Chapter Nine-Settling In

It was the next evening and Mary and company were following Allyson and Brenden into their SoHo loft. The police had finished taking evidence from the apartment, but clean up and repairs had to be done before the ladies could return. Mary had no intentions of staying with Allyson until Mike was sent to jail, but she was grateful for her sister's kind offer. She agreed to stay with Allyson and Brenden until the apartment was fixed, but she planned to return as soon as she was able.

Mary entered the apartment behind her sister and quietly took in her surroundings. Allyson and Brenden moved into the loft a year and a half ago and it quickly became the hot spot for their mutual friends, as well as Allyson's family. If New York was the city that never slept, the Mayfield-Newport residence was the one spot that could rival it. Mary loved spending time with Allie and Brenden in their home, but hoped her stay would be a quiet one.

Allyson and Brenden's loft was a large, spacious, two story space with brick walls and light wood floors. The first story was a large, connected space that consisted on the living room, dining room, kitchen, and bathroom. The living room portion of the room consisted of a large, flat screen tv, and brown leather wrap-around couch, love seat, coffee table, and armchairs. The orange and cream patterned rug added color to the room and the high ceilings made the space seem even bigger. The dining room was a counter with stools that led into the kitchen.

The kitchen had a contemporary feel with black cabinets and appliances, and an ivory island in the center of the room. The walls were painted a festive lime green, adding warmth and interest. The laundry room was connected to the kitchen and it was a small, simple section of the loft. Allyson and Brenden decided to leave the walls white to match the appliances and there was a shelf above the washer and dryer for laundry detergent. There was also a small area to hang up clothes and a folding table.

The second story of the loft was Allyson and Brenden's bedroom. The walls were painted ocean blue, hunter green and the floors were white tile, giving the room interest and more light. They wanted to have as much space as possible, so they had the walk in closet torn out and opted to have one of their walls covered in closets. There was a fuzzy, neutral rug on the floor and the bedroom furniture was medium colored wood. They had a king sized sleigh bed and their bedding was neutral, earth toned colors. They also had a master bathroom that was decorated in an ocean theme.

Mary followed everyone upstairs and Terra, Beth, and Stacee set their luggage on the ground. Prior to coming to the loft, the threesome stopped at their apartment to pack their bags, as well as items for Mary. She stood to the side and watched as they began placing their clothing into the closet and drawers Allyson and Brenden cleared out for them. Mary felt as if she was having an out of body experience, watching her loved ones mingle amongst themselves, but not present to join. Her body may have been in the room, but her soul was elsewhere. She hated to sound melodramatic, but she wondered if she would ever get it back.

It was at that moment that she heard footsteps on the winding staircase leading from the first floor to the second. She turned around and watched as Bobby joined the group, carrying her suitcases, as well as a pet carrier. Inside the carrier was her six year old cat named Tally. Mary found him in an alley four years ago and it was love at first sight. Tally was a large, all white cat with what Mary described as a "perpetually pissed off expression."

Despite his tart disposition, Mary loved her feline friend, believing their personalities complemented each other. Bobby placed the suitcases on the floor so he could set down the carrier. Before meeting Mary at the hospital, but went to his doctor to get an allergy injection so he could function normally around the cat. He opened the carrier door and Tally slithered out, letting out a characteristic hiss as he headed straight for Mary. He rubbed up against her legs and sat on her feet, laying claim to his owner.

Bobby headed towards the closet and placed Mary's black suitcases on Allyson and Brenden's bed. The women gave him an awkward smile and Allyson indicated which drawer and closet was Mary's. As Tally wandered around his new surroundings, he glared and hissed at the other domesticated beings in his presence. Terra had a five year old parrot named Tucan and Beth was the proud "mommy" of a two year old ankle biting Chihuahua named Mimi. As Tally hissed at Mimi and the dog responded with an obligatory nip, Brenden walked into the room.

