The third chapter at last. I've been fresh out of ideas up till now, but when I start a story I aim to finish it. (all though most seem to never be finished.) XD
Please read and review! I like hearing from you guys! No flames. Constructive criticism, positive feedback, nice comments all welcome here. I hope it's up to par. I worked hard on it, but I'm always afraid of OOCness.
The following day at the office is a Friday, meaning she and Marshall will have off at least for Saturday, as long as nothing happens. The last day of house hunting with Andy… Mary practically throws the files down onto her desk, making a loud clapping sound. Sitting, she has Eleanor, Marshall and Stan looking her way.
Her eyes narrow, scrunching up her nose a little. "What?"
Both Stan and Marshall turn away and back to whatever they had been doing while Eleanor continues to glance at her for a moment before turning away toward the file cabinet she had been rummaging through.
"Maybe we're all just wondering what's wrong with Her Highness today."
Mary grins sarcastically at the woman. "You ever stop to think that you're what's bothering me?"
Eleanor turns and gives her a grin of her own. "Why not? You've got something new bothering you every single day of the week."
Mary tilts her head. "Yeah, but lately it's only been you. Doesn't it feel good?" They stare coldly at one another for a moment before Eleanor has finally had enough. She turns away.
"I'm getting some coffee. Does anyone want anything?" Shaking his head, Marshall politely declines. Mary doesn't reply so Eleanor takes that to be a no and turns to Stan.
He nods. "Make mine a triple, extra foam."
Later that day, Mary, Marshall and Andy all hop out of the black SUV, looking up at the third house of the day. A ranch style home with a detached, two-car garage and conjoined two-bedroom apartment. They walk around the back of the house where there is a fenced in pool and back yard patio.
"Okay," Marshall says, looking through the papers in the clipboard he holds. "The Realtor, Barbara, should be here any minute. She'll take you on the house tour to see what it's got to offer."
Mary smiles. "Have fun Andy."
He nods, giving her a huge smile. "I think this is the house all ready."
Mary nods. "I hope you can still say the same after you ask what the price is."
Both heads turn toward her, Marshall's eyes widening a bit. It's like she wants this house hunt to go on for the next ten years. Oh wait, if they have extra work to do every single day then she won't have to go home until later in the evening. This fact, of course, only can lead him to believe that she and her sister are still arguing and that Mary is trying to avoid dealing with it for a while. He can't blame her for wanting to get out of the house. He also knows that she's prompt when she wants to be. When the time comes, Mary will deal with whatever is bothering her all on her own, in her own time. She doesn't need his help for that. However, none of this keeps him from being concerned about her.
Both Marshals return to the car, Mary hopping in the passenger side door and Marshall taking the driver's side. He turns the key forward, turning on the heat and radio, but leaving the engine itself off.
Marshall obviously was changing the stations again, it's in the oldies. She grins to herself, remembering the night before last. What do you know, for a know-it-all, he did something without thinking and was helpful. She looks over at Marshall, who is currently staring out the window at something invisible. His eyes flick to the curious woman beside him but then move right back to looking out the window. He doesn't turn his head or make a face or even ask what she wants. Odd, usually he's the first to want to know things. She quietly studies him for a moment, noticing each time he turns his head to look out her window at some other thing only her can see or makes a move, purposely avoiding eye contact.
"Marshall?" Mary questions.
His eyebrows go up, but he simply continues to look out of the windshield. Getting annoyed, her head tilts to one side.
"What the hell are you doing?"
He shrugs. "Nothing, why?"
"Don't tell me you're weird about me staying over at your house!"
His shoulders raise a bit as he shakes his head from side to side. She knows this as a trademark of his, a sort of silent language that only they speak. She knows that he's trying his best to lie, but is also snapping under the pressure and is obvious about the lie. So he is weird about it then! She rolls her eyes, her head rolling dramatically from one of her shoulders to the other. "Marshall, for god's sake, we're not teenagers!"
"It isn't about that!" He finally defends, catching her off guard. Her eyes snap to his, his gaze finally meeting hers. "Don't worry about that."
