Fic: The Crossroads Conundrum, Part 7
Title: The Crossroads Conundrum
Part 7: Leonard
Author: she_burns1
Pairing: Sheldon/Penny, Leonard/Penny
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2,058
Summary: Future!fic! Sheldon, Penny, and Leonard all thought they knew exactly what they wanted, but with a big change on the way, all three begin to question themselves, and each of them is lead in a direction they had not anticipated.
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The plot is all mine. No copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: Finally, a bit back on track! Short entry, but better something than nothing! And did you see the artwork for Part 6? All love to renisanz!
Back to: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6
The worst lies are the lies we tell ourselves. We live in denial of what we do, even what we think. We do this because we're afraid. We fear we will not find love, and when we find it we fear we'll lose it. We fear that if we do not have love we will be unhappy. - Richard Bach
“So what does the note say again?”
Leonard had been gnawing absently on his thumbnail from where he sat, perched on the top of his armchair, Sheldon’s letter in his free hand. He passed it idly to Raj, who took in from him and began to read it aloud.
"'Dearest Leonard, my sincere apologies for my unexpected departure. I have gone traveling. Included are detailed instructions for Howard Wolowitz in regards to your upcoming nuptials, signed Sheldon,” Raj stopped reading, his brow furrowed, “He actually wrote ‘signed’?”
“‘Gone traveling’?” Howard scoffed, “Who does he think he is? The Doctor? I told you that Doctor Who marathon we had was a bad idea!”
“He wrote ‘dearest’ Leonard?” Raj muttered.
“Guys, can we focus, please?” Leonard whined, then, more solemnly, “Sheldon is gone.”
“Is it wrong of me to say ‘good riddance’?” Howard joked and both Leonard and Raj glared at him, Howard held up his hands, “Okay, okay, too soon, too soon or…wait…why am I apologizing?”
“Howard…”
“Look, Leonard, Sheldon is a grown man. I’m sure he can take care of himse - yeah and, I’m just going to stop right there because I realized what I was saying.”
Leonard sighed, pushing up his glasses, “Howard, that’s not the point. The point is that Sheldon just up and left. I mean, it takes us three hours to get ready to go to the grocery store. It’s just not like him and that worries me.”
“Is that why he called you ‘dearest’?” Raj asked.
Leonard moaned, “Not you too…”
Raj at least had the decency to look a little ashamed as he handed the letter back to Leonard. Howard spoke again, “Leonard, I think you’re making this more serious than it ought to be. Like you said, Sheldon can’t do anything without considerable planning. I doubt he got very far. Besides, Sheldon might have his faults - and there are many - but, I suppose, when all is said and done, he is a good friend. At least to you. I can’t imagine him not coming back in time for the wedding.”
“But he left you this,” Leonard pointed out, pulling out a thick packet that he thrust at him.
Howard picked up the packet and opened it; he looked at the first few pages, and then looked at Raj, “Raj, I thought you said he included this stuff in his note.”
“He did. That’s what the note says.”
“But he couldn’t have included this! It’s the length of a small Bible!” Howard said, waving some of the pages around.
“Which means he must have been working on it for a while…” Leonard said under his breath.
“A while?” Howard repeated as he looked through some more pages, “This has footnotes! I’m worried if I go much farther in there’ll be an index!”
Raj shrugged, “He said they were detailed notes.”
“Detailed?!”
“Guys! Again! Losing the point!”
Raj ignored Leonard’s outburst, focusing on Howard, “I don’t know what you’re so upset about - at least he chose you for an important job. I’m not even mentioned! What does that say about me?”
“Rajeesh, please, Sheldon may be many things, but he’s no fool. Entrusting you with the information needed for the Best Man would be foolhardy, or have you forgotten that the Best Man will, at some point, have to talk to women.”
“Yes, but the Best Man also has to make arrangements - like the catering, for example, and considering Penny’s mother’s love for peanuts, I don’t think you’ll be able to help out much unless we want to add a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day float to the festivities.”
“Raj, that is just one small part of-”
“Do I need a whistle or something? Am I invisible?” Leonard cried, waving his hands, “Sheldon! We’re talking about Sheldon!”
“Well, yeah, but he’s gone,” Howard pointed out, shrugging, “Not much to be done about it. Makes more sense to focus on the wedding. And, more importantly,” Howard’s eyebrows actually seemed to wiggle as he said, “the bachelor party.”
