Title: When in Doubt Act IV, Scene 1

Author: The GPP

Rating: NC-17 (keep your pants on… or not… it's coming! teehee… Thing 1 is apparently in middle school)

Tagline: When in Doubt… Use Protection!

Summary: Mary and Marshall have returned from Texas! How will Mary break the news to her mother and sister? How will Jinx and Brandi react? When will we get to see M/M have sex? You all have been so patient! Thank you for sticking with us!

The pair returned on the first flight to Albuquerque once Mary had been released. Neither partner was wishing to spend a single second longer in Del Rio than necessary. It was a quiet flight, Mary was still recovering from the physical and emotional wounds, but in a way, Marshall thought they had never been closer.

Mary called Jinx when they arrived in Albuquerque. "Mom? There's something I need to tell you." Jinx responded with the expected concern, but Mary refused to tell her anything more over the phone. "Can you come for dinner tonight?"

"Should I bring anything? Should I bring Mike by? I'm sure he'd love to see you."

Mary tightened both hands into fists at the mention of Faber. "No, just you. Seven, ok?"

"Ok, Sweet Pea, I'll see you at seven."

She called Brandi next. Her sister agreed and Mary's heart twisted with guilt at the excitement in Brandi's tone, but she managed to keep the tears from her voice until after she hung up.

"Do you want me be to be there with you?" Marshall asked when she had finished her calls. There was a twinge of hope in his voice; he was uncertain as to how Mary would be with her mother and sister. They were never very careful with his fragile lover.

"I think I need to tell them myself," she said softly and uncertainly. "They need me to be strong, and that's harder when I have you to lean on," she admitted, refusing to meet his eyes.

"You sure?"

Mary shook her head; she wasn't sure about anything today.

"How about I stay until they arrive?" he rested a hand on her shoulder as he stood in front of her. He lowered his head to meet her eyes.

Mary leaned against him and wrapped both arms around his waist. "How about you stay forever and we can just hide in my bedroom until it all goes away?"

"Mmm, I'd like that but then, you'd never get your closure."

She giggled, albeit weakly. "I know."

Marshall nipped at her earlobe before moving to her ear and whispering, "I love you."

She pulled back and looked him square in the eyes. "I love you too. And I can do this, but I need you to promise me one thing."

"I'd promise you the universe if that's what you asked for," he looked her straight in the eyes.

"A million kisses, the sun and the moon?" she asked in a wistful voice.

"That wasn't my promise to give, but if that's what you want then it's yours."

She half smiled through the tears that were once again clouding her eyes. "No, that was Daddy's promise. I just want you to promise me that when this is all over you'll be here and we can spend an entire weekend locked in my bedroom, hiding from the world."

Marshall's arms snuck their way around her waist and he pulled her to him roughly before capturing her mouth with his. The kiss was intense and full of devotion and promise. He felt her knees start to give out. Marshall maneuvered her backwards to the couch where he laid her down as he continued kissing her. A hand made its way up her ribcage, under her shirt and over her breast as his tongue dueled with hers.

Mary arched up towards him, rubbing herself against his jean-clad leg. Her entire body thrummed with tension. Somewhere in her brain, she knew most of it had nothing to do with the way his fingers tightened against her rock hard nipple, but this was the only release she knew how to achieve in this moment. She fumbled with his belt for a moment before freeing it along with the button of his fly. She slipped her hand beneath his jeans to cup his growing erection and relished the sharp hiss of his breath in her mouth.

Marshall's left hand made its way under her ass to shift her farther up the couch as he kissed his way down her shirtless body. He nipped at her ribcage and groaned when he heard her moans of approval. He smiled against her belly as he blew a raspberry over her navel. Laughing he sat up when she shrieked and dodged her flailing arms.

"Get back up here," Mary commanded, reaching for him with both hands. She wanted to feel him, his weight on top of her, his mouth on hers.

He smiled as he continued to kiss her lips before reluctantly pulling back.

"Now, now, there's time for this later, my love," he stood up and fixed his belt before offering her his hand to help her up, "come on, I'll help you make dinner."

Mary took his hand, but instead of letting him pull her to her feet, she gave a sharp pull and brought him back down onto the couch.

"In a minute. I'm not finished with you yet." she growled, managing to flip so he was beneath her. She pinned him with her legs over his hips and settled her mouth on the sensitive skin behind his ear. "Please Marshall." She whispered against his skin, her voice needy.

Marshall laughed as he fell back onto the couch. He knew what she was doing but felt that it was important to remain focused on the task at hand. Still, a little playing never hurt anyone and perhaps the release of tension it would help her not kill her mother.

He allowed her to continue her assault on his body and he let his hands wander while being careful not to be too rough on the bruises.

In seconds, she had his belt undone again and one hand on his boxers. She could feel his desire, but knew he was holding back because he thought she needed closure more than sex.

"I can't think about it right now," she said, pulling back so he could see her eyes, "I need this. I need you."

He relaxed and she made quick work of the rest of his fly before pushing both his jeans and boxers down to his knees. She had just started on the buttons to her jeans when the doorbell rang. "Jesus!" Mary growled at the ceiling, fumbling on the floor for her shirt.

"Stay there," she commanded, turning to get rid of whoever dared interrupt their moment.

"Yes, ma'am," Marshall saluted her from his position on the couch.

Mary straightened her shirt, and then pulled open the front door. "Mom?" she pitched her voice so it was guaranteed to reach the man lying on her couch. "You're two hours early."

Marshall lay on the couch with a content smile on his face. His ears prickled when the door opened and he heard Mary address her mother. Marshall jumped up from the couch like a gazelle while grabbing his clothing and taking three longs strides into Mary's room.

"Sweet Pea, I just couldn't wait to hear your news!" Jinx moved in closer to embrace her daughter, "Oh, I'm so excited!" Jinx's hand moved to Mary's belly and patted it gently.

Mary ground her teeth, a standard response to Jinx these days. When she realized her mother thought she was pregnant it took all her self-control not to pick Jinx up by her scrawny arm and pitch the woman out into the street. "Brandi is coming at seven, I'll tell you both then." She did not step out of the doorway and her tone signified dismissal.

"Where's Marshall?" Jinx poked her head around looking for the taller marshal.

"He's not coming for dinner." Mary said, moving so she blocked Jinx's access to the house.

Marshall strained his ear against Mary's door; trying to listen to their conversation.

"His truck is outside, though."

"I borrowed it," Mary lied smoothly. No way in hell was she feeding Jinx's delusions about the state of Mary's uterus.

"Oh, well, I suppose I can talk to him later," Jinx put on her pitiful face as she turned to go; "I'll be back at seven, ok?"

"Yeah, great." Mary forced a smile. "See you at seven."

:-P