A/N: We've officially entered the holiday season where our shows are going on hiatus and nothing's on TV. So here's another new chapter!
Therapist's Office
9:45 am
"So why did Marshall break off his engagement?"
Mary squirmed on the couch. "I don't know – I'm not a mind reader."
"But the two of you are close."
"How many times do I have to tell you we're not in a relationship? Marshall and I just work together – and we're not even partners anymore, he's my boss now–"
"How was that going – Marshall's promotion?"
"You mean before Kenny's murder and Marshall's amnesia?"
The therapist nodded.
Mary's eyes fluttered shut in thought. "It was all right – awkward, at times, you know? Marshall and I had worked side by side for years and it had gotten to the point where we didn't need to speak to know what the other was thinking-"
"So you could read his mind."
Mary started. "About work matters, sure. But not about private affairs."
"So you had no idea he was in love with you."
Mary squirmed again. "I didn't say that – yes, all right - I knew. But I thought those feelings were in the past. I mean, the man's engaged – or was – and – fuck! Everything's just too complicated."
"So, when Marshall told you he loved you a week before his accident, did you believe him?"
Mary gave her therapist a look of disbelief. "Of course I believed him – why wouldn't I?"
"Because earlier you said that people who used the 'L' word didn't mean it."
Mary snorted. "I was referring to my father, Mark, even my ex-fiancé Raph – not Marshall."
The therapist made a notation on her pad. "So all of the men in your life before Marshall didn't mean it when they said they loved you."
Mary nodded.
"How do you know?"
"Because actions speak louder than words, Doc. Each and every one of those men left me – and Marshall stayed. They all lied to me and Marshall has never told me any lies."
"Have you ever lied to him?"
Mary swallowed. "What?"
"Have you lied to Marshall?"
Mary suddenly felt faint and was glad that she was sitting down as she whispered, "I'm not an open person like Marshall – it's hard for me to acknowledge how I feel- and because of my childhood, there are some pretty strong walls that Marshall has spent a decade trying to knock down. But there are still a few of them that he hasn't broken through-" She broke off and cleared her throat.
"So when Marshall told you how he felt-"
"I didn't lie to him – but I couldn't – I wasn't ready to tell him how I felt."
"So what exactly did you say?"
Mary sighed and buried her head in her hands as the memory of that afternoon washed over her.
Ten weeks ago
Sunshine Building
5pm
"Hey, Chief, I'm heading out-"
"Mary, wait."
She turned on a boot heel and nearly collided with Marshall who had scrambled out of his office chair to run after her. His hands fell to her hips to steady both of them and her startled eyes met his, noticing for the first time that his face was lined and tired.
"What's wrong? You look like you didn't sleep a wink last night."
He cleared his throat. "I didn't – well, I finally found a documentary on silkworms around 2 o'clock and –"
"Jeez, Doofus," Mary laughed. "That would have worked better than a sleeping pill for me. I've been so consumed with wrapping up my father's shit and you've been such a rock that I haven't – do you need to talk?"
"Yeah, I was hoping to catch you before now – but if you are running out the door-"
Mary smiled. "I think I can spare a few minutes for the boss."
Marshall's hands slipped from her hips, and she startled as she realized that she gotten used to his touch and now missed the contact. Easy, Shannon. He's engaged and you have a boyfriend, remember?
He frowned. "I don't want to talk to you as your boss, Mer. I want to talk to you as your old partner, as your best friend. Is that OK?"
Her smile widened. "That's more than OK – but let's go out to the balcony. These walls have ears, you know?"
He nodded and followed as she led the way to the French doors. Shutting the door behind them, he turned to see that she had perched on the edge of one of the loungers. "So, what's up?"
Marshall cleared his throat. "I, uh, I don't know how to say this."
Mary's face went pale. "Oh God, Marshall are you sick?"
He crossed swiftly to the lounger and squatted beside it so he could look in her eyes. "No, Mer, I'm fine."
