Okay, I don't know if this is any good, but after I got done watching, "Who's Bugging Mary?" I just had to write something for it and this is what I came up with. While writing it, I got this idea to either go ahead and make this a chapter story or make it a collection of one-shots with made-up scenes from my favorite episodes just like this one. If I do that, I know all ready that the next two will be for "Trojan Horst," which is my all-time favorite episode ever and "Duplicate Bridge" just because I loved that stapler and I also loved the physiological underpinnings shown in the relationship between Marshall and his witness. If I do more chapters, I know only that each chapter will be named for a line from a Temptations song. Now, I don't know if it's originally by the Temptations or not, but this chapter is, "Lean on me." Now, the next chapter will only come if I get three good reviews on this chapter. So, if you want to read more, you have to write more. Remember, no flames here.

Lean On Me

The wind blows across the balcony of WIT SEC headquarters. A lone blond woman stands out, leaning onto the wall with both hands. Federal Marshal Mary Shannon, to be exact, is leaning on that wall. So, just when I thought that my life couldn't get anymore screwed up…She feels tears well up in her eyes, everything is so confusing. Brandi almost going to jail for something she didn't do…Dad sending Lauren…who, as it turns out, could be my half-sister. Why is it like this? Why does everything have to be…so…

Her mind trails off, melting down completely at this point. She isn't aware of the fact that she is again sobbing like a child, nor is she aware that she is no longer alone. Marshall steps out onto the balcony, standing just a few feet away. Even just standing this far from the woman is beginning to feel like worlds- no galaxies – apart.

A part of him is mad at her sister for dragging Mary into another one of her inexplicable messes, while another, gentler and more tender part only wants to go to Mary and hold her as before. That embrace had been so bitter, so sad. He had even been hesitant to move to her and take her into his arms, almost as if he had been afraid to find out what would happen if he did it. Mary could have just as easily pushed him away and ran, too stubborn and prideful to break down in someone's arms- let alone in his arms. But she hadn't. And her arms went around him, her fingers grasping fistfuls of his jacket and she had clung to him in that way…the way you do when you need someone to help you more than anything. The way you do when only your best friend can help.

He takes a step toward her, still being cautious, as if expecting a bad reaction. But Mary, as of yet, has not acknowledged his presence. He moves in a little at a time, his eyes never leaving her shaking form. He knows that she needs him again, he just doesn't want to upset her anymore. And he doesn't know if he can watch Mary cry anymore. He might just have a breakdown of his own.

Before he's within touching distance of the woman, he knows it's best to notify her, to try and make her realize that he's with her now. "Mare?" She makes no move, giving no indication that she's heard him.

His eyes widen a bit, trying to refrain from beginning to cry. "Hey, Mare!" He calls, this one a bit louder than the last.

She jumps now, turning and looking around as if she's expecting something bad to happen once again. When she sees only Marshall standing before her, his eyes telling her that he's here to help, she breaths out a sigh of relief.

"Oh, Marshall," She rubs her eyes, but now there's no hiding the fact that she's been crying. "Hey. Listen, about before…I kinda went postal on you…"

He holds up his hands and Mary stares as if he's crazy. She knows all ready that he's objecting to her apology. "Don't do that Mare." She crosses her arms, looking down at the ground and then back up at the man before her. Her partner and her best and only friend in the world. Her Marshall.

Mary, looking at him standing there as he stares back into her eyes, is only able to concentrate on one thing alone. She can only feel the need to do one thing. If she could just move to him and hide within his arms once more, just to feel his comfort, she can't count the number of things she'd give. She needs comfort. It may be a cliché, but it's the only thing that she wants right now.

Being in his arms before had been the only time she felt like someone was watching out for her. It had been the only time that she had felt comforted, protected even. And Mary- bad ass US Marshal Mary Shannon –needed someone to be her support for a change. She still needs it.

But she can't put him through another tear fest. She's always stood on her own two feet, carrying the weight of the world on her own shoulders. Why should things change now? Just because everything got more complicated? No, everything gets more complicated every day.

