Disclaimer: Sorry I didn't get another chapter in last night. I was taking a break and watching "Who's Line is it Anyway?". Nothing revives the spirit better then some good 'ol comedy.

First, one big dedication to Kakashifangrl1012: I'm a big fan of Fang myself. Love that guy. And I'm glad you picked up on Spader's favorite saying. Sure hope they get him back in the series soon. Thanks for you comment (they always help) and I'm glad you're enjoying the story.

Anyway, here's the next chapter. Remember, I love reviews, comments, opinions, and constructive criticism. Any and all helps.

Thanks for reading!

Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire

Mary looked up at her in confusion as Brandi came running back to stand next to Jinx. "Your father is still inside!"

"What?" Mary asked.

"Please Mary," Jinx pleaded, grasping Mary's hands. "Any picture will do."

Mary blinked in shock. She understood but she didn't like it.

"You want me to go inside and get a picture of Dad?" she asked in disbelief.

Jinx nodded fervently. "Please, those are the only pictures I have of him."

Mary looked away and stared at the house, new unease settling in her stomach. She turned back slowly.

"Are you crazy?"

"Mary!" her mother cried in exasperation.

"Do you not see that the house is on fire?!" Mary asked, anger replacing shock. She stood to glare fully in her mother's face.

"All the more reason to save him," Jinx countered.

Obviously, the drink had to be talking. No mother would send their child into a burning building to get a picture of some guy they had forgotten by sleeping with other guys… Unless that mother was Jinx. This was normal for her. It was always what she wanted and she always got it either through pity or rewards of stupidity.

Stupidity was coming into play now.



"Brandi, won't you get it?" Jinx sniffled, ignoring Mary.

"All right, I'll do it," Mary said hurriedly. No way was Brandi going to get involved. Mary was professionally trained. Brandi would get lost as soon as she entered the house. Plus, Mary did kind of want a picture of her hero.

"Oh thank you Mary," Jinx smiled, all former distress gone.

"Just get out of here and call the police," Mary ordered. "And I want something in return."

Jinx's smile faded as a pout set in. "And that would be…?"

"Take Marshall with you," Mary said.

"Oh, ok," Jinx replied cheerfully.

Mary groaned and rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe she was doing this but once Jinx wanted something, she would risk anything or anyone to get it. If Mary didn't do what she asked, then the neighbor would have to.

Mary knelt back down beside the still listless Marshall. She propped him up into a sitting position. He groaned but his eyes remained closed. Mary carefully took his blackened jacket off and threw it over her own shoulders.

"All right," she said, beckoning Brandi and Jinx over.

They knelt down, one on either side of the marshal. Mary lifted Marshall's arms – with extreme care – over Brandi and Jinx's shoulders.

"Now stand, carefully," Mary ordered.

Jinx and Brandi moved slow and strained under Marshall's weight but they managed to get to their feet with Mary helping support Marshall. Her family now held her partner between them and they were going to go to safety while Mary re-entered the burning house to get a picture.

If there was some higher power out there, it hated her.

Marshall sighed in discomfort and his eyes flickered under his eyes lids. Mary stared at him for a moment, taking in his features in case she didn't see him again. Then, she shifted to the tip of her toes and kissed Marshall lightly on the lips.

"No dying," she whispered to him. Then she turned back to her family, too befuddled to have noticed the kiss.

"All right, go to a neighbor, call the police, and take care of Marshall," she commanded firmly, repeating the information that was probably already forgotten.



Jinx and Brandi nodded and slowly made there way away from the house and to someone else's; Marshall limping between them.

Mary sighed and tore her eyes away. Marshall had promised that he'd protect her but now, Marshall wasn't here. She would have to look after herself.

Mary nodded to herself with finality and ran towards the house. She already knew where the pictures of her father were kept. It had to be a quick in and out to ensure that she wouldn't get too badly burned or faint from air deprivation. She felt somewhat safer with Marshall's jacket around her. It would serve as a fan and extra protection from the flames. So, in a way, Marshall was still protecting her.

Mary dashed through the front door and was immediately hit with a powerful blast of hot smoke. It burned her eyes and nose but she continued. She dropped to the fall and scurried through the hall on fast feet. She expertly dodged the flames that licked at the floorboards although it got harder as she traveled deeper into the house. It also got hotter.

Mary took off Marshall's jacket and waved at the flames and smoke, trying to cut herself a clear path towards the storage room. She knew where she was going even though she was half-blinded by the smoke. Marshall's jacket was helping… if only a little.

Finally, she made it to the little room that held spare furniture, unopened clothes from Jinx and boxes of papers and pictures. The fire had just begun here and most of the items remained untouched.

Mary jumped onto a chair and pushed various boxes and bags away until she found the small wooden box that her father had made for Jinx long ago. Mary opened it in a flurry and stuck her hand inside. She grabbed a fistful of pictures and discarded the box. It would slow her down if she took the whole thing.

Mary shoved the pictures in her pocket and jumped off the chair. She started making her way back to the exit.

It was harder now. The smoke suffocating and Mary's throat felt raw from coughing so much. Her feet were moving automatically now. She didn't feel the jacket slip from her grasp but when she tried to wave away the smoke, she found that her hand was empty. Sweat dripped down her face and sizzled when it hit the floor.

She was almost out, she was sure of it. She touched her pocket to make sure the pictures were still safe.

"Come on," she heard Marshall urged but he was far from the house, she was sure. Light-headedness was giving her delusions. It wasn't a bad one but it warned her of her condition. She had to get out quickly.



Suddenly she heard a loud snap followed by a great cacophony of splintering wood and collapsing beams.

Mary was hit hard by something solid that fell from above and it forced her to the floor. Mary coughed and struggled to get back to her feet but her body was pinned by something hot. Mary craned her neck to see what was preventing her from standing. She saw a large pile of debris crushing her legs. She heard another rumble and it sounded as if the house were breaking apart.

Then it went black.

Oh-No! More suspense, and a cliffy.

Mary's inside and Marshall's outside. What do you think will happen next? Keep reading and find out. Hang on, this thing's almost done.