Marshal Hobbs and Marshall had gotten a griping Mary to the ER. She protested loudly about how unnecessary it was while the doctor examined her 'scratches.'
"You are fortunate, Inspector. Another half inch and you'd have nerve damage that would make holding a gun difficult." Mary didn't like to be treated by doctors who prattled on and on. She had Marshall for that.
"This doesn't seem like much now," the doctor continued. "No stitches necessary. If you hadn't gotten effective treatment it would have become infected." The doctor emphasized. "Secondary infection can be worse than the initial insult."
Mary thought she understood, but wanted to be sure. "Never thought of a bullet as an insult."
"Depends on where it's aimed." Marshall retorted.
"Ok, all done." The doctor reported. He finished wrapping a bandage around her arm. Mary flexed it and found that the stretchy bandage allowed the full range of movement. She had refused a topical anesthetic. The doctor turned to Marshall. "She needs to keep the wound clean. Change the dressing twice a day to start, then once a day as it begins to scab. Use the antiseptic cream generously. Really..."
"Right here doc!" Mary growled incensed by the doctor's assumption that Marshall would be her caregiver, even if it was true.
"Mare, cut it out. You know you never remember the aftercare instructions. Don't worry," he assured the doctor. "I'll make sure to use antiseptic several times a day. I'll bring her in if she develops a fever or the wound becomes red, hot or swells."
"Someone was paying attention during first aid." The doctor congratulated Marshall.
"Suck up," Mary accused, pulling down the sleeve of her shirt. She picked up her black leather jacket and put her little finger through the hole. "Damn. I just got this broken in."
"Injuries can make one a bit edgy and combative," the doctor explained to Marshall.
"No." Marshall said flatly. :"She's pretty much always like this." The smile in his voice took the sting out of the truth he spoke. Mary only glared at him. On the scale of Mary threats, this was pretty low. Marshall took it as a sign of acceptance.
"C'mon Mare. Let's check on Jinx and then get out of here. You're cranky and I'm tired."
Mary snorted. "According to you, I'm always cranky."
"Pretty much, yeah," He agreed.
Once Mary was satisfied with the armed guard at her mother's room, they left the hospital. She had worked with Marshal McLuhen in FTF and trusted him to do the job. Not like she trusted Marshall, but since all he had to do was protect one frail woman in a hospital bed, McLuhen could handle it. She was still nerved up from gunplay, and Marshall had to apologize to McLuhen for her belittling outburst. As the daughter of a victim, and a target herself, McLuhen cut her some slack.
Mary wasn't the only one wound up from the firefight. She could see the strain in the wrinkles around his eyes and the way he held onto her uninjured arm- a little too tight. He walked faster than usual and startled at unexpected sounds. Usually he sauntered. Because he was taller than Mary, she had to hustle to keep up even when his own stride was leisurely. Mary knew from experience that even when he looked relaxed, he was still paying close attention to their surroundings. Today his alertness doubled.
Mary's thoughts darted every which way. Why the ambush? Should she stay at the hospital with Jinx? Was Brandi safe? Was her father involved? Amidst the roiling chaos of case related stuff she couldn't help but think about whether or not Marshall remembered her promise to check out his equipment tonight. She told herself that was trivial, stupid, but her body said otherwise.
Mary knew gun-play took a toll emotionally. Physically she was fine. Her ear had stopped bleeding and the underarm nick was just that. Normally she thrived on the rush from a firefight. Before Marshall there was never anyone in danger she cared about. She never thought about being in harm's way herself. Her sole focus was getting the bad guys. This time she had two people to worry about – her mother and Marshall. She couldn't stand the thought of him exposed and vulnerable during the assault on the container. She was supposed to be protecting his back, but her mother had taken priority. Just like a witness. But for some reason, this was different. She felt guilty for abandoning Marshall.
