Bobby D had seen Marshall coming out of the building and called to him. The man was going to have the list for him. Marshall had turned around and headed over to him when he noticed the car swerving out of control and towards the man. He screamed out a warning at the same time Marshall dove out of the way of the approaching vehicle. Bobby approached the vehicle weapon drawn. "Albuquerque P.D, keep your hands where I can see them!" He slowly approached the vehicle. "Marshall?" He called over his shoulder to see how his friend was.
Marshall had seen the car before the warning and dove for cover. Rolling over he was about to acknowledge that he was fine when he heard Mary and Stan calling out to him and running towards him. "I'm fine." He snapped although a lot of his anger disappeared after the near collision.
Stan and Mary ignored the snap and the statement as they began to look him over. They could hear the woman apologizing profusely and stating that she lost control when she tried to pick up her cell phone which she dropped. Mary looked up recognizing the voice somewhat. She remembered it was the one that stayed overnight at her house. The name started with an L. Laura, Lori, or Lauren. "Lauren?"
Lauren looked over surprised. "Mary. I am so sorry."
Bobby looked at Mary and she nodded that it was okay. Lauren walked towards them and apologized to Marshall and the others. She explained to Mary she was passing through and was going to drop something off to Jinx and than she was on her way home. Mary let her know she was home and that it was nice seeing her but to be more careful. Lauren agreed and apologized to Marshall again before leaving. Bobby let her off with a warning since she was a friend of Mary's.
Marshall was about to stand up when they stopped him at first. "Anything hurt anywhere?" Stan asked.
"I'm fine." He again replied. Mary saw him wince a little when his hand when to the ground to push himself up.
Once he stood up she grabbed said hand and turned it over. There was a pebble embedded a little in the skin and he was a little scrapped up but nothing bad. It was his curse of damn it that caught her attention. "What's wrong?" She looked at where his eyes were gazing at the hole in the knee of his jeans.
"I just bought these." He complained.
Mary chuckled. "You are such a girl. Let's get you inside and cleaned up. If you behave maybe I'll even take you to get a new pair."
"I'm not a kid." Marshall shot back at her.
"Then stop acting like one." She countered. They all headed back upstairs. Eleanor was relieved to see them and got the first aid kit when Mary asked for it. Eleanor moved Mary aside and got the pebble out of his hand and cleaned up the wounds. She figured Marshall would prefer her tender touch instead of Mary's.
Stan came over. "Marshall we need to finish our earlier discussion." Stan didn't want to aggravate him again since he was more like himself but the problem wasn't going to go away on its own. Marshall nodded and Stan continued. "No one here questions that you can protect yourself but Marshall this is an unknown threat and could be someone you know. I am not taking any chances with your safety as I wouldn't take any chance with any of my inspectors. It was wrong of us to not tell you but we thought it would be less upsetting for you if you didn't know."
Mary figured it was her turn. "Marshall I don't want another partner. It's too much effort to break them in. You have always had my back and now it's time for me to have yours weather you like it or not."
Bobby looked at Eleanor who shook her head at him. She knew he had a good idea what they were talking about but this needed to play out. They waited to see how he would react. "Fine, just don't keep things like that from me. I don't like it."
Bobby cleared his throat. "As touching as this moment is, do you have that list I asked for?"
They all stared daggers at him until he raised his hands in surrender. Marshall got up and gave him the list. "I don't suppose there are any names that are not on the list that you want to forewarn me about?" The blank looks received confirmed his suspicions. "I didn't think so. Why make it easier on the detective? Thanks Marshall. Take care." He shook his head all the way to the elevator.
Stan took a good look at his two inspectors. Neither had slept well last night and it showed. Marshall had a defeated look about him that he didn't care to see. The case load was light and he decided to get rid of them for the day. "Take the day off both of you. Mary take Marshall for food and then to the hotel. If she stays than I won't have the detail there until tomorrow morning." It was a sort of compromise on his part. The two of them were good at getting out of bad situations together. "Starting tomorrow, you have a detail at the hotel all the time no matter whom is with you. Now get out of here."
"Come on Doofus, I am hungry and will even take you to get a new pair of jeans after you are done treating me to breakfast... No one cares if you have a hole in your jeans except for you." She commented before he could protest. Silently she sent Stan a thank you for letting them have the day off.
Mary had taken him to breakfast and to the mall before they headed to the hotel. Marshall had been quiet through most of it and while she understood it she didn't like it. Mary had picked up a first aid kit while they were out. They had patched up his hand but she wanted to get a look at his knee. When he sat on the bed she placed her away bag on the other one and looked at him. "Get your pants off."
Marshall raised an eyebrow at that command. "Something you care to inform me about?" He thought he had missed heard her.
"You heard me take your pants off."
"Trying to get in my pants?" He grinned.
"I only want to see your knee cap." She hid the smirk happy that he sounded a little more like him.
Marshall was glad he had a pair of shorts in his bag. He dismissed himself and changed before returning to lie on the bed. Mary went and got a washcloth soaked it and cleaned and bandaged his knee. Marshall couldn't help himself when she finished. "What you are not going to kiss it and make it all better?" She punched his arm for that comment but laughed.
Mary turned the T.V. on and they watched the news before Marshall had finally fallen asleep. Mary went to the closet and grabbed the spare blanket in it and put it over him. She rolled onto her side and watched him before she fell asleep.
Mary woke to see Marshall staring out the window. It was night out. They had slept the day away well at least she had. "How long have you been up?"
"About an hour." He shrugged.
"Marshall what is going on in that head of yours?" He was over thinking something and it wasn't doing him any good.
"I've been trying to figure this out and it doesn't make sense. Why would anyone want to stalk me? I am a quirky geek as you like to point out. I don't date a lot as the job doesn't really allow time for it. Why come after me?"
