A/N: So, about this chapter: I know that there are plenty of Raph-bashing fics on the site but I actually liked the character (not to mention the actor - YUM), but not with Mary. He wasn't right for her, for obvious reasons. That aside, in this universe, his character is a bit darker and he's still not right for her. So, again the strong T warning for the first part of this chapter. Enjoy!

Twenty-four hours later

Raph unlocked the front door and stepped into the house calling out for Mary as he shut the door behind him. He waited for an answer but when only silence met him, he threw the keys on the table and moved into the living room, coming to a halt when he saw the half-packed boxes. A knot of dread began to form in his stomach as he went over to examine the contents but to his surprise, he found the box contained some of Mary's winter clothing, not his. Raph's brow knit in confusion. Is she moving out? Why didn't she tell me? He noticed a notepad with one of her infamous lists sitting on the coffee table and he picked it up.

1. Call realtor about listing

2. Pick up boxes from U-Haul

3. Talk to Gavin

4. Talk to Raph

Raph sank onto the couch behind him. Fourth? I'm fourth? We were on our way to Atlantic City to get married and now she's moving to God only knows where and I'm fourth on her list?

The rage boiled up inside of him and for the next several minutes he tried hard to calm down. He hadn't heard from her since that hurried phone call yesterday and so today he'd finally called her boss, who had been a little more forthcoming with information. Her son had been shot and Mary was staying with him at the hospital while he recovered. Raph wanted to do something nice for her – bring her a couple of changes of clothes, maybe some food. He knew that she would be focused on the kid and not herself. And yeah, maybe, just maybe, she would be happy to see him too.

But he didn't expect to show up and find boxes and a list that included her planning to tell him that she was moving. This could only have something to do with Marshall – the long lost husband. He must have said or done something. Raph knew that that guy had been up to no good – he knew it! The rage was building again as he stood and moved towards his and Mary's room. He wouldn't let this change his plans. He could still make a care package, swing by the hospital and-

Raph stopped in the bedroom doorway as his eyes landed on Mary's sleeping form. She was curled up on her side, wearing a light blue tank top and panties, her hair still damp from a shower, her body curled around a pillow. He knew she must be exhausted not to have heard him come in, calling for her. She always slept like the dead – he used to joke that a hurricane could hit the coast and she'd sleep right through it. Toeing off his tennis shoes, he undid the snap of his jeans and slid them down his hips. Moving as quietly as possible, Raph slid into bed behind her, wrapping an arm around her, letting a hand slip under the thin material of her top.

"Mm, Marshall," Mary sighed into her pillow.

Raph cursed. She thinks I am her husband? She dreams of him? I think you need to remember who you belong to, Querida. You are mine.

He growled as he rolled her to her back and began raining kisses on her skin.

Mary was having the most wonderful dream. Marshall was kissing and licking every inch of her skin, igniting a fire inside of her that she hadn't felt in – well, ever. She reached up and gripped the back of his head, holding him to her.

"Don't stop," she moaned.

"I wasn't going to."

She frowned. The voice was wrong – and as her eyes fluttered open she saw that the hair was too dark to be Marshall's. "Who-" she tried to move her hands, only to hear a soft clinking sound. Looking up, she saw that her hands were cuffed to the headboard and wrapped in her tank top. Swallowing a sense of panic, she looked back down into Raph's lustful gaze. "Get off me."

"That's not what you said a minute ago-"

She squirmed but Raph was using his full body weight to pin her to the bed. "I wasn't talking to you, asshole!"

He nipped at the skin next to her navel. "There's no one else here, Mary. It's just you and me-"

Mary huffed out a breath. "Great, me alone with a psycho – listen, numb nuts. I meant what I said before: you and I are not having sex."

Raph rested his head on her stomach. "You seemed more than willing-"

"I was asleep! And I wasn't talking to you! I was-"

"What? Dreaming of your husband? Tell me, Mary, how long did you wait after you kicked me out to fuck him? An hour?"

She screamed and tried to lift her casted foot but he surged up her body until his face was next to hers, his breath hot in face.

