Chapter Eleven: Shine
Leonard walked a step ahead of Sheldon, carrying his bags up the stairs. Sheldon dragged his feet heavily, slightly panting by the time they reached the top. Leonard glanced behind him, wincing at the same time as Sheldon. They had left the others about half an hour ago. Penny worked her afternoon shift, checking her phone between every table, and then headed home to wait for Sheldon—sitting nervously on her couch, knees bouncing and hands pressed tightly together. Amy had squeezed Sheldon's hand before going back to her apartment, her shoulders relaxed with the relief of Sheldon's promise that he would be there with her tomorrow. Leonard watched Sheldon watch Amy leave, the ghost of a smile on his face throughout the car ride home. Bernadette went to work, trying to get back to normal as soon as she could, an uneasy look on her face as she left Howard and Raj. Howard and Raj disappeared right after saying their goodbyes. No one knew where they went, but Howard left with red eyes and Raj's arm slung around his shoulders.
It would take some time. Leonard knew that. But for now, all that was left were Leonard and Sheldon. And it was all that mattered.
"You okay, buddy?" Leonard asked. Sheldon looked at his friend. His bruises still covered half of his face—every so often he clutched his side and had to take a deep breath. Sheldon smiled a tight-lipped smile at Leonard.
"I'm fine," He said, and dropped his arm from his side, as if to prove his point. Always, always trying to prove a point. He watched Leonard fumble with the keys and leaned his head against the wall. He looked so little. So innocent. The door to their apartment swung open and Leonard dropped the bags in the hallway. Sheldon leaned against the doorway and his blue eyes swept the room, from the cushions tossed on the floor to the broken glass lying on the counter, and back to Leonard.
"You didn't sleep here last night," Sheldon noted. Leonard opened his mouth, about to protest, but he stopped.
"No, I didn't."
"Well, where did you go?" Sheldon shut the door behind him and took a step into his home. Leonard shook his head and looked down, smiling slightly.
"It's embarrassing."
"It may be, but I still believe I should know where you slept last night. Was it with Penny?"
Leonard snorted and shook his head. He glanced around the room, taking a deep breath, before his eyes landed on Sheldon.
"I slept in my car. A block away from the hospital. Penny stayed with Amy. Neither one of us really wanted to come back."
"I can understand that," Sheldon said softly, amazing Leonard. Before Leonard could speak, the door creaked open and Penny poked her head through the crack. She wore jeans and a grey hoodie, her hair in a loose ponytail. Sheldon's eyes found hers immediately, and Leonard could swear that Sheldon's face came to life when he saw her.
"Hey, sweetie," She chirped, closing the door behind her. "You're back!"
"I am."
She and Sheldon stood staring at each other for a while. Leonard had never seen Penny glow like this.
"You're back," She repeated, and her smile widened. This was when Leonard took his cue to leave.
"I'll just go unpack your bag," Leonard said, lifting the bag of Sheldon's comic books and Friday pajamas onto his arm. Penny caught his eye as he passed and pinched the sleeve of his hoodie. Thank you.
"Sheldon, listen," Penny started as soon as Leonard had left, but Sheldon shook his head.
"Penny, I'd like you to forget everything. It was a moment of vulnerability. I shouldn't have said what I did, and I'm sorry." Sheldon cleared his throat, his eyes bright. Penny took a breath and leaned against the counter, crossing her arms.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, Sheldon," She said softly. Sheldon looked away sharply so that Penny couldn't attempt to read him as she was always trying to do. But Penny took a step closer.
"You don't have to apologize," She whispered.
"I do. And I don't apologize often, so I advise you to just accept it."
"You don't have to be sorry." Sheldon froze at the touch of a warm hand on his sleeveless arm. "You are fine. You are perfect. And it's going to be okay, okay?" Penny smiled up at Sheldon hopefully. So thin. Such pale skin.
"Are you sure?" Sheldon asked Mary. They stood outside the elementary school. Sheldon clutched his mother's hand so tightly that her knuckles were turning white and her wedding ring dug into her skin.
"Of course I'm sure. You're a smart baby boy."
