A/N Really nothing big going on. I managed to get two chapters finished this past week, I was looking to get another two done this week, but next week is going to be rather hectic for me. My wife and I both have medical procedures we're having done, so there may not be a lot of writing time. No worries, she will have to spend the night in the hospital, but nothing majorly invasive for either of us. Mine is an ultrasound to check the carotid arteries for blockage. Just an annual check, because I'm old (isn't that right bamadude?), I turn 66 today.

Chapter 79 3060

Thursday 11 June, 9:00 AM

Leonard had the full team in the lab, they were all discussing how the tests had gone the day before. As he question each of the sub-teams, it appeared that from each of their vantage points, the tests had gone well. They all felt the machine was ready to run the test to get 18 entangled photons. Leonard ask a few more questions, got the answers he needed, and then congratulated everyone on getting everything done early the day before. He then told everyone to be back at 1 PM, to run the actual test.

Leonard went to his office and started looking over the notes he had for his meeting with Eric the next morning. He was hoping to get some preliminary data from this afternoon's test, so he could present them to Eric. It didn't take long to finish looking over the notes, as he had them basically memorized. But, he had nothing to do for another three hours, so he picked up his phone and dialed Penny's number.

Thursday 11 June, 12:30 PM

Penny was returning to the loveseat recliner. She had made a salad, with chicken for lunch, and had just put the bowl in the dishwasher. Sitting down, she pulled the handle and the chair reclined. She found the remote, turned on the TV, and started looking for episode six, in season one, of Sex in the City. She had been undecided about watching this show, or Friends on Netflix. She finally decided to start with Sex in the City, before binging Friends.

Even with her favorite show on, sitting in this chair was getting old, very quickly. But, she wasn't really upset, because sitting was much preferable to trying to walk, waddling was more like it. She was happy that she was on the low side for weight gain. I can't imagine being over the average weight and trying to walk carrying another ten to fifteen pounds. The show had started, so she leaned back in the chair, took a sip of her water, and started watching.

But, she was thinking about Leonard. He was supposed to pick up the contract today and Penny was hoping he would get off early to do it. She really wanted him to get home early so they could look it over, before calling to set up the time for signing it on Friday. But, she knew he was running a test today, so he would probably be late. Mostly, she thought, she wanted him home, because sitting in the chair was driving her crazy. Well, maybe not, my mother never had me tested, she thought, breaking into a laugh.

Thursday 11 June, 3:30 PM

Leonard had the team shut down the machine. They had done four runs, for twenty minutes each time. Each run was designed to get a multiple number of events and planning on getting 18 entangled photons in each event. According to Tom, the live count was getting quite a few more than 20 entangled photons per event during each run. The live count was there only to give a rough estimate of the number of entanglements. They would get the preliminary number tomorrow, and do the longer review of the data, to get to the needed five sigma result, for verification.

Tom promised him the data by ten AM tomorrow morning. Leonard said he would be on his way to see Dr. Gablehauser by then, so send the results as a text message and he could read it there. By then Leonard saw the ops team doing the work to cover the machine and he called for them to stop. He told them they would be replacing quite a few modules, starting tomorrow, so don't worry about covering it now. Take the rest of the day off, and they would get started on it tomorrow. He told Keith he would be leaving and then left for his office. Once there, he shut off his computer, put it in his bag, and then left work.

He was on his way to Nannies Now, to pick up the contract to make Louise their nanny. He had to get there, pick it up, then get it home so he and Penny could look over and review the contract before they called to set up a time. Louise had let them know she had her copy and she was planning on coming over tomorrow, to sign the actual contract, along with Leonard and Penny. Nannies Now would send a representative of the company with the official contracts and also be the notary for their signatures.

Friday 12 June, 10:10 PM

Leonard was waiting in Eric's antechamber, checking his phone. He was waiting for Tom to send the preliminary data from their entanglement run the day before. While he had other things to talk to Eric about, he wanted to be able to present some good news. Eric's secretary told Leonard he could go in, and as he rose, he felt his phone buzz and saw there were several text messages from Tom. He entered the office and Eric pointed to a chair. Leonard had barely looked up and continued looking at his phone while he walked to the chair and sat down.

Eric watched him for over a minute before he cleared his throat and said, "Am I interrupting something?"

Leonard read for a few more seconds before saying, "Sorry, sir, it's the preliminary data from the run yesterday."

"Well, how did it go?" asked Eric.

"We were trying to get 18, we got between 24 and 25 per event," said Leonard.

"That's good, right?"

"Yes, sir, it's very good," said Leonard. "but, we need to do the full analysis. We're still not fully sure why we're getting more. We think there is some sort of resonance with the different material we're now using for the beam splitter. We wrote up an article for the preprint server, and I'm now working on updating that paper for Physical Review. The data from the run yesterday should help us nail down the reason for the increase."

"So, your experiments are coming along nicely?" said Eric.

