Title: Property of Mary Shannon
Author: Astrilde
Pairings/Characters: Mary/ Marshall.
Rating: PG (shirtless men/Mann!!!)
Summary: Whilst on assignment Mary can't pass up an opportunity to cause some mischief.
Disclaimer: In case anyone didn't realise I don't own any rights to the show or its characters. Just borrowing them and will return them mostly as I found them.
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Spiny Cactus Motel
Big Spring, Texas
9pm
US Deputy Marshals Mary Shannon and Marshall Mann had been assigned to assist DEA agents in a bust in Abilene Texas the following day. After a long and uncomfortable drive from Albuquerque to Big Spring in the hottest weather the southwest had seen in the better part of a decade they checked into the motel which had been booked for them. Government budgets being as they were it wasn't a complete dive but most definitely was not 5 star accommodation.
"Urgh" was about all the conversation Mary could manage as she exited the car, bag in hand and feeling every minute of the 8 hours spent in a baking car and this did not leave Mary in a good mood.
Marshall wasn't feeling any better but was doing a better job of hiding it. "Did you know that the highest temperature recorded in Texas was 120 degrees Fahrenheit?"
Mary walked towards her room, key in hand. Her mind was focused somewhat towards getting a shower in the hope of cooling off if only for a short while.
She snapped back "No Marshall and I don't exactly care right now."She opened the door and disappeared. All Marshall could hear as he entered the adjoining room were some muffled noises and the sound of the shower being turned on next door. He smiled and dropped his bag on the bed, extracted a towel and headed towards the bathroom. She would be in a better mood after a shower, and so would he.
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Feeling infinitely more like himself and less like a well used gym towel Marshall stepped out of his bathroom saw his phone flashing on the bed. Picking it up he read the text message, it was his mom making sure that he hadn't forgotten that it was his father's birthday. He hadn't, he had sent a card and ordered something online that would interest him but he knew that what his mom actually meant was a phone call. It was half nine now so he opted to call his dad's cell. When his dad answered he could hear noise in the background, it sounded like a bar.
"Hey Dad!" Marshall enthused hoping his father could hear him over the background noise. "Happy Birthday"
"Hi Son, I got your card....not sure I understood it but I got it"
Marshall tried to explain the cards humour which was something along the lines of 'compared to the universe you are incredibly young'. He had thought it funny when he saw it in the shop but seeming the joke was lost on his father. After about thirty seconds of explanation which was only half listened to his father stopped Marshalls train of thought by interjecting "I wanted to thank you for your gift" which was a boxed set of DVD's, documentaries about 'Great Pioneers of the American West'. Marshal had seen them when they had been on the History Channel and knew they would be appreciated.
"You're welcome Dad, I'm sorry I couldn't call earlier but I have been on the road all day"
"In this heat, I don't envy you"
A loud shout could be heard in the background "where are you?"
"Oh, just that Irish bar your mom hates with some buddies from the my service days, drinking beer and exchanging stories, the usual. I think someone missed the dartboard again. So long as I don't come home to late or too drunk your mom won't shoot me"
"Okay then dad, I'll not take up anymore of your valuable time I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday" "D'your mom call you?" "Text message actually" "Well, whatever keeps her happy hey son". Marshall could tell that be this point his father must have been out for a while as was slurring his speech slightly. "Indeed. I'm gonna try and make it over memorial weekend for the Mann family barbeque, can't miss that but I can't make any promises you know how work can be". His parents didn't know exactly what he did, well he suspected his father knew more than he let on but they were understanding of the responsibilities of his job. "I understand son, take care and I hope you can join us" "Me too dad, enjoy the rest of your evening" "Thanks son, g'bye" "Bye"
The phone went quiet, the sounds of the Irish bar echoing slightly in his head. Returning his consciousness to the present he began to curse the decrepit air conditioner which in this heat was barely managing to output a cool breeze.
He went over to the connecting door and knocked gently. "Mare?"
He heard the lock click on the other side of the door and it opened.
"Who you talking to Doofus? Invisible friend?"
"Very amusing, it's my dad's birthday so I called to wish him a happy birthday, he's out getting merry with his old friends from way back when. Do you think we will have as many war stories when we are retired?"
"I'll never retire" Mary quipped. "I'd have to spend more time with my family." This statement needed no further explanation; Marshall knew the drama her family caused in her life. That she came to work to get away from it was saying something when you hide protected federal witnesses with bounties on their heads for a living.
"You hungry Mary? It must be at least an hour since you last inhaled any chocolate"
"I'll have you know I took the liberty of ordering pizza earlier, the usual, shouldn't be long. I told them if the diet cokes weren't at absolute zero I would push the delivery guy into the pool, and they know which motel we are at so they know it isn't an appealing prospect, even in this heat"
"You do know that scientists have not yet attained absolute zero here on earth?
"Then I hope the delivery guy brings a towel"
Marshall smiled as Mary turned away to run a brush through her rapidly drying hair, knowing better than to assume that she was joking. On the other hand he could go for an ice cold drink right about then, possibly stronger than diet coke.
There was a knock at the door, Mary answered and went about paying the man. He was looking at her warily, probably having been told of the threat about the drinks and the pool. She all but shut the door in his face as he bid her a good evening.
"Would it kill you to be at least civil with your menial servants?"
"Would you like to join him for a swim?"
