A/N: These installments were harder to write because they might have happened during the series and I, as well as others, have written many such scenes like them before. So I worked hard to breathe new life into them. I hope you all like! Angst warning for this chapter (especially the last yr). If the years seem a bit "off" from the series, it's because I'm trying to write them in real time, and the show only aired in 3-4 month installments. Enjoy!
2009
Marshall dropped his badge and keys on his front table and was just about to toe off his boots when there was a soft knock on his door. He drew his weapon and moved to look through the peephole, but he engaged the safety and threw open the door when he saw who it was.
"Mary? What's wrong?"
She looked up at him, her eyes huge in her haunted face. "Can I stay here tonight?"
He reached out a hand but withdrew it when she drew back from his touch. "Come in."
She offered him a weak smile before she shouldered past him, even flinching at that slight contact. "Thanks. I just couldn't stay at that hotel room with Jinx and Brandi another minute. Ever since I got back home from – they've made it all about them – like they were the ones who were kidnapped and held hostage and nearly-" she bit back the words as she picked up an afghan from the sofa.
"Mary," he breathed softly as he shut the door. "Can I get you anything? Tea, perhaps?"
She nodded slowly as she curled into his sofa, wrapped in the afghan his mom made him for Christmas last year. "That sounds good."
Marshall took his time, letting the tea steep slowly, giving his partner extra time to unwind. So much had happened to her in the past forty-eight hours and the very fact that she had come to him tonight instead of shutting herself away was amazing. Perhaps he was starting to break through her thick, impenetrable walls after all.
"Here," he whispered, holding out the steaming teacup to her.
"Thank you," she murmured, watching him as he moved away. "Where are you going?"
"I thought I might take a shower and get ready for bed – you know, give you some time to yourself."
She shook her head. "Could you-" she paused, biting her lower lip.
"What is it, Mer?" He perched on the opposite end of the couch. "Talk to me - tell me what you need."
Her eyes fluttered shut and the teacup rattled in the saucer. "He was going to rape me, Marshall. I didn't think I was going to be able to stop him. My hands were up above my head and I couldn't reach my ankle gun and-" she choked on a sob and the tea sloshed over the side of the cup.
His fingers closed around hers and gently took the teacup from her hands. "Mary – you don't have to talk about this now-"
"But I encouraged him and got him to release my hands and then I got my gun and –"
"Enough." He pulled her against him and she broke down completely, her tears soaking the front of his dress shirt. "I'm just glad you shot the bastard – or Stan and I would have."
She wrapped her arms around his midsection. "And now the FBI has trashed my house and I'm temporarily homeless."
"You'll never be homeless as long as you have me."
She pulled back to look him in the eye. "You mean I can crash here?"
He nodded. "For as long as you want."
"Careful – you may come to eat those words."
"Speaking of eating – have you had anything to eat today?"
She grimaced. "I tried but it just came back up."
He kissed her forehead. "I'm going to make you a sandwich – you have to eat something, Mer."
"No, really, I couldn't-" she broke off at the look on his face. "OK, partner, I'll try, for you."
Her eyes misted when fifteen minutes later he brought out huge veggie sandwiches and a single slice of chocolate crème pie. She shook her head at him. "It's definitely going to take more than pie to make this better," she whispered.
He sighed. "I know, but it's not just any pie – it's chocolate crème. Your favorite."
She arched an eyebrow. "It's like you knew I was coming-"
He smiled. "Well, it is pie day-"
"I know – unfortunately your pie is in my mess of a house. Raincheck?"
He shook his head. "There's no need. We're still having pie-"
"But it's not one of your favorites."
"Says who?"
Her mouth fell open and with a grin, he fed her a bite. When they had practically licked the plate clean and Mary was smothering yawns, he stood up and held out his hand. "Come on, let's get you to bed."
"Marshall-"
"To sleep, Mer. Get your mind out of the gutter."
"No, I was just going to say – would you mind if we shared your bed tonight?"
He swallowed. "What exactly are you asking?"
