Wow, I'm so thrilled with the response I got from the first chapter. I am so glad that there are people out there that are still reading In Plain Sight stories. Please keep reviewing!

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Different Road, Same Journey

Marshall had never really been one for going out to bars and clubs with the guys from work but the next week when they told him they were going back to the bar where Mary worked, he found himself agreeing to go.

She noticed him as soon as he stepped through the door. It was a quiet night and bar was almost empty.

"Well, it's US Marshal Mann…" She greeted, leaning across the bar. "Here for some more orange juice?"

"Just a beer, please." He answered with a smile.

"Pushing the boat out tonight, hey?" She reached into the fridge behind her, grabbing a bottle and opening it before handing it to him.

"Friday night." He said in explanation, raising his bottle to her in a toast as he slipped the money across the bar.

She moved a little down the bar to cash register and watched in surprise as he drank the bottle in one go.

"Bad day?" She questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Just a long one." He gave her a small, sad smile.

She could tell there was more to it but since he was a marshal, she guessed there was a lot he couldn't and wouldn't talk about.

"Another?" She asked.

"Yeah…" This time pulling out more notes and nodded over to the five guys he had turned up with. "Better make it six."

"Coming up."

He quietly watched her and once the six bottles were opened in front of him, he held out the money for her. "And have one yourself."

"Wow? Really? You would buy little old me a drink?" She pressed her hands to her chest, mockingly.

"Hey, if you don't one…" He moved the money just out of her reach.

"I didn't say that." She leaned across the bar and snatched the notes, knowing it would give him a clear look down her shirt. She smirked when she saw him glancing down before quickly looking up. "Well, at least I now know you're not gay."

He stood up straight. "You thought I was gay?"

She shrugged and walked away to serve another customer with a small smile on her face. He watched her for a few seconds before shaking his head, grabbing the beers and headed over to the guys.

Through the next hour, Mary discreetly watched Marshall as she worked, waiting for him to return to the bar and when he finally did, she ignored him at first in favor of other customers before serving him; not wanting to seem eager.

"Same again?" She questioned, trying to sound uninterested but before he could reply, one of his buddies appeared at his side.

"Hey, Mann…We're heading out to go to that club we were talking about." He told him.

"Oh…" Marshall glanced at Mary quickly. "You guys go on without me…I'm not really in the mood for it tonight."

"You sure? It's been a long day…You should relax a little and have some fun."

Marshall gave him a small smile. "Another time maybe."

The other guy sighed and shrugged. "Well, I'll see you on Monday then."

"Have a good night." Marshall said, as he joined the others.

"Early night again then?" Mary questioned, gaining his attention back.

"Well, I do have the whole weekend off…I might stay for one more beer."

"Coming up."

"You could even join me if you wanted too…"

A slow smile spread across her face. "Marshal Mann, are you hitting on?"

"I was merely suggesting I could keep you company if you were due a break."

"Well, you're in luck." She grabbed two bottles of beer before walking around the bar and took a seat beside him. It wasn't busy and she knew Nick could handle it while she took a break.

"So, is your sister still staying with you?"

"Why? Are you going to be raid my place now too?"

He rolled her eyes. "Are you ever going to get over that?"

"You and your buddies smashed down the door…I had to pay for that."

"I'm not apologizing for doing my job."

"Didn't think you would." She shrugged.

"Do you like working here?" He asked, deciding the change the conversation.

"It's a job." She answered. "I work to live not live to work."

"Is there something you would rather be doing?"

"You mean, like sitting on a beach somewhere in the Bahamas?"

"I mean like a dream job." He explained. "There must have been something you wanted to be when you were a kid."

"When I was a kid all I wanted to be was a kid."

He frowned little. "Huh?"

"Never mind." She smiled slightly and shook her head. "What about you? Did you dream about being a marshal when you were kid or did you just join because of your family?"

"I guess a little of both...I had a lot of interests when I was younger but I think being a marshal is a part of my blood." He answered. "I considered a lot of careers but it always came back to doing this."

