Sam was in his apartment still thinking of the incident with Shari just over twenty-four hours earlier. What shocked him most was that Shari had gotten married and he'd never heard about it. It also meant she was technically unavailable, but on the other hand… No, no what was he thinking? Shari was married and seemed perfectly content, but the question was, was this Marcus worthy of her?
He was about to find out for there came a knock on the door. He opened it, but didn't recognize the tall fellow standing there. "Can I help you sir?" Sam asked politely.
"You are Sam Black?" asked the man. The way he spoke it wasn't really a question but more of a confirmation.
"Yes and you are?" asked Sam.
"Marcus O'Malley." He didn't bother to extend his hand for a shake.
Sam raised an eyebrow as he noticed the slight and also as he recognized the name, but didn't respond.
"Can I come in? We need to talk," said Marcus, studying the guy so intently until Sam felt as though he was under a microscope.
Sam studied the man as well then stepped aside to let Marcus into the apartment. "I'm assuming you're the Marcus that Shari mentioned."
"In that you would be right," said Marcus, his voice calm, while inside he was coiled with tension.
"Look, I'm sorry about what happened, but she surprised me," said Sam. He studied the guy again and had to admit if only to himself that he was handsome. He had black hair cropped short although not short enough to give it that military look and warm brown eyes that seemed to twinkle with their own light. As for his body, it practically screamed athlete. He pumped iron or maybe worked extremely hard for those set of biceps that bulged under his shirt.
"Sorry, doesn't cut it. If Adam hadn't stepped forward, you could have hurt her not to mention the baby she was carrying," Marcus said.
Sam looked genuinely shocked at that Marcus noticed. Good, that might mean that he would be a least a tad remorseful over the incident. "Is she okay?"
"Lucky for you she is, because I guarantee I wouldn't just be standing here talking to you if she wasn't," Marcus said his voice gruff.
The threat was obvious to a smart man like Sam and he flinched. Marcus wouldn't just bruise his jaw he'd more than likely, break it. "Does Shari know you're here. I know for a fact that she would have tried to stop you from coming over here at all," Sam said.
"She wasn't home when I got in, but she did tell me what happened when we talked over the phone yesterday afternoon, which is also why I'm here now," Marcus said.
"Look I already apologized what else do you want from me?" Sam demanded.
"You're promise to stay away from her in the future, unless it is some kind of political gathering and you can't avoid at least speaking to her. Even then I would prefer only polite conversation," Marcus answered.
"Why should I promise you that?" demanded Sam.
"Because if it should get back to Jack, Stephen or even to me that you have been bothering her one of us will hunt you down and teach you a lesson. It will more than likely be Jack and it also won't be, pretty. We protect our own and information always manages to get around eventually and of course, I've known Jack to punch out a guy just for making one of his sisters cry and he nearly broke the guy's jaw."
Sam flinched at that, but didn't respond for a moment, his thoughts whirling furiously over possibilities in less than a second. He could lodge a complaint, but Marcus hadn't actually touched him and technically, he hadn't even really threatened him, just warned about possibilities, so going to the police would be useless in the extreme. "All right, All right I promise," said Sam seeing no other alternative.
Marcus nodded. "I'll take you for a man of your word and I will expect you to keep it." Marcus turned to go and left as silently as he had entered the apartment. Sam sat down with a soft plop and considered what had just happened.
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
"You know you really should get Stephen to make the crib," said Shari over lunch. They were celebrating Sara's pregnancy at one of the most expensive restaurants in town.
"Why not just buy one?" asked Sara.
"Because with Stephen you'll get quality, at half the price. He's making several pieces for me and he made Kate's as well. Stephen's real talented at making things why pay for a name brand if you don't have to?" Shari replied.
"Could he do other things?" asked Adam
"Sure he can," said Shari. "Anything made out of wood he can do. He even buy's old houses fixes them up then re-sales them."
"He has the money to do that?" asked Adam in surprise.
"He gets them cheap and he only does one every few years. He puts what money he gets back into another house. His parent's left him some money, which is how he got started, I think," Shari explained.
"Well, if you say he's that good then we'll have him make us a crib and a few other things," Sara decided.
"Here's Stephen's phone number in Silverton," said Shari handing them a scrap of paper with Stephen's number on it. "You'll have to see the rocking chair and toy chest he just sent us. They're beautiful pieces of work."
"Maybe another time we have a flight to catch," said Adam.
"Okay, it was nice to see you again. We really don't get to see each other enough," Shari said.
"It would be easier if you lived in Chicago or we lived here," said Sara. "But we don't so the only solution is to visit each other as often as possible."
