A/N: So readers, a bit of housekeeping regarding this chapter. (1) If this was an episode of IPS, this chapter would be known as "Filler" - although some important info is revealed, so I hope you still enjoy it. (2) Most of us have written Mary and Marshall's relationship as severely strained after Marshall's infamous "Let me go" speech in the series finale. But in this fiction, you'll quickly see that their friendship is intact. Though Mary did take some steps back and didn't call Marshall for every little thing or involve him in her family drama, their friendship remains. (3) This chapter also contains a flashback scene to that infamous balcony scene where Marshall asks Mary for his freedom that had so many of us screaming at our TV's. Dialogue from the show is in bold italics.

Whew! I think that's all - enjoy!

"You and me
We used to be together
Every day together always
I really feel
That I'm losing my best friend
I can't believe
This could be the end
It looks as though you're letting go
And if it's real
Well I don't want to know"

-No Doubt

I took in my old partner's fighter stance in front of me and sighed. "Mary, retract the claws and let me explain-"

"You're damn right you're going to explain, Marshall. Nora hasn't been back to school since she broke her arm – a fact which you conveniently forgot to tell me. Just like you also forgot to tell me what really happened the day of her accident and –"

I held up my hand in supplication. "Stop! All right? Time out. I didn't forget to tell you anything and I wasn't going to keep the information from you – I think both of us know that would have been suicide for me. I know how much you hate secrets and I would never, ever keep information about your daughter from you – especially since she's old enough now to tell you herself what really happened."

I waited for my words to sink in and slowly Mary's shoulders relaxed. She rubbed her forehead as she leaned against the island. "I – I know you wouldn't keep things from me long term. It just surprised me when Nora told me what happened, like she already thought I knew – and damn it, Marshall, I should have-"

I gripped her shoulder and shook her slightly, stopping her flow of words. "Mary, listen to me. I know how much you hate leaving her right now and the fact that your worst fear was finally realized and she got hurt while you were out of town is making you lash out at me. But you need to realize that I was not going to add to your stress by giving you all the information when there was nothing you could do about it while you were still on the road-"

"You overstepped, Marshall! That wasn't your call."

My hand tightened on her shoulder. "Wasn't it? Isn't that why you gave me the power to sign off on Nora's medical treatments? So that, God forbid, something happened while you were out of town I could step in and take care of things?"

"You're not her father!"

The words cut me to the quick but I pushed my hurt feelings aside. "Mark wasn't here, and I was. You needed to focus on the witness and let me take care of Nora – and she's fine, Mary. I promise you, she's fine." I took a deep breath, knowing my next words would have the effect of pouring gasoline on a lit fire. "But I'm going to call another quick time out and ask about you – is everything OK with you?"

Mary shrugged out of my hold, backing up several steps. "I – Other than the fact that I get home and find out my daughter's been suspended-"

"Is everything OK with you?" I repeated the words slowly, my eyes boring into hers.

She turned away from me to pick at an imaginary spot on the counter. "Mom called last night."

I waited but when she didn't say anything else, I prompted her, "She's found Brandi?"

Mary snorted. "No – but it turns out she knew where my sister was going. The problem is she's not there."

I shook my head. "I don't understand."

Mary threw up her hands and turned back to meet my eyes. "Take a number! Turns out my family has been keeping things from me again and you know how well I deal with secrets, Marshall."

I waited.

"Do you remember the car accident Brandi was in last summer, the one where she hurt her back?"

I nodded.

"Mom told me she got addicted to the pain meds."

I rubbed the bridge of my nose. "How long has Jinx known?"

"I don't know – a couple of months? She's been trying to convince Brandi to get help and then just before Thanksgiving, she says she found Coke at Squish's apartment."

I slammed my hand on the counter. "And she's only telling you this now? Brandi had illegal drugs in the apartment with a three year old? Mary, Georgie could have gotten-"

"Marshall, I know! I was furious too- I am furious!"

"What else did Jinx say?"

"She confronted Brandi who broke down and said she hadn't been using, at least not yet. The two of them made plans for her to go into a drug rehab in Florida – close to our half-sister Lauren's place. Brandi swore Mom to secrecy, left George with me, and let Mom give her a ride to the airport the day after Thanksgiving."

"So Brandi's in Florida?"

"No, she's not. That's what Mom was calling to tell me. She went to visit her, and Brandi never checked into the rehab center."

"So Brandi could be anywhere?"

Mary nodded. "And most likely high as a kite and not feeling any pain."

"Why is Jinx breaking Brandi's confidence and telling you all this now?"

"A guilty conscience?" Mary shrugged. "She's scared out of her mind for her baby – she wants me to run traces on her credit cards and use my contacts through work to find her."