She drew a deep breath. "Don't scare me like that, Doofus! I – I couldn't lose you – not now. You're my best friend, my only friend. Hell, forget friend, you're – well, you know."
He nodded. "I know. And I love that. But that's the problem."
Mary frowned but then she nodded in understanding. "Because you're getting married. I know – I've been monopolizing your time-"
"No, Mary. That's not it. You're misunderstanding me. The problem is you still see me as just a friend when I'm madly, hopelessly in love with you."
Mary's breath left her as she heard the words she'd never thought she'd hear him say again. He'd said them once before, at her impromptu office engagement party to Raph – but they hadn't been said like this. The words hadn't been said with this much passion, this much conviction, this much fearlessness of not being rejected. His eyes were searching hers for an answer and she could feel the emotion welling up inside even as her vocal cords refused to work.
"I've surprised you."
She managed a small nod.
He sighed. "I know, I've hidden my feelings for you these past few years quite well-"
Mary laughed weakly. "'Quite well?'" she repeated, her voice finally back. "Marshall, you're engaged-"
"No, I'm not," he interrupted her. "Abigail and I broke off our engagement a week ago."
Mary startled. "Why didn't you tell me?"
He grinned. "I just did."
She slapped his shoulder and Marshall rocked on the balls of his feet. "I mean, why did you take so long to tell me? What happened?"
He shrugged. "I couldn't pretend anymore – and Abigail didn't want to continue in a relationship that she thought was a lie."
Mary flinched. "But you love her."
"Not like I love you."
Mary stared at him for a long moment before she scrambled to her feet and pushed past him, knocking him on his ass. "I – I'm dating someone, have you forgotten that?"
Marshall climbed to his feet, dusting off his dress slacks. "No, I haven't forgotten, and forgive me for saying this but you're 'always' dating someone. If I'd waited until you were free and unencumbered before I made my move, both of us would be in the nursing home."
"Don't say unencumbered," she snapped and Marshall gave her a wide smile.
"You love my big words – don't pretend you don't. And trust me, my vocabulary isn't the only thing that's big, Mer."
She gasped and took a step back. "You – we can't do this, Marshall. You're the boss now! This breaks some serious rules of the Marshal Service. You should know this."
"What do you think I've been doing for the past week?"
Her mouth fell open. "You don't mean?"
He nodded. "I've made phone calls and done my research. We can make a relationship work – if you want one with me, Mary Shannon."
Her heart was pounding so loud she was sure he could hear it. She wiped her sweating palms on her jeans. "Marshall, I –" Her eyes shut in anguish before opening to lock gazes with him. "I meant what I said before. You're my best friend – my ONLY friend. I don't know how to – I've never looked at you – or thought of you – as anything more."
He closed the distance between them slowly, watching the expression on her face to see if she would refuse his advance. When she seemed frozen to the spot but didn't back away from him and he was close enough to touch her, he lifted his hands to her face. He stroked her cheeks gently with his thumbs and felt her tremble under his touch.
"All I need is you not to run from this, Mary. I waited ten years to tell you how I felt – I can wait a little longer for your last few walls to come down."
She groaned. "Marshall-"
"Shh." He breathed the word against her forehead before placing his lips briefly against her skin. "Just think about it. Think about me – think about you and me and how awkward it's been ever since I got promoted and we can't work together anymore. I know you miss me as much as I miss you."
"And you think this could be the solution?" She shook her head slightly. "Aren't you worried that it will only make things more complicated?"
"Perhaps in the short term. But in the long term you and I will be a team that no one and nothing can break up – and isn't that what you want? A guarantee that I'll be by your side, always?"
She snorted. "There are no guarantees in life, Marshall."
"The only thing that would separate us if I was your life partner would be a bullet to the heart, Mary." He kissed her forehead one last time. "So please, can you do this for me? Not run away now that I've told you how I feel and think about the idea of us together?"
His nearness and the feel of his lips on her skin was making her dizzy. She reached up and wrapped her hands around his neck to steady herself. "I'll think about it."
