It took a moment for Holly to react.

''What did you say?''

''I asked if we have to get married?''

''Do you want to get married Gail?''

For a moment Gail was silent. She was looking at the sealing and being very quiet.

''Can I be honest?''

''I would love you to be.''

''If I say yes and my mother finds out, and that is bound to happen, it will be event for almost half of Toronto, including your parents…and I don't want you to be in any situation for them to hurt you in any way.''

Gail kissed her hand.

''I want to spend my life with you Holly. I have no doubt about that. I just don't want the wedding and a chance for you to be humiliated or hurt.''

''Gail…''

''I am not saying no to the marriage. I am saying it to the wedding. Does it make sense to you?''

''Yes, it does…But I feel like it's time to stop hiding from life Gail. I must face my parents…your family at some point and tell them who I am.''

''I know… But I don't want them to hurt you.''

''Oh, honey… There isn't much for them left to do…and you know it. I am not that boy scared to death anymore. Now I can defend myself and I know I deserve much more than they think I do.''

''So, we are doing this?''

''Oh, we are babe…''

They started giggling and Holly got out of bed. She went to her closet and went in. She came back a moment later with a small red box.

''You got me a ring?''

''Not really… I've had it for years…''

''What?''

''It's mu nana's… She gave it to me few years ago. She was the only family member still speaking to me.''

''What?''

''After my parents said I was dead, she came to Montreal and pretty much turned earth and sky to find where I was buried and what happened to me. It was hard to avoid her. I expected her to have same reaction as mom and dad, but she just hugged me and cried. We both cried like babies. After that she moved from Toronto to Montreal and never stopped supporting me. After her death she left everything to me and that got my mom and dad very angry. They counted on her money. Nana Pierce sat on pretty nice amount of money and my mom saw it as a betrayal by her mother. She put her deviant grandchild above her. This ring was her engagement ring.''

Holly opened the box and Gail was left breathless by the ring. It was cushion cut sapphire with two diamonds on the side in the platinum band.

''It's gorgeous Holly.''

''Looks good with your eyes.''

''So, will you officially pop the question or should I just put the ring on?''

''Do you want official proposal?''

''Yes, what sort of girl you take me for?''

''Sometimes I have no idea what is going on in that head of yours.''

''That's good. I still keep you on your toes.''

''You always did Peck.''

''Come on doctor, get down on your knees.''

Holly smirked at that comment.

''Now I am confused. Do you want sex or proposal.''

''Ha…Ha… Not funny… Come on Stewart.''

Holly got on one knee and opened the box again.

''Abigail Elizabeth Peck, I've known you were the girl I wanted to marry from the moment I saw you drink those boys under the table at Stive's party.''

Gail narrowed her eyes at Holly, bud didn't interrupt her.

''That was hell of the night and I was impressed by how much you could drink…But what knocked me off my feet was the moment you took a seat on the edge of the pool and told me that you feel like we saved one another. And in so many ways it was true. You saved me in so many ways Gail Peck that I can't start to list them. You brought so much love and joy into my life…even when you were little grumpy and pain in the ass…You gave me reason to live Gail Peck and I will never forget the feeling of having a reason to get out of bed. Waking up next to you and falling asleep in your arms were always my two favorite things. I will not deny that sex was always amazing, but later on I learned that sex is something you can have with anyone…but intimacy is reserved for the special ones. I've never loved anyone as much as I loved you and as much as I love you now. So, would you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?''

''Yes, yes I will.''

She put the ring on Gail's finger and the other woman pulled her into a kiss. Both of them were crying but had no idea why. It was a mixture of happy tears, sad tears, relief… They found one another after more than decade and they were getting married, like both of them wanted all those years ago.

''I love you so much Holly.''

''I love you too Gail…''

They made love and Gail felt like she was floating. After they were done, she cuddled up to her wife to be and stole glances at her ring. Holly saw it and smiled. She loved when Gail had those girly moments she loudly ''hated'' and said she never has.