I was silent for a long moment as I listened to the sound of Nora and Georgie laughing and playing down the hallway. "Do you want to find her?"

"She's my sister and George's mother – how can I not do everything in my power to find her?"

"She may no longer be the Brandi you know when we find her."

"We?" Mary shook her head. "Marshall, this is my business, my family drama. I can't ask you to get involved, not when you've got your own problems, your own wife-"

"Hey, I don't recall you asking, I volunteered."

"I can't let you do this." She shook her head. "I gave you your freedom, remember? You need to walk away from this shit fest. We'll be fine."

I took a deep breath. "I'm declaring that conversation and its outcome null and void. You and I are partners, Mary. You call and I come, every time, no matter what."

May 2012

Sunshine Building

I got back from lunch with Abigail, her words still ringing in my ears. Just talk to Mary – this isn't me being jealous. You need to figure this out before we make any more appointments with ministers. Was she giving me an ultimatum? Telling me that I could no longer be friends with Mary if I wanted to be her husband? Or was she just telling me the hard truth? That I needed to make a choice and stick with it: Mary or her. I loved Abigail deeply and I wanted to marry her, but Mary still haunted my thoughts, waking and sleeping. Part of me wondered if it was love or obsession – she had been the object of my dreams for so long that I didn't know if it was possible to let her go. Abigail was right – it was an unhealthy attachment, especially since Mary had never returned my feelings. Even if Abigail wasn't in the picture, I was a pitiful excuse of a man, a whining puppy in the corner who had been trying to get his master's love and attention for years and nearly peeing on the floor with excitement whenever she thought to toss me a crumb.

It had to stop. It needed to stop. Both of us needed to move on. I was getting married and Mary had finally dealt with her Daddy issues once and for all. There was no better time than the present to let her know that we needed to step away and give each other breathing room.

But my heart and courage failed me when she strode into the office later in the afternoon. To any outside observer, she looked her usual confident self. But to me, the man and partner who knew her better than she knew herself, I could see how much she was still struggling with her father's death. There were circles under her eyes and her step faltered just a bit, letting me know just how tired she really was.

"Doofus, stop looking at me like that. I'm fine."

My eyes snapped up to hers, and my face flushed as I realized she had caught me in the act of assessing her condition. "Excuse me for caring."

Her lips twitched briefly but the smile never fully formed. "Don't ever stop." She cleared her throat. "Now, are you going to tell me what's on your mind or just keep staring a hole through me?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"For Pete's sake, partner. You've been trying to work up the courage to tell me something for the past three days now." She looked around the room. "We're alone – so spill. What's on your mind?"

I don't want to – you need me too much right now.

She's always going to need you, but Abigail needs you too.

"Marshall?"

I shook my head. "Not here – Stan's due back any minute. Let's go out on the balcony."

She raised her eyebrow in surprise but didn't say anything as she followed me out the French doors, shutting them behind her. I didn't turn around as I shoved my hands in my pockets, trying to form words that were suddenly stuck in my throat.

"Marshall – you're starting to scare me. Are you sick?"

I whirled to face her. "No, Mer, nothing like that."

She visibly relaxed. "Then what is it?"

I cleared my throat. "This, what we have, it's undefinable, and up until now nothing's ever come along to jeopardize that."

She smiled at me. "Marshall, you're my best friend. You're my only friend. I mean, forget friend, you're - you know."

I nodded in understanding. "I know. I love that. But that's the problem."

"Because you're getting married."

"Yeah. I'm getting married. I love Abigail deeply, and because I do that's why I need you to do something for me."

"Anything."

"I need you to release me. I need to be free enough to have a life with Abigail, and I need you to be okay enough for that to happen, because if you call I'll come. Every time."

She sighed. "Well, I don't know a lot these days. All I know is that more than anything in the whole world, I want you to be happy. So, I'm going to say this once and only once: I want you to marry Abigail. She makes you happy. I like her and I like you together."

I looked at her in open disbelief.

Mary chuckled. "I know, I hide it well."

I was suddenly very uncomfortable as I looked at my partner and wanted nothing more than for this conversation to be over. I strode past her and opened the door. "Yeah. Okay. So, shall we get on with the rest of our lives?"

"You first."

Mary brushed past me as she went back inside and I felt a small part of me die. Is this what it felt like to let go of a dream? To finally release someone that you've wanted to hold close and love for so long? To acknowledge to no one else but yourself that something you hoped for was never going to be?

I leaned my forehead against the doorframe, breathing in and out slowly. "Be happy, my love," I whispered softly before I pushed myself back to a standing position and went back inside, closing the door behind me.