“Besides,” Raj concurred, “We won’t be able to find him.”
“What makes you say that?” Leonard asked.
It was now Raj’s turn to shrug, “Well, considering how upset he’s been the last two weeks, I doubt he wants to be found.”
Both Howard and Leonard’s eyes widened, Leonard spoke first, “Sheldon’s been upset?”
“Sure,” Raj said simply, “You two didn’t notice?”
“Raj, there are a million things I can put my focus upon and Sheldon Cooper rates very low on that list,” Howard replied succinctly, “Now, high on that list are-”
Leonard cut him off, “Raj, did Sheldon tell you why he was upset?”
“No, I just noticed. You notice a lot of things when you don’t talk so much,” Raj looked pointedly at both Leonard and Howard at this moment, but then, seconds later, looked deflated, “But then you also realize that you’re never going to get married.”
“Now Raj, there, there, I’m sure you’re parents will force you into marriage soon enough,” Howard comforted.
Raj’s eyes narrowed and he raised a finger to point accusingly at Howard, preparing himself for another argument, when Leonard spoke, “Raj, come on, buddy, stay focused. Sheldon was upset. How?”
Raj blinked, confused, “How?”
“Yeah, I mean, how do you know he was upset? Did he say something? Do something? Did he tell you why he was upset?”
“No, he didn’t tell me why, but…it wasn’t even anything he said or did directly but…sometimes you could just…tell. Like, last Halo Night, Howard blew him up with a plasma grenade and Sheldon started up with his normal rant, you know, the one he starts when he’s losing and feels it isn’t fair but he just…it was…it’s hard to explain.”
“Try.”
“It was…shorter. It was like he was…tired. Or couldn’t get up the energy to really act like he normally would about it. He seemed…off. Yeah, actually, that’s a good word for it. He seemed ‘off’ for the past two weeks. It was like he was…unsure of his routine. Like it was the first time he was aware of it. Like he could ‘see’ himself for the first time or something. And then, whenever Penny came over…I mean, it just got really strange then.”
“‘See himself for the first time?’” Howard repeated, “Bit deep. Don’t think you were reading a little too much into things? Doesn’t sound like Sheldon…”
“That’s what I'm saying! He wasn’t acting like Sheldon.”
“He seemed fine to me.”
“Me too.” Leonard muttered, looking dejected.
Howard clicked his tongue, “Pretty bad, man, you’re his roommate. Closest thing he has to a best friend. You should have noticed.”
“Hello?” Leonard wailed, “Bit busy? Wedding? Getting married? Ring any bells?! I’ve been pretty busy with that!”
“Mmm, me too for that matter,” Howard said, looking devilish, “It is indeed fortuitous that the reigns of the best man have been handed over to me, as I have all ready been looking into bachelor parties and I found this dancer Sue, you can get her at a discount! I mean, yeah, she has one leg, but you won’t believe what she does with it-”
“Howard, you’ve probably been researching bachelor parties since you were thirteen-”
“Seven. I developed young…”
“Regardless,” Leonard sighed, “I want to hear more about Sheldon than about women who will most likely make me want to vomit in my mouth, so, Raj, acted strange around Penny how?”
Raj looked at Howard, “One leg? Really?”
Leonard cleared his throat, Raj started again, “Oh, um, well, I mean, she’d come over and it’d be the same old, same old, you know, you two all cuddled up and us all glaring on but happy nonetheless, but Sheldon would, it was like, he wouldn’t look at Penny. At all. Almost like she wasn’t there and then, when he would, like when you would say something and he’d have to look at the pair of you, it was like he was staring into the sun. His eyes were…blinky and kinda glassy. Looked like it hurt.”
“Feel his pain. Seeing Leonard with a hot girl like Penny, always breaks my heart,” Howard tutted.
Leonard looked thoughtful, his attention back on his thumbnail as he chewed on it once more. He felt terrible for not having noticed Sheldon was upset, but he also felt angry. How could Sheldon do this to him? How could he leave days before the wedding? Sheldon knew how important this was to him, how could he jeopardize it?
And what would he tell Penny?
Penny…his girlfriend…his soon to be wife. The future Mrs. Leonard Hofstadter. God, he loved her so much. He just wanted her to be happy. He didn’t know why the last thought came to him, but it did and it weighed heavily on him.
He just wanted Penny to be happy.
He wanted to be happy too. They could be happy together. They could…
He shook his head, clearing his throat and not knowing why it needed to be cleared, before he spoke, “We’ve got to try to find Sheldon.”
