Author's Note: Hey all! Just a heads up that this chapter breaks the chronology a little bit, in that it spans through the timeline of the previous chapters, and is essentially four shorter ficlets that connect into one. When I was planning this story, every chapter was planned to standalone on its own as a tale, as well as contribute to the overarching fic idea, so you may find chapters that mess around with timelines, or styles, or length etc. in the bits to come.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed! They were muchos appreciated, and truly makes my day!
Hope you all like this chapter - and remember, in fanfic, we only hurt those we love... :P

Road to Recovery

Nothing you can make that can't be made
No one you can save that can't be saved
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time
It's easy

All you need is love

- Beatles, All you Need is Love

Holding Him

Barney whimpered, pulling his blanket up over his head and cowering in its confines. Lily looked to the door, smiling at the doctor and nurse who entered, medical trolley in tow. It was the fourth day since Barney had been found, and every morning around the same time, the doctor and nurses had arrived to treat the numerous wounds on his body, stitching and cleaning whilst he sobbed and pleaded with them to stop. Lily sighed knowingly at the trembling lump before her, reaching her arms beneath the blanket to coax the terrified man out.

"Hey Barney, come on," she gently encouraged, tugging the blanket down with one hand while her other hand found his neck, massaging reassuringly. He fussed against her, tightening his grip on the blanket to resist her from exposing him.

"Hello Barney, being a little difficult this morning, are we?" the doctor greeted cheerfully, assisting Lily in revealing Barney from beneath the blanket. They managed to draw the blanket down to his waist, and Lily's heart wrenched painfully when she saw the huddled figure, tears already streaming from his eyes.

"Barney, it's okay," she reassured him with a slight waver in her voice, feeling like the world's worst liar, though at least she didn't giggle like Robin. He glanced up pitifully towards her, sniffling when she gently enveloped her arms around him, shifting him onto the side of the bed and into her embrace. She leant her head nearer to his when she heard him speak, her ears managing to catch the terrified whimper of a word: "scared." Squeezing his shoulder with her hand, she whispered back to him reassuring, yet helplessly empty words of comfort.

"Okay kiddo, I need you to be brave and hold still, okay?" the doctor commanded from the other side of the bed, pulling open Barney's gown to reveal his bandaged covered torso. Barney shivered, a fearful sob escaping his lips as he felt the cool air brush upon his exposed skin. Feeling his grip on her arm tightening, Lily hushed him again, kissing him softly on the cheek. He clung to her, needily, and she held him, running comforting hands through hair damp with sweat, present, providing. It was difficult to imagine that this was her friend, the same one who would shrug away a hug, make faces at her and Marshall for being "mushy". Yet, somehow, she knew this was, and always had been, a part of him, a now openly exposed part, needing comfort, needing to be held, but usually too buried beneath the layers of bravado he had built around himself over the years.

So she held him, as he sobbed tears of protest and pain, dampening the material on her sleeve. She held him tight when, at times, the pain would become unbearable, and he would scream out, bawling tears of helplessness. She held him still when he would buck instinctively, legs kicking in vain. And she held him tenderly when he would whimper, pleading with them to stop, and promising that he would be good, causing Lily's own tears to fall. She held him until the doctor finished his work, until the nurse had sponged the tears and sweat away, and until cries, sobs, whimpers and hiccups died down, replaced by a steady calming rhythm of deep breathing, exhaustion and sleep taking over.

Only then did she allow her arms to let go, so she could shift him into a more comfortable position, bending down to kiss the remaining tear streaks on his cheek, the only remnant of the war they had just fought together.

And she made a silent promise that she would never truly let go, not as long as he still needed her.

Learning to Comfort

"ROBIN!" The scream filled the room. Turning, she was about to race out the door when another yell stopped her, hand pausing on the door handle, her heart torn between staying or leaving.

The nurse had requested some privacy for Barney when she arrived, trolley in tow, so they had all left except for Marshall, upon Barney's insistence that he didn't want to be alone. Robin had been on her way to the cafeteria when she realized she left her purse and went back, hoping to quickly pop in and out of the room without being noticed. Unfortunately, she heard her name as soon as she entered.

"Robin..." he beckoned again, the miserable and tearful voice touching right into her pitying heart. With a sigh, she turned back around to face him.

"Robin... she... she pulled off my Barnana..." he cried to her, gasping in gulps of air between his sobs, his distress obvious. She stole a glance to Marshall on the other side of the bed, frowning to see that he was biting down onto his lips, about to burst with laughter, and definitely not about to back her up in any way. The nurse glowered at Barney as she passed, roughly pulling her trolley behind her and out the door, and Robin finally understood the reason for Barney's claim, spotting the removed catheter on the top.

