He'd lied to her.

Being backed into a corner and not wanting to appear like a pathetic, weak puppy dog that had been whining in the corner all these years for its owner to come home, Marshall had done the only thing he could think of to save face.

But was it really a lie? Yes, he still loved her – but he didn't know her anymore, not really. The Mary he knew wouldn't have stayed away all these years without coming back to check on Brandi – the baby sister she had practically raised from birth. Even if she couldn't remember the fact that they were married and had a son, she hadn't forgotten her sister. This was the one thing that kept eating at Marshall as he walked the shops outside the burger palace where Mary and Will were having lunch.

Will had tried to get him to stay and even Mary had sent him silent messages with her eyes. But in the end, he had simply smiled and held out his phone, and made excuses, saying he needed to check in with the office. He knew he would have to join them at some point but he needed just a little bit more time to get his conflicting emotions under control.

As he passed by the burger palace again, he noticed a young woman trying hard not to pay attention to Mary and Will's table. Marshall slowed his steps, and swung around to look out at the ocean while still able to keep the girl in his peripheral vision.

He started as his phone rang, but relaxed when he saw who it was. "Hi, mom. How are you – whoa, whoa, slow down! I can hardly – you found a letter from dad? What did it say?"

Marshall turned to look back at the young woman and only half heard his mother's reply as the sunlight glinted off the polished metal of a gun. "Mom, I'm going to have to call you back. I know – it's about Mary but – I have to go. I promise I'll call you back when I can."

"So what happened to your ankle?"

Mary shrugged. "Hazards of the job, Kid."

"Come on, that's the best you've got? I guess Dad really is the storyteller in the family."

Mary stuck out her tongue. "There's not that much to tell – well, not that much I can, OK? I was on the job, chasing this fugitive and I ah- stepped in a gopher hole."

Liam leaned back in his chair, struggling to keep a straight face. "Seriously?"

"Hey! I wasn't looking at the ground! I was trying to keep my eyes on the guy-"

Liam broke out in laughter. "Wow – at least you weren't shot in the ass."

"Who-" her eyes widened. "Marshall got shot in the ass?"

Liam nodded. "But don't tell him I told you."

Mary grinned. "You didn't – I figured it out all by myself."

"Thanks."

She sobered. "How many times has Marshall been shot?"

Liam grimaced. "Two times – the other time, he almost died."

Mary swallowed. "How old were you?"

"Fourteen. Dad told me that he fought hard to come back to me – and I didn't ask any more questions about you for two years. He was enough."

Mary swallowed the emotion in her throat. She should have been there – damn it, why wasn't she?

"So sorry I'm late, honey, but I couldn't get away sooner," Marshall drawled as he leaned over her chair and placed a feather light kiss on her lips. "Did you save me any lunch?"

"Marshall – what the fu-" Mary breathed.

"Shh," he whispered against her cheek, his breath fanning across her face. "There's a young woman at your four o'clock with a gun pointed at you. Just act natural, OK?" He felt her tense momentarily before she nodded slightly. He pulled away and sat down in the other empty chair and smiled at Will who was looking at him in confusion. Using the table as a shield, he made a shooting motion with his right hand and Will nodded.

"Sorry, Dad, we ate it all – are you hungry? I'm sure the waitress could put in an order for you."

"I'm not, really. What do you say we pay and get out of here?"

Marshall kept one hand on the small of Mary's back as she got her bearings and walked out on her crutches. "This would be easier if you'd let me go without them," she hissed under her breath.

He shook his head. "You need to use them – I could always throw you over my shoulder and carry you like a sack of potatoes-"

She glared at him and he gave her a wide berth as she angrily lifted one of her crutches and swung it at him. Marshall turned to see Will smiling at them. "What?"

"Nothing, Dad – it's just the two of you are so –"

"Don't, all right? Now is not the time." He glanced over his shoulder as they moved slowly up the boardwalk. "I don't think she followed us out of the restaurant."

"I didn't see her," Mary puffed. "Are you sure you weren't imagining things?"

"Positive. I know what I saw, Mary. She was a young Native American girl, black hair, dark eyes, around twenty, and she had a small red birthmark behind her right ear."

Mary stopped walking so suddenly that Marshall nearly bumped into her. "Jessie."