''Gail…''

''Yes?''

''I want to have our wedding in spring….''

''I love the idea.''

''….at Peck garden.''

''Not happening.''

''Why not?''

''I told you.''

''She can't get 500 people there.''

''Your mom and dad…''

''I don't care Gail… I want to marry you at the place where we spent so many amazing moments. When I think of that garden, I only have good memories.''

''Can I think about it?''

''Yes, you can. If it really bothers you, we can do it somewhere else…like at the park or by the lake where we went for the bike rides… I don't want to force you to get married there. It's our day…we both have to be comfortable with how and where we get married. Ok?''

''Thank you Holly.''

They fell asleep soon since they had pretty crazy day and they were pretty tired of the day's finish. Gail woke up first and made coffee for two of them. Holly took some time in bed before she was officially up. They met in the kitchen where Gail was having her coffee and some banana.

''Eating fruit? Are you sick?''

''No, you don't have anything else I like.''

''Oh, we must then go and get junk food for you babe.''

''I KNOW!''

She kissed Gail and took her coffee.

''When do you finish today?''

''I don't know. Sam and I have to talk to some people about…you know..the case.''

''Oh, and how is that going?''

''It's not. Everything is a dead end.''

''How come?''

''Nothing leads to some new revelation or any conclusion. Killer could be anybody.''

''I am sorry.''

''And what about you Holly?''

''I have work until two and then I have two lessons at university campus.''

''Really?''

''Yes, Dr. Larson recommended me to take over for him. Since his heart attack he had to cut the workload.''

''And how do we feel about lessons?''

''I love teaching…''

''And who are the students?''

''Cops. Well, academy brats.''

''Oh, that will be fun.''

''Why do you say that?''

''Because none of them wants to go to forensic lessons.''

''Well, it's mandatory.''

''They will suck and be pain in the ass.''

"So, nothing new…''

''Not funny Stewart.''

''Oh, honesty became a problem now?''

''Don't push it.''

''Love you too… I must leave now. You have the key and I'll be seeing you tonight.''

''Yes, I'll be here.''

They kissed and Holly left. Gail left few minutes after her. Sam was late that morning so she had time to prepare for the interview she had with women from Dr. Bell's list. She spoke with tem women of different age and social groups and they had nothing in common. They used different routes to go to work, they worked all over the town and had all sorts of occupations. Nothing, but the doctor, connected them. Gail hated those moments in cases when you hit the wall and don't know where to go from there. She spent most of the day staring at the murder board and trying to see something she missed. Sam was not losing hope. He choose to go back to all the crime scenes hoping that daylight might bring him different prospective. Maybe there was something they didn't see because they worked the cases during the night.

Holly's first half of the day was some sort of routine. She came to work, worked on a woman who died of natural causes, wrote a preliminary report and left work. The other half of the day was something she didn't expect. Being a nerd she is, her lessons were over prepared with a lot of slides with examples of what she was talking about. Before she got in to the lecture hall, she took a deep breath and walked in. She was surprised to be faced with a room that was packed. There was about 200 students there and all of them were from the Police academy. Forensic lessons were something they had to attend close to graduation and since few years ago, it became mandatory.

''Good afternoon… My name is Dr. Holly Stewart and I am forensic pathologist working with 15th and 27th division here in Toronto and that means that in few months I might be working with some of you. I am not here to give you boring lections about forensic, but teach you how to work with our team. Since you are ones coming to the scene first, I want to talk about securing the scene in the best possible way. It has happened few times that some evidence was inadmissible in court because defense lawyers claimed that samples were contaminated in some way or that there were some foreign fingerprints that turned out belonged to the officers working the scene.''

She looked around the room and noticed that some of the cadets were not that interested and some looked a bit angry that she blamed the police. She showed them slides of right and wrong ways of securing the scene. She also gave them a list of things they should do. Her lecture was interrupted by a very prepotent young cadet.

''So, you are saying that the police is to be blamed for all the evidence that was inadmissible in court?''

