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-Why the hell did not you answer before?- Leonard asked when Howard finally answered his calls.
-Sorry. I'm driving and I couldn't answer, besides ...
-Bernadette is with you?- Leonard interrupted.
-No. In fact, I'm going to your apartment to look for her- replied Howard, confused when he heard his friend so upset.- What's up? "
-I'm trying to talk to Amy, but Sheldon and I have been calling the girls and no one answers. Please hurry to get to the apartment. It is urgent to know if Amy is still there.
-Why?
-Sheldon and I went out to dinner and on the way home we passed Amy's house and ... her building is on fire.
-You're kidding, aren't you?
-I wish it was a joke ... Sheldon is very worried. I had never seen him like this before.
-It's okay. I'm almost there. I'll call you in a few minutes.
-Thanks- Leonard hung up the call and turned around to see his friend who was calling Amy again while saying "please answer" over and over again-Sheldon, Howard went to Penny's apartment and told me he would tell if Amy is still there.
-What if she's not there?-He ask with concern, looking at the building still on fire.
-She will be there. You'll see- Leonard put his hand on his shoulder and for the first time Sheldon didn't complain.
When Howard finally arrived at the building, he parked the car quickly and ran into the building. By the time he got to Penny's apartment he could barely breathe but he knock on the door several times.
- What the hell is ...? - Penny seemed angry but seeing that it was Howard and that he had difficulty breathing, she calmed down- Howard What's the matter?
Hearing her husband's name, Bernadette stood up and walked to the door.
-Howie, are you okay? - between Bernadette and Penny helped him to sit on the sofa. After that his wife went for a glass of water.
-Yes, I ... I'm fine- He really needed to exercise more. Running up the stairs had exhausted him. -Where's Amy?-He ask, turning around.
-Are you sure you're okay?- Bernadette asked after she gave him the glass of water.
-Where's Amy ?! -he asked again, almost shouting.
-Wow. Howard I don't understand why you're screaming- Penny looked at her friend's husband upset.
-Is she ... she went to herr apartment?" Penny and Bernadette looked at each other confused by Howard's attitude. -Where is she?
-What's going on?- Amy asked, coming out of Penny's room. Howard set the glass down on the table in front of him and ran to hug his friend. -This is weird,- said Amy, who was looking without understanding her friends who looked just as confused.
-I'm glad you're okay- Howard separated from her smiling.
- Why shouldn't I be?
-Howie, what's happening?
-Amy, I'm so sorry, but ... Leonard and Sheldon are outside your building and ... your building is burning.
-What? - Amy opened her eyes- That's not a funny joke, Howard!
-Amy, I'm not kidding.
-Oh Ames ... I'm so sorry.
-But ... my apartment ... - Suddenly Amy began to breathe with difficulty while she put a hand to her chest.
-Come on, sit down- Penny took her hand to take her to the sofa.
-How ... how did it happen?-she ask, looking at Howard.
-I don't know, Leonard just told me ... You have to call Sheldon,- he said, remembering what Leonard had said.
-Does Sheldon know how the building caught fire?- Penny asked.
-No. Well, I don't know. But Leonard told me he was very worried about you. -She look at Amy who had tears in her eyes- And he have never seen him like that before.
-You could give me my phone- she asked Penny who nodded and ran to her room.
-Why didn't answer the calls?- Howard asked his wife who was sitting next to Amy holding hands.
-Amy was a little depressed and wanted to go home early so Penny suggested that we forget about our problems and the outside world for a while and have fun singing.
-Here you have- Penny handed Amy the phone.
-I owe you my life- Amy said in a whisper.
-What are you talking about?-Bernadette looked at her without letting go of her hand.
-If you hadn't convinced me to stay, I probably would have been in my apartment when the fire started and maybe ...
-You don't keep talking- now Penny was crying too and sat on the other side of the sofa to hug her tightly- You're fine and that's what matters.
Howard walked to Penny's room to give the girls some privacy and to tell Sheldon that Amy was fine.
-Howard, is Amy...?
-Yes, Sheldon. Amy is here and it's fine, -he said, unable to help himself to smile.-What did you say? -he ask, since it seemed to him that he heard Sheldon whisper "Thank you, God."
-Nothing. Please, put her on the phone. I want to talk to her.
