A/N: I just can't quit writing this story. It's got its teeth into me. Here's another dose. The music this time is more recent.

Don't you think I want to

Don't you think I would

Don't you think I'd tell you baby

If I only could

Am I acting crazy

Am I just too proud

Am I just plain lazy

Am I, Am I, Am I, ever

'Cause I'm jealous, jealous again

Thought it time I let you in

Yeah, I'm jealous, jealous again

Got no time, baby

Stop, understand me

I ain't afraid of losing face

Stop, understand me

I ain't afraid of ever losing faith in you

~ "Jealous Again" Black Crowes

They were in their own private little world until they became aware of the hoots and catcalls of the crowd around them. They broke slightly apart, each still tasting the other, breath coming just a little too fast, eyes locked and searching, silent communication passing between them. Marshall, in a gesture that unlocked a whole flood of memories for her, brushed his hand gently across Mary's cheek and tucked her hair behind her ear. She turned her face into the caress ever so slightly. He slid his hand down to hers, linked his fingers together with hers, and they turned to face the appreciative party guests around them. Maribel and Ruben were among those who were cheering and clapping, and neither Mary nor Marshall missed the enthusiasm they used.

---

The party ended, and everyone eventually drifted away to their lodgings. Many of the guests for the wedding, Mary, Marshall, and their two witnesses included, were staying in the town's only little hotel, a quaint well-kept building within walking distance from where the rehearsal dinner had been held. Mary went on to the room while Marshall finished checking in with Maribel and Ruben for the night. He was gone a long time.

His absence gave Mary time to think about the events of the evening, about the scheming girl and her presumptions, about the feel of Marshall's strong, good body in her arms, of his responsive, hungry lips moving against hers again, of that desperate, slightly wild little noise he'd made deep in the back of his throat when he'd begun to kiss her back.... Worse still, there was that look that had been in his eyes when they'd pulled away from each other. It was exactly the same light she'd seen the day they'd thrown her that stupid surprise party in the office and he'd lifted that glass of champagne and said....

She threw the pair of pajamas she'd pulled out her bag on the bed with a curse and began to pace. She was confused, frustrated, and trying to deny something she was uncomfortable with, and so of course, she was turning to her old standby, anger. She'd always found, after all, that the best defense for everything in life was a good offense....

By the time Marshall opened the door carrying a bag, she was ready for him.

"You took your sweet time. I was beginning to wonder if I was going to have to go out and start checking under bridesmaids for you." Her tone was acidic, ready to attack given the slightest provocation. Knowing Mary, that provocation could come from ill-considered gesture or word. He'd unknowingly walked into a minefield filled with unmarked claymores....

He looked up at her in surprise, quickly assessing her mood and trying to determine the cause of the oncoming storm he saw in her body language in and the hot gold of her eyes. This was not the same woman he'd walked back to the hotel with, arm in arm, softly chatting. He'd been looking forward to a peaceful evening of talk with her, of a continuation of that feeling of connectedness they'd had leaving the rehearsal dinner. Part of his foolish heart, a very small, hopelessly romantic part he was doing his very best to beat down and ignore, might even have been said to have been wishing for more.... Now, though, all that faded away in light of the savage mood he saw displayed in every line and angle of his partner.

"Well...I just got done talking to Mari and Ruben...and they loaded me up with some stuff to bring back....so....it took a little while. I guess I wasn't aware I was on a set schedule." He walked across the room and put the bag down, deciding to ignore the dig about Alessandra. Perhaps she could be placated with food.... He dug in the bag, taking out two bottles of beer and two large chunks of the chocolate cake from the dinner that Mari had wrapped in foil for them.

"I do come bearing gifts, so maybe I can be forgiven for my tardiness?" He held out the bottle of beer to her, eyebrow raised.

She crossed the room and snagged the beer from his hand, scowl still on her face as she inspected the cake. "Chocolate probably saved your ass. You know that, right?"

He grinned slightly. "It's been known to work before." He sat down at the table, opened his own beer and watched her as she settled across from him, began to eat the richly-frosted cake with the plastic fork Mari had stuck in the bag.

I should probably leave this alone, but... "Want to talk about what got you so worked up while I was gone?"

She stabbed her fork into the cake, ate another mouthful, shook her head, before she responded. "See, that's the problem with you. You won't just let the chocolate do its job."

He smiled, took a sip. "Maybe I like living dangerously."