Brenden Newport was Allyson's boyfriend of two years and lovingly dubbed "an honorary Mayfield." Brenden had the distinction of being the only suitor to whom Stephen took an immediate liking. Brenden's place in the family was secure; not only did the Mayfields love him, but he worked for them as well. He started out as an intern for Mayfield-McCavern Inc, which was how he originally met Mary. It was her job to teach the interns and after a few weeks, she realized what a great match he was for Allie.

Mary usually hated match making, but she had such a good feeling about Brenden and she was delighted to see her instincts were correct. After graduating college, Brenden was hired on as a programmer and part of his job entailed working with Mary on her computer games. In addition to spending time with Allie's entire family, Brenden and Mary spent a great deal of one-on-one time together as well. It started when he would come to her dorm for lessons and continued to this day. They would meet a few times a week for coffee, or in Mary's case tea or hot chocolate, browse gadget storees, or go to movies. Mary loved having a little brother and Brenden felt closer to Mary than to his own sister.

Brenden stood at 6'0 and was every inch the good looking, preppy, cookie-cut young man any father would want for his daughter. He had a sun kissed complexion, dark brown hair, and blue eyes. He had a slender, slightly muscular build, thanks to his years of playing basketball and tennis, but his best feature was his smile. It was so warm and engaging he could charm anyone, including one very hard nosed general. He looked casual and gorgeous as always in jeans and a blue button down shirt.

"I was thinking about ordering pizza for dinner. Is that okay with everyone?" he asked.

The ladies nodded half heartedly and he disappeared downstairs. Bobby decided to follow him, wanting to get to know the key players of Mary's family better. Tally and Mimi followed and watched as he picked up his cellphone.

"What do you like on your pizza, Detective Goren?" Brenden asked.

"Whatever you and the ladies have is fine with me," Bobby said. "and please, call me Bobby."

"Very well...Bobby," Brenden said agreeably before dialing the well known number to his and Allie's favorite pizza place.

He ordered pepperoni and cheese for him and Allyson, vegetarian for Beth as well as a small Greek salad, meatlovers for Terra, Hawaiian for Stacee, and ham and cheese on garlic deep dish crust for Mary. After placing the order, he hung up and placed his phone on the dining counter before disappearing into the kitchen. Bobby watched as Brenden placed food in a bowl for Tally and Mimi. Mimi immediately ran towards her bowl, but Tally simply hissed and slithered away. Bobby raised his eyebrows and looked at Brenden.

"Tally will only eat for Mary," he explained. "in fact, I think Mary is the only person Tally actually likes. Poor Beth can't even sit on the couch without Tally hissing and trying to attack her. I don't know what it is about her that Tally hates so much because Beth is such a sweet person, but he just doesn't like her."

"How long have you and Allyson been dating?" Bobby asked.

"Two years. We met when I was interning at Stephen's company. Mary was in charge of training the new interns and we just sort of clicked. After a few weeks she introduced me to Allie and well, the rest is history."

"General Mayfield is...fond of you?" Bobby asked, trying to picture the general as anything besides tyranical.

"I know Steve can come across as a bit of a hard ass sometimes, but he couldn't be nicer once you get to know him. The entire Mayfield family, including Terra's family, is amazing and so welcoming. I'm closer to them than I am to my own family."

Bobby looked at him curiously, so Brenden continued. "I'm the youngest of six and to be honest, I have never been close to my family. My parents are involved in their own lives-separate lives-and there is such a gap between myself and my sibling-in terms of interests as well as age-that we just never really bonded."

"What do your parents do?"

"Father is in mergers and aquisitions and Mother is in the business of spending Father's money, in between galas and luncheons of course. During the summer, she likes to escape the ocean state and instead dominate the streets of Paris. Even when I was a child she would leave the first week of June and return sometime in September or October."

"That must have been difficult for you, having to spend so much time away from your mother," Bobby said. He may not have grown up among the priviledged streets of Rhode Island, but he knew how it felt to be neglected by his parents.

"I became used to it," Brenden said with a shrug. He took a beer out of the refrigerator and handed one to Bobby as well.

"You were raised in Newport?" Bobby asked.

