Chapter eleven: Comic Book Deception
Author's Note: Sorry for the short chapter, everyone, this will make for it
Kate was up that night, staring at the television. Instead of sitting on the couch as she had been before when Sheldon had gone to bed at exactly nine, she was now on the floor, on her knees in front of the shelf of video games. She was somewhat impressed; Sheldon had categorized the games into a division of fantasy/Magic, Science Fiction, and Arcade—and made subdivisions of Most Played and Played Rarely. The games were labeled as such with small tags underneath the aforementioned video games. Kate read some of the titles aloud. One of them she liked had to be Mario, the Original.
She stood from them, not wishing to play the games unless Sheldon was with her. She had that morbid courtesy wherein she felt she had to have a chaperone when playing or dealing with something that was something of theirs for the first time. Should a videogame break or tear—Kate didn't want to see that happen, especially if she had no witnesses.
Kate walked into the kitchen which was part of the living room. She saw the Batman cookie jar, and liked it from then on. Looking into it, she found chocolate chip, peanut butter cookies. It was interesting how she thought there might've been some Batman shaped cookies but she would have perceived that too be overly obsessed…that's something she'd have devised.
Taking a few into her hands, she ate them then washed her hands in the sink. Afterwards, she dried her hands with the offered paper napkin and after drying each hand, she placed them into the canister provided to the left of the refrigerator. Everything was so…spotless.
Kate decided that there was nothing to do as far as entertaining herself. She needed to sleep and although she knew sleep would elude her tonight, as she was still strained from being carjacked, and also robbed of her keys to her own home, Kate knew, for a fact, her sleep would be robbed as well.
"If you never try, you never fly," Kate muttered, remembering what her mother regularly told her when she felt discouraged and lacking determination. Of course, she'd never fly, but the metaphorical action of success was duly noted. Therefore, Kate sighed deeply, and went into the bathroom for her pastime relief, then after relieving her bladder, she went down the hall, turned a right, and further down to Leonard's bedroom…or rather, her bedroom.
Kate entered but the idea of home was also robbed. She glanced at the unmade blue comforter, but was relieved to see that a note had been scribbled on the comforter, which more than likely was from her current—but still temporary—roommate.
Kate took the paper in her hands and read the letter aloud.
'Kate,
If you are like me, which I doubt still today, you may be frightened of the images that occur to your mind as to whom has slept in these sheets and what actions might have occurred through Leonard's use of them. Between you and me, I would advise you to remove these comforters and bed sheets from the bed you will be sleeping in—preferably with latex gloves provided in the bathroom—and remake the bed with the extra sheets and blankets we keep in the hall closet—in any case we need extra supplies from an on-coming cataclysmic event.
Tomorrow afternoon is my scheduled laundry day; there, we can wash and dry Leonard's bed sheets and comforter if you wish to reuse them. Personally, I'd purchase new linen but that is only my suggestion.
Don't forget to be showered and dressed by tomorrow at eight (also, be out of the bathroom by forementioned time as it is, need I remind you, my scheduled bathroom time. Please be courteous of my needs and I've been courteous to yours, and be aware of that.
Have a good night's worth of REM sleep,
Dr. Sheldon Cooper.'
To this, Kate smiled; to Leonard's messy bed was Kate's aversion. She thought Penny was beautiful and although she hoped that Penny and Leonard were in love and all that crap, she felt that it didn't provide her a better feeling that Leonard didn't take precautions in keeping his bed clean of sweat while penetrating the beautiful woman that was Penny. Kate rolled the bed sheets up, thinking it was a little useless in using latex gloves. She placed them in the corner of the room and took out the comforter and bed sheets from the hall closet, quietly walking throughout the hall.
Kate then redressed the bed to her satisfaction. She closed the door and undressed to her underwear, throwing her clothes into a small hamper that was provided by Sheldon in the corner of the room, opposite the dirty linen in the other corner. Kate realized she had no other clothes but the ones she'd already discarded. She frowned…but that didn't stop her.
She opened Leonard's closet and took out a large shirt of his, plaid in blue and black. It fit her somewhat, enough that she could feel comfortable in it. Kate sighed, knowing she'd have to get up extra early to head into the store, pick out an extra pair of scrubs and an outfit to wear after work. It was going to cut into her budget but at least she had a place to stay. Still, it was just another thing to think about and one other thing to prevent her 'good night's worth of REM sleep'.
She hopped into the bed and closed her eyes, turning off the light when she did. It was dark. Really dark…good. She needed dark.