Marshall was keeping a careful eye on Mary. She had gotten shot. She didn't seem to be hurting. He knew there was nothing he could have done to stop her from stepping in front of a bullet. Like the WITSEC marshal she is, Mary focused on her mother. Marshall had focused on the men with the guns. Mary spotted Jinx before he did, and acted accordingly. There should have been something he could have done to keep her safe, to keep her from being shot. Logically, he knew trying to direct Mary was like harnessing a wild fire. It would go wherever there was fuel. Despite her disparaging remarks about her mother, Jinx was Mary's fuel.
The marshals assigned to Mary directed them to a black SUV parked in the hospital loading dock. Although it was standard issue for the Marshal Service, it's resemblance to the SUV that had pursued them days ago made her shiver. She told herself that it was the adrenaline. Marshal Merritt checked the garage, opened the back door, and hustled Mary into the car. Marshall followed. "So this is what it's like back here." Mary commented. "I don't think I've ever ridden back here. Have you Doofus?"
Marshall's cheeks pinked at her use of the derogatory nickname in front of the other marshals. Mary saw his reaction and piped up, "You know Doofus is really another way of saying bad-ass. Those western marshals have their own words for stuff like that."
Neither Merritt nor Hobbs reacted. Marshall put his head down, elbows on his knees, hands in his hair. Oh no. You've really done it this time. Mary was sure she had compounded her offense when she saw his shoulders shaking. When she reached out to console him, to apologize, she saw he was trying not to giggle like a girl.
She smacked him on the shoulder and said "there ya go." Marshall turned toward her with tears in his eyes. His grin assured her they were tears of laughter. Seeing him trying to control himself got her started. Soon they were cackling, setting off new waves of laughter by blurting out one or two words that wouldn't have made any sense to anyone else. Their shared dreams and memories were a language made for two.
Wiping her eyes, Mary looked out the window and panicked." Where the hell are you taking us? This isn't the way to Woodson's." Marshall seemed unperturbed, head resting on the seat back, relaxed by the release provided by their hilarity. What the hell?
When neither of the marshals in the front seat responded, she yelled "Hey deMerritt! Are you lost?" He studiously ignored her.
Finally, Marshall took pity on her. "No Mary, he's not lost."
She squinted and looked at him from the corner of her eyes. Marshall thought she would look at a piece of gum stuck to her shoe that way. She could tell he had something up his sleeve. Something he hadn't bothered to share with her.
"Ok numnutz lets have it." She was careful this time to speak softly. She was concerned that the letdown after the gun fight could turn into hysteria. She definitely did not want to lose her cool in front of the others. She didn't want a hysterical Marshall on her hands either. He seemed calm now, but she knew appearances could be deceiving.
"While you were at the hospital, Chief Varney made security arrangements. We are going to a hotel."
She snorted." So do I get to room with tweedle dee or tweedle dum?"
Seeing that she was being playful, he responded. "Neither," he informed her dryly. "Your person will be guarded by none other than the one bad ass cowboy lawman with the redundant name."
"Don't say redundant." She muttered. Turning her head to face him so quickly her hair flew in a circle around her head, she said, "Wait. That would be you?" She smiled, approving the idea. Whispering conspiratorially she asked, "How many marshals did you have to bribe to swing that arrangement cowboy?"
"WITSEC protocol will be followed," he informed her dryly." There will be marshals stationed on either side of our room." When transporting a witness, one kept watch in the room with the witness. Once relieved, the off watch marshal went to the adjoining room to sleep. On those runs there could be another marshal or two next door or directly across from the witness room.
Realizing they would be surrounded by law enforcement at the hotel, she groaned and muttered. "No nookie tonight."
"We'll see."She looked at him sharply and noted his cat that ate the canary look. What has he planned?
"If you gag me, we might be quiet enough." She teased in a rasping sexy voice. His body responded before his brain, but he managed to keep his mouth shut till his brain caught up.
"I think there's been enough of that." Marshall was thinking of her almost kidnapping.
Mary saw that the Marriott Courtyard was a block from the Marshal's office building. It made sense to stash them there. Merritt and Hobbs brought the SUV through the delivery entrance, stopped, and followed them out of the vehicle. Mary said loudly, "My pj's are back at Woodson's. I'll have to sleep nude tonight."