"I am not a baby," Sheldon protested, quickly looking up at his mom, demanding her to take it back. "And I know that I'm smart. Everyone knows that." Mary laughed and withdrew her hand from his death grip, sliding her arm around her son's shoulders.
"I'm not sure you ever were a baby," Mary laughed, grinning down at her son. "And of course you're smart. Such a smart boy."
"I believe that's an understatement," Sheldon shrugged off her compliment. "But…are you sure?" Sheldon asked again, bouncing on his toes.
"Yes. Everything is going to be fine. I am sure."
"Okay?" Penny repeated, reaching her hand out and turning Sheldon's chin so his eyes met hers. They were bright and glassy, but his mouth pulled into a small smile.
"Okay."
Penny grinned. "We're going to get through this. All of us. No one is going to leave you."
"Okay." Sheldon smirked, looking down. "I sound like a child. I apologize."
At this, Penny let out a sound that was half-sob, half-laughter. She turned his chin once more, and, smiling, leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. His skin was as warm as she expected it to be. She let her lips linger for a moment, grateful for the rosy cheeks so different than the ghostly face in the hospital bed. When she broke away, she patted Sheldon's cheek once with a slap.
"Ouch!" Sheldon yelped, putting a hand to his face.
"Sorry," Penny giggled. "It'll take me some time to get used to these." She lightly touched a bruise with her pinky and then let her hand drop from his arm. "Will I see you tomorrow?"
"I don't see why not," Sheldon said matter-of-factly. Penny waved before leaving the apartment, the door swinging shut behind her. Sheldon's heart swelled. He heard her voice singing to him. And then he heard his mother's, and then his grandmother's.
She was right. It was going to be okay.
"Sheldon." This time it was Leonard's voice, coming from his bedroom doorway. He was playing with the zipper of his hoodie anxiously, searching Sheldon's face.
"Sheldon, I'm sorry. I'm sorry about everything I said to you."
"Leonard, now don't…"
"No, I'm serious. I shouldn't have said those things. But I was worried, and that's what came out. I don't know why."
"I do. I know everything."
"Okay, I do, but I'm just trying to apologize. Please?" Leonard asked. Sheldon looked at his friend for a while. His best friend. Sheldon felt his chest tighten.
"Just let your light shine, baby," Mary said as she led Sheldon up the walkway to the front doors. "They'll be your best friends if you let them. Who could resist you?" Mary asked. Sheldon shrugged, still doubtful.
"It's okay to talk. It's okay to be silly. Okay?"
Sheldon shrugged again, trying to contain a smile. He had a backpack full of clean notebooks, an ironed polo shirt, and crisp khaki pants. Nothing could go wrong.
"Let them see who you are, Shellybean. And they'll love you for that." It was a moment of hope. A moment of pure joy; he didn't know what was going to happen once he stepped into his classroom, his first day of school. Anticipation, excitement, uncovering mysteries, learning. It was one of the best moments of Sheldon Cooper's life.
Sheldon watched Leonard turn around. He began to head back to his room, running a hand through his messy hair. Leonard paused. Turned.
"I don't feel alone when I'm with you," Leonard said. "You're my best friend. And you're annoying, and you're brilliant, and you're everything in between." Sheldon smiled and nodded. Leonard let out a breath he had been holding in and turned on his heel once again.
"Leonard," Sheldon said suddenly, leaning against the counter. He looked exhausted. He had dark bags under his eyes and purple bruises coating his face, but something was different. Leonard's brown eyes met Sheldon's blue ones. And they were sparkling, and then Sheldon's face split into a smile, no matter how tiny it was.
"It doesn't hurt so much now."
Leonard smiled. No, he grinned. Penny was just outside, probably snoring loudly on the couch. Howard and Raj were off celebrating Sheldon's life together. Amy was probably in her apartment crying from relief and happiness. And then the two men realized that everything was going to be okay. Leonard nodded and turned around once again, turning on the bathroom light and closing the door. Sheldon slumped onto the couch, in his spot. It seemed to have never lost its warmth—its familiar feel, the way it shaped to Sheldon's body.
It doesn't hurt so much now.
Ta-da! The end! I told you it wouldn't stay depressing forever. Thank you all so, so much for reading. You all make me very happy :) I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope you'll keep reading my stories in the future.