"Does Marshall know what a whore you are?"

There was a metallic click as a gun was pressed to the back of Raph's head. "Get – off – my – wife."

Mary's eyes met Marshall's as Raph rolled off her and sneered up at him. "Oh look, Daddy's home."

Marshall pointed his gun between Raph's eyes. "You have five minutes to get dressed, give me the key to this house, and get out."

"Or what?"

"Or I call Gavin, who calls local law enforcement and you're arrested for the attempted rape and assault of a Federal Marshal. I have a funny feeling something will happen to your baseball career, not to mention your VISA, Rameriz."

Raph leapt from the bed. "You don't have that kind of pull, Mann."

Marshall grinned. "Try me."

Raph got dressed, muttering curses and derogatory names in Spanish that Marshall was glad Mary didn't understand. He followed Raph to the front door and scooped up a set of keys from the front table. "Do you have another copy?"

"No."

"I hope not, for your sake. I'd hate to file a restraining order."

"What would be the point? She's moving, isn't she?"

Marshall didn't answer as he opened the door. "Good luck with the career."

Raph grunted. "Good luck with her."

Marshall slammed the door shut behind him and for a moment stood there, trying to get his pounding heart under control. Finally he flipped the safety on and tucked the gun into the back of his jeans as he returned to the bedroom. Mary was staring at the ceiling and didn't respond when he came inside. He crossed swiftly to the bed and flipped the covers over her, hiding her naked flesh from his gaze.

He cleared his throat. "Where's the key?"

"In the drawer of the nightstand."

He found the tiny key and within a minute had her free. Trying not to wince at the red lines, Marshall sat on the edge of the bed and massaged her wrists. Her silence was worrying him, as were the tears that were slipping from her eyes, down her temples and into her hair.

"Mary? Did he hurt you?"

She shook her head.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. "I'm just – if you hadn't come – he might have – Marshall, please-" her voice broke as she sat up suddenly, throwing her arms around his neck.

He felt his breath catch as he realized the covers had slipped and her naked chest was pressed against his – but then that thought faded away as Mary began to sob. For the second time in twenty-four hours, his wife was crying in his arms. He pulled her into him and let her tears soak his shirt, grateful that he was here to comfort her, grateful that he had gotten back in time to save her from being raped. When he had opened the front door and heard her scream, his heart had stopped.

After a while, she began to speak softly against him. "We go through all this training – self defense and martial arts – to protect ourselves so I never thought I'd be in a situation like that. I honestly thought I'd be able to fight my way out of it. Even when I woke up and he was on top of me, I wasn't overly worried. I thought I could talk him down, and if that didn't work, I'd use my training," she sighed. "But he'd already cuffed me and with my injury and his added weight-" she gulped back a sob.

"Hush, Mer, none of it is your fault, all right? You said no and he didn't listen – and you did fight long enough for me to get here."

"I just didn't have the leverage this time to knee him in the groin like last time."

"Last time?" Marshall repeated hoarsely. He pushed her away so he could study her face. "He's done this before? Shit, Mary-"

"Not like this, Marshall, calm down. It was just after Will showed up and Raph got drunk and he tried to initiate sex. I said no and-"

"Let me guess: he didn't take it well. Fuck, I'm going to-" Marshall made a move to stand but Mary gripped his arms.

"Whoa there, String Bean, you're not going to do anything! You've done enough tonight – coming in with guns blazing and marching him off the reservation. Where did you get the piece, anyway?"

"It's Gavin's backup- and don't try to distract me. Mary, listen to me. Is this the way things worked between the two of you? Did he ever-"

"No! Raph never raped me, Marshall."

"But did he ever do things you weren't comfortable with – have sex with you while you were sleeping? Or you said no and he pushed and eventually you gave in because it was easier than fighting him off?"

Mary's eyes fell to the bed and her silence was all the confirmation he needed. "I'm going to kill him."

