Seth looked at Haley and couldn't decide which of them was the most nervous. They had been waiting what felt like forever for Marshall to call them to talk about the past. When he finally did they were both elated and scared. He never thought he'd live to see the day when Marshall would scare him, but there was so much riding on this conversation that it frightened him. The wrong thing said or done could be what ruined any chance they had of working things out.

Haley gasped when she saw Marshall, as he opened the door. She knew that Seth had told her he was beaten up pretty good, but she hadn't been prepared for there to still be bruises after a week.

"It looks worse then it is, Mom," Marshall said, stepping aside to let them in.

Haley didn't think, she wrapped her arms around Marshall and pulled him into a hug. She realized how tense he was at first, but it felt like after a few minutes he hugged her back. She wouldn't know the answer to that, but she would always believe he'd realized at that moment he still needed them.

"Marshall," Seth greeted, unsure what his role was in his son's life.

"Why don't we sit down in the living room? I have a feeling this is going to be a long conversation."

Seth noticed Marshall had purposefully taken the chair across from them and the coffee table in between them.

"Which one of you wants to start explaining why you lied to me all these years?" Marshall asked, not meaning to sound so bitter, but unable to hide the resentment.

"I guess I should start, because the story begins before I ever met Seth," Haley said, unsure of what to call her husband in front of Marshall.

Haley found herself reciting the story she'd already told Mary and Stan. She could tell why Mary and Marshall made a good team. Marshall's questions were similar to the ones Mary asked.

"Uncle Cal was your WITSEC inspector?" Marshall asked.

"That's why he stopped coming around after awhile. Once I signed out of the program, he had other people to protect."

Marshall looked to Seth.

"Was I just extra baggage that had to be taken in, because you fell in love with Mom before finding out she was pregnant?"

"No, you were the added bonus. I watched the way you grew with each ultrasound and was excited about becoming a father."

"Then when Mom was pregnant with Neal everything changed. You stopped accepting me for who I was."

Seth had never made the connection to the timing until Marshall said that.

"It's not what you're thinking. Honestly, I never realized the timing of the two incidents coincided. When your Mom was pregnant with Neal, we learned that someone was digging into information on Haley and Connor Parks. Victor would have killed you if he'd found you. That was the day I decided that you needed to be toughened up in case someone came after you. It had nothing to do with your brother. You were always the sensitive one and I didn't even want to imagine what that sick monster could do to you or if you could survive if you didn't learn to be tougher. It was a mistake on my part. I wish I could turn back time and fix the many ways that I cheated you of a normal father and son relationship. You have to know that it wasn't because you didn't carry my blood. It was because I thought it would protect you from the cruelties of the Conti family if they came looking for you. I never thought about how differently I treated you from Neal and Danny. My only thought was to figure out how to keep you safe."

Marshall looked towards his Mom.

"Is that why you kept me so close to you all the time?"

Haley nodded.

"These men butchered your biological father. Letting you out of my sight was the hardest thing I had to do everyday that you went to school or out with friends. I'd already been looking over my shoulders for so long wondering when they'd find us that I wanted to shield you from the world. Seth and I went to the opposite extremes in trying to protect you. We had originally planned to tell you when you were eighteen, but by that time we were a family and thought that it would tear us apart. It wasn't meant to be deceitful or hurtful. We tried to protect you the only way we knew how."

Marshall took a deep breath and looked back to Seth. He was going to have to ask the question he was most scared of.

"Do you love me?"

Seth felt like he'd been stabbed in the heart. The fact that Marshall questioned it hurt him.

"From the moment I saw you in the ultrasound, I loved you. Your first word was Da Da. I'd never been as honored or proud as I was to hear you say those words. I let my pride and fear get in the way of me showing you how much I cared. Your brothers seemed to know it and I just assumed you would also."

"Marshall, Seth took you everywhere with him to show off his son to the people he knew after you were born. If they weren't too busy chasing down criminals he'd make an excuse for me to bring you to the office so we could go out for lunch. You were his pride and joy. The first time you were sick he took off of work, wanting to make sure that you had everything that you needed and would be okay. He stayed up all night with you when you were miserable with the chicken pox."

