"The Chinese Prisoner…"
Summary: A surprisingly modest Howard has returned to a global hero's welcome after an incredible space feat…But he brought some baggage home…
Disclaimer: All that is Chuck's is Chuck's…
Part XXVI…
Vice President Zhang Lu speaking at podium, rather charming in his folksy manner, a rotund, dapper fellow of friendly countenance…
"Our lovable lil' Khrushchev…" Lilly joked to Howard in whisper…Smiling while nervously gripping his hand…
Bernadette glancing to her side past Howard and Lilly to see Lilly's family…All eyeing Minister Fang as he stood with his assistants, attending the Vice President's speech, he addressing an occasional word to the US officials near him…
The Vice President, finishing with a friendly line in Mandarin, declaring Dr. Howard Wolowitz a noble man of the heart and a welcome friend, brother, and honorary citizen of the great People's Republic…
"So much for the years I labored on my dissertation…" Sheldon frowned…
"Oh, please…You told me you practically wrote it in your sleep and during down time on video gaming while you were working on the real stuff that interested you…"
"It's the principle of the thing, Leonard…And you might have expressed appreciation of the solidarity I was expressing toward you and all the others who actually had to labor to get enough thought on paper for a degree…"
"Thanks…" glare…
"No problemo, dude…" shrewd nod…
Minister Fang stepped to the podium and now began his own speech on the glorious future of space partnership and cooperation…His rather icy delivery muting the enthusiastic nature of his words…
"Are you henjoying der Fuehrer's speech?..." Lilly hissed to Howard…
"May his words life for a thovsand years…" Howard returned…
"It'll be ok…" she nodded…Hand squeeze… "They'll squawk a little but I'll land on my feet…It was just nerves…Thanks for the support, I'll be fine…"
"Liar…" he hissed… "Leave it to me, Pengy…"
"You're so cute when you're all 'take charge', you good-rooking randy lil' Jewish boy…" smile…
"Whatever happens, whether you want me or not, I'm yours beyond death, Howard Wolowitz…" quick tense stare belying the smile…
"Are we ready for this, gentlemen…?" Leonard hissed, back at his seat on the stand…
"Not at all…" Sheldon returned… Raj sighing… "But, as much as we'll ever be…"
"Raj?..." Leonard eyed him…To nervous nod…
The NASA administrator now took stage…
"You're up next, milady…Knock 'em dead, Pengy-poo…" Howard urged…
"Yeah?...Tell me you brought nerve gas…" nervous grin…
"Too volatile and the agents all have masks…" he noted… "Just remember your endorsement contracts all hinge on this…And you've a big family to provide for…"
"And a film career post space…Say?…I never thought of that…No chance money would buy you, my love…?" hiss…
"Eh, Bernadette's family's got some…And she'll be writing a book…" grin…
"I'm scared…Howie…Tell me it'll be ok…Lie like hell…" she gasped suddenly…
"It will…"
"Tell me you'll be with me…Please…"
"No…That I can't even lie about, sweetheart…And now I know you're overacting…"
"Yeah…Tell me I can visit on holidays…?"
"Only if Bernie is around…"
"Darn tootin'…" Bernadette hissed… "But you can have the number one spot on the list of my replacements should I croke…Naturally…"
"See…Now you have a reason to live…" Howard whispered…
"I said…Naturally…" Bernie grinned…
"Damn…Well, I accept…And you promise if they hang me, you'll let Howie always remember me…" Lilly, wan smile… "You can spit on my grave once a year…"
"Shut up and get that speech together…They're giving you the two minute warning…" Bernie, firmly…Glancing at the officials nodding at them…
Fervent applause as Lilly rose…Moving to the podium at President Siebert's beckoning…Warm smile to the crowd, waving…
"There won't be another Ms. Wolowitz…" Howard noted, firmly…
"Lord knows two is enough…" Bernadette smiled…Patting his hand… "I'm so proud of you…And not a little proud of me, too…" grin… "Assumin' we pull this off…"
"If it'll help, I can faint…And in this heat…" Mrs. Wolowitz cut in…Surprisingly careful whisper…
"Stand by on that, Ma…We'll let you know…" Bernadette patted her…