He crushed her to him in a bear hug. "That's my girl."
"So, did you lie to him? Did you not think about the two of you together?"
Mary gave the therapist a dark look. "Do you get a bonus from the insurance company for asking stupid questions?"
"Hmm, there's that defense mechanism again. So, you did lie about something."
Mary cleared her throat. "I told you. I've never been as open as Marshall with my feelings-"
"I thought you told Marshall you'd never thought of him as more than a friend. Was that the lie? That you actually returned his feelings?"
Mary started at the words. "I don't know if I'd go so far as that – but yes, I do have strong feelings for Marshall that go beyond professional."
The therapist smiled. "How long?"
"Excuse me?"
"How long have you had these 'strong feelings'? Did you realize them when Marshall admitted his?"
Mary shook her head. "Before."
"When?"
"Fine," Mary rolled her eyes. "Marshall was shot in the chest early in our partnership – and he pulled himself up from under the car with that bullet in his chest to protect me. He nearly died before I could get him to the hospital – and I couldn't ride with him because I had to finish the job. All the way to the hospital, I couldn't stop thinking: 'What if he dies before I get there?'"
"But he pulled through."
"Yes."
"And you realized that night how you felt about him."
Mary shook her head. "No, I realized that night that I felt something more than friendship – and I've been running ever since."
"So, when Marshall said all he wanted was for you not to run from this, you felt-"
Mary jumped to her feet and began to pace. "How do you think I felt, Doc? That was seven years ago! Do you honestly think that was one isolated incident? That our lives haven't been in danger since then? That Marshall hasn't made other declarations – maybe not as overt but I saw the writing on the wall. I was just too scared to upset the apple cart – even though I knew how he felt and I knew I felt something too. And now – now it's too late. I'm broken and I've ruined him and it doesn't matter if he ever gets his memory back because he won't want me now."
"Mary-"
A chime sounded and Mary dove for her phone, holding it up for the therapist to see. "We're done."
"For today, Mary, just today."
"I don't see that we have anything left to discuss."
"Next week, same time, same place."
Mary waved a hand in acknowledgment but she was scrolling through her missed calls. "Damn it! Squish called three times. I have to go."
"Mary, is everything-"
But the blonde Marshal was already gone.
Marshall's hospital/prison room
10:45 am
"I have to get out of this bed!"
"Mr. Mann, you have been in a coma for two months. We've done our best to keep your limbs from atrophying in that amount of time, but you must understand that you are incredibly weak and for all intents and purposes your body will need time-"
Marshall swallowed. "Are you saying I can't walk?"
Dr. Fledgling shook his head and looked at Scott.
"No, Marshall, that's not what he's saying. But because you have been immobile for so long, it will take your body time to get back up to speed. You know how to walk, but you also have some damage to the brain and we're still learning how extensive that damage is."
"So, get me on my feet and let's find out."
"Mary told us what happened yesterday – about how you collapsed when you tried to take a step?" Scott prompted his memory.
Marshall flushed. "I just got light headed and I wasn't focused on what I was doing – I was focused on getting to Mary."
Scott nodded. "Well, you'll start PT tomorrow and you better focus on your body, big brother."
Marshall grimaced. "Kind of hard when I'm under arrest."
Dr. Fledgling grunted. "The police can't do anything until I release you and I'm not going to do that for at least a week. So they can just camp outside your door and stay out of the way until then."
Marshall collapsed against the pillow. "Thanks, Doc."
The door crashed open and Mary strode inside with Brandi waddling behind her. "I did call you, Mary! It's not my fault you had your phone set to vibrate! And don't you dare say I should have called the office. I wasn't about to interrupt you in the middle of your-"
Mary whirled and silenced her sister with a look. "All right. Thank you for trying your best to get ahold of me, Brandi. I couldn't have changed the outcome, I suppose."
Brandi leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "I'll go look for Pe- I mean the lawyer." She blushed and waddled back out the door.
"Was she about to say Peter?" Mary demanded as she crossed to Marshall's bedside.
