Chapter 1: Words will never hurt
AU. This story has been edited, revised and expanded for clarity and hopefully your enjoyment. The characters; Sheldon, Leonard, Howard, Rajesh, Bernadette, Amy, Penny, Mrs. Cooper, Meemaw, Missy, George, Stuart and Zack are owned by the Big Bang Theory.
The story takes place soon after season 8 finale'. Leonard and Penny are in the car driving to Vegas.
"Leonard, I need time to think about what you told me," Penny says looking out the car window deep in thought. Her beautiful face marred by a frown.
Leonard asks, "We are still getting married right?" He reaches over to grab her shoulder. Penny gives him the evil eye then returns to looking out the window.
"Let's get a hotel room, talk and look for a chapel tomorrow." Penny says icily not looking over at him. As they drive down the Vegas strip. The lights from the neon signs light up her face she looks so beautiful it almost breaks Leonard's heart. That this girl loved him enough to even consider marrying him was nothing short of amazing. He hoped she would marry him after his revelation.
"I'm sorry Penny but I wanted to be completely upfront before we got married." Leonard tells her desperately. He was a good guy. A good guy who had made one mistake and he couldn't imagine embarking on this journey with her with that secret weighing on his mind.
They pull into a parking garage of the hotel. They walk into the lobby together while Leonard goes to book their room Penny sinks into a chair watching all the happy couples around her and feeling blue. This should be one of the happiest days of her life. She should be one of those happy couples. Instead she feels like her life is falling apart around her. She never thought that Leonard could do something like this too her.
"Are you ready?" Leonard asks and she snaps out of her reverie.
"Sure," she answers as they walk through the lobby to the elevators. Both are quiet the entire way to their beautiful suite. Penny walks around the room a bit before sitting on the edge of their king sized bed.
Sitting beside her, "Penny you have to know I never meant to hurt you."
"I understand Leonard, however this seems to be a pattern that continues with you. I mean with Priya you cheated with Alice."
"Penny that was different you know that." Leonard says flinching as Penny's head snaps up and her eyes fill with fire.
"No I don't think it is Leonard. I would be a fool to think the only thing that happened during the North Sea trip is that you only kissed a girl. What else happened Leonard and be honest?"
Leonard takes a deep breath before proceeding. "I was missing you and may have shown my shipmates your Serial Apeist video."
Penny's anger moved up a notch. She could tell by the way he was nervously cleaning his glasses that his admission was merely a distraction. There was more.
"What else Leonard?" Penny gulps not sure if she wants to hear the rest. The way Leonard was sweating, twitching and cleaning his glasses. It was bad very bad. "I'll ask one more time and if I don't hear the truth I'm leaving."
"Okay, okay...I may have slept with Mandy a couple of times." Leonard closes his eyes and braces himself for Penny's explosion of anger. For her to hit him, wail, and scream he deserves it all. Yet when he opens his eyes Penny, with tears running down her face calmly removes her engagement ring and puts it on the table.
Penny stares at Leonard and with a whispered voice choked from tears and pain says, "We are over for good Leonard." She walks out the door without looking back.
As the door closes behind her Leonard flops backward onto the bed. He feels numb like he is beyond feeling anymore. Penny had just ripped out his heart and stomped on it. Leonard would do anything to feel right now. He wanted to feel happy or sad anything besides this numbness. He does feel a vague arousal, vestiges of Penny's left over scent in the room. He sits up and walks to the table picking up Penny's abandoned wedding ring and throws it against the wall. Slumping back on the bed he pulls his phone out of his pocket and calls Mandy.
Not wanting to drive home at night Penny goes down to the lobby and books a different room on a different floor. Once settled inside she pulls a mini a bottle of champagne out of the wet bar and quickly downs it.
"This alcohol isn't effective," she says giggling to herself as she pulls out another one and downs it. Followed by a mini bottle of vodka. When she finally starts feeling the pain subside she lays down on the couch in the room and looks up at the ceiling. Her head feels like it is swimming and the room is swirling. She is not sad anymore and takes that as an improvement. Penny eventually drifts off to sleep.
