This is going to be a short interlude but I needed to get them to their next step.
It had been three very long, very frustrating days since things had ended with Raph and she and Marshall had started… whatever it was that had happened. And then, all hell broke loose. One of Marshall's witnesses, an good old boy from her home state of Jersey, decided to send a gift for his daughter's first communion. Which in turn prompted his former associates to send their own gift - a trio of hit men who weren't shy about spreading damage to innocent bystanders in Albuquerque.
Mary and Marshall had practically lived out of the office during that time and nothing in his behavior even hinted that anything had happened. They were business as usual, Marshall even a little distant at times. Had it been a mistake? Had she ruined the best thing in her life?
Hit men caught, witness relocated and paperwork done, Mary was getting ready to head home. Alone. Without Marshall. Without her best friend. He'd left silently about twenty minutes ago. She knew this had been hard on him. Situations like this always were because he took so much to heart. Normally they would have left together, stopping to grab a beer or some dinner. Tonight, Marshall didn't even say goodnight.
She was worried about him at the same time she was heartsick. Which she knew to be incredibly selfish but couldn't help it.
Unexpectedly, her phone beeped at her. The beep that specified that she had a text from Marshall. Her heart sped up before she took a deep breath and keyed into her phone. It was brief and succinct. And it filled her with relief. It simply said, 'Your go-bag is in my car. Get out of there already.'
So like Marshall to spell the words out. He absolutely hated shorthand text.
She took off for the door, barely pausing to log out of her computer. She saw him the minute she stepped out of the building, leaning up against his SUV looking lost and dejected. Not caring who might see them or how it could be taken, Mary wrapped herself around Marshall, wishing she could take the pain away from him.
Marshall clutched Mary to him, the tension that had been tearing his nerves to shreds for days finally losing its hold. He had coached Tommy through three years of the program, the man knowing that he'd be missing all the major milestones of his daughter's life. How had he missed that Tommy was getting desperate for news from his family? How had he been so oblivious? It would have been easy to blame it on being distracted by what was going on with Mary except that the package had been sent three weeks ago.
It had been sent without a name or return address but it had an Albuquerque postmark.
"It isn't your fault Marshall," he heard Mary whisper against the side of his neck. "Tommy made his choice. You have done everything you can for him. And he was an idiot to not realize that the postmark wouldn't clue someone in."
"And I know it doesn't stop the pain and disappointment," she finished, leaning back and he was relieved that she kept her arms around him. He needed her more than anything right now and their uncertain change in status had him worrying that she would pull away instead.
"Come home with me?" he asked, internally wincing at how weak his voice sounded.
"You don't even need to ask."
Marshall woke confused and still exhausted. He knew he was in his own room and in his own bed except that there shouldn't be anyone in it with him. And there was definitely a very female someone snuggled tightly against him. He took a deep breath and was almost overwhelmed by the implications of what he smelled. It was a blend of gunpowder, coffee, the sweet pea soap she didn't think he knew about and the special something that could only be Mary.
The past several days came back to him in a rush, as did the night before. For once, she had been the caretaker, making sure he ate something before settling them both into bed. Not only had she said nothing about him pulling her tightly into his body, she'd wrapped herself thoroughly around him so there could be no mistaking where she wanted to be.
He should have been able to make her a beautiful meal, shown her a measure of care, attention and as much romance as she would actively tolerate. She deserved all that and more.
What did he give her? Weakness and dependency. The last things that Mary needed more of.
"I can hear you thinking and you need to stop," Mary grumbled, having felt the physical change in her partner as he woke up and started processing the situation. Their bodies were still intertwined but he was becoming more and more distant with every breath.
"Mary, I'm…"
"Apologize and I'm going to get up and kick your ass. If you're allowed to brace me when I'm weak, I'm allowed to do the same for you. Any arguments are going to result in you being my willing slave."
"I already am."
I'll post again soon. ~K