Marshall is now standing less than an inch in front of her. She can feel his clothing brushing against his. Her eyes flick down to the ground and then back up to her partner's. He looks so sad, but not in a way that would signify him being upset by something she's done. He looks like someone who is grieving for their friend. So, Marshall feels bad for her? That's it? He's pitying her?

"Marshall, you don't need to feel sorry for me," She tries to look angry with him, but this time is not able to pull it off. He merely shakes his head as he lifts a hand to place on the side of her face. Mary shies away, as he had expected she'd do. Disappointed, he allows his hand to fall back to his side.

"Mary," His breathing wavers for a moment and her eyes snap to his, her full attention on him from the moment he used her name. He never calls her directly by name. It's always "Mare." So she knows that, at this point, anything he says is important and will be nothing but complete honesty. "You don't have to apologize. Everything bad that happens is not your fault. Please, there's no more need for you to accept the blame for your sister's mistake. It's not going to change anything."

Mary continues to look at her partner, fascinated by his words. "I don't understand," She's always had to take the wrap for everyone, clean up everyone's messes. Brandi and Jinx can't get along without her. It's the only way she's ever known how to live, being everyone else's support. Mary Shannon has very few supports.

"Mare, let's say you, for just a few seconds, could accept that not everything is your responsibility, that, even if they are your mother and sister, every once in a while, Jinx and Brandi would have to step up and take care of their own messes, what would you do right now?"

For a second more Mary looks at him and finally resigns, leaning her head onto his shoulder. Her hands sink into his hair and she begins to sob. "Marshall…I…I just feel like I have nothing left to hold me up, to keep me going. I feel like I'm about to implode. I don't know what to do anymore."

The man's arms wrap securely around her back, as if trying to tell her something without any words. He buries his nose into her hair. "I don't know how to not take the blame Marshall. I don't know how to not be the responsible one."

He hushes her. "Forget about it. Forget everything. For the next few minutes, I'll be your support. Lean on me."

She pulls back far enough to look up at him, her eyes reflecting her curiosity. He nods back down at her reassuringly.

She doesn't really understand how to do this, but the comfort, the support that she needs to much, well, it just sounds so damn good right now. She moves back into him, burying her head into his shoulder as far as she can. His one arm is wrapped tightly around her back, holding her to him as his other hand rakes through her hair affectionately. She loses herself in the feeling of being able to lean on someone else. Especially since this someone is Marshall, the last person in all the world she'd have thought would want to put up with this. He is the one who helps her move witnesses, the one she's always calling names or punching or antagonizing. No matter how much she puts him through, Marshall stays with her, no matter what.

She'd have to be blind and deaf to miss the fact that he is practically head over heels, but she isn't really ready to get into all of that with him. For now, just this small step of being able to run to him for comfort, she hopes that it will allow him to hold on for a little longer. "Marshall?" She questions softly, feeling him nod over her shoulder.

"Yeah?" His hand runs down over her hair again..

It is a moment before she says anything to him, not really knowing how she wants to say it. "Could you..." He pulls back, looking down at her. "Could you maybe...continue to be the one I lean on?"

For a moment, Marshall's eyes are wide, baffled by her inquiry. He, in all of their years of partnership, has never heard her ask a question like this before. But then, he never before thought that she would feel inclined to ask. He had always just assumed that this was something Mary knew, alongside the fact that she could trust him above anyone else. Their eyes lock for a few moments. "I thought that this was something you knew all ready? I've always been right here Mare."

Grinning a tiny bit Mary nods her head at him and moves away. "That's a yes then?" She asks, trying to lighten the mood.

Rolling his eyes, Marshall is satisfied that she is on her way back to being her usual sarcastic self. "Yeah. I'll always be the one you can lean on." She smiles at him, a rare, full-force smile that makes Marshall feel all the more confident she's going to be all right.

Remember, three reviews for the next chapter. Please let me know what direction you'd like me to go with this because I just can't decide. No flames here. I hope that you all enjoy this story as much as I loved this week's episode!