Wait For It (Sequel to Challenge Accepted)

Chapter Three: Challenge Accepted

We had headed back into Ted's room when my phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Lauren Carson?"

"That's me, yeah."

"We have you listed as the emergency contact for Barney Stinson."

"I'm his emergency contact?" I asked.

"That's what we have in his file."

"What happened."

"Mr. Stinson was hit by a bus. He's at St. Anthony's hospital." I hung up.

"Barney's here."

"What?" Ted asked.

"He got hit by a bus." I rushed out of the room and to the desk.

"Barney Stinson?"

"Room 302." I rushed to go and find him.

~~~

I burst into the roomto see two broken arms, one broken leg, and a neck brace.

"Barney, oh my gosh." I sat on the edge of his bed.

"Hey, Lauren. Long time no see."

"What did you do?!" I asked. The others, including a fully-dressed Ted walked into the room.

"I ran here. Walked out into the road."

"Dude, I...I can't believe you ran all the way up here." Ted said, on the verge of tears.

"Geez,flatter yourself much? What an ego on this guy." Tears welled up in my eyes too. "I was up in this part of town because I had to attend a very important international business meeting. If you're here to come crawling back, just save it. I'm doing awesome without either of you."

"Barney, you...you could have died." I said, my voice breaking. Now Ted and I were both crying, which made Barney start crying.

"Ted, I'm sorry I broke the bro code."

"No, I'm sorry."

"Ted, can we be friends again?"

"Barney, come on. We're more than friends. We're brothers."

"You're my brother, Ted."

"You're my brother, Barney." Ted hugged him.

"Did you hear that, Marshall? We're brothers now."

"Marshall's my brother too."

"We're all brothers." They all hugged and cried, and I eventually excused myself from the room, crying. I love Barney. I still love him, and he could have died, and my last night in New York would've been the last time I saw him...the last thing I said to him. The door opened and everyone filed out.

"He wants to talk to you." Ted told me. I went back in, shutting the door behind me.

"I don't even know where to begin apologizing to you." He said. I shook my head. "Is that why you're crying? Because of me?"

"Kind of." I walked over to him. "Barney...if I hadn't of come back today, and if something had happened to you..." I trailed of, crying all over again. "If that night had been the last time I saw you, the last things I said to you...I wouldn't have been able to live with myself."

"I saw you." He told me.  I sat down on the edge of his bed again.

"What?"

"I saw everything that I care about most...and I saw you. I saw you so much. I love you."

"I love you too."

"Can I have a second chance?" He asked. I tucked my hair behind my ear, looking down at my lap.

"No, Barney."

"Lauren-"

"No, just hear me out. I don't know if we can ever be together again. I don't know if I can ever trust you in that way again. But I want us to be friends. And maybe if someday, you can earn back my trust...then we can talk about getting back together."

"I'll wait for it," he said, "I'll wait for that day. Just tell me how to earn your trust back, and I'll do it." I smiled.

"I'll tell you what. I'll make you a list of things to do. If you complete that list in six months, then I'll go on a date with you." 

"Challenge accepted." I laughed. "Up top."

"No, your arm is broken." 

"Come on. I request the highest of fives, make it official." I shook my head.

"I'm not high-fiving you."

"Don't leave a bro, hanging. Come on, Lauren-" I cut him off by pressing my lips against his. I pulled away, rushing out of the hospital room. I have to get back to my apartment.

I have a list to make.

~~~

1.No Alcohol for an entire month.

2. Go to a fashion show, displaying no attraction to any models what-so-ever.

3. Don't wear a suit for a week.

4. have an entire conversation without using 'the'.

5.  Let Lily and Robin do your make-up before you go to work.

6.  Bartend at McLaren's for a day.

7. Wild Card (Whatever I want to do tbd at the time of doing this challenge)

...