"Yes, until my ninth grade year, which was when I was sent to St. Augustine's in New York City. After that I would come home for weekends and for the brief time in the summer I wasn't at camp. Bobby, I have done nothing but talk about myself all evening. I would like to know more about you-how long have you been a detective?"

"Twenty-one years. After leaving the military, I joined the NYPD and spent four years in the Narcotics Division. From there I was transferred to Major Case, which is where I have remained ever since."

"Is your family in law enforcement?"

"No. My mother was a librarian and my father...was often away on business."

"Isn't that always the way?" Brenden asked, amusement in his tone. "tell me Bobby, how many 'sorry son suveneirs' did you receive over the years?"

"'Sorry son suveneirs'?" Bobby asked, unfamiliar with that expression.

"My father would often promise to attend one of my school functions or sporting events, but was usually unable to attend, due to being away on business. As a way of trying to make amends, or perhaps impress his business associates, he would purchase some miscellaneous object from the gift shop of whatever hotel he was staying. I must say, I amassed quite a collection over the years."

"Yeah...I never received any of those," Bobby replied, trying not to grimace as he pictured his own father. He received plenty from the old man, but gifts weren't on the list. "What about your siblings? You mentioned being the youngest of six-that must have been interesting, even if you weren't close to them."

Brenden shrugged and set down his beer. "They have always in their own little worlds. I suppose they are close with each other, since they have similiar or complementary interests, careers, friends. My oldest brother, Sutton, is CFO at my father's firm and twenty years my senior. He was away at school when I was born and we scarcely see each other on holidays. He's married with two children of his own.

My sister, Carlotta, is sixteen years my senior and she's an investment banker for a financial organization in Hong Kong. She rarely comes home and I haven't seen her in years. Pierce in two years younger than Carlotta and he works as a cardiologist at a hospital in London. He's on his third marriage, but his first wife is the only one I met. Blaine is two years younger than Pierce and he is head of the law division at my father's firm.

My brother Channing just turned thirty and married his college sweetheart last year. He works as a neurologist in Los Angeles. And then there's me," Brenden finished, taking another drink of his beer.

"I think you've done well for yourself," Bobby said. "you are employed at a top computer software company-and you're dating the boss's daughter. Not too shabby."

"I'm not dating Allyson because of who her father is. I'm dating her because I love her," Brenden said, giving Bobby a look that he guessed the young man picked up from Allie's old man. "the Mayfields have been more of a family to be in the last two years than my biological family has my entire life."

"Sorry man, didn't mean to offend you."

Brenden shrugged and it was at that moment there was a knock on the door. Brenden picked up his wallet and walked to the door. He looked through the keyhole and saw that it was the delivery man from the pizzeria, holding the many, many boxes of his order. He opened the door and took the boxes from the delivery man, setting them on the counter. Once the pizza was paid for and the delivery man was gone, Brenden shut and locked the door.

"Ladies, dinner's here!" he called, looking towards the staircase.

A few minutes later Allyson, Beth, Terra, and Stacee walked down the stairs, not feeling particularly hungry, but knowing they had to eat something. As they walked down the stairs, Tally made his way up, hissing and snarling at the ladies as they passed him. They took an obligatory slice and found their desired spot in the living room.

"Mary isn't coming down?" Brenden asked, taking a slice of pepperoni and a meatlovers for himself before walking over to sit beside Allyson.

"She said she would like to be by herself for a while," Allyson said, tears welling in her eyes. She set her plate on the coffee table and Brenden wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "she...she just seems so lost. I...I don't know what to do for her."

"She just needs time to process what's happened," Brenden said. "Mary's tough, she'll pull through. She...she has to." Brenden pulled Allie close, bowing his head. He too, was at a loss as to what to do for Mary.

As Brenden and the ladies sat in a sad, confused silence, Bobby placed slices of ham and cheese pizza on two plates. After grabbing some napkins and two cans of coke from the refrigerator, he made his way back upstairs. He saw Mary sitting on the bed with her legs brought close to her body. Tears were silently streaming down her face and she was using her right hand to wipe them away. He saw that her t-shirt was slightly pulled down, but at an odd angle, as if she wasn't quite sure how to manuvere the garment around her cast.

