A/N: I do not own In Plain Sight I am just borrowing them for my own enjoyment. Thank you for alerts and reviews.
Embracing the Messy
Stan left Marshall alone for a bit, knowing full well he wouldn't be alright until they received word on Mary. Stan sent Bobby out of there to get cleaned up and check on the scene.
"Should we call Mary's mom and sister?" Eleanor asked Stan but Marshall heard her.
"No." Marshall responded to her and they both looked at him surprised. "She made me promise, if this happened again to not call them." Marshall smiled slightly. "She said...they would make her not want to wake up."
"With her family, I can't blame her." Stan muttered running a hand over his face. "I am going to see if I can get us an update." As Stan walked away, Eleanor got up and moved over next to Marshall.
"You realize, that Mary is far too stubborn to go anywhere." Eleanor looked at him with a smirk, knowing he needed the distraction.
"True." He looked at her and smiled slightly. "When does her luck wear out? I mean she has had far to many close calls...the last two years between the kidnap incident, the shooting last year...eventually her luck will run out."
"Ah...yes, but one thing you are not taking into account." Marshall looked at Eleanor perplexed. "You are her partner, and you will never let anything happen to her." Marshall looked like he was about to argue with her, so she pushed on. "You know her, you found her when she was taken by that Spanky character. You stayed by her side in the hospital, after the shooting more then her family and talked her back." Marshall jaw clenched and his eyes filled again. "She saved you today, and she wouldn't have it any other way. She worries about you just as much as you do her." His throat was tight and he just nodded unable to say anything. "Here's Stan."
"Didn't get much, she is still in surgery. The bullet fragmented and they are trying to ensure they got it all. There is a risk..."
"If the fragment gets in the bloodstream, it can cause a tear in her heart, causing her to bleed out quickly." Marshalls tone was detached, as he absorbed the implication.
"That was all I was able to get from a nurse. She said Doctor would be out as soon as they finish up." Stan sat down beside Eleanor and Marshall, they all sat silently waiting.
INPLAINSIGHT INPLAINSIGHT INPLAINSIGHT
Bobby had showered, changed and was back at the courthouse. They found one other shooter, who was on the same floor as the trial, trying to exit after the lockdown. He was currently being held in a cell downstairs, typically where they held defendants. The trial was in recess, giving the prosecution time to assess, if the defendant was involved in the attempted murder of the primary witness. Bobby stood outside the holding cell staring at the captive hit man.
"Who ordered the hit?" Bobby's voice took on a menacing tone. "You actually didn't take part in the action today, so I am sure we can work a very good deal." The perps eyes met Bobby's thinking. "I want to know who gave the order. You give us that and I will work out a deal with no jail time. We can put you into witness protection somewhere nice. You would testify immediately and then you would vanish..."
"Alright, you get that in writing...and I will tell you everything." Bobby nodded and stepped away to call Stan.
"Stan...yeah got another potential shooter, who is willing to talk...I told him witsec no jail time...really...alright he wants it in writing...good...thanks." Bobby hung up and felt relief that he didn't overstep any boundaries. He walked back in to the perp. "You got it, will have paperwork here in a few. Who is it?"
"Monetti." The perps voice held fear and he should, he just pointed out the head of the Nevada Mob.
"Alright, sit tight. My guys are at the door to protect you, I am going to talk to the judge to get this moving, get you out of here quick." Bobby left and went to the prosecutor and the judge on the Monetti trial. "We have one of the perps in custody. He confessed that Monetti ordered the hit. We need to get him to testify quick and get him out of here for his safety."
"Agreed." The judge looked to the prosecution attorney. "I will notify defense that we have evidence for witness intimidation. We will hear that testimony tomorrow. Good job Detective." The prosecutor nodded and shook Bobby's hand. Bobby and McNair took the perp to the Witsec holding to ensure his safety. Stan and Eleanor met Bobby there to process the paperwork leaving Marshall at the hospital still awaiting word on Mary.
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"Family of Mary Shannon?" A doctor in scrubs came out, eyes searching the room.
"Yes." Marshall walked over to him anxious.
"She is stable. She is in recovery now and will be moved to ICU in an hour or so. The bullet passed between the fifth and sixth rib, puncturing the lung. The bullet fragmented upon entry and we believe we have recovered all of it."
"There is still a risk of fragments?" Marshall was trying to remain calm.
"Yes, but we believe it is highly unlikely. Before moving her to ICU, we are going to do another round of x-rays to ensure we didn't miss anything. We were able to repair the lung, although she did suffer significant blood loss." The doctor paused allowing Marshall to absorb everything. "I reviewed her file, I see she suffered a rather significant trauma less then a year ago." Marshall just nodded. "We need to monitor her closely. The brain and body can only take so much damage. We need to evaluate her when she wakes up."
"Are you saying she could have brain damage?" Marshall's voice cracked.
"No, but it is not unheard of for patients with this much trauma...to slip into a coma." Marshall's eyes widened. "However, it does not mean if she does it would be permanent, but it is the body's way of focusing energy to repair itself. I do not want to alarm you, I just want you to be fully informed, as you are listed as her proxy." Marshall felt a jolt at the shock of that. He had no idea. 'Her proxy...when?'
"Can I see her?" Marshall looked at the Doctor hoping for mercy, there was no way he would be able to wait a few hours to see her.
