Hey guys, again I'm sorry for the long wait for a new chapter. I hope this is worth the wait. Please review and let me know. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and to those who are still reading.
Enjoy!
Family Wars
Jenna panicked when she heard the doorbell ring. She was waiting for Seth to finish getting ready so they could get back to Marshall at the hospital but now there someone at the door and she couldn't help but worry who it was and what they wanted.
She rushed down the hall and pulled open the door, her mind going into over drive when she saw it was Stan.
"What happened?" She asked her son's boss. "Did something happen to Marshall?"
"Marshall is fine." Stan reassured her when he realized what she must be thinking.
"What's going on?" Seth appeared behind his wife.
"I thought I'd bring you some supplies." Stan answered, holding up a takeout paper bag. "Marshall has been working pretty hard lately so I'm guessing he doesn't have a whole lot of food in the house…I thought you might need some breakfast."
"Thanks…" Seth was grateful he wasn't there with bad news. "Come on in…"
"We were planning on stopping on the way to the hospital but this will probably save us some time." Jenna led the men down into the kitchen.
"I'm glad I caught you before you left." Stan commented, placing the bag on the counter. "There was something I wanted to discuss with you both."
Jenna frowned. "You said Marshall was okay…You weren't lying were you?"
"Last I heard the doctors are pleased with his progress." While Stan knew Marshall's physical injuries were healing well, he wasn't so he was doing well.
"But something has happened, hasn't it?" Seth predicted. "He asked you to come here to tell me not to bother going to the hospital."
Jenna sighed. "I know he's having a hard time but if he would just talk to us…"
"It's not that simple…"
"Look, I do know Marshall well enough to know that pushing him will only make things worse." Seth claimed. "Honey, you go on to the hospital…"
"Marshall isn't at the hospital."
"What?" They both turned to face the chief again.
"He checked himself out last night."
"And the doctors let him?" Seth questioned.
"He didn't give them much choice from what I heard." Stan stated.
"Damn it!" Seth ran a hand down his face. "He'd rather suffer then see me."
"Where is he?" Jenna asked. "If he's not in the hospital and he's not here, then where is he?"
"Mary is with him…"
"Wait, he went to her house?" Seth asked in surprise. "After what happened there?"
"No, they didn't think that was such a good idea."
"So, where are they?"
Stan sighed. "Mary wouldn't tell me."
Seth narrowed his eyes at the other man. "Excuse me?"
"She thought it was best." Stan tried to explain. "Marshall said he didn't want to see anyone…"
"But we're his parents." Jenna commented.
"I understand it must be difficult but Mary will take care of him."
"This is such a mess." Tears filled Jenna's eyes and she slowly sat down at the kitchen table.
Seth was starting to get frustrated with the whole situation and got angrier at the fact it was all over his own stupid mistake.
"Call her…" Seth demanded. "Call Mary and find out where she is."
"I really think we should give them some time…" Stan said calmly.
"What gives her the right to hide him from us?"
"Look, Mary is just doing what she thinks is best for Marshall." Stan defended. "She's taking care of him the way she knows how…"
"But surely she has her own problems going on right now?" Jenna asked. "I know they are close but I would have thought she had enough going on…"
"They are close… they're partners…More than partners." Stan didn't know how to explain his inspectors' relationship.
"More than partners?" Seth repeated. "What does that mean? You're not saying that they are…."
Jenna turned in her chair and glared at him, her eyes filled with tears. "Don't you dare finish that sentence! You of all people have no right to judge!"
"I didn't mean that…I just…" He started but stopped again and sighed. "I just don't know what to do."
"Give him space." Seth advised. "You'll end up pushing him further away if you try and force him."
Seth hated that his son's boss was giving him advice on how to handle his son. He hated that another man knew Marshall better than he did. He hated this whole mess he created, starting years ago when he stepped back from Marshall just because he didn't always understand him.
"I need some air." Seth muttered, turning on his heels and walking out into the backyard.
