Stan and the other marshals had finally found the plane. The sight that greeted him had him cussing up a storm. "Get a helicopter in the sky. They have company and we don't know what kind of shape they're in." Stan divided the marshals into teams to begin their search on foot.

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Manelli's men made it to the location where the three had spent the night. They called in the other groups to report and then regrouped. "They have to know we're here or at the least they're expecting us." They were about to divide when one of them noticed the sets of tracks further ahead." Deciding not to split up again, they followed the tracks further into the woods and closer the Mary, Marshall and Samantha.

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Mary, Marshall, and Samantha were half way across the rocks and moving slowly because the rocks were slick. They were all aware of the speed and danger of the water. Mary's hopes began to soar as they were three quarters of the way across; they were going to make it. Just then, Samantha stepped onto an especially slippery rock and started to fall. Mary attempted to catch her but only managed to lose the supply bag and then watched in horror as Marshall managed to stop Samantha from falling but in his attempt to steady her he ended up falling into the water.

"Marshall!" Mary screamed. She watched as his head disappeared under the water and then he resurfaced. She knew he was trying to follow his own instructions but she couldn't tell if he was succeeding. The river was sweeping him out of their view. "Save the witness and get her to safety first." She repeated his words to her and started to move again towards the other shore.

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Marshall fought to swim to the shore. His shoulder was impeding his attempts but he refused to quit. He was headed towards a larger boulder in the middle of the rapids and positioned himself so that he could push with his feet to attempt to get closer to the shore. His legs hit some rocks and he guessed tree branches with his legs. In the process he managed to get the momentum he needed for the push off and managed to catch a tree branch that was hanging over the river. After several failed attempts to hoist himself up he finally collapsed on the shore. He felt sick from all the water he ingested when he went under the first few times.

"That sucked." Marshall didn't care no one was there to hear. It just needed to be said.

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Samantha noticed how quiet Mary had become once they made it to the other side and continued on their way. "Maybe we should see if he is okay?" The guilt she felt over his falling in while helping her evident in her voice.

"No. Manelli's men want you dead. My job is to protect you first. I'll get him back as soon as you're safe." Mary knew her priorities and knew Marshall was alright, she wouldn't think of it any other way.

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Marshall finally had enough energy to get up, looking around he began to move in the direction Mary and Samantha would be going. It was getting late and he knew they would have to stop soon. He would need to walk in the dark to catch up to them. The temperature was beginning to drop as night came. Knowing his partner he figured he had anywhere from a half hour to an hour more walking to catch up with them. Weary he sat down briefly and missed the eyes in the bush staring at him. Fifteen minutes later he was feeling like he was being stared at. Oh crap!

The hobble bush near him shuffled and he heard the leaves rattle. Marshall didn't have a chance to reach for his gun. "Nice kitty. Good kitty. There's nothing tasty over here." Marshall said to the mountain lion that emerged from under the bush. It surged at him, using the arm he dislocated he covered his neck while the other arm reached for the rock he had seen out of the corner of his eye. The mountain lion got its claws into his arm protecting his neck as Marshall managed to bring the rock up and hit it. When he hit it the second time it the mountain lion let go of Marshall's arm and slinked back into the bushes it had come from. Marshall waited and listened to make sure that it was not going to come back and finish its attack. Marshall dropped his head to the ground briefly before attempting to rip the sleeve of his shirt off to stop the bleeding on his arm.

His first thought was to leave the area but he knew at the least he should wash his arm off. He remembered that the supply bag had fallen into the river while Mary attempted to keep Samantha from falling. There would be nothing to sanitize this arm with when he caught up with them. Quickly heading to the river he washed the wound to the best of his ability and wrapped the piece of his shirt around the wound to prevent it from bleeding. Mary was going to rip him a new one when he caught up with them.

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Stan and his group had begun to pick up the trail Manelli's men had left. "How is the search coming with the helicopter?" He asked into his walkie talkie.

"So far there are no signs of your inspectors or the people following them." They replied back. "We are going back to refuel and continue the search from where we left off."

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Mary was scanning the area outside the mouth of the cave where Samantha slept. She couldn't allow her mind time to shut down and she wouldn't let it wander to her wayward partner. The night was getting colder and she heard the sounds of nature all around her. Settling into a position that was defendable and yet out of sight to the casual observer she continued her vigil.