They talked amicably whilst eating pizza and enjoying refreshingly cold beverages and the subject ended up returning to Marshall's father and his drinking buddies. "Did you feel forced into joining the Marshal Service, risking breaking the family history? I mean, I'm surprised you weren't born with a star shaped birthmark" Mary asked. Marshall thought for a moment as he finished the mouthful of pizza. "No, most of my family have ended up in law enforcement, even when they didn't intend to. My mom says it's genetic. I worked through a number of possibilities when I was in college but I always ended up back at the Marshal Service, so no. Had there not been a family history with the Marshals then I'm sure I would have ended up in one branch or another."
Mary thought on it for a few moments, it must be nice to a have that connection. There were no recruiters for the trades in her family; she considered them vices to be avoided at all cost.
Mary spoke finally "When I was in college the careers counsellors said I would be good in law enforcement. Getting paid to kick ass and carry a gun every seemed like a good idea at the time, it's not like I had other plans."
"You wanted something else?" Marshall asked, part of himself worrying that her life, her work life anyway, wasn't she had wanted.
Mary smiled at him, pizza sauce on her chin. "No, it just hurts me to say they were right".
Marshall relaxed, he knew she found her job fulfilling but Mary did not often talk about such things so it didn't hurt to hear her say it. Not directly of course but he knew that was what she meant.
Conversation continued as the sun set outside though sadly the temperature didn't seem to follow.
Mary stretched out on the bed. "How can riding in a car all day so exhausting?" Her face disappeared into the pillow yawning.
"It's the heat, it saps your energy." Marshall got up gathering together the empty food containers for the trash. "I have a fascinating new book I have yet to start on the Geology of the Himalayas so I shall bid you goodnight"
Mary lifted her face from her pillow and looked at Marshall, trying to read his expression. He wasn't averse to making up unlikely book titles to see how she would react but this time she couldn't quite decide. His hand brushed gently against the back of her calf as he passed towards the door.
"Goodnight Mary"
"Night Marshall"
He disappeared from her sight leaving the door slightly open. They weren't working at that moment but it was a habit, when they were transporting witnesses they had to be able to react quickly in an emergency. And she had only walked in on him changing once....accidentally of course. Mary's mind lingered on that memory for a few minutes as she drifted off into an exhausted slumber.
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Marshall walked over to the bed and sat, grabbing his book from the nightstand. An early night would pay off as they had to be at the station early for a briefing before the raid. He built up the meagre motel pillows and switched on the lamp and began to read. It didn't take long before the heat began to oppress him and he removed his t-shirt, opting to sleep in just his pj bottoms. After the first chapter he lay on his front, enjoying the pathetic AC output directly upon his skin and went to sleep.
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The sun had just begun to rise and the heat had dropped slightly though Mary knew that it would only be a temporary reprieve. Well rested but slightly sweaty she padded barefoot to the door to Marshall's room expecting to find him awake before her, he was usually was.
As she poked her head through the door she could see he was still asleep, face down on the bed; he had removed his shirt at some point due to the heat. Mary couldn't help feeling some level of appreciation for what she saw, his lean build was often underestimated which he used to his advantage when they had to resort to physical force whilst on duty. People saw a lanky geek (and Mary was often guilty of this too) but he was surprisingly strong and like her had been well trained in the art of skilled combat over brute strength. Her mind wandered back to the conversation of the previous evening and thought that in the absence of a birthmark he should have a Marshal's badge tattooed on him somewhere. Not Marshall though, he was too straight laced for body art and the subject wouldn't fit with the secrecy of their work.
Starting as a twinkle in the eyes before spreading a look of mischief across Mary's face a thought began to take shape in her mind. "Perhaps something less permanent?' Smiling as she went back into her room and reached into her bag. Seeking something she rarely used but always carried she pulled out a wallet containing paper and pens. After finding the item she sought she returned to Marshall's room and moved towards the bad as quietly as she could.
His book was face down beside him. She picked it up to see if it really was the book he had said last night. It was. He was such a nerd, but he was her special nerd. Suppressing that thought she pulled the lid from the marker and pondered placement. After reaching the conclusion that if she had gotten this close without him waking up he must be well asleep she reached across and began to write; just above the top of his Futurama pjs, in neat block print, three words. Stifling a chuckle as she heard Marshall's voice in her head; "That isn't three words, its two words and an acronym". He stirred slightly but didn't wake as she finished and a silent retreat was made to her room where Mary put her pen back in its place, picked up the magazine she never found time to read at home and sat back on the bed. She knew he may never see it but for some reason that amused her all the more, she knew she had marked this particular nerd as her own.
Half an hour later a light knock on the door was followed by Marshall's tousled hair poking around the doorframe. In the absence of any danger his brain had not yet seemed to join his physical form in waking, likely the only reason she had been able to complete her misbehaviour. If they had been transporting a witness she would never have gotten that close; when working they both slept with one eye open and weapons close.
Marshall mumbled and Mary was able to discern several words before he disappeared. The included "coffee" and "shower" and something about food which she couldn't quite distinguish but was something that she definitely agreed with. The shower in the other room could be heard and she rose to take her own, she could at least start this awfully hot day clean.
As each Marshal finished their shower they packed up their few belongings in a well practiced routine before checking out and going in search of breakfast.
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Over a debate on the merits of waffles versus flapjacks they sought out breakfast and having spent so much time on the road together they had become quite expert in sniffing out a good local place from a hundred yards. After fuelling themselves for what was bound to be a long and tiring day they returned to the car and headed towards Abilene and the rendezvous point for the briefing.