Thank you so much lysemma for reviewing this chapter - I really appreciate your input =)
McLarens January 6th, 2008
She was completely calm, and not due to the shock. Maybe this was normal, maybe the movies got it wrong; time didn't slow down, neither did the noises around her start to fade.
In fact she could clearly hear Ted cursing, "what are you doing? Shit! Leave Robin out of this! Barney. Let. Her. Go. Now."
She took a quick look over to Ted and the others, they were still lying on the ground next to their favorite booth. It didn't look like Ted was going to do something really stupid and get himself involved. Good.
She looked back at the gun directly pointed at her, still surprised at how unimpressed she was by it. Maybe it had something to do with how she grew up, she had been around guns from the get-go. Her dad had taught her - most often in very unorthodox ways – that guns were nothing to be afraid of, in fact, they were fun.
Or maybe she was so calm because of Barney. It wasn't the first time that his presence and ability to handle difficult situations calmed her nerves.
Either way, this was not the night she had envisioned when she asked the gang earlier to hang out.
Robins Apartment Earlier That Day
McLarens 2 nite? All 5 of us?
She hit send, and really hoped that the others would show up. It had been a turbulent couple of months to say the least. Ted and Barney were finally back on speaking terms, but it still seemed like Ted resented Barney for what had happened. An awkward moment was always lurking around the corner, especially if the three of them were left alone.
That's why nights at McLarens had become a rare occurrence.
Lily was the first to reply.
Great idea. We r in.
Robin started to grin, perfect, having Lily and Marshall there was the most important ingredient to a normal night at McLarens. Well that, and making sure that Ted didn't get drunk enough to start speaking his mind.
Her cell phone buzzed again, a message from Ted.
Count me in.
Perfect, now the only person missing would be Barney, she was surprised that he hadn't answered yet, usually he and his iPhone were inseparable and he was always the first to reply.
She scrolled through her contacts and called him,
"Go for Barney." He replied.
"Hey, it's me. Did you get my text?" Robin asked.
"Yes."
"So? How about it?"
"Honestly, I'd rather just hang out with you."
"Oh common Barney, the five of us haven't hung out at McLarens in over a month. It will be fun." Robin tried to convince him.
"Yeah sure, but the Lusty Leopard has Wing Night tonight."
"I am not trading a night with our three best friends for strippers and mediocre food."
"Our two best friends and my arch nemesis… seriously, I'd rather not go."
"Barney, what's going on?" She asked, even through she knew he wouldn't give her an honest answer.
They hadn't really done anything out and about together for weeks.
"Nothing." Was all he answered, at least he wasn't making up crazy excuses anymore.
"Please Barney, do it for me?"
She could hear him sigh on the other end of the line, "fine Scherbatsky. I will pick you up at seven thirty."
Robin grinned, "sounds good…and Barney?"
"Yes?" he asked.
"We could re-enact the old times a bit tonight." She bit her lip.
"Sex in the alley?" Barney asked amused.
"I was thinking hands-stuff under the table." Robin countered.
"See Robin, that's what you should lead with if you want a guy to come to a totally lame thing."
"See you later." Robin grinned before hanging up. She only had two hours to get ready, which seemed like a lot, but knowing herself, just finding the right outfit would take up half the time.
McLarens Present Time
"Barney!" She heard Ted hiss, but Barney wasn't letting himself get distracted by it. At least she hoped so.
Robin glanced over to Marshall and Lily, who were lying next to Ted. They were holding hands, both peeking up to follow the unexpected development. Robin caught Lily's gaze, her friends eyes were wide in shock.
Robin slowly turned back. She took a closer look at the barrel pointed at her, and recognized the type of gun.
She should be freaked out a lot more than she was, this could really be it. She briefly wondered how bad a gunshot wound would hurt, before willing herself to think about something else entirely.
The first thing that came to her mind was a silly moment between Barney and her a couple of days ago.
Barneys Apartment Three Days Prior
"Dude?" Robin asked annoyed as Barney was seasoning her scrambled eggs with way too much salt.
"Eggs need salt, everyone knows that." He defended himself.
"Yeah a little maybe. Are you cooking or am I?" she asked.
"Okay first of all, I wouldn't call what you are doing cooking, and secondly, you are making scrambled eggs, not coq au vin."
Robin sighed, "I am making you breakfast, remember?"
Barney nodded, "and I think it's very sweet of you, but as the guardian to my health and my kitchen I will stay close and make sure everyone survives."
"Idiot. You know I make pretty good crepes."
"Maybe you should have made those then, cause, I am sorry to say this babe, but these eggs do not look normal." He pocked them with a fork.
"Shut up, they are fine." Robin bumped into him, pushing him aside. She tried the eggs, they were a little mushy and very salty.
"Great, you ruined them! They taste like salt." She whined.
"I ruined them?" Barney asked, tasting a little himself, "they taste like water… seriously Robin, you don't put water in scrambled eggs! Milk, if you must add something liquid, but not water."
Robin pulled the skilled off the oven and tossed the contents in the trash. "I guess Starbucks it is."
"Hey, don't be mad. Everyone screws up sometimes." Barney said amused while pushing himself onto the kitchen counter.
"It's your fault." She answered, putting the skilled into the sink.
"I know, I used too much salt." Barney grabbed the container with salt, poured some into his hand and tossed it at her.
"Barney? I am not cleaning this up." She said, Barney grinned and threw some more salt at her.
"Stop that." She warned him, but he didn't stop. She flung a kitchen towel at him and Barney got off the counter and charged towards her.
He grabbed her waist and heaved her onto the counter, "let's just forget breakfast." He said before kissing her.
Robin couldn't help but grin, he was only wearing his pajama pants while she was wearing pants and a tank top. The later Barney was about to take off.