“What? But why?” Howard whined, “He’ll just ruin my chances at getting laid with-”
“There are more important things than getting laid, Howard!” Leonard snapped and Howard looked stunned, then annoyed, as he crossed his arms and muttered under his breath, “Says the one who’s been getting laid the past few…” the rest melted off into grumbles.
Raj shook his head, “Leonard, I told you. Sheldon won’t want to be found.”
“Where did you get that from? Did you get that from the same place where you imagined he was ‘seeing himself’ for the first time?”
“Hey, you asked what I saw and that’s what I saw, don’t get all pissy with me if you don’t like the way I describe it,” Raj grumped, “Bull headed, banana slug…”
Leonard sighed, running a hand through his hair, “You’re right, you’re right, I’m sorry Raj, I’m just…I’m worried about Sheldon.”
“No, you’re worried about Penny,” Howard corrected and when both Raj and Leonard gaped at him, Howard shrugged, “Hey; I have insight too, all right? I’m not always…” he shook his head, “You’re worried about Penny, because when she finds out she’ll flip, be sad, or both and you don’t want that. Weddings are more of an event for women than they are for men. You just want her to be happy.”
Hearing the words from Howard of all people really made them ring out in Leonard’s head and he found himself nodding slowly, “Yeah. Yeah, I do.”
“But what about Sheldon?” Raj returned gently.
There was an uncomfortable silence. Howard broke it, “I think we should compromise.”
Leonard blinked, “How so?”
“We let things go on as planned, nice, normal, no ringing alarm bells. No reason to let Penny know until we absolutely have to. You keep your eyes on the prize and Raj and I will start quietly looking into where Sheldon has gone. Hopefully we’ll find him before the big day and, if not, at least everything is still in place for the wedding minus one exception, me standing in for Sheldon up at the alter.”
Leonard sighed, another hand combing through his hair, “Sounds reasonable.”
“I still don’t think we’ll find Sheldon. Not if he doesn’t want to be found,” Raj sighed, but, looking at Leonard, said softly, “But we’ll try.”
“The most important thing is that we don’t tell Penny-”
“Don't tell Penny what?” Penny announced as she entered the apartment, Missy right behind her.
Part 7: Leonard
Author: she_burns1
Pairing: Sheldon/Penny, Leonard/Penny
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2,058
Summary: Future!fic! Sheldon, Penny, and Leonard all thought they knew exactly what they wanted, but with a big change on the way, all three begin to question themselves, and each of them is lead in a direction they had not anticipated.
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The plot is all mine. No copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: Finally, a bit back on track! Short entry, but better something than nothing! And did you see the artwork for Part 6? All love to renisanz!
Back to: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6
The worst lies are the lies we tell ourselves. We live in denial of what we do, even what we think. We do this because we're afraid. We fear we will not find love, and when we find it we fear we'll lose it. We fear that if we do not have love we will be unhappy. - Richard Bach
“So what does the note say again?”
Leonard had been gnawing absently on his thumbnail from where he sat, perched on the top of his armchair, Sheldon’s letter in his free hand. He passed it idly to Raj, who took in from him and began to read it aloud.
"'Dearest Leonard, my sincere apologies for my unexpected departure. I have gone traveling. Included are detailed instructions for Howard Wolowitz in regards to your upcoming nuptials, signed Sheldon,” Raj stopped reading, his brow furrowed, “He actually wrote ‘signed’?”
“‘Gone traveling’?” Howard scoffed, “Who does he think he is? The Doctor? I told you that Doctor Who marathon we had was a bad idea!”
“He wrote ‘dearest’ Leonard?” Raj muttered.
“Guys, can we focus, please?” Leonard whined, then, more solemnly, “Sheldon is gone.”
“Is it wrong of me to say ‘good riddance’?” Howard joked and both Leonard and Raj glared at him, Howard held up his hands, “Okay, okay, too soon, too soon or…wait…why am I apologizing?”
“Howard…”
“Look, Leonard, Sheldon is a grown man. I’m sure he can take care of himse - yeah and, I’m just going to stop right there because I realized what I was saying.”
Leonard sighed, pushing up his glasses, “Howard, that’s not the point. The point is that Sheldon just up and left. I mean, it takes us three hours to get ready to go to the grocery store. It’s just not like him and that worries me.”
“Is that why he called you ‘dearest’?” Raj asked.
