Okay, so I know this isn't exactly a popular pairing but I like it. I actually like Gail 'cause she's flawed and damaged and snarky. And I like Dov for her because he actually stands up to her and gives back as well as (sometimes better than) she gives. For me they're on equal footing. I have nothing against Chris, I actually like him, but I don't like him and Gail together. I find their relationship either boring and/or painful, because it just makes her look bitchy and him completely whipped. I do admit they have moments when I find them completely Aw-worthy but those are few and far between. So Gail and Dov are my preferred pairing and I won't apologize for it. Even though the current storyline makes me feel horrible for Chris (who, by the way, looks like he's verging on becoming a serial-killer - by his face you would have thought they were sexing it up in the back seat or something).

Anyways, this is my little end-tag to the 2x09 episode. It works as a stand-alone but I would be happy to continue if people are interested (see above for the 'unpopular' part).

I do not own the show or characters; I just borrowed them for a little bit.

Dov stared out the window at the passing scenery, still trying to wrap his mind around everything he'd done while under the influence of his pain meds. Not only had he declared his love for his best friend's girlfriend but he'd done it in the most cliché way possible (She's not you? Luck of the soul? Who actually talked like that?). As bad as that was, though, and as horrible a friend as it made him, it wasn't what really bothered him. What really bothered him was that Gail had gone into that apartment alone, into a possible hit-in-progress, because he hadn't been able to back her up the way he should have. And if he were being honest with himself he couldn't even blame it on an adverse reaction to the medication. He'd popped the pills like candy because they numbed him; because more than his back pain he'd hoped they'd desensitize him to her. It hadn't worked (failed spectacularly, actually) and his attempt to dull the pain of not having her could very well have cost him her for good. And he never would have forgiven himself.

Gail parked the car outside the pub and gave Dov a few minutes to compose himself. Awkward didn't even begin to cover the situation but now that their lives weren't actively at risk the anger and exasperation took a back seat to concern. "You know, I really don't mind driving you home," she offered for the third time since they'd left the station. "It's really not a big deal…"

He didn't think he could go home. Not tonight. Not when all he'd do was wait up for her and Chris, torturing himself with thoughts of them laughing at how stupid and worthless and delusional he was. "No. It's okay – the nurse said I was fine. You know, I'll just stick to juice."

"Okay," she whispered. But it wasn't okay. He'd had one hell of a day and she really didn't think The Black Penny was the best way for him to finish it off. For a lot of reasons.

While part of Dov was grateful she was still there, hadn't run the first chance she got, a bigger part wished she would just go. Sitting there beside her (so close and yet so far) with her being so nice was killing him. Of all the things he wanted from her (with her), pity wasn't one of them. "I told Chris we'd meet him inside…"

"Oh, okay." She didn't know why she sounded so surprised (it's not like they would have met outside), or why she was undoing her seat belt like it was the one thing standing between her and salvation. There wasn't much she did know at the moment.

When her hand touched the door Dov realized he really didn't want her to leave. Not without talking about it. "Gail…"

"Don't," she warned. If they talked about it then it became real, and it needed to stay an embarrassing but innocent Oxycontin-induced hallucination. She couldn't deal with it otherwise. The ringing of her cell drove home why.

"Okay," Dov acquiesced quietly (quickly).

Despite the persistent ringing (or maybe because of it) she pointed out, "We should go in."

"Yeah." They should go in, if only because staying there wasn't changing anything. She was still dating his best friend and he was still the idiot who couldn't appreciate his amazing girlfriend because she wasn't the woman sitting next to him. And yet he couldn't bring himself to move.

Quashing a surge of (unfair) irritation with her boyfriend Gail hit the 'silent' button on her phone and slowly turned to face Dov. He was hurting, badly, and all she wanted to do was reach out to him, to somehow make it better. But she knew she couldn't make it better without making it worse. For all of them.

Dov sighed when she turned her attention back out the windshield without saying anything. She was probably avoiding going in because she hadn't figured out how to tell her boyfriend his best friend was traitorous scum. And he couldn't even blame her.

They sat in uncomfortable silence for a while, avoiding each other's gazes in favor of the passing traffic, Gail contemplating going against his wishes and taking him home anyway. Seeing Chris was probably the last thing he needed right then. Or maybe it was the last thing she needed. "Are you sure?" she offered again, hoping he'd changed his mind.

Hopeless romantic or sucker for punishment (could go either way), Dov couldn't not take the opening she'd given him. Finally meeting her eyes he promised quietly, "More than anything."

The breath caught painfully in Gail's throat for the second time that day, the same earnest look on his face as he'd had when laying out their future. Except now he was sober and her eyes were burning and she knew that if she didn't get out of there the line they were carefully straddling would most definitely be crossed. Maybe even by her.

Before Dov's slowed senses could register it she was out of the car and, in no shape to chase her, he let his head fall back against the seat and closed his eyes. He really needed to learn how to quit while he was ahead…

Gail closed the outer door of The Black Penny behind her before leaning her forehead against the cool wall, taking a minute to calm her erratic breathing. Throwing once last regretful look towards the street she entered the bar proper and found her friends' table.

"It's about time," Andy ribbed with a smile, happy to see her. "Where's the 'Stein' part of 'Peckstein'?"

Maybe she was just being hyper-sensitive but it seemed to Gail that that particular label was being thrown around way too often lately. "So how badly did you guys embarrass the 15 today?" she deflected with her trademark snark, offering Chris her cheek when he stood to greet her.

Andy's smile turned into a full-fledged grin. "Not too badly, actually." She just had to keep reminding herself that she was completely over cops…

Chris pulled a stool over for Gail and waited for her to sit before asking, "So where were you? Shift ended over two hours ago…" He'd noticed the way she'd avoided the question of Dov's whereabouts and he wanted (needed) to know if she'd lie to him outright.

Torn between relief and dread when she saw Dov approaching the table, Gail tilted her head at him, an effected smirk gracing her lips. "Nancy Narcotic here needed some time to come down off his high."

It could have been the truth – they'd heard about his reaction to the meds when they got back to the station – but Chris couldn't shake the ominous feeling that something else was going on. Telling himself he was being paranoid because of the Samuels thing he set the feeling aside. "We heard; you okay, man?"

"Peachy." Rolling his eyes Dov told them, "Nancy Narcotic is gonna get another round…"

Gail couldn't blame him for wanting to get passed-out drunk (she was seriously considering it herself) but an alcohol/Oxycodone overdose was not the answer. Softly (but firmly) she reminded him, "Juice, Dov…"

"Yes, Mother," Dov sassed over his shoulder. He couldn't decide if her caring was a good thing or a bad thing, and he ultimately settled on it being bittersweet.

At the others' questioning looks Gail covered blithely, "I've already dealt with stoned Dov today; I'd like to avoid drunk and stoned Dov if that's okay with you guys…" She shifted her gaze challengingly between them until they dropped theirs (Chris sooner than Andy, of course).

"Be right back…" Andy told them, giving them some time alone under the pretence of helping Dov.

Chris put his hand on Gail's thigh and tugged her towards him so he could nuzzle his face into her hair. Inhaling the scent of her shampoo he forced himself to forget all about Samuels and what he'd (thought he'd) seen. "I missed you…"

"You, too," Gail mumbled as he kissed her neck, fighting the guilty knot that had formed in her stomach. She just had to make it through tonight, she told herself. Tomorrow would be better. Tomorrow emotions wouldn't be so raw and things could go back to normal. They had to go back to normal, 'cause, God help her, she didn't know what she'd do if they didn't.