"I have always been proud of you, Marshall. As you got older and we found out that Vincent was looking into the past, I put more space between us because I couldn't stand the thought of losing you. In the end it wasn't the Conti's that stole you away from me. It was my own doing and for that I'm truly sorry. I never wanted you to doubt that I love you or that I wouldn't want you as my son."

"Dad, I want to believe all of this. I really do, but after everything we've been through I need time. I know that you care about me in your own way, but we need to work on things a lot more before I can accept what you're saying you feel about me is the truth."

Seth knew it was a first step and he would take what he could.

"Fair enough."

"Mom, I want to know my family history. Your side and Carson's. I don't even know what he looks like. I realize that we will never have contact with any of them if they're alive and you weren't allowed to take photos with you, but I still need to know."

"Carson and I were both only children. Your grandparents on both sides are dead. My parents passed when you were five in a car accident and Carson's parents were killed when a tornado ripped through the town they went to for vacation. They didn't have enough time to move to the shelter. I think you were six then. I had to leave all of the photos of Carson behind or I would show you what he looked like. You still aren't allowed to look up information either. Cal said they figure we're safe, but they can't take chances. I'm sorry, Marshall."

Marshall knew all to well those rules so he couldn't argue with her. He knew that he couldn't going searching either. His Mom was right, you never know with the people Carson hung around with. He could've double crossed someone else.

"I know that you have more questions. We'll be more the willing to answer any questions that you have. If you want we can take it from the beginning and work our way through it more. We held out on you and that wasn't fair."

"I think I have enough to think about for now," Marshall said, needing to think over the information he was just given.

"Alright, if you have any questions then we are more than willing to answer them," Seth replied.

"How long are you going to be in Albuquerque?"

"As long as you need us to be," Haley said

"Can we meet again tomorrow? I think that I need to do this in small pieces at a time."

"We can get together any time you want. Just let us know when you want to see us," Seth said.

/\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Marshall sat in the dark replaying the conversation with his parents. The logical part of him realized his parents did what they needed to in order to protect him. The other side of him still didn't understand why they didn't tell him the truth when he was older. He had a feeling that he never would fully grasp that.

The only thing he knew for sure was he wanted off this emotional roller coaster ride he was on. He was having a hard time separating being the son of a criminal and that of a U.S. Marshal. He'd idolized Seth when he was little until things started to go down hill when he was four. No matter how hard he tried, it was as if he didn't exist. He wanted to believe that it was what his Dad thought was best at the time, but he couldn't see how isolating your 'son' and pushing to toughen you up was love. Wasn't it there jobs to protect you from harm, but love you at the same time?

Marshall's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a key turning in his front door. Hitting on the light closest to him, he eased himself off the couch to help her with whatever Mary brought for supper.

Mary looked up and saw Marshall standing in the doorway.

"What are you doing up? The doctor said for you to rest. You still have five more weeks before those ribs heal correctly."

Marshall rolled his eyes. "You're becoming a mother hen."

"I'd punch you, but you have enough bruises. Go sit on the couch. I'll get some plates for supper. If you behave, I'll even let you have some of the pie I brought."

"Yes, dear," Marshall deadpanned before sitting back on the couch.

Mary ignored the remark and watched as Marshall held his side when he sat down. She knew that he was sitting in the dark before she arrived. She could tell when the light came on as she was opening the door.

So far he hadn't commented on her overnight bag. She figured after talking with his parents he could use some company. Grabbing their plates she headed for the living room.

"I could help you with the rest, you know. I'm more than capable of moving."

"That's nice, I'll be right back," Mary said, returning to the kitchen for their drinks. Making her way to Marshall she sat down next to him.

Mary wanted to ask right away about how things went, but she wanted him to enjoy his food first. They could talk next and then she'd bring him some pie. Pie made everything better.

/\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Marshall finished his supper and decided to finally confront Mary. She'd been casting side glances at him since they started eating.

"You can ask whatever it is that you want to, Mare."

"How'd it go?"

