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Different Road, Same Journey

Marshall went through the motions, knowing his job well enough to do it without thinking. He spoke with Brandi and Jinx, talked to the witness and now he was waiting inside Mary's apartment, which was being searched for anything that might help them as he waited for his boss to turn up. He leaned back against the wall, half listening to Brandi's and Jinx's emotional conversation while they huddled together on the couch. He was pretty sure this was to do with Chuck and Spanky Carson and was mentally going over everything he had learnt during his time on the case; trying to work out where they could have taken her.

"Marshall?"

He snapped back to the present and pushed himself away from the wall when he saw his boss enter the apartment.

"What do we have?" Chief Sandra Morris questioned.

"Mary Shannon is the sister of Brandi Shannon…"

"Chuck Johnston girlfriend?"

"Yeah…" He nodded. "A witness saw her leaving the apartment building when she was grabbed…she put up a fight but…"

"Okay." She sighed. "Do we know much about her? Is she involved at all with her sister and her boyfriend?"

"Mary? No…no…Her record is clean…"

"Doesn't mean she can't be involved." Sandra claimed.

"I've gotten to know her…" Marshall admitted. "I don't believe she would be."

"You've gotten to know her that well?" Sandra asked, curiously.

"We've become friends."

"Just friends?"

"Just friends…" Marshall assured her.

"But you care about her." Sandra sighed. "Can you handle this?"

"I want to help find her." Marshall insisted.

"Okay but you keep me update and don't let your friendship cloud your judgment."

"You got it, Chief…"

It was six hours before they got their first lead on the van that was used which then gave them a name. It was almost an hour and a half later until they arrived at the house they believed they could be holding Mary in.

Marshall was the first one inside, barely waiting for the rest of the team. When he was greeted by a man, aiming a gun at him, he didn't hesitate in shooting. The bullet went through the guy's arm, causing him to drop his gun and fall to the floor with a cry. There was a warning from another member of his team and Marshall turned just in time to see him take out another suspect, who had come up from the stairs that led the basement.

"All clear." A call from the other room again.

"I'm going to the basement." Marshall moved past the suspects, his gun drawn as he slowly went down the stairs. He felt his heart quicken when he saw her on the floor, her arms chained to a post and her head hung downwards. He lowered his weapon and moved towards her; praying that he wasn't too late. "Mary?"

His voice startled her and she shrugged against the chains.

"Hey, Mare…" He dropped down to floor next to her. "It's me…"

"Marshall?" She whispered, her eyes widening a little in disbelief. "Marshall?"

"Hey…" He pushed her hair back of her. "It's okay…"

"You came…You found me."

"Yeah, I did…" He tried to reach up to free her arms but she fell into his chest and started to sob, so he put his own arms around her. "It's okay…You're okay…I'm here."

He glanced back and saw three of his team stood on the stairs. He nodded his head towards the door, gesturing from them to leave.

"Mare…" He pulled back a little to look down at her again. "Let me free you…"

She nodded a little, suddenly feeling ashamed. It took a few minutes but he was finally able to undo the chains.

"Are you hurt?" He asked, softly.

"No." She rubbed her wrists. "I need to get out of here…"

"Okay, take it slow…" Marshall advised, standing up before holding a hand down to her.

"I'm okay…" She claimed but as soon as she was on her feet, she stumbled.

"Hey!" Marshall reached out and grabbed her before she collapsed back to the floor. "I've got you."

"I'm sorry…" She clung to him, tightly.

"Don't be." He told her gently and just held her for a few minutes, listening as she took deep breaths. "It's okay…"

"Damn it!" She muttered. "This isn't me…"

"Just take a few minutes." He advised, running a hand up and down her back.

"This isn't me…" She whispered again. "This is not how I deal with things…"

"I know." He tightened his hold on her just a little; worried she would push him away. "But you need to take a few minutes…just….let yourself breathe and feel safe."

He was relieved when he felt relax into his arms... He wanted nothing more than to tell Mary his true feelings for her and how scared he had been that he would never get to see her again but despite his sister-in-law's advice about life being too short, he knew now wasn't the time.

"What happens now?" She broke the silence.

"I'll take you to the hospital to get checked out…"

"No." She stepped back a little. "No hospital."

"Mare…"

"I'm fine, Marshall…A few bruises and that's all." She told him. "I don't want to go to the hospital…"

"Okay, if you're sure…" He sighed. "But you need to give a statement...We need to know what happened."

She nodded. "Will you be there?"

"If you want me to be…"

"I do."

"Then I'll be there." He took hold of her hand, squeezing gently. "You ready to get out of here?"

"Like you wouldn't believe…."

XxXxX

"I can't let you do the interview." Sandra told Marshall as they stood outside the room, where the interview was going to take place.

