Author's Note: Hi! I'm new to your section of the site. Most of what I've written was written about 10 years ago for Walker, Texas Ranger while the show was still on the air. Since then, I haven't really been inspired to write. However, a few weeks ago I was re-watching the second season episode "Rubble with a Cause" and this idea popped into my head and wouldn't leave me alone until I'd written in down. So here I am. Although I have to say I probably wouldn't be here if not for moviemom44, who gave me the confidence to post this.
This story is going to consist of many short chapters, each dealing with something that Mary has said to Marshall in an episode. I have several of them written, but I am still adding more as I find new quotes to use.
I hope you enjoy this story, and I would love to hear from you if you felt like reviewing. I also would welcome suggestions of other quotes for me to write about.
What She Says and What She Means
You have been told countless times that your partner is a bitch. You have been asked over and over again how you can stand working with her, day in, day out, for so many years. You have listened to criticism after criticism of your partner and best friend. You have been given sympathetic looks more times than you can count when she calls you a girl or says something insulting.
And you respond to it all in whatever way is necessary. You stare down those that criticize her or call her a bitch. You remind those who ask that she is the best Marshal in the service, and the best partner you could have. And you accept the sympathetic looks, all while holding back your smile. Because they don't get it. They don't get her. But you do.
When it comes to her work, she is very straightforward and direct. She couldn't care less about being tactful. She will say exactly what she means, and she will do exactly what she feels is right in every situation. The fact that she is so very direct and sure of herself is what leads to some of the misconceptions about what kind of person she is.
As soon as something personal comes up, however, she is insecure and unsure of herself and her decisions. She has trouble opening up to people, and even more trouble expressing her feelings. Even once she has allowed people into her heart, she cannot comfortably tell them what they mean to her. When discussing her feelings, what she says and what she means are often two very different things.
Through the years of partnership and friendship, you have developed the ability to hear what she means through what she says. You, and you alone, have the ability to translate her seemingly insensitive, harsh, or just plain crude statements into something meaningful that reflects her true feelings.
You remember quite clearly the first time you had an inkling that she meant something more than what she had just said implied.
It was your first case together, although really she was just on loan to you, and you were transporting your witnesses by car on a three day trip. You had stopped for gas and while she bought some snacks, you were cleaning the windshield of the car. When she returned, you ended up discussing your respective families, and you were surprised when she revealed something personal. However, you were unsurprised when, a moment later, she put down your reasons for joining Witsec and criticized your home and your life in general.
You looked at her cautiously, and said, "I do actually wonder what's wrong with you, but I don't actually want to know."
She had responded, "That is the first smart thing you've said."
And while the words she had spoken had been mostly insulting and only slightly complimentary, you noticed that she was looking at you differently, almost assessingly. Like she was reconsidering her initial opinion of you, and in a positive way, maybe deciding you deserved a little more respect from her.
And it seemed to you as though, perhaps, her statement had been meant as more of a compliment than you had initially heard in the words.
It still took a little while longer before you were able to hear exactly what she meant and not only what she said. But now you have perfected the ability. And what's more, she knows it. She knows that you understand her in a way no one else does, and she has allowed you to get closer to her than anyone else has since her father left. She has allowed you to hear what she means, when the rest of the world only hears what she says.