Chapter Text
Disclaimer: I don’t own this, blah blah, not for profit, you get it.
◦ Friends at orphanage but ended in separate families au
Gail sat in the corner of the orphanages small garden, digging around in the dirt, her sandy blonde hair falling over her face and getting covered with mud.
“I thought Ms A told you not to do that anymore Gail” A small olive skinned girl said as she ran over to her.
Gail stuck her tong out at her, “Whatever Holly, I’m just trying to solve the mystery”
Holly pushed her oversized glasses up her nose and raised an eyebrow, “What mystery?”
Gail sighed exasperatedly at Holly, “Geeze Hol, for someone who’s so smart you really are dumb sometimes”
“Hey!” Holly huffed, “I’m not dumb!”
“Well you’re being dumb now” Gail kept digging in the mud, “I’m going to solve they mystery of who stole Alex’s rabbit”
Holly sat next to Gail confused, “But I thought Ms A said she must have left it at the hair dressers?”
Gail shook her head, “She didn’t ‘cause we where there together and I know she didn’t bring it”
Holly leaned in intrigued, neither of the girls noticed the couple standing across the yard watching them, “So what do you think happened to it?”
Gail smiled, glad her friend was listening to her, “I think Jessica took it, she’s always mean to Alex and she was in the house while we where at the hair dresser”
Holly nodded, “She was acting all weird and excited while you guys where gone, I didn’t hear much though, I was reading”
Gail snorted, “Of course you where reading nerd”
Holly shoved her playfully, “So if you think Jessica did it why are you digging?”
“Because she buried it, duh Hol” Gail said, rolling her eyes as if it was obvious.
“Why do you think that?” Holly asked.
“ ‘Cause she knew Ms A would look for it, and she couldn’t throw it over the fence or the neighbours would return it, so she had to burry it to hide it” Gail explained.
Holly nodded, “Ok, so why look here” she said pointing at the perpetually muddy corner of the yard.
Gail kept digging, “ ‘Cause if she dug up the yard anywhere else it’d be obvious, but this place is always muddy”
Holly nodded, “You’re really smart with this stuff Gail”
Gail chuckled, “Not as smart as you Hol, you know all that science stuff”
Holly nodded, “Yeah, but all that science stuff didn’t figure that out”
Gail blushed, enjoying the praise from her best friend, “Thanks”
Holly shifted and picked up a stick of her own, “Want some help?” Gail smiled and nodded.
After only a few moments Gail saw a bit of pale blue fur sticking out of the ground. Gail whooped and she and Holly quickly dug around until they pulled a very dirty stuffed bunny out of the ground. Grinning wildly the two ran back inside, again not noticing the couple who where watching them with proud smiles on their faces.
“Ms A! Ms A!” they yelled excitedly as they ran into the house.
“What?” Ms A demanded, turning around to se the bunny in their hands
“Bun Bun!” Alex squealed upon seeing her favourite toy, she ran over to them her glasses nearly falling off her nose and her dark hair flying wildly behind her. She ran over and grabbed Bun Bun from Gail’s arms, hugging him tightly, “Where’d you find him?”
“Yes girls,” Ms A said threating, “Where did you find him?”
Holly shrunk back nervously behind Gail, but Gail stood her ground, “We found him buried in the yard”
Ms A narrowed her eyes at the girls, “That would explain the mess, what have I told you about digging around back there?”
Gail was indignant, she’d rescued Bun Bun, why was she being punished? “I was looking for him, I knew Jessica must have hidden him and I figured the only place she could hide him was in the yard”
Ms A did not seem pleased with this answer, “Jessica took it did she?” Gail nodded, “Because from where I’m standing it looks a lot more like you two took it”
Gail and Holly’s jaws dropped, “We wouldn’t take Bun Bun, Alex is our friend!” Gail said angrily.
Ms A was about to say something else, when an unfamiliar voice spoke behind them, “We can vouch for them”
Gail and Holly spun around to see a strawberry blonde haired woman and an tall broad shouldered red haired man standing behind them, smiling fondly. “Who are you?” Gail asked bluntly, Holly elbowed her in the ribs shocked at how foolish Gail was being.
The couple just laughed though, “I’m Elaine” The woman said to Gail, “And this is my husband Bill” the man smiled warmly at her.
Ms A straightened, “You’ll vouch for them Mrs Peck?”
Elaine nodded, “We where e=watching them out in the yard, they’re two very smart girls”
Ms A nodded, “Ok, run along you two, I’ll speak with Jessica”
Ms A turned to leave and Alex smiled and waved at them before running off to shove her victory in Jessica’s face.
The couple approached Gail and crouched down next to her, “That was some impressive detective work” Elaine smiled at Gail.
Gail blushed and scuffed her shoes on the floor, “Thanks” she looked up nervously before asking them, “Are you here to adopt someone?”
Elaine nodded smiling at Gail, “We are” Gail looked down again, Bill and Elaine could tell she was trying not to get her hopes up.
