred a lot in her and she hated that feeling. She hated the fact the was close to Holly and about to spend some time with her. She was doing her best to ignore the doctor. She stopped in front of her father's body and waited for Holly to enter. Holly opened her kit and took out her glows and all the things she needed for the first findings. By what they saw, they guessed he died in his sleep. Holly remembered Gail mentioning he had some heart problems before so it was not excluded that he died of some heart attack or something related to coronary problems. He didn't age much from what Holly remembered. He was still very handsome man. Gail stood and just watched her work. Holly took notes, her guys made photographs of the cell and picked up all that they believed would be useful evidence. She requested his meds and all products he used so they could be tested and excluded as murder weapon…if there is a murder at all.

''I am done here. I will need his medical records and all the pills he was taking.''

Gail nodded.

''I will ask for warden to send it all to your office and I will call his personal doctor to provide you with all the things form his chart.''

Holly nodded and simply had to ask.

''Gail, why is he here?''

There was a moment when she wanted to tell Holly about what happened but then she remembered what happened between them and she shut down again.

''That is none of your concern doctor. I am waiting for your report and information. When can I claim the body.''

''I don't know. I have to do the autopsy on him and depending of my findings I will know when the body can be claimed.''

Gail just nodded.

'' You can call my secretary and I will take care of the rest.''

She gave Holly her card and nodded.

'' Thank you for your service doctor.''

She turned and left Holly stunned. What just happened? What was going on with Gail? Who was this woman?

Gail passed Chloe and Anabel in the hallway and continued walking towards the exit. Gail could hear Anabel's comment to Chloe about Gail.

''Is it just me, or the temperature went below zero when she came?''

Holly stood with them watching Gail leave.

''You have no idea.''

Anabel looked at her wife and asked very legit question.

''Why is she here? What brings someone of her rank to the prison? Is the dead guy someone important?''

Holly nodded.

''It's her dad.''

''Oh. That is bad.''

Chloe placed her hand on Anabel's shoulder.

''Yeah… Hell will brake loose… let me tell you.''

''Why?''

''Gail Peck doesn't do loss well.''

Anabel turned to Chloe waiting for some more explanations. She wanted to know what was in the cards for them if the person in position can't handle loss.

''Oh, what does that mean?''

Chloe ignored Anabel's question and turned to Holly. She gave her very concerned look.

''Buckle up!''

Holly had a feeling there is much more to that comment Chloe made. Body was taken and Holly went back to morgue. She started working on Bill right away. A lot of people came to peep on the work she was doing. No one could believe he was dead. Nick came a bit after she was done.

''Hey, Dr. Stewart!''

''DETECTIVE Collins.''

She shook his hand and they exchanged few nice words.

''I had no idea you came back!''

''My first day.''

He looked at the body and back at Holly.

''Wow! What a first day!''

''Tell me about it!''

''Did you…?''

''Get to see her?''

Nick nodded.

''Yes, I did. Temperature dropped below zero all of the sudden.''

Nick had sad face.

''This will hurt her a lot. Even if she doesn't want to admit.''

''What happened Nick?''

''You left…''

''That can't be the excuse. She is still angry at me?''

''You leaving just started the things… A lot of shit happened.''

''Care to tell me?''

He looked at Holly and for few moments he was really thinking about if he should tell her. At the end he decided to talk to her and tell her everything. If anyone deserved to know, it was Holly. After all, she saved Gail once… Maybe she could do it again.

''Sure!''

They met in a small café not too far from the station. Nick was waiting for her at the table. She took a seat and ordered a beer for herself too.

''So, start the story…''

He scratched his head.

''Where to start from?''

Holly noticed his wedding ring.

''You are married?''

''Yes, I am.''

He didn't look happy.

''Why so sad? Is your marriage ok?''

''I am not sure how to answer that.''

''Why?''

''My wife is very specific person and the situation is not the best at the time...Actually, it hasn't been good for years…''

''Why do you say that?''

''She married me out of despair… We hit the bottom and just tied the knot. She doesn't love me, I remind her of all the failures in her life.''

''How do you know? Maybe she loves you?''

''I am married to Gail.''

Holly opened her mouth to say something, but no words could get out. She took her bag and left the café. She needed air… She really needed air…