AN: New chapter what UP!
"Look… I don't know what's going to happen later. But we're going to pretend we're just friends if we see Luke and… And he wonders. I mean, can we?"
As soon as Barney heard that, he felt his heart sink. "Why?" He questioned, his voice coming out as a whine.
"Because… We're… And he's…" Robin tried to explain, but heaved a sigh instead. "It's complicated."
Not wanting an argument to take place, he did not protest, but nodded agreeably as they stood in the elevator in silence. It was morning, and after having breakfast in bed, they had some hanky panky behaviour before they got to the serious business. They were finally at the hospital, after having almost forgotten why they were really here in London.
He noticed she was vexed and he could understand that completely. Reaching for her hand, he gave it a little squeeze of reassurance and let go, just as soon as the elevator doors opened to reveal a busy corridor.
"Let's just get this over and done with, okay?" He mumbled and tugged on his collar as she looked at him, a face of slight reluctance and fear of what the Universe had in store for her in the next hour. "It's going to work out."
"I hope so," she replied nervously as she felt her heart beat so fast she was surprised it had not flown out of her chest right there and then and landed plop on the floor in the form of a bloody mess.
"I know so."
Robin shot him a grateful look, knowing he was trying his best to comfort her and appreciating his effort. They stood motionless, looking around as they wondered what they had to do next.
"Hi…" She approached a nurse, and she felt her hands getting clammy as she clenched her fists, tensed.
"Morning, how may I help you?"
The nurse was cheerful and surprisingly young; she did not look a day over twenty and Robin doubted she was even old enough to legally drink, let alone get a full-time job.
"I'm… Coming here to sign a form…" She muttered.
"For…?" The nurse prodded helpfully as she waited for her response.
"Sorry?"
The nurse blinked at Robin's incapability to answer her simple question and repeated herself. "You said you were here to sign a form… For who?"
"Oh. For… Luke. Luke Fielding… Yeah. That's him. I mean that's his name." She responded, silently cursing herself for screwing up a normal conversation like this.
"Oh! I see. You must be Robin. Give me a moment; I'll be right back." She replied professionally and in good spirits, which only made Robin feel more anxious.
Stopping the nurse from walking to the reception desk, Robin tapped her on the shoulder. "You know my name?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm only an intern, so I only have a few patients with me these ten weeks I'm here. I just thought I should learn more about them and their families. Especially the cute ones like him. Kind of stupid, but I feel like I'm probably going to work here in the future so I just thought I'd make a good impression now. Also kind of stupid, but I think I really like him. Luke." She replied, shrugging and breaking into a tiny blush before returning to her professional state. "Now if you'll just excuse me for a minute, I'll go get your form."
"Oh, right. Of course. Thanks."
Walking back to where Barney stood, she noticed a grin on his face, to which she responded by giving him a dig in the ribs.
"Ow! What's wrong with you?" He teased as the look of amusement stayed firmly on his face.
"You're mocking me!"
"I'm not! I'm standing here, smiling."
"That's mocking me!"
"No it isn't. But come on, you should've seen how nervous you were back there. I actually thought you were going to melt into a puddle on the floor anytime." He mused, further provoking her.
"Was I really?" She replied, concerned, before shaking off the worry and returning her comebacks. "Actually, we both are going to melt into a puddle on the hotel room floor tonight, if you know what I mean." She gave him a wink and returned hurriedly to the reception, where the bubbly intern was standing with a folder tucked beneath her arm, playing with a pen.
"You just have to sign… Here." The nurse instructed, handing Robin the pen and pointing to where there was a blank line indicated, and she did as she was told.
"Right… Thanks. Is that it?"
"Yeah, that is, really."
"Oh. I didn't think… They could just have faxed it to me, couldn't they?" Robin replied, feeling stupid for the anxiety she had the entire morning regarding the hospital visit. "I mean… My flight was hours and this whole procedure took less than two seconds."
"You aren't from here?" The nurse enquired, interested.
"Oh no. I live in New York City… I can't believe they had me fly all the way back."
"Actually…" The nurse looked at Robin, a glimmer in her eye. "You can see Luke. I think that's why they called you here. Would you like to see him?"
"No." She replied, startled, then corrected herself as she registered the look of genuine surprise on the nurse's face. "Yes. I meant yes." She laughed nervously. "I don't know why I said no."
"Cool. He's in the first room on the right. Probably asleep now. He's oddly not very active these days."
"He's not?" Robin replied, her brow furrowing.
"No, he isn't… Well anyway, I'll walk you there, after I file this." She replied, getting to work. "And that man over there, is he with you? Would he like to come along?" She jutted her chin out at Barney, who was standing awkwardly in the middle of the ward, one foot lightly tapping in a quick rhythm against the shiny floorboards.
"Yes and yes. Thanks so much. I'll just go get him as you do this."
Robin flashed the nurse a gentle smile and strolled over to where Barney was standing, and he noticed she had relaxed slightly now.
"All good and ready to go?" He asked, smiling at her. "God, I love your eyes."
She directed her gaze towards the floor for a moment as a way of accepting his compliment and raised her head once again to tell him that they were not leaving. Not yet.
"I told the nurse we're going to see Luke together. I'm not sure if he's asleep or not right now or whatever… But I just thought I have to see him. I have to see him because if I don't, I'll never know how he has been and it'll just… I don't want this guilt to float with me forever. It's not fair for him, still."
"Okay… I'll meet you here in fifteen minutes then, I suppose?"
"You're not coming?"
"I'd rather not."
"Why not?"
"I'd just not. Now you go along, the nurse is waiting for you."
"I guess… That's fine then. See you," she replied, pursing her lips as she followed the nurse down the corridor, and he watched as he fiddled with his fingers, in a state of nerves.