Marshall's rolled his eyes but anyone could see the bright interest in them. Merritt ignored her taunt. "Your bags are in your room." Marshall snapped his fingers. "Darn." Hobbs continued to ignore their antics as they got in the service elevator.
Arriving at their floor, Merritt threaded the way through utility corridors to their room, and opened the door. The room was nicer than their usual on the road accommodations. Two king size beds. Coffee, TV and alarm clock. Mary sighed and sat on the bed closest to the bathroom. Handing Marshall the room key cards, Merritt said he would be next door and left.
"Tired?," Marshall asked solicitously. Despite the high energy displayed at the hospital and on the ride over, he knew she had to be tired. She looked wilted, collapsed in on herself.
"Mmmm yeah," she stretched her back and neck, putting her arms over her head. Her jacket was open and Marshall enjoyed watching her supple body. Suddenly she sat up straight. "Brandi, oh my god. Brandi. Does she know Jinx is safe?"
"Calm down Mare. Yes, she does. I had Stan arrange a secure line." He said. "She knows."
"Did you run a threat assessment?"
"Varney had one of his guys do it. I looked it over. Really Mare, she's OK. You should talk to her."
Mary checked the battery on her burn phone and dialed. Brandi answered on the second ring. "Mare, Mary, are you OK? How's mom? What happened?"
Mary told her Jinx was recovering and getting good care. She gave her a sanitized version of the rescue. Marshall could tell when Brandi started to blubber because Mary rolled her eyes. She closed the conversation with a reminder to be alert and to call the Jersey marshals if she left Joanna's.
When she finished the call to Brandi, Marshall thrust his phone in her face. She saw Stan's name on the display. "Hey dad, you call to tuck us in? Got a bedtime story for us?"
She could imagine Stan getting flustered and rubbing his head, walking as he talked. Stan was relieved to hear her joking. She was ok, Jinx was ok, and Marshall was Marshall. He was always ok.
"No, I'm fine. It's just a scratch. Yeah, well two scratches. I'm fine. I can shoot with that arm and nobody has to cut my steak for me," she assured him.
He did have a story for them. A possible lead on who leaked the operation to the gangs. Eleanor had come through again. Mary thanked Stan, let out a long breath, and handed the phone back to Marshall. Stan would be sending some encrypted files.
"Hungry?" Marshall asked. After Stan's call, Mary hadn't moved. She sat on the bed staring at the blank TV screen still wearing her leather jacket.
"Not really. I don't like having my food repeat on me." She looked tired and jittery. Marshall felt the same, but he needed something in his stomach.
"You mind if I order something?" Marshall didn't want to cause her any distress.
"Nyah. Go ahead. You should eat. Just because I'm off my feed doesn't mean you should be." Marshall realized this was magnanimous on her part. She really did care about him. But Marshall was a realist so he ordered extra fries.
Soon the serving cart and dishes were sitting in the hall. Mary had attempted to steal his fries, but Marshall could tell her heart wasn't in it.
"I was so scared," she confided.
"That's ok Mare. It's normal to be afraid during hot operations. Keeps you alert, keeps you safe."
"I . . . .I didn't have your back. I should have been there for you. You could have ..." Mary gulped. He was touched by her fear that he would be injured.
"Mare, you did exactly the right thing. Your actions were text book. You protected Jinx. You did good, Sunshine." He sat next to her on the bed and reached his hand out to caress her cheek.
"You think so?" She raised her bleary eyes to his. Marshall's word was the gold standard for best practices. If he thought she'd done the right thing, maybe for once in her screwed up life, she had.
Marshall couldn't understand how she could doubt herself. She had plugged the guy that aimed in the door when Marshall wasn't looking. She protected her mother with her own body. She protected him.
"I know you did. You saved me, just like you always do."
"I did, didn't I?" Now she remembered the guy she shot, the one who was aiming at Marshall. Not gonna happen. He wasn't getting hurt on her watch. Ever. She didn't quite have her sass back, but she was better.
"Here Mare." Marshall held a shiny metal flask in his hand.
She perked up at the smell of whiskey. "Where'd you get that?"