"You know her."

"Just from surveillance photos and the description – I've never actually seen her."

"Who is she?"

"She's the daughter of the man I helped capture just before I went on leave-"

Marshall held up a hand. "Let me guess: she holds you responsible. Have you received death threats?"

Mary rolled her eyes. "It's part of the job, Marshall – you can't take it seriously."

He stepped into her personal space. "The hell I can't! You were having lunch with my son less than fifty feet away from a young woman with a gun who wants to kill you! What if she had opened fire? That restaurant was full of people, Mer – she could have taken hostages."

"She just wants me."

"And what if Will was in the way, hm? It's not just you, Mary. You have a son – you're a mother. I know it takes some getting used to but you're going to have to switch from offense to defense once in awhile!"

"Dad."

Marshall whirled to look at Will. "What?"

"Cut her a little slack, OK? She only found out about me yesterday – and it's not like I'm a little kid. I can take care of myself. I know how to duck and cover when guns start blazing."

A corner of Marshall's mouth twitched and he turned back to see that Mary was staring straight ahead, pale and unmoving. "Shit! I'm sorry, Mer. I know this is all happening at once and I didn't mean to come down on you so hard but when I saw that gun, all I could think about was Will-"

Her green eyes flicked to his. "And you think I wasn't? I know it's barely been twenty-four hours but I'd be devastated if anything happened to him – you have to believe me."

He cupped the back of her neck and pulled her to him, her crutches crashing to the ground. "I do know – forgive me?"

She nodded against his chest as her tears soaked his shirt and Liam stood awkwardly to the side as his parents had their moment. His eyes scanned the crowd of shoppers and suddenly he snapped to attention.

"Dad? Is that her – the girl from the restaurant – over by the ice cream shoppe – our ten o'clock?"

Marshall tensed, but didn't release Mary as he lifted his eyes and looked in the direction his son indicated and saw the young woman standing in the shadows of the stand. "Let's go."

Mary pulled away and Marshall picked up her crutches. "Where?"

"We need to contact your boss – tell him that Jessie has found you and then we'll take you someplace safe."

She swallowed. "You mean – witness protection?"

He smiled. "No, you're not a witness to anything. But you do need to disappear for awhile and I happen to know the perfect place – that is, if you still want to know the truth and get your answers."

Mary's head was spinning but she nodded. "I have to know – I'm not going to have any peace until I know."

"Then let's go home."

"And you're sure this is the woman you saw?"

Marshall stared at the close up shot for another moment before nodding. "This is her – she's a couple of years older and you can't see her birthmark in this photo, but it was definitely Jessie."

Gavin pulled out more papers from his briefcase, handing them to Marshall. "This is a surveillance report of her entering the country from Mexico two days ago. As you can see, we have a description of her birthmark here, though some have described it as a tattoo."

Marshall shook his head. "No, it's definitely a birthmark: deep red in color, oblong in shape, and about an inch long."

Gavin smiled as he wrote down Marshall's words. "You make an excellent witness, Inspector."

"Comes with the job."

Gavin grunted. "Even when you're off duty, you're really not 'off' – am I right?"

Marshall shrugged and shook his head. "I must admit, I felt a little weird without my gun today. I always carry my badge and ID but traveling with my gun when I'm not on duty is more trouble than it's worth."

"I hear you." Gavin stood up. "Take care of Mary, would you? Look who I'm talking to – her husband. I just can't believe I've known her all these years and never knew."

Mary limped into the room carrying a suitcase. "How could you know when I didn't?"

Marshall leapt to his feet and took her luggage. "Damn it, Mer. I told you to tell me when you were finished. You shouldn't be carrying something this heavy with your broken ankle."

"It's not that heavy – back off, Marshall." She shrugged at Gavin. "He's worse than an old woman."

Gavin grinned. "I think you've met your match, Mary."

"I should get back to the hotel and see if Will is ready to go – thanks for sending a Marshal to watch over him until I got back," Marshall shook hands with Gavin.

"Don't mention it. It's me who should be thanking you for taking Mary out of the line of fire – you seem to be the only one who can get through to her. One day you'll have to tell me your secret."

"Hey!" Mary protested.

"You going to be OK until I get back?" Marshall frowned.

