CHAPTER ONE
UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENT
Looking down he watched as she buried her head a little more deeper into his chest. As if she was trying to get more comfortable – or tying to reach inside his chest for his actual heart. He didn't mind that it was her whom was trying to worm her way past his barriers to where his heart laid. He gladly offered her the chance to what she wished. She would be the one person in the whole world whom could break him and crush him – and he would come back for more.
They were soul mates. He knew he could trust her to protect him and to never leave. But she still hadn't come to realize that about him yet. But she will.
She moaned softly as her arm slipped up his chest to his neck. He loved watching her sleep. He could do this for the rest of his life. If she would allow him too. But he knew these unguarded moments were far and between. That if she had her way than he wouldn't be able too. No one would be able too. He doubted that Ted truly had the pleasure of truly watching her sleep. That was a comfort to him – that she graced and trusted him enough to allow him to be able to see her.
Truly to see whom she truly was. Pass every wall and insecurities that she puts in the way of other human beings. He was her dog. Yes that was what he was to her – her dog. Truly only her dogs saw her for whom she was.
"Never take the collar off of me," He murmured in ear.
"I promise." She said heartfelt as she fell back into a deeper sleep.
He just watched her sleep. Protecting her from anyone whom would dare try to hurt her.
THE FIRST NO
Blinking as she tried to blink away the sleep from her eyes. She knew it was time to get up – because her brain was beginning to move a mile a minute. As it usually did after she had a good night sleep. She didn't feel like her head was on her pillow – or laying length wise. So she must have fallen asleep on the couch.
She heard a soft heart beat underneath her ear, so she had a overnight guest over. She wondered whom it was. She could have sworn that she didn't bring anyone home with her the night before. She hadn't been drinking that much at the bar. Yeah she helped with the rounds that everyone was buying – but she wasn't drunk. She didn't even reach level. The chest that her head was on had material on it. It wasn't a blanket.
So she didn't get lucky last night. Than why did she feel like she had? It had to be someone whom she trusted. It must be Ted who's arms were around her – who's hot breath was on her neck. He truly was the only one whom she would have allowed to stay with her. Without doing anything with him.
But, the heat didn't feel like him. The heat felt familiar and better than his. It felt safer. As if it would never go away. Not ever. She felt comforted and never wanted to move. If she moved than the heat would go away.
It would go away because she would demand it to go away.
Closing her eyes, she just allowed herself to accept the essence that the heat was offering her. She just needed a few more moments of pure acceptance – and dependency of this essence.
Her eyes opened and she pulled away from the heat. From the heart beat that she had found comfort in. It was time to meet the world on her own two feet. Her independence was at stake here. She would be able to meet the world head on – and alone – now that she had allowed herself to acceptant the offered essence.
"Hey." Barney said with a wink.
"You shouldn't have stayed." Robin stood to her feet and ran her hands down her sweats, trying to unwinking them. "I never invited you in the first place." Holding out her hand – palm up, fingers out stretched. "My key."
Barney stood up and shook his head. Reaching over to grab his coat. "I told you before, Robin, I'm not going to give the key back." Slipping the coat around his back – and straightening his tie. "No man is left behind."
"I'm not your wing man any longer." Robin said with a annoyed shake of her head. "That was a one time thing."
"No man left behind." Barney said looked steadily into her eyes. He turned and left her apartment without another world.
Robin sighed in annoyance. Her jaw tightened as she turned towards her bedroom. It was time to get ready to meet the day. She had a long day at work after all. She didn't have time to deal with Barney's annoying habit of getting under her skin.
TED'S APARTMENT
"I need your advice," Robin sat with her knees touching Lily's on the couch.
"I'm all about the advice girl." Lily said as she smiled and pushed Robin's shoulder back with her right hand.
"I need to get something back from someone – whom shouldn't have had the thing in the first place." Robin said blabbing.
Lily's right eye brow rose. "What did you give to Barney?" Her head tilted to the right, "Well if it what I'm totally thinking about – than there's no taking – getting or going back." Smiling slyly.
