Weeks later, Barney would think back on this moment and wonder exactly how the man in the cowboy hat managed to juggle so many teddy bears at once. Honestly, it shouldn't have been physically possible. Was he even carrying that many a few minutes ago, or had he taken on more when his companion ran forward to help Solomon? It was... it was hard to remember, for some reason.

Weeks later, all Barney would remember was the vague idea that it worked, somehow. He couldn't think directly about it, or his mind would just slip around the image to more important thoughts.

Like the eerie similarity between Gabe and this man.

But no, that was ridiculous. Coincidences could only stretch so far in one day.

"I think I'm good, thanks," the dark-haired girl called Valkrie replied. She was looking at the teddy bears with an expression that somehow mixed curiosity and a childish disdain. "You guys were at a carnival?"

"In a manner of speaking," the bald man answered slowly. "It was important at the time."

They know each other, Barney realised, startled. They all knew each other. Maybe there was a connection. Despite everything, despite what he knew was waiting for him one elevator ride away in the hospital, Barney smiled. These people... all of these people, running into each other like this. They were lucky. He wasn't going to ask questions, because he'd promised he wouldn't, but whoever these people were... they were lucky.

Barney shook his head and pulled out his wallet. "Don't be stupid," he said, thumbing through the few bills he still had left in the faded leather. "I'm not going to just take one of them from you. I'll give you five euros for...."

He froze. "Hang on. How do you know I have a daughter?"