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Marshall walked into the house behind Andrew, he had just closed the door behind him when his cell phone went off again, with a groan he picked up, "This is Marshall."

"Hey Chief, Mary here. Delia said that you wanted to talk to me?" Mary sounded apprehensive over the phone line.

"Hey Mare, you know, you can still call me Marshall," he greeted.

There was a lengthy silence.

"Yeah I know. So, about Dylan, he..uh…was just having difficulty adjusting to his new job. He feels stupid when he knows he can do better. This job really isn't encouraging him to want to stay in the program. I'm going to…uh…try to find him something that helps him in that department," Mary knew she was rambling, but she really didn't know how to act with him anymore. She was confused all around and didn't know how to handle the emotions that her now boss evoked in her with just his voice.

Marshall sat on the couch and ran his fingers through his hair, blowing air through his mouth, "Yeah, I'm sure being an engineer turned maintenance handyman is definitely a big difference."

"Yeah, I would say. It's like either of us becoming security guards, I would definitely quit on the first day," she chuckled awkwardly.

He noticed the strained chuckle, "Mare, what's wrong? And don't say 'nothing', I know you and I know something's up. Tell me."

There was another lengthy pause, Marshall was sure Mary was still on the line, but was trying to come up with an excuse, he knew her too well. He could only picture her in the office, behind her desk, watching Delia through the corner of her eye and keeping her in eyesight.

"Marshall, I think…maybe I can…once you're back I'm going on vacation with Norah. I think I need some time off work for a week or two," she murmured quietly, for his ears only.

He sat up, elbows on his knees as he tried to read her through a single phone line, was going on vacation code for something? What the hell was going on?

"A vacation? Since when does Mary Shannon take vacation? I can easily recall the many times that Stan tried to push you out the door to go on vacation and you wouldn't want to go," Marshall tried to bait her, tried to figure an ulterior motive.

"There are just things…uh…personal things I have to deal with," she didn't want him to question her any more. She couldn't tell him her new family drama, these were the things that she usually kept close, but closer even her emotional turmoil.

"What things?" he asked softly, ever since he asked her to take a step back from their too close relationship, she had really surprised him by not only taking a step back, but completely stepping out of his life. He couldn't blame her, but he didn't want to lose her.

"Mare, I need you right now. I've never asked before, but can you please hold off on this vacation request? Please?" he knew he was begging, but if begging kept her from going on vacation, he would beg on bended knee.

Mary stood up and walked out onto the balcony when she noticed Delia glancing her way a few times before coincidentally walking closer to her with some files.

"Yeah, I guess I can wait a bit before I go on vacation. How's your mom? Is she better?" she didn't know what else to talk to him about, so she did the next best thing. She changed the subject.

"She's better," he sat back on the couch and rested his head, "High blood pressure, I guess she hadn't been taking her medication and you know the rest. By the way, my family is very grateful that you took time out of your life to come find me. I'm really glad you're my best friend."

Mary blushed and had to blink fast and look up, to keep the tears from spilling, she tried to cough but it caught in her throat. She muted her cell phone and cleared her throat again, "Don't worry about it. I'm sure you would've done the same for me. Actually, you have done the same for me. Look Marshall, I have to go. Duty calls."

"Mare," he stalled her.

"What?" she didn't want to be on the phone with him anymore, she could only hold herself together for so long.

"When I get back, we have to sit down and have a serious conversation," it was past the time, but there had to be a change in their relationship.

There was a short silence before she whispered, "Talk? About what?"

"About a lot of things, but mainly our lives."

"What about our lives? Can't you just tell me over the phone?" the question she had wanted to ask, can't you just tell me we can't ever be friend over the phone?

"This is too important to discuss over air time."

"Can I at least get a clue?" damn it Marshall, if you don't want to be friends anymore, just tell me. How the hell do you expect me to wait until you get back?

"You'll know as soon as come home, my mother will be kept overnight for observation, but her doctor believes she'll be out by tomorrow afternoon. I will make my way tomorrow night, unless there is a change," he gave her his itinerary.

"Fine!"

"One more thing Mare," he said prudently.

"What's that?" she asked petulantly.

"Don't run, because it doesn't matter how far and how fast you do it, I'll be faster," he hung up before she could reply.

Mary pulled the phone from her ear incredulously and looked down frowning, "Damn it Marshall, you know me too well."

TBC...Will Mary run? What's so important that he can't tell her over the phone? Will he cut ties with her?