Mary didn't like the way he was talking about himself. She teased him about it but that was because it was fun. It never bothered him that she knew of. "I just tease you about that Marshall. Yeah you like technology and reading but you are a nice decent person that is always willing to help. You are loyal to the people you care about. Stop belittling yourself. I only get to do that because I'm allowed as your partner. It lightens my day. You need food if you are thinking like that. Order us a pizza."
They ate the pizza and rented a movie off the hotel box. Marshall was beginning to act like normal but his earlier comment still lingered in the back of her mind and wouldn't stop nagging her. She got up and sat next to him on his bed. "You do know I don't think you are just some weird geek right?"
Marshall smirked. "Yeah I know. I'm secretly a badass lawman. Mare I know you tease because it is fun and if you didn't I would be concerned that something was wrong with you. This whole thing is bugging me and I don't like that it is costing the Marshal Service man time."
She kissed his cheek briefly and whispered to him. "You are worth it." She turned and watched the movie like nothing was said. Marshall smiled at the gesture.
She had waited for them to return to the office but they never reappeared. The boss and administrative clerk had gone but the partners remained missing. The rest of the building had gone home and she went to get a paper and leave him a note about his inappropriate behavior. His truck had remained there all night. Sneaking in had been a little more complicated but she had managed it. He was hers and there was no excuse for being out all night with her. He needed to be taught a lesson.
Marshall was in a much better mood and Mary was thrilled. They had gone out to breakfast before heading into work. When they arrived, the first thing they noticed with the police cars and the crime scene unit. Marshall cursed when he realized they were by where he had parked his truck yesterday. Mary didn't say anything because she knew it too. The tenseness of his jaw was back and Mary cursed the person upsetting her partner.
Stan and Bobby D. had heard the Probe. They both headed over towards the car to talk to Marshall. "What happened?" Marshall asked.
"The person broke into your truck and slashed the insides to pieces. The damage is immense. They had to have a lot of rage to do that much." Bobby replied.
"Any note?" Marshall inquired.
Stan nodded and they passed it in the plastic bag so they could see it. The note was the same style as the last two but the tone of the message was angry and threatening. You have scorned me. I do not share what is mine. You are mine and will have to pay for your crimes.
"What crimes?" Mary asked confused. "This person is not playing with a full deck. Any fingerprints?"
"Please you two are involved. Nothing is ever that simple with either of you. Why do you think his stalker would leave a print?" Bobby teased to lighten the mood. It seemed to work as the two partners gave him a brief smile. "I'll let you know if they find anything out."
"Can I see the truck?" Marshall asked. Bobby nodded. Marshall went to the driver's side and Mary to the passenger. After looking in she turned to look at Marshall. He loved his truck. The seats were shredded to pieces, the interior had knife marks running on the ceiling, through the dashboard and then the radio had been shattered. Marshall turned to Bobby and said thanks and walked to the elevator leaving the three of them stunned.
"What the hell?" Mary asked before following after him.
Marshall was booting his computer when Mary stormed in. "Thanks? What is with that? They totaled your truck and all you say is thanks? I'm confused could you please clear it up for me." She was angrier than he was about the truck.
"What am I supposed to do Mary? Throw a fit or throw something at a wall. It won't change anything. I don't know who to be angry with. If I do get upset and cranky than the all of you become overly concerned and I will probably be banned from the office completely. So what exactly would you like me to do?" Marshall fumed out.
She hated that he was right. "Well that was good for starters."
Marshall couldn't help but laugh. "That is the best you could come up with?"
Eleanor had to smile too at Mary's facial expression when he said that. "Well. Oh be quiet Doofus!" She huffed to her desk and Eleanor gave him a wink and he smiled at her.
Stan entered and looked at Marshall. "The detail will follow you to the hotel tonight. I am having some on the inside and outside of the building. This person isn't stable." Marshall nodded and didn't bother to argue.
Mary caught up on her e-mails and dropped her paperwork on Marshall's desk since that is what he was allowed to do. "I'm going to check up on the witnesses." Stan nodded.
Marshall looked at Mary. "Can you take me to a car rental place? I need to get a rental to use." Mary nodded.
"Marshall, you only go to the car rental place and then back here. No tagging along with Mary." Stan reminded.
"Yes Dad! Do you and Eleanor want me to pick something up for lunch while I am on the way back?" He could at least be out of the office for a little while this way. He took their orders and followed Mary out.
Marshall left the car rental agency with a truck. He was about to get the sandwiches when the rental died. He pulled over and quickly checked several of the car parts and not getting anything to respond he called the agency. They sent a man out and he also attempted to fix the truck. The two of them spent over an hour trying to fix it before giving up. The man called a tow truck and drove Marshall back to the rental place. He was given another truck and was on his way to the sandwich stop when he realized he had forgotten to call Stan.
Stan was fuming. Marshall should have been back forty-five minutes ago. When he dialed Marshall's number it went straight into voice mail. He then dialed Mary's number. She answered right away. "Where in the hell is your partner?"
Mary was confused. "He should be there. Stan I dropped him off and he was filling out the paperwork." She was getting into her car after stopping by Kelsey's house to find the woman wasn't there.
"Well he isn't here." Stan began to worry. Just as he was about to say something Marshall's number showed up. "Never mind he is calling the other line." Hanging up he yelled into the phone at Marshall. "Where are you? I have been trying to get a hold of you?"
Marshall cringed at Stan's tone. "Sorry I turned it off when the guy and I were trying to fix the truck I rented. I forgot to turn it back on. I am about two blocks from the office with lunch." Stan smirked at the explanation. In short form the guy was trying to fix the truck and Marshall asked him a ton of questions to add to his knowledge. "I should be there in a few minutes. Oh crap!"
