Disclaimer: I do not own the TBBT or anything related to it.
Leonard simply couldn't fathom what he'd just seen. The very idea that Raj and Penny had slept together, and in his bed, was simply so inconceivable, so distressing, so heartbreaking that he knew it called for drastic action.
Leonard rushed to his room, got out his suitcase and placed it on the floor because he knew he would never touch that bed again - ever. He started packing the clothes and other items he knew he would need for the trip he had planned. Once that was done, Leonard printed one item, sent two e-mails and made two calls. The first call went to voicemail. The second call the person on the other end answered on the second ring.
"Hey, Leonard, nice to hear from you. What's up?"
"Is the invitation to visit still open? I would like to stay a few days."
"Of course it is. You're welcome here any time. In fact I was just going to e-mail you to discuss some of the experiments you've been helping me with. Listen, we can talk about all of that when you get here, but did something happen? You've never visited here. Not that you're not welcome, you are. It's just a little sudden and unexpected."
"Yes, something terrible did happen but I don't want to discuss it over the phone. I just wanted to make sure that it was okay to visit and I'm really looking forward to discussing the experiments you're conducting."
"Are you driving or flying?"
"I'm driving. I need the time to think. I expect I'll get to your place late this evening or tomorrow morning. See you soon. Bye."
"Bye Leonard. Have a safe trip…and listen, things may seem really bad right now, but life has a way of working things out for the best. Don't give up."
Leonard hung up the phone, grabbed his suitcase and headed for the living room. Sheldon, Howard, and Raj were still there.
"Sheldon, I am invoking the fail-safe clause of our roommate agreement."
"Leonard, need I remind you that in order to invoke the fail-safe clause you must call me, send an e-mail, and put the request in writing."
"Done, done, and done," as Leonard handed the written copy of the request to Sheldon.
"What about the phone call?"
"I left a message."
"And the e-mail?"
"There's already a message in your Inbox."
Sheldon was stunned. Neither of them had ever even remotely considered invoking the fail-safe clause. "Leonard, you know the fail-safe clause is only for…"
"I know what it's for Sheldon and I'm invoking it. You know that you must abide by my request and you can't ask any questions."
"I understand and I will abide by all of the stipulations of the fail-safe clause. Just, well, just know that I'm always here to help."
"Thanks, Sheldon, but I'm afraid this is something even your great intellect can't fix."
Leonard started towards the door but was blocked by Raj.
"Raj, get out of my way. Now! I don't want to see you or talk to you."
"Leonard I'm so sorry. We didn't mean for anything to…"
Before Raj could finish that sentence Leonard hit Raj in the nose as hard as he could. All four men could hear the sickening sound of bone breaking and knew in an instant what had happened. Shouting erupted from the other three men, but the only thing Leonard heard was Raj saying, "Dude, you broke my nose."
"Well, you and Penny broke my heart." With that pronouncement, Leonard was out the door and gone.
Penny heard all the shouting from next door and came over to see what was going on. She had just exited her apartment when she saw the three remaining men standing in the hall, Raj holding a bloodied towel to his nose.
'What the hell happened and where are you all going?"
Sheldon looked at Penny and said, "Leonard broke Raj's nose and now we have to take him to the hospital."
"Why would Leonard do that? Where is he? I'm going to talk to him."
Howard looked at Penny in utter disbelief, saying, "Really? You have no idea why Leonard would break Raj's nose, then leave without telling anyone where he's going or how long he's going to be gone. Really? It's not that hard to figure out. Now, watch out, we've got to get Raj to the hospital before he bleeds out."
Penny watched the three men as they disappeared from sight.
She knew exactly why Leonard reacted the way he did. She didn't blame him. If she could afford to run away, she would too. She couldn't run though, and as fragmented visions of the last twelve hours flooded her brain, copious amounts of guilt, shame, and regret formed a volatile cocktail in the pit of her stomach that she wasn't quite sure she could keep down. Overriding all of that though was one devastating thought, "My God, what have I done?"