Present Day

Mary's kitchen

Mary stared at me. "OK, now it's my turn to call a time out. You're still wearing your wedding ring, so I know you're not divorced, but you're talking like a crazy man right now. You need to go home to your wife."

I shook my head. "I need to cook breakfast. After the kids are fed, I can call APD and we can fill out a missing person's report over the phone-"

"Marshall, stop!"

I obediently shut my mouth and waited.

"I think we need to talk about what's going on with you."

"No time."

"We'll make time."

The bedroom door slammed and two twin blurs flew into the room, one attaching to Mary and the other to me.

"Is breakfast ready, Uncle Marshall?" Nora asked.

"Not yet."

"Why?" the five year old pouted.

"Your mother distracted me."

"Mama! We're hungry."

Mary rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at me as she detached Nora from her leg and began to pull out the rest of the ingredients for French toast.

"I help!" Georgie screamed.

I ruffled his hair and lifted him up to sit on the counter. "Of course, sport. Every chef needs a sous chef."

"What's sous mean, Uncle Marshall?" Nora asked as she carried silverware to the table. "Is it like whore?"

"Marshall!" Mary screamed as she dropped a bowl on the counter.

I cringed and swung around to face the Shannon women. "Not now, Mer – later, I promise. No, Nora. Sous means under. And let's not say the word 'whore' again, OK? It's not a nice word."

"OK."

Mary came over and captured my earlobe between her thumb and forefinger, pinching tightly. "This conversation is not over, Doofus."

I winced under the pressure of her grip. "I know, Sunshine. I know."

She grinned toothily at me and moved away as Nora asked what Doofus meant. I laughed and handed Georgie a whisk, watching with fatherly pride as most of the eggs managed to stay in the bowl this time.

After breakfast was over and dishes were cleared away, Mary insisted on making the missing person report herself, alone, without my help.

"Why don't I take the kids to the new indoor play palace that's opened over on Bleaker, then?" I offered. "That will give you some privacy and you can call Jinx too – let her know that you've set things in motion."

Mary shook her head at me. "Don't you need to get home to your wife?"

I avoided her eyes as I scooped up my keys and wallet from the table and whistled for Oscar. The mutt came dashing into the room with the kids in hot pursuit. "Get your shoes on, kids."

"Where are we going, Uncle Marshall?"

"I thought we'd go check out the new play palace-"

Nora and Georgie's squeals drowned out the rest of my words and they ran back down the hall to find their shoes, Oscar barking and nipping at their heels. Grinning, I turned back to see Mary studying me with a frown.

"What's wrong?"

"Bug told me that you and Abigail had a fight yesterday when she stopped by-"

"I'm sorry that she overheard – more sorry that I couldn't control my temper and that I aired our marital problems in front of two young children."

"What's going on with you? I know you love spending time with Nora and George – but Abigail's your wife and usually you'd be anxious to get home to her after spending a couple nights apart. What aren't you telling me? Have the two of you separated?"

"Not officially."

Mary recoiled from the words as if I'd punched her. "What does that mean? Are you- what the fuck happened while I was gone?" she repeated, but this time her voice held no anger, only concern and I felt the urge to reach out and touch her but I restrained myself. It would only complicate the situation further and confuse her – and me.

I ran a hand through my hair and opened my mouth to answer when Mary's eyes lit on my hand. "What the hell?" she exclaimed, crossing the distance between us to capture my hand. "What is this? What happened to your hand?" she demanded, looking at my taped fingers, and the dark bruise and cuts that marred the flesh.

I inwardly cursed. I had been so careful all morning to keep it out of her line of sight, trying not to be obvious about it and so far it had worked. But now the cat was out of the bag and she was looking up at me with blazing green eyes, demanding the truth. "Nothing-"

"This is NOT nothing." She held my injured hand up between us. "Tell me, now."

"Uncle Marshall! Georgie can't find his shoes!"

I shook my head. "Later – you need to file that report and the kids are waiting." I tried to tug my hand free but she held it fast.

"I'm not letting you go until you promise me that you'll talk to me about what's up with you."

"Mary," I sighed. "Finding Brandi is so much more important-"

She shook her head. "You're important to me too, Marshall. Don't you know that? You're still my best and only friend."

"UNCLE MARS!"

"Mary, the kids-"

"Promise!"

I squeezed her fingers gently. "I promise."

She grinned as she released my hand so fast I nearly fell backwards from the loss of contact. "Was that so hard?"

A/N: What has happened to Brandi? And how much will Marshall tell Mary? And what about his wife? Stay tuned. Reviews are LOVE.