"It's gone..." he whimpered distressfully to her as she neared his bedside, scared blue eyes pleading for her to help.

"It's not gone Barney, she just pulled the catheter out," she told him logically, glaring at Marshall for assistance, but the man only placed his hand over his mouth, and she could see his facial muscles twitching uncontrollably upwards.

"No, it's gone! It's gone, she pulled and... and it hurted and then pop..." Barney sniffed, desperate tears falling down. "But... but I neeeeeed it!" he wailed again. Robin closed her eyes and begged her conscience for patience.

"No, Barney, I'm telling you, they only took the catheter," she stated to him, gripping his shoulder comfortingly. "Marshall, you saw what happened, why don't you tell him?" she appealed to her friend now, but he only covered his mouth harder to hold in his laughter and shook his head at her.

She was so going to kill him when this was over.

Barney's eyes flitted between her and Marshall for a few moments, sobs dying down to hiccups. Using his un-casted arm to wipe away the tears on his face, he turned to face her again.

"Can you check?" he whispered to her, worried eyes scanning her. She unconsciously took a step back, cursing herself when she felt heat rising to her cheeks.

"Why don't you check for yourself, Barney?"

He pouted at her, stray tears making tracks down his cheeks again.

"Because... because... what if it's not there... and I check... and it's not there..." his breath hitched, eyes reddening in distress once more. "My Barnana..." his voice broke, sobs reappearing. Robin sighed, shooting murderous glances at Marshall as she grabbed the edge of Barney's blanket and pulled up, taking in his anatomy in all its glory. Oh... she was so not slightly turned on right now... she wasn't... oh God, she wasn't, she wasn't...

Quickly, she replaced the cover, forcing herself to smile at her tearful friend.

"It's right there Barney, I promise," she reassured him. He gauged her eyes for dishonesty, and she forced herself to keep a straight face.

"But it hurted," he finally sniffled to her, reaching out towards her for a hug. She pulled him into her arms, awkwardly holding him. She wasn't Lily, she wasn't used to this "comforting" thing.

"I know," she replied hesitantly, unsure if it was the right response. She smiled again, this time because she felt him nuzzling his face into her shoulder, the tips of his short disheveled hair tickling her under the chin.

"I know," she repeated, firmly, confidently. "I know."

Forever Wingman

"Come on, Barney, just one step, you can do it."

Barney crossed his arms and adamantly shook his head. They had been trying to get him up and walking since yesterday, but after initially standing up and realizing that walking hurt, Barney was uncooperative to say the least.

"Just one step buddy, you don't want to be stuck on the bed forever now, do you?" Ted prompted again, holding his arms out for Barney to grasp, but the latter continued to pout at him, unmoving.

"Barney..." Ted sighed, "the doctor says you have to start walking."

"Don't want to," came the stubborn reply. He continued to pout petulantly at Ted, jutting out his lower lip, scowling. The look was almost comical had Ted not been so frustrated.

"Fine, don't walk, sit there for the rest of your life then," he resigned, stalking out the door, leaving his sulking friend. He paced down the corridor a few times in exasperation. They had tried almost everything – bribing, comforting, encouraging, taking his stormtrooper away – but Barney had only proven to them that his stubbornness was apparently not a trait he acquired in later life.

"No luck? I brought food!" Robin's voice broke into his thoughts. She had been on a cafeteria run and now returned, an armload of chocolate bars, crisps and sodas in tow.

"Don't bother, he's as stubborn as ever," he fumed to her, sighing again for the umpteenth time in the last ten minutes. Emptying her arms onto a nearby bench, she gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

"Well... there must be a way..." she mused. "It's Barney..." Her brows scrunched up deep in thought.

Ted scoffed, "Yeah, boobs. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that those appeal to the regressed version..."

Robin smiled. "That's true... but you may be onto something there..." she paused, thinking again.

Ted walked into the room to find Barney still seated at the edge of his bed, a pitiful expression now etched on his face instead of the pout. Seeing him, Barney's eyes lit up, before giving Ted his best puppy dog pleading look.

"I'm tired," he sniffed, "I want to lie down... Please?" he added when Ted didn't answer him. Ted smiled, wrapping an arm around his friend's shoulder.

"Not yet Barney, I really need you right now," he told him.

Barney's brow scrunched up in misery. "For what?" he moaned.

"I need you to be my wingman!"

"Your wingman?" His eyes widened in surprise, a smile beginning to light his features.

"Yes, you're my bro, and there's a really hot chick outside, and I need you to be my wingman."

"Your wingman!" Barney exclaimed excitedly. "Wheelchair!" he demanded.