Mary narrows her eyes a bit, smiling in a confused manner over at him. But, just at the moment he is about to make his reply, the back door swings open and Andy jumps in excitedly. "Good news, no more house hunting! This is the one. It'll be perfect for my family to grow in! I'm placing an offer."
Turning over her shoulder, Mary grins at the man. "That's just fantastic Andy!" Something seems off about Mary here, but he lets it go this time, and just pretends not to notice.
Marshall's shoulders fall dejectedly as he reaches out and starts the car, pulling out of the driveway and heading off to drop him off at his current home. He doesn't have much reason to be disappointed because later, if Mary still wants to know, she'll just ask until she gets an answer.
As soon as they are at the office, Mary's phone begins to ring. She looks at the caller ID this time before promptly shutting it off and stuffing it into the nearest drawer that it'll fit in. Marshall watches quietly, afraid, as of yet, to say anything. But, after another few moments where nothing is said, Marshall takes this as an opportunity to offer an assist. "Hey."
She lifts her head. When they look at each other, they both know what the other is thinking. There is no need to do anything more than nod decidedly at one another.
When they get off work Mary hands Marshall her cell phone. "I'm going to pretend like the battery is dead, don't you dare turn it back on."
Getting into his car, he reaches across the gear shift to the glove compartment, dropping it inside. She looks at him. He grins back at her. "Consider it dead."
"So," Mary begins. He knew that it would come all day long and now here she is, asking. "What was that episode in the car all about today?"
Her eyes follow his movements, looking a bit uncomfortable under her gaze. It'll be a long while before he'll admit that he is feeling like their relationship has changed. It does change every single day, but this kind of change is definitely different from anything else.
"You haven't sorted out this problem you have with your sister, have you?"
Mary shakes her head. "Not until she admits that she's wrong and I'm right."
Marshall chuckles at the woman. It is natural to fight with your sibling, and watching Mary act like a teenager arguing with her sister over god knows what is a little amusing. "You should at least give her a chance."
"Yeah well," Mumbles Mary. "We'll see about that. I'm not gonna give her a mother of the year award just because she decides she's going to press the pause button on drinking for a little while."
Marshall rolls his eyes. "Nobody's asking you to give her an award Mare, just an opportunity."
Mary sits back in her seat, then hits the button to recline it. "She's had plenty of those and she blows them all off as far as I'm concerned. Let me know when you're going to start saying something useful."
He finally just gives it up. She's not going to just agree with him, especially not about something that will affect her in the long run. If Mary doesn't give Jinx a fair shake and let her try to prove she can kick the habit, as it were, then it would mess up their relationship even more. However, if Mary should give Jinx a chance she does go back to drinking again, then it hurts Mary and also hurts their relationship. So, no matter what way you look at it, it has the potential to be a lose-lose situation for all parties involved. Then it's probably best to just let Mary deal with this in whatever way she sees fit. She's going to do whatever the hell she wants anyway, regardless of advice he gives or any arguments he makes.
When they get to his home, Mary goes in first, heading straight to the kitchen to find something to eat. "Damn house hunting. I've only had a cheeseburger all day."
Marshall moves into the kitchen behind her. "Feel free to help yourself to something in the kitchen."
Turning and glancing at the man, she smirks playfully. "Thanks, I think I'll do that."
Not finding anything after searching for a few more minutes, Mary turns to Marshall, who is all ready on the phone with a pizza place. "No thank you. Just one large pepperoni pizza, light on the sauce with extra cheese. Yes, delivery is fine. Twenty to thirty minutes? Sounds good., thank you." He hangs up and Mary just looks at him in wonder.
How does he just know these things? She had been about to ask him if it was okay to get a pizza. "How the hell do you do that?"
He shrugs, pursing his lip innocently. "Do what? I just ordered some food. I haven't gone for any groceries yet."
Her hand goes to her hip. "I wanted pizza. I was about to ask you to get some...Jesus Marshall, you're so good at that it's..."
