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Marshall walked into the office and saw Stan just staring at his phone. He automatically knew that he had talked to Mary. He walks over and comes into the office, "What'd she have to say for herself?"

Stan jumps guiltily and looks over at Marshall, not really meeting his eyes, "She didn't pick up"

"Have I ever told you how bad you're at lying?" Marshall narrowed his eyes at his boss and manages to catch his eyes, keeping eye contact.

"Look Marshall, just…just let it go, as far as I know, she's on vacation, whether she's with this Kenny guy or not," Stan stands up and walks out his office, leaving a stunned Marshall. He walks behind his boss with a hurt expression on his face.

"Why'd she lie?" Marshall asks with a resigned sigh.

Stan stops by the elevator and slowly turns around, "Why can't you just let it go? Don't you have a Halloween party to prepare for?"

"Not until you tell me what she told you"

Shaking his head he rubs his bald head, "Go home Marshall!"

Marshall sighs sadly, "Are they ok?"

Nodding Stan pushes the elevator button. Once it opens Stan points inside and nods for Marshall to walk in. "See you on Monday Inspector"

Sadly Marshall leans back in the elevator and pulls out his cell phone again. Pressing speed dial 1, after the accurate number of rings it goes to voice mail. Come on, Mare. Pick up…talk to me.


Once back at his place he goes looking for his fiancée, he wanted to apologize for leaving her in a lurch at the store. He wasn't looking forward to the festivities later in the evening, without Mary present he didn't even want to have the Halloween party. He finds the detective in their room.

"Hey Abs, did you get everything we needed?"

Abigail stands up from the bed and comes around, "Did Mary had to do anything with you leaving me at the store alone?"

Marshall stares at Abigail in surprise that she would put two and two together, but how could he ever doubt her abilities when she was a detective, shrugging he nods, "Yeah"

"I don't think you have your priorities straight Marshall, you said you fixed it," Abigail sits back on the bed and rubs her forehead as if guarding off a headache.

"It's not that Abs, Mary's my best-friend and when I found Kenny…well, I thought she would be heartbroken over the break up, thought she'd need me," he tried to explain, but even to his ears, the excuse fell flat.

"That still doesn't explain why'd you just leave your fiancée behind because of your best-friend. Like you couldn't wait until we finished shopping to go looking for her. What about tomorrow? Huh? It couldn't have waiting until tomorrow?!" Abigail exclaimed in frustration, she had been sure that he had started to make her his number one girl, but this had changed everything.

He flinched at the hurt in her voice, "No, I couldn't wait. She's my best-friend…"

"I thought we talked about this already. I know she's your best-friend, I'm not dense, but what about me? I'm your fiancée! Didn't you talk to her like you said? You said you'd reached an understanding with her," hands on her hips, she demanded answers from her fiancé, answers he couldn't give without betraying his own feelings.

"Yeah, I asked her to re…" Marshall froze at what he was about to say, what had he done! What kind of friend was he to ask to be released and then expect explanations from his best friend? Whispering, "I can't believe I asked her to do that"

"What are you talking about?" Abigail asked quietly, noting that he had gone from sad to incredulous.

Walking out of the room and out of the house he got in his truck and started driving. "She released me!"

He was frustrated, his best-friend, partner, the woman he had been in love with for so many years had released him! Then why the hell did he feel abandoned?! What kind of best-friend releases you? She was supposed to fight for me, us! What the hell is wrong with me? Then he murmured something that put all the puzzle together in his head, " If you love someone, set it free."

He drove aimlessly around, trying to figure out where Mary could be. Then suddenly, he hit the break causing his truck to stop with a squeal and remembered her telling him about a town she had gone to after her kidnapping. He drove back home and came into the house, Abigail dressed as a cheerleader, was setting everything up, she looked around when she heard the door open and saw him come in.

"Hey Honey Britches! I'm almost done. You can…" she stopped at his expression. "What's wrong? Where's your costume?"

"Everything's wrong," he confesses as he just stares at her, what he is about to do breaks his heart, but he had realized that he was fighting a losing battle. He would never be over Mary, as much as it pained him to break this caring woman's heart.

"What exactly is everything?" she asks frowning at him, trying not to understand on purpose. She automatically knew that it was over between them, but she wasn't going to give up that easily. She could be mistaken.

Marshall walks closer to her and shakes his head, closing his eyes he says, "We are not right for each other."

"What are you talking about? We're perfect for one another, we love all of the same things, we get along inside and outside of bed, we understand each other's job demands," she counted with each finger and a confused frown on her face.

He shakes his head again and releases a strangled sigh, "Yes, we do have a lot in common, but I have all those things in common with most women. That doesn't necessarily mean I should marry all those women too."

"What are you trying to tell me then? Just spit it out already!" Abigail pulls off her engagement ring and walks over to him and gives him the ring back. "This is what you're trying to get to, right? I guess she's more important than anyone else."

Marshall blushes and feebly smiles at her, "Thank you and I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry for being in love, as much as I'd like to lock myself in the bedroom, the party must go on," she wiped at a tear that had rolled down her cheek. Her sense of responsibility wouldn't allow her the privacy to cry her heart out, she had invited friends for a Halloween party and as painful as it was, she would entertain her friends.

He pulls her into his embrace and whispered, "I'm so sorry Abs."

"I know, but for right now, I think you should leave before I'm in no condition to entertain," she pushed him away and turned back to the bedroom. She permitted herself a few minutes to compose herself.


TBC...oh Stan my boy, you can't just pull a wool over Marshall's eyes...not when he gets paid for his observations...poor Abby, she should've seen this coming...come on Marshall, go find your girls...