Chapter 4 – Observations and Empathy

Eloise woke with a start. She lay trembling in the dark, trying to place where she was. She felt the strong, comforting warmth of Jacob next to her and realized it was his mumbling that had woken her. She sleepily started rubbing her hand across his stomach, trying to calm him, tracing slow, widening circles on his abdomen. He reached down and covered her hand with his own, stilling her movement and drawing her hand up against his chest. Eloise came more fully awake and then aware that it wasn't Jacob next to her, but the marshal assigned to protect her. Oh, God, what is he going to think of me? She was still feeling a bit fuzzy. She knew he had put something in her drink to help her sleep. She had come to trust this man so completely in just a few hours, that she drank it without protest, knowing he would not give her anything that might hurt the baby. She lay very still, listening to his breathing and then cringed away from him. Of course he's awake. Well. I am just going to have to be embarrassed about this in the morning. Unwanted, she felt a sob rising up in her chest. It was all just too much. She wanted Jacob. Marshall was laying on top of the covers, but his arm curved around her and he pulled her into his side. He managed to curl his long limbs around her and rested his chin on her head as she shook with silent sobs in his arms.

When next she woke, she could see the pearly gray light of very early morning. Marshall was mumbling again, mostly incoherently, but Eloise caught a few things, He appeared to be agitated and was pulling her closer. She lay in bed, listening to him mumble and her bladder talking to her and finally slipped out from under Marshall's embrace and went into the bathroom. When she came out he was up and looked at her keenly, trying to assess her mental well being. Eloise smiled wanly and sat down on the bed.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, vaguely lifting her arm toward him. Marshall knew what she was referring to, as she had known he would. He squatted down in from of her and took her hands.

"It's ok. You thought I was someone else." He grinned lopsidedly. "I just had to put a stop to that wandering hand before things got improper." Eloise blushed. Marshall was instantly contrite and cupped her cheek, holding her gaze.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I know you must have thought I was your fiancé." He glanced over at a still sleeping Mary. He swallowed hard as he took in her tousled hair and the curves exposed by the flung back covers. His gaze lingered on her lips, his mind replaying those kisses from the trail head. How she had opened her mouth to him, how she had responded to him, how her body felt in his arms. Marshall was a patient man and he was willing to wait for her, but he desperately wanted Mary to open her heart to him. He looked away as he felt his body begin to tighten up. Eloise followed his line of vision and when he brought his eyes back to hers, he saw an expression of sympathy in them. Marshall glanced away sharply, mentally kicking himself. He had just exposed himself to a witness and he had no doubt that this terrified woman knew from that one look, exactly how he felt about his partner.

"I'm going out to get some coffee. Mary's a bear until she has that first cup." He glanced back over at his sleeping friend again. "Trust me on this one."

"I take mine black, one sugar," Eloise said. Marshall squeezed her hands and stood up. Eloise watched him as he quietly moved around the room gathering his badge, gun, wallet, phone. He had literally kept her from going insane those first few hours. Marshall's calm presence had been the fragile thread holding her to reality. She drew strength against his calmness with every gasping breath she took. He had assessed her mental state within thirty seconds of meeting her, had wrapped an arm around her and kept physical contact until he got her to Albuquerque. Eloise had clung to him like her life depended on it. She had looked at his kind face, seen how he took charge of the situation and completely turned over everything to him, followed him blindly and totally trusted that he would protect her. She would never have been able to shut her eyes without seeing that dreadful scene again, if it hadn't been for Marshall's reassuring lean form next to her, his arms around her to keep her from flying into a million shattered pieces.

Mary woke when she heard the door close. She sat up and looked around quickly, relaxing when she saw Eloise sitting on the other bed.

"Marshall went for coffee. He says you are nicer to be around after coffee." Eloise had a soft melodious voice and Mary realized this was the first time she had heard her speak. Eloise watched her, easily transferring her trust to Mary, because she saw how completely Marshall trusted her.

"Coffee? Good." Mary turned so she was facing Eloise. She had slept lousy, over-aware of Marshall's presence in the other bed. Stifling a yawn, she asked, "How are you feeling this morning? Did you get any sleep last night?" She peered at her, pushing down the twinge of jealousy she felt. This is irrational, she has a fiancé. Of course, so do I.

Eloise nodded. "Marshall put something in my drink, so I did get some sleep." She was silent a minute. "He's rather nice to sleep against. Some men just lie there like an oblivious lump, but Marshall shifted, responded every time I moved, so I was always comfortable." She smiled. "He has nice long limbs, he made me feel protected, curled around me, so no one could hurt me."

