Previously continued . . .

Penny woke to the sound of a door shutting; she looked up squinting through the darkness. Howard and Raj were standing a few feet away.

"Hey" She said groggily, Raj gave her another small wave, but neither two said a word. Penny guessed something was wrong.

"What's up guys, where's Bernadette?" Howard started to fidget with his pants, putting his hand in his pockets and then taking them out. Raj just stared at the floor.

"Bernadette decided to go." He said, Penny frowned.

"What? Why?"

"Amy called; Bernadette's staying the night with her." Howard avoided her gaze. Penny felt her heart sink at the mention of Amy. How could I be so stupid, let alone selfish? Oh, poor Amy, she must be feeling terrible … maybe I should go see her too?

"And there's something else." Howard said glancing back at Raj. "We saw Sheldon."

Penny stared, waiting for them to continue, but they didn't. Both seemed perfectly content on staying quiet.

"So? How is he? Is he okay?" She asked. Howard again started to get fidgety.

"He's okay per say in which the state of matter is physical." Howard said nervously, Penny just looked at him like he had dropped from the sky.

"I'm sorry, what?" Howard let out a sigh.

"Uh, have a seat Penny." He suggested feeling the weight and pressure of what he was about to tell her.

"I'm already sitting Howard." Penny said tiredly.

"Right, well then you won't mind if I do." He said quickly sitting down.

"Howard what is this all about? Is Sheldon okay or isn't he?" Penny asked already feeling frustrated.

"That's what I'm trying to tell you, he's okay physically, well sort of minus a few broken bones, a bump on the head and the occasional scratch, he's fine." He said in a rush. "But mentally?"

"He's not so fine." Raj said and Howard threw him a glare. Penny looked between them both.

"So what's wrong with him mentally?" She asked. Howard took in a deep breath.

"He's in a coma." Penny gapped at him for a few seconds trying to find her voice, somehow lost among the many suckish things that had happened so far.

"What? A coma? Oh my god you can't be serious? Sheldon, in a coma? That's impossible." Shock suddenly took over. Her hands covering her mouth as another sob threatened to break through. "Oh my god, Sheldon, no." She whispered, her eyes immediately flying to Leonard. Oh Leonard! I can't believe any of this has happened and Sheldon? Why? I'm so sorry Leonard. She closed her eyes tightly, already imagining Leonard's reaction when he found out. She could feel her heart breaking for him.

"What-what about Leonard?" She asked, not quite sure what to do now. Howard's eyes dogged between her and Leonard.

"You, you mean tell him?" He faltered already seeing the disastrous outcome this would have. Penny nodded.

"Well- if he asks just- just tell him you can't tell him because the doctor didn't think it would be good for his health." He said, Penny frowned.

"You mean lie to him?"

"Well yea, that does consist of not telling him the truth." He said.

"I can't do that, not after all that's happened." She said feeling a tear slid down her cheek.

"Look I'm not saying that were going to keep it from him forever, just until he's ready." Raj looked at him.

"And you think he'll ever be ready?" He asked, Howard suddenly looked stuck. "Dude this is his best friend were talking about, that's not really something you can prepare for."

"Raj is right, either way it's not going to end good."Penny said. Howard let out a sigh.

"Fine, tell him, but not right when he wakes up-we don't want to send him into a coma either." He said joking slightly, both Penny and Raj glared at him.

"You're right, I'm sorry that was uncalled for." He quickly said.

"Look why don't you to go get some rest? I'll stay here."

"All night?" Howard said glancing at Raj.

"Yea."

"Well, okay, but you'll call us if anything happens, right?"

"Of course, now go." She said shooing them towards the door.

"Alright, well, bye." Howard said and Raj waved. The two silently slipped through the door and closed it, leaving Penny almost alone in the dark. She walked back over to her chair and sat in it. She glanced once more at Leonard's resting form, then she closed her eyes, sleep coming quickly to her.