off kilter, chapter 8: other things

Author: yankee306
Pairings: Mary and Marshall, bien sûr
Spoilers: Very general season 1

Summary: Mary begins to deal with other pieces of her conversation with Marshall in the bar.

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In our last chapter . . .

Marshall looked pleased that he had accurately predicted Shelly's approach. More than anything, he was glad that Mary was accepting help.

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Chapter 8: Other Things

In the office a few days later, Mary suddenly asked, "What are the 'other things'?"

Marshall was at a loss. "Can I get a little context here? Or are you calling upon my world renowned divination skills?"

"You know, that night in the bar, you said you take lessons or go to lectures or do 'other things,'" Mary reminded him. "What are the 'other things'?"

"Shall I have my secretary prepare you a list of my engagements?"

"Depends. Are we talking secret job interview other things or too-embarrassing-even-for-Marshall other things? I'm trying to imagine something even dorkier than the things you admit to doing, but I'm coming up empty. Ooh, or maybe hot date other things? Have you been holding out on me? You're dating Stan behind my back, aren't you?"

"You wormed it out of me. Yes, Mare, Stan and I are on the down low, eagerly awaiting the legalization of gay marriage in New Mexico to give us the courage to announce our love to the world."

"I'm not getting you a wedding present, you know." Mary turned back to her desk, finished with the conversation.

"I know," said Marshall, a little disappointed that she hadn't pressed him until he admitted that "other things" did in fact sometimes include dates. Give it up, idiot. She's not the jealous type. Why would she be jealous anyway? You're always here for her.

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Other scraps of conversation from that evening in the bar kept coming back to Mary. One nagged her insistently:

"You never ask me how I am or what I've been doing."

Mary was mortified by this. How had she not recognized in herself the very kind of self-centeredness she so disdained in Jinx and Brandi? What kind of friend was she that she knew so little—apparently cared so little—about Marshall's life when he wasn't with her (or doing something for her)? Hell, she didn't even know that much about his work day when he wasn't helping her with one of her witnesses.

Even today, while she'd had some idle curiosity about those mysterious "other things" of Marshall's, she was mostly just looking for an opportunity to tease him. Having found it, she'd had her fill of the conversation and hadn't even tried to get a real answer out of Marshall.

I'm half paralyzed with worry that he'll die, but I don't think very much about how he lives.

Mary's reverie was interrupted by its subject, who was just hanging up the phone. "Hey Mare, that was Casper Rollins, my computer hacker witness. He's having some difficulty at work, so I'm going to go see what I can do. I'll be gone for a couple of hours."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Mary asked. It wasn't much, but at least she could keep Marshall company and see him interact with his witness.

Marshall was surprised. Mary rarely came with him to visit his witnesses unless something major was going down or there was something in it for her. He couldn't figure out what her angle could be in this case.

"I can handle it on my own if you've got other things to do."

"Nothing that can't wait. Let's go."

One small step for anyone else, a giant leap for Mary.