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The Set-Up
"Are you out of your ever-loving mind?"
Marshall cringed visually at the harsh tone in his partner's voice. He knew this wasn't going to be an easy conversation, but he was hoping to keep her placid. "Mary, you really need to-"
"I swear to God if you tell me to 'calm down,' I will get out of this bed and beat you," Mary told him, fire in her eyes. She pulled absently at the light blue hospital gown she was currently sporting. "There is no way that I am staying in bed for the next seven weeks."
"You just have to make it four more weeks. You can deliver any time after that."
"I-"
"Mary," Marshall cut her off forcefully. He moved the chair close to the bed, flipping his jacket away from his hips as he sat down. He propped his head on his hands while he studied her. "You suffered a placenta abruptio. Granted, a small one for now, but to keep it that way, you need to stay on bed rest. Otherwise, you risk both the baby and you. Now, you have two options: you can either stay in the hospital until you deliver or you can stay at home in bed."
Mary closed her eyes to will her tears away. She was tired of crying, tired of feeling vulnerable. She felt lost over the last week stuck in the hospital bed. "I cannot have my mother move back in: she's already driving me crazy with her drama. And who knows where Brandi is. So, you're telling me my only option is to stay in the hospital for the next month or so?"
"I have another idea, but I don't know how open you'll be to it."
Mary opened her eyes to peer at him. He had a smile on his face, but his eyes were tense. Her anger over her situation and her curiosity over what idea could cause that look in Marshall's eyes were now battling for dominance. Curiosity won and her voice softened slightly. "Well, what's your idea?"
"My sister-in-law has offered to come and stay with you until you give birth."
Mary hesitated, waiting for an ulterior motive to appear. "Why would she do that?"
Marshall took a deep breath. "Honestly, her and my brother are going through a bit of a rough patch and my mother is kind of suffocating her. Amelia could really use the break."
Mary rubbed her forehead with her finger, weighing the pros and cons.
"She's the wife of my younger brother, Sam." Marshall added, "For what it's worth, I really think you'll like her ."
"And if I don't... like her?" A list of the pros and cons ran through her head.
"Then, either she'll come stay with Abigail and me or she'll go back home to Texas." He didn't miss the way she froze at Abigail's name, but let it slide as he always did. Marshall refused to let himself believe that her reaction was anything more than fear that he would no longer be at her beck and call.
"So, basically, my options are to stay in the hospital, let my mother come stay with me, or let a complete stranger into my home." Mary sighed. "Stranger, it is."
"Really?"
"Yeah! It was your suggestion." His surprised reaction was causing her pause.
"I know. I just didn't expect you to actually take me up on it without a lot of prodding and maybe some bribery."
Mary shrugged, but didn't reply. All the fight that she had at the beginning of the conversation seemed to drain from her. That worried Marshall more than anything she had been through over the last week.
"Okay, I'll go call Amelia and let her know you agreed. She and Caelan can be here in two days."
"Caelan?"
Marshall cleared his throat. "My nephew. He's two and a half."
"You didn't say anything about a kid!" Mary nearly shouted with thinly-veiled panic. "This isn't an attempt to talk me into keeping this kid by showing me how wonderful kids are, is it? Because let me tell you-"
"Mary!" Marshall cut her off forcefully for the second time. "You need to stay calm. I told you that I would be there for you no matter what your decision ends up being. When I told her about the abruption, she figured you'd be put on bed rest and offered to come stay with you if you needed help. Amme's having a rough time in her marriage and needs a break. She has a two year old son, Caelan. Caelan is a good kid, quiet. If you want them to come stay to help you out, I'll let her know. If not, we'll figure something else out."
Mary looked properly abashed, ashamed that she doubted Marshall's motives. She hung her head down so she didn't have to see the pain hidden in his eyes, wondering not for the first time why it was so easy for her to hurt him of all people. "They can come. I'm sorry I doubted your motives."
Marshall left the room to call his sister-in-law leaving Mary to her thoughts as she had often been left the last week. It was hard to believe that it was just a week ago that Brandi was suppose to get married. Everything seemed so different now then it had that morning. Brandi had run off to who knows where. Mark had returned to Jersey with a half-muttered apology that things had gotten to intense for him. Jinx spent her energy lamenting over Brandi's plight with breaks to fussy over Mary and her "unborn grandchild." And Marshall had spent almost all of his free time with her during the last week, despite having pulled away from her over the past few months.
Marshall. Oh, Marshall. She didn't know what she'd do without him. He was the only one she focused on when she collapsed under the chuppah, the only one she could stand to be near her. She latched onto his hand as if her life depended it on as soon as they got her onto the stretcher and didn't let go until they forced her in the emergency room. Marshall anchored her. He was the only person she looked for when she opened her eyes in her hospital room. Mary knew that meant something, but she was afraid to dig any deeper than he was her best friend for fear of what she'd find there.
"Everything's all set," Marshall announced, coming back into the room. "Amme and Caelan will be here in two days. I talked to your doctor and they're going to release you tomorrow. I'm going to stay with you until Amme gets here."
"You don't have to do that," Mary protested. Her gaze was fixed firmly on his unbuttoned top button.
Marshall tilted his head, confused. "I thought you'd be happy to get out of here."
"I am. I just... What's Abigail going to say about all this? You guys just moved in together and you're spending all your time with me."
"She knows you're partner, my best friend. She understands."
Mary looked unconvinced, but said nothing further about Abigail. "Since I'm getting out of here tomorrow, what do you say to sneaking me in some real food?"
Marshall grinned widely. "Sure. What would you like?"
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Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed the start of this one. Not sure where it's going to end up. Could be an interesting ride. Going to keep the medical parts light as that's gotten me into some trouble in the past.
