Title: When in Doubt Act IV, Scene 3
Author: The GPP

Rating: M

Tagline: When in Doubt… Use Protection!
Summary: This is the last part of Act IV! We're getting so sad that it's so close to the end! Thank you so much for sticking with the story!

"Wow," he breathed into her shoulder, "I need a shower now; that was incredible!"

Mary smiled and kissed his neck. "Use the guest room," she said, leaning back so she could see his face, "if we both use my room we'll never get dinner ready."

Marshall had little strength left and he used the last bit of it to stand and take Mary into his arms. He carried her into her room before leaving to grab the shower.

When Jinx and Brandi arrived ten minutes before seven, Marshall had just left and Mary was just pulling the dinner he had created for her out of the oven. Mary already wished she'd taken him up on his offer to stay, but she knew she would end up letting him tell Jinx and Brandi. She needed to be strong.

Jinx was all smiles as she entered the house. She embraced her oldest daughter for the second time that day and gave her a knowing look.

Brandi was her mother's polar opposite. Everything, from the lack of makeup, to the slight hunch of her shoulders confirmed that she was expecting catastrophic news.

Mary directed them both to the kitchen. She served them each a plate of chicken, salad and rice, hoping to put off the news until after they'd eaten.

"Oh, Mary, I'm so happy for you!" Jinx was still on her high as she accepted the plate offered to her.

"I'm not pregnant," Mary said, jaw tightening.

"Sure you are," Jinx nodded, "what else could it be... wait! Are you getting married?"

"James is dead, ok?" Mary snapped. Immediately she wished she could take it back.

Brandi recoiled as if she'd been struck.

"What?" Jinx's face took on a crestfallen appearance.

"That is what I needed to tell you," Mary continued in a softer tone. "He was killed last week, in Texas." She didn't go into detail.

"This is news?" Jinx looked like a wounded animal, "James has been dead for years; at least to me."

"No mother. He's been dead for six days, nine hours and forty-seven minutes." Mary growled.

"I hope he's rotting in hell," Jinx pushed her food around on her plate.

"Mom!" Brandi finally found her voice. Her eyes were filled with tears as she looked from Mary to Jinx and back again.

"Well what do you want from me?" Jinx threw her fork down and stood up from the table, "He left us, and disappeared; only later we discover that he has a new family!" She began rummaging around the kitchen looking for liquor.

"Sit down!" Mary's command set the glasses in the cupboard to shaking.

Jinx whirled on her but did not obey. She stared at her eldest with a look of hatred and denial, "You have no father, face it! He didn't love us, so why should we care that he is officially dead?"

"No mom, he didn't love you." Mary snarled. She hadn't expected Jinx to take the news well, but she was finding it hard to stomach this complete denial of James.

"Obviously he didn't love you either," she continued her rant, "otherwise he would have taken you with him!"

"And left you alone with his baby Brandi?" Mary raised one eyebrow. "You'd have killed her in a week if I hadn't been there."

"It would have been better if he'd taken the both of you..." she said as she continued her search for liquor.

"Stop it!" Brandi stood so quickly her chair toppled to the floor. "Both of you just stop it!"

"Squish," Mary reached a hand out to her sister, but Brandi slapped it away.

"No." Brandi glared at both of them, tears trickled down her face but she didn't seem to notice. "Dad was a bastard; he left us... all of us; but he was our father," she pointed to Jinx, "and your husband. Now he is dead. Can we not fight for once?"

Jinx grabbed the counter for support as she turned away from her daughters, "I need to get out of here," her voice was strained.

"No." Brandi moved so she was blocking the doorway. "You always run away. Or drink it away."

Mary watched her sister stand up to their mother for the first time in their lives with wide eyes. Who knew Brandi had a backbone?

"Why do you think that's true?" Jinx stared at Brandi, "Because of you!" she pointed to Brandi then to Mary, "And you! And him!"

"No mom. You were an addict long before any of us entered your life." Brandi said, swiping tears off her chin. "We were just the excuse you used so you wouldn't have to realize what a train wreck you are."

Mary had always liked Peter, after hearing Brandi speak she wanted to hug the man. She walked around the island and came to stand beside her sister, close enough to touch but not touching.

Jinx looked as if she'd been struck by lightning. She looked between her two daughters in disbelief that they would turn on her like this. She pointed once again to Mary, "You. This is all your fault. If you hadn't encouraged him sending you those letters, we could have moved on in peace. But this is Mary's World, everyone just does as she asks; no matter the consequences."

"I love you mom," Brandi said, stepping in front of Mary, as if to shield her from Jinx's hateful words, "But you're wrong. None of this is Mary's fault."

At last, Mary found her voice, "Dad sent those letters because he loved us and he wanted us to know it," she said softly, "He loved you mom. I know you think he left you, us, but what choice did he really have? He didn't want to drag you down with him. You should be grateful."

Jinx sighed as she made her way to collapse on the couch in a heap of sobs. She rested her face in her hands as she cried.

Brandi was the first to follow her, but Mary was soon on her heels. The youngest Shannon sat right beside her mother and pulled her into a hug. "He loved us," she whispered, "and we love you."

Mary knelt in front of her mother and took one of her hands in a rare moment of affection. She was the silent support while Brandi was the more verbal of the sisters. Together, the Shannons would make it through this.

Dinner was cold by the time Jinx stopped crying and the women returned to the kitchen. It didn't matter, none of them were hungry.

"Should we have a funeral?" Brandi asked, looking at Jinx.

Jinx could only nod; she didn't trust her voice.

"Do you want me to plan it?" Mary offered, "I don't know a thing about funerals, but..." she shrugged.

Both Shannon daughters watched Jinx, waiting for her to verbalize a decision. Brandi squeezed her mother's hands.

"I'll do it," Jinx's voice was small and quiet.

It was nearly eleven when Mary hugged her family goodbye and watched them drive away. For the first time since Jinx found out about James' letters years earlier, Mary felt like they might all be ok eventually.

She waited only until they pulled out of sight before climbing in her own car. There was no way she was sleeping alone tonight.