An hour later she heard the snap of a twig. Pulling her gun out she crouched lower and aimed toward the area the sound was coming from. She heard footsteps against the ground and the way the foliage snapped as they moved closer. Mary quickly shook Samantha motioned for her to hide further into the cave she had found.

Holding her breath Mary stayed crouched and waited in anticipation. Adrenaline was coursing through her veins. The steps came closer and as their owner finally stepped out into the clearing she lowered her weapon and smiled in relief. "Marshall." She called out so that he would stop.

Marshall jerked his head towards the voice and was rewarded with the sight of Mary. She ran up and hugged him. Which surprised him since it wasn't something she wouldn't do normally. "Are you alright?" Her strange behavior had him worried.

"Doofus you're the one who went for a swim." She could feel his body trembling and realized he must be freezing. She began to rub her hands up and down his arms but he stopped her before she touched any of his injuries. Insulted at first she was about to rip him a new one when she remembered the dislocated shoulder. "Marshall, go to sleep. You've earned it." When he didn't even try and argue with her she knew that he was hurting.

Samantha had turned over at first light and was surprised to see Marshall lying near her sleeping. Mary had came into the cave and was about to wake them when Samantha spoke. "When did he get back?"

"A couple hours after we stopped; he just showed up." Mary went over to them. It was rare for Marshall to sleep in. His natural alarm clock wouldn't allow it. "Wake up sleepy."

Marshall groaned and rolled over. "Time to go?"

"Not just yet. I want to take a look at you." He looked terrible but she didn't want to say that to him. He had been through enough and didn't need a reminder.

"I know you admire me but really we should get going." Marshall teased trying to cover the fact that he felt like hell.

"You keep dreaming. Now sit up and let me take a look." Mary insisted.

"Do I look like a pet to you? Roll over, sit up, lay down, and just so you know I don't beg." He grumbled as he reluctantly complied.

"Oh I so could get you to beg Marshall." She smirked and arched and eyebrow at him while he chuckled at her remark. When he turned and she got her first look at him the smirk faded. "What the hell did you do to yourself Doofus?"

She had noticed the holes in his jeans and the cuts in his skin. His face was black and blue but what caught her attention was the absence of a shirt sleeve. From the way it looked it had to have been torn. "Marshall, why did you rip your shirt sleeve off?" He didn't have a made up sling on his arm so it wasn't for his shoulder. It was then she noticed he had his arm behind him and seemed to be keeping it there on purpose.

"Mare I fell into the rapids and cut myself on some of the rocks trying to get out. I should look worse than the last time you saw me." He explained and attempted to avoid her question.

Mary knew a diversionary tactic when she saw one. "Let me see your other arm."

"We need to get going." Marshall made to get up but Mary pushed him back down.

"Your arm, now!" She hissed. When he glared at her she grabbed it and untied his makeshift bandage. Her eyes widened at the gouge marks. Eyebrow arched she glared at him.

Marshall knew he was in trouble. Mary did not look happy. "Did I not mention my run in with the mountain lion?" He spoke as if being attacked by a mountain lion was an everyday occurrence. "Odd they usually don't attack humans. It must have been hungry or maybe I just made it feel threatened. Though I was just lying there minding …"

"No. You seemed to have left that part out. Why didn't you shoot it? There were no bullet fire echoes last night." She realized she answered her own question. "Doofus, you don't go getting yourself killed without taking a shot. We could have pushed ourselves to move faster and further. For a smart man you can be rather dense at times." She paced back and forth in front of him mumbling incoherently, angry at him.

Marshall wisely remained silent for a moment while Samantha watched her with concern. "Mare there is nothing we can do about it right now. I washed it out and tied it off to stop the bleeding. It will be fine. I can still shoot. We need to leave, now."

Mary glared but knew he was right. "Fine but when we get out of this mess you and I are having a seriously long conversation about you keeping yourself out of harm's way. Do I make myself clear?" He nodded and she made a move to check the area before they left. "Marshall stay where I can see you. With your luck you'll probably walk into a bear and be eaten." She huffed.

"Yes Mom!" She hit him in the only area she could think of that didn't have a scratch.

"Hey don't be getting fresh with my butt. I know you think it's cute but really."

Samantha laughed for the first time since the ordeal happened and Mary flipped him off.

Mary shook her head. "Of all the partners in the world I get stuck with the loony one."