A/N This chapter is going to incorporate the abduction from the last episode but I have no idea what will actually happen on the show. There are no spoilers here, just my own ideas about how it could work out.
They were walking toward their cars, passing by the store where their day together had begun. Marshall knew what he had to do: his mission was to get her phone number. By now he knew they had chemistry and enjoyed each other's company, but was today just a fluke? A way to pass the time on a day off for each of them? He knew for sure that he wanted to see her again. He had to see her again. He felt alive and energized at the thought of seeing her regularly. Slow down, Marsh. Get her digits first, then plan your future, he scolded himself.
As fate would have it they were parked right next to each other! Destiny, she thought. She hurriedly opened her purse as they got closer to their cars and fished out a pen and scrap of paper. When she turned to face him he was feeling in his chest pocket for a pen as well. Great minds think alike, she smiled to herself.
"Mimi," he started without looking up. "Would you think it too forward if I asked you for your, you know, your phone number?"
Mimi caught his eye and grinned as she pressed the scrap with her number already written on it into his palm. The intensity of their hands touching almost sent Marshall into cardiac arrest. He had almost put his arm around her at the movie theater but he wanted her to know he was a gentleman and so he resisted. And it hadn't been easy. But now, for the fleeting moment that their hands touched he had felt enough electricity to put that static ball at the store to shame. "Thanks," he said looking at the scrap of paper. "This day will go down as one of my top ten. And I don't mind telling you that it's pretty close to number one!" She laughed. Oh, that laugh is going to be the sound I hear as I fall asleep tonight, he thought.
"I had a beautiful time with you Marshall. Thanks for everything. I'm glad we both forgot to reset our alarms this morning!...I look forward to hearing from you." She opened her car door and slipped into the driver's seat. Marshall made sure she was safely inside and then shut the door for her. They waved to each other as she put her car in reverse. Marshall floated back to his own car in a dreamy haze. Mimi. Marshall and Mimi. Mimi and Marshall...
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The next afternoon Sloane felt smug in the knowledge he had done the right thing in giving Marshall the day off. Marshall was attacking his work like a maniac. Building, solving, inventing, creating - with the failed device he had so worried over two days earlier all but forgotten now. Sloane knew he needed Marshall back in full force especially now that he was going to be sent on a field op himself. Sydney and Sark had acquired Echelon but the disk had been wiped clean due to the fail-safe device Cuvee had installed. Marshall was going to London with Sydney to acquire the code to reboot it for SD-6. He knew about Marshall's irrational fear of flying and frankly he didn't care. But he'd be damned if Marshall was going to mess up this mission because of his little phobia.
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In London, Marshall was on fire. He was cracking codes and looking dapper in his tux. Sure, he had been scared to fly, but he had a job to do and he wasn't going to let his country down. It was great to be able to tell Mimi that he was flying to London and not lying about the "global" part of his job as he had described it to her. But he wished he could be totally honest with her. Talking with her at night was the highlight of each day. He couldn't wait to tell her about the symphony and the - well, he couldn't tell her much else than that since it involved spying and sabotage. But he couldn't wait to get off the airplane and talk to her anyway. And he would sure as hell leave out the part about Sydney kissing him. 'Hey, does Syd have a crush on me?' he wondered. 'Poor girl, if only she'd made her move before I met Mimi she might have had a chance. But I'm a one woman kinda guy. And Mimi's the one.'
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Two weeks later, Mimi was sitting at her desk just staring at the computer screen in front of her. Why hadn't Marshall called? She hadn't heard from him for twelve days. Twelve long worrisome days. Did he just get tired of her? Why wouldn't he return any of her calls? Did something happen to him? Where was he?
She was so distracted by thoughts of him, she couldn't concentrate on her work. Deep down she knew something was wrong. She had spent her lunch break yesterday trying to track him down via his credit card. But it hadn't been used for twelve days. She tried to find out if he had taken any flights - but he was only listed on one flight manifest from twelve days ago on a return trip from London to L.A. She knew he had gone to London. She had spoken to him that night before he boarded his flight home. And then she hadn't heard from him again. Not one word. She used every trick in the book to track him down. After all, she worked for the CIA and they certainly knew how to locate missing persons. She had felt bad lying to Marshall about her job, but she had to maintain her cover. It was required of all agents and techs with a high level of security clearance. She had no choice.
Day after day she had gone over in her head anything that she might have said that may have upset him or hurt him. Was he angry with her? No, she knew they had a deep connection. Even after such a short time she felt very strongly about Marshall Flinkman. And she knew he felt the same way. So why hadn't he called?
Mimi's phone rang and interrupted her thoughts. "Mimi here," she said as she lifted the phone.
"Mimi, this is Agent Vaughn. I have a new recruit for your tech team. He's one of the best in his field and I know you'll make him feel welcome."
"When is he coming?" she asked, groaning inwardly at the thought of training a new employee.
"Actually, he's with me right now and we'll be down in a few minutes if you're not too busy," he said hoping she'd agree. He noticed she'd been sad and preoccupied lately but he didn't know why. He relied on her and the rest of her team so much over the last year to help create gadgets for Sydney and he had grown to genuinely like her. She was amazingly talented and quick and efficient and he was sure her inventions had helped save Sydney's life on more than one occasion.
"That's fine," she replied.
"I told him about some of the great stuff you made for me and he was really impressed. You guys will be great together, I can tell." Vaughn made a mental note to get her some chocolates to thank her for all the hard work she had done for him lately.
"See you soon," she said and hung up. Well, at least I'll have a distraction for a while, she thought. I hope this guy isn't too clueless. She began gathering orientation information for the new recruit and a few moments later she heard Vaughn's voice in the hall behind her. She put the papers together in a folder and turned around to meet the new guy.
Vaughn gestured toward the man beside him and said, "Mimi, I'd like you to meet-"
"MARSHALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" she shouted in delight as she ran closer and threw her arms around him and he hugged her warmly in return. Their embrace attracted the attention of all the other workers in the tech department but neither of them cared a bit.
"Oh, Mimi!!! I'm so glad to see you again. I missed you so much. I wanted to call you but..." he said in a rush as he held her.
"What happened to you Marshall? I was worried sick..." she breathlessly said at the same time.
They looked at each other, as Vaughn looked curiously at both of them and asked, "So how do you two know each other?"
"Long story," they replied in unison and looked from Vaughn to each other.
"What are you doing here?" Marshall asked her confusedly. "I thought you worked for the State Department."
"I thought you worked for a bank," she replied and smiled at him.
Vaughn backed up into the doorway and said, "Well, it looks like you two have a lot to talk about. I'll leave you guys alone."
Marshall and Mimi just held each others hands and smiled.
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A/N You just gotta love Marshall. He got his woman! Please review, we love feedback!!! My husband is totally getting into this - yay - I've corrupted him!!!