"Must be nice." She commented, looking down at her beer. "Having a calling."

"I suppose but there has also been a lot of pressure." He admitted. "I'm not like my father and brothers…they chase the thrill of hunting someone down and all the gunfire…where as I like figuring things out, helping people and working out the best plan of action."

"So, you kicking down my sister door last week was what?"

He smiled a little. "Well, sometimes you just need to kick down a door."

"I hear that…" She agreed, raising her bottle in a toast.

He clinked his against hers before taking a mouthful. "Been a rough couple of years for me, so moving here and kicking down a few doors is a new start."

"As long as they're not doors that I will have to pay for, then knock yourself out."

They spent the next 30 minutes just talking before Mary had to get back to work. Marshall hung around, drinking alone just so he could steal a few minutes with her whenever she had no customers to serve. He knew he shouldn't be there, that he shouldn't be forming any kind of relationship with her since her sister was tied to the case he was currently leading but there was just something about her that he couldn't walk away from.

When it came to closing time, Marshall was reluctant to leave and found himself offering to help tidy up when Mary's co-worker seemed eager to leave early.

"You sure?" Nick looked from Marshall to Mary after she told him to leave it to them.

"Yeah, you get out of here." Mary told him.

"Okay, see you later." Nick shrugged and grabbed his jacket.

Mary waited until he was out the door before turning to Marshall. "Thanks for helping."

"No problem." He grabbed a couple of dirty glasses of the first table. "I had a part-time job in a bar when I was in college….feels like old times."

"Well, let's get this done so we can get out of here."

They continued to talk as they worked and when Marshall put the last of the clean glasses away, he turn around and found Mary stood right behind him.

"Hey…" He said as he backed up a little but found the bar right behind him.

She smiled and slowly ran her hands across his chest before winding her arms around his neck.

"You know, you haven't even told me your name yet…"

"What?" He looked confused.

"I could always keep calling you Marshal Mann…" She grinned wickedly. "If that's your kinda thing…"

He stared down at her for a few seconds before laughing. He hadn't realized she had been calling him marshal because of his job.

"What?"

"I thought that you were…" He shook his head a little. "Doesn't matter…My name is Marshall."

"You're kidding me, right?"

"Nope…Marshal Marshall Mann." He grinned.

"You are the craziest, strangest man I've never met." She whispered, going onto her tiptoes and peppered his neck with small kisses. "But there is something incredibly sexy about you that I cannot resist."

"Mary?"

She didn't say anymore but instead crushed her lips into his. He tried to move but hit the bar again and after a few seconds he found himself kissing her back. One of her hands slips up to his hair, gripping it tightly while the other moved down his back and then to the buttons of his shirt. It was only when she let go of his hair and both her hands started to work on undoing his belt that he pulled away.

"Mary. Wait."

"What?" She asked but her lips went back to his neck.

He reached down, taking hold of her hands before gently pushing her away. "We can't."

She looked at him confused. "Why not?"

"I just can't…" He sighed, letting go of her and ran a hand through his hair.

"This isn't what you wanted?" She asked. "Why you stayed to help me?"

"No." He shook his head. "I just wanted to help you."

"Oh."

"I'm sorry…" He said softly and started to do up the buttons on his shirt.

"Forget it." She turned away from and started to walk around the bar, checking to make sure everything was done.

"Look, can we…"

"Thanks for helping get this done." She cut him off and gestured around. "I think we're done."

"Mary."

"You don't need to stay….All I need to do is lock up."

"Let me walk you home." He offered. "It's late."

"I'm a big girl." She replied. "I've been getting myself home safe and sound for a long time now."

"But…"

"Good night, Marshal Mann."

He sighed, waiting for a few second but she didn't turn around to look at him. "Good night then."

Mary dropped down into one of the booths when she heard the door close quietly behind him. She couldn't believe she had gotten it so wrong. Of course he wouldn't want anything to do with her…He was a US Marshal and she was nothing.

TBC

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