INVISIBLE WALLS - A Brief Interlude

Mary and Marshall spent the weekend in their own private cocoon, both enjoying ignoring the world, before they had to face the harsh reality waiting for them. Sunday night, Mary could feel the anxiety pouring off of Marshall. "Marshall, relax." He looked over at her surprised. "We will be fine, nail her ass in no time."

He smiled. "I know. I'm just..."

She cut him off. "Worried you are going to shoot her when you see her?" Mary grinned.

He smiled back. "Yeah, actually."

Mary leaned over, her lips inches from his. "You won't do that..." she kissed him softly, pulling back giving him a sultry look. "cause you can't get me naked from jail." He blushed to his ears and she kissed him again. "I will never get tired of that reaction."

"You are an evil woman." He quipped, running a hand threw her hair.

"Yup and you love me for it." She grinned.

"I do." He whispered huskily and pulled her for another searing kiss.

Morning came too quickly; Marshall was just pulling up to the office. He walked up the building stairs, shaking a flash of Mary bleeding above him from all those weeks ago. He quickly put on a smile as he walked into the office.

"Marshall! Good to have you back." Stan greeted him immediately, both sharing a knowing look.

Marshall gave him a hug. "Good to be back."

Stan decided to just dive in. "How are you holding up?"

Marshall internally winced, but kept his face neutral. "I'm good. You know Dad and I weren t close, my only regret is my Mom was dragged into his bullshit."

Stan was taken back a bit at the carefree bluntness of the statement, but that just assured him Marshall s head was in the game. "I know, just want to make sure you are set to be back."

"I'm good. I didn't even go back for the funeral. Mary is more important." With that the seed was planted to anyone listening. Marshall sat at his desk effectively ending the conversation.

"Ok then, let me know if you need anything." Stan left and headed to his office, knowing the next few weeks were going to be hard on everyone.

Marshall focused on catching up on all the casework he missed. He planned out all the witnesses he needed to check in on. Luckily due to all the paperwork, the day passed quickly and he was happy to look up to see it was time to go home to Mary.

Mary greeted him with dinner already made and he stood their slackjawed. "What? I can cook. I just choose not to...don't get any ideas about this being a daily thing."

He snorted, walking over and kissing her. "Wouldn't dream of it. I mean who knows if it's even edible."

That earned him a smack in the shoulder. "Keep it up and I'll throw the pie out."

His eyes widened. "You got pie?" She smiled, nodding. "Message received."

"So how did it go today?" She looked at him with a mixture of concern and curiosity.

"Busy...caught up on paperwork." He shrugged. "It's only day one."

She smiled. "I know, but I meant how did you handle it?"

He smiled touched by her concern. "Better then I thought, a bit of panic when I got to the building but after ok just wish you were there too."

"Soon Cowboy, if all goes well, I am back in two weeks." She grinned.

Marshall tensed, a bit of panic at the thought of her being back too soon, but knew better then to voice it. "Good, then we get to break in the conference room table."

Mary coughed and sputtered on her drink, not expecting that to come out of Marshall's mouth. "Who knew you were such a perv."

His eyes twinkled and he gave her a sly grin. "Just been waiting to unleash it on you Cowgirl." Mary had a flash of him in cowboy boots and a hat causing her to blush. "Did I just somehow make the unshakable Mary Shannon blush?"

Mary steadied herself, knowing her blunt reply would affect him too. "Yeah, just fantasizing you in just a cowboy hat and boots."

Now it was Marshall's turn to be surprised. "I believe I can accommodate that."

They both laughed, finishing up dinner and cleaning up. An hour later they were both snuggled together on the couch.