Chapter 14

Penny went to Bernadette's apartment, after her dinner shift, and spent the evening with her, while Howard was a Sheldon's for game night. Bernadette made her feel so welcome, she completely forget any thoughts that she was imposing on her and Howard. Amy stopped by for a little while and the girls enjoyed themselves watching a funny light hearted chick flick, which Bernadette picked because it contained no drama, and then they all called it a early night. Penny found herself comfortable at Bernadette's place and slept well that night, knowing Bernadette was just in the next room and she was not alone.

The following evening the gang came over to Bernadette's place and had take out like they normally did. Penny felt awkward, because it was so obvious Leonard wasn't there, and she felt responsible. The get together felt a little more like a wake then a bunch of friends having fun together, for her, so she stayed quiet most of the night. Everyone noticed her mood, but tried to make the best of it the whole night for her anyway. Her mood never got much better that night, but she did realize she had the best friends ever and that made her feel not so bad.

The rest of the week for Penny involved, work, sleep and being with Bernadette and sometimes Amy. It became a routine for her and she needed routine right now, so that was good. She still had an empty feeling, but at least now she could continue her routine without that feeling crippling her. Bernadette had been right again, being around people helped a lot and gave her the strength to face each day. How did Bernadette get so smart, Penny wondered, which made her smile.

Leonard spent the whole week working from early morning to late at night. He was ahead with all his papers and reports and had even caught up most of his email. He knew if he kept this up, his work on the Government grant, would be done in the next two weeks, 4 weeks ahead of schedule, but that was fine, working kept his mind busy. It was Friday afternoon now and looking at the clock he saw it was just past 2 PM. He hadn't seen Alex since he talked to her, the first time, and he felt bad, because it probably looked like he was avoiding her, which he wasn't. She had helped him, by listening and he felt like talking to her, again, so he decided he needed some coffee.

Alex walked into the cafeteria again, like she had been doing all week, hoping she would see Leonard. She knew she was being needy but she couldn't help it, she wanted to see and talk to him again. She figured she blew it with him already, but something inside her would not let her stop hoping, so as she took her coffee to find a seat, then she almost dropped her cup as she saw him sitting in the corner. He was much different today because he was looking right at her and it made her heart flutter, and to her joy, he waved her over. She tried her best to casually walk over to him, but she was so nervous and she hoped he wouldn't notice.

"Alex, hey how have you been?" Leonard casually asked.

Alex took her time sitting down taking a couple of breathes the calm herself. "Good, how about you, you look a lot better than last time I saw you, are you feeling better?" she said the words so fast, they didn't come out the way she intended, 'Stupid, Stupid girl' she thought.

Leonard just smiled, "I'm not as bad, your right, and thanks for listening to me again, it helped."

Alex said quietly, "Your welcome, anytime."

He smiled at her again. Her heard fluttered again, he had the most amazing smile and beautiful eyes, she thought.

"Well thanks again. Sorry I haven't been around, I've been working a lot the last few days, it is sort of my way to cope with things and it has helped, also. I don't want you to think I have been avoiding you because of our conversation." he told her.

'He wasn't avoiding me, he was just working to get over her, that is great' she thought. "No, that is fine, I know you are busy, I'm just happy you could join me today. It is nicer to have someone to talk to while I drink my coffee." she said, hoping he took it right.

"Yeah it is nicer to have someone to talk to over coffee, you're right." He smiled at her again with that wonderful smile.

Leonard and Alex sat and talked to each other for the next hour, about work, her graduate program, the university and even Dr Cooper. Leonard had her laughing hard over some of his Sheldon stories and she loved hearing him tell them. The time flew by so quickly for her, and before long, they had to depart each other's company. Alex was losing her heart to him, and she wanted this beginning friendship to be so much more, even thinking how much she wanted him as her boyfriend. Leonard went back to his office thinking about how Alex was such a nice person and he was really enjoying her friendship.

Saturday morning, while Bernadette made coffee, she heard Penny crying in her room. Bernadette opened the door and saw Penny, laying in the fetal position, her head buried in a pillow, crying her eyes out. Bernadette was so glad she had Penny move in with her because it would have killed her to know that Penny was by herself, like this, with all her grief. She put her arms around Penny and slowly rocked her until Penny's crying changed to small sobs.

"Penny what's wrong honey?" Bernadette asked her, when the time was right.

Her face still buried in the pillow, Penny finally choked out, "Today is Saturday, just a week ago, we were all dressed up having the night of our lives, it was so beautiful and Leonard was so great and I had such a good time, it was magical, and now it is all over, and it was only a week ago and it seems like it was years ago."

Bernadette didn't know what to say, the night was magical, she thought of it as her and Howard's real honeymoon night and she would always remember every detail of it. Penny and Leonard had looked so good together and looked so in love, Bernadette thought they had finally got their relationship straight, but now look at it, Penny was devastated. Bernadette just couldn't think of anything to say to her now.

"Penny, I'm sorry, but sweetie you just have to move on. I know it's hard but that is all you can do." It was a lame thing to tell her, but what else could Bernadette say.

Penny nodded into the pillow and started to cry some more. This day was going to be hell on her and Bernadette wished there was some way to make it better, but couldn't think of a thing. Bernadette just rocked her while she wept and said a little silent prayer that Penny and Leonard would make it through all this pain.

