A/N: I do not own In Plain Sight and this is strictly for non-profit entertainment value.

Moving An Unmovable Object

Tense, that was the best way to describe how things were between Marshall and I. He was closed off, distant since I got back from my vacation. I also found out he was seeing someone, some red head from Albuquerque PD. To make it worse, I didn't find out from him. I saw him with her, when I was out to dinner with Peter and Brandi. I know that he thinks, I completely blew off what he said to me before vacation. How can he not have known, I wouldn't leap at the idea. Our relationship, friendship, partnership...is too much to risk, I suck at relationships. I ruin people. I know he loves me and as hard as it is to admit, I love him too. I'm honestly, not sure how to fix this mess I fucking created. He deserves better then me.

Soo now I am sitting here in the office alone, having been lost in my hailstorm of thoughts. Marshall left the office two hours ago, which is what started my brain whirling and Stan just left. God, I hate paperwork. Who knows maybe tomorrow will be better...though I doubt it.


"You two, my office, now." Stan hollered for Mary and Marshall, both rolling their eyes at his attempt at coming off, as the authority figure in the office. "We have a new witness being emergency transferred here. I need you two, to meet at the extraction point. Be careful, somehow this witness has been located at every location they were placed at."

"Sounds like a leak..." Marshall was concerned.

Mary remained quiet. 'So much for today being better, I have a bad feeling about this case.'

"Nobody, will know where you are taking them, except me. You need to leave in the hour, to get there on time." Stan handed them each a file, containing the intel. They walked out of the office, heading to their desks to wrap everything up.

Mary was all ready to go, since she was there late finishing her paperwork. "I'm ready, whenever you are. I just need to get my go bag from my car." Marshall looked at her surprised. She grabbed all the paperwork, walked in and handed it to Stan. "Here's all the paperwork I owe you. I also started the paperwork, for the upcoming cases for next week." She turned and left, leaving a surprised by happy boss behind. Five minutes later, she came back with a small rolling suitcase and sat at her desk.

"New bag?" Marshall was used to her raggy duffel.

"Yeah, more efficient packing space and I can fit extra 'just in case' gear." Mary knew she had him curious, but didn't elaborate further.

"Ookay, should be done in a few." He went back to his paperwork, looking morose.

They left the office on time, getting into their truck, driving in silence. 'I have him captive for four hours, now or never.' "Are we ever going to talk about the proverbial elephant in the room?" Ha, take that Marshall, that has to get you talking.

"Who are you and what have you done with Mary Shannon? That didn't sound like you. You don't like to talk, you like to run." He came out swinging.

"I am trying to fix this...us." She kept her voice sincere and her temper in check.

"What do you want from me, Mary?" Marshall was uneasy, not really prepared for this conversation at all. 'What is she playing at here?'

"Honesty..." She paused. "Did you really think, I would leap into your arms after what you said before my vacation?" Marshall didn't say anything and his jaw tensed, so she continued. "You know me. I avoid and we both know my relationships...are never good. Did you not get, that you were too important to me to risk that?"

"Alright, how about you...did you think I expected you to rush? I expected you to at least think about it, not to be blown off." His tone was hurt and angry.

"Honestly Marshall, I didn't think at all and I am sorry." She was staring at him, hoping he knew she meant it. "It doesn't matter now anyway, you are with someone." She broke her gaze at him and turned to look at the window.

"What? How did you..." He was honestly surprised.

"I saw you, when I was at dinner with Peter and Brandi." Her tone clearly showed her hurt.

"Why would it matter?" He honestly wondered, but in a way was happy she was hurt too.

"As I said, it doesn't matter now, you have someone." She continued to stare out the window and silence once again overtook them, both lost in thought. The tension between them had amplified.


They arrived at the extraction point, with a few minutes to spare. As soon as Marshall parked, Mary was out of the car. "Strange location for a pickup..." Marshall was now beside her, observing the area. "I don't like this. Something is off about this whole thing."