Leonard moaned, “Not you too…”
Raj at least had the decency to look a little ashamed as he handed the letter back to Leonard. Howard spoke again, “Leonard, I think you’re making this more serious than it ought to be. Like you said, Sheldon can’t do anything without considerable planning. I doubt he got very far. Besides, Sheldon might have his faults - and there are many - but, I suppose, when all is said and done, he is a good friend. At least to you. I can’t imagine him not coming back in time for the wedding.”
“But he left you this,” Leonard pointed out, pulling out a thick packet that he thrust at him.
Howard picked up the packet and opened it; he looked at the first few pages, and then looked at Raj, “Raj, I thought you said he included this stuff in his note.”
“He did. That’s what the note says.”
“But he couldn’t have included this! It’s the length of a small Bible!” Howard said, waving some of the pages around.
“Which means he must have been working on it for a while…” Leonard said under his breath.
“A while?” Howard repeated as he looked through some more pages, “This has footnotes! I’m worried if I go much farther in there’ll be an index!”
Raj shrugged, “He said they were detailed notes.”
“Detailed?!”
“Guys! Again! Losing the point!”
Raj ignored Leonard’s outburst, focusing on Howard, “I don’t know what you’re so upset about - at least he chose you for an important job. I’m not even mentioned! What does that say about me?”
“Rajeesh, please, Sheldon may be many things, but he’s no fool. Entrusting you with the information needed for the Best Man would be foolhardy, or have you forgotten that the Best Man will, at some point, have to talk to women.”
“Yes, but the Best Man also has to make arrangements - like the catering, for example, and considering Penny’s mother’s love for peanuts, I don’t think you’ll be able to help out much unless we want to add a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day float to the festivities.”
“Raj, that is just one small part of-”
“Do I need a whistle or something? Am I invisible?” Leonard cried, waving his hands, “Sheldon! We’re talking about Sheldon!”
“Well, yeah, but he’s gone,” Howard pointed out, shrugging, “Not much to be done about it. Makes more sense to focus on the wedding. And, more importantly,” Howard’s eyebrows actually seemed to wiggle as he said, “the bachelor party.”
“Besides,” Raj concurred, “We won’t be able to find him.”
“What makes you say that?” Leonard asked.
It was now Raj’s turn to shrug, “Well, considering how upset he’s been the last two weeks, I doubt he wants to be found.”
Both Howard and Leonard’s eyes widened, Leonard spoke first, “Sheldon’s been upset?”
“Sure,” Raj said simply, “You two didn’t notice?”
“Raj, there are a million things I can put my focus upon and Sheldon Cooper rates very low on that list,” Howard replied succinctly, “Now, high on that list are-”
Leonard cut him off, “Raj, did Sheldon tell you why he was upset?”
“No, I just noticed. You notice a lot of things when you don’t talk so much,” Raj looked pointedly at both Leonard and Howard at this moment, but then, seconds later, looked deflated, “But then you also realize that you’re never going to get married.”
“Now Raj, there, there, I’m sure you’re parents will force you into marriage soon enough,” Howard comforted.
Raj’s eyes narrowed and he raised a finger to point accusingly at Howard, preparing himself for another argument, when Leonard spoke, “Raj, come on, buddy, stay focused. Sheldon was upset. How?”
Raj blinked, confused, “How?”
“Yeah, I mean, how do you know he was upset? Did he say something? Do something? Did he tell you why he was upset?”
“No, he didn’t tell me why, but…it wasn’t even anything he said or did directly but…sometimes you could just…tell. Like, last Halo Night, Howard blew him up with a plasma grenade and Sheldon started up with his normal rant, you know, the one he starts when he’s losing and feels it isn’t fair but he just…it was…it’s hard to explain.”
“Try.”
“It was…shorter. It was like he was…tired. Or couldn’t get up the energy to really act like he normally would about it. He seemed…off. Yeah, actually, that’s a good word for it. He seemed ‘off’ for the past two weeks. It was like he was…unsure of his routine. Like it was the first time he was aware of it. Like he could ‘see’ himself for the first time or something. And then, whenever Penny came over…I mean, it just got really strange then.”
“‘See himself for the first time?’” Howard repeated, “Bit deep. Don’t think you were reading a little too much into things? Doesn’t sound like Sheldon…”
“That’s what I'm saying! He wasn’t acting like Sheldon.”
“He seemed fine to me.”
