This is chapter four at last! The chapter for "Duplicate Bridge" just as I promised. Warning! Marshall is kinda down in this chapter, so if you don't like to see him sad (hehehehe) well, I'm just gonna let you know that. But, Mary is there for him. It's kinda OOC, or at least I thought so, but it's good and I enjoyed writing it. I'm not gonna ask for reviews this time, because I'm getting into writing these! So please, just enjoy them as much as I do. Thanks for all the reviews and comments that I've all ready got, you guys are really helping me to become a better writer! You guys rock! In the past I know that my stories have been a bit confusing to read only because I would put all the dialogue in a single paragraph. I've been trying to separate the dialogue in these last few one-shots, so please let me know if I am doing any better with that! This fic is short and to the point. Mary's going to comfort Marshall in this one, just cause the other three chapters have all been the other way around and I wanted to try something new!

I'll Be Your Friend, I'll Help you Carry On

Marshall looks over at his partner as he hangs up his cell phone. Mary returns his glance. "Thanks," She considers her next words for a moment. His eyes are back on the road. "You're a good friend."

Something in his expression changes in that moment. It becomes darker or something. A difference that Mary can see visibly but cannot describe. Though she is tired from having been up for going on about two days straight now, she sits up.

"Marshall?" She questions carefully, her eyes taking on a questioning glint. He raises his eyes brows, but doesn't say anything, which tells her that he doesn't trust his voice enough to speak. So, that means that he is upset. And, him being upset right now means that he has lied to her. He isn't fine. No one is fine after they loose a witness, let alone, have it be a witness that you are friends with. Poor Marshall. I should have known.

"Hey, you lied, didn't you?" She asks him softly, trying to be as gentle as she can. She knows that the loss of one's witness is a very touch and go subject and should be avoided in conversation if possible. However, this is one of the times that it is impossible to ignore the situation.

Marshall's expression becomes one of confusion as he shifts his hands to the ten and two positions on the steering wheel. "I'm sorry, what have you misinterpreted this time?" She just stares.

"I wouldn't think I'd be up for puns after what just happened. Come on Marshall, tell me the truth." Glancing over at his partner and then at the digital clock on the console, he pulls the car off to the side of the road, puts it in park and shuts it off all together. She watches him for a moment, unsure of the emotions that are playing on his face.

Marshall however, is in turmoil. He is caught somewhere between feeling extremely guilty and knowing that no matter what he would have tried, nothing would have changed his friend's mind. He knows that the right thing to do would have been to stay with Norman and make sure that he got off the bridge safely. But Norman wouldn't have listened. It would have been useless to get blown up. Marshall knows his witness.

"I just…right now…at this moment…I don't really know what 'the truth' is."

She looks at him, her hand moving up and touching his arm in a comforting way. "Hey, you said yourself that there's nothing that you could have done. Don't sit here and regret it now because there's no changing it…"

"I know that." He states shakily and Mary just stares, her normally tough partner so defenseless. "I understand that I couldn't have done anything to change his mind. I know that Norman would never have listened to me, even going out on that bridge. Still, after something happens to a friend, most especially in cases such as this…it's difficult. No matter how much you tell yourself that you couldn't have done anything…"

Mary finally disrupts the rant, having been too stunned by the words falling from his lips to say anything up until now. "You still…as many times as you tell yourself that it wasn't your fault…you still feel like you've failed." When Mary finishes for him, Marshall looks back over at her, tears welling up in his eyes.

Mary allows her head to fall to one side, worried for her friend. "Oh…Marshall…holy crap, don't cry…" She places one hand on each side of his face. His emotional blue eyes meet with hers. They both know that he can't hold it back any longer as the tears begin to run down over his face. He doesn't make a sound, just cries, silently.

For Mary to be watching Marshall cry- Marshall, who is careful not to let others see what he is feeling –it's just about breaking the pieces of her heart that are still left.

Mary moves over, placing a small kiss on his cheek and he just falls into her, allowing himself to take comfort in her arms.

"Hey Marshall?" She asks when he finally collects himself and moves away.

"Yeah?" Her partner questions as his voice breaks slightly. She grins at him.

"You own me $15.90 for a new shirt," When she's finished talking he just makes a face at her.

"Thanks for allowing me to cry on your shirt so that I am now obligated to give you money…yet again."

Mary nods at him. "Damn straight." Composing himself, Marshall turns the car back on, looking out behind him before pulling onto the road.

"Anyway, even if I owe you money now…thanks for being a friend."

She smiles. "I'll always be your friend Marshall."

Well, there you have it. A sweet little Mary/Marshall one-shot for me to add to my collection! Please read and review and enjoy!