Disclaimer: Mary and Marshall belong to David Maples. If they hadn't been misused by others I wouldn't be writing this.

Miraculous Mary – Extended Play Version

And so it begins

MARY POV

The office, hell the job is different now. Delia's my 'partner' and Marshall is Chief. He hasn't been a bad boss. I almost feel sorry for him. He's stuck in the office fiddling with budgets and wedding crap while I still get to do what real marshals do. Well, what real Inspectors do.

The office has changed since I started working Witness Protection. New furniture, a fancy security gate and additional Inspectors. Never thought I'd regard Eleanor's time with us as the good old days. I hear from Stan every once in a while. Delia's not a bad marshal. She's grown into her position and has good instincts with the witnesses. She's the good cop in this partnership, just like Marshall used to be.

Albuquerque isn't the same either. I keep on dreaming of packing up the minivan and taking Norah and I the hell out of here. Too many memories. Too many bad choices. Norah is the light of my life but she's the only good thing that ever came from a bad choice. It isn't the life I imagined but I cherish each day with her.

It's easy to feel that way because I don't spend all day wrangling diapers and baby food. Joanna. God. What would I do without her? It will be a miracle if she hangs around till Norah's in preschool. Gotta start looking at that. Besides making Norah the beneficiary on my life insurance I bought another kind of life insurance - my own bulletproof vest. It stays in the minivan with a helmet and a lead blanket I can throw over Bug. I hope to God I never have to use that.

Marshall as Chief! Huh. Stan once said I was his best Inspector but I knew better. He knew I don't have what it takes to move up the ladder. Marshall, son of the legendary Seth Mann could have written his own ticket anywhere but didn't need to trade on his Dad's reputation. His hard work and expertise earned him the respect of the regional director, and her bosses. Even if he is a geek.

Five generations of Manns as marshals, all leading to the one and only Marshal Marshall Mann. He found his niche navigating the morally dubious waters of witness protection – serving justice by exchanging safety for testimony. WitSec was as far from his father's fugitive recovery job as he could get and still be a marshal. I admit, I once felt like Seth – WitSec puts criminals back on the street. Very few of our witnesses are good folks in the wrong place at the wrong time. Most of them are varying grades of scum. I've never been the Pollyanna change your life get a new start person. That was Marshall. I'm the suck it up and be grateful you're alive Inspector.

These days I'm going through the motions but my heart isn't in it. I even moved my desk so I don't face Marshall's office. Despite having released him that awful day on the balcony, he still has a hold on me. Every time I see his ear splitting grin and hear him talk about Abigail and the wedding my gut clenches. Maybe I'm getting an ulcer? I've cut down on caffeine but it still hurts. He's moved on and it's time for me to move period.

I've been putting out feelers to other WitSec offices. Even talked to Stan about what my options are. There are marshal positions like ours that never appear on the department job listings. Stan hinted I could qualify for one of those. I just don't know what or where they are. Fortunately I have Stan to look for me. I made him promise not to tell Marshall until I have something definite. Dear Stan. I've put him in a tough spot but he's never complained. He knows I need a job where I can carry my Glocks. I feel naked without them.

I'm working on the Paderewski's intake forms. Four kids under the age of seven! If their mother wasn't crazy to start with she certainly is now. At least most of the kids are too young to remember their 'real' names. These four innocents have taken the move and all the changes better than I dreamed. Only one temper tantrum that Marshall quelled with an origami giraffe. Each kid now has an origami animal. When they settle they can start their own zoo.

Their father is no innocent. Geoff, was running an illegal gambling den. The wife, her hands full of babies never suspected a thing. He borrowed money from the mob and when he was unable to repay it he took his family and ran – straight to the FBI. In return for what he knew about the Galbans he and his family got new identities and a lovely three bedroom apartment in beautiful sunny Albuquerque. He complained about the weather, the schools, and the apartment but I told him it beats being dead. He knows what the mob would do to his kids.

I've just finished their forms when the facial recognition program I've been running dings. Crap! It's Marion Brown's ex. She isn't testifying against him, but he's a jealous abusive son of a bitch. After seeing Spike Jergens killed by two hitmen from the Alsace gang she ran to the police and agreed to testify if they would get her away from her ex-husband. She's been living in Albuquerque and working at Colin's shop, Peoples Flowers. Who knew she had a talent for flower arranging?

"Colin?"

"Hey, hi Mary. Long time no see. You finally up for that threesome with me and Ingrid?

"I don't know. Are you 50 yet?" I don't have time to stoke his fantasy today. "Is Marion there?"

I'm always abrupt but he knows I didn't call to chat. "Uh, yeah. She's working today. Why?"

Colin Berenson hires biker ex-cons and the occasional 'friend' of Mary. "Her ex is in town. Get her out of sight and keep her there until I get there."

"Sure Mary. No problem. If he shows up Nathan and I can take care of him."

Nathan's still working there? He and Colin fought every day when he started. "No, you don't. I don't want anyone getting hurt. I'll be there in 20 minutes." Colin's flower shop is on the other side of town. "30 tops. Just keep her out of sight."

"Will do."

Even before I hang up I'm getting my gun and badge. As I'm putting on my jacket Marshall comes out of his office. He's always had a way of knowing when trouble is brewing, especially if I'm involved. That Doofus should have figured out a long time ago that I was trouble.

"What's up Mare?"

Oh, so it's Mare now? Only my friends call me that and after the talk on the balcony I don't have any. Not at work. But this is not the time to school him in the error of his ways.

"Marion Brown's ex showed up on the video feed from Sunport, Chief. I'm going to Colin's to get her."