There was a sound in the room, however. Not in the room…no, it was outside the room. She heard it, the sound, footsteps? Kate opened her eyes, wide. She stood. Sheldon? Leonard? Oh god, let it be Penny, at least. She'd have to explain her shirt but it would be more than obvious when her clothes were seen in the hamper, surely.
Kate stood warily. She hoped it was one of three, but what if it was someone else? Crap.
She made her way to the door.
Be careful, Kate. Be careful. If it's someone—anyone but Sheldon, Leonard, or Penny—you hit them with all your strength. Hit them where it hurts—the nuts…shit, hit them where it hurts, man or woman. What if it's a dog?
Kate could have smacked her mentality if she could do so literally. Kate heard the footsteps again and she summoned her anger—the robber that took her car and whatnot—and she found her hatred. She swung open the door and went kicking.
Hearing the howls of someone that was no thick, big armed man of a robber but also not the cries of Sheldon Cooper or a woman named Penny, Kate was uncertain when the figure landed hands over lower anatomy first. The howls awoke her roommate, and apparently alerted Penny and Leonard as the three hurried into the hallway. Kate was in the doorway of the bedroom, looking as surprised and alarmed as they did.
Sheldon had arrived in his blue plaid pajamas, having not even taken time to put on his robe. He flipped on the light of the hallway; Leonard and Penny stood in the hallway, alarmed. Leonard wore his glasses and pants but no shirt; Penny was in a pair of skimpy blue and pink shorts with a revealing tank top. Although, Kate could not speak; she wore Leonard's long sleeve blue shirt, which only managed to cover the rest of her body. Her hair was tangled around her shoulders and face as she'd become entangled with her attacker, or her believed attacker.
Now looking at the painful moaning Howard Wolowitz, Kate was infuriated.
"WHAT THE HELL?" Kate snapped angrily.
"Howard," said Leonard tiredly, as he realized the man on the ground wasn't terrifying, or the least bit threatening. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I didn't want to disturb you, Leonard," groaned Howard, cupping his privates, "so I thought I'd come over here and get your comic book."
"Why are you getting a stupid comic book?" asked Penny, putting her hands on her hips.
"It's not stupid," said Howard. He muttered that it was some class edition although Kate wasn't thinking it was so important now.
"Actually," said Leonard looking at Penny in a matter-of-fact way, "He's right. It's actually an interesting, action-packed comic where Spiderman reveals his identity to Mary Jane and…"
"Okay, forget the comic book!" Penny replied, looking irritated. She looked at Kate. "What did he do?"
"Nothing," Kate said.
"So you woke me up for nothing?" Sheldon pointed out, crossing his arms.
"No," said Kate slowly, her agitation coming back, "I hit him before he could do something." She crossed her arms angrily. "For god's sake, I thought he was some wacko-job robber—the same one that got my car and keys to the apartment; I thought maybe that wasn't good enough that he wanted my life as well!"
Howard looked up at Kate, his pain wearing off apparently.
"Why are you in Leonard's shirt and not wearing pants?" asked Howard.
Kate glared at him.
"I have no night clothes," said Kate coldly. "If you keep looking at my legs, I'll keep you on the ground."
"Sounds dirty," Howard said in a sultry tone.
Kate reared back her right leg as a threat and Howard got to his feet so fast it would humiliate Flash's speed and agility. He stood beside Leonard, hoping that would keep that angry half-naked woman at bay.
"Look, I'm sorry," Howard apologized quickly. "I didn't know you were staying over here."
"You saw me sign the Roommate Agreement!" Kate snapped.
Sheldon glanced at Kate then to Howard.
"I'm getting the impression that Howard came over, not for a comic, but to get a good look at Kate while she was vulnerable…" began Sheldon but Howard hushed him with a 'shh!' Sheldon looked affronted but was about to go on before Penny stopped him with a wave of her hand.
"Yeah, we know, Mr. Obvious," said Penny quickly. She glared at Howard. "Are you some kind of creepy stalker, Howard? Kate isn't some eye candy!"
"You're one to talk; Leonard ogles you wherever and whenever you can and you have no qualms about that," Howard pointed out.
"That's..that's—apples and oranges, Howard," Penny said, weighing her hands up and down oppositely to pose a point. She shook her head and continued, "Anyway, you scared Kate to death. You deserved to be hit in the nuts."
Leonard turned to Penny, apparently believing otherwise.
"No one deserves to be hit there, Penny; it hinders one paralysis for an immeasurable time and not to mention that it hurts like a bitch," Leonard stated.
Sheldon glanced at him, marking his cursing but he looked at Kate.
"Would you like some tea?" he asked.