"I know that…" He replied. "But I want to be in there…"

She looked at him closely. "Okay, let me ask you this and whatever you tell me now, I'll believe…"

"Sandra..." He started, knowing where this was going but she held up her hand to stop him from cut her off.

"Are you in a relationship with Miss Shannon?"

"We're friends."

"Just friends?" She pressed but could read the answer on his face and sighed. "Marshall…"

"Nothing has happened." He insisted. "She works at the bar we hang out at…We talk."

"Look, I can't tell you who you can date or your friendships with but…"

"I get it." He stated. "I get that I can't be in on this interview or have anything to do anything that involves Mary."

"You told me earlier that you can handle working on this case…Is that still true?"

"Yes." He replied confidently.

"I'll be keeping a close watch on everything that happens and if at any point things get too much you need to tell me." She warned.

"Of course."

"You're damn good at your job…That is the only reason I'm allowing this." She continued. "Do not let me down."

"Yes, chief…"

"I'll take the lead on this interview…You are there only because she wants your support."

"Got it."

"I'm getting too soft in my old age…" She muttered, as she walked away.

XxXxX

"Are you sure about this?" Marshall asked, as they were sat in his car outside her apartment building.

"About what?" She glanced across at him. "Going home?"

"Your mom and sister will be there."

"So?"

"So, are you ready to face them?"

She shrugged, trying to act like it wasn't a big deal but he could see her hands shaking a little. "I got to do it sometime, right?"

"Yeah….but you don't have to now." He told her.

"And do what instead? Sit out here all night?"

"You could stay with me." He offered.

"Marshall…" She rolled her eyes.

"Come stay with me for the night…" He turned in his seat to face her fully. "Just take a break from everything…"

"I can't." She shook her head.

"Why not?"

"Because….Because it's not right…you're working on the case where I was abducted…" She replied. "You have your kids to worry about….You don't need me getting in the way…You've already done enough."

"I want to help you." He took hold of both her hands in his. "I want to…"

"Want to what?" She asked. "To protect me?"

"Yes." He admitted. "Is that so wrong?"

She looked down at their hands, blinking a few times when she felt tears burning her eyes.

"I get that you're a tough and that you've taken care of yourself for so long…I really like that about you and I wouldn't want to change you for the world…" He continued softly. "But sometimes it's okay to step back…To stand in someone else's shadow for a while."

When she finally looked up, she gave him a small grateful smile. "You're a sweet guy, you know that?"

"Just please…"

"I can't just hide away…" She claimed. "I need to get back to normal."

"Are you listening to yourself? A few hours ago you were…"

"I know." She cut in. "I know…but this is who I am."

He sighed in defeat. "If you change your mind…"

"I'll be okay." She squeezed his hand. "But thank you."

"At least let me walk you up…"

"There's no need…"

"Hey, come on…Give me something."

She smiled again. "Okay, if it means that much to you…"

"It does." He answered as they both climbed out the car.

He walked behind her, keeping close just in case and as predicted, as soon as they stepped through the door, Jinx and Brandi rushed towards her.

"Oh my god, Mary! Are you okay?" Brandi asked.

"I'm fine…just back off a little…" She pushed past them both.

"What's he doing here?" Jinx glared in Marshall's direction.

"He gave me ride back." Mary answered. "He was making sure I got home safely."

"I'm sure he did…"

"Look, he's my friend so can you please try and treat him with some respect…Especially since you're both in my apartment." She snapped before walk away and into the kitchen.

She filled a glass with water, drinking it down in one before placing both hands on the counter, her head hung as she tried to take deep breaths.

Marshall had followed her but gave her a minute to herself before moving across the room to her, placing a hand on her lower back.

"You know that's the first time you've called me your friend?"

"Shut up." She stood up straight and turned to face him. "Does that offer still stand?"

"What one?"

"To stand in your shadow?"

He smiled. "Of course."

"Just for one night…I just….I need to process this."

"Whatever you need." He assured her.

"I'll just go pack a few things." She told him, walking across the kitchen and taking a deep breath, ready to face her mom and sister again.

Marshall waited until she was out of the room before pulling out his cell phone.

"Hey, Kelly it's me…Look, I know you guys already do so much for me and that you're taking the girl camping this weekend but I was wondering if there was any chance you can have them over night tonight as well?" He asked. "Something has come up….A friend needs a place to crash for the night and they're having a rough time…I don't want the girls to be there….You're a star, you know that? One day, I'll figure out a way to pay you back."

He listened to her reply and smiled a little. "Thanks, Kel…I'll call later to say goodnight to them both…bye."

Just as he hung up the phone, Mary entered the room again. "That was quick."

"Yeah, don't need a lot." She replied. "Ready?"

"Yep." He took her bag off her and was surprised when she didn't protest. "Let's go."

TBC

Okay, so I don't know whether Marshall would actually still be allowed to work on this case but let's just pretend for now!

Please review and let me know what you think!