”Come up?” is all she can manage, heart pounding ridiculously in her chest. In the morning, she might have some explaining to do, but she realizes, she just didn’t care. She licks her lips nervously and waits.

”Alright” Holly finally says

Gail leads the way, up the stairs, through the kitchen and into the tiny back bedroom she calls home. Seeing Holly standing there by the bed makes Gail’s stomach do flip-flops. She stands there for a moment unable to think, unable to move. Holly steps forward, closing the gap between them.

”Are you ok?” She asks, brown eyes full of concern

”Its just so hard…” Gail says, voice trailing off, folding her arms in front of her chest. ”I hate being afraid. It makes me mean” she finally manages, each word a struggle to push out. She can’t look at Holly.

Holly sits on the edge of her bed and lets her continue.

”I mean, Oliver just walks right into danger. I thought we were going to die. But then again, there are worse things…” Gail takes a deep breath and seems to pull into herself.

Holly doesn’t dare to move or even to breathe, knowing that Gail is telling her more than she ever admitted to anyone.

”Sometimes, I wake up and I can’t see anything, and I just lay there listening for his footsteps to come for me again, and then I remember I’m here…” Gail shutters and licks her lips, ”And my own fucking mother finds out that I’m safe through the fucking dispatch and can’t even be bothered to visit me once, not once…” she continues, bitterness creeping into her voice.

Gail has never spoken like this before, but Holly has heard the story of her abduction through the grapevine. Just the thought of someone hurting her makes Holly’s blood run cold. It makes her draw a sharp breath that makes Gail stop. Finally, Gail turns to look at her.

”Please,” she whispers ”please touch me.”

Holly reaches for her, pulling her forward by her hips, sliding her hands up Gail’s back under her shirt in a way that sets Gail’s body on fire. Gail steps into Holly, with no more room for thought as Holly stands up pulling Gail’s shirt over her head in one swift motion. She leans into her, their lips meet, causing a low vibration in the back of Gail’s throat that sounds half way between a moan and a whimper. She reaches for Gail’s belt, breathing hard, as Gail kisses her harder and fumbles with the buttons on her shirt. With one more tug, Holly unzips Gail’s jeans and sends them down around Gail’s knees. Gail’s breath is coming in short gasps as Holly twirls them both around pushing her onto the bed. Gail lays there naked, watching silently as Holly steps back to remove her own pants and bra. And then reaching up, Gail pulls her on to the bed, skin meeting skin, lips to lips. Holly is like medicine to her. With each touch, with each kiss, Gail feels like less of a ghost, more solid, more real. As they devour each other with a passion fueled by fear and sorrow, and need, Holly takes her in. She meets Gail’s eyes and doesn’t turn away, and Gail knows she has finally found somebody who sees her.

A cool breeze carrying with it the scent of snow through Gail’s window caresses her bare shoulders as she awakens warm and safe under her down comforter, still wrapped in intoxicating soft skin and strong arms that hold her, even in sleep. Holly. This is Holly, she remembers, the hint of a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Freezing rain mixed with wet snow beats on the roof. Gail doesn’t ever want to move, to open her eyes and return to the chaos of the world. She sighs and shifts slightly. Holly cuddles in closer. Warm breath and soft lips brush Gail’s neck. She opens her eyes to find Holly’s face just inches from her own. In the cool, grey light of morning, Holly gazes into eyes that are the color of rain.

”Hey, good morning.” Gail whispers

”Mmmmm…” Holly tilts her head and leans in slightly to kiss Gail gently, full of sweetness, firm, and soft. When Holly smiles at her with eyes full of unspoken warmth and welcome, Gail feels like she has finally come home.