Understanding

Mary walked in to see Marshall staring at a card. She couldn't decide if it was a look of horror or just dread on his face. Curiosity overwhelming her, she strode up to him and grabbed the card from his hands. Looking at it she read the invitation.

You are cordially invited to the retirement part for Seth Mann on January 29th, 2011 starting at 5:00PM at the Starlight Room. RSVP to Olivia Mann.

"Your Mom's throwing your Dad a retirement party. Why do you look like someone just shot a puppy?" Mary asked.

"You remember my Dad, right? How much fun do you think it's really going to be? It's like being slowly tortured to death," Marshall replied.

"It's for your Dad, Marshall. I don't think the point has anything to do with your feelings on the matter. You're his son and should be there," Mary said.

"You're giving me family etiquette?" Marshall asked, amused.

Mary rolled her eyes and ignored the dig. "Where's the Starlight Room anyways?"

"Dallas," Marshall replied.

"So call your Mom and tell her you're coming. Grow a pair and suck it up for the night," Mary said.

"If I'm going then you have to come with me. Misery loves company and who better to bring?" Marshall replied.

"Why do I have to go?" Mary asked, irritated.

"You're my partner. You're supposed to have my back. If you want to get technical you owe me for all the times I've helped you out of a family drama. There will be free food and drinks, if it makes you feel better. You like my Dad. You said so yourself."

"What kind of food?" Mary asked, knowing she was cornered.

"Dad's a meat and potato kind of guy, so I'm guessing brisket, ribs, and possibly chicken. Unless Mom decides to ignore Dad and goes with something fancy," Marshall shrugged.

"If you can get Stan to agree to let us both go, then I'll have your back," Mary said, smiling because she knew that Stan would never let them both off at the same time.

"Agreed," Marshall replied, as Stan came walking in.

"What are you two up to now?" Stan asked, hearing the agreed as he entered.

"Is it okay if Mary and I fly back from the mandatory conference in San Antonio on Sunday morning instead of Friday night? Mom sent an invite for Dad's retirement party."

"Sure, if something happens Charlie and I can take care of it," Stan shrugged.

Mary glared at Marshall. She had forgotten about the conference they had to attend. He knew it when he told her she had to come with him.

"You read the invite. It's not my fault you didn't put the two together," Marshall stated, calling his Mom and letting her know they'd both be coming. After hanging up he looked at Mary. "Oh, Mary you're going to have to dress up."

"You didn't mention that either," Mary said, angrily. Now she had to go out and get something to wear. She knew full well that she had nothing in her closet for this.

"My bad," Marshall said, with a smirk.

Mary shot three spitballs at him, which he dodged with ease. "I hate you."

"You love me and you know it," Marshall said, laughing at Mary's irritation.

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Mary climbed into the Mustang and dialed Brandi. If she had to go shopping for a dress she'd need some assistance. She hated wearing dresses. She would have to figure out a plan to get Marshall back for this. She understood why he wanted a friend there. Marshall may have made some progress with his Father, but there was no way for it to be enough for this event. She could tell Marshall was expecting to be judged again.

"Hey, Mary," Squish said, answering the call.

"What are you doing?" Mary asked, skipping the pleasantries.

"Peter and I were watching a movie. Why?" Squish asked, suspiciously.

"Can you be ready in fifteen minutes to go out?"

"Go where?" Brandi replied.

"I need your help in finding a suitable dress for a retirement party. Nothing like the one I wore to the bridal shower either." Mary would be horrified at that. She had yet to meet most of Marshall's family and wanted to make a good impression.

"Is Stan retiring?" Brandi asked, confused.

"No, Seth is retiring," Mary explained.

"Who's Seth?"

"Marshall's Dad. I somehow got suckered into going with Marshall," Mary replied.

"What kind of dress?" Brandi asked, trying to figure out where to take Mary.

"I don't know the place is at some reception hall. It needs to be classy. I don't want to make a bad impression with Marshall's family; especially Mom," Mary said.

"Why exactly would that be?" Brandi asked, teasingly.

"How else am I going to get blackmail on Marshall?" Mary replied.

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Mary and Marshall had rented a car and left the conference a day early to head to Dallas. They had crammed the sessions they needed in early in order to; as Mary called it, end their suffering sooner. Mary watched Marshall intently as he drove the four and half hours it took to get to Dallas. He was silent and seemed to tense the closer they got.

"Alright, that's enough brooding, oh trivia genius. You haven't uttered a word since we left San Antonio and you're creeping me out. What is going on inside that head of yours?" Mary asked, adamantly.

Marshall realized Mary said something, but missed it. His thoughts focused on dealing with his Dad's retirement party.

"What?"

