How to save your friends life

by special agent Ali

Barney Stinson is an awesome man. A Laser tag champ who is good at scoring chicks. His nights are always Legendary and he's always awesome. That is the impression he's always tried to give. His friends know the real him though and Marshall is determined to make Barney break away from his mask for one night. It may be the worse mistake he's ever made.

1. Chapter 1

"Go for Barney" he said in his usual charming and happy voice.

"Barney? It's Cheryl, Jerry's wife" she told him. "Oh…hi there?" he asked.

"I am so sorry to have to tell you this sweetheart, but…Jerry is dead honey" she said. Barney could hear her break at that and sob.

"I am sorry to hear that" he said. His voice was distant.

"You know he did love you" she added, catching his tone.

"Yeah, I'm sure he did" Barney growled.

"Barney…"

"No!" Barney snapped into the phone. "If he truly loved me Cheryl he wouldn't have abandoned me when I was only six then wait thirty years to see me!" he added angrily.

Barney's friends quieted and stared at him with worry. Barney ignored the stares.

"I know Barney, Jerry told me how much he regretted that and loved that you wrote to him and tried to reconnect"

"Yeah, I tried and all it got me was more pain and heartache, I'm sorry Cheryl, but Jerry is no father to me and I will not be at his funeral, sorry you wasted your time calling" he told her and hung up.

His four friends continued to stare at him. "Don't start on me…" he hissed.

"Barney…" Marshall said and he glared at him.

"I said don't start on me Marshall…I tried to reconnect with him once and it didn't work!" he snapped. He then stood. "I'm sorry your dad is gone but my father isn't like yours who cared about you every day of your life" he added and then stormed off.

Marshall saw a single tear fall before he stormed off though. 'Oh Barney, you do care though and I will prove it' he decided.

"Poor Barney, I can't imagine spending nearly your entire life wondering who your dad is, finding him and failing to reconnect, then hearing he's dead and feeling too much pain and betrayal to want to say goodbye" Ted murmured.

"Which is why Barney has us for friends, he has to say goodbye to him and finally give himself some closure" Marshall replied. "It's going to suck and I hate doing it to him again but…it has to be done" he added.

"Be careful baby" Lily warned.

"I know Lil, he's going to hate me for this but it really has to be done" Marshall replied.