Chapter 1 – The Countdown
Damn countdown to midnight. Mary glared thunderously at Marshall. She hated this. Hated being forced to come to this New Year's Eve party. Oh Jesus, Joseph & Mary, now they're chanting. TEN..hated the local FBI office for throwing the party, NINE...hated Eleanor for getting so excited about the invitation and calling it to Stan's attention, EIGHT...hated Stan for making her come, in the interest of inter-agency bonding, SEVEN...hated Brandi for getting her all dressed up so that she attracted attention, SIX...hated all the idiots chanting the countdown, FIVE...hated that bastard Hinson, who had called out the challenge to Marshall to kiss her, FOUR...hated the caterers for running out of whiskey, THREE...hated the expectations from all these idiot law enforcement types that Marshall was going to plant one on her, TWO...hated the stupid tradition of kissing at midnight, ONE..hated Marshall for looking so calm and unaffected, the slightest hint of a smile on his lips. MIDNIGHT.
Bells chimed and the ballroom erupted with thrown confetti and the blowing of those stupid party favor horns. "Happy New Year Mary," his breath was warm in her ear as he wrapped his arm around her waist, bent down, and gave her a perfunctory, chaste kiss on the lips, amid hooting and hollering from all sides. His lips were warm, gentle, dry and oh so impersonal. Mary blinked up at him in surprise. Was that it? She really thought Marshall would have taken full advantage of the opportunity. She felt a small twinge of disappointment. Where did that come from?
"Happy New Year Marshall", she said uncertainly. Regarding him looking down at her so calmly, she started to regain her confidence, as she realized she was safe. Safe from what exactly? "Is that all you got?" she asked with a toss of her head, then smirked and trounced off towards the bar, her forest green skirt swirling around her legs. She didn't see the look on Marshall's face, the spark in his eye. But Eleanor did.
Oh dear, she thought, Mary has just made a strategic error. She had watched the entire scene with interest, from challenge issued to kiss administered. Eleanor had believed for some time that there were deeper feelings between the two marshals than they let on. She saw Mary tense before the kiss and relax once she thought she was off the hook. But Eleanor was quite sure Mary was not off the hook. I would love to see this play out. She watched Marshall's eyes track Mary across the ballroom floor, saw the determined look on his face. He had definitely made some sort of decision. Oh yes, she would like to see this play out very much.
Mary closed her eyes as she waited at the bar for her drink. The humanity in the large ballroom ebbed and flowed around her, hooting and hollering, tooting those damn silly horns, laughing, hugging, kissing. A number of salacious comments were thrown her way by passing revelers. Some people really could not hold their drink. Most of those comments originated from inebriated married men. Opening her eyes, she glanced down at her dress. Brandi did do a nice job picking this out, she thought. It was a deep forest green, a soft fabric that clung to her curves. On first glance a very conservative dress, long sleeved, with a slightly flared skirt that fell to just below her knees and a high neckline. On second glance, oh my. The ruching below the bust emphasized her full breasts, the clingy fabric swirled around her legs, outlining her firm thighs as she walked, the cut of the dress tapered at the waistline to show the curve of her hips. It was quite sexy and garnered Mary a great deal of male attention. The look on Marshall's face when she had walked into the kitchen had been priceless, his conversation with Brandi stopped mid-sentence. It wasn't often she could get Marshall to shut up. So maybe she didn't hate Brandi after all.
After finally getting her drink, she wandered through the ballroom, her eyes darting daggers at Hinson when she saw him, shamelessly flirting with a girl twenty years his junior. Hinson of the challenge issued to Marshall. Hey Mann, bet you don't have the stones to kiss your hot partner when the ball drops. Hinson with a voice like a bellows, so half the ballroom heard him. And then, unfathomably, they began to chant. KISS HER, KISS HER, KISS HER. Mary had looked around bewildered,while Marshall just looked slightly perplexed. Hensin, she still hated. Ditto the chanters.
She spied Stan, talking with some FBI suit, and frowned, This was all his fault. Mary, after the last few debacles, you need to make nice with the FBI folks here. You're going to this party. She had ranted and threatened violence. Stan simply closed his door on her. Marshall had watched with amusement and mildly told her he'd pick her up at 7:00. Mary didn't realize till later her silent acceptance made Marshall her date. Stan, she still hated, for tonight anyway.
She watched a couple in a corner playing tongue hockey and idly wondered where the tradition of kissing at midnight originated. Marshall would know. But she wasn't going to ask him. It was a stupid tradition and just put pressure on people. Stupid tradition - still hated.
She glowered down at the drink in her hand. Something stupid with an umbrella in it. How the HELL do you run out of whiskey on New Year's Eve?
Caterers - still hated.
Mary stood back against a wall and scanned the room. Full of happy people in bright dresses and snazzy suits. Sharply dressed waiters moving easily through the room, offering platters of finger food and glasses of champagne. No sign of Marshall. She did see Eleanor talking with a woman she knew was the secretary to the head of the local Albuquerque FBI office. She scowled. This woman was likely the major impetus behind this party. And Eleanor was happily in cahoots with her. FBI office, Eleanor – still hated
Her eyes narrowed. She had done her duty, attended this party and now it was time to get the hell out of Dodge. She set down her barely touched drink, and looked around for Marshall one more time. Not seeing him, she shrugged her shoulders. She would take a cab, call him later to let him know. And as for Marshall taking the whole kiss thing so easily in stride – still hated, well for a few minutes anyway. She could never stay mad at him for long. He was like a puppy dog that just wanted to please her. And you like it that he wants to please you.
She considered their relationship for a moment. He had been her partner for two years, lasting longer than any previous pairing she'd had. He had become a friend of sorts. She trusted him totally as a partner, to have her back. There was no one she would rather have with her on an operation. She was a little startled to realize she trusted him as much as anyone on a personal level too. And he did want to please her. She took shameless advantage of that, delegating her paperwork to him and any number of other unpleasant tasks. And he did them all without complaint. She wondered uneasily why that was. Theirs was an uneven give and take, with Marshall giving and Mary taking. That revelation made her ashamed and a little guilty. He deserved better, much better. Note to self: New Years Resolution #1: Be nicer to Marshall. Or at least it would be if she did resolutions.
Eleanor was watching Mary standing by herself, obviously engrossed in thought. Saw her put down her drink. She turned around at the tap on her shoulder. Stan asked her if she had seen Marshall. Looking around she spotted him by the main doorway, obviously waiting. Pointing him out to Stan, she put a gentle hand on his arm as he started to head over to him. Mary was walking towards the exit and Marshall was turning to follow her.
"Not now Stan," she warned, "Marshall needs a moment with her." Stan looked over and shrugged acceptance, wondering how Eleanor seemed to know about these things, while he remained clueless. Watching his marshal turn to follow Mary, he decided he was happier being in the dark regarding these two.