The following morning, Penny wakes up puffy eyed with a major headache. After downing a couple of aspirin and applying a cold cloth to her face Penny calls her sister Carol, no answer. She calls her parents, again no answer. Penny doesn't think anything of it. This time of morning they are probably all busy.
Laying on the bed contemplating her relationship with Leonard. She is reminded of her Grandma's saying, "If it bothers you before you get married it will bother you worse after you get married."
There was a lot about Leonard that bothered me. If I am honest, there was a lot about me that bothered me. Thinking about all the things he needed to work on. That she needed to work on. Looking at the floor scattered with the mini bottles of liquor she knew what bothered her most. Again, her alcohol consumption had gotten out of control.
Penny sighs and turns on the TV to drown out her troubled thoughts. She sees a weather report that several tornadoes have devastated Omaha. The destruction is insurmountable the whole town is leveled. Suddenly all those missed calls hit her like a ton of bricks.
"Oh God! What if something happened to them." Penny says biting her lip with worry. Suddenly all those unanswered calls mean so much more. Penny decides to head back home to Pasadena. There is nothing she can do from her hotel room in Vegas.
Sheldon sits in his spot despondent over the bombshell that Amy dropped. What does she mean by time? If he could just talk to her and explain maybe he could make things right. He hears knocking over at Penny's apartment. Nobody but himself knows that Penny and Leonard are in Vegas getting married. Sheldon hopes maybe it is Amy coming over to talk to Penny. He opens his door hoping gets up hoping he can convince her to stay and talk. However, he sees an unknown woman standing at Penny's door. The woman is dressed professional with a sleek brown bob.
"Hello may I help you?" He asks the woman and she turns around and smiles at him.
"Hello my name is Sharon Knight with the Red Cross. I'm looking for Penny. Do you know her?"
"She is out of town at the moment can I help you?" He asks shutting his door and stepping into the hallway.
She asks, "Are you a friend of Penny's?"
"I'm her friend and neighbor. Also she has been in a relationship with my best friend and roommate Leonard for almost six years. Allow me to introduce myself, Dr. Sheldon Cooper B.S, M.S., M.A., Ph.D., Sc.D."
"Very impressive Dr. Cooper." Sharon says extending her hand which he ignores and she drops it back down to her side." Do you expect Penny home soon?"
"I have no idea when she will be back. She is in Vegas getting married." She looks at him and grimaces. She hates this part of job delivering the bad news. The poor girl, on what should be the happiest day of her life will be devastated by the news she has come to share.
"Dr. Cooper would you be able to relay a message to her for me?"
"Of course." Sheldon tells her as she shifts her weight on her foot.
"May I come inside I am afraid what I have to say will take some explaining?" He agrees and ushers her inside the apartment. Ms. Knight sits in Leonard's chair and Sheldon settles into his spot across from her.
"I am sure you have heard by now about the destruction in Nebraska," she starts and Sheldon is confused. Since he last spoke with Amy he hadn't looked at his TV, computer, or phone too distraught to care about other events in the world.
"Actually I haven't. I have been very busy. What happened?"
"Three level five tornadoes touched down around Omaha. The tornadoes basically leveled several areas in and around the city. They are calling it one of the worst natural disasters of all time. Lots of people have lost their lives."
"Penny is from Omaha area." Sheldon says and he can tell by the shadow that crosses her face that the news is not good.
Sharon says sadly, "Which brings me to the point of my visit .The farm owned by Penny's family was hit dead on. The entire house and outlying structures were wiped out. I am sorry to say there were no survivors." Sheldon is shocked speechless for a moment.
"Oh dear... and she does not know yet... Oh this is horrible." He says putting his hands to his face. Penny has lost her entire family and I have to be the one to tell her.
"Yes it is awful I feel for her and I wish I could have told her in person. My most sincere condolences are with her. You will be sure to relay the message to her of course."
"Yes of course." Sheldon says and Sharon rises to leave.
"I will not take up any more of your time Dr. Cooper. Here is my card, please have Penny contact me as soon as possible." Sharon tells him and he shakes his head yes as she walks out of the door.
