The Star-Crossed Glitch
X. A small step
"Thank you," Amy said, taking the filled-up questionnaire from Raj. "That should be all for this phase of the trial."
"I'm sad I won't have any more of those pills," he remarked. "And I only have three more doses worth of talking to women until the next phase."
"I can always set up the placebo experiment again." She watched him typing for a few moments, before sweeping her gaze around the office. She had decided to drop by after five PM instead of during lunch to avoid seeing Sheldon, but now that he wasn't there... She stifled a sigh and stood up. "I'll be going now."
"Sorry I can't talk right now," he peered up from his laptop with puppy-dog eyes. "I have to finish this paper, then go to that lecture—aww, I have to return that Flex Belt to Penny!"
Amy's ears perked up. "Hmm... Penny?"
He fished a thick, wide belt from his bag. "She said this belt really works the abs and let me borrow hers so I can try before I buy. I was supposed to return it last week. She's going to hog-tie me..." he caught her eyebrow shooting up and waved his hands in denial. "Literally. Not like in a kinky way."
"Yes, I understand." she said, picking up the belt from his table. "I'm not doing anything, I can return it to Penny for you."
"Really? Oh I get it," he teased, "this is one of those sizing up the other woman moments, isn't it? It's a little catty, but that's so sweet of you."
She didn't say anything, and simply shoved the Flex Belt in her bag and smiled indulgently. It wouldn't do any harm to let him think that way. He blew a kiss after her as she left the office.
She walked to her car with a certain bounce in her step. During dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, Bernadette and Penny had welcomed her addition to their little session in the bathroom wherein they described Holly with a few choice words (that garishly-tinted interloper) and questioned Leonard's decision to suddenly bring her to an event exclusively for their social circle (and in Penny's "turf"). She had been considered Bernadette's friend by default, since their boyfriends were best friends, but after that chat, she also felt closer to Penny. Amy couldn't explain it—Penny was certainly a grown-up version of all those pretty and popular girls who bullied her all throughout her school life—but the blonde was nice and made her feel welcome, and she couldn't help but feel drawn to her.
From that little bonding moment, Amy had found out that Penny would be presently working a shift at the Cheesecake Factory, so she set out in that direction. Maybe she'll get a dessert or a drink, and talk some more with her.
Upon reaching the restaurant, she approached a handsome server with curly golden hair who she recognized as Penny's friend. "Penny?" he frowned. "She hadn't come in since yesterday. She didn't call in sick either."
"I see. Thank you." She returned to her car. Penny certainly seemed very free-spirited, however even she didn't seem like the type to go AWOL from work for two days in a row. I'd call her but... She bit her lip. She didn't have Penny's number. Maybe she could ask for it from Raj or Bernadette. Wouldn't that be too clingy? We're not actually close acquaintances after all. She resolved to head for Penny's apartment instead.
Amy pushed the door open and walked inside, keeping her eyes on the flight of stairs ahead that she bumped into another person. "Oh!"
"Good lord, would you please watch where you're—" It was Sheldon, holding a stack of mail to his chest.
She blinked up at him. He was so close that one of her jacket buttons brushed his shirt. He squirmed. "Sorry," she apologized, taking a step back. He nodded and hurried to the stairs. She followed at a more leisurely pace.
He was already at the second floor when he stopped and looked at her. "What brings you here?"
"I'm going to Penny's," she replied. "I'm returning something she lent Raj." She fell in step beside him and he resumed moving at a slower pace.
"She doesn't seem to be there," he said. "She didn't swipe dinner from us yesterday and I haven't seen her around."
"Really?" she gripped the strap of her bag tighter. "Her co-worker said that she hasn't reported to work since yesterday."
"That's quite peculiar," he remarked. "Unless she has become addicted to another MMORPG, but she hasn't been asking me for any help."
In spite her mounting nervousness, Amy smiled at his words. They were now at the fourth floor; Amy knocked at the door of Apartment 4B and Sheldon stood at the hallway instead of entering his apartment. "Penny?" She knocked twice... thrice... but there was no response. "Penny!" She rotated the door knob, but it was locked. "Sheldon, this doesn't seem right."
He cocked his head. "You're... worried?"
"Yes."
"We have a spare key. Let me retrieve it." He disappeared into 4A and reappeared with a key, which he used to open the door to Penny's apartment. "Mind you, she's rather sensitive about people entering her apartment."
"I'll take that risk." She ventured inside. "Penny? I'm coming in, okay?" She glanced around the living room and towards the kitchen. No Penny.
Sheldon had shuffled after her, wrinkling his nose in disgust at the scattered laundry, food containers, miscellaneous trash, and general disorder around the apartment, and grumbled: "And she refuses other people's help in clearing this nest of germs and disease."
Amy checked the bedroom and bathroom, but didn't find Penny in those places either.
"Perhaps she has gone home to Nebraska after realizing the futility of an actress of her caliber trying to break into the entertainment business," he suggested; he hung his head when she looked sharply at him.
