Chapter 5- Live like there's...

-events set during "No Tomorrow"-

A/N: ImperiumWife: First off, glad you enjoy my work, as I enjoy your HIMYM stories too. And second, good guess on what happened next.

I had managed to secure a small bartender shift at a club owned by a friend for a St. Patrick's day party a few years later. It was only a one night job, so I invited Juno to have some free drinks and a good time.

The night was hard on me. I only had my hoodie in the pouring rain on the way there, and I had never served as many drinks in one night. Other than seeing the endless sea of drunk chicks, it wasn't a good night. And then, in the middle of my shift, I saw the one person who I was both shocked, and not at all surprised to see there: Ted. He jumped right out at me in the middle of the party with a friend in the most ridiculous green suit, asking for two expensive bottles of champagne, putting it on a guy named "Garedo's" tab. I knew two facts: one, that he wasn't Garedo because I saw the actual guy order drinks earlier, and two, that he would be getting his ass handed to him for ordering the drinks on Garedo's tab. I was tempted to ask him if he remembered me, but he wasn't reacting as if he knew me when he asked for the drinks. Clearly he was so drunk so long ago he really did forget the night like he said he would. So I casually played along, handing him the bottles of champagne, and his free caviar for them. He was astounded, probably at how good things were happening to him.

"I'm working on this theory. You know karma?" He said.

"Know it? I'm a firm believer in it." I replied.

"Well, buddy, I think the universe is taking the night off. I'm doing bad things and nothing's happened. Maybe you should try it."

"What do you mean by that buddy?"

"Get so drunk you pass out." Of course someone like this guy would say that. I was starting to think he had a real drinking problem.

"Not likely buddy." I said. "I got a job to do. I met someone a few years ago who turned me off of drinking that much by setting an example." I gave him a look hoping he got the message.

"Whatever. Your loss, man." He said, walking away.

I got back to work until Juno came by a few minutes later.

"I'm feeling a good scotch, Ollie. You got a recommendation?"

"Absolutely." I said, happy to have Ted gone. I poured us two drinks and we started talking.

"You're not gonna believe who I saw a few minutes ago." I said.

"Who?"

I then saw him right behind her. "Look man!" Said Ted to a tall man in front of him. It was the real Garedo. "I think there's a perfectly good explana-"

A good fist in the jaw cut him off from finishing his sentence. He fell down onto the ground as I vaulted over the bar and over to the guy who just socked Ted right in the face.

"Lay off him, Mr. Garedo." I said.

"He put it on my tab!" He snarled with clenched fists. "I'll be getting my money back!"

"Absolutely, sir. Just let me call the police, they'll get this sorted out, I will have this guy here," I pulled Ted up onto his feet. "pay for his drinks, we will have your tab fixed up, and anything else you want, you'll get."

"I want this guy's hand broken." He snarled.

"Well, that you can't have." I said, sheepishly, laughing a bit.

"I'll be getting free drinks." He said.

"Absolutely, sir. Just lay off while I bill him.

Garedo stood over by the bar as Juno spoke up.

"I should get going, Ollie. You got a lot on your hands, and I don't wanna cause trouble."

"Wait! This is the guy you're looking for! Don't you want to meet him? This has gotta be fate!" I said.

"No way, bro. You think with him being drunk last time, he's gonna remember meeting me this time? And for that matter, he's been a jerk to everyone at this bar tonight." She replied. "I don't want to meet someone like that."

"Fine. Don't wait up. I'll see you tomorrow."

Juno walked out while I dusted Ted off. I called the police where they took Garedo away on account of the assault. Afterwards I was asked to be the one to bill Ted for the tab.

"Rough night, huh?" I said, handing him an ice pack while the cops took Garedo away.

"Not too bad. I'm doing awesome."

I felt a little bad for Ted, after seeing his bill, and his shiner: Both looked massive.

"Here." I said, handing him a beer. "On the house."

"Thanks, man." Said Ted. "I'm Ted."

I felt silly introducing ourselves to each other again, but I played along.

"Hey Ted. I'm Oliver. Call me Ollie." I shook his hand.

Ted's friend in the tacky green suit then walked up to me.

"I'm taking a scotch and soda on the house." He said.

"Fine. That's 5.50" I said.

"I thought the drinks were on the house." He said, puzzled.

"Yeah. But I didn't see you get punched in the face. Get lost, Peter Pan."

Clearly jealous of Ted getting free drinks, he simply walked away.

Ted took a long swig of his beer, not paying attention to the suit guy. "You ever feel like your life has no direction, Oliver?"

"Not really." I said, shrugging. "I enjoy what I do. Although, my goal to open my own bar hasn't been accomplished yet."

"Yeah, I feel that way too. My life's okay, but my love life seems to be heading into the fire. It's like I never'll find the 'one' for me."

"I know exactly what you mean." I said, smirking. "I have a friend feeling the same way."

Ted told me a story about his goal to build a skyscraper in New York. It seemed like he was a little kid with big dreams, but I understood. He wanted something good to happen in his life. Seems like the summary of what happens says he wasn't doing too good. He did recently meet a girl who lived in New Jersey, so at least he had that.

Ted and I spent the rest of the night drinking and talking. I don't remember passing out, but I hope it was from the lack of sleep and not over-drinking. I woke up the next morning, laying on the bar with my face pressed up firmly against the table, where I was lying on it among the spilled drinks. I got my wakeup call from Juno, lightly slapping me in the face.

"Wakey-wakey." She said in a sing song voice.

"Gaugh." I grunted. "Oh, hey Juno. What are you doing back here? And what time is it?"

"It's 11 am. I'm back here because I need your help."

"The next morning? Damn, I must have had a bit to drink." I slid off the bar and stood up, dusting myself off. "What do you need?"

"I can't find my umbrella in the closet. Did you happen to know if someone took it?"

"Not really. Last I remember was talking to Ted."

"Oh, come on, Ollie." She said, a little angry. "He was a jackass."

"What? He's actually a nice guy. You should just give him a chance when he's sober."

"Well, okay. In the meantime, can you help me find my umbrella?"

"Sure."

Juno and I spent over an hour and a half looking through the bar for the umbrella. Finally one of the cleaning guys gave us an answer to where it went.

"Some younger guy took off with it about an hour before you showed up. I don't blame him; it's pouring out there."

Juno and I headed back to the bar area.

"Goddamn it!" She snapped, knocking over a few glasses.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"No. That umbrella meant something to me. I feel it's the thing that shows our friendship."

I laughed. She always loved that umbrella after I got it for her. "C'mon." I said. "Let's go home."

"Are you kidding?" She said laughing. "It's pouring out there."

"Yeah." I said, laughing more. "And I don't give a damn."