"No! Please, Will needs you and if you're in jail for murder –" she collapsed back on his chest. "Marshall, I know I don't remember being married to you or being a mother – at least not yet. But I do know that you taught me what love was-" she swallowed. "And I guess I've been looking for it ever since. My relationship with Raph came the closest but he – yes, he hurt me on occasion but I didn't tell him so how was he to know?"

Marshall groaned deep in his throat as he pulled Mary's head back and kissed her forehead. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Love me?"

He recoiled in shock. "What?"

"Please? I – I need you, Marshall. Help me forget what happened tonight."

Oh, you still don't play fair, Mary Shannon Mann. He leaned his forehead against hers. "I can't – not tonight."

"Why not?"

He ran a hand down the side of her face. "Because there's still so much we need to figure out – so many answers we need to find. When we come together, I want there to be no more questions between us."

She sighed. "I was afraid you were going to say-"

"What?"

"Nothing."

He frowned. "What is it? Tell me?"

"I thought you were going to say you couldn't because you don't love me anymore- I mean you said as much on the beach-"

Marshall looked at her in silence for a moment before chuckling. "I lied."

Her mouth fell open. "You lied – why?"

"I hadn't seen you in eighteen years and you were engaged to another man and you ask me why I lied about my true feelings for you?"

She smiled. "I see your point. So, you do love me?"

He cupped her face in his hands. "I never stopped, Mer."

"Kiss me."

"Ma –ry-"

"I know the other is off limits right now, but what's wrong with one little kiss? We kissed in the hospital and-"

Her words were cut off as his lips met hers and Mary sighed at the sensation. Lips that were warm, soft and invoked a feeling in her she had never felt with any other man. She bit his lower lip gently and Marshall opened his mouth to her with a moan and she pushed her tongue inside to play with his. Her hands were in his hair and his were running up and down her spine, giving her delicious chills. He broke their connection suddenly, leaning away from her with darkened eyes, panting softly.

"I need to stop now before I can't."

She laughed and leaned in for another quick peck but he turned his head and her lips landed on his cheek. She pouted and lay back on the bed.

He shook his finger at her as he flipped the covers up and over her body. "Try and get some more sleep."

She frowned and repressed a shudder. "I don't think I can-"

He leaned over her and trailed a line of kisses from her mouth to her earlobe. "Sure you can, just think of me."

"Mm," she smiled as she rolled and clutched a pillow. "That's what I was doing before I was so rudely awakened."

"Really? Do tell."

She opened one eye and smiled at him. "A girl has to have some secrets, Mr. Mann."

He brushed one last kiss against her cheek. "Sweet dreams, my love."

"Yes, Bee, I swear that Will is doing just fine. He's got a long road of recovery ahead of him but-" Marshall turned as he heard a sound behind him and saw Mary standing behind him, her face pale. "I have to go – no, everything's fine. I love you too." He hung up his cell and crossed swiftly to her side, placing a hand at her hip. "Mary, what is it?"

"Who was that on the phone?"

Shit – we haven't gotten to Brandi yet. He took a deep breath. "Your sister."

Her eyes met his. "You know where she is?"

He frowned. "Of course-"

Her fingers clutched his arm, the nails digging into the skin like talons. "Where? Where is she?"

"Brandi's at home – in Albuquerque, with her husband Peter and her baby boy, Stevie."

Mary blinked back the emotion. "She has a family? You've stayed in touch with her all these years?"

He gently pried her fingers loose and took her hand in his. "Where did you think she was?"

"I didn't know-" she hobbled with him over to the couch and sat down. "After I regained my memory, I had Sister Agnes contact her sisters in Middletown. That's when I found out that Jinx was dead and Squish had been adopted – but it was a closed adoption and she couldn't find out anymore than that."

"But surely after you became a Marshal you could have found out where she was, just like I found out where you were?" Marshall pressed her.

Mary shook her head. "By the time I'd found and dealt with Dad, it had been years, Marshall. I wanted Brandi to be happy – and I hoped that she had a family who would love her and give her the life I would never be able to."