''No, what I said is that sometimes it's because the crime scene was not properly secured and that is what defense lawyers use as a reason to dismiss it. I think that justice system is a big machinery and that every clog can be the problem. Sometimes it's the police and the way they handled the scene, confession, sometimes it's police and forensic and chain of evidence, sometimes it's forensic with contamination of samples in the labs or mislabeling something or even doctors not doing good job on the bodies and overseeing some things that are discovered later in the independent examination of the body… Even the DA's office can screw up things. We should be all held accountable for the work that we do and results of our work. I am not pointing finger at just one branch.''

She took some water and continued speaking.

''Working with some officers closely on the scene I saw what should be done and changed so they would be more efficient at the scene and to prevent risk of any contamination or disturbance of the scene. I had cases when they moved the bodey.''

''And what if the victim is alive?''

''Then they take pictures before the EMTs move the body. No one will say a word if you are there to save a life. And if they prounounce at the scene, they leave the body with all the needles, intubation tube and all that would point out to what they did to body so pathologists, like me, would describe the state of the body they found on the scene and then everything they find at the morgue when body is transported. Forensic takes shoe prints from the EMTs to eliminate them, because it happens sometimes that the killer leaves traces in blood. By eliminating EMTs and officers that found the body, you can work the scene in different way and look for everything that doesn't fit.''

''You must be fun to work with.''

''I had no idea you are coming to the crime scene for fun. I always believed it had something to do with catching whoever did something wrong. If you go there for fun, you are in the wrong business. Crime scenes are not place of fun. They are usually places of tragedy, pain, danger… That is the place where someone's life ended or changed forever…but not fun. Seeing people killed or hurt is not fun. It's far from it. It changes you a lot and leaves very invisible scars. All of us working these scenes are touched by what we see. It's not fun to find decomposing body, it's not fun to work on a child that was tortured and killed, or a young woman that was violated and killed…or you name it… It's a lot of things, but it's not fun and I am asking you to show some respect for the job we all do.''

She continued her lesson and she felt the atmosphere in the room shift. She managed to overcome weird power dynamic from the start where they didn't follow the lesson, where young cadet tried to make fun of her…but now she was finally in power of the room. She finished her lesson and told them she will be seeing them next week. She went home and when she got there, Gail was in the kitchen making something to eat.

''Welcome home babe.''

Holly left her coat and bags on the chair next to the door and went to the kitchen. Gail gave her a small kiss and continued making diner. Holly put her arms around her and her chin on Gail's shoulder.

''What is it babe?''

''Some of the cadets are priks.''

''Some? Than you are lucky. In my class there were more than some.''

''And you were one of them?''

''At some moments… But I loved my forensic classes.''

''You did?''

''Yes, Dr. Brown made them fun. He was often sharing his experiences on the field and he said that the best three could shadow him for a week.''

''And you did?''

''Yes! I loved being in the morgue and watching him work.''

''That is a bit morbid. Following the guy around to watch him cut open the bodies.''

Gail made a face.

''Remind me what do you do for living Dr. Stewart?''

Holly narrowed her eyes at Gail.

''Fine, point taken.''

Holly went to change and Gail stayed in the kitchen and made some food for Holly too. When Holly came back, they had dinner in the living room and watched a movie. Gail picked some movie inspired by the James Paterson book. They both loved his books and they wanted to see the movie too. Both of them had something to say about it and at the end of the evening they went to bed. Their sleep didn't last long because they both got the call. There was a murder. They got ready and were about to leave when Holly stopped Gail.

''Babe, maybe you want to take your ring off…''

''Why?''

''Gloves… All the powder inside.''

''Oh…''

She went back to the bedroom and put it on a long chain and hid it under her shit. She showed Holly what she did and the other women smiled.

''That can work too…''

''So, does that mean that you don't want a ring?''

''I wouldn't be able to wear it… Only sometimes when I don't work… I am ok with a simple wedding band. It's simpler that way than to constantly think if I took off the ring, where did I put it and all…''

''Ok… If that's what you want.''

