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

Provoked Too – Chapter 19 – After Action

What seems like hours later a doctor enters pulling down his surgical mask. "Family of Marshall Dieufus?"

"Partner," she corrects, standing and tossing the blanket aside. "How is he?"

"I'm Dr. Shawna," he says as he strips off his gloves. "Mr. Dieufus had a gunshot wound to the upper arm. It didn't go deep into the muscle but it required stitches."

"Is he awake? Can we see him?" After seeing him collapse she needs to see for herself. She needs to touch him.

"No, I'm sorry. He hasn't regained consciousness."

Mary doesn't allow the doctor to continue. "Why? Why isn't he awake? Why did he collapse?"

The doctor's experience with law enforcement partners is limited, but he knows the bond between squadron mates and wonders if a bond as deep can be forged outside a war zone. "He has a contusion on the occipital bone." Seeing Mary's blank stare he translates. "He has a bruise behind his ear that wasn't caused by a bullet exactly."

She narrows her eyes wishing Marshall was here. This time it's just her and the doctor, and Lucas. "What in the hell does that mean?" Lucas jumps in, wanting answers for Mary's sake.

The doctor quirks his lips, chagrined. "It means the bullet hit his helmet. It forced the helmet into the bones behind his ear causing blood vessels to rupture. The hemorrhage, the bleeding, put pressure on the brain that caused him to pass out."

"So, when he passed out the second time it was because blood had put pressure on his brain?" she asks.

"Exactly."

"When will he wake up?" Mary demands hands on hips.

The doctor doesn't have a definite time and hopes more details will appease the determined woman. "I installed a shunt, a drain, to relieve the pressure. It takes time for the blood to drain. And there could be other reasons he is unconscious so I've scheduled a CT and MRI to make sure we aren't missing something."

Mary exhales a sigh of relief, looking anywhere except at the bearer of ambiguous news. "But he'll be okay, right?" She turns and glares at him.

"We won't know that till we know the extent of the damage, after the scans," he clarified. "If the skull did its job and the only damage is from the intracranial hemorrhage, he should recover. But we won't know until we take a look."

"What's the worst case?" She doesn't want to know but Marshall would want to know. Hell Mr. Medical Trivia would know without having to ask.

The doctor grimaces. "It's impossible to know for sure until we see the location and extent of the damage. Trauma to that part of the head can result in aphasia," he pauses when she glares. "loss of speech, loss of hearing and even paralysis. While I don't see any indication of that in your marshal, it is possible.

"How long before you know?" She pleads with the doctor.

"Once we do the scans it will be an hour or two. If you want to leave, get something to eat, I'll have someone text you when he can have visitors."

Now that she knows why Marshall collapsed, she needs to deal with other issues. "He needs a private room and additional security. You need to limit the staff dealing with him and I'll need their names."

The doctor gives her a knowing look. "You think this was a deliberate attempt on his life?"

Mary nods jerkily and Lucas pipes up. "Yes. I'm sure you can appreciate the necessity for these precautions. Wouldn't want all your handiwork to go to waste."

"I'll make sure staff know. Do you have a list of names of those allowed to visit him?" Mary nods, already compiling it, feeling a twinge of glee at the thought of omitting Abigail. "I'll send a nurse out with our list and you can give her yours and your phone number."

"There's every reason to believe Mr. Dieufus," the doctor doesn't quite hide his smile, "will recover. Just be patient while we run some tests."

Once the doctor leaves Mary resigns herself to more waiting, more sitting. Lucas gets her to close her eyes, his arm her pillow. He's disappointed when she awakens too soon. "You've been through the wringer Mary. Go back to sleep." She shrugs out of his embrace, wipes the sleep from her eyes and stretches her arms above her head.

"You don't have to stay, you know." Having Lucas so close, being so comforting, feels weird.

"Is there something I can do?" He wants to be here for her, but if she needs space, he can do that.

Mary thinks for a minute and looks at him. "Check on Norah?"

"Sure. She's with Joanna, right?"

"Yes, but I'm not sure if she's at Mark's house or mine. Let me call her."

She gets out her phone but Lucas stays her hand. "I'll call her. Don't worry. Okay?"

"You've got her number?" Mary doesn't remember giving it to him, but she's not remembering much. Seeing Marshall fall plays on an endless loop in her brain.

"Yeah. I've got it. I'm sure Norah's okay, just missing her mama," he smiles sadly. Mary chokes back a sob at the thought of her daughter. "Anything else?"

"Check with Michael? I want to know what the hell happened. We don't have the whole story on this mess." She's so tired she can't even remember everything that happened.

Lucas bends down, grabs his flak jacket and kisses her cheek. "I'll call Michael right after I check on Norah. Call me if you need anything or if you hear anything. Okay?"

Mary ducks her head, hiding her worried expression. "Uh sure. Just let me know Bug's okay."

"I'll be back as soon as I can." Lucas decides she needs her baby, but he doesn't tell Mary that. As he walks toward the door he asks, "You going to call the office?"

"Ummm, yeah. Guess I'd better." She wonders what Delia knows. She considers calling Abigail, but since ABQPD was on site, someone will have told her. She doesn't want to talk to Abigail about anything, especially not Marshall.

