I haven't done a TBBT oneshot in...has it been years at this point? It's certainly been a long time. But my latest podcast episode plus a discussion on Fanforum let to me typing this little oneshot up. It's short, but it's the first time in a while I've been so inspired by an episode to actually sit down and write something, so I had to take advantage.


Dr. Gallo's eyebrows shot up when Penny's ringtone went off, and she reminded herself that Penny hadn't come in for an appointment and, as a salesperson, wouldn't have her phone off at a time she expected to be out of her meeting. She did what she always did when phones went off in her office, sat quietly with her eyebrows up a fraction, waiting to see how the owner of the phone would respond.

"I'm sorry," Penny said, holding a hand up in apology after looking at the caller ID. "I have to take this." She slid her finger across the screen and put the phone to her ear. "Hey, can I call you back in..." she frowned. "Leonard?"

Gallo raised her eyebrows, leaning slightly forward. Penny sat up. "He's where? Doing what? Oh god. I'll be right there, can you text me your address? Thanks." She jumped up. "Dr. Gallo, I'm sorry, but it's my husband. I have to go."

She darted out the door, then poked her head back in. "I, uh, I'll leave those pamphlets on your desk. Please consider this drug, it really is wonderful!"

Once she was alone, a small, amused smile came over Gallo's face.


She threw the car in park and flung open the door. Her GPS said she was still a tenth of a mile away, but she knew she was in the right place. She could see her husband laying in the yard with several young girls around him, two of them holding their hands out over his head so there was no sun beating directly on his face.

The oldest looking one ran to her, looking frantic. "Are you Penny?"

"Yes," she said. "You're Rachel?"

"Yes."

"Thanks for calling me." She jogged the remaining distance between herself and Leonard. "Hey Leonard," she said grabbing one of his hands and putting his inhaler in it. "Breathe, you dope."

He lifted his head, taking a puff on the inhaler and then leaning back again, closing his eyes. "Turns out I can jump rope. Just not for long."

Penny gave a little laugh. If he could joke, he would be okay.

Leonard pulled himself into a sitting position. "So," he said in a playful tone. "How are youuu?"

"Oh my god, stop it," she said, rolling her eyes. "How did you even..." she looked around, "get here?"

"Well, I was driving around."

"Yeah, okay, nowhere you ever go is near here."

"I was trying something new. Something I was always afraid to do in case my mother deemed it frivolous or inferior to what my siblings were doing. You know, a lot of my issues stem from my relationship with her. Dr. Gallo says..."

He laughed when Penny swatted him. "Thanks for bringing my inhaler," he said.

She smiled, leaning over to briefly touch her lips to his. "No problem."

"Maybe stop forgetting it all the time though," she said with a wink.

"Maybe I just wanted to see you." He grinned and puckered his lips.

"Ew, gross," said one of the girls.

Leonard grinned, then looked back at Penny. "Take me home?"


I know it's short and I know it's rusty, but that part of the episode was just so random to me and it's amusing to think that Penny might have to go get him.