Part 3

2004

Lily clung to Marshall, sobbing, while thick black smoke dissipated in the air. She couldn't speak, couldn't breathe. How in the hell Marshall managed had to keep it together she would never know.

"Was th-that…? Did you just…?" Marshall gulped.

"Yeah, exorcism. Like the film, but, you know, real." The stranger barked at him.

"Oh my god, it's a miracle!" Marshall whispered in Lily's ear in a hushed, reverential voice. A little louder he said, "So… we're safe now?"

"Yup," the stranger, their saviour, said. "No more demons in this school, Mr Aldrin."

"My name's not-" Marshall began, but Lily gave him a look. Finally she managed to garble out her gratitude.

"Mr Rolie, you saved our lives…" Lily told him, pulling away from Marshall. "How can we ever thank you?"

"Dean… call me Dean," the man replied, sheepishly. "And you don't need to. You folks'll be fine now."

"It's a miracle," Marshall said again, absently lifting a leather-bound book from the table and flipping through it. A second later, it was snatched out of his hand by an older, heavier-set guy with salt-and-pepper stubble.

"Stay safe, kids," The man said, shouldering his shotgun. "C'mon, son," he barked at the younger man, and the two headed outside.

Marshall looked at Lily with wonder in his eyes. "It's all true, Lil. All of it. Ghosts, demons, vampires… even Nessie!"

"Baby," she said, a little wearily, "He didn't say anything about-" But the look on her husband's face, especially after the experience they'd just lived through, made her bite her tongue. "Sure Marshall. Sure. Maybe even aliens."

Marshall's face lit up.

*--*--*

2008

There was a woman's voice, James thought, as he rushed over to Barney's side. He could hear a woman's voice. He bent down over Barney's body, trying to ignore the scarlet patches blossoming through the fabric of his clothing, instead stroking a gentle hand over his wide forehead. There was woman's voice, but those two bimbos had fled when Barney collapsed, and Lily was searching the apartment for anything they could use against their invisible foe, whatever it was.

Barney's eyelids fluttered open, to reveal pain-wracked, terrified eyes.

"He's alive!" Lily hissed.

"Yeah, Marshall, let's try and make sure he stays that way, huh?" James said, beckoning to the guy to come help him out.

"We need salt!" Lily gulped, running into Barney's kitchenette and bringing out a tiny salt cellar. "Is this all he's got? This is useless! Barney!"

The man on the floor groaned, blood bubbling across his lips with each breath. "He needs a hospital!" James said, urgently. "Now!" He could hear that woman's voice again, echoing across his skull. He couldn't make out the words for the growling that was getting louder and louder, along with a scratching against the door that was sounding less like claws and more like knives.

"Crap!" Lily said, tipping the salt in a line under the door and only making it half way before running out.

"You're not going anywhere," the woman's voice said, and all three of them turned around to stare at her. James recognized her of course. Ten years later and she hadn't aged, not a single day.

It was the woman from the crossroads.

"I've come for your brother," she said.

"And if we give him to you, you promise not to hurt him?" James gulped.

She smiled a wide painted smile and laughed. "Of course not. My puppies are going to tear him to pieces while you watch."

*--*--*

2006

"He just doesn't get it," James thought, as he regarded his brother. He didn't understand love, not even a little. Oh, he gets babies and friendship, and it's not that he doesn't feel anything. It's just like… the part of Barney that was capable of giving away his heart to a woman (or a dude, James was anything but closed-minded) seemed to have been cauterized. It scared him a little.

No matter how tightly Barney hugged him, or enthused about them adopting Sam, no matter how loyal he was as a brother, he just didn't comprehend why James wanted to marry Tom. He'd never understand it.

He'd never feel it.

James hugged his little brother right back and wondered if it was worth it, that deal at the crossroads. To be alive but never be able to love?

He patted his brother's back and pulled away, searching his enthusiastic expression. He had to believe there was hope for his brother, he had to. Maybe one day, Barney would trust someone enough to love again, and that might somehow break this damn curse.