Mary saw a flash of mischief in her eyes. "Is that part of the normal protection detail? Sleeping with the witnesses?" Eloise hesitated again, glanced cautiously at Mary, who was still trying to make her befuddled brain formulate a response. Images of Marshall's long limbs curled around her, his long fingers doing...things...were rendering her speechless.

"You know, he talks in his sleep." Mary stared at her, a confusion of emotions swirling through her head. "Well, mumbles would be more accurate. But I did hear him say your name. More than once. Each time he tightened his arms around me. Not that I'm complaining, but I think," Eloise said slowly, " he was worried about you in his sleep. He seemed agitated. I think he was trying to protect you." She looked at Mary again, her stunned expression. "I think he really cares about you."

"He's my partner. We protect each other," That sounded lame, even in Mary's own ears. She looked at that steady gaze directed at her and felt compelled to say more. Her mind was whirling from this new information. He's rather nice to sleep against? Yes, I imagine he is, all lean muscle and gentle hands, no superfluous fat on that one. What would it feel like to have those long limbs curled around me? Holding me close? That would be very nice indeed. Marshall dreamed about her? Or was so worried for her safety it followed him into his sleep? And did his unconscious mind think the woman in his arms was her instead of Eloise? Or was that wishful dreaming? "It's complicated," she finally offered.

Eloise gave her sad smile again. "It always is." she said forlornly. "Do you think I could talk to Jacob today? He'll be worried about me. Probably called the police by now." Mary could hear the longing in her voice. She felt of flash of guilt. She hadn't given any thought to the feelings Eloise must be experiencing right now, all alone, separated from her fiance, pregnant. And frightened out of her mind.

"We'll see what we can do. I promise. "

*****

They were both dressed and ready to go when Marshall returned with the coffee. Marshall had been spot on with Eloise's sizes, and she looked rather nice, Mary thought. Mary eagerly took the coffee from Marshall and watched obliquely as Marshall handed a cup to Eloise, then sat down next to her, lowered his head and spoke to her in a low voice. Eloise nodded, then looked up and flashed a genuine smile that lit up her whole face. Marshall was grinning like an idiot and Mary put her hands in her back pockets and stared at him until he looked at her and got up and walked over to her. He leaned down and spoke in her ear, his warm breath sending a frisson of awareness down her spine. "Spoke to Stan, we're bringing Jacob into the program." He glanced back at Eloise, happily sipping her coffee. "It was private news she needed to hear for herself first."

"How do you know these things?" Mary was genuinely puzzled and curious.

Marshall shrugged. "Study of human nature. Empathy. I just know. It's why I'm so good at my job." He turned those startling blue eyes on her. "I know what people need. And not just witnesses." Mary flushed under his intense gaze.

"What about what you need?" she whispered, looking directly at the third button on his shirt. He leaned in again, his breath warm against her cheek, his lips sketching the ghost of a kiss against her smooth skin.

"I've told you what I need. And now I'm waiting. I'm waiting for my need to make up her mind."

Mary's eyes flew up to meet his. She saw raw hunger there and her heart skipped a beat. Marshall dropped his gaze and took a deep breath. They both turned to see Eloise watching them with a half smile playing about her lips. It was very disconcerting. Mary felt Eloise somehow had a direct line of sight into her soul. She picked up their bags and headed out to the car, escaping that direct gaze and leaving Marshall to bring Eloise.

"You ready?" Marshall asked. Eloise placed her hand gently on his arm and tilted her head back to look up at him.

"I think she's very confused," she said softly. "I think she really cares about you and it scares her. And I'm pretty sure she didn't like you sleeping with your arms around me last night."

Marshall looked at her and then glanced down. "You are very observant," he said quietly. "She's struggling with her feelings. I know what mine are. And there is another complicating factor. A factor Mary has to deal with.".

He scrubbed his hand across his face. He'd had the nightmare again last night. The one he had when Mary weighed heavy on his mind. The one where he couldn't protect her in that dank basement. But this time the dream had ended with her safe in his arms. He had pulled her in close, murmuring her name. Disappointment had been sharp when he had woken enough to realize that while there was a live woman in his arms, it wasn't Mary.

Eloise watched the play of emotions cross Marshall's face and slipped her small hand into his and gave it a squeeze. "Don't give up Marshall. You can trust me on this one."