"It isn't every day a girl finds her prince has come, banging on her castle door to rescue her…Thanks Howie, for banging on mine…" Lilly, at podium, concluding, beamed at him… "And thanks, so much Bernadette, for letting him…Now, lets go to Mars, together!..." she waved to the crowd, now rising to its feet… "Howie?..." she waved him over…
"Well…Here goes…" Howard rose…Nod to Bernadette…Who beamed back…
"A mensch I raised…" Mrs. Wolowitz eyed him…Smile…
"There were doubts…" Howard grinned… "Love ya, Ma…Mrs. Dr. Rostenkowski-Wolowitz…?" he bowed…
"Mr. Dr. Wolowitz-Rostenkowski…" Bernadette nodded…Patting him as he turned to move to the podium…Lilly waiting for him there…
"Ummn…Mr. President, Mr. Vice President, Minister Fang, Jim…" he nodded to the NASA administrator… "President Siebert, distinguished guests, friends…Thanks so much for the doctorates, 'cause now I can say to a very dear friend… 'Hey Sheldon, I win!'…" grin…
Sheldon…Sit…Leonard growled…
"Ummn…You've been hearing a lot today and for a few days now about heroes and heroism…Well, for what it's worth I have an idea what a hero is…I've seen them in action, every day, at NASA and on the ISS…" Howard smiled… "And I know I'm not one…As my colleagues who went up with me in the Soyuz can and eagerly do, at our get-togethers, testify…Though no way am I handing back these doctorates, sorry…" grin… "No, the hero you're looking for here is Dr. Li Peng, the bravest person I've ever known, except for one…My wife Bernadette, who was actually courageous enough to take on me and my many flaws…Me, I simply followed my training and played with an idea that several of us came up with together…Which thankfully, worked out…It was Dr. Peng who was there so far away, waiting for so long…Without much hope of rescue, it was her own courage and strength she relied on throughout that long time she was trapped…" smile at Lilly… "Yet a true hero, in her prison, facing hopelessness, abandonment, danger, and death, she never lost heart or let her spirit be quenched…I'm honored to know her and to call her my friend…A friend whose skill, ability, and grit saved her life, not me…" Grinning nod… "I was just, as my friend Dr. Sheldon Cooper would say, the doo-dads guy, who supplied a tool or two…"
"Folks…We have, thanks to her courage, the chance for a new beginning…Not only with the ISS but with space exploration in general…A chance to share the great new opportunities this new frontier offers us…And to protect those things we ought to cherish and hold dear here on good ole Terra, above all the sanctity of life…The right of all living things to enjoy safety and security and the chance to grow and develop freely…Here and in space…"
"It's truly, as Vice President Zhang noted, a new dawn…And a new spirit of cooperation…And friendship…And, if I may…Love…" smile… "And speaking of love…Nothing typifies that like the announcement which my friends…My very dear friends…Have asked me to make for them…Raj?..." Howard turned to smile at him as Raj rose…
Lilly, a bit puzzled…
Hmmn…Oh…She gave shrewd glance to Howard…
Oy…Why you lil' matchmakin' rat…
Eyeing Bernadette watching from her chair, arch grin…
You two lil' matchmakin' rats…
"My friends…Dr. Rajesh Koothrappali and Dr. Li Peng have asked me to announce their engagement…" Howard smiled…
Raj, nervously brittle smile…Stepping forward…Leonard patting him briefly…
Lilly, quick beam…Stepping to meet Raj…Taking his trembling hand without skipping a beat…With quick, wry smile…
"Thanks, kiddo…" she breathed…He nodding hastily…Smiling as broadly as he could for the suddenly jerked up cameras as the stunned audience eyed the couple now center stage by the podium…
"My friends…" Howard smiled at them… "My best buddy and my old pal…" grin… "I'm so happy for you both…And proud that Lilly Peng Koothrappali…"
"Oh, Lord…" Penny grinned to Amy… "God, I never thought I'd ever hear of another Mrs. Koothrappali …"
"I imagine Dr. and Mrs. Koothrappali in India don't either…" Amy noted… "Which may be a point in Lilly's favor…"
"…Will be joining us on the ISS as a dual Indian-Chinese citizen…Representing two great Asian powers…"
"Am I wrong or is Minister Fang getting a little green around the gills…?" Leonard whispered to Sheldon…
"This is where you kiss me, Rajy…" Lilly hissed… "Say Howie did get all the documentation from your guys, right?...License, that stuff?..."
