28
In apartment 4A it was a typical morning which proceeded as though events of the past few weeks had never happened. Sheldon did everything according to his well-established schedule. So did Leonard. They just did them in complete silence. However, when they exited the apartment Leonard made a beeline for Penny's door and began knocking.
"Penny isn't home, Leonard."
"Of course she is. It isn't 11 o'clock yet. She's just asleep. And besides, she isn't talking to you. I heard her last night."
"I don't need to speak with Penny to know she has an appointment this morning and has more than likely already departed so that she may arrive on time."
"What appointment?"
"I believe she may be meeting with her agent to discuss additional prospective auditions."
Luckily Leonard didn't see Sheldon's almost imperceptible twitch.
"I'll speak to her later, then. What makes you think I'll give you a ride to work after all of the crap that's happened."
"We are going to the same place, Leonard. And I assumed you'd wish to take the opportunity to gloat."
"Well, yes, yes I would."
Despite Leonard's desire to gloat the ride to CalTech was mostly silent. Leonard offered to play one of Sheldon's car games but Sheldon wasn't in the mood. In a way, Leonard relished a depressed and defeated roommate.
When they arrived at work they each went their own way. After an hour Leonard received a text.
I'M SORRY I COULDN'T TALK LAST NIGHT. HAD TO FIGURE SOME THINGS OUT. – P
Leonard smiled.
IT'S OK. I UNDERSTAND. – L
U DO DON'T U? - P
IF U NEED SOMEONE 2 TALK 2… - L
There was no response. Leonard was about to text Penny again, when…
NOT SURE TALKING IS THE ANSWER - P
Leonard thought "I wonder what she means by that." Leonard went back to work. A short time later.
I'M ON MY WAY OVER – P
Leonard didn't know what to do. He didn't know why Penny was coming over. Was it to apologize? Was it to explain? Was it to get back together? Was it to say goodbye because she was leaving forever? Leonard had no idea how to get ready or what to get ready for.
R U IN UR LAB? – P
YES – L
REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME I VISITED UR LAB? – P
Leonard didn't think he'd ever forget what happened the last time Penny visited him in his lab. He couldn't wipe the smile off of his face the whole day she'd made him so happy.
HOW COULD I FORGET? – L
I REMEMBER 2 - P
WHAT R U SAYING – L
B READY 4 ME. I'M IN THE PARKING LOT - P
"Oh. My. God." thought Leonard. "She wants me. Penny wants me back. Now. Right now. And she'll be here any minute."
So Leonard hurried to get ready for his epic reconciliation with the love of his life.
I'M ALMOST THERE. – P
Knock. Knock.
"Leonard are you ready for me?"
"I'm ready. Come on in."
The door to Leonard's lab opened. Leonard stood in the middle of his lab stark naked. And he was more than ready.
In Leonard's doorway stood…
Wyatt Queen. Wearing a big cowboy hat. And he had a rope.
"Leonard, I'm sick and tired of how you treated my daughter. It's rodeo time!"
Leonard immediately covered himself with both hands. Because of the shock of seeing Wyatt in his doorway he really only needed one. Wyatt entered the lab. Leonard backed away. As Wyatt kept approaching him, Leonard kept backing away around the perimeter of his lab until he reached the door. Then he ran for it.
On his way out the door Leonard was too scared to notice Penny with her cell phone as he ran past, Wyatt close behind. Penny followed. Every time Leonard passed a door he tried to open it. "Didn't anyone else come to work today? Why are all the offices locked?" Howard and Raj had arrived early and been quite busy. They'd organized an impromptu birthday party in the cafeteria and all of their colleagues were there.
Leonard kept running. He'd look back and Wyatt Queen was always there. Walking quickly. With determination and purpose. And a rope. He kept remembering what Penny had told him Junior Rodeo involved. He shuddered to think what regular rodeo might portend. And he ran.
Past engineering. Past astrophysics. Past the freshman physics class who all turned to watch. What Leonard didn't see was someone around virtually every corner with a cell phone recording the chase.
Leonard ran up hallways. Leonard ran down hallways. Oddly they were all deserted. He didn't see another person the entire time except for Wyatt Queen behind him. With a rope. He kept running.
Finally, Leonard burst into the cafeteria and ran right into "President Siebert!"
Almost as one, every person in the cafeteria took out their cell phone and began to record. Wyatt Queen never entered the cafeteria. Nora met him at the entrance and led him out of the building.
"Dr. Hofstadter. Taking casual Friday a bit far, aren't we?"
"Um. Um. Um."
"Dr. Hofstadter, please return to your lab and get dressed. And then report to my office. I believe we need to have a discussion about the proper comportment of a member of the CalTech faculty. Now exactly whose birthday is it that Dr. Hofstadter was so eager to celebrate?"
Alex Jensen stepped forward. "Um, mine sir." The funny thing was, it was actually her birthday. Just an amazing coincidence, everyone thought. And then they remembered that Sheldon would absolutely have known that.
As Leonard tried to leave the crowded cafeteria Sheldon whispered something to him. Leonard speeded up and ran.
"Sheldon, what did you say to him?" Penny asked.
"I informed Leonard that Wyatt would be sleeping on our couch this weekend and that I hoped he didn't mind the violation of our Roommate Agreement regarding advance notice."
Next: More.
I'm sorry that the last three chapters have been kind of short. It just seems that this part of the story works better delivered that way. Anyway, we're closing in on the end.
