Next chapter up! I got a keyboard for my ipad so typing is much faster!
Marshall watched as she ran from the room. He flopped back against the upright bed and groaned. He closed his eyes and ran his hands over his face.
Never in a million years did he think Mary would kiss him. Hopefully she didn't shut down now. He knew Mary well enough to know she was in full fledged panic mode. Her normal coping methods were to ignore it or get angry. Neither of these options particularly filled him with hope.
A nurse came in a few minutes later to check how monitors and update his chart. She looked around and asked him were his shadow was.
"Oh she had some errands to run." He shrugged nonchalantly.
The nurse gave him a look, "You're in the dog house, aren't ya?"
Marshall sighed. "I might be. I'm honestly not sure, Mary is a difficult person read sometimes."
The nurse smiled and placed his chart back at the end of the bed. "Good luck, honey."
Marshall stopped her before she could leave.
"Oh hey could you bring in a roll away bed, some paper and a pen?"
The nurse nodded. "Sure thing, sugar. I'll be right back."
Sure enough a few minutes later the nurse came back with a few sheets of copy paper and a pen. Behind her was a young orderly pushing a folded up bed.
Once they left Marshall set about writing a note to Mary. Half way through he crumpled the page and tossed it into the trash can. This happened twice more before he gave up trying to sound confident and just wrote what he thought. He folded the finished note and gently laid it on the pillow of the rollaway bed.
He sat down and looked at the extra sheet of paper. Maybe he could make something for her. There was one that he had just mastered that she might like.
A knock at the door brought Marshall out of his thoughts."hey honey!" Charlotte poked her head in the door.
"Hey mom," Marshall greeted.
"How are you feeling?" Charlotte took a seat next to her son.
"I think I screwed up..." He blurted while working on his creation.
Charlottes eyes flicked around the empty room. "What happened, baby?"
"I may or may not have given Mary a painfully honest answer."
"Uh huh..." Charlotte had a pretty good idea as to what that conversation was about.
"And..." She encouraged him to continue.
"I told her I love her and she kissed me. Then, she bolted." Marshall explained the whole conversation to his mother. Never had he been more greatful to have a mother who he could talk honestly and openly too
"She will be back. When she comes back you are going to have to let her come to you. You've made the initial push but if you push anymore she will run." Charlotte advised him,
Marshall laughed at how his mother already had Mary figured out.
He heeded his mothers warning though. He had no doubt she would run if cornered. Last time he hinted at his feelings she ran off to Mexico.
10pm that night
Mary stood outside Marshall's room. She was exhausted. She drove all the way to to Albuquerque and back. She fought with herself the entire way there. The farther she got from the hospital the stronger the urge to turn back grew.
When she finally pulled into her drive way she realized the feeling of 'home' wasn't there. The house was empty. Jinx had long since been kicked out and Brandi was living the high life with Peter. The only sign of life was the freshly cut grass in the back yard and the clean pool.
Mary looked through the kitchen windows and her mind started playing. Marshall chasing a little boy in the back yard. Tossing a ball back and forth, a sheepish look on their face's when they broke a window. Marshall helping with homework.
Mary shook her head. She could never give him that.
Would that matter? Would Marshall resent her if she couldn't give him a kid?
"Of course not!" her brain screamed at her.
Mary took a deep breath and quietly pushed the door open. Marshall was asleep and there was another bed in the room. She could see a folded piece of paper with her name on the pillow.
Mary, I hope you return tonight. I understand if you are angry at me. I did just spring my feelings on you. That doesn't make them any less real. I wasn't lying when I said I wouldn't leave you or walk out of your life. I'm here when you are ready to talk. Until then there is plenty of room on the bed with me but I understand if you would rather not. I had a bed brought in, it must be more comfortable than the recliner. Also, I made you a dragon, call it nerdy or geeky but its feirceness reminded me of you more than a flower. -Marshall.
Mary smiled and picked up the small paper dragon. She inspected its wings and their perfection before putting the creature down. She slipped silently into the bathroom to change her clothes. When she was ready for bed she looked at the rollaway bed. It didn't look nearly as comfortable as a real bed should after weeks of sleeping in a chair.
Marshall was sleeping on the far left side of the bed, his right arm behind his head. Throwing caution to the wind Mary made her decision. She was tired of running away. Marshall said he wouldn't leave so she wasn't going to either. Mary pulled the blankets back and slid in next to her partner.
His arm automatically went around her and pulled her snug against his side. He woke up when she first opened the door but he didn't want to influence any decisions she was going to make.
"I'm glad you came back, Mare." He whispered.
"I'm not an easy person to be with. I'm a difficult, heartless bitch, ask anyone who's known me." She was giving him an out yet at the same time she held him a little tighter.
"I know you're difficult. You're also stubborn, crass, infuriating, dedicated, smart, funny, and beautiful, but you're not heartless. I've known you for twelve years; I know you better than than anyone else. You're not heartless, it's just that no one else has really seen your heart like I have. You keep it locked up tight." he had an endless list of adjectives to describe Mary.
"I can't give you a family." She told him next. These statements she was throwing at him were her last attempt to protect herself. His answers to what she said would speak volumes.
"You're all the family I need."
The last thing she want to ask was what scared her most. She wasn't sure why, she already knew the answer. She was sure it wasn't going to change. So was she afraid because she knew he meant it or because maybe she returned the sentiment?
"Marshall, do you really love me?" She tensed waiting for his answer.
He looked down at her and used his free hand to tilt her head up. He kissed her hard, all sorts of emotions driving him. He was trying to show her how much he really did love her.
"Yes Mary, I love you." He never wanted her to doubt that.
It seemed like the rarely physical Mary couldn't get close enough to the man next to her. Marshall just pulled the blankets tighter around them and held Mary tight. He let out a huge sigh of contentment. He finally had want he wanted.
TBC
Progress! Mary is learning. I do want to warn everyone ahead of time the next chapter will be set a few weeks in the future.