"Which isn't very often," said Shari, ruefully. "Not with my schedule."
"You work yourself to hard," said Adam. "At least that's what Marcus says."
Shari grimaced. "Marcus is probably right, I do work too hard, but it's only because being in the political game and writing speeches isn't easy, but also, because dad always taught us to work hard for what we want."
"You miss him a lot?" asked Sara.
"Yes, I might have handled it better if he had died of say a heart attack, but to be shot down and to have a bullet end his life prematurely…It's a little hard to accept. At least a heart attack would've been natural causes, and while still tragic and sad, it wouldn't have been as heartrending as being murdered in the crossfire," Shari said and Adam and Sara nodded in agreement with that.
"I lost my father to just a few years ago and although it was by natural causes, I'm still grieving and it will probably never go away entirely. I'll probably grieve until I die, but the only thing that makes it bearable is that I'll see him again someday," said Adam.
"And Kim as well—Kim died young, but I bet she is laughing and playing up there and I bet your dad is also enjoying himself. You need to remember that," Sara said smiling sadly.
"I'll try," Shari promised.
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
Shari got home to find Marcus sitting on the couch looking tired. "Marcus you're home," said Shari practically throwing herself into his lap.
"Quite a greeting," said Marcus after kissing Shari hello. "I got your note. So how is Sara doing?"
"She's okay, Adam was really worried there for awhile. He was pacing when I got there, but it turns out she's just pregnant."
"Pregnant? That's great. Adam's been wanting a family," Marcus said smiling brilliantly.
"Yeah and the doctor thinks it might be twins," Shari agreed aslo smiling.
"That's even better," Marcus said.
"Sara wasn't too enthusiastic, still isn't," Shari said cuddling into Marcus.
"I can understand why. She is afraid any child she has will be kidnapped and held for ransom," Marcus said gravely.
"Hopefully, that won't happen. It's not that she doesn't want a family she'd just be afraid for them," Shari said.
"She'll get over it," Marcus predicted. "Especially when she holds those babies in her arms she'll forget all her worries."
"I hope that's true," said Shari kissing him again with passion.
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
Marcus and Shari entered the building where Lamaze classes were being held. It was their very first class and to say the least they were both just a little nervous. They all sat down and class began.
"Let's begin by introducing ourselves and telling your profession," said the instructor.
"I'm Anthony Stillman and this is my wife Terri. I'm a lawyer and Terri is a doctor. It will be our first child."
"My name is David Angell and this is my wife Leigh. "I'm a building contractor and Leigh is a teacher. It will be our second child."
Finally, it came to be Marcus's, and Shari's turn. "I'm Marcus O'Malley and this is my wife Shari. I'm a U.S. Marshal and Shari is a politician. This will be our first child."
Everybody raised an eyebrow to have U.S. Marshal in they're midst.
"Now class since everybody has introduced themselves it's time to get started…"
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
A few days after the first Lamaze class Marcus came home from the office to find Shari sitting on the couch a pad of paper and a pen in her hand. She was stretched out her legs curled under her and looked quite comfortable and also devastatingly beautiful.
"Evening minx," said Marcus.
"Evening Marcus," said Shari looking up from her speech and giving him her heart, melting grin.
"What are you working on?"
"A speech for a political party next week. I meant to mention it to you, but I was just invited today," Shari replied.
"Is it a formal event?" asked Marcus.
"Yes," said Shari. "I was hoping you would be free to escort me."
"I should be," said Marcus. "If not I'll get somebody else to take you."
"Good," said Shari. "And I don't want an escort unless it's you. It's a fairly important political event. I make a good impression next week and I have a good chance of winning."
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
Marcus pulled at the collar of his tux and tried not to look uncomfortable. Usually he was perfectly comfortable in a tux, but tonight for some reason his collar was too tight.
"Stop pulling on your collar or you you'll stretch it out of shape," Shari scolded him, playfully, as Marcus drove to the political party. She was in the race, but making a good impression tonight was important.
"It seems tight tonight for some reason," said Marcus, pulling on his collar with one hand and keeping the other on the wheel.
"You're probably just nervous this is your first political party after all," Shari suggested.
"Me nervous?" asked Marcus, as if the idea astonished him.
"Yes, you, just because you can face down a criminal, or protect somebody important without flinching doesn't mean these kind of gatherings are easy, but once you get there you'll be okay."
"And you're not nervous?"
"Maybe a little, but I've been to these things gatherings before you haven't, but I'm also glad you could make it tonight."
"I am to, although I can't promise I won't get paged, but I told them only if it was an emergency."