He eyed her…
"I'm a practical gal who wants to see her thirtieth birthday…And it's a good plan…" she noted in hasty whisper as she kissed him to applause…Somewhat stilted in Minister Fang's case…A bit slow, then hearty from Lilly's family…Howard beaming…
Bernadette, sly smile to Mrs. Wolowitz…Returned…
Well played, daughter-in-law…Well played…
"So I'm getting Amy instead of Jo, eh?..." Lilly whispered to Howard as the three waved to the excited crowd…
"Until you're settled and get a divorce…" he noted, beaming to the crowd…Lilly, arm round a nervous Raj… "Though, honestly…You could do worse…"
"I know…And he looked good on 'People''s cover…" she hissed back…Leaning head on a startled Raj's shoulder…
"Raj?...We discussed this…" Howard urged…Nodding at him…Lilly pulling his arm round her waist…
Raj providing nervous pat…Nervous smile and wave…
"A little more enthusiasm beloved fiancee…We're not outta this yet, you know…" Lilly whispered…
"He's just worried what his parents will say…" Howard eyed him…
"Hey, I'm a very nice Catholic-Jewish girl…" mock frown…Then tensening… "This may not do it, Howie…" she breathed…Still smiling at the crowd…Hugging Raj…
"Hang on…Excuse me?...If I may?..." Howard waved hands for silence…
"If my fellow ordained ministers would care to come and join us?...With President Siebert's permission, Raj and Lilly have asked that the ceremony take place here, now…"
Stunned look from the crowd…Followed by eager buzz…Several Chinese agents scurrying to the now visibly scowling Minister Fang…President Siebert coming over to the three, a rather pleased beam…
"He went along?..." Lilly whispered…
"I sold it to him as fantastic PR for CalTech…" Howard noted… "Professor Peng-Koothrappali of Astrophysics…"
"You two…" Siebert, eagerly…Lilly bestowing warm smile…Nudging Raj…As did Howard…Raj offering nervous quick smile…
"Nothing like keeping it in the astronomy and astrophysics departments…Boss…" Lilly smiled…
Vice President Zhang now coming over as Leonard, Sheldon, and Bernadette…And Penny and Amy from the crowd…Howard waving for the agents blocking them to let them on stage…All came to the podium…
"Nice one, kiddo…" Zhang eyed Howard…Then Lilly…Finally Raj…
"A great day for Chinese-Indian relations, Mr. Vice-President…" Howard smiled…Lilly smiling though a bit cautiously… "Naturally Dr. Peng-Koothrappali will stay here for her mission training to be with her new husband…"
"Indeed…" Zhang eyed him, shrewd grin… "Well…Frankly I wasn't crazy about you winding up with Fang again, sweetheart…" he eyed Lilly… "My granddaughters look up to you and they'd be pissed at me to hear you ever came to some grief…All right, then…We do well enough by things…So win some, lose some…" he shrugged… "But no dramatic speeches on human rights, dear, eh?...We're cutting you a rather big break, you know…"
"She'll be good, sir…" Howard nodded… "After all, she's got a honeymoon to plan…"
Fang moving in, blocked briefly by Sheldon and Leonard in turn… "Sir?..."
"Done deal, Minister…Lets put on a happy face and cash in the chips we got…" Zhang smiled at him… "Why don't you give the bride away, if you don't mind sweetheart?..."
Lilly staring…Fang, blinking, then fuming a bit…
"And try to smile, Fang, we want to cultivate a friendlier image in the world…" Zhang turning to meet the approaching US President…
"Howie…" Lilly eyed him…As the respective "ordained ministers" formed a circle…Vice President Zhang and the US President smilingly standing by…
"You…" she sighed…"Ok…I'll give it my best and try to make him happy if I can…For your sake…" she kissed him lightly, as Raj found himself receiving a hearty Presidential and Vice Presidential handshake… Followed by a less than warm or hearty Ministerial handshake…
"After all, if you vouch for him, he's gotta be the next best choice, right?..." grin…
"He's the best choice…Bar none…Plus…He can keep you in the proper style…"
"So he told me at the mambo session, when loaded…Loaded in the delightful sense as well, eh?...That's my Howie, lookin' out for me…"
"Ah, he told you…" shrewd look… "See, he's crazy about you…He was warned he could lose his Maserati if he blabbed about the family fortune to another girl…"
Smile…
"Try…He's the best…And he needs you…"
"I like him and I said I would…" sigh… "I will…"
Howard nodded… "Though, as for his parents…You're on your own there, Pengy…"
"Great…Always lookin' out for me, Wolowitz…" she mock-frowned…
"Hey!..." Bernadette, Penny… "Lets get this show on the road…" Bernadette groused… "Ma needs to get to the ladies room and some air conditioning…" Whisper… "As for the Koothrappalis, focus on Mom, put on her TV with you, and you'll be fine…Dad'll fall in line, if not all over you…"
"Right, thanks…Rajesh?!...Stop glad-handling and get over here!..." Lilly called, in perfect imitation of Mrs. Wolowitz…Arch grin to Howard…
Mrs. Wolowitz shaking head…
Lucky at that Howard didn't hook up with her…Girl sounds like a balabusta…
Raj nervously scurrying to her…Eyeing Howard…
Thought I was doing my heroic bit here, mate…
And here I am, in the twenty-first century, agreeing to an arranged marriage…Sigh…
"Thanks…" she hissed to him, smile… "You won't regret it…Sweetheart…" hug…
On the other hand, my parents are probably happier than 99% of the couples I've seen here…He reflected… And God bless America, the land of the quickie divorce…
Though…After all…Laurie and Amy did just fine in "Little Women"…
"Amy…Don't cry…" Penny patted her…
"I can't help it…" Amy noted…Doing a bit of a jig… "I'm bridesmaid and minister in my second wedding party in two months…!"
"Doesn't this mean we'll have to do something heroic for our respective mates…?" Sheldon noted to Leonard as they waited to begin…
"Oh, probably…" Leonard, nodding…Slight sigh…