"That's ridiculous!" Marshall shook his head. "You're her sister! She mourned for you like you were dead, Mary! She cried herself to sleep for a year – do you know that? She blamed herself for your leaving – she thought she'd done something-" he broke off as the emotion clogged his throat.

"How do you know all this?"

"Because my parents were the ones that adopted her."

Mary dropped his hand in shock. "Seth adopted Brandi? I – I don't believe it."

Marshall shrugged. "It took some pleading on my mom's part and I think he did it hoping it would bridge the gap between us – but yeah, Brandi's my adopted little sister."

"Can I – do you have any pictures?"

Marshall nodded as he pulled out his phone and scrolled through his photos. "Here – these are the most recent."

Mary held the phone in her trembling hands, her finger scrolling through the images, stopping on one of Brandi, Marshall, and Stevie. "What's the baby's name?"

"Stephen Edward Alpert."

Mary smiled. "She named him after you-"

"And his father, Peter Edward."

"But his first name is Stephen."

Marshall flushed uncomfortably. "Yes."

"I think she still has a bit of a crush on you-"

He shook his head. "No, she's completely in love with Peter. But we're very close. She's the little sister I never had. She followed Will and me to New Mexico after she graduated high school and went to NMU for nursing."

She looked at him in shock. "Brandi's a nurse?"

"Labor and delivery – she loves her job."

"I don't believe it. Squish hated the sight of blood as a child."

"She's still not fond of it – but she says she doesn't even notice the blood when she's helping doctors bring babies into the world."

Mary stared at the picture in her hands. "I guess my baby sister really grew up then, huh?"

Marshall remained silent.

"How much does she hate me?"

"She doesn't hate you, Mer. She's – hurt, mad, scared of getting hurt if you disappear again."

Her eyes met his. "So how do I reassure her that I'm here to stay and that I'm sorry?"

"Time – just give her time." He glanced at the clock. "Speaking of time, I need to get back to the hospital. Are you up to coming or-"

"I'm coming."

They went to ICU first but were told that William had been doing so well that he had been moved to the fourth floor. Mary grumbled and Marshall asked if he should get her a wheelchair, but she just stuck her tongue out and hobbled after him. When she nearly stumbled getting out of the elevator, he swept her up into his arms.

"Put me down! I can walk."

"You forgot your crutches again, Mer. I'm trying to keep you from walking with a permanent limp when you get your cast off. How are you going to chase down fugitives?"

"Who says I'm going to stay with the FTF after I move?"

"Mary, I told you. I don't think you should make any life changing decisions right now. There's too much going on in your life-" He broke off as they entered William's room and saw that he already had a visitor.

"Look who's here, Dad."

Marshall set Mary on her feet. "Hi, Mom. What are you doing here?"

Patti came forward to embrace her son. "I know, you told me on the phone I didn't have to come but really, Marshall. My grandson's been shot – what did you expect me to do? Sit at home and bake cookies?"

Marshall grinned. "Of course not – Mom, you remember-"

"Mary," Patti breathed the name softly as she turned and looked at her for the first time.

"Hello, Patti. It's been a long time." Mary was tense as she faced Marshall's mother. She was ready for a confrontation. Marshall had always been Patti's favorite, and she couldn't imagine that the woman had any kind words or fuzzy feelings for the woman that had abandoned her baby boy and grandchild for nearly twenty years.

But to Mary's shock, Patti reached out and drew Mary into a tender embrace. "Mary – it's been too long. It's good to see you."

Mary's eyes flew to Marshall's and he shrugged, as baffled by his mother's response as she was. "It's good to see you too, Patti. I must admit I wasn't expecting such a cordial greeting from you."

Patti chuckled as she drew back and studied Mary's face. "Expected me to give you a tongue lashing for leaving my boy?"

"Well, yes."

Patti nodded. "I'll confess that if I'd been reunited with you last week, I would have given you a healthy helping of my mind. But that was before I found this." She picked up her purse and extracted a letter.

"What is that?" Mary frowned.

"This is the missing piece of the puzzle – the reason why you left, Mary."

A/N: I know you all hate me - but I had to do it! Reviews are LOVE!