Ted had smiled at Lily's joke but quickly dropped it. 'No, don't give in to them Ted, they don't care for you' he reminded himself.
He wanted to launch himself out of Marshall's arms. He wanted to run from them and forget them. He wanted to but he couldn't.
Instead he folded his arms and pouted.
"You know you're adorable when you pout right?" Marshall asked and Ted glared at him.
"Aw come on buddy, you know Lily and I and you know we just were excited that Barney and Robin agreed to double date" he said.
Ted rolled his eyes. "Whatever" he scoffed.
"I'm sorry you're hurt pal and I'm sorry you're sick but holding a grudge won't erase anything" Marshall told him.
Ted didn't answer. He put his head down and closed his eyes and pretended to fall asleep. Marshall sighed and placed Ted into the cab with his body on Barney and his head in Robin's lap. He laid Ted's legs over his while Lily got in the front seat.
"Don't worry bro, I told you I'll handle Teddy, I know how to fix everything" Barney said.
"Right now lets focus on getting his temperature back to normal" Marshall said.
"Well duh, he's not exactly going to win laser tag like this" Barney answered.
"Why is it laser tag is all you think about?" Robin asked.
"Because it's awesome" Barney answered.
She rolled her eyes but he knew she agreed. Besides it wasn't like she was letting him have sex with other women now they were together. So what else was there for him to do?
Ted made a little scoff noise. "What's the point guys? It obvious I won't ever find me a girl I wanna be with forever so you all will just keep leaving me behind" he mumbled.
"No, we won't anymore pal, we can wait"
"I just said I won't ever find a girl Marshall! Face it, I'm the lame fifth wheel and always been that, you all should forget me again and this time don't remember I exist" he mumbled.
"It's your fever talking Ted, lets get you well and then you'll be your old self again" Robin said.
"Yeah, the idiot who says I love you on first date" Ted muttered.
"Who is really sweet and got me to date him" Robin added.
"And then dumped him because his best friend is cooler" Ted finished.
"Well…I…"
"Got you there Scherbatsky" Ted retaliated.
Lily turned and gave them a nervous look. 'We have to snap him out of this funk guys' she said with her eyes.
'Well no duh Lily, how exactly can we though when he shoots us down each time?' Barney asked.
'You said you'd handle that' She replied.
'Guys cool it, we're here, lets just get him upstairs and make him well first' Marshall cut in.
He carried Ted upstairs and Ted remained quiet. "Just put me in your bed and leave me alone to sleep" he said.
Marshall obeyed and placed Ted on the bed. He got him some pajama's and handed them to him.
"Do you need…?"
"No…I need you to leave me alone now" Ted cut him off. Marshall hoped Robin was right. That it was the high fever talking and Ted didn't really hate his friends now.
Ted locked the door behind him. Yeah, he really hoped it was the sickness.
Barney fell asleep in the tub and the girls slept on the couch while Marshall took the floor.
Ted opened the door around midnight and smiled when he saw everyone was asleep.
"Goodnight my so called friends" he called out as he left the apartment.