Details: I have decided to make this a longer story than I expected! Review and tell me how you like it!
Summary: After the loss of a relative close to her, Mary is left shattered. Based on the song "Shattered (Turn the car around) by O.A.R.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, so don't sue. However, if I did, I would have Miss-Totally-Wrong-For-Marshall-Annoyingly-Perky-Should-Have-Been-A-Freaking-Cheerleader-Not-A-Detective-Interfering-With-My-Mary-And-Marshall-Fantasy (Oh yeah, you know who I am talking about.) Kicked off the set and asked not so kindly to never comeback.
Told in Marshall's POV
{}IN PLAIN SIGHT {}
The pale moon's face danced in through the crisp white linen shades. The strange, almost electric shine bathed the room in an ominous, stark white glow. I rolled over to my left side to shield my eyes from light, putting a sweet smelling pillow over my head. I sighed, unable to return to my short lived slumber. I sat up, running my hands over my face and through my tangled hair. I realized that I recognized the smell of the pillow, and I let my eyes adjust to the scenery of the room. Forest green walls, a large, queen sized bed was in the middle of the room next to a nightstand. In the corner of the room was a small open closet, and filled with women's clothing. I felt my throat close as I realized that I was in none other than my partner, Mary Shannon's room. In her bed to be precise! I looked down to make sure I wasn't naked, and I hadn't done anything stupid during last night. As I realized I was fully clothed with empty arms, the previous evening's events came crashing down like a bucket of freezing water in my face. I felt my chest tighten. Where did Mary go?
I jumped out of bed and went looking for her, stumbling to the living room in my slippery socks, sliding around like a clumsy figure skater on an ice rink made of hard wood, still in a half-asleep state. The room was dark, yet I managed to make out a distinct figure, huddling in a ball on the couch. My fingers fumbled along the wall before finding a light switch, and flipping it on. Suddenly the room was illuminated by orange light, coming from a nearby table lamp with a cracked shade. The light cast a shadow on Mary's face, showing the tear tracks that criss-crossed down her face. My protective senses kicked in, and almost immediately I felt myself jolt awake as if I had just downed a double shot of espresso and a Red Bull. The sounds of a tissue being used filled the room.
I sat down next to her on the couch, and took her into my arms. Her body was shaking as she sobbed into my still damp white t-shirt. I put my hands in her hair, and began to stroke her wavy golden locks. I rocked her back and forth slowly, just how I would do it if she was my small child.
She looked up at me, her pretty emerald green eyes watery with unshed tears. I hated seeing my best friend in so much pain. She ran her long fingers over her face to erase the evident sign of weakness. One tear escaped her barrier and reflexively, I reached over hand trapped it with my finger. I put my hand under her chin, and kissed her forehead, before bringing her into another hug. We sat there for a few moments, finding comfort in each other's arms. She pulled away, taking a deep breath and preparing herself to speak.
"I called Jinx, to see if she… uh… knew." Mary's voice came out in a raspy whisper shaking ever so slightly, she hiccuped and continued talking, "She doesn't. I... I have to tell her when she comes over in a little while." She resolved herself into tears once again. I buried her deeper into my chest, feeling a wet patch pressed against my stomach. The room was silent, minus the sounds of despair coming from Mary.
I held my breath for a beat before opening my mouth,"How about I make us a pot of coffee?" I whispered into her ear. She let out one final shudder that shook both her body and mine. She wiped the tears from her cheeks, and pulled away from me.
She cleared her throat, avoiding my eyes. "Yeah. I'm going to go take a shower, and uh do… something." She all but ran out of the room, not once looking back at me. The door slammed behind her.
I shook my head, and attempted to rub the sleep out of my eyes. I stretched, yawned, and decided to get my lazy ass off the couch, and get a jump start on the coffee.
I walked slowly into the kitchen, with my hands in my jeans pocket. I took a look at the first clock, realizing that it was only a little after three a.m. I stared at my reflection in the stainless steel microwave. My hair was a wreck, standing up at odd angles, I had purple blotches under my eyes from lack of sleep, and on my t-shirt was a big wet spot, from where my best friend had sobbed into my shirt just minutes before. Yet my hell-like appearance didn't bother me because I had acquired these things at the expense of comforting a distraught friend.
I found the coffee pot, and measured out the correct amount of beans and began to brew it. I stood with my hand desperately gripping the counter top for dear life. I allowed a couple of stray tears to roll down my cheeks, but quickly wiped them away, and returned to the task at hand. The minutes flew by, and suddenly I was looking at a fresh pot of coffee, and a towel covered Mary.
As much as it pained me, I took all the willpower I had and didn't look at my beautiful Mary.
"Coffee's ready." I whispered, plucking two pale blue mugs from a nearby cabinet and filling them with bitter smelling coffee. I was about to put her usual fillings in the coffee when she stopped me.