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, mom, Gavin is going to be right outside. Besides, I asked Raph to stop by. I can't just leave town without letting him know."

Marshall nodded. "Do you want us to pick you up or-"

She shook her head. "I'll meet you at the airport."

He fought down the dread and fear that threatened to overwhelm him. Mary saw it in his eyes and she limped to his side, reaching up to touch his cheek. "Everything will be fine – I'll be there, I promise."

Gavin's presence was the only thing that prevented Marshall from pulling Mary into his arms and giving her a toe curling kiss. Instead he breathed one against her forehead. "You better be."

Marshall knew something was wrong the minute he got to the hotel and didn't see the unmarked car outside.

Flying up the outside staircase, he raced down the corridor until he reached their door, pausing as he saw it was slightly ajar. He listened for a moment and when he heard no sound from within, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

"Come on in, Marshal Marshall Mann. We've been waiting for you."

As his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting inside, he tried hard to keep his posture relaxed as he saw his son sitting on the end of one of the beds staring at the business end of a revolver held by Jessie. She barely flicked a glance in his direction, keeping her attention trained on Will.

"Shut the door – oh, and don't trip on our friend there."

Marshall let the door shut behind him as he looked down to see the FTF agent passed out cold just inside the room, a large lump forming on the side of his head.

"As you can see, he's alive. I don't spill unnecessary blood if I can avoid it."

"Jessie-" he watched as she flinched at the sound of her name. "Why are you here?"

She motioned with her gun for Marshall to join Will on the bed and he slowly moved across the room. He locked eyes with his son, asking if he was all right, and relaxed slightly as he got a nod in response.

"Isn't it obvious? I want the Lady Marshal – and when she finds out I have her family, she'll come running, or hobbling." Jessie laughed at her own joke.

Marshall's gut clenched. It was becoming obvious that Jessie wasn't entirely stable and that made their situation even more dangerous and precarious. If he could somehow keep Jessie talking and get the gun away from her before Gavin and Mary figured out something was wrong and came to rescue them that would be the best thing for everyone.

"She only met me yesterday," Liam spoke for the first time since Marshall entered the room. "She doesn't care about me that much."

"That's not what it looked like on the beach yesterday."

Marshall realized that Jessie had been watching Mary ever since she had come into the country and he wondered if the info Gavin had was accurate – perhaps Jessie had been in Miami for a lot longer than forty-eight hours. Who knew how long she had had Mary under surveillance?

Liam straightened on the bed. "I don't care what it looked like – I only met her yesterday – so we're hardly close."

Marshall laid a hand on his son's knee and Liam shut his mouth, knowing that anything he said would just be twisted.

Jessie cocked her head, considering the words. "Doesn't matter," she shrugged. "You're still family and the Lady Marshal won't let anyone else die in her place."

"What do you mean, you're leaving town for awhile? I thought your son was staying here-"

Mary ran a hand through her hair. "Something's happened, Raph, and it's best that I leave town for a bit. I'll call you-"

"So that's it? I don't get to know where you're going or when you'll be back?"

She shook her head. "It will be safer for you if you don't."

"Safer?" Raph placed his hands on her shoulders. "Mary, Querida, are you in danger? Is someone-"

She shrugged out of his touch. "I can't tell you about this, Raph. There are some things I just can't talk about – remember?"

"So it is work."

Mary just stared at him as Gavin walked back into the front room from the kitchen. "Mary, we have to go. I'm not getting a progress report from Wallins and Marshall isn't picking up either."

"Fuck!" she swore as she reached for her crutches. "I should have gone with him to get Will. I should have-"

"Mary, what's happening?"

"I don't have time to explain. Stay here – Gavin can you leave-"

Gavin nodded. "Payne can stay."

"Thanks. Raph, stay here until you hear from me."

"But Mary – I have a game at five."

"I'll call before that. Hopefully this is all a false alarm and everything's fine."

"Will you please just tell me-"

She hobbled out the front door. "Later!"

Marshall ignored the buzzing of his phone in his pocket, thankful that he had put it on vibrate before leaving Mary's house. He knew that they were running out of time – that Gavin and Mary would be here soon and if he hadn't found a way to disarm Jessie before that happened, someone was going to end up hurt.

"I think it's time to call the Lady Marshal, don't you?"