"I agree." He spotted three people walking toward them. "There, on our ten."

Mary looked to where Marshall directed. "Two marshals and our witness?" Mary changed her stance, ready to grab her gun.

'That's my girl, always ready to jump in.' He smiled, loving his battle ready partner. "Let's go." Mary followed his lead and they walked toward the approaching group.

"Marshals Shannon and Mann?" The two men looked nefarious, addressing them and Marshall knew something wasn't right. The witness looked petrified, a Daniel Mantum.

"Yes." He showed his credentials. Mary continued to stand at the ready. "Credential's please?" Marshall was keeping it light. The two men pulled their credentials, allowing Marshall to view them. "Is there a problem here?" Marshall looked from the two men and the witness.

"No, just anxious to hand this one off, man is a danger magnet." The marshals voice was gruff and angry. "All yours now. Good luck." The two marshals walked away leaving a very annoyed Mary, staring after them.

"Assholes." Mary was pissed, but the witness smiled a bit. "You alright?" Marshall thought she was talking to him, till he saw her focus on Mantum.

"Yes, there was trouble getting me here." Daniel was calmer, seemingly happy that Mary at least spoke with him.

"Define, trouble?" Marshall spoke now, clearly worried.

"We were followed and a few shots were taken at us. They had me hunkered down, on the floor of the truck most of the way here." Daniel was rattled.

"Let's go." Mary grabbed Daniel's arm, leading him to the car and Marshall was running to catch up to them. "I take it from your reaction, the other two marshals were assholes to you?"

Daniel laughed. "They barely spoke to me, I guess they knew I was a trouble witness. This will be my fifth relocation." He seemed solemn as he got into the back of the truck.

"Fifth! Hmm...you are going to be a fun one." Without asking, Mary just hopped in the driver seat. She took a different route, taking them off the highway. Her instinct telling her to get away from original route they took. "How long have you been in program?" Marshall gave her a questioning look, knowing full well it was in the file.

"Just a few months." Daniel was happy to talk, he seemed to relax knowing they weren't treating him like crap.

'A few months..." Mary's mind was going to scary places and she could feel Marshall s gaze on her. "Daniel, what happened to bring you into the program? I mean were you hurt or hospitalized?"

"Yeah actually, I witnessed a hit. I ran, but was shot trying to get away. Lucky for me, police were showing up, before they could finish me off." He was a sweet kid, young.

"He's tagged." Mary looked at Marshall, hoping he was coming to same conclusion.

"What do you mean I am tagged?" Daniel was panicking again.

"It means, that probably while in the hospital for your injury, they basically lo jacked you." Marshall was trying to think of the best way to handle this.

"We need to find a veterinary office." Mary was driving faster, trying to get to the next town.

Marshall looked at her, surprised she thought of it before him. "Good idea." He pulled out his phone and dialed information, asking for a vet in the approaching town. "Got it. We need to turn off onto Rte 513 and take that to first stop light. Vet office should be there."

"Why are we going to a vet?" Daniel was looking between Marshall and Mary, trying to figure out what was going on.

"The vet's have a device, they use to locate chips for lost pets and some of the newer chips have gps in them. We think we can use that, to locate a chip, if any, on you." Marshall was talking, as Mary was focused on driving.

"If there is a chip?"

"We get it out." Marshall locked eyes with the young man in the back seat.

"I was afraid you were going to say that." Daniel slumped in the seat and was now dreading this again.

"Good thing is, if that is what they have been using to tag you, this should stop them from finding you again." Marshall was trying to paint a good picture, occasionally glancing at Mary.

"There it is." Mary pulled into the parking lot and got out. "Let's go." Both kept their eyes on surrounding area as they entered the office, which was mercifully empty. "Hello?"

"I'm sorry, we are closed for the day." A middle aged man walked out, surprised to see anyone.