Bill rested a hand on her shoulder, “Ms A had been telling us about you, and what you did today was very impressive” Gail looked up hopefully, “We where thinking of adopting you, if you want that is”
Gail grinned at the couple and hugged Bill. He and Elaine chuckled and hugged the little girl, happy she was so keen. The only one left out was Holly, still standing there watching the exchange. She knew she should be happy for Gail, everyone deserves to find their forever home, but Holly didn’t want Gail to go.
Gail smiled brightly, it was her last ever day at the home. Today Elaine, Bill, and her new brother Steve would come to take her home. She had all her things packed and ready to go as she sat on the steps of the home with her closest friends waiting for her new family to arrive.
Holly sat next to Gail, with Nicky and Alex sitting behind them. Gail was keenly watching the road, Holly sat next to her trying to seem happy. Nicky and Alex had grown bored and now Nicky was trying to creep Alex out by waving a centipede in front of her face.
“They’re here!” Gail said excitedly, jumping up from her seat on the stairs and pointing excitedly at the car.
The car pulled up and Steve jumped out, running over to hug his new sister. The two had bonded a lot since their parents had announced their intention to adopt Gail. Steve was a few years older then Gail but they’d become fast friends.
“You ready to head home Gail?” Steve asked excitedly
Gail grinned at him, “Duh, I’ve got all my stuff ready and everything” she said gesturing to her stuff on the steps.
“Hey guys” Steve said waving to the other girls, they’d hung out a few times at the home and had become fairly friendly.
“Hey Peck” Nicky said, her messy hair frizzing out of her head like a lions mane.
Bill Peck came to stand beside his children, “Ready to load up your stuff?”
Gail jumped excitedly, “Yes!”
Bill laughed and grabbed a few bags to take to the car. Elaine ducked inside to sign the final paper work. The kids all helped stacking the stuff up in the car and, when Elaine returned, began saying their goodbyes.
Nicky was first us, she shyly handed Gail a small kaleidoscope she had made before pulling Gail into a tight hug, the emotions and seriousness of the situation having only just hit her, “I’m gonna miss you Gail”
Gail smiled, tears welling up in her eyes, “I’m gonna miss you too Nicky”
Alex was next, she chuckled slightly and handed Gail a small blue bear, “I never did get to pay you back for rescuing Bun Bun” Gail grinned at her friend and wrapped her up in a hung, trying not to nock her glasses as she did.
Holly was last, she had hung back, hoping that if she delayed long enough Gail might decide not to go.
Gail smiled sadly at her, “C’mere Hol”
Holly began sobbing and ran to Gail, hugging her tight, “Don’t go” she blubbered into Gail’s shoulder.
Gail was crying to, “I’m sorry Hol, I’m going to miss you so much”
They held each other for a few moments before Holly pulled back slightly and picked up her gift for Gail. It was a scrapbook filled with pictures of them together, decorated and arranged by Holly.
Gail was blown away, “Hol, this is amazing” the tears where back with full force, “I’m going to miss you”
Holly smiled sadly at her, “I’m going to miss you to but” she sniffled and looked at Gail’s new family, “This is your forever home, and you should go with them.
After a few more minutes the two separated and Gail got into the car. She waved at her friends as the car started, “Bye guys, I’m going to miss you!”
The car began to drive and Holly chased after it, waving and shouting her goodbyes until she reached the end of the block.
-Many years later–
Gail stood back from the crime scene watching forensics bag evidence from around the skeleton as Cruz questioned the witnesses. She was watching them work when she felt someone brush past her.
“Hey Lunchbox, you’re not allowed down there” She said to the retreating back of a woman holding what appeared to be a red lunchbox.
“Thanks, appreciate it” was all she said as she strode towards the crime scene.
Gail took a step forward, narrowing her eyes at the woman, “No I said you’re not allowed down there”
The woman turned, “Who me?” she said before turning to face Gail.
When they made eye contact it felt like the world stopped.
“Holly?” Gail said, her voice choked.
Holly’s jaw dropped, “Gail? Oh my god!”
The two just stood their for a few moments, trying to come to terms with their situation before Gail broke the silence, “What are you doing here Hol?”
Holly was warmed but also a bit taken aback at hearing Gail use her old nickname, “I’m uh, I’m the forensic pathologist”
“Wow” Gail said, “I mean I knew you where a nerd but”
Holly laughed and playfully shoved Gail, “Nice to see you haven’t changed”
“You two know each other” Traci asked going over to Gail and Holly.
“Uh, yeah” Gail said, “You know how me and Steve where adopted?” Traci nodded, “Well Holly was my best friend while I was at the home”
Traci smiled at Holly, “What a crazy coincidence, cool you guys have found each other after all this time”
Holly smiled at Gail, “Yeah it is”
Gail smiled, “Hey would you like to come over for dinner tonight? Maybe catch up on what’s been happening in our lives”
Holly nodded and put a hand on Gail’s shoulder, “I’d love to”