"I hope you don't get a call," said Shari.
"Me too, I want to be there by your side when you give your speech or at least in the crowd. You also need to be careful tonight, you are after all six months pregnant and I don't want you tiring yourself out," Marcus said.
"I know my back is already throbbing. I can't wait for this baby to be born," Shari mildly complained.
"If you start to feel too bad let me know and we'll leave early," Marcus ordered.
"Okay," Shari agreed just as they pulled up at the hotel where the party was being held.
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
Later, Shari was introducing Marcus around to most everybody she knew in the political arena.
"Shari I've been trying to catch up with you all night." Shari tensed at the sound of the voice behind her.
"Good evening Terry," said Shari politely.
"Why don't we dance?" Terry suggested.
Shari grimaced as his breath hit her. The smell nearly made her keel over he was definitely well on his way to being drunk. Where oh where was Marcus? He had left her side only long enough to get them both some food from the refreshment table, but had not yet returned. "I don't think so Terry. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go see what happened to my husband." She deliberately stressed the word "husband" hoping Terry would get the message and leave her alone. No such luck. Terry grabbed her arm fast for somebody who was supposed to be drunk before she could even start to move away. "Let me go Terry," Shari said as evenly as possibly even while inside she was scared. "I'm a married woman now and even if I wasn't I wouldn't even consider going out with you. You disgust me. For one thing you drink too much."
"I'm sure your husband won't mind if we dance," said Terry, leaning close to her as if to kiss her. Shari backed as far away as his hold on her arm would allow and tried again to wrench; herself free. "Actually, he's a very possessive man," said Shari as calmly as possible while silently she was praying for intervention. "He protects people he cares about."
Terry's grip tightened until Shari's arm throbbed and the baby also kicked against her stomach—hard as if he could sense his mother's aggravation.
Suddenly, Marcus's fist smashed into Terry's face and Terry crumpled like a ton of bricks releasing Shari's arm in the process. Shari hadn't even heard Marcus approach, but he could move extremely silently when he wanted to—almost like a ghost. They had gathered a crowd of spectators at that point, but Shari didn't care about making a good impression and when Marcus slipped an arm around her shoulders she didn't resist and leaned against him thanking God for his presence in her life. "You okay minx?" he whispered.
"I'm fine," said Shari, but her trembling gave lie to that line.
"You're not okay you're trembling and don't try to tell me you aren't I can feel it," Marcus whispered tenderly in her ear.
"All right, I'm not all right, but I will be in a minute," She whispered back. Gradually her trembling subsided and Marcus released her, but didn't leave her side for the rest of the evening. Terry had been dragged into another room and left to awaken on his own.
"If I'd had my way, I'd kill the guy not just knock him out," Marcus muttered still upset twenty minutes after the incident.
"Now Marcus he really didn't do any harm. I admit Terry has never been one of my favorite people and he's a lousy politician if only because he's drunk half the time. I'm surprised he was even invited tonight," Shari told him.
All night, after the incident with Terry, people had been coming up to her to congratulate her on how she had handled herself and also apologizing for not interfering sooner. Marcus was amazed, but Shari accepted each apology gracefully, as if nothing had happened. And when people approached him to congratulate him for punching the jerk out all he said was that no one messes with an O'Malley. Then had to explain the O'Malley's were a close family and they took care of each other and those they cared about when people looked confused.
Finally, Shari gave her speech and politely took her leave only saying she was tired and needed her sleep using the baby as her excuse. Marcus followed her out his arm protectively around her shoulders
"You handled yourself well tonight," Marcus complimented.
"Not as well as I ought to have," said Shari with a grimace. "I should have realized he would probably be there tonight."
"Don't be so hard on yourself you did better than most people in that kind of situation. And I don't know how he manages to keep getting himself invited if this is how he acts every time," Marcus told her.
"Not every time. Most of the time he manages to be basically sober, although he's always been a jerk. Of course, he probably held it against me, because I've refused to date him on numerous occasions and his being drunk, didn't help," Shari explained.
"He's the kind of guy to hold grudges then?" Marcus asked.
"Yes," said Shari, simply.
"You'll have to watch out for him in the future he could be dangerous." Marcus had taken a long look at the man's character and didn't like what her saw.
"I don't think he's usually the violent type," Shari protested, weakly.
"That might be true when's he's sober, but when's he's drunk like he was tonight? Men do violent things and then don't remember it afterwards," Marcus warned her.
"I guess you're right," said Shari.
"Just be more cautious in the future. I can't bear to think of you hurt by a drunk and violent man," Marcus warned softly.
"Okay," said Shari somewhat subsided
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