She shrugged. "I just need to feel safe – and the last time I felt really safe was last year when we were undercover and I fell asleep every night with your arm around me. So, would you mind not sleeping out here on the couch and in your bed with me?"
He placed his hands on her shoulders, resting them lightly on top of the afghan she was still wrapped in, searching her eyes for a moment in silence. She shuffled closer to him, seeking his warmth and comfort. "If that's what you need."
She sighed and rested her head on his chest. "Thank you."
2010
"Marshall?"
He stirred in his sleep, fighting the sound of someone calling his name. He had just fallen asleep and if he could only get a few more minutes-
"Marshall, wake up!"
His eyes flew open and he blinked, trying to focus his bloodshot, gritty orbs on the person standing in front of him. "Brandi," he whispered hoarsely. "Is it time for visiting hours already?"
She frowned at him. "Marshall, have you been here all night again?"
Marshall stretched, trying not to wince as his back complained at the long hours spent in the uncomfortable plastic chair. He lowered his feet to the floor, searching for his boots. "Have you seen my-"
"Looking for these?" Jinx held up his footwear from the other end of Mary's bed, her dark red lips curled into a Cheshire cat smile. "You badge is underneath the bed – is there something you want to tell us?"
Marshall flushed. "It must have slipped off my belt buckle when I was sleeping."
"In the chair?" Brandi teased him.
He arched his back, rubbing it slowly. "I have the aches to prove it."
She stepped into his space, lowering her voice. "Marshall, Mary wouldn't like that you're running yourself into the ground like this. You work all day, and then stay up all night at her bedside – you need sleep."
"Brandi, I'm fine."
"My baby's right, Marshall," Jinx interrupted. "Mary would want you to take care of yourself."
Marshall pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. How could he explain that he was only able to sleep when he was here with her? That every moment he spent away from her he saw himself running down that hallway, chasing her on that gurney, seeing her code, watching her die?
"I promise you ladies that I'm getting enough rest. I just don't want Mary to be alone-"
"You're still here, Marshall?" Raph's tone was harsh as he entered the room carrying a coffee caddy and a pastry bag. "Don't you have work to do – like finding the man who hurt my fiancée?"
Marshall's hackles rose but he refused to be baited. He turned his back on Raph and went to Mary's bedside. He glanced at her monitors for a moment before resting his gaze on her face, silently willing her to wake up. Come on, Mer, it's been nine days. I need to see those gorgeous green eyes and hear that snarky voice telling me to shut up. You can't leave me – I love you.
He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the side of her head, ignoring the other people in the room. "I'll be back tonight, partner. Any requests for dinner?" He cocked his head as though listening and smiled. "Pie it is." He straightened and turned to meet the amused glances of the Shannon women and Raph's glare.
"What the hell was that?" he demanded. "She can't talk to you – she's in a coma."
Marshall grinned. "That just goes to show how little you know her." He bent down and picked up his badge. "Almost forgot this – Stan would've had my hide."
When he returned to the hospital that evening, Marshall greeted the nurses on the floor by name and handed over a box of bagels and cream cheese.
"Marshall, you don't have to bribe us anymore," Stacey laughed. "We'll let you in without the free food now."
"I know – but the night shift is hard. You ladies deserve some sustenance to keep you going."
Maggie patted his cheek. "I don't know what Mary sees in that Raph – you're the real catch in my book."
He leaned over the desk and kissed her cheek. "You be sure and tell her that when she wakes up."
Maggie giggled and pushed him away. "I will!"
Marshall waggled his eyebrows and strutted down the hallway but his steps slowed as he neared Mary's doorway, until he stopped just inside, staring at her still form in the bed. "Hi, partner. Sorry I'm a little late tonight – but you know how it is." He stepped into the room and turned to swing the door most of the way shut to give them some privacy. "Stan says to tell you hello and that the office just isn't the same without you. Between you and me I think he's a little lost without Eleanor. I know, you don't believe that there was something between the two of them but I swear to you on a dozen chocolate crème pies, they were sleeping together." He toed off his boots and took off his jacket, putting it over the back of the chair, glancing at her monitors to see if anything had changed while he had been talking.
