My Partner Against Crime

Chapter 43

"That should be it, if we find anything else of his we can have it shipped to you." Marshall's last foster parents meets with us at our hotel to drop off his belongings.

"Thank you so much for bringing this, we're trying to sort of fast track things so I very much appreciate it."

|Spencers POV|

I watch as Marina interacts with Marshall's previous foster parents. She seemed confident, although I know she'll soon overwhelm herself thinking she isn't be capable of taking care of him.

She drags the last suitcase further into the room. Marshall lays back in the bed next to her, sitting up and handing her her phone.

"Eli is calling you." She makes the face she always does when he calls and holds the phone for a moment, quickly glancing at me before answering the call and stepping out of the room into the hall.

"Is Eli someone you work with? Aren't you in the FBI too?" He pushes himself further up the bed to get to the mound of pillows against the headboard.

"I'm in the FBI, Eli is... her friend." How am I supposed to explain to him my wife has a boyfriend? Although sooner or later he'll find out.

"Are you going to be okay if we leave today? You don't need to do anything before we go?" I watch the door, waiting for Marina to come back in, I'm not great with small talk.

"No, I'm okay." I nod, and stay silent not knowing what else to say. I get up and finish packing my things, I really didn't bring much.

Through this trip I feel closer to Marina than I have in a long time. She often avoids me when she can, I know she's angry with me and has been since the day I went away. The fall of our relationship is completely my fault, and now with Eli I feel I have no chance. From what I've gathered, or rather from what Emily has told me Eli is quite the catch, although I don't think she sees the obsessive behavior like I do.

I hear Marina's door open and close. "Where'd he go?"

"The other room." I glance back and see Marina coming towards me, a frustrated look on her face.

"Are you okay?" I frown at the sight. It's times like these I feel I have to fight my instincts, what I really want to do is hold her, and kiss her head which I know she loves.

"Yeah, I'm just maybe fighting a bit of a breakdown." She makes herself laugh, although I know she's dead serious.

"I just wanted to let you know I have our flights booked, we should leave here earlier though, probably closer to ten minutes, since we have to check in all of Marshall's stuff." Her fisted hand bounced against her thigh, showing off her anxiety.

"Okay, why don't you get us a car, we can finish up packing and bring everything down." She nods and walks into the other room.
-

I love watching Marina. I love the way she guides Marshall, and keeps an eye on him as if she didn't he would disappear. I love the way she involves him, the way she smiles at him like she made the right choice. Most of all her unrecognized self beauty. She doesn't notice when men gawk at her, or take their time to stare at her, eyes moving up and down.

"Here, jacket and bag in this one." Going through airport security she puts out a bin for Marshall. Of course being TSA Pre-check we don't have to strip off our shoes and things in our pockets. Easily a perk of the job.

"Spence, here." She places a bin out for me before reaching for my jacket and laptop bag.

There isn't a line in our area thankfully. Marina stands behind and to the side of the metal detectors, allowing me to go first, and sending Marshall after. I smile at her caring trait, always taking care of others before herself.