Chapter 2
Leonard came out from the bathroom wearing his red robe and white sox, a towel hung around his shoulder, his hair still damp from the shower. Howard had settled down on the couch to watch TV and was flicking through channels with the remote control.
"The girls still not back yet?" he commented looking around the seemingly empty apartment
"Not yet" replied Howard
Leonard perched himself on the arm of the couch, the clock on his cell phone told him that they had been gone for the best part of an hour now which was starting to concern him as the takeout restaurant was only about a ten minute drive away.
"I guess they may have stopped for coffee or ice cream Penny has had a real craving for cookies and cream ice cream lately…" his mind drifted off as he thought of the dozens of runs to the convenience store he had made over the last four months in order to satisfy Penny's latest craving several of which had been in the middle of the night.
"Do you wanna play some halo while we wait for them to get back?" Howard suggested there was nothing worth watching on TV
Leonard agreed and went off to get dressed into his usual ensemble of jeans, and t-shirt and a hoodie. They had been playing for half an hour when Howard's cell phone began to vibrate on the coffee table the words 'Bernie calling' was displayed on the screen.
"Hi Bernie have you guys gone to Shanghai to get the takeout? Leonard and I are starving here…"
The male voice that spoke after stopped Howard dead in his tracks, putting down his controller Leonard watched as the colour drained from his friends face
"Are they hurt badly? Which hospital are they being taken to?" Howard said to the voice at the other end of the line "Ok I'm on my way right now"
Howard's ended the call and allowed the hand that was holding the phone to slip slowly down to his side.
"Howard what's going on?" Leonard demanded his voice shaking
"That was an officer from the Pasadena police department Bernadette and Penny have been hurt in a collision with another car" he answered feeling as though he had fallen into the deeps of a terrible dream.
"Oh my God is it bad?"
Howard shook his head slowly, the police officer hadn't been able to convey any details about either of their conditions, quickly got to his feet eager to leave and get to the hospital.
"I don't know they couldn't tell me, Leonard we need to go right now"
Leonard and Howard drove most of the journey in silence each with their own private thoughts of their wife and girlfriend. Arriving at the emergency room they headed straight for the reception desk only to be told that they needed to wait for a doctor to come to talk with them.
"I can't believe this is happening" Howard said as he and Leonard sank into seats in the waiting room "Two hours ago we were painting your nursery and now…." his voice drifted off the two most important people in their lives had been hurt and not knowing anything was killing them both.
As it was they didn't have long to wait the nurse they had spoken with at the reception desk was now speaking with a doctor wearing green scrubs, she pointed over at Howard and Leonard the doctor began to walk towards them
"Mr Wolowitz? I'm Dr Carpenter I've been treating your wife"
"How is she?" Howard stammered he could feel his heart pounding in his chest
"Bernadette has fractured her wrist and has some cuts and bruises and a minor concussion we'll keep her in tonight for observation but she will make a full recovery"
Howard couldn't hide his relief when he had taken the call he had immediately feared the worst, tears of relief began to fill his eyes
"And what about Penny she was driving?" Leonard asked
"And you are?" the doctor asked looking down at the clipboard he was holding
"Dr. Hofstadter I'm Penny's boyfriend and the father of her baby, please is she gonna be alright?"
The doctor studied his clipboard and frowned
"Penny's condition is serious I'm afraid she has a fractured pelvis which has caused an internal bleed and she sustained a head trauma…"
"Please I need to see her" Leonard was practically begging to be taken to her and got to his feet
"I'm sorry that's not possible Dr. Hofstadter Penny is in the OR right now undergoing an emergency C-section and repairs to her pelvis"
Leonard could feel his throat getting tighter and reached in his pocket for his asthma inhaler
"But she's not due for another two weeks" Leonard interjected
"I can assure you that a C-section is the best option for Penny and for her baby please be assured we're doing all that we can" the doctor said in a tone which sounded well-rehearsed "I'll come back as soon as I have some more news"
The doctor walked away and disappeared through a set of double doors, Howard put a comforting hand on Leonard's shoulder
"Hang in there buddy she's in good hands" he said not knowing what else to say
Knowing he had no other choice Leonard took out his cell phone and dialled Penny's parents in Nebraska, Penny's father Wyatt answered. He hated breaking bad news and at first upon hearing Penny's father's voice he was unable to speak
"Hi Leonard good to hear from you son. How are you? How's that daughter of mine? I bet she's got you running around after her"
Leonard swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat
"Wyatt there's been an accident…."
Wyatt listened in silence to what Leonard had to say, although in truth other than the fact that Penny was in surgery and her injuries were serious there was not much he could tell him. He certainly was unable to be of any comfort to him. As expected Wyatt was deeply shocked and said that he and his wife would take the next available flight to LA
"I'll call you when I have more news" Leonard said before ending the call
Howard went off to see Bernadette returning a short while afterwards; she had been transferred from the ER to a room and had already fallen asleep
"How is she?" asked Leonard
"She's really shaken up but physically she's gonna be ok" Howard answered "She was asking about Penny and the baby is there any news?"
Leonard shook his head, an hour had gone by but still there had been no further news
"I can't lose her Howard, not now after everything we've been through…."
There was a long silence
"Did Bernadette say anything about the accident?" Leonard eventually asked
"A car ran a red light at an intersection and ploughed into Penny's car apparently the driver had been drinking" replied Howard "It seems he only sustained minor injuries"
Leonard instantly hated him with a passion; there was seemingly no justice in the world when Penny and Bernadette had both been hurt and the perpetrator of the accident had escaped unharmed.
"I'm going to get some coffee do you want some?" Howard offered
Leonard didn't reply and continued to stare into space lost in his thoughts, he couldn't think about anything right now other than Penny and their baby.
As Howard walked down the hall in the direction of the cafeteria he thought he heard a voice from behind the curtains of one of the cubicles that seemed familiar to him, although at first he couldn't place where he had heard it before. The curtain drew back and there on the bed was sat Jimmy Speckerman Leonard's childhood bully who he had met a couple of years ago when Leonard had decided to face up to him. He appeared to have stiches in his head
"You're ok to go now Mr Speckerman I'll get your discharge papers" the doctor was saying
The doctor walked passed Howard and approached a police officer who was stood in the hall leaning up against the wall.
"We're discharging him he's all yours now" she told him
The police officer approached Jimmy who had now gotten down off the bed and began to give him his rights before arresting him. As he turned away Howard overheard the doctor speaking to one of the nurses at the nurse's station
"Was that the son of a bitch that caused the RTC today with the pregnant lady and her friend?"
The doctor who was busily typing on the computer nodded
"Boy I hope they lock him up and throw away the key" the nurse retorted and looked over in Jimmy's direction with a look of disgust
Howard narrowed his eyes he could feel his fists begin to clinch
"Hey Howard"
The familiar voice of his friend Raj from behind him caused him to turn around
"I got your message man I'm so sorry how's Bernadette and Penny?" he asked with a look of concern, both Penny and Bernadette were good friends of his
Howard watched as Jimmy was led away in handcuffs walking right by him and Raj, and glared at him hoping that he could sense the hatred he was feeling right then
"Was that Jimmy Speckerman?" Raj questioned Howard as he turned to his friend he saw tears spilling down Howard's cheeks, tears of sheer anger
"Howard buddy what's going on?"
