Disclaimer: Mary and Marshall belong to David Maples. If they hadn't been misused by others I wouldn't be writing this.

Miraculous Mary Extended Play Version

Chapter 12

From Comatose to Celebration

MARY POV

Sheesh! Allison Pierson was supposed to be heading back to her bat cave. I couldn't wait to lose 150 lbs. of bureaucrat. Marshall and I had spent days setting up facial recognition displays, explanations of security breaches and the necessity of relocation, stuff I could do with Pierson while chained to a desk. We selected a variety of witnesses for her to visit - not just the nice ones. All that planning went down the drain when Wade Trimball, my least troublesome witness woke up from his three year nap.

And it had to happen the day I got my handgun proficiency results and was totally cleared for field work.

Since Wade is the prosecution's only witness in the trial of Jasper Owens Malone, Wade, my witness, became Pierson's priority. At least this time around my personal life is less complicated. No Raph, no visit from his Aunt, no wedding plans imploding. Just Marshall and I taking it slow and keeping it private.

As before, Wade slipped his leash and drugged his minders so he could get to El Paso to see his old girlfriend, Krysta. As we drove to intercept him Marshall could tell I was worked up about something.

"Mare?"

"What?"

"What's bothering you?"

"You mean besides the fact that my witness drugged two US Marshals, escaped and is about to confront his former girlfriend and his former partner in an explosive menage a trois which will result in mayhem or murder?"

Marshall keeps on driving, intent on getting there before Wade. "Normally I'd suggest we contact the local PD so you could rant with spectacular venom about the incompetence of the local constabulary, putting you in the stage I call post rant relief, but I sense there's something else going on with you. Is everything okay? Are we okay?"

Dear sweet man. His voice wobbles with worry. He thinks he screwed up. Nope, not him. That would be me. It was during this case that Raph finally saw the light and broke up with me. Despite it being in a life that doesn't exist anymore my emotions are twisted into a Gordian knot.

I knew Raph and I were wrong for each another. He persisted and I kept trying but all that did was irritate Raph, and aggravate me. I didn't need his budgets and wedding plans. The fact that I wasn't interested in the wedding should have been a huge clue that I was marrying the wrong man. This time I know the right man, I just don't know how it's going to work.

I exhale and turn to Marshall. "We're okay. I'm a mess."

"Why? What's the problem?" He keeps his eyes on the road.

"All this drama with Wade and Krista and Dustin. I've never sustained a serious romantic relationship and Wade is unconscious for years and still loves her. How can that be? Could I do that? It looks like she still loves him but she'll never leave her baby and husband." I wring my hands and watch his profile. "How do I keep from screwing this, us, up?"

"Mare, everyone screws up."

I tap his bicep with my fist. "That's not helpful!"

He fakes a grimace then smiles. "The important thing is to forgive one another. Even more important, you have to forgive yourself, trust yourself."

"That's just it Marshall, I don't trust me. All you have to do is look at my past relationships."

"What about our relationship? We fight, we bicker, we tease, but I know you have my back, and I have yours. Being a couple is an extension of what we've always had as partners." He glances at me quickly. "Let's make a deal. Will you tell me when you're scared? Will you trust me to love you and to believe that you love me? I promise I'll do the same. You are my one in seven billion Mary Shannon. There is no one like you in this world and you are the only one for me."

"Why? Why do you love me? How can you love me?" Since Daddy left, I was sure I didn't deserve love.

Marshall smiles fondly, never taking his foot off the gas or his eyes off the road. "I knew from that first look."

I don't answer because we've arrived at Krista's house and we are diving out of the car heading for the cloud of dust that is Wade and Dustin trading punches. I need Marshall's help pulling Wade off. We get them separated and I take Wade aside.

"I know it's hard waking up in a world where your work partner and your life partner have moved on. Believe me, I understand you feel as if your heart has been ripped from your chest and run over by a Mac truck. But three years have passed, and during that time they have changed. You can't go back, you can only go forward. The best revenge is to learn to live and love without them."

I am such a hypocrite because I have gone back. I have been given a second chance to know my heart and follow it. In my former life I stayed engaged to Raph because my biological clock wanted a man. My body wanted children, my mind refused. This time both parts are missing Norah and wanting a baby. All I need to do is get Marshall on board but we haven't even had sex, and I am definitely looking forward to that.

