Chapter 60
"What are we gonna do now?" Amy asked as she took a sip of her coffee while the others sat silently around the table in the diner where they met for lunch to talk about Leonard's situation.
"I don't know." said Bernadette. "God I can't believe that this is happening. I'm so lost."
"We all are." said Howard. "But she has the right to know. Both of them deserve that."
"But dude, do you think that's a good idea?" said Raj as he drank his beer.
"What do you mean?" asked Howard.
"Well, I think it would be better to tell Penny first instead of telling them at the same time." said Raj. "You know, ease it in so to speak?"
"What I'm worried is how this would affect Penny's pregnancy?" said Howard as they stayed quiet, not knowing what to say.
Sheldon sat up straight and faced them. "We should tell both of them. It's the least we could do." he said. "I know Leonard would have wanted that."
"I can't believe this. I don't think I can join you guys." said Raj's girlfriend Lucy.
"Lucy we have to be there, at least for Sarah." said Amy.
"Okay so we all agree, we'll go there tonight and tell them." said Howard as the gang nodded in agreement. "Good, now if you'll excuse me, I'll just go to the bathroom and throw up." he said before standing up and going to the bathroom.
"I feel strange about this." said Sheldon.
"Are you getting sick too?" asked Amy.
"No, it's just, it doesn't feel right. It's like Leonard's not really gone, like I can still feel his presence or something." Sheldon said.
"I know what you mean Sheldon. I kinda feel the same way too." said Raj.
"I don't think I have the courage to face Sarah after we tell her that her daddy's gone." said Lucy. "That girl already lost her mother, but does she also have to lose her father too?" she said.
Amy put her hand on Lucy's shoulder. "Lucy, nobody wanted this to happen. But now it's up to us to be there for them." said Amy.
Bernadette nodded. "She's right, it's the least we can do. I mean, if it weren't for Leonard and Penny, none of us would be here right now." she said before continuing. "I wouldn't have met Howie, Amy would have left Sheldon long ago if those two didn't give Sheldon some advice about dating. And Lucy wouldn't be Raj's girlfriend if you didn't meet with Leonard and Sarah, right?"
"You're right Bernie, we owe that family a lot." said Amy.
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Later that night in apartment 4A...
"Hey no cheating!" Penny said as she struggled to keep up with her stepdaughter playing Mario Kart on their Wii console.
"I'm not cheating mom!" said Sarah as she pushed some buttons on her controller.
"I thought we agreed not to use any power-ups!?" Penny said, trying to keep focused on the game.
"Well now we're allowed to use them!" Sarah said, laughing as she tried to outrun her mom's character on the game.
"It's like that huh!? Oh it is on young lady!" Penny said, lightly nudging Sarah to distract her from the game.
"You can't catch me mom!" Sarah said, laughing and giggling. "Take that!" she added while pushing some buttons to knock Penny's character off the race.
"Oh no you don't!" Penny said, laughing while dodging Sarah's power-ups.
Penny paused the game when they heard a knock on the door.
"I'm gonna go find out who it is." Penny said.
"Okay. I'm gonna use the bathroom mom. Don't push any buttons alright!" said Sarah while running to the bathroom.
Penny laughed, amused at how confident Sarah has become ever since she met them almost two years ago. She stood up and opened the door, surprised to see the gang standing on the hall.
"Hey guys!? What's up?" Penny said. "Come in! Sarah and I are just playing some Mario Kart."
Bernadette hesitated and looked at Amy, conflicted in being the bearer of bad news right when the two are having a good time playing a video game.
"Bernie, what's wrong?" Penny asked.
Bernadette took a deep breath and looked Penny in the eye. "Penny, we have something to tell you."
"Guys, what is this all about?" Penny asked, not liking the look they are giving her.
"It's about Leonard." Howard chimed in.
"What about him?" Penny asked, sensing the seriousness in Howard's voice. "Tell me!"
Bernadette suddenly cried, pushing her face on Howard's shoulder as Amy tried to console her.
"Penny, something happened to the boat that Leonard's in..." said Howard as Penny began to cry.
"No!" Penny said as she started crying. "No! Don't say it! I don't want to hear it!" she yelled while crying uncontrollably.
"Penny, I'm sorry..." said Howard while giving her a piece of paper.
Penny took it and began reading. "What's the meaning of this!? No! No! No! I don't believe you!" she said as she slumped on the floor crying while Amy and Lucy tried to console her. "My husband can't be gone!" she exclaimed while crying her eyes out on Amy's shoulder.
"We didn't want to believe it too but we talked to some of the guys in Leonard's team and they can't figure out what happened to him too." said Howard.
"No!" Penny said while bawling her eyes out. "My Leonard can't be dead. He can't be!" she said as Sarah returned to the living room, seeing her stepmother crying on the floor being comforted by Amy and Lucy.
"Mom, why are you crying?" Sarah said as the whole gang looked at the little girl.
"Oh my god sweetheart!" Penny said as she ran to hug her stepdaughter while the gang looked on, not knowing what to say or do.
"Mommy what is happening?" asked Sarah. "Why are you crying?"
"Sweetheart!" Penny said while hugging the young girl, trying hard to stop her tears.
"Is this about my daddy?" Sarah said while looking up to Bernadette and Amy. "What happened to my dad!?" she said as she began to cry.
Penny tried to straighten herself as she looked at her stepdaughter. "Sweetheart...I don't know how to say this but...something happened..."
"What happened to daddy!?" Sarah asked as she wouldn't stop crying.
