dical Center. VIP Ward.
"Barni, your fracture's healed up nicely, but don't forget that charm poison of yours hasn't fully cleared out yet," Adam said with a nudge. "Maybe hold off on wreaking havoc on the world for a bit, huh?"
"Oh, co on, don't try to fool ," Barni shot back with a smirk. "I've already done my howork. As long as I play it safe, it's no big deal. Half the doctors in this hospital have had it too—what, are they all waiting six months to get back in the ga?"
"It's not the sa," Adam countered, shaking his head. "You said it yourself: New York can't survive without you, Barni Stinson. All those other guys combined don't spread it like you do. They can get away with it; you can't—unless you're pulling a Joey."
"Joey? What's up with him?" Barni's eyes lit up with curiosity.
"He's turned over a new leaf," Adam said with a grin, spilling the tea about how Joey had toned down his playboy ways to avoid so ssy family drama. "So, Barni, what about you?"
"That's, like, a decade away," Barni brushed it off. "I'll deal with it then." He flashed a smug little smile. "Joey Tribbiani? Psh, dude's getting old!"
"Yeah, well, you better hope your luck holds up next ti," Adam teased.
"Barni, I think you should listen to Adam," Jas piped up hesitantly. "He's your buddy and a doctor—he's not out to get you."
"Jas?!" Barni spun around, staring at his brother-in-arms like he'd grown a second head.
"Don't give
that look," Jas chuckled. "Your luck's been absolute trash lately. As your bro, if it's between your wild lifestyle and keeping you safe, I'm picking safe every ti."
"Good brother," Barni said, lifting his chin proudly before jabbing a finger at Adam. "If you really cared about , you'd get
out of this hospital ASAP—away from this guy. He's my bad-luck charm. Keep him at a distance, and I'll be free to live my best life, no problem!"
"I'm still right here, you know," Adam drawled, unimpressed.
"Quit talking nonsense," Jas laughed, waving Barni off. Then he turned to Adam. "Hey, did soone just jump off a building earlier?"
"Yeah," Adam nodded, filling him in on the details.
"That's awful," Jas said, his face darkening with anger. "Everyone's got the right to live how they want—man, woman, whatever, it's their call. Who's got the nerve to judge or sneer at her? Adam, keep an eye on Barni for —I'm gonna go check on her."
With that, he grabbed a high-heeled shoe and stord out of the room, fuming.
"He's…?" Adam raised an eyebrow, piecing it together.
"Yup," Barni grinned. "Jas is gay. That's why we're the ultimate duo. Ted doesn't even deserve to shine our shoes!"
And then Barni launched into a full-on ramble about their epic brotherly adventures—how they'd team up and take on the world. Like that one ti at the bar:
They'd split up to scout the scene. Barni checked out the hot guys; Jas scoped out the ladies. Then Jas would swoop in to "harass" a woman Barni had his eye on—say, so chick in low-rise jeans with a tattoo peeking out, sipping a drink at the bar.
"Hey, babe, that's one sexy tattoo," Jas would say, laying it on thick.
"Get lost, you creep!" she'd snap, swatting him away. Even the most chill girls weren't cool with a guy getting that handsy.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Barni would jump in, pulling Jas back with a straight face. "Her tattoo's not an invitation for you to grope her—it's about her depth. I bet her inner world's like a dolphin swimming through a field of flowers."
Adam couldn't help but crack up at that line. It was ridiculous—but he knew it worked like a charm on so girls.
Sure enough, paired with Barni's sharp looks and custom-tailored suit, the woman would lt into a smile. Then Jas would "lose it," and the two would launch into a classic East Coast-style showdown:
"What're you staring at?"
"Staring at you, what about it?"
"Look again, I dare you!"
"Oh, I'm looking!"
"Chill, fine, you win, happy now?"
Barni would puff out his chest, getting right in Jas' face, while Jas threw up his hands in mock surrender, shooting Barni a sneaky wink before slinking off "defeated."
That left Barni, the big hero, to play it cool. "Next ti he bugs you, just let
know," he'd say, turning to leave while counting in his head: One, two, three…
"Thanks! You should stick around… just in case," she'd call after him, right on cue within three seconds.
Barni would turn back, lock eyes with her, and—bam—mission accomplished. Hero saves the day!
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Then they'd switch roles. Barni's assist move was even simpler. Jas would "collapse" in a crowd of guys, and Barni would yell, "Help! He's not breathing—anyone know CPR?"
Jas was a good-looking dude, so in a group of guys, so eager beaver would always jump up, eyes gleaming, "I can! I can!" But Barni would bypass the overzealous ones and point straight at the guy Jas had picked out.
That's how tight these two were. Their crowning achievent? A double date with a pair of siblings—four people, one epic night. If Jas hadn't been out of town, Ted wouldn't have even gotten a look-in.
Adam listened to Barni's nostalgic bragging while escorting him for an MRI.
Nurse's Station.
"Still thinking about earlier?" a young nurse asked, noticing John Carter lost in thought. "It wasn't your fault, you know."
"Thanks," Carter said, giving her a grateful glance.
"No problem!" she chirped with a sweet smile. "Besides, if it weren't for you, we wouldn't have seen Dr. Duncan's heroic mont—swooping in to catch that jumper mid-air, then pulling off a windmill move to yank them back like it was nothing. So cool, right?!"
Carter's face froze. He shouldn't have said thanks—she wasn't even comforting him; she just wanted to gush about Dr. Duncan!
"Carter, you were there—you've got the best view. Spill the details!" she pressed, grinning.
"Didn't you already hear about it?" he asked, forcing a smile.
"Yeah, but their angle's not the sa as yours!" she insisted.
Carter sighed. Adam's first lesson had been clear: Never piss off the nurses. So he recounted the whole thing. She kept cutting in, asking about his feelings—nodding happily when he ntioned being shocked or grateful.
"You're so into Dr. Duncan—you must know a ton about him, huh?" Carter ventured cautiously.
"Totally!" she said, puffing out her chest. "Nobody knows Dr. Duncan better than ."
"So… he asked
about pig knuckles earlier," Carter said. "Said braised ones are the best. What's that about?"
"Oh, that!" She tapped her chin, eyes darting as she snapped her fingers and pointed at him. "I've got it!"
"What's it an?" Carter asked, leaning in eagerly.
"Can you braise pig knuckles?" she asked, smirking.
"No," he admitted, shaking his head.
"That won't do," she said, waving a hand. "Tonight, you've gotta learn—preferably from a pro."
"Wait—you're saying Dr. Duncan wants to eat my braised pig knuckles?" Carter's jaw dropped.
"Nope!" She wagged a finger. "Dr. Duncan's a billionaire—he's got chefs for that. He's not after so newbie's cooking. You want to learn from him, right? This is your shot! Man, Dr. Duncan's just too nice."
Carter's eyes sparkled as it sank in. "Tonight, I'm finding soone to teach
how to braise pig knuckles!" he muttered to himself.
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