"I still don't know what to think. Mom told me about Carson. Dad tried to explain why he treated me the way he did while I was growing up. The only thing I want is to turn back time and unlearn the truth."

"Look, I can't even imagine what it's like finding out everything they kept hidden from you."

"There's a but coming in here."

"Yeah, there is. I sat with Seth when he talked about you and it was sincere. The man loves you, but he sucks at showing it. I honestly believe that he thought toughening you up would prepare you if the Conti's came after you. I have the feeling that he was hoping that it would keep you alive long enough for him to find you. That man may be tough as nails, but I heard the feeling behind his descriptions of you. That's what I call pride. You made something of yourself despite who your biological father was and it was because of the way your parents raised you. They helped mold you into the man that you are today and I will be eternally grateful to them for that. Don't try and rush through all of this. You're allowed to be angry, hurt and confused. The only thing that I can say is just remember all of the things they did for you while you were growing up. Don't shut them out. Give them time to explain and yourself time to work through the emotions and facts. I know that's hypocritical, but I know you and you love your family. Don't let this take that away from you."

"How do you deal with people knowing that your father was a criminal? I get judged by who Seth is and I can't help but wonder if anyone will look at me the same after this. I'll always be the murderer's son. I'm not a fifth generation U.S. Marshal."

"First of Marshall, the only people who are aware of your biological father are the people that care about you most in this world. No one else is going to know. It isn't safe in the first place to leak that information and none of us would do that to you. You are the same Marshall that I've been partnered with the last seven years, the same inspector Stan's been grooming for his position for a long time and the same son that was raised by two parents that adored him. Your own brothers told your parents that they were on your side through all of this. It doesn't define you, Marshall. The only way it can is if you let it."

Marshall nodded trying to let her words sink in. He was suddenly very tired.

Mary could tell Marshall was worn out. Emotionally all of this was taking a toll on him.

"Come on, it's time for us to go to bed."

Marshall raised an eyebrow at her.

"Someone has to keep an eye on you and since Stan won't let me take you to a vet to put a chip in you, you're just going t have to share your bed," Mary said, getting up and offering Marshall her hand.

When he accepted the help off the sofa, it told her just how tired he was. He would usually ignore her hand. She knew it was because that's what she did to him.

Marshall followed Mary down the hallway. They took turns changing in the bathroom before Mary slid in next to him. He was surprised when she reached out and took his hand in hers.

"I don't even know what he looks like, Mare. We can't look it up as a precautionary measure. Mom doesn't have any photos and there is no other family left."

"I'm sorry, Marshall. Nothing I say can make that better. I wish I could. Let it go for tonight and get the rest your body needs. I'll be by your side," Mary whispered, before impulsively giving Marshall a kiss on his cheek.

Marshall couldn't help, but smirk at the gesture. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Mary watched him sleep for over an hour before finally giving up trying to understand what it must be like to learn the truth the way Marshall had and to not be able to even to see what his biological father looked like. She at least has an old photograph of her father.

/\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

A month had passed and Marshall was starting to feel like himself again. His parents had gone home two weeks ago, but would be coming back out Friday. Marshall had been on desk duty for a week much to Stan and Mary's dismay.

The two had known that he was getting antsy and that he needed a break from all of the information that he had been given by his parents. It hadn't taken him that long to realize that Seth would always be his father, but he was also not inclined to voice that fact just yet.

Marshall knew what Connor had done to his mother even if she refused to call it what it really was. It had taken him awhile to grasp everything his Mom had gone through. Carson had been her high school sweetheart and she'd seen him as the person he was until he met, Peter Conti. His life could have been completely different and when that thought finally registered, he realized that he'd been lucky. If things had turned out different he might have never met Stan or Mary. He would've never known the pride of a family filled with U.S. Marshal's in it and probably wouldn't be one at all.

His parents were coming because he asked them to. He needed to talk to each of them separately. By putting the pieces together in his head, he realized there were things he needed to know before he could continue to move forward.

/\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Mary looked over at Marshall to see him staring blankly at his computer screen. Apparently, she wasn't the only one who noticed. Stan had come out of the office with a concerned look on his face and headed towards Marshall's desk.