After getting Wade back to Albuquerque I go to Allison and grovel until she arranges for Krista to talk to Wade before he testifies. Because he still loves her his testimony doesn't ruin Dustin's career or break up Krista's family. After the trial Marshall and I are relieved to turn Wade over to his new marshals.

As we watch Wade walk away, Marshall cocks an eyebrow. "We need to celebrate the successful denouement of this case and your return to full Inspector field status. How about a relaxing dinner?"

I push my lip out and tilt my head. "Don't say denouement," I tease and nod my head agreeing to dinner. "I could eat."

"Says the omnivore who will devour any item vaguely edible."

I glare at him. "Omnivore?"

Marshall snorts. He's knows me and free food "An omnivore eats both plant and . . . ." he starts to explain.

I punch him in the arm before he can finish. "I know what an omnivore is, Doofus. And you're wrong. I'm not a total omnivore. I won't eat those slimy slug things. They fancy them up calling them escargot so unsuspecting diners don't realize that they're really eating snails."

"Ooo la la." Marshall enthuses, raising his hand, little finger extended. "Escargot es magnifique. Clarified butter, garlic, a little thyme."

"Forget it. You're not getting me to eat snails. And even without the shell I can recognize the little slime balls. Keep them to yourself."

"We shall see mon petit chou." We're in the parking structure next to my car. "Go home and change into something nice," Marshall orders. I cock an eyebrow at him wondering what he has up his sleeve. "I'll pick you up at 7." He smiles mysteriously.

Brandi's convertible is in the driveway. I open the door and yell, "Squish!" Despite her choice of the black sequin corset for Treena's slutfest, I trust her fashion sense more than mine. This is too important.

Brandi wanders out of the kitchen cupcake in hand. "Hey Mary. Peter had some cupcakes left over from a staff meeting. Want one?"

"No, thanks. I'm going out to dinner." I grab her arm and hustle her into my bedroom. "Help me find something nice to wear."

She's licking the frosting off her fingers. "Nice? What kind of nice? You got a date? With who?"

I plant her in front of my closet and head for the bathroom yelling over my shoulder. "Nice restaurant nice." When I get out of the bathroom Brandi has laid out my black dress with the plunging neckline front and back, black heels and a clutch. Oh yeah. I remember that one. I wore it to the art gallery opening. Dershowitz said I was hot. Perfect!

By the time I get my dress and shoes on, the doorbell is ringing. "I'll get it," Brandi yells. Of course she will. I haven't told her who's my date. I fluff my hair and settle it over the nonexistent back of the dress, put my holdout in my clutch and check myself in the mirror.

"Hey Marshall. C'mon in. Mary's almost ready."

Uh oh. Brandi and Marshall? Not a good combination. Brandi knows too many of my embarrassing secrets. Marshall doesn't need to know I can be a total idiot. Does he know I was married to Mark? I put my Glock in the thigh holster and now I'm ready!

I turn to leave my bedroom but can't because my idiot sister is blocking the doorway. She has a black hair tie in her hand and she spins me around, gathering my hair into a low ponytail. Then she turns me and pulls out tendrils around my face. "Brandi!" I hate having hair blowing in my face but I don't have time to redo it. "Sexy," she says. "One more thing." She goes rooting through my jewelry box and comes up with a dollar sized medallion on a long chain. "There," she concludes. "Now when he's looking at your boobs he's got an excuse."

I don't know whether to kiss or kill her, but I squeeze her just the same. "Thanks Squish."

I watch Marshall's face as I get my wrap and am pleased to see the approving sparkle in his eyes. "I always liked that dress on you. If taking you out to dinner is the only way I get to see it, we are going out frequently!"

I duck my head and give him the once over. He's wearing a western cut jacket and silver bolo in lieu of a tie. This is what passes for formal dress in Albuquerque. "You look pretty good yourself Marshall. Is that the bespoke suit you ordered?"

He preens with delight that I noticed. "It is, it is." He reaches for my wrap and settles it over my shoulders, his fingers trace my collarbone making me shiver.

At the restaurant Marshall puts his hand on my lower back as we follow the waiter to our table. Antiquities is a fancy steakhouse, beef at its best. He does know what I like. After the waiter seats us I snark "Trying to impress me Inspector Mann?"

He unsticks his eyes from my cleavage and hides behind the wine list. "Nope. Just seemed like the right place to celebrate your return to active duty. Besides I know places like this don't impress Mary Shannon." He's still pretending to be engrossed in the wine list but I can tell he's sneaking peeks at my boobs.