Robin sighed and rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to now or ever sleep with Barney. Not going to happen. I would much rater sleep with Marshall before I even think of sleeping with Barney." She lifted her coffee mug to her lips and took a deep drink. She spit it out and eyes welled up in tears – as she chocked on the steaming hot liquid that was assaulting her taste buds.
Lily moved backward in instinct trying not to allow the hot liquid to hit her skin. She didn't have to worry – Robin's hand moved towards herself. Before Lily could realize what was going to happen – the mug turned and spilled onto Robin's lap. "Oh my God, Robin, we need to get you cleaned up fast."
Tears steamed down her cheeks as she felt the pain of the steamy hot liquid on her lap. The material that was covering her wasn't protecting her enough. She could still feel the fire on her skin. She began to hyperventilate.
The bathroom door bust open and Marshall came running out, "What the hell is going on." His eyes wide in fear he looked at his wife. Sighing in relief to find her safe and sound. He than turned to look at Robin, "Oh My God." He breathed as he took in the situation.
"We have to get these clothes off, Marshall, I have to be able to protect her." Lily cried as she quickly began to undo her jeans. Marshall was down on the ground in a nano second jerking her shoes off her feet. With Marshall holding Robin up, Lily managed to pull down her jeans and panties in a flash. "We have to get her in the bathroom. We have to get some ointment on her."
Marshall quickly wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted the sobbing woman in his arms. Within a few steps he was back in the bathroom, setting her gently down on the toilet lid. Moving to allow his wife to have room to work. Pulling out his cell phone, "Help. My friend has burnt her lap with scolding hot coffee." He quickly said as soon as the emergency dispatch answered. "It's been a minute and a half. My wife is putting ointment on her right now. But the skin is bright pink and looking more serious than what we can fix here. Hurry please." He quickly rattled off the address.
"I'm going to wait for them in the hallway," He said after closing his cell phone. He rushed from the apartment and did just that. Bouncing on his feet. He wanted to call his two best bros – but he had to leave his cell free – they could be calling for more directions after all.
"It hurts so much." Robin hissed through her teeth. She couldn't stop the shaking that her system was in. She couldn't find the control of her center to help ease the pain. Why couldn't she stop this pain.
I'm here.
Robin's eyes closed as she tried to breath in the essence that was being offered her. She had to forces on the voice that was oozing into her soul. She couldn't handle this pain on her own – she must rely on the voice. On this person whom had taken her independence from her – that she had freely given it over too.
Tears rolled down her cheeks. Not pain due to the burn.
You are going to be fine, Robin. I'm here. I'm not going to leave. Not ever. You are going to be fine. Just fine. I promise you.
Lily moved aside as the pharmaceutics came in. Robin still had her eyes closed – but at least she was breathing easier and much calmer than before. She kept a close watch on Robin's face as the pharmaceutics went to work. Soon it was over and the young woman was standing next to her. "We need to get her to bed."
"She doesn't live here. But she can have my husband's and my bed." Lily said with a nod.
The man stood up and put his hand around Robin's waist – Robin tightened up and cried out in pain.
"Get your hands off of her." Barney said with a low grow from behind. He had come as soon as Marshall called and informed him what had happened. His heart stopped the moment he saw Robin's eyes jerk open in fear as soon as the male touched her. "I'll tend to her."
The man stood to the side and shrugged. He began to remove the gloves from his hands.
Lily moved aside as Barney knelt down in front of Robin, "Hey there Robin, I'm gonna get you to a bed. Time to get some rest." He said in a soft voice, moving his hand to her waist. Lily watched as Robin began to relax and lean forward. Robin hands went around Barney's neck and she just simply allowed him to lift her in one fall swoop. She moved aside so Barney could carry Robin from the bathroom.
"She is going to be in pain for a few weeks. The burn will blister. She can not pick at it. If it does than it will be much worse than it is now." The female was explaining to Lily and Marshall – as Barney carried her to the bedroom. "She shouldn't be moved much."
"She's welcomed to stay here till she's healed up." Marshall said with a nod. "Lilly and I can sleep on the couch."
"If she gets any worse, any infections than call us back." The female said at the door. "Let her get some rest before you call her doctor. Tell her doctor that he or she should make a house call."