"Some what?" asked Kate, taken aback; her anger had momentarily disappeared.
Sheldon spoke as he passed Howard in the hallway and stood to her side: "In my experience and from my understanding, it's the social convention to offer someone in distress or bereavement a hot beverage, in which this case more than sufficiently suggests."
"I'm not bereft, Sheldon," said Kate coolly. She glowered at Howard and said, "I'm pissed."
Howard cleared his throat and said to her, "I'm sorry, Kate. And to Sheldon's explanation, no, I wasn't coming in to look at you naked. I'm married to a beautiful woman by the name of Bernadette, and I only want to see her naked." He smiled shortly after. "I really did come for the comic. I forgot you were here instead of Leonard."
Penny nudged Leonard playfully and laughed, "Yeah, it could have been you trying to hit a robber."
"I'd have nailed Howard like Kate did," Leonard said indifferently. "She just got lucky and it was Howard."
"I wasn't robbing," Howard interjected. He looked at Leonard. "So can I borrow your comic?"
"Why do you even need it?" asked Leonard.
"Raj wants to read it."
"You could not have asked about it while you were still here?" Sheldon questioned.
"He didn't think about it until we left," Howard posed.
"A likely summation," Sheldon returned, sounding much like a lawyer. He crossed his arms. "Well, this has been a complete waste of time and deception; I'm going to sleep before I have to listen to another meaningless bout of unnecessary chitter chatter." He looked at Kate. "Did you get my letter, by any chance?"
"Yes, I did. Thank you, Sheldon." Kate said, smiling.
"You're welcome." He said. He turned to Leonard. "Kate has to borrow your car in order to drive me to work."
"That's fine; I'll go with Penny to work," said Leonard, nodding to Kate. "You're more than welcome to drive it."
"Is there gas in it?" asked Kate.
"Yeah," said Leonard.
"Okay. I have to go early in the morning," said Kate. She looked at Sheldon. "I'll be back by eight."
"Why do you need to leave the apartment in the morning only to come back and leave again when we go to work?" asked Sheldon curiously.
"I don't have any scrubs; I left them in the apartment," explained Kate. "This, and I don't have any clothes either."
"Understandable," Sheldon returned. "You've given me enough time and notable reason; I'll see you in the morning then, and not a minute later, all right?"
"Sure," Kate replied. When Sheldon continued looking at her, she sighed and said, "Okay, Sheldon."
"Thank you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get my REM sleep." He glanced at his watch and said resentfully, "What's left of it, anyway."
He went into his bedroom and closed the door. Kate turned to Howard.
"Well?" she said.
"Well, what?" asked Howard.
"Aren't you getting the comic? That way we don't repeat tonight's event for the second time?" asked Kate.
"Oh right; Sorry bout that," said Howard. He sped past her and retrieved the comic. He then exited, apologized to Kate and thanked Leonard again, and ran out of the living room and out of the door. Leonard turned to Kate.
"That would explain why you're wearing my shirt," said Leonard, smiling.
"It explains a lot of what I'm doing without pants," Kate replied, smiling as well.
Penny walked to her and said, "I have some extra pajamas in my apartment if you want to borrow them, rather than wearing Leonard's shirt. I know how comfy they are though." She winked at her.
"Sure thing," said Kate. "Thanks."
Kate made a quick trip to Penny's apartment, which gave her small chills. Unlike Sheldon's apartment, Penny seemed to be the polar opposite of him. Her home was messy, disorganized, but it did have that colorful vibrancy that made Penny so likeable in character and appearance.
Penny handed her two pairs of shorts and tops that were colorful as well. She also gave her a welcoming gift basket of assorted bath lotions, bath salts, soaps, and shampoos.
"What is this for?" asked Kate.
"Welcoming gift."
"Did you plan this?"
"No, Kate." She gave a small chuckle and said, "We had a Christmas one year and Sheldon gave more than ten of these and I have enough to last me for years."
"Well, thanks," said Kate, smiling widely.
"You're welcome. And if you need anything, come to me. We, girls, have to stick together," Penny said, offering her a shoulder hug. Kate accepted it awkwardly, but hugged her back when Penny grinned broadly at her.
"Okay," said Leonard slowly, "I'm going to bed. Penny…you uh going to join me?"
"In a moment, Sweetie." She smiled at Leonard and he smiled back. Kate recognized the smile; the two of them were very much in love with each other, or at least had strong feelings for each other. Kate thanked Penny again and she came into Leonard's room, dressing into the new pajamas and then putting on some vanilla lotion. She felt a little more at home, even if she did miss hers as well.
