Chapter Twenty-Eight
The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop. Katie was sure Penny was lying, or playing some sort of sick joke.
"Y-you're not serious," she tittered. "I can't, I mean-"
"When was the last time you had your period?" Penny asked, getting straight to business.
Katie took a deep breath. "Um," she said. "I….I don't think I had mine this month, but to be honest I didn't think much of it."
"You and Sheldon have been sleeping together an awful lot," Penny commented, then licked her lips. "Be right back."
Once Penny had exited the room, Katie leaned against the bathroom sink. Her legs were too weak to steady her, so she sank to the floor and covered her face with her shaking hands.
'Pregnant. I can't be pregnant. I mean, we were so careful'...
'What if I'm a bad mother? How do I tell Sheldon?'
Her mind was swarming with unwanted thoughts.
Penny came back, holding a white stick. "Do you have to pee?"
"I guess," Katie mumbled. Penny explained how to use the pregnancy strip, and Katie proceeded with the explanation.
Penny read the results. "Positive," she affirmed. "Well, you're definitely pregnant."
Katie choked back a gasp and covered her mouth. "Ugh," she muttered. "My stomach hurts so bad."
Penny nodded. "That's normal." Katie started to cry quietly, and Penny pulled her into a hug. "Aww sweetie, it'll be okay. We'll take you to get you checked out."
"H-how am I gonna tell Sheldon?" Katie sniffled, wiping her face with the back of her hand.
"We'll tell him as soon as you're ready," Penny said softly. "You don't even have to tell Leonard if you don't want. But I know Bernadette can help us."
Katie nodded. "I would like to tell Leonard," she whispered. Her throat hurt too much to speak any louder.
Penny sat down next to Katie and put her arm around Katie. "You know," she said, a slight smile crossing her face, "it's gonna be weird having a mini-Sheldon around."
Katie giggled despite her tears. "Or a mini me."
"Wouldn't it be weird if your kid turned out to be a clueless jock?" Penny said, and they both laughed halfheartedly.
Katie soon fell asleep, and Penny hoped she wouldn't wake up throughout the night….or, should she say, morning, Penny invited Bernadette over. The blonde arrived stat, and the three girls had breakfast.
Penny handed Bernadette some wine. "Thank you." She smiled at Penny, then sipped it.
Penny looked at Katie and mouthed, "Do you want to tell her?"
Katie nodded, her eyes downcast.
Poor thing, Penny thought. She's terrified. She'd thrown up again as soon as she woke up- morning sickness, of course. Pancakes had been the only thing Katie had managed to get to stay down so far.
"Okay, so don't scream or anything," Penny said, taking a deep breath, "but we have news."
"News?" Bernadette looked up from her wine glass, fluffing her hair.
"Big news," Katie confirmed.
"So don't scream, but…" Penny looked at Katie, and she nodded. "Katie's pregnant."
Bernadette gasped, staring at the pair in disbelief. "Who's the father?" she whispered.
"Sheldon," Katie murmured.
Bernadette squealed and clapped, acting like a schoolgirl. "Oh my gosh! Honey, I am so happy for you. Have you told Sheldon yet?"
"N-no," Katie managed. "I don't know how to….," she admitted, avoiding Bernadette's gaze.
"Don't worry sweetie, we'll help you," Bernadette assured her.
"Do you want to talk to Leonard?" Penny asked. "I can wake him."
"No, you don't have to- Penny, he's injured!"
But it was too late. Penny had already dragged Leonard into the living room.
"Ouch!" Leonard yelped. "Careful…,"
"Sorry, sweetie." Penny smiled at Leonard and helped him sit down.
"Ugh," Leonard muttered. "Dizzy."
"Let me get you some meds." Penny headed over to the medicine cabinet.
Leonard smiled grimly, looking over at Katie.
Katie gripped her stomach, feeling the weight of nausea overcome her once more.
"Is everything okay?" Leonard asked, noticing the stricken look on Katie's face.
"Leonard….I-I um I'm pregnant," she blurted out.
Leonard froze, looking at her in shock. "Oh my god," he said softly. "I mean, that's great. Have you told Sheldon?"
Katie shook her head wordlessly.
Leonard sat down next to her and put his hands on her shoulders. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," she murmured. "I'm just shocked, that's all. I mean, it's not like I don't want to have a baby someday. I just don't know about now. What if I turn out to be a bad mother?" A single tear slid down her cheek, but this time she didn't wipe it away.
"Hey, you'll be a great mother," Leonard said. "We'll have a mini Sheldon that you have to take care of."
She genuinely laughed for the first time since yesterday.
"I guess you're right," she said. "It's just the jitters, I suppose…"
"We're gonna go get her checked out this week," Penny told Leonard.
He nodded. "Well, Sheldon's gonna be shocked when you tell him. Why didn't you tell him first?"
"I don't know," Katie mumbled.
"She's probably stressed out," Bernadette said. "Poor thing." She brushed Katie's hair out of her face like a mother would a child.
"Thanks." Katie sniffed.
Leonard pulled her into a hug. "Hey, it'll be okay. We'll get through this together. And when the baby comes, Sheldon and I will help you take care of it."
"You know, somehow," Bernadette said, pouring herself another cup of wine, "I can't picture Sheldon as a father."
"Me neither," Katie admitted. "That's why I'm so nervous."
"Sweetie, you'll make a wonderful mother," Penny said.
"Yeah." Katie sighed. "Now how will we tell Sheldon?"
"He'll freak….," Leonard mumbled.
Katie was scared. Scared out of her wits. But somehow, she knew Sheldon wouldn't fail her.