"Well, clearly," she said laughing just a little, leaning back in her chair and studying him with eyes that were still glittering. "We've been seeing that all night, haven't we?"

Marshall felt his own carefully-controlled temper flare, and he was unable to let this swipe pass. I didn't do anything wrong tonight, except maybe.... "Mare, what's with you? I haven't done anything tonight worthy of you slapping at me, so quit it, alright? I know you're not happy with this assignment, but there's not a whole lot I can do about it just now. It's not exactly a pleasure cruise for me either, okay? I know it's hard, but..."

"Oh, well, yeah. I saw you suffering for the job tonight. Must be pure hell to have teenage bimbos falling out of their dresses on you and trying to give you hand jobs."

What the hell? If I didn't know better, I'd say she's.... But that's ridiculous. Isn't it? And anyway, I'm tired of this. I'm not putting up with it for another twenty-four.

"She was twenty-two" I think "and I didn't do anything to provoke any of that." Marshall knew his voice was rising, but he didn't seem to be able to stop himself.

Mary leaned across the table. "Notice you weren't doing that much to stop it, though, were you? Just one of the unwritten little perks of the job, eh, Marshall?" Her voice was laced with innuendo.

He shoved away from the table and walked away to the window. Marshall always kept a careful leash on his temper. It was just as hot as Mary's when it was finally fully-roused. It just took far more to get him going since he didn't see everything in life as a challenge or insult. He was going now, though.... He was silent in his fury for a minute before he spun back to her, her slightly gloating expression just ramping up his anger. "You...she...I....you know that's not what happened.... you know I'm not that way..."

Mary stalked over to him, poking him in the chest with a single finger. "All I know is what I saw, Marshall, and that infant was wrapped around you like a two-dollar hooker."

Marshall turned to look out the window, laid his hands on the hotel's industrial draperies and struggled for control. "Even if that were the case, which it most emphatically is not, I fail to see why it's any business of yours."

Mary bared her teeth. "Jesus Christ, Marshall! It's my business because we're on a case here and our cover is that we're supposed to be a married couple! You're going to put Mari and Ruben in danger just to get your hands on some tight, firm young ass?"

Marshall turned his head back to her sharply, eyes wide as if he'd been physically struck. She would question his dedication? His honor and his commitment to the job? "You just can't let it go, can you? Alright, Mare, I have a question for you then. Maybe you need to ask yourself what it is exactly about Alessandra that offends you so much...."

"I think I already made that clear..."

"....that she might have made somebody look at this little charade we have going here and ask questions..."

"Exactly. What the hell have I been trying to say?!"

"...or that she made you do the same."

Mary simply froze. Her voice when it came out was ice. "What the living fuck are you talking about? You better be really clear and you better be really quick when you explain, or I'm not going to be responsible for how many pieces housekeeping finds you in." Her eyes were wild, frantic as they locked on his.

"You want an explanation? Fine. You're not mad because I somehow theoretically threatened to expose the witnesses. You're pissed because for five seconds somebody else was playing with what you consider to be your personal toy."

"Have you just lost your entire mind? You're saying you think I'm....jealous?" She spat the word out like it was the worst obscenity ever conceived. She got right up in his face to deliver this. He could feel her breath against his face, and his detail-oriented mind duly processed the smell the chocolate on it.

"I'm saying that's exactly how you're acting. I'm saying you keep bringing up Alessandra over and over again when you know...."

"....Oh, good God, Alessandra," she mimicked.

….. you know, I didn't initiate that encounter and that...."

"Yeah, but you weren't exactly shoving her away, were you? Just how far would you have gone if I hadn't shown up, Marshall? She already almost had her hand down your pants...."

"...I would have handled it. I can handle some things, you know."

"Sure you can. I'm sure you both would have enjoyed it, too."

He shot his hand through his hair in frustration and turned away from her. He grabbed the bottle of beer from the table and walked toward the door. He laid his hand on the knob but he did not turn. When he spoke again, his voice was quiet.

"Mare, I'm not fighting with you about this anymore. It's going nowhere. You're not mad about the girl herself as a person. You're not mad about some crap about what the girl made me feel. She didn't make me feel a damn thing, and if you'll be honest with yourself for even five minutes, you know that.. You're not mad at me because I somehow betrayed Mari and Ruben with that girl. You're mad about what the girl made you feel." He raised his hands to forestall the angry retort that he knew was coming. He glanced back over his shoulder. He looked exhausted. "I'm done. I'm going out for awhile. I'll...be back." And he left.