"I know that you're not going to mourn the fact that Eleanor's gone but I miss her. She had some great connections – and no, I don't share your crazy conspiracy theory that she was a plant from the FBI or CIA sent to keep an eye on us. I mean, what would be the point of that? They could have just bugged our offices and been done with it. See, now you've got me paranoid after our brush with the FBI last year," he chuckled and picked up her hand, the one without the IV.
"Mary, you need to wake up. It's been nine days and we need you to wake up so we can get the bastard who did this. I never should have left you alone in that neighborhood. It didn't matter whether or not I had a date – the truth is I was still so pissed at you for telling Raph about WitSec that I just needed more time and space. You and I have been out of sync ever since – and it nearly cost you your life. Every time I close my eyes, I see you lying on that gurney, bleeding out." He took a deep breath. "The only thing that matters, that's ever mattered, is that I love you."
Marshall leaned down and kissed her lips, trying not to shudder as she didn't respond. "Do you remember when we were undercover two years ago as a married couple? That was one of the happiest times of my life – and also one of the most painful. Every night when we went to bed and I got to hold you close, breathe in your scent, part of me died. And then last year when you came to me for comfort after you were kidnapped and nearly raped – I almost told you then how I felt but I knew that the timing wasn't right. You needed to feel safe and you were so vulnerable that night. Now you're engaged to someone else and fighting for your life and I can't help but wonder if our timing will ever be right. But Mary, you can't die on me – do you hear me? Even if-" he cleared his throat as he dropped his head to her bed. "Even if we're never together, you can't die. I don't know how to do this without you, Mer."
"OK."
His head shot up in surprise, blue meeting green. "Mary?"
"Hi."
He swallowed. "How – how much of that did you hear?"
She frowned. "Just you telling me I couldn't die – was there more?"
His eyes fluttered shut as he smiled. "No – that was the gist of it. How do you feel?"
She moaned. "Like I've been shot."
He nodded. "What do you remember?"
"I-" she blinked. "Francesca moved into that shitty neighborhood and then- shit, it's blank."
"It's OK, it will come back." He pressed her call button.
"What is it, Marshall?" Maggie's voice came over the system.
"Page Dr. McNabb – Mary's awake."
"Right away!"
Mary smirked at him. "Been making friends while I was sleeping?"
He nodded. "You've been out a long time."
"How long?" she frowned.
"Nine days – it's March 14th."
"Holy shit – wait, that means it's pie day. Do you have some?"
"Mary, you have a gunshot wound to your abdomen. I don't think pie is on your diet at the moment."
"Don't be a killjoy. Quick, before the doctor comes in – give me a bite."
Marshall picked up his paper bag and pulled out his pie. "I still think we should take a raincheck – you're going to get sick."
"Just a bite."
"Knock, knock," Dr. McNabb announced as he strode into the room. "How are you feeling, Mary?"
She shot her partner a death glare as he smiled in triumph and mouthed raincheck on his way out the door.
2011
She didn't know what she'd been thinking.
Actually, she hadn't been thinking at all. True to her Shannon blood, she'd been running. Ever since she had woken up in the ICU last year, she had been running.
She'd lied. To the only man who had stayed by her side for the past eight fucking years – who had taken a bullet for her and still pulled himself up from underneath a SUV to cover her ass.
Marshall loved her – she'd heard him say the words and as much as she wanted to deny them, claim that they were a hallucination or part of the fog of coming out of anesthesia, she couldn't deny them the moment her eyes met his in that hospital room.
But she'd sure spent the last twelve months trying to pretend she'd never heard them. She'd given her engagement to Raph the old college try until Aunt Rita showed up and the whole thing went to hell in a hand basket and the farce was called off. She felt bad for hurting him and prayed to a God she barely believed in that her secret was safe with him – but she didn't miss him.
