Hello again, thought I'd write a Christmas Story...Hope you all enjoy!
"Hey Mare?" Brandi called into her sister's bedroom.
Mary walked out tugging on her belt, "What Squish?"
"I..um…" she paused, chewing on her lower lip nervously.
Walking around the island in the kitchen and pouring herself a cup of coffee, she turned around and scowled, "Spill it out already Squish, I don't have all morning. I actually have a job to go perform." She looked over at Peter and gave him a questioning look.
A look that the man answered with a shrug.
"It's just…please don't get mad…" she rattled, "Our sisters want us to come to Florida for Christmas"
Mary almost dropped her half empty mug of coffee, pausing long enough to put the mug down and stare down at her sister, menacingly leaning over the island, "I don't know what kind of Brady Bunch mother humping family you think we are Squish, but I don't need to meet them."
"But Mare…" she begged.
"No! You do whatever the hell you think is right for you and your family, but leave me the hell alone!" she finished and leaned back, taking her mug with her as she walked around the island back towards her bedroom.
"Damn naïve woman, it wasn't enough that she forced Scott on me, now she wants me to meet the other ones. Well forget it, "she muttered as she went, making sure she was loud enough for her sister to hear.
"Why didn't you say something?" Brandi turned to Peter accusingly, which automatically shrugged, "What was I supposed to say? Didn't I tell you she would react that way?"
"Yeah, but a little back-up would've helped" she complained with a pout.
Mary walked out of her room back into the kitchen; Peter looked over at her and started, "Mary, maybe you should listen to what Brandi has to say. I don't think it would hurt any…"
The older Shannon cut him off, "Excuse me Peter, but when it's regarding your little family you can butt in, otherwise, I suggest you keep those lips sealed."
"Mary, you don't have to be disrespectful to Peter, he just wants to help" Brandi complained.
"Brandi, I don't have time for any of your drama. Why don't you go home? Or ask Jinx to come to the family reunion. I have no tolerance for this BS anymore." She washed her mug and put it in the dishwasher.
The doorbell rang and she walked over, yanking it open, "Hey Joanna, come in.."
"Oooohhh, thank you, it's cold out there. So cold there was ice on my stoop this morning. Make sure to wrap up real tight, don't want you getting sick." Advised the older woman, shedding her winter coat and hanging on a coat hanger by the door. She walked into the living room, spotting Brandi and Peter by the kitchen island.
"Good Morning!" she merrily greeted, which made Mary grind her teeth.
If there was one thing Mary hated, was cheerful morning people.
"Well, you're here, so now I have to go." She turned and walked into Norah's bedroom, coming out carrying the child as she kissed her cheek, handing her over to the grandma that was already cooing.
"Hello pumpkin"
"Are you sure it's ok if I go out for a drink tonight?" Joanna looked at Mary and shrugged with a smile, "Just because you became a mother doesn't mean you can't go out with friends. We'll be fine. Go out and have fun and we'll see you tomorrow morning."
Mary rolled her eyes again and walked to the door, pausing long enough to get into her winter jacket. Once she was done she reached to open the door.
"Mary, please think about it" Brandi made one last attempt to persuade her sister.
Without even turning to give her another piece of her mind, she walked out and got into her car.
"Damn Brandi, why do you want to be part of that family? Are Jinx and I not enough mother humping family for you? What about Peter and Josie, are they not enough?" she grumbled as she drove away, heading to the Sunshine building.
She walked into the office and Delia rushed to her side, "Good Morning Mary! T-G-I-F!"
Mary growled at the inspector and walked around to get behind her desk, sitting heavily on her chair. All around her there were boxes with Christmas decorations, decorations that would begin to make her sick.
"Delia, have you not learned? You know grizzly over there doesn't like being bothered before her third cup of Joe." Marshall cheerily chimed from behind his desk.
She scowled in his direction with a snarled, "I'll give you grizzly."
Stan chose that moment to come out of his office, "Good Morning Inspectors. Are we having problems this early in the morning already?"
"Please, you don't know what problems are until you're part of my family." she muttered as she logged in and pulled her paperwork from her inbox.
They all looked and stared at her, but she wouldn't give them the benefit of telling them. At least not in front of Marshall, he wanted to be released from this hell-hole, no need to bring him into the drama. Since she didn't say anything or snap at them for staring at her, they turned to look at each other, surprised at the lack of reaction.
Stan was the first to break the silence, "Well then, carry on"
Delia walked away looking troubled.
Marshall turned back to his partner and frowned, "Are you ok, Mare?"
"I'm fine"
"Are you sure? It seems like you're…upset" he was trying to figure her out, ever since he spoke to her in the balcony she wouldn't confide in him like she used to. Now he was getting antsy, not knowing what sort of Mary he was going to get. She wasn't the Mary that used to tease him, or call him names.
"Nothing for you to worry about." she said tonelessly.
"Ok then, but if there's anything…anything…you know you can talk to me, right?" he looked at her, but she wouldn't look at him. He saw her shrug and continues on with her work, the work that she didn't lump on him anymore. Which definitely made him nervous; she always made him do her work. But again, ever since the balcony talk she had done her own work.
Later that evening as Delia was walking out she asked Mary, "Hey, a couple of us girls are going to Two Fools, you want to join us?"
"Since I'm no girl, thanks but no thanks. I'll be heading there alone, thank you very much" Mary said sarcastically without turning.
Delia stood there until Mary had no other option then to look at her, "What?"
"Wh-…Never mind, just have a nice weekend" Delia stuttered and left.
Mary rolled her eyes and turned back to her computer, trying to finish her paperwork before going out for a much needed drink. She calls home to make sure everything is ok.
"Hello?" the older woman answered after the first ring.
"Hey Joanna, Mary here. How's Bug doing?" Mary wanted to make sure her kid was doing fine before going out for a drink.
"She's excellent! Don't worry about Norah, she'll be fine." Joanna encouraged.
"Thanks" hanging up she finished most of her paperwork, turned her computer off and got up to leave when Marshall's presence startled her, "Going home?"
"Ye-yeah," she nodded as she walked around her desk and headed for the gate. "Night"
"Hey Mare?"
Remembering that Brandi had started the morning with that same greeting, she didn't turn but stopped with her hand on the gate, waiting for him to say his piece.
"Are you sure you're ok?" he asked curiously.
She nods and opens the gate without turning she sadly said, "I'm fine"
Marshall sat behind his desk and frowned, all her answers for him were 'I'm fine', 'don't worry about it' and he was getting really frustrated with the phrases.
"Night" he whispered as she walked into the elevator and looked down to check her messages, not sparing him a last look.
TBC
