Okay, I know I have other stories to finish but since I've completed 'A Point To Be Made' I'm sure you wouldn't mind a new one. This is an AU fic, it's set in New Jersey, Marshall is still a US Marshal but not Wit-Sec and Mary never joined.

Different Road, Same Journey

Mary walked around Brandi's kitchen, rolling her eyes before joining her in the living room. "Seriously, Squish when was the last time you cleaned up around here?"

"I've been busy." Her sister shrugged.

"And Chuckles can't help out why?"

Brandi sighed and dropped down onto the couch. "I don't know where Chuck is."

Mary frowned. "What do you mean?"

"He hasn't been home in over a week." Brandi replied.

"Well, where has he gone?"

"He said he had some kind of job….He'll probably be back in a few days."

Mary shook her head a little but could not be bothered with another fight about whether Chuck was good enough or not. Brandi claimed to love her boyfriend and insisted that he was a good guy but all Mary could see was a drugged up loser who took advantage of her sister. Not that there was a lot of take advantage of; Brandi went from job to job, never sticking to one for very long. Always relying on Mary to bail her out when she ran out of money and needed to pay the rent or buy some food but then she wasn't doing much better. She worked at a local bar and while the money wasn't great, she was able to pick up enough shifts during the day and night to get by.

"Well, I need to get to work…" Mary told her.

"Thanks for the food." Brandi gestured to the bag of groceries that Mary had brought with her.

"Don't eat it all at once…" She advised. "I don't get paid again for another two weeks."

Mary was halfway to the door when it was suddenly kicked down.

"US Marshal!" Someone yelled as men stormed into the small apartment.

Brandi screamed and jumped up, grabbing hold of Mary who automatically lifted her arms in the air.

"What the hell?!" She exclaimed, watching as even more people entered and started searching.

"Us Marshal Service, Ma'am." One of them stopped in front of the women and handed them a warrant. "We're looking for a Charles Johnston…Does he live here?"

"Yes." Brandi answered, still clutching onto Mary. "But he isn't here."

"Do you know where he is?"

"He's away working…He didn't tell me where."

"Look, it's in your best interest to help us here…" Another marshal joined them but the first guy held up his hand to stop him mid-sentence.

"Are either of Brandi Shannon?"

"She is." Mary nodded her head towards the other woman. "I'm her sister."

"Right, well Miss Shannon, we suspect your boyfriend is involved with a pretty serious drug cartel…We are going to search the apartment and we are also going to need to ask you some questions."

"But….but I didn't do anything." Brandi started to cry.

"Is she under arrest?" Mary asked.

"No, Ma'am…" He replied.

"Not yet, anyway." The marshal from before muttered from behind him.

"Mary." Brandi looked at her desperately.

She sighed and rubbed her eyes. "Look, Marshal…"

"Mann."

"Excuse me?"

"US Marshal Mann." He told her and gestured for them both to take a seat.

"Whatever…" She pushed Brandi back down on the couch but stayed standing. "Is this going to take long?"

"It depends what we find." He shrugged. "Now, excuse me…I'll be with you as soon as I can."

Mary muttered a curse under her breath as he walked away. She pulled out her cell phone to call her boss and tell him she was going to be late.

XxXxX

Mary had had Friday night off…The first Friday night she wouldn't have to work since she had started at the bar six months ago. Except now she had to work it to make up for missing her shift while she dealt with Brandi and the US Marshal Service. Turned out her sister wasn't in any trouble but Chuck was and no one could get hold of him. What made things worse, was that Brandi was too scared to stay at the apartment and temporally moved in with her.

She sighed loudly and rolled her eyes at a group of men laughing and talking loudly in the corner. They obviously had too much already and looked like they weren't leaving anytime soon. She headed down to the other end of the bar towards a customer waiting but stopped half way when she saw who it was.

"US Marshal Mann…" She said approaching him, causing him to look up. "Didn't think this was your kind of place."

"Miss Shannon." He greeted with a small smile then nodded towards the group of men in the corner. "Colleague's birthday celebration."

"Ah, should have known they were law enforcement." She replied. "Want another?"

"Orange juice, please." He slid his empty glass across to her.

"Orange juice? Wow, you really know how to let your hair down."

"I'm driving." He explained. "Also, early morning tomorrow…"

"Right." She handed him his drank. "Bad people to catch and innocent women to terrorize?"

"Terrorize?" He repeated amused. "I think, I pretty nice considering."

"Well because of your little raid yesterday, I now have my sister sleeping on my couch." She told him. "And speaking of which, any news on Chuckles?"