"Black,I'm going to need it. Thanks Marshall. " A smile ghosted over her lips as I passed her a nearly filled cup.
"Course' what else are friends for." A weary smile appeared on my face.
We drank in silence for a few moments, the only sounds in the room were both of us swallowing our liquids.
"If you want, you can go take a shower in my bathroom." Mary said softly to me.
I shook my head, "No that's alright." I gulped down the last bit of my coffee.
"Doofus, you look like you have been dragged to hell and back a few times by a tractor trailer, and then was run over by it. And your hair," She shuddered, making a face. "Go shower, now." Mary commanded, some of her usual self returning.
"That bad? Thanks Mare." I laughed to myself, and walked past her. As I did, she grabbed my arm, and turned me towards her.
She stared at me for a few fleeting moments. Then her green eyes dropped to my lips. Raising herself up on her tiptoes, hovering right near my face in hesitation. She gripped her towel to make sure it wouldn't fall down before she finally she put her lips softly on mine. I gently placed my arm on her toweled back, and brought her closer to me, deepening the kiss. It lasted a few more glorious seconds, before she pulled away.
A small smile appeared on her face, "I couldn't have made it though last night with out you, Marshall." She admitted, almost inaudibly.
I knew that this was her quiet way of saying thank you. "You're welcome Mary."
I locked eyes with her for minute, before I turned and walked towards the bathroom.
I slipped into the humid bathroom, and turned on the shower head. I stripped my clothes, folding them neatly and setting them on the porcelain ledge on the back of the toilet. I grabbed a towel from a nearby closet, and stepped into the shower.
I allowed the steaming water to rush over my naked body as I succumbed deep into my thoughts for the remainder of my shower.
{}IN PLAIN SIGHT {}
I wrapped the towel around my hips and stepped out of the shower. There was a black comb, some deodorant, and a pair of blue jeans and faded blue t-shirt folded in a neat pile by the sink. I ran the comb through my hair, and quickly dressed.
I re-entered the living room, finding Mary seated on the couch. I leaned against the door frame staring at my partner. Mary was staring at the floor in front of her arms crossed tightly across her chest. She was dressed casually in sweat pants and a green long sleeved t-shirt.
A soft rap on the door broke the silence in the room. A few minutes passed.
The knock came again, this time a little louder. I looked at Mary, whose eyes were still on the floor.
"Want me to get that, Mare?" I asked softly. She didn't look up or answer.
I strode over to the door, and opened it with a flourish.
"Good Morning. How are you?" I asked politely, smiling at the lady. Mary's mum.
"Marshall, what's this about?" Jinx's eyes were filled with tears, her voice shaking. I opened my mouth to speak, but quickly shut it.
I asked for her to come inside and sit down. She saw Mary on the couch and sat down next to her carefully. Mary looked up at her mother with stone cold green eyes.
"Oh Mary!" Jinx gasped, and collapsed into her daughter. Mary, clearly startled by her mother's sudden touchiness. Mary patted her mother on the back, her eyes wide looking at me in distress.
"Wrap your arms around her." I mouthed, and made the motion in the air with an invisible person.
Mary copied my movements. "Mom, Brandi and Peter..." She stopped mid-sentence. Her mother broke away, and searched her daughter's eyes for answers.
"They died. Both of em' Mom. Brandi and Peter." Mary said, her voice hard and cold.
Jinx's mouth fell open with a tiny pop.
"Mary! Is this your idea of a cruel joke?" Jinx crossed her arms over her chest, face contorted in pain.
"What? Mom, no! Hell no! You think I'm kidding?" Mary's voice rose higher. Anger flashed across her features.
"I'm sure I would have heard by now if, my..my Brandi was dead." Jinx rose off the couch and began pacing the floor.
Mary's face was one of pure shock. She got herself off the couch, and walked over towards her mother. I expected her to slap Jinx, or do something of that nature. Yet instead, she placed hands on her mother's shoulders.
"Mom, I'm so sorry they didn't tell you. It was a bad car accident, Brandi and Peter fell into a lake. Doc said that they would have died upon impact, so they weren't in much pain." Her voice was soft and comforting, voice I had never heard her use in the 8 years I have worked with her. Especially not towards one of the members of her dysfunctional family.
"My baby." Jinx whispered softly. "My baby!" She cried outwardly, her voice muffled by her hands over her face. Mary brought her mother into her chest. Two women clung to one another for dear life, mourning the loss of those so dear to them. My heart cracked inside my chest as I watch quietly as their lives crashed down around them.
{}IN PLAIN SIGHT{}
Alright, I am so sorry I didn't get this to you sooner, I had so much going on last week! So tell me what you think, and don't hesitate to PM message me with complaints or anything else you got!
xoxo Neille!
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