Ted shook his head. "Nuh uh, you see, there's a problem with this chick... she's scared of wheelchairs," he solemnly whispered to Barney, putting on a blank expression when Barney scanned his eyes for truthfulness.

"Why?" he asked, suspicion masking his face.

"Because she used to have a scary aunt in a wheelchair," he answered. "... With a cat," he added when Barney didn't look like he was buying it. The cat seemed to shock Barney, and he widened his eyes, nodding and shuddering at the mental image he had conjured up. "So you see, no wheelchairs," confirmed Ted.

Barney looked around, eyes scanning his room for another way, scrunching his brows in thought when he couldn't find any.

"Come on buddy, I need you! She was just outside on the bench, and might not be there for too long," Ted quickly prompted, holding out his arms for Barney to clasp onto. Barney stared contemplatively at his out-stretched hands, biting his lip in hesitation.

"Please, bro?" Ted tried again, putting on his best needy pout. Ted quickly sent a mental hurrah to Robin when Barney finally reached out, allowing Ted to pull him up onto his feet. Wincing in pain, he almost fell back down, but Ted was there to support him, putting the strength into his arms to pull Barney back up, gently tugging him forward. Breathing deeply, brow sketched in utter concentration, Barney took a step, letting out a small sob when pain shot up from the still healing cuts on the bottom of his feet.

"You can do it," Ted encouraged, backing up slightly again to pull him. Slowly, step by painful step, Barney began to edge forward, leaning heavily onto Ted for support, whimpering on every movement when fresh pain seemed to radiate up from his soles. Ted slowly backed up, through the door, whispering encouraging words to his friend all the way. Concentrating deeply on each and every step, it wasn't until they reached the bench outside his room that Barney looked up, brows furrowing when all he saw was Robin.

"Where's the girl?" he asked Ted, confusion and disappointment on his face. Ted smiled, waving his hand towards Robin.

"But... it's Robin!" Barney exclaimed, pouting. "I'm not wingman-ing you to Robin," he stated, frowning.

"That's okay buddy," Ted reassured him, pulling him a couple of steps further so he was right in front of said Robin. "Hey Robin, haaaave you met Barney?"

Robin grinned from her position, reaching out to guide Barney down onto the bench beside her. "Nice to meet you Barney," she told him smugly, placing her arm around his shoulder and giving him a slight shake to cheer him up.

"Ted lied," he sniffed to her, casting his eyes between the two of them. "I hate you both."

"Aww, come on Barney, we had to get you up and walking somehow," she reasoned, pulling him into her. He allowed himself to be led, burying his face into her shoulder.

"Yeah buddy, and what were I to do if I did meet my future wife, and my best wingman was down because he couldn't get to where I was?" Ted prompted, sliding himself onto the bench also, and sandwiching Barney in the middle. Barney pulled away from Robin to face him.

"I'm still your wingman?" he asked, hopeful eyes shining adorably. Ted smiled, reaching out to affectionately ruffle his friend's hair.

"Of course, until I find her, you're forever going to be my wingman."

Being Brave

"Okay, let's see," Marshall muttered to himself, setting out all the equipment before him and opening the wound care manual the hospital had provided. Robin and Ted had long ago left after their "Welcome Home" party, and Lily was cleaning up, putting Marshall in charge of bathing Barney and getting him ready for bed. Marshall had felt slightly awkward helping his friend bathe, not used to assisting one so intimately, especially someone as stubbornly independent as Barney had been. Though, the latter didn't seem to notice, only blinking sleepily while Marshall sponged and lathered him up with soap. Now they had reached the part Marshall was dreading. The doctor had provided them with strict instructions on caring for Barney's still open wounds on his lower back, warning them over and over of the dangers should the wounds become infected without proper care to keep them clean. This included changing the dressings after every bath, and applying antiseptic to the wounds. Marshall had seen the doctors and nurses perform the procedure may times previously, usually being the one to hold Barney's hand whilst he sobbed and whimpered for them to stop. Now having to be the instigator of such suffering, Marshall wasn't sure if he could.

"You comfortable, buddy?" he asked.

Barney was laying on his side, on the bed they had prepared for him, sans shirt, half the blanket and his stormtrooper plush clutched tightly in a wad in his arms. Nodding slightly in reply to Marshall, he buried his head into the pillow, and Marshall could see his torso tense up in anticipation. "I won't cry," came the muffled voice. Marshall smiled sadly, reaching out a hand to ruffle his friend's short blonde hair before pulling on the sterile gloves and studying the manual.

"Step 1: peel off the outer dressings," he read aloud, hoping that it would lessen Barney's anxiety if he knew what was happening. Gently, he tugged at the waterproof bandages, sighing in relief when they came off easily, revealing the stained inner dressings.

