Disclaimer; I don't own anything...wish I did, but no ;D
"Meet me in the bar in 10 minutes, and suit up!" Barney's enthusiastic voice almost bounced off Ted's eardrum.
"No way," he snapped, "I have a date."
"Bring her!" was the cheerful reply.
"No way Barney." Sighed Ted as he hung up. It had been ages since they'd gone to the bar together, and now out of the blue he was supposed to 'suit up'."Will anyone go and meet Barney at the bar?" He looked hopefully towards Marshall, Lily and Robin.
"We have to..." stammered Lily.
"Go skiing." Finished Marshall.
"Skiing?" repeated Lily in disbelief. "Yeah, skiing. Right now."
With that they both hurried out of the flat hand in hand. Ted glanced at Robin who groaned loudly.
"I'll go."
"Great!" exclaimed Ted, grabbing his coat. "Say hi for me!" Then he rushed out of the door and caught a taxi. Robin grumbled but strolled downstairs to the bar and saw Barney alone at the booth.
"Hey." She called.
"Hey, where's Ted?" he replied.
"He couldn't make it." She replied flatly and slid into the seat opposite him. "You look pale...are you okay?"
"Just wanted to tell him something..."
"What?"
Barney inhaled deeply and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Nothing."
"Barney you can tell me anything you would've told Ted."
After taking a swig from his beer bottle, he spoke. "There's no easy way to say this," he said quietly. "I have cancer."
Robin stifled a strangled sob-like noise and took his hands in hers.
"I am so sorry." She breathed.
"It's okay." He sighed and squeezed her hands. "But no-one can know, okay?"
Robin stared at him sadly.
"Why?"
"Because it would break their hearts."
"But you told me."
"I've already broken yours." At this she smiled and drew her hands back to her face. This was horrible.
"How long have you known?"
"A couple of months." He replied and straightened up his suit. "Haven't you realized that I've been avoiding the bar?"
"We thought it was weird!" exclaimed Robin. Barney smirked and revealed a cane from under the table. Wincing, he got up slowly and leaned on it.
"Shall we?" he smiled, offering an arm.
"S...sure." Robin didn't know what to think, this was all happening so fast. What the hell do I do...? She thought. She slid out of the booth and linked her arm in Barney's. They strode out of the bar together and onto the street. Then Barney saw Lily and Marshall.
"Robin!" he hissed. "Lily and Marshall...over there!"
Robin peered over the cars and gasped as she saw them drifting in the general direction of the bar. She grabbed Barney's cane and chucked it out onto the street, and let him lean on her shoulder. He made a pained noise, but managed to contain it when their friends spotted them.
"Barney! Robin!" shouted Lily happily.
"Hey!" smiled Robin, uncomfortably aware of Barney's weight pressing on her shoulder.
"He-ey!" laughed Barney, somewhat uneasily as he tried to act casual.
"You coming in?" asked Marshall.
"Actually, we're just leaving." Answered Robin and she waved as they hurried inside. Barney slumped against the wall, breathless.
"I'll go home..." he murmured, and Robin retrieved the cane from the edge of the pavement, passing it to him carefully. "Thanks," he said under his breath and signaled for a cab. "Our secret, okay?" Robin nodded, tears in her eyes as Barney slid into the taxi slowly.
"Sure."
He waved from inside the cab and she watched it drive away.
That night she couldn't sleep. What would she do? She couldn't keep this a secret...should she? Would she? Shaking the thoughts off, she turned onto her side and sobbed into her pillow. This wasn't going to get any better.