He cuts her off, smirking. "Annoying?"
Still marveling at the fact that he could just somehow know that, she simply shakes her head. "Whatever and yes, it's really annoying."
He grins. "Now, how'd I know you were gonna say that?"
he nods her head, her eyes becoming serious again. "Can it smart-ass."
He sighs. "And here I thought you wanted me to answer that question."
They both pile onto the couch, Mary sprawling out with her feet resting over his knees and Marshall leaning back into the couch with his head in his hands. She flicks through a few channels until finally stopping at HGTV, where they are show this home called a "green home." The room is otherwise silent, neither partner saying anything. After a while, Marshall glances at his watch.
Mary groans. "It has to have been thirty minutes by now! If it's not here in the next thirty seconds, I'll beat the shit out of the delivery guy."
Her partner shows her his watch. "It's only been twenty five minutes. It should be here..."
At the same moment the last word is about to fall from his lips, there comes a knock on the door. Both of them look over toward it and then he turns back to Mary, smiling. "Right now." Her head is shaking. How in the hell is it that he's right all the time?
After they are finished with the pizza, Mary is beginning to look tired. She yawns before Marshall says anything to her. "You're getting tired? Did you wanna call it a night?"
But she shakes her head at him. "You know what? I just feel like watching a movie."
He looks over at her. "What movie?"
Her head rests on the arm rest of the couch. "I don't care, if you know what movies I'm not going to let you put in without kicking your ass."
Making a face, he nods and gets up off the sofa, heading over to the T.V. and picking up Back to the Future on instinct.
She clears her throat. "You put that movie in and I'll personally make sure it never plays again."
He looks down at the movie in his hand, realizes what it is and then places it onto the shelf.
Let's see... He muses to himself. Something that we're both going to watch. Suddenly he remembers a movie he has from when they had been moving Leo Bishop. It didn't seem like the type of movie he'd have watched, but Marshall does have a few movies just for when he and Mary have to bring witnesses through his home just for a couple hours before they're relocated. This is the only current one. Finding Nemo. Oh well, it's the only thing that neither of them have watched before now. And who doesn't like a good Disney movie every once in a while, right?
He puts the DVD in the player and then fast forward through the previews. Sitting back on the couch, he watches Mary looking at the screen. "Really Marshall? Shark Tale?"
He shrugs, looking like a child that has been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He attempts defending himself. "It's just something I have to entertain our...younger witnesses. And it's not Shark Tale, it's Finding Nemo."
"If that's what blows your skirt up." She comments in return.
Her eyes are on the screen. "Well," He observes. "What about you? You're watching it."
She looks over at him, her eyes narrowing a bit. "And you aren't? Don't turn this around on me, it's in your living room. Of course I'm watching it, you put it in so we could watch it."
He chuckles. "So you're saying that if I had put in Back to the Future you would have watched that?"
The Marshal shakes her head at him. "That's a different story. I don't have to defend myself when you're the one who has the movie."
He sighs, defeated. "So just shut up and watch the damn movie."
Finishing what seems to be about the tenth witty banter of the day, they settle into the couch. Finding Nemo plays the whole way through, Mary having fallen asleep by about half way. Marshall turns off the player and tries to head to his room, but is stopped when Mary grabs his arm. Startled, he jumps a bit.
"Thought you were asleep…" He says.
She shakes her head, but is silent which makes him wonder if she is all right.
"You've been a little weird today. You all right?" He takes his place beside her again.
"I wish that I could just stay here. I really don't want to go back to my house and listen to what Brandi thinks she knows about mom and mom's begging for forgiveness and crying."
He sighs. "Did you ever think of just telling her you forgive her? It might actually help, you know."
When her eyes meet his, he knows that it is not the time for more bantering. Now it's time to be serious. He gives a heavy sigh, moving in a little more, without touching her. Saying that everything will be okay right now will only make matters worse. She doesn't need to hear that from anyone right now, most of all, himself. He knows because if the situation were reversed, he wouldn't want to hear it either.