Her right wrist was also in a cast and moving her arm was causing discomfort. When she heard footsteps, she forced herself to ignore the pain and quickly wiped the tears from her eyes. Bobby set his items on the nightstand and sat beside her.

"D...do you want me to ask one of the ladies to help you?" he asked.

"No. I don't want them seeing me like this," she said, shaking her head. "I...this situation has already caused everyone so much pain..."

"None of this is your fault, Mary. Mike is a sick, narcassistic bastard and you are not responsible for his actions."

"I may not have invited him to my apartment, but he and I haven't exactly had to most harmoneous relationship. In theory you are correct, I didn't bring this on myself, but I have provoked him as much in the past and he has me."

"Mary, I don't care if you hit him in the face with a wine bottle every single day. No one has the right to attack and almost rape someone in their own home. Yes, you may have gone toe to toe with him in the past, but it sounds to me that you were justified in those situations. There is no excuse for what he did."

Mary said nothing, allowing Tally the crawl onto her lap. He arched upwards and nuzzled against her chest, allowing the top of his head to graze past her throat. She kissed the top of his head and gently stroked his back with her hand. Bobby reached over to pet the feline as well, but Tally batted his hand away with his paw, hissing a warning in his direction. Bobby and Mary smiled slightly and she kissed the cat again.

"Bobby...thank you for being here with me. I know going from Major Case to bodyguard was quite a...surprise. I know you have better thing to do than baby sit me."

"Mary, it's no trouble really. Yes, this reassignment came as a surprise, but I'm choosing to look at it as a challenge. I'm not aways good at making my superiors happy. I don't always achieve results in the way they appreciate. Doing this might go a long way to demonstrate I an adjust myself in a more acceptable manner to them."

"You don't strike me as someone who cares very much about what others think of him."

Bobby's lips twitched and Mary continued speaking. "Look, I know my father forced you into this position and I'm sorry for his heavy handedness. I appreciate what you have done so far, but you don't need to be here. If you want, you can leave and I'll just say you are watching me. If I need to fill out paperwork or something, tell me what I need to sign and I'll sign. The streets of New York need you more than I do."

"I couldn't leave your security detail even if I wanted to. My captain has assigned a replacement to my partner until further notice, so like or not Mary, you are stuck with me. If it makes you feel better, I have Sunday mornings to myself."

"For religious reasons?" Mary asked.

"I do have my reasons, but they are not religious."

Mary's interest was peeked, but she had a feeling Bobby wasn't going to disclose his Sunday morning whereabouts. For his part, Bobby didn't much relish the idea of Mary's father digging into his past. It wasn't that he cared about the General's opinion of him, which he didn't, but he knew if the General uncovered details about his past he would cause a scene and that would upset Mary even further. Given everything she had been through lately, the last thing she needed was more stress.

"Mary, do...do you want me to help you with your shirt? I understand if you don't, but my assistance is offered if you need it. I know you'll need time before you adjust to your new...accessories and I want to help you until you do. If it makes you feel any better, I'll close my eyes and promise not to open them until you say the word."

"Umm...okay," Mary said, hesitating slightly, but deciding to take Bobby up on his offer.

Under normal circumstances she would have felt uncomfortable letting a man she hardly knew undress her, but there was something about Bobby that made the prospect less awkward. For one thing he was a police officer and she's always held law enforcement in very high regard. Bobby also seemed sincere in his desire to help her and didn't appear aroused or excited at the idea of seeing her topless, which was all the more relieving to Mary. She also liked that this solution prevented her from having to ask the girls for help. She loved them dearly, but their hovering, coddling, and concern was grating on her nerves. If she had to accept one more apology from Stacee or see one more tear in Beth's eyes, she would have to grab another wine bottle.