Sheldon closes the door behind her and slumps against it. What to do next? Try and contact Leonard and Penny of course. He dials both of their numbers with no response.
Sheldon calls Howard and Bernadette next to relay the news. They all agree that everyone should meet at his apartment. Penny is going to need all the support she can get. Sheldon asks them to call Amy while he calls Raj.
After an emotional conversation with Raj, Sheldon calls the only other person besides Amy and Meemaw who has ever been able to comfort him his mother.
As Mrs. Cooper answers, Sheldon's voice is trembling on the other end indicating he is upset.
"Sugar! What's wrong?" she demands.
"Have you heard about the tornadoes that touched down in Nebraska?"
"Yes, my prayer group has been praying nonstop for those poor souls. Now is Penny's family all right honey? I was thinking about her I know she told me once that was where she hailed from."
"No, a lady from the Red Cross was just here. It appears that Penny has lost her entire family in the devastation."
"Oh! Honey how is she holding up?"
"She doesn't know yet. Penny and Leonard are in Vegas right now and I can't get in touch with her. It is my job to tell her."
"Well I am sure you and Amy can break it to her gently."
"That is the other thing. Amy broke up with me last night." Sheldon tells her miserably his voice breaking again.
"Say no more honey! Call me when Penny receives the news and you'all figure out what you're doing. I'll be on my way. I will bring Missy and Meemaw too."
"Thank you mother."
The gang (Amy, Raj, Emily, Howard, Bernadette, and Stuart) all gather at Sheldon's apartment. They are reeling from the news about Penny's family and at a loss of how to help their friend.
Bernadette and Amy are crying and trying to comfort each other.
"It is just so horrible." Bernadette says wiping her eyes.
"I just can't believe it. Poor Penny I can not imagine going through something like this." Amy says sadly.
"You know I once read about a tornado that touched down on a farm. The only thing that was destroyed was the barn. All the tools and stuff inside the barn went flying everywhere. The next day when they went to go check on the old man that lived on the farm they found him sitting at his kitchen table a pitchfork through his chest. Nothing else was harmed." Emily says with a smirk on her face. As she was telling the story all could see the enraptured look on her face of the death and destruction.
Shocked, everyone wondered if she is joking or did she have a sick sense of humor.
"Emily that may not be the best story for right now." Raj says throwing her a look. "So where are Leonard and Penny?" he asks Sheldon.
"We need to locate them. I have tried calling both but neither are answering."
"Where do you think they could be? Maybe they already know?" Amy asks.
Sheldon, shakes his head, no. "They left for Vegas yesterday to get married." Everyone is shocked and talking at once.
Bernadette asks, "Why didn't they tell us?"
"I wanted to catch her bouquet!" Amy says thinking of all the wedding fun she was missing.
Sheldon angrily responds, "Oh yes because it is apparent by your breaking up with me that you are eager to be the next one married." Amy glares at him.
"We have to find them." Howard says whipping out his cell phone and dialing Leonard.
After Penny walked out Leonard cried for all of ten minutes. Not out of sadness but out of the loss of a dream. The dream of Penny as his wife and the mother of his kids is finally over. He had dreamed of his blonde girl next-door trophy wife for so long. When he found Penny she was perfect, exactly how he had always pictured his future wife. From the moment he met her he knew that he needed her on his arm to show the world what he was capable of. It didn't matter how she felt. It was about how Penny made him feel. It had been an added bonus that Penny was sweet and sexy. That she was funny and understood him that was all just icing on the cake.
Truthfully, Penny is better off without him. He cheated not only with Mandy, but many times before. Penny had been right it was a pattern with him because he was a sex addict. This is according to his therapist mom who has been treating him his entire life. Leonard was trying to figure out why, after finally finding the woman of his dreams, he could not stop being unfaithful. According to his therapist he is using sex to cope with an emotionally detached childhood. He felt the constant need to get as much love and affection as he could in his adult life, to make up for, what he thought, was lack of affection as a child.
The need to feel good and loved is why he called Mandy after Penny left and invited her to Vegas. Penny leaving had hurt. When he was hurt he used sex to fill the void. Also he was not going to let the room go to waste.