"Please try calling her cellphone," she requested. He rolled his eyes but obliged, pulling out his phone and selecting a number. They both jumped when a loud techno tune bleared from somewhere in the apartment. She followed the sound, peeking behind the counter—she spied an arm on the floor. She gasped and went around: Penny was sprawled face-down on the floor, several empty liquor bottles littered around her. "Penny!" she dropped on her knees and struggled to flip the unconscious woman on her back. Penny's face was pale and drawn, her skin was cold, clammy, and tinged with a bluish tint, and her breathing was much too slow for comfort. Patches of vomit crusted down the front of her shirt and on the floor. "Oh my goodness... you need to go to the hospital." She slung one of Penny's arms around her shoulders and looked expectantly up at Sheldon.
He merely stared down at her, cringing at the mess.
"Sheldon!"
"B-But!"
"I need your help," she pleaded. He shuddered and took Penny's other arm, though he looked like he was about to vomit himself.
They dragged the blonde down the stairs, cursing the non-functional elevator every step of the way, and out of the building. Penny was settled in the backseat of Amy's car; she jumped in the driver's seat and attempted to start the car but her shaking hand failed to insert the key. "Ugh!"
Sheldon watched her for a few moments before resolutely stepping out of the passenger seat and opening the door at her side, holding out his palm. "I don't think it would be safe for you to drive in that condition."
She gawked at him with round eyes. "You can't drive."
"I can, but I choose not to." He jerked his palm closer.
She had no choice but to surrender the keys.
After a harrowing ride (Amy had NO idea exactly how unpracticed Sheldon's driving abilities were until that day), they reached the emergency room. Amy filled the necessary forms with Sheldon's help, he made some phone calls, and Penny was admitted for treatment. When she finished the last of the forms, she walked to the middle of the waiting room. At one side, Sheldon stood beside a row of seats. He held his fists stiffly to his chest, as if trying to make himself as small as possible and prevent from touching anything.
The adrenaline was wearing off and she swayed unsteadily when a wave of weariness washed over her. She caught herself just in time. Penny. Alcohol poisoning. She had heard the nurses: she appeared to have spent since yesterday in a state of intoxication and steady drinking, her vital signs were dangerously low, they would have to check for permanent liver damage. What if we hadn't checked on her? A chill shot up her spine. Suddenly, her eyes brimmed with tears that soon trailed down her cheeks; she ducked to hide them. The more she attempted to stifle her shaking sobs, the more she shuddered, the more tears fell.
Her eyes were trained on her loafers; a pair of larger ones appeared at the edge of her vision. She lifted her head. Sheldon stood one step apart from her. Tentatively, she closed the distance so that her toes touched his. He didn't open his arms but neither did he back away. He didn't move at all. So, she didn't throw her arms around him. Instead, she leaned forward until her forehead rested against his chest. She felt his muscles tense with movement and she nearly backed away, but his hand only removed her glasses and gently pushed at the back of her head, drawing her closer. She buried her face in his chest in earnest, breathing the soothing scents of baby powder and fabric softener. Her steady tears dampened his shirt but he still didn't move. She reached up with one hand, her fingers clutching at the edge of his outer shirt's sleeve.
They stayed that way, for a minute or an hour, but it wasn't until a group of familiar voices were right beside them that Amy pried herself off Sheldon. Leonard, Howard, and Bernadette were asking questions at the same time. She could only stare at their blurry forms, bewildered.
"Guys, please, they're as shocked as we all are," Raj appeared from behind the group. He sighed and lightly stroked Amy's hair. "Poor darling, you've had a difficult week." He inched closer to her.
It was then that she realized she was still holding on to Sheldon's sleeve. She furtively let go and dropped her hand at her side. Raj took it and squeezed.
A middle-aged, female doctor approached them: "Family for Penny—"
"Here!" Leonard stepped forward. "How is she?"
"She's on her way to recovery, we've hooked her to an IV since she's extremely dehydrated," the doctor said. "We'll have to run some tests later, but for now, a few visitors can go see her, if you wish."
Howard and Raj nodded at Leonard. "I think Sheldon and Amy must be worried, after they found her like that," Bernadette suggested.
Leonard gestured at both of them. Sheldon stepped beside his best friend. Amy slipped her hand away from Raj's and walked with the two men, the doctor leading the way. She felt something poke against her palm; she closed her hand over it and realized they were her glasses. She looked up, and could only just discern Sheldon, staring straight ahead. She took the glasses and put them back on. Leonard pushed the door open and instantly went to Penny's bedside. Sheldon and Amy lingered a few paces away.
"Leonard?" Penny rasped, squinting against the bright lights.
"I'm here," he said in a quiet but steady voice.
Her hand flailed weakly until he clasped it. She slapped her other hand over their joined hands. "Leonard, stay here, please."
"I'm not going anywhere," he promised.
She made a sound halfway between a sob and a laugh. Her eyes closed, though her forehead was still drawn. He brushed the fingers of his free hand from her forehead and down to her hair.
Amy gazed into Sheldon's blue eyes. She didn't need to say anything. By tacit agreement, they slowly and silently withdrew from the room.
Author's Notes: Thanks to those who reviewed; I'm glad to know you're still reading this. I was a bit scared all my readers have left me.