A/N: Wow! Thank you guys for reading! Especially for the reviews. You guys have been so helpful and supportive with it being my first story. It means a lot to me! I hope this chapter lives up to the expectations :) You guys are the best, Enjoy!
(Present)
Robin entered the hospital and followed Ted's instructions to the physical therapy room. As she walked through the door she was greeted by an obnoxiously perky woman at a desk. Robin wondered if Barney had already gotten to her with his sympathy card. He probably had some outrageous story about sacrificing himself to save a baby kitten from being crushed to death.
"Hi! Can I help you?" called the overly animated southern bell.
Robin plastered a fake smile and replied. "I'm looking for Barney Stinson?"
"Oh, Sorry Hun, I was confused. Usually Ted comes for Barney on Wednesdays." She giggled
"Yeah, I'm just filling in for Ted today." Robin sighed with annoyance. "I'm his roommate."
The Barbie dolls' eyes lit up. "You must be Robin!" Robin raised an eyebrow. "Barney used to talk about you all the time!"
Ouch! Used to. True, she was the one who started avoiding him but Robin's façade weakened a little at that remark.
"Well, Barney should be just about done. He's right through that door if you'd like to go in."
Robin thanked the girl and took a deep breath before entering the door. What she saw on the other side though, made her heart sink a tiny bit. There in the corner of the huge room was a man that looked like Barney but it couldn't be. The man she saw looked frustrated and tired as he practiced taking just a couple of steps. All his focus was on moving his feet. He seemed drained and he was being awfully reserved for Barney. Not to mention, he was wearing sweats! Now that was weird.
Flashback to June 2008
When Ted got the call about Barney's accident, Robin didn't jump into action like she did when she got the call about Ted. Instead, she stopped, frozen with fear.
"What is it?" Lily asked from Ted's bedside as he answered the phone. They could all tell by Ted's reaction something was up.
Once Ted hung up the phone, Marshall had to ask "Ted, what was that about?"
Ted opened his mouth but nothing came out. Finally he said "Barney's been hit by a bus."
"Haha, Ted." Lily said sarcastically. She knew he was mad at Barney but this was too much.
"Lily, I'm serious." Ted spoke quietly "Barney was hit by a bus"
"Oh my gosh!" Lily's expression had changed to pure worry.
"Is he alright?" Robin asked Ted
"I don't know. They didn't say."
"Well, we have to go find him" Lily threw Ted his clothes.
"Thanks Lily" Ted leaped out of bed and quickly changed. Ted had to see if Barney was okay. At that moment all of Ted's anger was washed away. So what if Barney and Robin hooked up? Was it really so awful that he was willing throw their friendship away? Ted needed Barney to be alright.
The group had then found the nurse who called them and followed her directions down to ICU where Barney supposedly was. The short trip to the waiting room was made in complete silence.
Marshall and Lily sat down in the available chairs and Marshall leaned over to grab Lily's hand. Ted took the seat closest to the door so that he was that much closer to hearing news. And Robin? Well, Robin began to wear down the carpet from the constant pacing she was doing.
After awhile a doctor emerged, calling for the family of Barney Stinson. All four of Barney's friends stood to hear what the doctor had to say.
"Your friend is a very lucky man." Said the doctor who had such a deep voice that no matter what he said, it would sound serious. "He has suffered injuries to about 83% of his body but he should be able to make a full recovery. I'd say it's a miracle"
Marshall shot Robin an 'I told you so' look "What happened to him exactly?" asked Marshall, now in full lawyer mode.
The doctor cleared his throat. "Well, he was actually crossing the street right in front of the hospital. A buss came barreling down the street the wrong way. The police are currently talking to the driver." The doctor saw the worried expressions among the friends. "The good news is that it happened right outside the hospital so he received immediate care. After some time and some rehab, he should be as good as new."
"Can we see him?" asked Lily
"Certainly." The doctor responded. "He may be out of it for awhile though. He's been through a lot." And with that, the doctor left to once again leave the friends alone.
"He was on his way to see me?" questioned Ted. "He was hit ten feet away from the hospital because he was on his way to see me."
"Of course he did, Ted." Lily explained simply. "Fight or no fight, Barney would drop everything if a friend was in trouble."
"Yeah…" Ted sighed. "Come on. Let's go in." he said as he held open the door.
"Hey guys?" Marshall said seriously. "Did anyone else think that doctor sounded like Darth Vader?"
"He totally did!" Ted whispered as they entered the room.
Lily was about to enter the room when she noticed Robin had stopped outside the room."Robin? Are you coming?" she asked concerned. Lily had noticed that Robin hadn't spoken since they went to look for Barney and now she looked scared to death to enter the room.
"I don't think I can do this." Robin said quietly. "I mean…its Barney. He claims to be invincible. I just can't imagine seeing him vulnerable."
"I know what you mean" agreed Lily "Barney has spent most of his life creating this 'shield of awesome'. But he needs us now. He's still Barney."