"Step 2: remove inner dressings with sterilized tweezers." Marshall pulled the tweezers out of the peroxide solution, gulping down a breath as he teased it onto a corner of the half dried gauze. Barney tensed, feeling the tug, grunting slightly at the burn.

"I'll be quick," Marshall told him, steadying his torso with his free hand. "Like ripping a bandage," he psyched himself. Gripping the tweezers tight between his fingers, Marshall quickly tugged, hard, gritting his teeth against resisting tissue he knew was causing pain. A strangled grunt erupted from Barney, muffled as he pushed himself hard into the pillow, drawing quick desperate breaths as pain flushed over him. The breaths dissolved quietly into stifled sobs, and Marshall saw white knuckles clutching tightly onto the stormtrooper, feet kicking tensely under the covers in vain. More strangled breaths and muffled sobs followed as Marshall quickly gripped the dressing on the second wound and pulled, holding his friend down by his hip. Quickly discarding the gauze and tweezers into the peroxide container, Marshall laid one hand onto Barney's shoulder, gently massaging out the tension, whilst his other hand tangled in blonde locks, softly stroking in comfort. He waited patiently, until ragged hiccups calmed, Barney's breath evening out.

"Ready to continue?" Marshall asked hesitantly. Barney nodded, sniffling.

"I'm not gonna cry," he told Marshall again, voice hoarse, but stubborn.

"I know, buddy, I know," Marshall reassured him, looking down onto the manual once more. "Step 3: clean the wounds using..." Marshall stopped, not wanting to diverge the details aloud to Barney. "Okay buddy, hold still," he told him instead, picking up the syringe and filling it with the peroxide solution he had prepared earlier. Laying out a cotton pad to absorb the run off under the wound, Marshall finally allowed his eyes to look onto the patches of raw open skin, hissing in sympathy. Taking a deep breath, he gingerly placed the tip of the syringe close to an edge and squeezed the solution out. Barney bucked instinctively, a whimper escaping his tightly clenched jaw as he drew breaths in rapid succession. Marshall again, steadied him with his free hand, squeezing more of the solution out to rinse the sensitive skin.

"Hurts..." Barney choked out, sobs beginning to build at the back of his throat. Suddenly Marshall felt him tensing, his body curling into himself as he chanted "I won't cry. I won't cry. I won't-"

A sob broke loose as Marshall squeezed more solution onto the wound, followed by a few more, Barney swiping his face angrily into the pillow to stop them from sounding out. Marshall paused, resting a hand in his friend's hair.

"Do you need a break, buddy?" he asked, feeling his own tears rising and doing his best to keep his voice level. Barney shook stubbornly, grunting, before squeezing the load in his arms even tighter and bearing down, signaling for Marshall to continue. With bated breath, Marshall quickly finished rinsing down the rest of the wounds, using one hand to hold his friend steady whilst he whimpered and bucked. Tears were running down Marshall's cheeks by the time he finished, hurriedly wrapping the area in wet gauze and taping down the dry outer dressings. Having accomplished the task, Marshall pulled the rubber gloves off in one go, heaving as he allowed his hands to drop to his side. The room was silent, pierced only by the ragged breaths of the two men, whimpers and sobs slowly fading away. It was Marshall who ended up breaking the silence, reaching out to run his fingers through Barney's short hair.

"You okay, big guy?"

Barney sniffed, turning slightly to face him, drowsy eyes blinking sleepily.

"I didn't cry," he stated to Marshall.

Marshall smiled, clearing his throat as he felt the tears rise up again.

"I know, big guy, you were awesome."

Barney gave a half smile in response, finally giving in to his tiredness and allowing his eyes to close. Marshall quickly pulled all the wound care items off the side of the bed, before helping Barney into a more comfortable position, pulling the blanket from his arms and covering him with it. He gently stroked his hand through his friend's hair a few more times, lulling him to rest.

"How is he?"

Marshall looked up to see Lily standing by the door, a proud smile on her face.

"Sleeping..." he answered, leaning his head onto her shoulder when she walked over to embrace him. "It was so horrible, Lily..."

He felt Lily nodded against him, kissing him on his cheek.

"I'm so proud of you, Marshmallow. You were so brave," she told him, staring lovingly into his eyes. He paused for a moment, allowing himself to wallow in the affections of his wife. Finally turning his head to see the sleeping figure on the bed, he sighed, pulling away.

"Not as brave as him, Lilypad..."

Lily turned to face Barney also, untangling herself from Marshall and kneeling down beside the bed to lovingly stroke the blonde hair.

"I know Marshall; none of us are," she replied, bending down to comfortingly kiss his forehead.