Lee looked up to see Rita come inside, and she headed over to him immediately.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I pushed you away, and I shouldn't have."
"It's okay. I just feel bad I can't help you feel better."
"My mother called. Just now," Rita said. "We're good."
"I'm glad," Lee said back.
"Are we good?" she asked. Lee tapped his fingers on his glass before nodding at her.
"We're good," he smiled. She gave a relieved smile in return, and he pulled her in to kiss her.
"Attention," Barney said, raising his voice. "Over here, fellas."
Everyone turned to face him, and he paused for a moment. Then he cleared his throat.
"I just wanted to say how proud I am of all of you and how appreciative I am to have such good friends. You've always had my back, and I've always had yours. We've had a good run, and like all runs, they gotta end."
This had the attention of those who didn't know Barney was sick. They were looking at each other.
"After tonight, I'm going away. I don't want any of you to feel sad. I don't want any of you to see me in the state I'm going to be in. Life gave me a rather nasty ending, but it's okay cos I never did take the easy way out."
"What are you saying, Barney?" Gunner asked.
"Are you sick?" Caesar asked.
"Yea, I am," Barney answered solemnly.
"How long have you known?" Doc asked.
"A while."
"Where are you going?" Trench asked. Barney smiled.
"That's just for me to know."
Rita felt a huge lump in her throat then. She had spent time with him in the past three weeks, but it still didn't feel long enough. She moved to leave, unable to handle the emotion in the room on top of hers anymore.
"Cheers," Barney said, holding up his beer. "To friendship and family. I love you guys."
Everyone echoed their response as Barney stepped down. He saw Rita leave and decided to go after her.
He found her outside trying to breathe.
"If you had just let me go three weeks ago," Barney started.
"Don't," she stopped him. "I don't regret what I did."
"We had some good times even though it was short," Barney said.
"I know," she nodded. "It's still hard."
"I think you need to give it up."
"I can't."
"You can't live your whole life with that power. If you're meant to die, then you die," Barney argued. "Don't become afraid of death itself. If you keep this power, you will."
"I'll get rid of it one day."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
Barney nodded, and they stood there looking at each other.
"I'm not ready to lose you for real this time," she said to him. She teared up, and he pulled her into a hug.
"No one ever is, but it's time."
"You never got to talk to my mother."
"It's okay. We had our goodbyes years ago."
"That's what she said."
"It's okay, Rita," Barney assured her. "I'll be okay. You'll be okay. You've got Lee to help you."
"I know."
"You're the best daughter I could ever ask for, you know," Barney went on. "I mean it."
"Thank you for sticking around instead of going and getting killed again," Rita said.
"I'm glad I did. I'd love to just spend this evening with you, but I have to get back in there and make my rounds," Barney said.
"Will you say goodbye in the morning?" Rita asked.
"Consider this my proper goodbye," he said, kissing her forehead. "I love you, and I'm sorry we didn't get more time. I'll always be in your heart."
"I love you too."
Rita gripped his arms with her hands as he kissed her forehead again and released her. He went back inside, leaving her standing there crying.
...
Morning came, and Rita got up to find Barney was already gone. Tool was having a coffee at the table when she came in.
"I wish he had waited to say goodbye," she said, sitting beside him. He slid her a mug and the coffee pot.
"He's not good with that. I was amazed he said anything last night."
"Where did he go?"
"He didn't tell me," Tool answered. "But I'm sure it's someplace nice."
"I'm really going to miss him," Rita said quietly.
"I will too. We all will," Tool nodded. He reached for her hand and held it. "We're gonna be okay, though, cos we have each other."
"Got some for me?" Lee asked, joining them. He paused to kiss Rita's head before stopping halfway after seeing Tool's expression.
"I didn't know you stayed over," Tool said casually.
"Oh, stop," Rita admonished. "Lee is my boyfriend, Uncle."
"I guess," Tool sighed. Lee sat down and poured himself a coffee. He caught Rita's glance and smirked a little.
"You're not going anywhere anytime soon are you?" he asked Tool.
"Nope. You're stuck with me."
Lee grinned at him, making Tool chuckle in return. Lee slid his foot to touch Rita's, conveying his comfort to her. She appreciated it. She was glad she was able to let Lee in, that he hadn't given up on her. She somehow knew they were in it for the long haul.
...
Barney glanced out at the view before him, a smile on his face. It was beautiful. There was no other place he'd rather be. He stretched out, leaning against the tree trunk. He was somewhere in Hawaii. It was a place on his bucket list where he wanted to go. It was too bad he waited until the end to do it.
"Makes you feel small, doesn't it?" a voice asked.
"Sure does," Barney answered. Maria settled down beside him, taking his hand in hers.
"How did you know where to find me?" she asked.
"'The sun is always bright?' Come on," he laughed. "Also, this is where we always wanted to live."
"That's true," she smiled.
"How's Daniel?"
"He's much better. I think he's gonna be all right."
"Good."
"And Rita? Is she mad at me?"
"She's at peace with what you've done so far," Barney answered. "She was worried we wouldn't get to say goodbye."
"At least this time I'm awake to say goodbye back," Maria pointed out.
"I knew you'd stop me if I woke you up."
"I wish you hadn't left."
"I wish that too."
"We have now at least."
"We do."
"I never stopped loving you," Maria confessed. "Not for a second."
"Me either."
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Rita. I just wanted to keep her safe. I didn't want her to ever be used as leverage."
"How is it different from what you did?"
"I know. I failed her. I failed us. I made the wrong choice. I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I'm not blaming. I'm just stating a fact."
They were quiet for a while. Maria rested her head on his shoulder. There was still a little bit of time left, time to reconnect.
"Thank you for finding me."
"There's nowhere else I'd rather be," Barney said. He was back with his true love. He was happy. He was free.
Days Later
"Okay," Tool said. "I understand. Thank you. Love you too."
Rita looked at her uncle, and the look on his face said it all.
"He's dead, isn't he?"
"This morning. She found him sitting in his favorite spot watching the sun rise. I guess he decided to let the cancer take him after all."
"She?"
"Your mother."
"What?! How did he find her?"
"Beats me."
"He was with her the last few days?" Rita asked.
"Yea, he was. I think that's what he wanted."
"I'm glad he went. I mean, I wanted them to have time before he was gone," Rita said. She felt a little jealous that Barney hadn't told her where to find her mother.
"You gonna be okay?" Tool asked. He knew it was going to take time for all of them. Barney was a huge part of their lives.
"I will be," she nodded.
"I'm always here," Tool promised as he hugged her. Rita just held onto him, trying to keep it together.
...
They held a small memorial for Barney. Each member of the team stood up to say something meaningful about Barney. There were some laughs, of course, as certain memories were shared. Rita was glad her father had such a good family. She hoped they would become her family after time.
When it was her turn, she stood on shaky legs. Everyone was looking at her.
"Although I didn't get to spend as much time with him as you all did, he still made an impact on me," she started. "He's one of those people who leave a mark. I hope wherever he is, he's enjoying himself. He was a hero, and I will never forget him."
She sat down, and Lee put his arm around her again.
"To Barney," Tool said.
"To Barney," they all echoed, clinking glasses.
Rita just knew that wherever Barney was, he'd be smiling.
The End
In loving memory of Maria, whose soul was beautiful in every way, taken from us by lung cancer just a month ago. I hope wherever you are, it's beautiful and you're smiling.