"Your jaw and shoulders are screaming I'm getting agitated. What's wrong?" Mary asked.

"It's just, I don't know," Marshall said, shrugging it off.

"Marshall, it's just what?" Mary insisted.

"Just old insecurities, nothing important," Marshall replied.

"It's important enough to cause you to tense up. I know you and your Dad aren't close and that he doesn't understand you at all. I'm assuming your Mom and you are close. You wouldn't talk to her everyday if you weren't. That leaves your brothers or your brothers and your Dad as a combo," Mary said.

"Logan and Tyler were everything Dad wanted his sons to be. They played football, basketball, and baseball at school. They dated the cheerleaders and popular girls. Both became marshals in the Fugitive Task Force. They were rough in a rough world. I was the fragile piece of glass in his mind. When you put the three of us together, I'll never measure up. It gets old and frustrating. There's a reason I only go home once a year," Marshall replied.

"So you got the brains, they got the brawn. So what? If your Dad can't see you for who you are then that is his failing not yours. I couldn't ask for a better partner. You can't compare the jobs either. They're two completely different things. I think your father might've actually figured that out while he was with us. If he didn't then it's his loss not yours," Mary said. "Is that why we're staying at a hotel instead of your parent's house?"

"No, that would be a space issue. My brothers and their kids, my aunt and uncle and their children and grandchildren, and Grandma and Grandpa are all staying. I figured it would be easier for us to stay in a hotel. It's a lot of Mann's to be dealing with and there isn't any room really," Marshall shrugged.

"You volunteered to get bumped," Mary said, knowingly.

"I figured it was easier," Marshall shrugged.

"We're sharing a room right? I can't drill you for information if we don't," Mary said.

"Heaven forbid that should happen. I got us adjoining rooms," Marshall replied.

"You didn't have to spend extra money."

"I know. It's not a big deal," Marshall said, not wanting to admit he might need space after dealing with his family and their never ending inquisitions.

Mary knew there was more to the story, but for now she let it go. Marshall wasn't ready to share and it was one of the few times she decided not to push him. She had a feeling it would all come to surface at the retirement party.

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Mary and Marshall finally arrived at the Fairmont hotel. Grabbing their away bags from the car they went to check into their rooms.

"Reservation for Marshall Mann and Mary Shannon," Marshall said.

"Here you go sir. Here are two keys for your suite," the hotel clerk replied, handing Marshall the two keys.

"I reserved two rooms that were adjoining," Marshall said, puzzled.

The clerk began to type the information in the system. "We received a call to upgrade the room to the suite by an Olivia Mann."

"Is there anyway to change that back to the two adjoining rooms?" Marshall asked.

"Unfortunately, no. We sold out of our last room already. There are several conventions going on in town," the clerk replied.

"It's fine," Mary said, grabbing the keys and heading towards the elevator.

"Mare, I didn't know Mom changed the reservations."

"Marshall, relax. It's not like we haven't shared a room or a bed before. I'm not mad. I know that you didn't plan this. Who exactly did you tell your Mom that you were bringing?" Mary asked.

"My partner," Marshall replied, defensively.

"You sure she knew you meant work partner?"

"Of course, with all of us in law enforcement she had to know," Marshall shrugged.

They got onto the elevator and Mary quickly studied Marshall's face. She knew Marshall was feeling guilty and the look on his face confirmed it.

"Look at the bright side, with a suite we have more room to spread out."

"Why aren't you mad?" Marshall asked, cautiously.

"Why would I be? It's just sharing a room. How many times have we done that since we became partners. If this had happened when we first became partners, then I would have questioned your motives," Mary said. "Why does it even bother you? You know full well I'm not angry?"

Marshall slipped the key into the door. "Mom didn't do this for any reason at all, Mare. She has an ulterior motive."

He knew what the ulterior motive was and tried to take a calming breath. They were going to have to go to his parent's house. Mary would be interrogated and then his Mom would start fishing for information. He cursed himself for ever telling her about Mary.

"You're becoming paranoid Marshall." Mary smirked as they entered the room. She let out a whistle in appreciation. "She can have any ulterior motive she wants. This is sweet."

The two walked through the room. Marshall noted the king bed only. "I'll take the sofa."

"The hell you will. You'll end up with a sore back and grumpy. It's a king. There's plenty of room for both of us," Mary said, insistently. There was no way she was letting him pay for this and then make him sleep on the sofa.

"I'm sorry for dragging you into this," Marshall replied.

"Hey, I forced the issue of you going. It's not like you haven't gone through more drama with my family. It's only fair that we deal with your family together," Mary shrugged.

"See if you're still saying that tonight when you meet them," Marshall replied.