"Thank you, we will." Marshall said with a nod. Sighing he turned from closing the door.
"I hope you don't mind that Robin stays in our bed. Thought it would be best. I mean I know Ted would offer up his bed, but I know Robin wouldn't feel comfortable. Just thought our bed was the best solution was all." Lily was babbling with tears rolling down her cheeks.
Marshall wrapped his arms around his wife and pulled her tightly against him. "It's going to be all right, Lily pad. Robin will be all right. She's safe now."
MARSHALL AND LILY'S BEDROOM
Barney gently laid Robin on the bed. He pulled back the blankets that were surrounding her, and helped her ease onto the silk sheets. He was pleased to see that Marshall and Lily had the foresight to put the silk sheets on their bed. The silk wouldn't hurt Robin too much. It will be smooth against the skin and against the burn.
He pulled the sheet to cover her up. "I'm going to go by your apartment and get you some clothes. I want to actually see you in that sexy number in your top left hand drawer."
"When have you -" Robin's voice drifted off as she breathed in deep. She felt the pain once more. "Oh yes when you watched my apartment." Her eyes closed than opened, "I don't want it. I don't want anything that one of your conquest wore. Actually when you are over there, Barney, burn whatever you and your women touched, sat on, wore." Her voice harden.
Barney blinked. "I'm not going to do that, Rob -"
"Yes you are." Robin said in a steady voice. "I will not have another woman's scent in or around my apartment. That is my home. Not some other womans."
"Your dogs were at my apartment when I showed them the things that I did." Barney softly said. "I would never take a woman to your home, Robin. Never." He looked steadily into her eyes.
Robin blinked. "I never told you to take my dogs, Barney." She felt her anger rise even more. "How dare you take my dogs out of my apartment."
"I walked them." Barney said in a calm voice.
"That's all that I requested of you, Barney, just walk them a few times a day. Make sure they have food and water. Make sure they didn't get into the liquor cabinet. That's it." Robin leaned her head against the base board. "I never once told you to let my dogs leave my apartment for a long period of time."
"They needed to be with someone, Robin. They missed you." Barney said. "The only thing I did wrong was having sex in front of them. It won't happen again."
"You bet it won't. You'll never be able to go near them again." Fire was in her eyes. "You aren't allowed to watch them when I'm gone again."
"They aren't with you, Robin. They are at your aunts." Barney softly said.
Robin blinked rapidly. "They are still my dogs. Mine." She whispered in a dead pan voice.
"No one said other wise." Barney stood to his feet.
Robin just turned her eyes away and stared at the wall.
"I'll be back in a bit." Barney said and left the room. Closing the door softly behind him, turning he found Ted's glare. "You shouldn't have made her give those dogs away."
"I couldn't stand the thought of the ex boyfriends." Ted said with a shrug. "I never made her do anything she didn't want to do."
"She didn't want to give those dogs up." Barney said moving past him towards the door. Resting his hand on the knob, turning to face him. "While I'm gone, please leave her alone. She needs her rest."
"Just me or everyone." Ted said.
"Lily can go in. But no one else." Barney said with a nod. Opening the door he left.
"Who made him her guardian?" Ted turned and faced the closed door once more.
"They are friends." Marshall said looking his shoulder at his college best friend. "They grew close when she became his wing man for that one night."
"They shouldn't be close. Robin doesn't need Barney's brand of friendship." Ted said still staring at the door.
"Actually she doesn't need your brand of friendship." Lily said in a knowing voice.
Ted's head turned quickly making things blacken. His face heated up and his palms clenched at the sides. "Are you calling me a fair weather friend?"
Lily shook her head. "No Ted, you aren't listening."
"I just heard you say that I don't deserve to be friends with Robin." Ted barked in a low quiet voice.
"Robin doesn't need your type of friendship right now, Ted, she doesn't need you to try to fix her all the time." Lily explained. "She just needs to be accepted for whom she is. She just needs to feel that she's just fine and she doesn't have to change."
"I never once said she had to change." Ted protested.
Lily remained silent.
"Screw it." Ted said and went into his bedroom. Shutting the door softly but firmly behind him.
He just didn't want to deal with the truth again.
END CHAPTER ONE