“Me too.” Leonard muttered, looking dejected.
Howard clicked his tongue, “Pretty bad, man, you’re his roommate. Closest thing he has to a best friend. You should have noticed.”
“Hello?” Leonard wailed, “Bit busy? Wedding? Getting married? Ring any bells?! I’ve been pretty busy with that!”
“Mmm, me too for that matter,” Howard said, looking devilish, “It is indeed fortuitous that the reigns of the best man have been handed over to me, as I have all ready been looking into bachelor parties and I found this dancer Sue, you can get her at a discount! I mean, yeah, she has one leg, but you won’t believe what she does with it-”
“Howard, you’ve probably been researching bachelor parties since you were thirteen-”
“Seven. I developed young…”
“Regardless,” Leonard sighed, “I want to hear more about Sheldon than about women who will most likely make me want to vomit in my mouth, so, Raj, acted strange around Penny how?”
Raj looked at Howard, “One leg? Really?”
Leonard cleared his throat, Raj started again, “Oh, um, well, I mean, she’d come over and it’d be the same old, same old, you know, you two all cuddled up and us all glaring on but happy nonetheless, but Sheldon would, it was like, he wouldn’t look at Penny. At all. Almost like she wasn’t there and then, when he would, like when you would say something and he’d have to look at the pair of you, it was like he was staring into the sun. His eyes were…blinky and kinda glassy. Looked like it hurt.”
“Feel his pain. Seeing Leonard with a hot girl like Penny, always breaks my heart,” Howard tutted.
Leonard looked thoughtful, his attention back on his thumbnail as he chewed on it once more. He felt terrible for not having noticed Sheldon was upset, but he also felt angry. How could Sheldon do this to him? How could he leave days before the wedding? Sheldon knew how important this was to him, how could he jeopardize it?
And what would he tell Penny?
Penny…his girlfriend…his soon to be wife. The future Mrs. Leonard Hofstadter. God, he loved her so much. He just wanted her to be happy. He didn’t know why the last thought came to him, but it did and it weighed heavily on him.
He just wanted Penny to be happy.
He wanted to be happy too. They could be happy together. They could…
He shook his head, clearing his throat and not knowing why it needed to be cleared, before he spoke, “We’ve got to try to find Sheldon.”
“What? But why?” Howard whined, “He’ll just ruin my chances at getting laid with-”
“There are more important things than getting laid, Howard!” Leonard snapped and Howard looked stunned, then annoyed, as he crossed his arms and muttered under his breath, “Says the one who’s been getting laid the past few…” the rest melted off into grumbles.
Raj shook his head, “Leonard, I told you. Sheldon won’t want to be found.”
“Where did you get that from? Did you get that from the same place where you imagined he was ‘seeing himself’ for the first time?”
“Hey, you asked what I saw and that’s what I saw, don’t get all pissy with me if you don’t like the way I describe it,” Raj grumped, “Bull headed, banana slug…”
Leonard sighed, running a hand through his hair, “You’re right, you’re right, I’m sorry Raj, I’m just…I’m worried about Sheldon.”
“No, you’re worried about Penny,” Howard corrected and when both Raj and Leonard gaped at him, Howard shrugged, “Hey; I have insight too, all right? I’m not always…” he shook his head, “You’re worried about Penny, because when she finds out she’ll flip, be sad, or both and you don’t want that. Weddings are more of an event for women than they are for men. You just want her to be happy.”
Hearing the words from Howard of all people really made them ring out in Leonard’s head and he found himself nodding slowly, “Yeah. Yeah, I do.”
“But what about Sheldon?” Raj returned gently.
There was an uncomfortable silence. Howard broke it, “I think we should compromise.”
Leonard blinked, “How so?”
“We let things go on as planned, nice, normal, no ringing alarm bells. No reason to let Penny know until we absolutely have to. You keep your eyes on the prize and Raj and I will start quietly looking into where Sheldon has gone. Hopefully we’ll find him before the big day and, if not, at least everything is still in place for the wedding minus one exception, me standing in for Sheldon up at the alter.”
Leonard sighed, another hand combing through his hair, “Sounds reasonable.”
“I still don’t think we’ll find Sheldon. Not if he doesn’t want to be found,” Raj sighed, but, looking at Leonard, said softly, “But we’ll try.”
“The most important thing is that we don’t tell Penny-”
“Don't tell Penny what?” Penny announced as she entered the apartment, Missy right behind her.