"We realize, we are US Marshals and have a bit of a situation." Marshall was better at this so he spoke, while Mary kept near the window watching the road. "We are transporting a witness, who we believe may be chipped. Do you have one of the wands they use for detecting chips in animals?"

"Why yes, but I have never heard of anyone chipping a person?" The doctor was uneasy. "Step over here." He grabbed the wand, waving it over Daniel and it beeped over his thigh. "I'll be damned."

"Not good." Marshall sighed, Daniel looked damn near petrified. "Can you get it out?"

"I need to x-ray him, to see how deep it is, this way." Marshall went with Daniel, leaving Mary to stand watch. "There it is. It's a little deep."

"Can you get it out? We need to take the chip with us, active, to lead them away from here." Marshall wanted the Doctor to pick up, that they didn't have time for this.

"Alright..." he stuck Daniel in the leg with a local anesthetic to numb the area and cut. Daniel was looking away toward the door. "There it is." The doctor took it out and put it in a blank prescription bottle. Put a few stitches and bandaged Daniel up.

"Thank you Doctor. How much do we owe?"

"Honestly, I wouldn't know what to charge you. It's fine, just go, I really don't want any trouble here."

"Understood, thank you." Marshall helped Daniel up and went back out to Mary with the chip in hand. "Let's go."

Mary was once again in the driver seat, as they took off. She was driving fast away from where they stopped, hoping that whoever gave chase would follow and not bother the Doctor. "That the chip?" She was eyeing the bottle in his hand.

"Yup."

"Shit. I was really hoping I was wrong." She huffed. "I feel like I am in a bad spy movie."

Marshall just laughed. "It was a good call." He had the map out, looking for the best place to dispose of the chip. "Turn here." She turned and he smiled. "I think we solved our problem. Pull over." Mary pulled over, looking at him confused. "Water, this bottle should be buoyant enough to float with the current, sending them on a wild goose chase."

"Brilliant..." Mary just smiled, as he got out and pitched the bottle into the water. He hopped back in smiling, proud of himself, as she pulled away.

"Question...what happens if the bottle sinks?" Daniel's voice asked from the back seat.

"Then the signal will be lost, due to the density of the water." Marshall turned to look at Daniel. "Then they hunt us."

They were maybe five miles from where he tossed the bottle into the creek, when she spotted someone following them. "We have company." Marshall turned to see the truck gaining on them, Mary floored it. "Daniel, get down. Marshall..." She looked at him. "Call Stan."

He nodded, pulling his cell out, dialing Stan. "Stan, we have a problem with the package...there was a bug...long story but taken care of...we have a tail...ten miles outside of Alamosa...will do, thanks." He hung up and looked behind them seeing the truck was gaining. "Cavalry is coming. We just need to keep them off us a little while longer."

"They should have caught up by now...we are being herded." Mary was looking ahead, trying to determine where to turn off. "Hold on." She quickly took a turn and the truck blew past the turn in the rear view. Marshall pulled out his gun, checking around them and no longer saw their pursuers. "That was too easy."

Marshall was feeling the same apprehension as his partner. "You're right, something isn't right with this...at least we know it isn't a mole."

"Oh yes, I am all warm with comfort." Mary bit back. "Shit!" She took another sharp turn, slamming Marshall into the door and causing Daniel to yell. "Different truck, there are two of them."

Marshall knew the situation had just turned dire. "Where is the other one?"

"Don't know, but this one has no problem catching up. He is right on us." Their truck was at maximum speed. She jammed the breaks, taking another turn. The pursuing truck swerved to miss them and crashed into a tree. "Yes!"

"One down, good job!" Marshall was thrilled, she shook one of the trucks.

Mary saw the other truck coming at them in the approaching intersection and knew they were going to ram Marshall's side. She turned the wheel hard, effectively moving his side opposite the impending impact.

"NOOOO!" He looked to Mary, realizing what she did, as the truck slammed into them and everything faded to black.