Mary could barely keep her eyes open, let alone focus on any one thing around her. It is dark and cold in the basement she is being held. She can hear the creaking of the rusty pipes around her, but cannot see them. She tries to get up off the floor, but falls back down, lifelessly, into what she can only assume is her own blood from the stab wounds to her abdomen and arm.

"They stab me then bandage me up in this hell hole. Fantastic."

Mary reaches around in the dark and comes into contact with one of the rusty old pipes. She lifts herself up and props her body against a piece of wood. She has to think of a way out of this. She wasn't about to let what could've happened with Spanky's guy happen tonight.

12 Hours Earlier

It had been her "real engagement" party. After saying yes to Raph, his mother decided to invite Eleanor, Stan, Peter and Marshall to the house for an even bigger celebration. Mary, being the Mary that she is, freaked out and ran out of the house while everyone was busy reminiscing and telling stories about the soon to be newlyweds. Of course, Marshall, being the perceptive man that he is followed her outside to help calm her down.

"Mer, you okay?"

Mary whirled around to see Marshall.

"I'm okay."

"You should be more than okay. It's your engagement party. You're getting married soon."

"Yeah. Yeah."

Mary plopped down on the soft grass and put her head in her hands.

Marshall sat down in front of her more gracefully.

"What's wrong?"

"Raph loves me. Really loves me."

"I'm not seeing the problem Mer."

"I got a letter from my dad a week after I said yes."

"Mary, what are you talking about? You said you haven't been in contact with your father!

"Well, I haven't contacted him, but he's been keeping tabs on me. He's written me 13 letters. Well, now 14. And he really got me thinking."

"Where is this man when you need him? Took you thirty seven years to start thinking?"

Mary playfully slapped Marshall's shoulder and rolled her eyes at him.

"He said I should do what makes me happy. And then he had to point out the fact that he thinks I'm not happy with Raph."

"Mary. You're listening to a man that hasn't been physically involved in your life for the last 30 years. He can't possibly know what makes you happy."

"Aren't Dad's supposed to know?"

"I don't know. My dad and I weren't really that close."

"But you followed in his footsteps."

"Well, the problem with following in someone's footsteps is that you're always one step behind them."

Mary moved closer to Marshall so their knees were touching.

"What makes you happy Marshall?"

"Mmm, lots of things. Time travel movies, my job, a good cup of coffee in the morning."

"That's it?"

"I'm sure that's more than you."

Mary just continued to stare at Marshall.

"And, I guess you. You make me happy Mer."

"You make me happy too."

Marshall let out a light laugh.

"Well, I guess that's good considering we're best friends."

"We're more than best friends though. Aren't we?"

"I'm not going to talk about this right now."

Mary look down at their touching knees and realized she felt electricity every time they brushed. At that moment something clicked in her head. For the first time in a very long time she knew what she wanted and she knew what she had to do.

"Hey, Mer, you okay? You look a little lost."

Mary looked up at Marshall. Eyes shining.

"I'm not lost. Not anymore."

With that Mary abruptly got up and walked back into the house.

R and R please!

TBC if people want more!