Mary and Bobby stood and true to his word, he closed his eyes as he helped Mary removed her t-shirt. She felt rather silly, childlike, for needing assistance with something so basic, but she was grateful just the same. She winced slightly as his hand brushed against her cast. Her entire body was still sore was yesterday's events and in her opinion, her face looked more garish than when she first saw it. If her face looked like a football, her body looked like a punching bag. Her doctor had prescribed medication to help with the pain, but Mary refused to take it. She would rather suffer than feel like CVS. She already had to take meds for her heart condition and seizures and that was quite enough for her.

"Sorry," Bobby mumbled, hearing her wince. Painsakingly he removed the t-shirt and let it fall to the floor.

"It's alright," Mary assured him. She appreciated his professionalism, how he removed the t-shirt and didn't let his fingers linger on her body.

"Do...do you want me to unclasp your bra?" Bobby asked, trying to sound as professional as possible so as not to make her more uncomfortable.

"Y...yes please."

Bobby granted her request and his long, nimble fingers quickly unhooked the clasps of her bra. Although his eyes were closed, he could tell the garment was satin and knowing Mary's clothing tastes, it was most likely black. He peeled the bra from her body and let it fall on top of her shirt. Once it was off, Mary picked up the night clothes she had selected and made her way into the master bathroom.

"Bobby...you can open your eyes now."

Bobby opened them and picked up Mary's disgarded clothing. He placed her bra in her drawer and the t-shirt in a nearby clothes hamper. He sat down on the bed, eating his pizza while Mary slowly moved into the shower. Before leaving the hospital, she had been given covers for her casts and instructions on how to apply them. Having two casts to contend with made her task more difficult, but she was determined to do this on her own. Having Bobby help her out of her shirt was embarassing enough: having him help her shower would send her over the edge.

Fortunately the bottom part of her body wasn't as difficult to undress as the top. She turned on the shower and stepped inside, biting her bottom lip as the water hit her body. Showing was usually a pleasant activity, but her body was so sensitive and the prospect of spending any more time than necessary under the water didn't appeal to her. Her doctor advised waiting another day before getting her scalp wet, so she just washed her body. Mary moved as quickly as possible, using her hands since her skin was still too sensitive for a wash rag or lufa.

After her brief and painful stint in the shower, Mary stepped out and slowly patted her body dry. Her night time garb was simple: underwear, black sweatpants, and black tank top with a built in bra. She wasn't sure if she would ever get used to dressing around her two casts, but she knew she had to. Detective Goren would think her an invalid if she never dressed herself and the last thing she needed was for him to report to her father that she was incapable of taking care of herself. She could just picture her dad whisking her back to his home while in her sleep and that didn't appeal to her.

Eventually she was dressed and after brushing her teeth, she walked back into the bedroom. Bobby was now reclining on a nearby loveseat, reading a book now that his dinner was eaten. He looked up as Mary walked to the bed. Allyson and Brenden insisted she sleep in their bed and Mary was too weary to argue. Tomorrow she would insist on sleeping on the sofa, but for once she didn't feel like arguing.

She slipped under the comforter and rested her head on a pillow, grabbing another one so she would have something to hold. From the time she was little she could never fall asleep until she had something to hold onto. As she tried to make herself comfortable, Bobby went into the bathroom so he could shower and change for the evening. He emerged a few minutes later in a white t-shirt and plaid pajama bottoms. He rarely slept in pajama bottoms, but knew he didn't hae any other options for the next couple of weeks.

Mary watched as Bobby laid on the loveseat, trying to twist his large frame into a comfortable position. "Would you like to take the bed? I can sleep on the loveseat if you would like."

"Thank you Mary, but no, I will be fine. Try to get some rest."

Mary and Bobby wished each other a goodnight and she held the pillow close to her body. Mary tried to go to sleep, but she just couldn't. After fighting a losing battle, she climbed out of bed and walked downstairs, moving as quietly as possible so she wouldn't wake Bobby. Everyone had found their desired spot, so Mary sat in an unoccupied armchair. She looked around the still, quiet room, hoping she could find a way to become as relaxed as her loved ones.