Bernadette then stepped forward and knelt in front of Sarah, showing her the piece of paper. "Sarah, I'm sorry but your daddy's boat had an accident and this is the list of the people that were rescued." said Bernadette.
"Why isn't my dad on this list?" Sarah asked as Penny and the gang scrambled to give her an answer. "Are you saying that my daddy died at sea?" she asked as the gang held their breath, unable to give her a straight answer.
Without warning, Sarah fainted and collapsed in Penny's arms, unable to take the news that her father might be gone.
"Oh my god sweetheart!" Penny exclaimed as they try to wake up the child. "On no! On no! On no!"
"What happened?" Howard asked.
"I don't know, she just collapsed." said Bernadette.
"Let's take her to the hospital!" Sheldon said.
"You're right Sheldon, why don't you carry her downstairs." said Bernadette.
"Why me?" Sheldon asked.
"Because Penny is pregnant you idiot!" yelled Bernadette at Sheldon
"Alright! no need to be mean." said Sheldon as he hurriedly took the young girl in his arms, carrying her out of the apartment as the gang followed close.
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They arrived at the hospital shortly as Sheldon carried Sarah into the emergency room, telling the nurses what happened as Penny and the gang followed close. Penny was still hysterical, unable to accept that she may never see Leonard again. The nurses started to attend to the child, checking her vital signs while the doctor ordered a few tests to be done on her.
"Doctor please do everything you can." said Penny.
"What happened to her anyway?" asked the doctor.
Penny kept quiet as she held her stepdaughter's hands, hoping for her to wake up.
Bernadette leaned over and whispered to the doctor's ear, telling him what caused for the girl to faint.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry." the doctor said as a nurse handed him a clipboard. "Well, her vital signs seem to be okay. I think it was the news that shocked her into fainting. We'll just wait for her to wake up I guess."
Penny nodded. "Thank you doctor."
"Don't worry, I'll have one of the nurses keep an eye on her." the doctor said before walking away.
Penny looked at her stepdaughter and can't help but feel lost, afraid that the young lady is gonna be hysterical once she wakes up, knowing that her father is gone. Penny stood up and took out her phone.
"Who are you calling?" asked Amy.
"I'm calling Beverly. Can you watch out for her for five minutes?" said Penny as she walked away.
"No problem Penny." said Amy.
"I'll join you." said Bernadette as she joined Penny in calling Beverly.
After a few minutes, Penny came back to Sarah's bed.
"So?" Amy asked.
"Beverly and Cathy are on their way here now." said Penny.
"Did you tell them that you're pregnant?" asked Amy.
Penny nodded. "Yeah." she said as they sat quietly around Sarah's bed, hoping she wakes up soon.
Another fifteen minutes and Sheldon saw Sarah open her eyes.
"Sweetheart?" Penny said while holding her hand. "Are you alright?"
"Mom where's daddy?" Sarah asked softly, looking so sad and helpless.
"Oh honey, I'm sorry." Penny said while hugging the young lady.
"I want my daddy!" said Sarah while crying on Penny's shoulder. "Mommy please!"
"Oh sweetie!" said Penny as Sarah cried her heart out, filling the emergency room with her screams of anguish while the gang looked on, helpless and unable to lift the heavy burden of loss on Penny and Sarah.
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After a couple of hours, the gang was back at 4A, joining Penny and Sarah in their hour of need. Sarah kept quiet as she leaned onto her stepmother. Penny kept her arms around the young lady, reassuring her that she will never leave her side. Amy and Lucy went to the kitchen to make some tea and coffee for everyone while the guys sat around the coffee table, not knowing what to say or do.
Amy and Lucy came back to the coffee table, placing the cups of tea for everyone. Penny took one and offered it for Sarah to drink.
"Here sweetheart, drink this, it will make you feel better." said Penny.
Sarah buried herself under Penny's arm. "I don't want to mom." she said.
Penny signed. "Honey, please do this me." she said.
Sarah took the cup and blew on it before taking a small sip, putting it back on the coffee table before hugging Penny back. It didn't take long for Sarah to fall asleep as she snuggled up to Penny. She asked Sheldon to carry the little girl to the bedroom, tucking her in as Penny put the horse stuff toy in Sarah's arms.
Penny then went back to the living room. "Guys, is it okay if I lay down with Sarah? You're more than welcome to stay if you want. I just don't want her to wake up alone." said Penny.
"No problem Penny. You should take a rest too, it won't be good for the baby if you stay up all night." said Bernadette.
"Thanks guys. If any of you wants to go home it's fine too." said Penny.
"I think I'll stay." said Sheldon.
"Me too." Raj said.
"Actually, I have a meeting first thing tomorrow morning." Amy said.
"Yeah, me too." Lucy said.
Penny walked over and hugged Amy and Lucy. "It's gonna be fine guys. Thanks for being here."
"Don't mention it Penny." Amy said before turning to Lucy. "I can drop you off at your place."
"Thanks. I appreciate it." Lucy said as they leave the apartment.
"Come on Bernie, help me get some blankets for everyone. If you want you can sleep in Sarah's room." Penny said.
"Yeah I think I'll do that." said Bernadette.
After giving the guys some blankets, Penny came back to the bedroom and saw Sarah sleeping peacefully. She looked at her stepdaughter and asked herself if she can handle raising her and the baby on her own? She wanted to scream at why would this happen to her. Just when their life was getting better, fate has thrown a right hook and knocked her out to which she didn't know if she could ever get up or not.
She sat on the bed and thought for a while, drawing a blank on how to move on. She then slowly put her face on her hands and cried, feeling the tremendous amount of sadness and grief over the loss of her husband who has been nothing but a kind and loving partner to her.