The next morning, Marshall kept his promise to Lily and made his way to Barney's office when the sun was out. He leaned in the doorway and silently watched Barney blow his nose, unaware of Marshall's presence.

"Dude, you look awful.," he commented when Barney was done.

The blond practically fell out of his chair in surprise. "Jesus, Marshall!" he exclaimed. "You can't just sneak up on people like that!"

"Sorry." Marshall took a seat in front of Barney's desk.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was bored and thought I'd come visit my favorite corporate friend," he lied.

Barney narrowed his eyes.

"Okay, fine." Marshall sighed. "Lily told me you were sick, and I promised to come check on you."

"Dude…" Barney groaned.

"She gets worried when her friends aren't feeling well. I think it's sweet," Marshall defended.

"I don't. And I don't get sick." Barney's statement held very little credibility as he made a choking sound and wrinkled his nose.

"Did you just sneeze?" Marshall asked.

"No."

"You made a ridiculous noise."

"No I did-hxxt! Uhh.."

When Barney groaned and his eyes teared up slightly, Marshall developed a new hypothesis.

"Are you trying not to sneeze so I think you're not sick?"

"Doh." Hearing himself, Barney winced.

Marshall chuckled. "You sound like Homer Simpson. D'oh. Ha."'

"Uh-huh." Barney moved folders around on his desk, but the Marshall could see that the movement was arbitrary. "So I have to get back to work. I trust that you cad see yourself out."

"Barney…"

"I have a beeting with the Kore-ahh-ads in ad hour. Gotta, you dow, study up od by Koread."

"You sound like you have cotton balls in your nose." Marshall chuckled, but Barney glared thickly at him. "Sorry."

As Barney continued to make irritated snorting noises, Marshall had to continue to fight his amusement. "Come on sniffles, let's go get lunch at MacLarens."

Barney, as much as he looked like he wanted to argue, shrugged into his suit jacket and followed Marshall out the door. "Let's walk," Marshall suggested.

"It's a little cold to walk is'id it?" Barney asked.

"It's May. Come on, it's a short walk."

Barney sniffled thickly, but looked away innocently when Marshall turned to study his face. "Come on man, you're transparent. You have a cold. Happens to everyone."

"Dot the Bardicle," Barney argued.

Marshall scoffed. "Really? Because from over here you look like you have a bad cold and have had to sneeze for like five minutes."

"Thed you deed to get your eyes-hehh -checked."

They immediately went to their regular booth when they arrived at MacLarens, but were surprised to find it was already taken.

"Ted, Robin, what are you guys doing here?" Marshall asked, feeling awkward.

"Having lunch," Ted replied. "You said you'd be busy today, or we would have invited you. I figured you were going to Lily's school or something."

"Nah, Lily asked me to go che-OUCH! What the hell Barney, did you just kick me?"

Barney gave him a pointed look, then looked at Ted and Robin, and back at Marshall. Marshall understood.

"Do you guys want to join us?" Robin asked. She turned to Ted. "I know you and Barney aren't friends anymore, but I never get to see him anymore. You can sit at a table together for twenty minutes."

"I can leave," Ted offered dully, avoiding eye contact with Barney as he got up.

"Stay. I'll go," Barney counter-offered, glad for the excuse to avoid Robin with his tie loosened and his shirt unbuttoned at the neck.

"But Barney, I promised Lily I'd-"

"HCK-Etisch!HISH'Atch!"

Ted, halfway out of his seat, paused and joined Robin in staring at Barney in shock.

Marshall smiled. "I totally called it- you had to sneeze."

Barney dropped himself in the booth next to Robin, pointedly ignoring Marshall.. "Okay Ted, I wadt to stay. You cad leave. Good-bye."

"Are you…okay?" Ted asked hesitantly.

Barney nodded. "Right as raid." He didn't make eye contact, and Ted only hovered awkwardly for a few seconds before bailing.

"So that was weird," Robin announced, as Marshall took Ted's vacated seat and flagged down Wendy the waitress.

"Dot really. Ted dosed't like be buch." Barney took Robin's unused napkin and blew his nose loudly. Robin flinched slightly, and Wendy gave him a concerned look.

"No, that. You're sneezing and blowing your nose."

"Doh I'b dot. Dod't be silly Robid."

Robin and Marshall exchanged exasperated looks. "Yes you are. I just watched you sneeze twice, steal my napkin, and blow your nose. Like, ten seconds ago."

Barney waved a finger at her. "You see, Robid, that is where I will have to disagree."

Robin threw up her arms. "You can't disagree with something that legitimately just happened. It's not up for debate."

"I'b dot debating you. I'b stating that you're wrog." Robin opened her mouth, closed it, paused, and opened it again, all without saying anything. "HEISH'Egscht!"

"See!"

"See what? Robid if you're goig to live id Aberica, you should leard to speak Eglish."

"That doesn't even have anything to do with our argument!"

"Thed we'll call it a tie. Good-bye."

"Barney!" But he was already halfway out the door. Robin turned to Marshall. "What the hell?"

"I dunno. It's Barney. I just…" Marshall shook his head and waved his hands around, before stealing one of Robin's fries.

"He's sick."

"Looks like it." Marshall took another.

"Well," Robin paused to move her plate out of Marshall's reach, "are we going to help him?"

"Help him? He's thirty, he can help himself."

"I know, but…"

"But what?"

"But he's Barney." Robin couldn't think of anything more, but Marshall understood.

"Yeah. He is."