And with that, Robin and Lily entered the room together to find Marshall and Ted standing next to a semiconscious Barney. He did look small and fragile, but to his friends in the room, he was still just Barney.
(Present)
"Robin?" a shocked Barney asked from his corner in the physical therapy room.
Robin gave a slight smile and a small wave "Hi, Barney."
"Wh-what are you doing here?" Barney asked confused.
"Ted had an emergency so he called to see if I could come get you. So…here I am" said Robin simply.
"Yeah…Thanks, but you can go." Barney said brushing her off.
"Ted told me to take you home." Robin reasoned.
Barney was avoiding looking into her eyes as he spoke. "I don't need you to babysit me."
Robin saw then just how much she had upset Barney. "That's not what I'm doing."
"I'm fine getting home by myself." Barney wasn't about to make this an easy task for Robin. "Besides, I wouldn't want to inconvenience your busy life."
"Barney, just let me take you home!" Robin shouted, letting the situation get the best of her. "Look, you don't even have to talk to me."
By now Barney had relaxed a little. "Fine, let's go. Can you hand me my crutches?"
Robin then noticed the pair of black classy looking crutches. Only Barney… "Nice crutches"
"Thanks! I had them specially designed" Barney spoke excitedly as they began to walk out.
Robin smiled and shook her head. "Of course you did"
"So…did you meet Daisy?"
"The blonde with the big boobs at the desk?" Robin asked "Her name is Daisy?" Of course it was.
"Yeah! She thinks I got hurt after my motorcycle crashed during my stunt show." Barney smiled for the first time that day.
"Hmm…That's a new one." Robin said. She really did miss her banter with Barney.
The cab ride to Barney's place was filled with mindless chit-chat and laughter; both ignoring the elephant in the cab.
"…So then Marshall stood up on the table and started singing." Said Robin in between fits of laughter.
"Oh man," responded Barney as he wiped the tears from laughing. "Drunk, unemployed Marshall sounds awesome!"
Once the laughter died down, Barney and Robin just stared at each other, each enjoying the others company. But Barney couldn't hold it in any longer. He had to ask. "Robin…What happened with us?"
Robin was at a loss for words even though she knew exactly what happened to them.
(Flashback)
"Robin?" Lily asked from outside Robin's apartment. Lily had rushed straight over after getting an urgent text from Robin. "Robin, open up."
All of a sudden, the door whipped open and a hand pulled Lily into the apartment quickly. Once inside, Lily noticed the panicked look on her best friend's face and the constant pacing around the room. Finally, Robin spoke. "Lily, I'm freaking out!"
"Yeah, I know. Your text had eleven exclamation points." Lily wondered what could possibly be troubling her friend. "Sweetie, what is going on?"
For the first time since Lily arrived, and most likely long before that, Robin stood still. "Lily, I uh…" Robin struggled to get it out. "I th-think that I may be pre-…There might be a…baby?"
Lily sat frozen, letting everything sink in. "Robin, are you saying that you're pregnant?"
Robin let out the breath she had been holding. She had to admit that it felt better telling her friend. "…maybe?" Lily sat stone faced while she let Robin continue. "I've been feeling kind of off lately so after I left Barneys' earlier I stopped by the store and picked up a test."
"…and?" Lily asked on the edge of her seat.
"and nothing." Robin said as she threw her arms in the air. "I took the stupid stick test, but I'm too afraid to see what it says."
Lily could see what this situation was doing to Robin. The girl was a mess. "Robin, do you want me to see what it says?"
Robin flopped down on the couch next to Lily. She then turned to her friend with a sad puppy dog face and a quiet voice. "Yes please."
Lily gave her a sympathetic smile. "No problem. Where is it?"
"On the kitchen counter"
"Ew…Robin, you peed on that." Lily whined.
"Big picture, Lil" Robin said exasperated.
"Right" The girls got off the couch and headed to the kitchen. "But…you are gonna wash the counter?"
"Lily!"
"Okay, okay." They both stopped and looked down at the test and then Lily looked over to Robin. "Are you ready?" Robin reluctantly nodded. Lily then reached towards the test, but before she could get one finger on it, Robin was pulling her arm away.
"Wait!" Robin said panicked. "Lily, what if it's positive? What am I gonna do? A week ago kids were the furthest thing from my mind. I'm not a kid person. Last weekend I grabbed some ice cream and cut a little kid in line because it couldn't decide what to get. Then on the way out, that same kid tripped, spilled his ice cream and then started crying. You wanna know what I did? I laughed, Lily. I laughed at the crying child and then I left. I walked away and I didn't look back. I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to laugh at your own kid."
Lily put her hand on Robin's shoulder to get her to focus. "First of all, you don't even know if you are pregnant yet and Second, if you are, you have options and you have friends. You don't have to do this alone. I've got your back, homie." She added in an attempt to lighten the mood.
"Thanks, Lily." Robin took a deep breath. "Okay, you can look now. What's it say?"
TO BE CONTINUED...
A/N: Thanks again everyone!
So, What do you think?