Marshall cleared his throat. "Can't we talk first?"

"About what?"

"About why you're doing this."

Jessie smiled. "I'm here to avenge my father's death."

Liam's mouth fell open. "Your father is dead?"

"Your mother didn't tell you that?"

Marshall laid his hand back on his son's knee and they remained silent, waiting to see if Jessie would talk.

"My father was a brave man – oh, I know he broke the law – but what was he supposed to do? Sit on his hands and watch as his sister died in pain and agony? None of us had the money to get the medicine she needed to ease her pain, so he borrowed it – and eased her suffering." Jessie pointed the gun at Marshall. "Do you have a sister?"

"Yes."

"Can you tell me that you wouldn't do the same for her?"

Marshall didn't answer. There wasn't much on this side of heaven or hell he wouldn't do for Brandi – but turn to a life of crime and steal prescription medication? He just didn't know – and he didn't know that she would ask him to either.

"I see the conflict in your face, Marshal Marshall Mann – and I saw it in my father as well. But he did what he had to. In the end, his sister, my aunt, died and he was captured for his crimes."

Jessie fell silent and Liam couldn't help but ask, "And you blame my mother for this?"

The gun swung back to Liam and he tried hard not to flinch. "I blame her for being his judge and jury- for breaking his spirit. My father took his own life last week as he waited for his trial to start. I blame her for condemning him and finding him guilty before a jury of his peers did. His death is on her head."

Liam shook off his father's warning hand and leapt to his feet. "That's crazy!"

"Will-" Marshall pleaded, his tone loving and full of warning.

"No, I can't let her talk about Mary like this! I know you miss your dad, and I'm sorry for your loss, Jessie. But my mom was just doing her job. I know it seems like she was judging him but that's not what she does. Her job is simply to bring in people who are fugitives – and that's what your father was. He may have been the greatest dad in the whole world, but he still stole those drugs – and I'm sure there were other people out there who needed them just as much as your aunt. Did you ever think about that?"

"I needed my dad!"

Liam took a step closer, ignoring the fact that he was now less than six inches from the barrel of the gun. "I know – but hurting my mom by killing one of us isn't going to bring him back. It will only send you to jail for a very long time. You don't want that, do you? I don't think that's what your dad wanted for you."

"Oh, Daddy," Jessie sobbed as her gun hand began to shake.

"Put the gun down, Jessie," Marshall whispered, standing slowly. "Put it down and I'll help you."

Jessie looked at Liam and he nodded. "He means it – my dad has connections, he knows people. He can talk to people, put in a good word for you. You can trust him."

She lowered the gun and Marshall felt himself take his first easy breath since entering the room as he stepped forward to take it from her.

"US Marshals, freeze!"

"I trusted you!" Jessie snarled as she raised the gun and pointed it at Marshall's chest.

"Jessie, no!" Liam screamed as he stepped in front of his dad as the gun went off.

"WILL!" Marshall cried as he caught his son in his arms, cradling him as they fell to the floor. "Stay with me, I love you, stay with me."

Gavin and Mary burst into the room, horrified at the scene in front of them: Marshall cradling a bleeding Will and Jessie curled into a ball, rocking back and forth, the gun at her feet, murmuring, "I didn't mean to, I didn't mean to."

Gavin whipped out his cell and dialed 911 as Mary hobbled as fast as she could to Marshall's side, dropping beside him on the floor. "Will! Marshall, what happened?"

Marshall raised fury filled eyes to hers. "This is all your fault. I had everything under control and then you come in like Annie Oakley and-" he choked. "Will, my boy, my son-"

Liam's eyes fluttered open. "Dad?"

Marshall caressed his son's face. "Will, hang on – the ambulance is on the way."

"It hurts-"

"I know, I know."

"I'm cold-"

Mary took his hands and rubbed them. "Hang on, Kid."

"Mom?"

Her heart broke a little as she heard the word for the first time. "Yes?"

"Take care – of Dad-"

"Oh Will, no, don't-" Mary began to cry.

"I love you – both-"

Marshall felt his son's body go limp in his arms and he buried his face in his son's chest as the sobs shook his body.

A/N: Breathe, everyone. I promise not to leave you hanging for too long ;) Reviews are LOVE!