"Of course, follow me." Marshall followed the doctor into ironically, the same area Mary was in, post her last shooting. It was complete deja vu. "If she wakes up before we move her, just press the call button." Marshall's eyes were drawn to her, she was pale, her hair fanned out on the pillow beneath her head. The room was a stark, sterile white, with only the beeping of the monitors. He pulled a chair over and sat beside her bed, pulling her hand in his. Her hand was cold, he knew it was due to the blood loss but it shook him.
"Hey Mare, you really know how to scare me. We really have to stop doing this." He brought her hand up to his lips, chocking back a sob. His heart clenched, he really didn't know how he would survive without her. He needed to shake this panic and talk her back to him. He took a deep breath and steadied himself. "Bobby gave me your message, you love messy...glad to hear it. I really want messy with you, Mare and if you were awake right now, you would be rolling your eyes at me I am sure." He smiled, his eyes locked on her face. "So...asking me on vacation with you, have you thought of where we should go? I am thinking we should go somewhere tropical and extremely hard to drag us back here. No family, no offense, but your sister and mother are a handful." Her monitor sped up. He smiled. "Hey now, don't worry. I kept my promise, didnt call them. They don't know you are here." Instantly her monitor slowed again. "That's my girl, relax. I got your back. Actually, I just realized I never called Stan." He flipped out his phone and dialed Stan's cell. "Stan, she is out of surgery...sitting with her in recovery now...no not awake yet...should be in ICU soon...see you then." He closed the phone, tucking it back in his pocket. "All better, no papa Stan to yell at us." He laughed softly. "I would feel a hell of a lot better, if you would open those eyes for me."
Marshall didn't get to say anything else, as two hours had passed and the staff was taking her to x-ray. A nurse was kind enough to take him to her room in ICU, so he could wait there for her. He sat there praying to every saint her knew that she was clear and they got everything. After an hour of waiting, he saw them rolling Mary into the room with him.
"X-Ray was clear." The nurse stated to Marshall with a smile. "Call us if she wakes up."
"Thank you." Marshall sat back down beside her, holding her hand, waiting for her to awaken. "New room with a big glass wall for all to see, your favorite, let me just pull the curtain a bit. There a wee bit of privacy. Yes, I just said wee." He smiled. "I love that I can have a full conversation with you, knowing exactly how you will react at times. This is going to sound completely sappy and if you were awake you would hit me or call me a girl...but Mare you have to realize, you are the single most important person in my life. My other half, the angry half but other none the less." Marshall decided he needed to stop rambling at her. "I am going to sit here with you till you wake up, and even then you can't get rid of me." He absentmindedly sat there, one hand fingers entwined with hers, and the other lightly caressing her arm. Stan and Bobby came by, updating him on the new witness. Marshall never moved from his place beside her.
"Mmm..." All three sets of eyes snapped to Mary, as they heard her.
"Mare?" Marshall's voice was hopeful, although a part of him wishing they were alone.
"Marshall..." Her eyes fluttered opened and then closed from the brightness in the room.
"Yeah, hey welcome back." Marshall grinned. Stan went out to alert the nurse. Bobby stood at the foot of the bed, relieved to know she was alright.
"You ok?" Her first concern, albeit groggy and her eyes still unfocused.
"Yeah, thanks to you." Marshall felt guilty and could be heard in his voice.
"Bobby ok?" Mary slurred.
"Yeah girl, I am here in one piece. You scared me." Bobby answered, so she knew he really was alright. By then Stan was back in the room.
"Mary, you are going to put me in a grave early, worrying about you." Stan looked horrible and he knew it.
"Sorry..." Marshall and Stan looked at her concerned, as that is a word she rarely used.
"It's alright, just rest." Stan felt a wave of relief that she was awake and speaking already. He shuddered at the thought of how long she was unconscious last time.
"Stan?" Mary's voice was a whisper, as her body pushed for more sleep.
"I'm here." Stan felt such a fatherly pull toward this woman.
"You should make Bobby a Marshal...did good..." The three men barely made out the words, but it was heard. Marshall and Stan smiled, looking at a very shocked Bobby.
"Enjoy it." Marshall chimed in before Stan. "She does not give compliments easy, and in the years I have been with her, she has never recommended anyone to join us."
"Which means you and I should talk...Detective?" Stan purposely stared directly at Bobby to indicate how serious he was. "Let's leave them be." Bobby looked floored, but followed Stan out with a small nod from Marshall. The doctor came in immediately upon their departure.
"Awake already?" Marshall nodded. "That's good. Miss Shannon?"
"Hmm..." Mary mumbled, but responded.
"Can you open your eyes fully for me?" Mary was annoyed, she really just wanted to sleep but she begrudgingly opened them. "Good...In any pain at moment?"
"Not bad, just tired." Mary was somewhat coherent now.
"To be expected. You are a very lucky woman." The doctor wrote down some notes. "I will be back to check on you later." The doctor left, giving Marshall a comforting smile.
"Marshall?" Mary's eyes were closed again, but she was half awake.
"I'm still here. Not going anywhere, just rest." He smiled, giving her hand a slight squeeze to reassure her.
"Good...that's good." Mary started to drift off again.
"Never leaving you, Mare." Marshall stood up and placed a kiss on her forehead. Mary smiled slightly, before completely succumbing to sleep.