Disclaimer: I don't own IPS. I wish I did, but I alas…

AN: This is my first real fanfic. I did the IPod challenge, but I don't know that it should count. Anyway, be kind and Read and Review! (And don't be too harsh – I'm new at this)

Chapter 1

The minutes stretched into hours as they sat waiting. An odd collection of people brought together by one woman. Mary. She had been in surgery for over five hours and the stress was getting to everyone. Jinx and Brandi were sleeping in each other's arms, exhausted from the tears they had shed. Raph was sleeping in a chair. Marshall was trying desperately to keep it together while thinking about what he was going to do to the guy to shot his partner. Jinx, Brandi and Marshall all jumped when the waiting room door opened and the surgeon walked in looking tired and concerned. Marshall looked at Raphael, who was still sleeping, and wondered how he could be sleeping while his fiancé was in surgery fighting for her life.

"Ms. Shannon," he said to Jinx "Your daughter is out of surgery. There was more damage than we first thought. The bullet perforated her small intestines and grazed her spine."

"She's going to be ok though, right?" Brandi said, stifling a sob.

"It's really too early to tell. It's going to be a long road. If we can keep any infections under control she'll survive. "

Raph woke up and shot out of his chair. "Mary? Is Mary OK?" He shouted.

"It really is too early to tell what the long term effects will be." The doctor responded.

"Can we see her?" Jinx said, her voice filled with emotion.

"Yes, one at a time." The doctor replied.

Jinx was the first one to the door. Marshall stood, waiting, wanting nothing more than to push his way through the door to get to her. He knew that he had to let Jinx, Brandi and Raphael see her first. What would they think if he didn't? Raphael already despised him. He decided to use this time to call Stan and give him the update. Marshall pulled out his phone and dialed Stan's number.

"Stan. She's out of surgery. Jinx is with her now. What do you know?"

"We got him Marshall, we got him. I'm on my way over right now."

"What do you mean you got him? Is he in custody?" Marshall asked, praying that the answer was no. He wanted the bastard that did this to his Mary to pay. Custody wasn't good enough. He wanted him to suffer the way he was suffering, the way he had made Mary suffer.

"Yes. Marshall, I know what you're thinking, but let the law work. I'm on my way."

An eternity seemed to pass while Marshall stood waiting for his chance to see her. Jinx, then Brandi, then Raph all got their chance while Marshall waited, trying not to let the whole world see how anxious he was to see her, to comfort her. Raphael finally walked into the waiting room. There were tears filling his eyes, and exhaustion written all over his face. "Maybe he really does love her." Marshall thought as he headed for the door. The hallway seemed to go on forever. He fought the urge to run to her. As he reached for the door, he tried to brace his soul for what he was about to see. There she was hooked up to tubes and machines that were keeping her alive. His breathe caught in his throat and a small sob escaped his lips. He walked towards her trying to regain control of his emotions.

"Mare. I'm here." He whispered as he reached for her hand with one hand and smoothed her hair with the other one. "Mary, you have to wake up. I need you. I can't live without you Mary." His voice cracked as the tears flowed down his cheeks. He could contain it no longer. The emotions that he had been hiding for the last twelve hours erupted in ghastly sobs. "Mary, please…" He begged his body racked with grief. Trying to regain composure, he took a deep breath and put his head down. She was so still, so quiet, so fragile, so vulnerable. Vulnerable? Fragile? Those weren't words he thought he could ever use to describe Mary. He wanted to stay here until she woke up. He hadn't been there when she needed him most and she might not ever forgive him, but he had to be here now.

"Mr. Mann?" a voice at the door pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Yes."

"Mr. Mann, I'm sorry, she needs her rest." The doctor said. Marshall, having already decided there was no way he was leaving her side, pulled out his badge.

"I'm sorry doctor. I'm a US Marshal and this is my partner. The man who did this is still out there," He lied. "She needs to remain under 24 hour guard until the suspect is apprehended."