"So, if you know me so well, what does impress me?"

He ignores my question. "You're having steak, right?"

"Uh huh."

He closes the wine list and lies it flat on the table. "You are impressed by loyalty, courage, and boldness."

"Oh I am, am I?"

"Take tonight. I boldly invited you to dinner without giving you what Emily Post considers adequate notice."

The waiter appears and Marshall orders wine. When the waiter asks about appetizers Marshall whispers his selection. Before we can continue our conversation the sommelier brings his wine selection, offers Marshall a sip and when he approves pours. We clink glasses in a toast. I've barely tasted the wine when the waiter brings out a plate of shells and disgusting snot knots. Of course Marshall tries to get me to eat one.

"Marshall!" I whine. "Keep those slugs on your side of the table. Yuck!" He keeps pushing a forkful of the slimy things toward me. I push back. "C'mon Marshall. Stop fooling around. No food fights or they're going to throw us out!"

Marshall puts his fork down and grins sexily over his wineglass. "You wanna fool around? I thought we'd save that for dessert."

Thankfully the server arrives with my petite filet and his New York strip and conversation ends for a while. I catch Marshall watching as I savoring the last bite of beef with a sip of cabernet. The flavors complimenting each other just right. He reaches out and takes my hand. "I do love a woman who enjoys her beef. It would break my cowboy heart to fall in love with a vegetarian."

"Then it's a good thing I'm a carnivore." I flash my choppers at him. He does look good enough to eat. "He really loves her you know." That comment has nothing to do with dinner but it's a decent segue into discussing us.

"Who? Wade?" he asks. I nod and sip my wine. "Is that how you knew having Wade and Krysta talk would get him to change his testimony?"

"It was worth a shot, even if I did have to grovel to Allison to arrange it."

"You? Grovel?" he said sharply followed by a muttered "Wish I could have seen THAT."

"Ow!" Marshall puts his wine down quickly. "You kicked me?"

"You're wearing boots it didn't hurt that much." I was sure the boots protected his ankles. "Did it?" I don't want to hurt him.

"Nyah," he admits, so I kick him again. His glare is part pout.

I hold my glass up. "You should have seen the prosecuting attorney when Allison told her "I've spoken to the Attorney General and this has to happen with your permission or your resignation."

"No wonder you were willing to grovel. She's your idol!"

I frown at him. "Is not." But I'm not too forceful in my denial. Arrogance used in my favor? I could take that.

"How did you know Wade still loved her?" Marshall peers over his wine glass.

"He said Krysta was the only thing that mattered. I made him see that if that's true, he couldn't destroy her marriage. I think she still loves him but she'd never be unfaithful."

"How sadly romantic. True love foiled by unusual circumstance." Marshall sighs.

"Wade said he knew she was the one with the first look." Despite what Marshall had said in the car on the way to Krysta's I thought he would agree with me that love at first sight was silly, but instead he looks thoughtful.

He locks his gaze on me. "It was the same for me. I knew. I knew the first time I saw you in that FTF war room. There you were, the only female, more macho than any guy in the room. I knew you were the one."

"You mean when I was chasing Carson Miller in Boston?" I hadn't had a shower in days. I remember feeling gross, all sweaty and greasy.

"Yeah, then." He looks at me dreamily. How much wine has he had?

"Marshall! You introduced yourself and I made fun of your name. I not only disrespected you, I disparaged your job, WimpSec. Remember? I was a total bitch."

Marshall chuckles. "So? That hasn't changed. You made a lasting impression Sunshine. I've been enamored of you ever since."

I roll my eyes and shake my head. "Don't say enamored."

He ignores me. "Claudia and Henry's love survived and ours will too. You just have to give it a chance, give us a chance. Can you do that?"

I reach across the table and take his hand, smiling. "You are a glutton for punishment, Mr. Sade."

"Being with you is not punishment!" Marshall takes care of the check. We hold hands leaving the restaurant. When we get to his truck he brings my fingers to his mouth, kissing them. "Come home with me?"

"Um." The touch of his lips has my whole body tingling. "Okay." What will it be like to really kiss him? To feel his skin on mine? My body reminds me it's been way too long since I had sex. Somehow I know it won't be just sex with Marshall. I'm ready for some up close and personal time with Marshal Marshall Mann.

A/N: Thanks to Meg and everyone who is following this story.