"All I can say is he's a person of interest that we're eager to speak with." Marshall answered. "Not a fan of his then?"

"All I can say is he's a person made of scum that I'm eager to punch in the face."

Marshall actually laughed out loud and shook his head a little, watching as she moved down the bar to serve another customer. He watched her work, knowing he should probably rejoin his team but he didn't feel like he fitted in. He had only been in New Jersey for three months and was still trying to find his way. It didn't help that he was the one put in charge of the Spanky Carson case despite being new. He could tell a few of his colleagues were not happy with being over looked.

"So, where you from?" Mary appeared, this time placing a bowl of bar snacks in front of him.

"What makes you think I'm not from around here?"

"The accent for one and the boots." She replied. She had noticed them the day before too. "What the deal with them anyway? You're not in the wild wild west."

"I'm from Phoenix but recently transferred from Albuquerque in New Mexico." He answered. "And I like my boots…Plus they're a conversation starter."

"Yeah right…"

"Did you or did you not just start a conversation about them?" He asked smugly.

She stared at him for a few seconds before narrowing her eyes. "Shut up."

He laughed again as she walked away but the next time she came back, she was carrying a drink and moved from behind the bar and sat beside him.

He raised an eyebrow at her in question and she just shrugged. "I'm on a break…You might as well entertain me…We don't get my cowboys around here."

"Entertain you how exactly?" He asked warily.

"Relax, marshal…We're just chatting here." She placed her drink on the bar. "What made you come to New Jersey?"

"Family." He answered. "Work keeps me busy and I don't get chance to see them much while I was living so far away."

"Jesus, maybe we should have swapped lives…I would do anything to get away from my family."

"You don't get on then?"

"You met my sister…She's a trouble magnet and my mother is just bad." Mary told him. "But let me guess, you seem like you're the kind of guy that enjoying seeing your family…That you actually like them."

"I may even love them." Marshall replied teasingly.

She rolled her eyes. "Bet you're a mommy's boy as well."

"You get that from me admitting I love my family?" He tilted his head slightly.

"Are you denying it?"

A smile spread across his face. "Do you know any man that would admit being a mommy's boy?"

She shrugged. "I never met a US marshal in New Jersey wearing cowboy boots before."

"Well, my mom and I have a normal mother and son relationship." He claimed.

"Huh, somehow I don't believe you." She replied. "I mean, you've moved all the way out here to be with your family…"

"Ah but I didn't say what family members." He cut in, teasingly. "My parents are still in Phoenix…My brother and his family lives here."

"Oh." She said in surprise. "Long way to come for just your brother."

He shrugged. "I needed a change…Start over and my brother knew there was an opening in the Marshal office here, so…"

"He's law enforcement too?"

"Yup…Got a family full of Marshals." Marshall replied proudly. "Fifth generation."

"Wow, must be a fun family reunion then."

"It is actually..." He started to say but was interrupted by his cell phone ringing. "Excuse me…"

Mary watched him pull it out and groan when he saw the caller ID.

"Who is it? The wife?" She questioned, unable to resist digging for information.

"This isn't going to help my argument but it's my mother." He admitted.

Mary laughed loudly and he shot her a look.

"Mom, hi…" He answered. "No, I'm not at home…"

Mary continued to laugh. "Oh man, you are such a mommy's boy."

"That was nothing, Mom…" Marshall glared at her but she could see he was fighting a smile.

She watched as he moved away from her to finish of his phone call. She had to admit, he was cute although he wasn't her normal type. There was something about him that drew Mary to him and she couldn't put her finger on it. Not that it would matter anyway, she would probably never see him again and if she did, he would more than likely be arresting Brandi.

"Hey, Shannon…" Nick called from behind the bar. "You got a phone call."

She hesitated, glanced back in Marshall's direction and saw him still talking on his phone. She sighed and pushed herself off the stool.

When Marshall returned to the bar and saw Mary wasn't there, he was disappointed. He looked around but couldn't see her anywhere.

"What can I get you?" The bartender appeared in front of him.

"Nothing…but can you tell Mary I had go?"

"Yeah, whatever man…" The bartender replied, already moving onto the next customer.

Mary stopped when she got back to the bar and saw Marshall wasn't in sight. She silently cursed her sister for calling at the wrong time and for no reason other than to find out how much longer she was going to be because she didn't want to be at home alone.

She sighed and decided to cut her break short and get back work. It probably was a good thing, since there was no way she could have any kind of relationship with a US Marshal.

TBC

So, tell me what you think.