Stan watched him ago before turning his attention back to Jenna, who was dapping her eyes with a tissue.
"I should get back to the office." He told her. "Is there anything you need?"
"I need my family back together." She said tearfully.
Stan placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. "Just give it time."
Jenna nodded her agreement, although there was a part of her that wasn't sure there would be enough time in the world to fix the wrack that was Marshall's and Seth's relationship.
She slowly got to her feet and followed Stan to the door. "Thank you for coming by and letting us know what is going on."
"Anytime." He assured her. "And just call me if you need anything…"
"Just…if you speak to Marshall, tell him I love him…." Jenna pleaded. "That we love him."
Stan smiled a little. "I'm sure he already knows that but I'll pass the message on."
XxXxX
Mary winced when there was a knock on the door and rushed over to answer it, not wanting them to knock again and wake Marshall.
"Room service." The young man smiled at her.
"Yeah, great thanks…" Mary whispered, pulling the food cart into the room and closed the door even though she know he was waiting for tip that she was never going to give.
When she closed the door and turned around, she heard a moan from the bed.
"Hey," she said softly, abandoning the cart to move to his side. "How you feeling?"
Marshall just moaned again and tried to push himself up.
Mary took hold of his elbow gently with one hand and put her other around him back, helping to sit up against the pillows. "Careful."
"What time is it?"
"A little after 8am." She answered. "I ordered some breakfast."
"I'm not really hungry."
"Well, how about something to drink then?" She crossed over to the cart, grabbing a bottle of water and an orange juice. "You need to stay hydrated…It's important."
He raised an eyebrow at her in surprise.
"What?" She shrugged. "I can do research too, you know."
"You did research?" He questioned.
"Yeah and it said that drinking plenty of fluids is important….plus, it's time to take your medication too."
"Wow, you've really got everything under control." He took small sips of the water while she sorted through the pills.
"I had a lot of time on my hands waiting for you wake up so I got organized." She replied, handing him the pills. "I also need to change the dressing on the wounded at some point."
"What did you read? Nursing 101?" He asked, watching her walking back to the food cart. "Does this mean I get a sponge bath?"
Mary let out a snort although she was glad to hear him joking. "In your dreams, buddy…"
"I guess a nurse's uniform is out of the question too then?" He quipped, taking the last of his pills and laying his head back against the pillows, allowing his eyes to close once again.
"Trust me you don't want me as a nurse." She claimed, as she buttered some toast. "When Raph blew out his knee, he stayed at mine so I could take care of him and Brandi of all people had to take over from me when.…"
Marshall lifted his head again when she stopped mid-sentence, even the sound of the knife scrapping against the toast fell silent.
"Have you spoken to him?" Marshall asked quietly, guessing the mention of her fiancée was the reason for her pause.
"No." She answered, the knife stretched at the plate as she sliced through the bread.
"You know you'll have to eventually, right?"
Mary sighed and turned back to face him. "How about you don't try and talk to me about Raph and I won't try and talk to you about your Dad?"
"Mare…"
"Just for today?" She suggested. "Today, let's just focus on you not developing an infection or any more injuries on my watch."
Marshall had to admit, it did sound tempting to forget about the mess both of their personal lives seemed to be at the moment.
"Okay deal…" He nodded.
"Great, now I know you're not hungry but can you try some toast?" She placed the plate on the bed beside him.
His stomach flipped at the thought of it but she stood watching him with those concerned, scared eyes so picked up a slice anyway.
When she saw him nibbling at the corner of a piece, she grinned and went to find something for her to eat.
"Hey, Mare?" He called after her.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks…"
"No problem, partner."
TBC
I think I've said this before that this is a hard story for me to write because I enjoy writing about Marshall and Seth's relationship but this is the first one that I've had to write Seth this way. He's a bit of a villain in this but I don't want him to be evil…Everyone makes mistake. I just hope it's realistic.
Anyway, please review!