As I'm pulling my hair outside my jacket collar I see him wince when I call him Chief. Too bad. That's who he is now. That's what he wanted.

"I'm coming with you. Colin can be," he pauses looking for just the right word. "volatile. Delia's in court and I don't have anyone else to send."

Translation: There's no one else I would trust to come with me. He's right. But it's also true that there's no one he would trust to have my back. Nice to know he still sort of cares.

"I can do my job Chief. Marion's ex has only been in town an hour or two. I want to know how he found her because if he could the Alsace gang can too."

Marshall's suit jacket flaps as he runs to his office for his gun and badge. I don't wait for him and head to the parking structure. I've got the van side door open and am smoothing my tank top over my flak jacket when he appears. I put on my leather jacket and close the side door then get in the driver's seat, starting the car. He glares at me through the passenger window until I unlock the door. I could leave him standing there, but that would be childish, and he is the Chief. Tempting though.

Colin's place isn't that far. I park the van around back and jump out. I knock on the back door while Marshall walks around to the front of the store. Marion should be in back, safe. "Colin! It's Mary. Open up." Nathan opens the door and I scoot in. "Where's Marion?"

Nathan points to the storage room and I'm heading there when I hear Marshall shouting from the front of the store. What the hell? What does Marshall think he's doing? I poke my head in the storage room. "It's going to be okay Marion. I'll be back in a minute. Hide and don't come out till I tell you." She nods and squats down behind some hay bales. Hay bales? There's another shout and the sound of glass smashing.

I crouch down and draw my gun pointing it down using both hands. Colin is a big guy and I can see he's got another man – Marion's ex - in a choke hold. I point my gun at the guy and bellow "US Marshall." The guy doesn't stop struggling but Colin tightens his hold so I can cuff him and check for weapons. Finding none I look around for Marshall. "You can let go now Colin but keep an eye on him." My heart is in my throat when I spot a cowboy boot behind a fallen shelf of marble columns and flower vases.

I push pieces of shattered vase aside with my boot. Marshall is lying on the floor in a puddle of water, glass, flowers and decorative ceramics. "What the hell happened?" I push fragments aside so I can kneel and check Marshall.

"This guy," Colin tightens his choke hold when the idiot struggles. "Clocked him with one of those marble columns and pushed the entire display over on him." I follow Colin's nod to a white marble column with a piece missing. Is that blood?

I put my fingers on Marshall's carotid, relieved when I feel a pulse. "Only you could get hit with a Greek column, Doofus. You're much too snooty to get hit by something as mundane as a brick." He doesn't look bad. Is that blood oozing from the back of his head? "C'mon Marshall. Wakey wakey." When he doesn't respond I get out my phone and call 911. "Officer down." I give them my badge number and hand the phone to Colin to give them the address. "C'mon Doofus. You're going to be fine. You've been hit harder than that. Hell I've hit you harder than that."

Minutes pass. I elevate his legs and check his breathing. His heart beat seems normal. Everything looks normal except that he's lying on the floor with his eyes closed. "Dammit Doofus. Get up already. You're gonna make me worry, and I hate to worry." The EMT's arrive, ask me his name and get him on a gurney. "What hospital?" I yell after them.

One of them turns. "Presbyterian." I've caught up to them so I don't have to shout. "Take good care of him. He's a US Marshal, one of the good guys." It's not till they've loaded him in the ambulance and have driven away that I realize I gave them his cover name, Miller. Crap! Hope that doesn't mess up his treatment. His medical records are under his real name.

Now it's up to me to take care of the bad guy, Marion's ex. I can get him on assaulting a federal officer and see what else I can dig up once I get back to the office. I call ABQPD and tell them to come get him. Then I ask for Abigail. I haven't said two words to her since she and Marshall announced their engagement but I can't avoid her now. She is his fiancée and deserves to know.

"Detective Chaffee? This is Inspector Shannon." I'm biting the inside of my cheek to be polite to this coffee treating southern fried defective detective. "Marshall's been injured. They're taking him to Presbyterian. Thought you'd want to know." I don't know why Marshall is still out so I don't have more to say. "No, he wasn't shot. He was hit in the head." She has more questions but I don't have any answers.

To her credit Abigail doesn't freak out. She's a detective and has seen her fair share of gore and bruises. Of course it's different when it's someone you know, someone you love. Someone who's said they love you. I am glad to get that conversation over with even though I hung up on her.

ABQPD has made good time and Marion's ex is being waltzed into the paddy wagon by two burly uniforms. Now I can get my witness. "Marion?" I approach the storage room. "It's Mary. He's gone. You can come out now." She rushes out and wraps her arms around my waist. "Do you have any idea how he found you? Have you contacted anyone from home?" She can't think of anything but she's too rattled to think. Once she's safe I'll ask her again. It could be something as simple as a post card with an Albuquerque postmark. Or something more sinister, like a WitSec mole.

I call the office and get Charlie and one of the Phoenix marshals to take Marion to a safe house. Until we know how her ex found her, she's not safe here. There are transfer papers in my future. I feel bad about the mess we've made of Colin's store and find a $50 in my wallet. "Here, I'll expense it through the office. Let me know the damages and I'll see that you get reimbursed."

"Nyah Mary. It's okay. I sweep up bigger messes than this after doing a wedding. Just let me know how Marshall's doing."

"I will," I assure him.

Nothing left to do but wait for Charlie and start on getting Marion transferred - right after I check on Doofus, I mean Chief.

A/N: This one's for Meg whose review on the last Miraculous Mary one shot I re-read whenever I need a boost. Thanks! This is not a one shot. This story will follow Mary through the ramifications of the changes she makes. Check in next Saturday for the continuing adventures of Mary and Marshall.