Howard got Raj and went over to Raj's apartment to see Leonard, but Leonard's car wasn't there.

"Dude, where do you think he is?" Raj asked Howard.

Howard shrugged "Beats me."

Howard and Raj stood there a few minutes thinking until finally Howard spoke up, "You want to drive by the university and see if he is at work?"

"Sure, lets go." Raj responded

45 minutes later Raj and Howard walked into Leonard's lab, finding him doing final adjustments on one of his lasers.

"Leonard, it's Saturday, you're suppose to be enjoying yourself, not hiding away in your lab. This working in your lab on weekends is turning you into a stereotype evil scientist, you know." Howard greeted him with.

"Howard's right, dude. The evil scientist thing is reserved for Sheldon, so you have to get out and enjoy the roses, man." Raj added.

"Len…Oh sorry, …Dr Hofstadter, here is the coffee you wanted." Alex froze, standing just inside the door way of the lab with two coffees in her hand. She had walked into his lab, not knowing there was anyone with him and now she was trapped, trying to make it seem casual.

Howard and Raj, were at first surprised by the voice behind them, then shocked when they had turned to see who it was.

Leonard saw Alex's discomfort, also Howard's and Raj's surprise, so he decided why make things up, he wanted them all to be friends, so why not start now.

"Howard, Raj you both know Alex, Sheldon's assistant, and Alex you have seen Howard and Raj around. Howard and Raj are some of my closest friends. Guys, Alex and I have become friends, so don't you dare tell Sheldon, OK." Leonard said to them all.

Howard was a little lost for words, "Yeah, OK, Hi Alex, just call me Howard." Then he shook Alex's hand which made her smile.

Leonard looked at Raj, he was having a hard time again because he couldn't talk. The first time Leonard kidded him, in the cafeteria, when Alex came around, but now it would be just cruel to do that. He had told Alex about Raj's mutism and he felt she had some compassion for him so, "Alex, Raj says hello too, and wants him to call him Raj. If he had a beer in his hand, he would say this more eloquently than me."

Raj got a big smile on his face and nodded putting out his hand. Then Alex did something that made Leonard so proud of her. She took Raj's hand and gently pulled her and him together and gave him a hug. Raj just beamed. Leonard smiled, that was just the most perfect thing to do to put Raj at ease.

They all talked for the next 20 minutes and Howard convinced Leonard to go to a Star Wars, extended cut, movie with them later, of course, Alex was invited too. They then left Leonard and Alex to finish his work in the lab.

Alex felt wonderful, she felt she had just been granted membership in one of the most exclusive clubs in the whole university. These were three of the most brilliant men there, or anywhere, two well know PHDs, leaders in their fields, and an astronaut. Leonard was making her life more and more happy each day, he was amazing.

"Dude, Alex is so sweet, she hugged me." Raj said while he and Howard walked to the car.

"Do you think, they're doing it? I mean, I would certainly do her, if I wasn't married to Bernadette, of course." Howard said to Raj

"She smelled like jasmine and honeysuckle, when she hugged me." Raj said, dreamy eyed.

"Raj, come out of it! All she did was hug you, I have some important issues to discuss with you." Howard exclaimed.

Raj gave him a sour look, "She didn't hug you."

"Ok, OK, she didn't hug me. Now, do you think her a Leonard are doing the nasty?" he asked.

Raj acted a little taken back, "How can you say that about the girl I love?"

Howard sighed, this was getting nowhere, "Raj, do you think Leonard has already replaced Penny with Alex?"

Raj thought a moment, his first answer would have been 'No' but thinking about it, he wasn't sure because Leonard had been acting weird all week. To Howard, "I don't know, he did take advantage of my sister after he broke up with Penny the first time."

"Yeah, that's true. We need to watch them closely tonight, alright.?" Howard said.

"I will definitely be watching Alex closely tonight." Raj said with a smile.

Howard just shook his head and opened the car door.

"Your friends are really nice." Alex said

Leonard chuckled, "Yeah, for a bunch of nerds." He stopped for a second to think, "We are all nerds you know, even Dr. Cooper."

"Oh, I just thought Dr. Cooper was just some evil scientist, one step away from going to the dark side." she said with a smile.

Leonard laughed, "Quoting Star Wars are we. Are we a fan? By the way you are so right about Sheldon, but we usually refer to it as one lab accident away from becoming a super villain."

Alex laughed, "Yes I am a Star Wars fan, but I have to tell you now, I have a crush on Luke."

Leonard smiled, "Well then, I will be sure not to distract you when he is on the screen."

They talked and laughed for the next couple of hours, while Leonard adjusted his laser for an upcoming experiment. Finally, when it got to be late afternoon, they left the university separately, agreeing that Leonard would pick her up, to meet with Howard and Raj later, for the movie.

Alex got to her apartment and immediately went to her closet to pick out something to wear. She could just kiss Howard and Raj, because they had made it so she could spend the whole evening with Leonard. This was so perfect and it would not be awkward either because it was like she had a date with all of them, especially Leonard she thought, and she loved how it was turning out. She went through her clothes looking for the perfect outfit and couldn't help it that her thoughts kept drifting to her upcoming night with Leonard.