As he lay on the bed waiting for Mandy to join him, Maybe I can pick-up a leggy showgirl for a threesome. The thought makes him smile and he is instantly hard. Mandy was adventurous and would be game for something like that. Penny would never agree to a threesome even though she had told him she had one before. Penny said she would never have one with him because she loved him and you don't do that with someone you love the jealousy would be too much. Leonard didn't know about that. I could handle the thought of Penny and Mandy going down on me at the same time. Of them kissing each other all over. Just as he puts his hands inside his pants to relieve an almost painful erection there is a knock on the door. Leonard opens the door and Mandy smiles as she is greeted by his erection.
"I heard someone was lonely in here." She teases.
"Very lonely." he says pulling her into an embrace and kissing her.
"What about Penny?" she asks as he pulls away and walks her over to the bed.
"What about her?" Leonard says pushing her down onto the bed.
"I thought you told me we couldn't do this anymore. That you were engaged now and was trying to change." Leonard begins to undress her.
"It is over with us," as he covers her body with kisses. "Now can we please stop talking for what I have planned I will need my mouth." He looks up at her from between her legs and wiggles his eyebrows.
She smiles and agrees, "No more talking."
That night they make love over and over again. Leonard buried himself in Mandy to ease the pain of losing Penny. By the end of the night Penny is nothing but a treasured memory.
The next morning Leonard's phone starts ringing non-stop. There is no one he wants to talk to right now. Penny has surely told everyone of their broken engagement, what a dog he is and how he cheated. He doesn't need anyone else to make him feel worse about it than he already does. Mostly it is Sheldon calling and he doesn't need his brand of scolding right now.
Seeing a call from Howard he decides to pick it up. If anyone will understand what he has been going through it is Howard.
"Hey Howard, what's up? Sheldon has been calling me non-stop."
"Who is it? I am trying to sleep." Mandy says tossing the blanket back over her head.
"Move to a private area away from Penny," mistaking Mandy's voice for Penny. Leonard wonders why Penny hasn't told their friends about their broken engagement. Rather than get into it in front of Mandy he plays along. Leonard gets up and tosses on a robe and goes out onto the balcony.
"Howard that wasn't Penny," Leonard sighs covering his face with his hands bracing for the reaction.
"Then who was it?" Howard asks confused.
"Mandy Chow."
"Mandy Chow as in the scientist you hooked up with on the ship." Leonard sighs the gig is up.
"That would be her."
"Where is Penny?" Howard asks shocked putting his phone on speakerphone.
"Penny and I are over... She left me last night and I have moved on with Mandy."
At that instant, Penny arrives home and is standing outside of apartment 4A's open door listening to Leonard's confession on speakerphone.
Shrugging her shoulders, Whatever, Let Mandy have him. It says a lot that I am not upset.
"Where is Penny?" asks Howard exasperated.
"I don't know, somewhere in Vegas I guess." Leonard says annoyed. He could care less where Penny is. "Knowing her she is passed out in some stranger's bed. Why do you want to know so bad anyway?" Everyone's attention is riveted completely disgusted with their friend.
"The Red Cross came by to notify Penny that her entire family has died during the spate of tornadoes that devastated Nebraska. Not that you would care."
"Shit!" Leonard curses feeling remorse for his harsh words. "Penny will be devastated."
Penny stands at the threshold of the door completely stunned. Her worst fears confirmed. It feels like the room is spinning around her. Like all the air is being sucked out like a giant vacuum. In front of her eyes she sees spots and then everything turns black as she faints.
Sheldon's Vulcan hearing hears a thump and notices Penny sprawled outside the door. Sheldon rushes to her and crouches down by her side feeling her wrist for a pulse. The rest of the gang gets up and stands over Penny.
"I didn't know she was here." Bernadette says worried.
Sheldon responds, "Her bags are beside her she must of arrived home as we were talking to Leonard."
"Oh God! What if she heard all of the conversation. Hearing that Leonard moved on and then hearing that her family is dead! What a way to find out." Amy says kneeling beside her best friend and touching her hand to her face. Feeling her clammy skin and looking around at her friends worried faces.