He gave her a blank look. "Who's Peter?"
Mary rolled her eyes as Scott smirked and gave his big brother a thumbs up behind her back. "Never mind. How are you?"
Marshall grimaced. "Oh, I'm great. Dr. Fledgling just told me he's not releasing me for another week, which should make me feel better but just made me remember how much I don't like hospitals. And I'm under arrest, did you hear?"
"Yes, I met the hall monitor outside." She jerked a thumb in the direction of the door.
"Dr. Fledgling and I are going to go get you a wheelchair, Marshall," Scott interrupted. "See you later, Mary."
"Bye, Scott." She waited until the door shut before she threw her shoulder bag into the nearest chair and perched on the bed. "How are you, really?"
"Frustrated. I need to get out of here and help you find Kenny's killer."
Her eyes filled. "You let me worry about that."
"Actually, the both of you need to let me worry about that."
Mary and Marshall turned to see a petite redhead standing in the open doorway, a briefcase in one hand and a smartphone in the other. "No, Chanel, that meeting will have to be rescheduled. I'm with a new client now and it's going to be awhile. Tomorrow at 10 should be fine." She hung up and strode into the room, her four inch stiletto heels clicking on the floor. "Hello, my name is Rietta Stone – I believe Peter told you he was going to call me."
Mary's mouth fell open and she turned back to Marshall with accusing eyes. "So Peter was here – was he with Brandi?"
"I'm sorry but you'll have to ask your sister about that." Marshall's gaze swung back to Rietta. "Ms. Stone, I'm accused of murdering Kenny Evans-"
Rietta nodded. "Yes, I know. I've already swung by the courthouse and talked to my good friend Stella, the assistant ADA. She's built up quite a case against you."
Marshall's jaw ticked. "I'd assumed as much. Are you up to the challenge of defending me?"
"Marshall!" Mary hissed under her breath at him. "I know you don't remember so let me clue you in: Rietta Stone has been number two on New Mexico's top five lawyers for the past three years running."
Marshall's eyebrows rose. "Who is number one?"
Rietta gave a tight smile. "Stella."
"I see. Well, you might as well have all the facts so you know what you're getting into. Mary was dating the victim and the night he died, he sexually assaulted her. She tells me I went to see him later that night, though I have no memory of that. In fact, I have no memory of most of my life, just a few bits and pieces. Hopefully my memory will return by my trial but there is no guarantee."
Rietta was silent for a moment as she studied the pair. "You are a fifth generation US Marshal, is that correct?"
"Yes."
"And you work in the witness protection branch, the most secret section of the Marshal Service that requires you to protect federal witness' identities with your own life, if necessary?"
"Yes."
"Have you ever killed someone?"
"I – I don't know – I suppose I have." He looked to Mary for confirmation.
Mary nodded. "Yes. Marshall has killed to protect his partner, witnesses in the program, and if necessary, his own life."
"But never in cold blood?"
Mary shook her head. "No, Marshall uses lethal force as a last resort and only to protect others from bodily harm."
"So if he had found you at Kenny's house, in the act of being raped, would he have been capable of killing Kenny?"
Mary shuddered. "I – I don't think I can answer that."
Marshall's hand covered hers. "You don't have to – I can. The answer is yes, Ms. Stone. If I had walked in on Mary being sexually attacked, I could and probably would have killed Kenny."
"Marshall, no!"
"In that moment," Rietta interjected softly.
Marshall nodded. "In that moment."
"But he wasn't there!" Mary defended him.
"No, he wasn't," Rietta nodded, and took a deep breath. "You two lovebirds won't make this easy for me-"
Marshall shook his head. "We're not-"
Mary squeezed his hand and he fell silent but looked at Mary in confusion.
The pause allowed Rietta to continue. "But if you want me for your lawyer, I'd like to take your case, Mr. Mann."
A/N: I was so happy to finally write a fix-it scene for that balcony scene in the series finale! And we met Marshall's lawyer - more of Rietta to come. Reviews are LOVE!