"Marshall, are you okay?" Stan asked.

Marshall was pulled from his thoughts by Stan's voice.

"What?"

Mary rolled her chair over to Marshall's desk as Stan perched on the corner of it.

"You're staring blankly at your screen on the same day that your parents are arriving. We're worried about you," Mary said.

"Sorry, just thinking about what I have to talk to them about. I didn't mean to stop working."

"Marshall, you know full well that I'm not concerned about your job performance. What's really bothering you?" Stan asked.

"Did you and your parents have an argument?" Mary asked.

"No, but I'm just worried about how they're going to respond to my questions. I was so focused on how it all affected me that I never asked them about the choices they made and how it changed their lives."

"They'll answer the questions, Marshall. You know they will," Mary said.

"At what cost? Some of the questions will be hard on them and may sound judgmental. I'm not trying to judge, but I need to understand."

"Marshall, I've known Seth for a long time. He may not get you overall, but he knows that you need to have all the pieces of a puzzle together before you can completely be happy. It might bring up some bad memories. Your parents were strong enough to get through it back then, they'll handle it now. You're learning to adjust also, but they've had more time dealing with the past. It's almost time for you to leave. Call it a day and that's an order," Stan said.

"Thanks, both of you," Marshall said, grabbing his things.

"Call me if you need me," Mary ordered just before the elevator closed.

Mary looked to Stan.

"I know that Marshall is a lot better. He's had over a month to get used to the fact, but are you sure they're not going to set him back. I don't want to see him lost and hurt again."

"They both love him, Mary. They can't protect him from the past. It took us a week to help him deal with what Carson did to his mother. It wasn't Marshall's fault, but it might take awhile to sink in completely. He's had time to think about it and I'm guessing it brought up more questions. It's no longer about just him. He needs to see this from everyone's' perspectives or he'll always have doubts. Seth and Haley are aware of this. If he falls then we'll catch him and pick him up," Stan replied, and headed back to his office after Mary nodded in acknowledgment.

It didn't settle her fears though. She vividly recalled the way Marshall reacted to finding out Carson forced himself on Haley. He had taken six showers that night. Mary had stopped him before he tried to go for the seventh. She couldn't help, but think back to that moment.

"Marshall, what the hell are you doing?" Mary asked walking into his bedroom when she heard the shower running again.

"Taking a shower," Marshall replied, as if it was the most obvious thing.

"You've done that several times already. I can guarantee you that after six showers you're clean."

"I'm never going to be clean, Mare. I'm a product of that filth that…" Marshall choked out before he couldn't speak and tears began to pour down his cheeks.

"Oh, Marshall," Mary sat on the bed pulling Marshall's arm so that he was next to her.

Once he was seated she gently cupped his cheek and turned his face so she could look him in the eyes.

"You aren't dirty. Carson was a pig, but what he did to your mother is on him. None of it was your fault or responsibility. I know that you're struggling with this, but you don't have to do this alone or by using all the water in Albuquerque. Carson dirtied his own name and memory, but you are one of the purest people I know. Stop blaming yourself for his actions."

"He hurt her, Mare and I was the product and reminder of that. How do you think my brothers are going to react to that?"

"The same way the rest of us are. They feel bad for what your mother went through, but wouldn't change a thing because you wouldn't be here otherwise."

"I want to believe you, but it's hard to think of it as a blessing."

"It will take you time to adjust to that information. Stan and I are here for you. Don't try to handle this alone. I know you will let it tear you up inside if you do. Don't let Carson turn you into a shell of the person we've all come to know and love," Mary said, reaching up to wipe away the tears that continued to fall. "Lay down."

Marshall was too tired to fight so he did as Mary requested. When she slid in next to him and wrapped her arms around him and held him while he sobbed for his mother, father and himself. So much pain wrapped into a life he had once thought was perfect.

Mary held on tightly. A part of her feared to let him go, afraid that he'd go to a dark place that would change the way he viewed the world. She didn't want him to become the bitter person she had after her father left her.

The ringing of her phone brought her out of the memory and she sent up a quick prayer that Marshall would come out of this only slightly scarred.