DISCLAIMER: I don't own In Plain Sight

This is my first IPS Fic, hope you all enjoy!


"You're my partner. You're my best friend. And I love you. Not like that. I love Abigail deeply and because I do, I need you to release me. I need to be free enough to have a life with Abigail and I need you to be OK enough for that to happen. Because if you call, I'll come. Every. Time."

It was very hard for Mary to keep from screaming at the unfairness of it all.

She had been Marshall's best friend for years. Ten whole years! She wasn't always the best friend he deserved, and she certainly could have been a bit more open to the idea of him having a life outside of their friendship. He was the one thing she was good at besides her job. She was good at her job, and she had become invaluable to the WITSEC office. Marshall had always valued her opinion for what it was, and he trusted her more than anyone else.

But that was before Abigail.

Abigail had gingerly walked in and had become Marshall's first priority. She tore down everything Mary had worked so hard to build and left a trail of destruction in her wake. Within a few months, she had moved in with Marshall and was now his fiancée. She managed to get Marshall to break their strong bond.

And Marshall seemed to love her. He was happy with her. Which was all that mattered to Mary; Marshall's happiness.

It didn't matter that Mary had trusted him implicitly with her life. Trusted his promise to never leave her, she was worst off having him near and not being able to tell him her problems. Problems made by Brandi's incessant need to go out and leave her daughter in Mary's care for days at a time. Or that Kenny had cheated on her. Even that there was a possibility that Jinx could fall off the wagon.

Mary had a strong desire to put in her 2 week notice, but knew that was just wishful thinking. Where would she transfer to? Could she do that to the girls? At least here she had Mark's mother to help with the girls when she worked. Would she come with her? And Jinx? Would she be able to stay out of trouble and on the wagon if she left?

"Mary", came from Marshall's office. Mary shook off her reverie and walked into his office. As she walked in she looked up to find him looking nervous. What's he nervous for? "Yeah, Chief?"

Marshall looked up as Mary walked into his office, he was nervous; he had to tell her about the new Inspector coming the next day. Not only a new Inspector, her new partner.

"Please sit, I have some news to share with you." Marshall noticed the apprehensive look she shot him, and knew that she was aware of his nervousness. He noted that she looked tired, haggard somewhat. But since the talk in the balcony she hadn't shared any personal information. He was trying to give her space; she would eventually tell him what was wrong.

"Well? What sort of news am I in for today?" she sarcastically asked.

Marshall inwardly groaned knowing that it wasn't going to be easy to tell her but, "Your new partner will be here tomorrow morning and I need you to show him around."

Mary just sat there staring at her once best-friend, now boss, not sure if she should be pissed or just throw in the fucking towel and quit. She got up and walked to her desk, grabbing her Glock, bag and walked out of the office.

It was so unexpected he just sat there staring at her retreating form. He had expected her to yell, scream, and rant, any emotion not the emotionless reaction he received. Not sure what to do he didn't notice Delia walking into his office.

"Chief? Is something the matter?" she asked concerned.

"I'm not sure, I just…I just told Mary that her new partner was coming tomorrow. S-she just walked out, no yelling, no nothing", he was frowning looking up to find Delia staring at him, angry. Angry?! What the hell?!

Delia just sympathetically shook her head and walked out of his office too. He shook his head to try to understand any of this. He was musing all that had just happened when Delia walked right back into his office, "Seriously? I thought I was supposed to be Mary's partner?"

"You're not ready and I won't apologize for that!" he was pissed now. He was the Chief and as so they all had to understand that he made the decisions.

"Not ready?! What is that supposed to mean?" the happy go lucky, but now upset Delia was pacing back and forth in Marshall's office. "As far as I'm concerned I'm not on probation or a newbie."

Marshall stood up and went around his desk to stand in front of Delia, "I didn't mean not ready to be an inspector, but not ready to partner with Mary. You know how she is, how tough she can be. I need her with an Inspector that will be able to balance her out."

Delia looked up and stared at her Chief. She understood but, "So, Charlie and I are partners

"Yeah, pretty much," muttered Marshall. "Now go back to your desk and do your paperwork."

Mary got in her car and drove all over Albuquerque. She was…what was she?! Mad, pissed, angry, hurt, sad? She couldn't make up her mind, so she just drove until she had reached the middle of nowhere Albuquerque. She sat in her car for a few hours thinking about how her friendship to Marshall had fallen to the wastelands.

She reached for her cell and dialed, two rings later, "Hello?" answered Madeline, Mark's mother.

"Hey Madeline, how are the girls?"

She laughed over the phone sounding excited and said, "Oh, you won't believe what happened today! Lizzie took her first steps!"

Mary's eyes started to tear a little, sad that she wasn't there to see her niece take her first steps, but even sadder that Brandi had missed it.

"That is wonderful news," Mary was able to say without her voice betraying the emotional state she was in. "I'm coming home now; we'll go out and celebrate!"

She cried halfway home and then had to rein in her emotions. Something else she couldn't share with her used-to-be-best-friend. Another tear made its way down her face.

TBC