"Oh, OK. Try to let her rest." The doctor said as he walked nonchalantly out of the room.

Marshall gave her hand one more squeeze before he walked out the door and stood "guard." Stan would be there any minute and he needed to have an explanation for why he had lied to the doctor. What could he tell Stan? Sorry I lied to the doctor Stan, I'm in love with Mary and I'm not going to leave her side until I know she's ok. No, that wouldn't work. Sorry I lied to the doctor, she's my partner and I'm not leaving her until she's healthy? That might work, but would Stan see through it?

"Marshall. How is she?" Stan said as he hurried down the hallway towards him.

"She's…she's…" Marshall stopped, tears once again welling up in his eyes, unable to continue.

"What'd the doctor say? Marshall?"

"It's too early to tell. If she survives…" He stopped, trying to compose himself, "They don't know yet Stan. It's too early to tell." He said, while taking a deep breath and regaining control.

"Where's her family? Have they seen her?" Stan quizzed, trying to contain his own emotions and wondering if Marshall was going to make it through this.

"They've seen her. They're in the waiting room. I just…I can't. I…" he stuttered, unsure of how to finish the sentence so that Stan would understand.

"I know Marshall, it's okay. She's going to be alright. She's a fighter. You know that. Stay with her, I'm going to go check on the family."

Marshall was once again left alone with his thoughts. Staring at the lifeless form that was his partner, watching her chest rise and fall to the sound of the ventilator, praying that she would wake up. It seemed like hours past before he gathered the courage to walk back in the room.

"Hey Mare, I'm here." He said his voice barley a whisper. He smoothed her hair, and gave her a kiss on the forehead. As he held her hand, he put his chin to his chest and drifted off to sleep.

"Hey Doofus, did you kiss me?" Mary's voice startled Marshall awake.

"What? When? What?" Marshall asked, shocked that his Mary was ok.

"You forgot who, where and why." She replied coyly "And, you forgot to answer my question. Did you kiss me?"

"I, um, I…" Marshall's voice trailed off, knowing that there was no way around this. If she really knew he'd kissed her she'd beat him senseless.

"What? Marshall Mann's at a loss for words? Why, I didn't think that was possible." She said, giving him a smile like he hadn't seen in months.

"Mary, I um, I'm glad you're ok. You scared the shit out of me. You're not allowed to do that."

"I'm not allowed to do what Marshall? Get shot? I'm sorry; I wouldn't have except my partner left me alone in a dangerous situation so that he could go on a date." She snarked at him.

Marshall stared in utter disbelief. Not only was she awake, she was mad. Could she not see how much he cared? Did she not know how worried he was? But she was right. She wouldn't have gotten shot if he'd been there. He left her in that situation, knowing it was dangerous. It was his fault. His eyes brimmed with tears; he turned his head so that she wouldn't see him break down. She couldn't know where he had been. He had to keep it a secret until he knew for sure she was fully recovered.

"Marshall? Are you going to kiss me again?" Mary said, with a glint in her eye that he'd only seen when she was using force to subdue an uncooperative suspect.

"What?" he muttered under his breath, trying desperately to understand this situation, to understand her.

"Are. You. Going. To. Kiss. Me?"

"Do you want me to kiss you?" he asked with hesitation, positive he was going to walk into one of her traps.

"Yes. I do Marshall. I want you to kiss me. What the hell's wrong with you? Do you not know that I love you? Can you not see that I want you? Are you blind Marshall?" she snapped at him. Her voice full or hurt and lust mingled together to make something completely Mary.

He leaned in to give her a kiss, rejoicing that the day had finally come. The day he could love her, the way he'd always wanted to.

AN: So what do you think? Do you like it? Hate it? Where do you think I'm going? I actually have Chapter 2 started, but it needs some work so it might be a few days before I get it up. Please read and respond! I'll try to post chapters in a timely manner. :)