"I keep it in my go bag for medicinal purposes. Standard equipment."
"Medicinal my ass," she said as she grabbed the flask and took several large swallows. She shook like a dog drying its self, sputtered and coughed. Her once bleary eyes now focused on him. "Hmm, that reminds me – standard equipment, your equipment. I need to check you out Inspector Marshal Marshall. Make sure everything still works." Her shoulders had finally dropped from their tight clench near her ears.
"C'mon Sunshine. Let's wash off the stink of this day." He pulled her off the bed. When she stood before him he removed her jacket and unbuttoned her shirt, then unzipped her jeans. He ran his hands down her legs, pushing the jeans off. The fact that she stood quietly, letting him do all the work, spoke volumes. Taking her hand, he led her to the bathroom, turned on the shower, and finished removing her clothes. Once the water was at the right temperature, he pushed her under the spray. Glad he had only a sip of whiskey; he removed his own clothes in record time. Soon he was in the shower, behind her. Watching her. Ready to catch her if she fell.
The shower and his closeness seemed to have revitalized Mary and awakened her libido. She turned away from the spray, grabbed his hair and pulled him down for a punishing kiss. He pushed her against the side wall and put his hands on either side of her head. She raised one leg, aiming for his waist, opening herself to him. He got a good grip on her slippery raised leg and entered her without preamble. Their coupling was fast and furious. And wet.
Despite the long day, the nervous anxiety of the shootout, Mary's compromised safety, and no conclusion to the case, Marshall had energy to spare for loving Mary. All the worries washed away with the shower of pleasure sparking through his body
Mary shuddered as a tidal wave of feeling overwhelmed her. So good, so good, she thought. Marshall responded. "Yeah, it is.".
"Did I say that out loud?"She knew her brain was compromised. All that she could think of was the sensation of having Marshall in her. She was miffed that he was still able to talk, when she had no words. Mary was competitive even in sex. It was something Marshall loved about her. She wanted to give as good as she got and then some. That was a win win as far as Marshall was concerned.
"Yeah, you did." He stopped any further conversation with a kiss. When they both came up for air, he got the tiny bar of hotel soap and ran it over her body. He followed with the rough washcloth, paying extra attention to his two favorite nubs. He slowly ran his hand over every part of her. She closed her eyes and delighted in his touch.
When he began to wash himself, Mary grabbed the soap. "Nuh uh. My turn." She brought the soap up to his neck, running her hands over his collar bones, his chest, following the treasure trail down his front. Then his back, ass and legs got the same treatment as she avoided the one part rising to greet her. "Ready for another round, Doofus?"
"Tease," he accused.
"We'll see about that." Abandoning the soap for a long thorough rinse, they rubbed their slippery bodies together. "God, I love hotels," Mary crooned. "If we were at my place, the water would be cold and we'd be icicles by now." Marshall's mouth and hands were too busy to talk.
Their second coupling was more languorous than liquid. A trail of wet towels led from the bathroom to bed. When they finished, spent and satiated, Marshall had just enough presence of mind to pull the covers over them. He murmured, "Love you," and then slept like the dead.
After four hours Marshall awoke and, got out of bed slowly not wanting to awaken Mary. He got his go bag and went into the bathroom. He smiled as he put on his Invader Zim sleep pants knowing Mary would give him geek grief in the morning. He got a t-shirt and sweatpants for her and thought about moving to the other bed to keep up appearances. Appearances be damned. He needed her close. But it would look better if she wasn't naked.
Marshall called Hobbs from the bathroom for an update and assured him there was no reason to take shifts in the room to guard Mary. When he got back to bed, Mary was on her back, mumbling in her sleep. Her spread eagle pose made it relatively easy to get her clothed. To his delight she whined and tried to snuggle into his hands, but never opened her eyes. He checked the alarm and crawled in next to her. She whimpered. He scooted in behind her, his front to her back. He placed his arm around her waist, his hand resting on her lower belly where he dreams one day their child will be. He gently kisses the side of her forehead and slows his breathing till they are both asleep.
For the first time in a week Mary doesn't dream of Jinx.