They had one wild night of post breakup sex and the look on Marshall's face when she told him was enough to cause the memory that she'd manage to bury come bubbling back to the surface: "The only thing that matters, that's ever mattered, is that I love you."
She avoided him for a week and felt like a bitch about it – but Mary needed the space to quiet his voice in her head. He was her partner, her best friend, and she wasn't going to mess that up with feelings. Marshall seemed to understand that she needed time after Raph and settled back into the sidekick role, and everything returned to normal. She breathed a sigh of relief – everything was going to be OK.
And then the earth fell out from under her. Stan ordered her to take some vacation time and she made the mistake of mentioning to her partner that she needed to blow off some steam. Suddenly he was leaning over her desk, talking about how she didn't like things messy but maybe messy was what she needed-
She felt like all the air had been sucked from the room. He was talking about them – about the two of them together – like that. Fortunately Stan came into the office and she jumped out of her chair, leaving her partner alone at her desk, without an answer.
"Kitten? Where are you?"
The sound of Faber's voice broke through Mary's internal reflection, even as she gritted her teeth at the endearment. "Out here."
Her FBI lover stepped onto the small balcony wearing only a pair of silk boxers. "Did you order some food?"
Mary smiled. "I wasn't hungry – and Enrique is off duty."
Faber snaked his arms around her waist. "You're a tease-"
She leaned her head back against his chest. "That's what you like about me."
He moved her hair out of the way and began to nibble on her neck. "I like other parts of you more."
"What time's your flight?"
He stiffened and raised his head. "What?"
"Your flight – aren't you leaving today?"
"I thought maybe you'd want me to stay-"
Mary moved out of his arms. "For what?"
Faber frowned. "I thought we were having a nice time-"
She shrugged. "I don't want you to get the wrong idea here, Faber-"
"And what would that be?"
"You're good for the occasional fuck but I'm not looking for a relationship – I just got out of one, remember?"
He smirked. "Aren't you a little long in the tooth for casual flings, Kitten?"
Mary's face hardened. "Get out."
He held up his hands. "Hey, I didn't mean-"
She strode back inside and picked up his overnight bag. "Don't make me call security."
"Mary-"
"I'm going down to the beach. When I get back, you better be gone."
"I don't want to leave when you're upset. At least let me buy you dinner to apologize-"
She shook her head. "Just leave."
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please fasten your seatbelts as we make our final approach."
Mary sighed as she shifted in her seat restlessly. She hadn't felt like staying in Mexico after Faber left but she knew if she headed home early, she'd go back to work and Stan would kick her out. She had called and left messages for Marshall but he never returned her calls. She knew that she had some serious groveling to do before her partner would talk to her again – hopefully their partnership wasn't beyond repair.
As she walked through the busy terminal, she realized with a start what day it was and began to smile. She took a small detour before heading to baggage claim and then rented a car rather than call the house and wait for either Jinx or Brandi to show up. Besides, there was someone she wanted to see first.
She pulled up outside his small house and turned off the car, her stomach turning over with nerves as she saw that his truck was in the drive. But before she could exit the car, his front door opened and a dark-haired petite woman came outside, followed by her partner. Mary couldn't hear what they were saying but the two of them stood close together, and Marshall looked happy. Suddenly, her partner dipped his head and placed a feather light kiss on the woman's lips and Mary's stomach turned over, threatening to vomit the light meal she had eaten on the plane. The woman smiled up at her partner before turning and walking down the path to her own small car. Marshall waved and waited until she was out of sight before heading back inside.
Who was that woman? Marshall doesn't have any sisters – and he wouldn't have kissed his sisters-in-law like that.
It didn't matter who she was – it was none of her business. She had obviously been his date – and her partner looked happy. That was the only thing that mattered now. There would be no chance to explore messy – she was too late. Mary swallowed the bile in her throat as she started the car and drove off, the lemon meringue pie in the passenger seat forgotten.
A/N: Ow, right? And yes, the woman is Abigail. 1 maybe 2 more to go. Reviews are LOVE!