"Look, Mare, this may be a biased best friend offering useless advice, but, I think you should forgive her."
Her eyes dart quickly from the floor to her partner's eyes, astounded. How could he take their side? How could Marshall not just sit back and quietly be comforting like he always does? Why does he have to ruin it now? "I don't believe this. You're gonna side with them? Who the hell is you partner again?"
His eyes close out of frustration. "No Mare, I'm not taking anyone's side. It's just how I feel."
Her eyes widen a bit and she gives a dry laugh. "Well, it sure sounds like you're taking their side."
He shakes his head, but she doesn't let him speak.
"God Marshall," Mary begins. "Why are you siding with Brandi? I thought we were best friends..."
He lowers his head. She's acting like an irrational little child. They both know that he is her best friend and that he'll do anything to make her happy. But, sometimes even he has to tell her things that she doesn't want to hear. "Mare it's-"
"And I know that mom's never going to stop drinking and I know that Brandi is always going to side with her no matter what."
Marshall reaches out and places a hand on her arm, but she doesn't seem to notice yet. He feels her shaking slightly but doesn't know if it's from stress or if she's just that angry.
Feeling extremely bad for making her so upset, he turns to face the T.V. again. Right now what Mary needs is a friend and though he'd really like her to resolve this situation, he can't be telling her what to do. First off, he'll only make her mad and he should have known that to begin with. Secondly, she's not going to do anything just because someone says so. She needs to have her own reason.
"And I'm always going to be playing the Mediator, fixing everyone's screw ups!"
Marshall pats her arm a couple of times. "Listen-"
But she isn't. "But I'm the most messed up out of any one in my house!"
Feeling a pang, as if he was being insulted himself, Marshall prepares to argue with her. "That's not true."
She's all ready nodding at him. "Yes it is! I can barely put up with my family," She begins counting out things on her fingers. "I can't make any relationship stick. My only semi-functional relationship exists in my work place, without which I could no longer survive. I don't know my father. And these dreams, god these dreams...if they don't stop, I don't know what I'll do!"
His eyes widen a bit, following her every movement carefully. "Dreams?"
Looking irritated, she nods. "Yeah, dreams. Haven't you been listening to my senseless spiel?"
He feels his throat tighten up. "What kind of dreams?"
She looks down at the couch and then back at him. "You know what kind."
He feels his chest tighten a bit. He had hoped that in the last couple of days these dreams had stopped. But now, knowing that they have been recurring is upsetting him. Those bastards, first they kidnap her and now because of them she's been having these kidnap dreams as well. As if Mary hasn't been put through enough as it is. She is his Mary, his partner, his best friend. He may feel like he's always tending to some exotic animal but he wouldn't trade it for the world. On most days.
Everyone reaches a point where they just break in any situation, whether it be big, or small. There comes a point where you can no longer handle the information coming at you, where you just can't control yourself anymore. Marshall has passed this point all ready. He can't stand seeing her just break down completely like this. He couldn't stand it the first few times he had to watch it after rescuing her from that smelly, horrific and vaguely disgusting basement.
So, he does the one thing he's wanted to do all this time. Grabbing her face, he leans in and places his mouth over hers. Now, his better judgment is all ready telling him that this is completely the wrong thing to do if he wants to help her, but the rest of him, the part that's wanted this for so long, couldn't care in the least.
It only takes seconds for her to realize what is going on and another few for her to react. For just a few split seconds he could swear she's returning his kiss. And then realization must hit her right now because she seems hell bent on getting away from him. She's trying her best to pry herself out of his arms -now wrapped around her shoulders tightly- and push him away.
"Marshall-" Her voice wavers. "Marshall...what the hell are you doing?"
He looks at her, knowing very well that the mistake he just made could cost him not only his partner, but his best friend.
So...now what?
Just so my readers know, this is definitely not the last chapter. It didn't really end the way I wanted it too, so only one more, I promise. I just couldn't make up my mind till now, but this time I'm sure. The forth chapter is the last one. It's not this chapter.