"Better get her off the floor." Sheldon says looking at his friends expectantly.
Amy tells him, "You are going to have to do it." "No one else is strong enough," looking at him desperately. Sheldon worries that he is not strong enough either but he wants to impress Amy. Kneels down beside Penny he puts his arms under her knees and shoulders and picks her up. He Cradles Penny in his arms and carries her to the couch. Amy is frantic and crying for her bestie, she grabs a wet cloth to help revive her.
"What's happening?" Leonard worried by the activity he hears over the phone. Howard forgot he had Leonard on the phone during all the commotion.
Enraged Howard replies, "Penny is home." Then hangs up on Leonard looking at his phone with disgust. Bernadette is upset and Howard tries to console her with a hug. "How much of the conversation do you think she heard?"
No one answered, knowing in their hearts she heard. Everyone is silent for a while taking in all that has happened.
Emily turns to Raj and states with glee. "This is so exciting death and destruction I love it." everyone turns and looks at her shocked.
They knew she was weird but this takes the cake, Bernadette goes off. "What kind of sick individual are you? Penny's engagement is apparently over and her entire family has been wiped out by an act of nature. I can't believe that you are almost orgasmic due to these tragedies." Emily showed no emotion to Bernadette's outburst.
"What can I say, it's my kink."
Sheldon was outraged if he wasn't a gentleman he would pitch Emily out the window like trash. "Raj, get her out of here now." Sheldon says angrily his voice hard his eyes like steel.
"My apologies." Raj grabs Emily's arm and escorts her out of the apartment. Raj realized in that moment how low he would sink for sex. He knew Emily was off mentally but stuck with her. He wasn't mad at Emily it was not her fault she was this way. It was his fault that he had exposed his friends to this sick and twisted woman.
"Penny is still unconscious however there are no signs of injury." Amy states professionally after checking over her friend.
"I think we should call Phallon," Bernadette recommends.
"Who is that?" Amy asks curiously
"Penny's friend Dr. Phallon Angel who is a psychologist."
"I did not know that Penny had a friend who was a psychologist." Sheldon says.
"Dr. Angel is the company's psychologist." Bernadette tells the gang, and then explains, "Penny has been a patient for a year. Penny wanted to treat her alcoholism and depression. She has been trying really hard to improve herself. If you have noticed she has been drinking a lot less lately. I am just worried all this trauma will derail her progress." The gang is shocked most of all Amy how could Penny keep something this big from her.
"Penny did not want anyone to know. I think she was a little embarrassed by it actually." Bernie looked at everyone with indignation and remorse. "We failed her as friends. Penny has always been there for us in times of need or emergencies. She would not hesitate to call us out if we were harming others or ourselves. However, we all saw that she was drinking heavily and depressed. Amy you deal with addiction and her supposed bestie but you did not lift a finger to help her." she spits out.
"I did not know!" Amy cried harder knowing it wasn't true.
"We are all self-centered and the worst of the lot is Leonard. We just laughed and ignored her problems. Oh Penny drinks too much! Haha it's so funny! Not so funny anymore is it!" Everyone was shamed especially Sheldon who claimed to be a Homo Novus. Bernie calls Dr. Angel and tells her to come over.
"Amy may I speak to you privately?" She shakes her head yes and follows Sheldon into his bedroom. "Amy I propose we pause our relationship issues until Penny's crisis is over. We can sit down afterwards and re-address our issues by revising our relationship agreement.
Amy who has been miserable without Sheldon states. "That would be acceptable." Everything going on with Penny has made her think that life is just too short. Her anger with Sheldon is irrelevant she knows that she loves him. The thought of losing him like Penny had just lost everything was intolerable. Amy would never lose him again.
"Excellent," both stare at each other unsure how to proceed. Amy wants to fling herself into his arms and hold him and never let go but she knows now is not the time.
"Come on Sheldon let's go back out there Penny needs us right now." Sheldon feels like his skin is tingling where she placed her hand on his shoulder. "Let's go." he says softly not letting go of her hand as they both leave the room together determined to help Penny.