"I thought you had to go into work this morning." Robin asked in between kisses.
"Nah, it can wait." Barney answered and leaned further into her. Robin grinned and wrapped her legs around his waist.
McLarens Present Time
Maybe time had stopped after all. Robin couldn't tell how long the guy had had his gun pointed at her. It couldn't have been more than a minute or so, after all, this was a New Yorker bar, the gunman didn't have all night to get what he wanted.
How quickly life could change, one minute you were having a wonderful time with your four best friends, the next you were facing death.
McLarens a few Minutes prior
"No, it's not stupid! I can't believe you would say that." Marshall exclaimed.
"Oh common, Lily back me up here, 'Field of Dreams' is a boring movie, right?" Robin prompted her friend.
"I guess it's all right." Lily answered shrugging.
Robin rolled her eyes and gave up. She felt Barneys hand creep up under her skirt, and looked him in the eyes. He just smiled innocently before turning back to their friends, "how was you guys' new years?"
"You know, you were there." Ted replied.
"I was there in the beginning, but your rooftop party was lame, as per ushe, I am assuming it only got worse after I left?" Barney asked.
Robin took a sip from her scotch, and grinned. Boy, she had really missed these nights at McLarens.
"Where did you two disappear to anyways?" Marshall was just asking curiously when an uproar from the other side of the bar.
All Robin could see before hitting the ground hard was that a masked man had entered, and was waving a gun in the air.
"What the hell?" She asked Barney surprised. He had pushed her out of the booth, and landed on top of her.
"Shh." He made, wiggling a little to find a more comfortable position while still laying on top of her.
Barney was by far the fastest one to react, and also the only one who thought about pushing out of the booth towards the back wall instead of the front which now gave them somewhat of a protection.
Robin could see Lily, Marshall and Ted, all exchanging surprised looks. She couldn't really see the gunman anymore but he had ordered everyone to lay down and she made out more and more familiar faces on the ground.
Barney fumbled for her purse, first Robin didn't get what he was trying to do but then she remembered, her gun was in there, and he knew that.
Robin's Apartment Six Weeks Prior
"Why do you want me to take my gun?" Robin asked dumbfounded, she thought Barney was kidding.
"For protection?" Barney looked at her as if she was some idiot.
"But after what happened at the hotel? You were the one who pretty much made me leave them at home when I went out, why the sudden change of heart?"
"I just don't like the thought of you being out by yourself without any protection." Barney confessed.
"Oh common, who said that New York wasn't THAT dangerous?"
"I know what I said, and I still think that for an average person, New York isn't a dangerous place, but you are gorgeous and this new job is taking you to all kinds of shady neighborhoods. I just don't like the thought of you being out there without a mean to protect yourself." Barney had closed in on her.
"Please keep it on you." He finished, looking into his blue eyes took her breath away.
"Wow, Barney Stinson is worried about a girls safety!" she attempted a weak attempt to lighten the mood.
"No, Barney Stinson is worried for his wife's safety." He corrected her before leaning in to kiss her.
"Fine." She said once their lips separated.
McLarens a few Minutes Prior
Robin watched Barney pull the gun out. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow, she nodded, yes, it was loaded.
He nodded and tugged it into the back of his pants' waistband.
"Barney Stinson? Get up!" The gunman yelled in their direction.
Robin's eyes got wide and she grabbed tightly onto Barney's shirt.
Barney smiled reassuringly, and leaned down to kiss her. It was one of the most passionate kisses they had ever shared.
Robin held on to him, not willing to let him get up. She knew that he wouldn't stand a chance if he did, even if the guy wouldn't shoot right away, Barney would never draw the gun quick enough to shoot first.
She felt him pushing himself off the ground, and held onto him even tighter, trying to weight him down with her entire weight. She was surprised when she felt his right arm around her waist, pulling her up with him.
They broke off their kiss, and Barney got them both on their feet. Swirling her into the direction of the gunman while still holding her tightly around the waist.
"What do you want?" she heard Barney ask, he seemed surprisingly calm.
"You." Robin could see the gunman grin as he pointed his gun at them.
"Why?" Barney asked.
"I think you know that. Let her go, Stinson."
And that was when everything went quiet, everything except Ted hissing at his friend to let go of Robin.
McLarens Present Time
She felt Barney's breath against her neck, and it gave her Goosebumps.
"Your friend is right, you better let her go, Barney." The gunman was the first to speak again.
Robin felt Barneys grip around her waist tighten. "And then?"
The gunman grinned and flexed his index finger over the trigger. "You are going to die Stinson, either way, now you can either take her down with you or not, your choice!"
Robin's heart rate speeded up, and she kept thinking; 'keep cool, don't panic now, you can't panic!'
She could still feel Barneys breath, it reminded her of being in bed with him. They weren't the cuddly type but he'd usually hold her for a couple minutes post coital.
"I guess you made your choice." The gunman snickered, Robin saw how he put his finger back over the trigger.
Everything happened so quickly; Barney had watched the gunman very closely too, waiting for his move. With one swift motion he pulled Robin behind himself, she grabbed her gun from his belt as she heard the shot. It was loud, but didn't dazzle her, instead she went into automatic mode; safety out, point and shoot.
For whatever reason the second gunshot straddled her a lot more than the first one had, even though this time she was the one who had pulled the trigger.
Preferences
§
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
Backspace
Tab
q
w
e
r
t
y
u
i
o
p
[
]
Return
capslock
a
s
d
f
g
h
j
k
l
;
'
\
shift
z
x
c
v
b
n
m
,
.
/
shift
English
Deutsch
Español
Français
Italiano
Português
Русский
alt
alt
Preferences