"Hang in there Mary. He's going to be fine." Mary's calling the office as he walks out the door.

"Delia?"

Where are you?

"At the hospital. They're still running tests on Marshall. I . . . . I haven't seen him yet."

What happened?

Delia might as well hear it from her. At least Mary has the facts. "A bullet hit his helmet and drove it into his skull. The pressure made him black out. They're checking for brain damage."

Oh God, Mary. Is he going to be okay?

"You know doctors. They never give you a straight answer. He's still unconscious." She sniffs holding back tears.

What can I do on this end?

"Um, check my messages. See if there's anything urgent. Do the rest of the Inspectors know?"

Probably. There's been a lot of talk. Second firefight this month involving marshals. I think every law enforcement officer in Albuquerque has heard about it. I haven't heard many details though. What happened?

Mary gives her the short version telling her that Caldwell shot Marshall and is in custody. "If you hear anything more call me." The official reports won't be done for days but Delia has her own sources at ABQPD and other agencies.

Alone at last she sees Marshall every time she closes her eyes. He's striding out of that office, vest secure, helmet on when he falls. In the cacophony of the take down she didn't hear the shot. It's as if the whole room was packed with cotton wool damping sound and blurring her vision.

She must have dozed off because she wakes up when her pocket buzzes. Mary checks her phone - Jinx. Sighing she decides to answer. "Hi Mom."

Where are you? I stopped by the house and no one was home. Where's Norah?

Against her better judgement and usual practice Mary spills. "Norah is with Joanna. I'm at the hospital."

Sweetpea! Are you, are you hurt?

"No Mom, it's Marshall."

Oh I'm so sorry dear. How is he?

Mary hesitates. She fears the worst, but sticks to the facts. "They're running tests. He's" she inhales wetly, "he's unconscious."

Do you want me to come there?

Mary coughs to cover her surprise. She's not used to her mother acting motherly. "Don't you have little twirlers to teach? Wouldn't want to disappoint your fans."

I could arrange something.

"No, no. That's okay."

There's a fuss at the door and Mary sees Lucas holding Norah. "I gotta go Ma. Norah's here." She leans forward to take her baby. "Hi Bug. Did you miss me?" Sitting, waiting, alternating between hunger, nausea and worry has her off kilter. Holding Norah, knowing her baby is okay makes her feel almost normal. Mary pockets her phone as Norah thrusts out of Lucas' arms. "Mama's got you. Yes I do."

Just as he hoped, Norah has gotten Mary out of her funk. He looks on fondly as Mary nuzzles and hugs her baby. Hearing footsteps, Mary perks up, but it's only Joanna with Norah's diaper bag, not the medical staff she hoped for. "Thanks for the emergency care, Joanna. Sorry to spring this on you."

"Don't be silly Mary. Where else would I be? She's been fine, eating okay. She hasn't napped much today so she fell asleep on the way over." Putting herself nose to nose with the baby, she coos softly, "Grandma and Norah had a good play time. Didn't we."

Lucas has brought more than Norah. He snickers when he hears Mary's stomach growl. He pulls a burrito out of his pocket and waves it under her nose. "Watch it buddy," she warns, her arms full of Norah. "You could lose a finger that way, but if there's coffee I might forgive you."

"You can thank Joanna. She knew what you'd like." Reaching behind him he retrieves a carry tray from Joanna's other hand.

Relieved of her cargo Joanna stretches. "Since you're here, I'm going to take a walk, maybe check out the gift shop. I've got my phone. Text me if there's any changes. Okay?"

"Yeah, sure." Mary's face is buried in Norah's jacket, but Joanna deciphers her mumbled response.

Lucas sets the burrito and coffee on the small table. "Let's trade. I'll take this beautiful lump and you eat." He gently lifts Norah into his arms. Mary watches as Norah briefly rouses, turns her head and settles. Lucas stays standing swaying gently.

Mary makes quick work of the food. After tossing the wrapper and empty cup she holds out her arms for Norah. Lucas sits next to her and sighs. "Look, I hate to do this but I've got to go. When I talked to Michael he asked me to come in. He needs my account of what went down. Your van's here. Joanna can take you and Norah home, when you're ready."

Mary turns to Lucas giving him a watery smile. "Sure, go. Are they going to want my report? I'll be doing one for the Marshal Service. Will that do?"

"I'm sure it will. I'll let them know." He leans down to hand Norah to her and manages to kiss her cheek.

Mary doesn't pull back. "Thanks."

Lucas squeezes her shoulder and whispers. "He'll be okay." Why does she feel relieved that there's no one here to witness his affectionate gesture? "You'll call? If you need anything, call. I shouldn't be gone long."

"Go. I'll be okay. Thanks for bringing Bug." Her smile barely curves her lips but her gratitude is sincere. She has a few minutes with Norah before the door opens and Joanna returns. She's not sure how much Lucas told Joanna. "Marshall's having scans done. He hit his head," she simplifies not wanting to freak Joanna out. She zips up her blue US Marshal jacket, hiding the bullet proof vest.

Joanna looks her over as she takes Lucas' seat. "How are you holding up?"

"Better now."

A/N: Thanks for the reviews Meg. It's nice to know someone is reading this!