Raj returns without Emily upset to find Penny still unconscious on the couch.
"Maybe we should call a doctor." Raj says worried.
Sheldon responds, "While you were taking your psycho girlfriend home we called a doctor. A psychologist of some sort who has already been treating Penny for some time."
"Penny was already seeing a psychologist?" Raj asks confused and the gang bought him up to speed. Raj feels awful. He has also taken advantage of her while she was drunk. He never knew how deep her problems ran. He just thought that she liked to have fun. The group is pretty somber by the time the doctor arrives forty-five minutes later.
Dr. Phallon Angel is a pretty woman tall, nice figure, olive complexion, dark hair and light gray eyes. Sheldon handles the introductions and proceeds to tell her about the death of Penny's entire family and broken engagement. Phallon hurts for her friend but knows she must compartmentalize to help.
"Can someone phone Leonard so that I can find out exactly what happened?"
Howard calls Leonard who is driving back to Pasadena with Mandy. Leonard is told of Penny's condition and asked to tell them what happened. Leonard pulls over to the side of the road and starts to cry. Leonard is blubbering while assuming full responsibility.
Leonard candidly tells his friends and Mandy exactly what happened. When he's finished his friends are disappointed and speechless. Mandy doesn't really care about Penny and she thinks Leonard is pathetic but until something better comes along she will stick by him.
Dr. Angel thanks Leonard for being honest and asks him to drive safely. "Penny has previously given me permission to discuss her treatment and progress freely with her friends as the need arises. Standard in treating patients with addictions sometimes the need to discuss health issues arises."
"I have a power of attorney for Penny." Sheldon says and everyone looks at him puzzled. "I have one for Leonard as well. Standard operating procedure in the roommate agreement."
"I would like to revive Penny now and one of you may stay."
"I will not fail Penny again," responds Sheldon. All could see the determination on his face. He elects to stay and quickly identifies and organizes tasks that the gang could work on seeing their dejected faces.
Everyone goes across the hall to Penny's apartment to wait for news. The gang is eager for something to do. They start notifying Penny's employer of her bereavement, contacting Ms. Knight, a lawyer, and so on.
Sheldon anxiously watches Dr. Angel use smelling salts to awaken Penny. Penny opens her eyes but it is evident that she is in shock due to grief. Sheldon holds her in his lap on his spot and sings Soft Kitty to her. While her body and face reflects intense pain she starts to silently cry and both the doctor and Sheldon allow her to release her grief.
Penny's tears finally slow and Sheldon hands her a bottle water to drink and rubs her back trying to sooth her.
Dr. Angel asks, "How much of the conversation did you hear earlier?"
"Oh God, Oh God it hurts so much. I heard from when Leonard said our engagement was over."
"Let it out your friends and I are here for you."
There is a knock at the door. Sheldon solemnly opens the door to Ms. Knight. Sheldon tells Penny, "Everyone is in your apartment and wishes to come over to show their support."
Penny is numb but she wants her friends around her and nods okay. Once everyone is settled Ms. Knight conscious of the emotions of the group tells Penny what she knows.
"Penny your family had an impromptu cookout for your brother who was released. Everyone was at the farm celebrating near the lake at the south side of the property about 15 minutes from the main house. The storms came upon your family quickly and they took shelter in a nearby shed. The shed was directly in the tornado's path. The rescue effort recovered all of your family members' bodies. They were identified by your family's pastor and neighbors. I am so sorry for your loss."
Penny could only look at Ms. Knight in horror devastated she screams until she passes out again. The gang are alternately crying and trying to console each other. Sheldon who shies away from emotions breaks down and is consoled by Amy. Who wraps her arms around him and wipes away the tears from his eyes.
Ms. Knight gives Dr. Angel the contact information for the Omaha Red Cross representative.
"Ms. Knight, are you sure all of Penny's family was on the property," asked Dr. Angel clearly upset.
"We confirmed that they recovered the bodies of 29 persons and everyone in that small town has been accounted for."
The gang all had tears running down their cheeks in sympathy for Penny's loss. Penny awakens but is in shock rocking and mumbling over and over.
"Why am I alive?"