Set during "Duplicate Bridge." Marshall's thoughts on his friend's decision and Mary trying her best to comfort him. I hope you all like it, I have tried my best. I have all ready done one for this epsiode too, but I loved "Duplicate Bridge" so much that I just had to write again! Please read and review, but no flames. Thanks for the reviews that I've gotten so far! You guys are great. If you want, feel free to suggest future chapter themes, as long as they can match the lyrics and I will write and post them!

We all have Pain, We all have Sorrow

He's my friend. One of my only two friends and now he's going to blow himself up. Just because things in life did not work out in the way that he would have liked. But there's no way I can change it now as I watch the bridge catch fire and ultimately collapse. He made his decision. He was the only one who could have made that choice, moral or not. In the end, it had proved vain to try any method to get him to change him mind, whether it be negotiation or trying to console him.

And if I had not been there to pull Mary off that bridge, she would have stayed there and now I would be looking at a burning bridge containing the remains of the only two friends that I have in the world.

On top of loosing Norman, my witness and my only other good friend, I would not have been able to handle loosing Mary. I am only half of who I am without Mary. We are the one of a kind partnership that when put together like a puzzle, we much resemble the two pieces that seem like they would never fit together but always do. But we only fit and function together, neither of us really fits in with the rest of the puzzle. It's a very odd relationship in that regard. But it's the only way we can work.

If I ever lost that other odd piece that I've always known, I can't even begin to fathom what I would do. Not only is Mary my partner and my friend like Norman had been, but I know I love her. That's just the way it's been for three years now. I don't believe, even for a fraction of a second that there's one force on this earth that could stop me from loving her.

I'm sure that Mary knows this as well, just simply because of the way I am with her. It's an unspoken assurance. Both of us know about these feelings on some basic level. The problem with us is that because of her personality and because of mine, we have adopted the army's policy of "Don't ask, don't tell." No matter what either of us knows, or how much we show it, no one says anything. I know that may sound like a strange analogy, but given our situation, it surely fits.

Mary's small hand rubs against my shoulder as she turns around and looks into my eyes, her own fearful and brimmed with tears. I do know that she will not cry, but she is simply distraught. I reach up and soothingly run my hand over the side of her face, helping her to her feet.

She can see my emotions, all raw and plain as day on my face. I am too mentally exhausted to hide them. The emotional toll is overwhelming. I have been through many cases like this one before, where I've had to talk witnesses out of the idea, but have never been in the unfortunate aftermath of a suicide relating to work.

"Marshall," She speaks gently, probably only trying to soothe me some. I can see that she's clearly not trusting her voice enough to speak and not cry. "Are you…" She begins.

I hold my hand up solemnly. I cannot let her finish right now. My brain, other than focusing on her, is all jumbled up at the moment. It's too busy sorting out this whole mess with Norman for me to have time to ponder my own feelings.

All I know is that I did not want him to and that I could not have said anything in the world to change his mind.

"Mary," I use her full name now, something that I only do when we're being absolutely serious. "Maybe after some time…" She covers my mouth, not softly, but I know it means that it's time for me to shut up.

"I understand. Later then. Right now I am tired," She turns toward the SUV, looking back at me. "So, let's go let the medics have a look at us and go home." I nod at her now, knowing that she's right. I'd rather be at home right now, I think.

So, after an examination by the medics, we get the okay to leave and hop in the car. I start the car and for some reason the radio is on now. Funny, I do not believe that I have turned it on at any point. Normally I would have because it annoys Mary, but today is one of those radio-exempt days where I feel equally as crappy as Mary does just about all the time.

The song that begins to play: Lean On Me by the Temptations. I do like this song, though right now, it holds a bit of a deeper meaning for me. For a moment I stare at the radio as if the host at his station had known exactly what to play and when to play it.

Slowly I turn and look a Mary, tears swimming in my eyes. She reaches out and runs a hand through my hair. That's about the only thing that could cheer me up right now. Her affection.

"Just so you know Marshall, it wasn't your fault. You said yourself that Norman was the type who would…"

I hush her, nodding. "I understand that Mary. But for the moment…just let me…" I lay my forehead against her shoulder and she wraps her arms around my back, holding tightly onto me.

"All right Marshall. Whatever will help you." Her fingers dig into my shirt, holding onto me like I will disappear if she doesn't.

So I just sit for a while in her arms, listening to the song play, feeling her pulse, reassuring me that she at least, is still alive and not leaving me. It's the only thing taking the edge off the shock of what had just transpired on that bridge.

"Mary, the next time anything like that happens, you have to listen to me. I don't care about any other situation or any other argument that we may have. But when it comes to things like this, like my witnesses- especially the ones such as Norman –you need to listen. You could have died tonight too."

She is just staring at me by the end of the monologue and she begins to back away. "Marshall, it could be one of us any day of the week." I nod.

"I know Mar, you're not hearing me. Just when it comes to matters like this. You have to promise that you will never, ever do that again. Say it." She is just looking at me as if I have sprouted a second head in the last thirty seconds. "Do you understand Mare?"

Slowly she nods. "Yeah, I do." That's good enough for me then. When I feel I can compose myself I do, and put the keys in the ignition, pulling away from the burning bridge and saying goodbye to a good friend who made his choice.

All done! Tell me what you all think! I love to hear from my readers! No flames. I hope that you all like this chapter!