Maybe his brother could win back his soul?

*--*--*

2008

The woman, the beautiful, forever-young devil, laughed in Marshall's face, her red-eyes flashing. "There's no way out of this contract, my sweet. Barney made the deal of his own free will, he's had his ten years, now I've come to collect."

"Ten awesome years…" James said, dully.

"Oh no he hasn't," a voice said.

James and the woman both turned around to Marshall, who was trying to brush the salt all the way across the door.

"What did you say?" The woman demanded.

"He hasn't had ten years," Marshall repeated. "Technically you defaulted on the contract, because Barney was hit by bus with several hours to go. I wouldn't call that awesome, would you Lilypad?"

"Damn straight I wouldn't!" Lily agreed, straightening up, her hands on her hips.

James shook his head as the woman stroke over to the door and Marshall and Lily lunged out of the way, knocking a spray of salt in their wake. The woman yanked open the door and the three of them cringed.

Nothing happened.

"Damn it!" The red-eyed woman said, stamping her feet.

"The terms of the contract were pretty specific," Marshall smiled, taking Lily's hand. "Ten awesome years," he laughed. "You have James to thank for that clause."

Lily laughed while the red-eyed woman yelled and cursed in frustration. "You kiss yo' momma with that mouth?"

Abruptly, the growling noise ceased and the woman turned on them, angrily. "You think you've won? You really think this is a happy ending for him?" She pointed at the floor, where Barney was lying in a pool of blood.

Then she disappeared.

Of course, at that point, none of them understood what she really meant. They were too busy worrying about keeping him alive.

*--*--*

1998

The details would stick in James's mind for many years after: The brown bottles lying overturned on the table, caps discarded. The tiny white pills scattered across the floor. The bottle of vodka, empty, bumping against his foot as he rushed inside his apartment.

Barney was barely conscious. "I just want it to stop!" He whispered, his skin as pallid white. "I never want to feel like this. I never wanted it. I love her, James! Why doesn't she love me?"

James pulled his younger brother into a fierce hug, lifting him to his feet. "She's just a girl, Barn. She's just a girl. There are other girls."

"Never," Barney said faintly. It was almost impossible to keep him upright and dial 911 at the same time, but James managed it. "Never gonna love again. Die first."

"She's just a girl," James repeated angrily, tears rolling down his cheek. "She's not worth it. This isn't worth it. Nothing is worth this, Bro!"

Barney slumped, a dead weight in his arms, and James lifted him, carrying him bodily into the street and flagging down a cab.

It took him another seven years to find the kind of love that Barney felt for Shannon. The kind that sets you on fire and has the power to rip you apart. By then, it was way too late to make any difference.

*--*--*

2008

When Barney woke up in hospital, he was different. James was surprised that everyone didn't see it the instant his little brother opened his eyes. There was that light of vulnerability that so rarely showed, sure, but there was something else there too.

Something else when Barney looked at Robin.

And James knew only then, understood only then, what had been restored to his brother now that the curse had been lifted. Ten years older, ten years wiser, but Barney's heart was still twenty-three. Would his little brother know what to do with his new feelings?

So many images assaulted James, as he sat at Barney's bedside, watching his brother talk to the woman, this girl who'd caught his eye. James wanted, so desperately, to talk to Barney, to see if he remembered anything at all. But Marshall and Lily had made him promise, what happened wasn't to be discussed, not ever again. Just because they knew about demons, and hell hounds, it didn't mean that anyone would believe them. And Barney had an incredibly difficult, painful road ahead, full of rehabilitation and drug-therapy. None of the doctors were sure if he'd even walk again.

James wondered if it had all been worth it.

But then he saw Barney's face light up when Robin came into the room and he wished with all his heart that this time, Barney wouldn't get hurt, that he'd fall for a girl who could love him back.

But he certainly wasn't going to make a deal with the devil in order to make sure that happened. He'd learned his lesson.