''It is.''

They arrived to the address and realized it was a house in a very rich neighborhood. It looked familiar to Gail, but she couldn't remember why. They entered the house and by the state of it, it was clear that party took place here and that almost everyone run away when they realized police was coming. There was glitter everywhere, red plastic cups, kegs.. Holly and Gail walked around the house and looked around.

''So, where is the body?''

''In the swimming pool doctor.''

Young officer pointed out to the big glass door and they went there. Forensic team was already taking pictures of everything and when Holly came out to the garden she saw body of a young woman floating in the pool.

''Do you know who she is?''

''No idea… We didn't touch her.''

''Ok… Pull her out if you are done documenting.''

They got the girl out and Gail couldn't believe.

''Shit!''

''What is it?''

''That is commissioner's daughter.''

''Commissioner's? As in?''

''My mom's boss… Don't be surprised if mommy dearest walks in any time now.''

''Cool… I'll her and shit load of other Pecks breathing down my neck…''

''In a totally not sexy way…''

''Thank you for that image in my head.''

''Shut up! Now I have it too.''

Holly smirked and god down to examine the body. Gail took a chance to take a stroll around the pool and look around for something that might help the case. She noticed few cameras in the yard.

''Officer, there are cameras here, here and there… Check where the control room is and if it's not in the house, check the company they use and ask for the footage.''

Few moments later detective Nash came to the yard. Holly didn't have a chance to work with her because she was on the maternity leave until few days ago. This would be the first case she is working with Nash. She didn't know much about the woman except that she was rookie with Gail, Chris and Dov.

''You must be Doctor Stewart? I am detective Tracy Nash, it's nice to finally meet you.''

''You too detective. Congratulations on the baby.''

''Thank you… ''

Before Holly started talking Gail came back.

''Nash…''

''Peck…''

Holly noticed that there was some tension between two women, but this was not time or place to ask what that was all about. Tracy turned away from Gail.

''What do you have for us?''

''A lot and nothing… She was in the water so I presume many traces will be lost. From what I see now, I am pretty sure she was on some sort of drugs. I will know more after the toxicology report. I don't see needle marks for now, so I presume it would be something she snorted or took some other way. I can't tell you if she inhaled something because water washed away all the traces that I could use…and what water didn't wash I am pretty sure was damaged by all the chemicals in the pool.''

''So, that is the nothing part… What is something?''

''There is some bruising around the neck and she has wound on her head that could be consistent with her hitting it on the edge of the pool or even somewhere else. I don't think that wound killed her, but it could have made her a bit out of it…especially combined with drugs.''

Both detectives were taking notes of what Holly said and each of them was trying to figure out what happened to this young woman. Gail remembered meeting the girl few years ago. She was not often present at the functions and her parents respected she didn't care about going to parties and being a puppet to her dad.

Holly got up from the floor and just as she was about to say something, Elaine Peck walked into the crime scene. She was surprised to see who were detectives on the case. She knew manipulating Gail would be a challenge.

''Abigail… Detective Nash… Dr. Stewart.''

They all nodded at her and she started looking around.

''Poor child. What happened to her?''

''We don't know yet mother. We will know more after Dr. Stewart finishes the autopsy.''

''Be discreet about this doctor. It's not any girl… Her father is…''

''Your boss… I know.''

Superintendent Peck didn't look very happy with Holly's comment.

''I'll leave you to it. I will call her father.''

With that she left the house. Holly looked at Gail and Tracy.

''Every time she enters the room I hear the music from Wizard of Oz... you know…wicked witch.''

Both Gail and Tracy nodded at that.

''I feel chills every time I see her. She scares me.''

''Try being her child.''

''I wouldn't want that.''

''No one, but my idiot brother wishes something like that.''

With that, Gail went to talk to the officers and see if they found something and Holly went away with the body. All three of them knew this case will take a lot of their and media attention and there would not be a lot of attention on them and no space for mistakes.