-She is with Penny and Bernadette who are trying to comfort her and ... -Howard heard the door open and turned to see Amy- Sheldon wants to talk to you -said handing his cell phone to her.
-Thanks- Howard left the room- Sheldon, it's me, Amy.
-Oh Amy, it gives me so much joy to hear your voice and know you're fine. Stay there. I'll tell Leonard to take me immediately to...
-No, I ... I have to go see my building.
-Amy, they still don't control the fire. It has no case that...
-I have to go, Sheldon.
-It's okay. We will wait for you here.
-It is not necessary for you to stay-she look at her watch- Your time to sleep has passed and...
-It's doesn't matter. You need me and I'm not going to leave you alone. "Amy felt her eyes fill with tears again.
-Thanks Sheldon.
-Amy, I love you- he whispered.
-I love you too- she said after hesitating a few seconds.
There were still a couple of blocks to get to Amy's building when they noticed that the sky was red because of the fire. Penny, who was sitting in the backseat with Amy, took her hand and squeezed it tightly while the neurobiologist's eyes filled with tears.
-I think you can't go any further, Howie," said Bernadette, looking out the window.
-It seems so. I'll park the car and you'll accompany Amy to see the ...-He keep silent for a moment- I'll reach you in a few minutes.
The girls got out of the car and started to walk towards the building, but for Amy it was getting harder and harder to move since she felt a tightness in her chest.
-Here she comes- Leonard touched Sheldon's shoulder so he could turn around.
-Amy ... -Sheldon whispered before running to where his ex-girlfriend was. Penny and Bernadette looked at each other in surprise when Sheldon put his arms around Amy. -I was very worried about you.
-I'm fine-said surprised by the reaction of Sheldon. But she couldn't deny that being in his arms once again had helped her to calm down a bit as she watched her building burn down.
-I'm sorry- he separated from her after a few seconds- I shouldn't have hugged you.
-No. It's okay. We are ... we are friends and ...
-Amy! - everyone turned to see who had said the name of their friend.
-Josh! - Amy ran to the man and hugged him.
-Where were you?- He asks-We were very worried about you.
-Where are the others?
-Over there- Josh pointed behind one of the fire trucks and then took her by the hand-Come on.
-Who is that man?- Sheldon looked at Bernadette and Penny with a frown-Amy and he...?"
-I don't know. I don't think so - Penny looked at Bernadette- Did you know anything about this Josh?
-No, Amy never mentioned it.
-He must be her neighbor- Leonard said, but that didn't seem to reassure Sheldon that he was looking to where Amy had gone.
Half an hour later Amy returned to where her friends were waiting for her. Howard was the first to see her.
-Are you okay?- He ask seeing that she was crying. Amy shook her head and a second later hugged Sheldon.
-Oh sweetie, what happened?- Penny began stroking Amy's hair.
-Josh and his wife were worried about me since I didn't appear or answer my phone and apparently no one was missing, but it turns out that the firefighters found my neighbor's body in the corridor of our apartments- she sob even louder- She didn't give time to go out.
-Oh God!
-That's terrible!- Bernadette hugged her husband sadly at the thought of the poor woman. She had only seen her a couple of times, but she seemed a good person and it was horrible to die that way.
- Excuse me for hugging you - Amy separated from Sheldon and wiped her tears with her hand- I know you don't like it.
-No, but ... you're sad and you need comforting hugs.
-Thank you, Sheldon-she turned to see how the firemen had almost finished putting out the fire-Can we go?
-Of course- said Leonard.
-Although ... I don't know where I'm supposed to go. I should probably go to my parents' house and...
-How do you have no place to stay?- Bernadette looked somewhat offended that Amy thought they would not support her-You're staying at our house.
-Yes- confirmed Howard.
-I really appreciate your offer, but Stuart also lives there and I know how much you would like to live alone and I don't want to bother.
-It is not a nuisance. You will stay in our house.
-Amy is right, living in Howard and Bernadette's house would only cause problems
-Sheldon! - Penny scold him- Amy just...
-And that's why she should live with me-he said, ignoring Penny completely.
-Are you serious?- Howard asked.
-Of course. Besides, I had already asked for it but she had refused-He shrugged.- I think it's the best thing for everyone.
-You're right- Amy said after a few seconds-I'm going to accept your offer and live with you.