"I suppose," said Leonard. "Keith has worked really hard to get the machine in top-notch shape and Tom is right there with the analysis, after every run. It's more about them than it is me."

"I know you guide those two," said Eric. "And they are aware, because you communicate so well with them, what exactly needs to be done. Now, you need to quit being so damn unassuming. You're the team leader and you are the one that came up with the idea of using the different material for the beamsplitter. As for the rest, you are doing exactly what you are supposed to be doing, leading. And you're doing it by telling them clearly what needs to be done, and when, leaving the how and by who to them. You provide the vision, you provide the ideas, you provide the direction, but you don't micro-manage them. It's what a good leader does, Leonard. You doing a damn fine job as the leader of the group. You've given credit to your team, but you need to stop putting yourself down and take some of the credit for yourself."

"What do you mean?"

"Look at that last comment you made," said Eric. "It's more about them than it is me."

"Well, it is," said Leonard.

"You already gave them their credit," said Eric. "you didn't need to include that last sentence. All that did was make it sound as if you didn't do anything. I'm not telling you to go out and brag about everything you do, just don't be negative about yourself or your contributions, and don't put yourself down, okay?"

"I don't know," said Leonard. "I originally made this appointment to talk to you about the summer term, but those two took care of it already, so I didn't have to. See, they don't need me."

Eric sighed, "Leonard, they do need you. Look, Keith is a top-notch experimentalist, Tom is a top-notch theoretician. But, they can't, as of yet, see the forest for the trees. They are stuck in their own specialty. Whereas you, you are looking at both sides, as a team lead should. You are also looking to see where they mesh and where they don't, and where they don't, tell them about it, and let them work it out. Now, because of that, I've seen some growth in both of them. You're getting them to think about the other side a bit more. How their own specialties can help the other. Where their work can help the other. Do you think they will make good team leads?"

Leonard hesitated. He was in agreement with Eric about Keith and Tom. They had been more involved with their own specialty and he had tried to get them to see the other side. I didn't know it was something I should be doing. And, while he thought they would be good team leads, it would be a few more years before Leonard thought they would be ready. He finally said, "Eric, yes, I think they will make good leads. But, it won't be for a few more years. That's just my opinion because they still don't fully see the other side."

"Actually, your assessment matches mine," said Eric. "Keep them on your radar, so when the time comes, you can give them their own teams."

"Wait, what?" said Leonard.

"Oh, come on Leonard," said Eric. "I told you I was considering you for my replacement. I told you to start thinking about things like this and you really need to start doing that. I don't expect you to keep track of the entire department, but you definitely need to keep track of those that work for you. That way, if you do end up taking over for me, you'll be ready."

Leonard just nodded. "How about, for over the summer, we tell them we'll treat them as you treated Mike and me when we were co-leads. You can ask them for updates, and alternate on who gives you the update. That way, they'll have to look at the other side."

"Actually, that's a good idea," said Eric, smiling. "Go ahead and tell them that. Do you have anything else?"

"No, nothing more from me," said Leonard.

"How's the pregnancy coming along," asked Eric.

"My wife's been put on modified bed rest," said Leonard. "So I may have to run home from time to time until the babies come."

"You do what you have to do," said Eric. "Just let Keith or Tom know, so they can take over and they'll be able to let me know where you are, if I ask."

"As a matter of fact, I will be gone this afternoon," said Leonard. "We will be signing our contract, with our nanny."

"Okay, I don't have anything else," said Eric. "So go get what you need to get done, and I'll talk to you next week."

Leonard rose and said, "I'll call you when we get more information on the run, around the middle of next week, bye Eric."

Leonard turned and left the office, heading for his own office.

Friday 12 June, 4:40 PM

Penny was sitting at the island, sorting the paperwork they had signed a half-hour ago. The representative had arrived at 3:30, with Louise arriving a few minutes later. The representative introduced himself as Curtis Miller and then they all sat at the island. Curtis went over the contract, explaining each section, with the other three looking at their own copy. After each page was explained, he had Louise sign it, then Leonard and Penny. He explained that each of them would receive a copy with the signatures, in the mail.

After everything was signed, he left, while Louise stayed and talked with Leonard and Penny. They discussed exactly when Louise would start and how they would contact her. Leonard suggested she start a day or two after they brought the twins home and that he would call Louise when it was determined when that would be. Louise agreed and after some more small talk, Louise explained she would have to leave.

Leonard walked her to the door, while Penny put their paperwork in order. When she was done, she looked up and saw Leonard and Louise nodding, saw her say something, and then they both started laughing. The feelings of jealousy and inadequacy flared up, but Penny pushed them down, it's silly to worry about that. She saw Louise give Leonard something, then she left and Leonard closed the door.

As he got back to the island, Penny asked, "What was so funny?"

Leonard smiled, "She mentioned that when she comes over that first day, do we want to take a nap, or will we already be asleep and not answer the door?"

"What's so funny about that?" asked Penny.

"She thinks it would be better if she comes over the first day. She was joking about us already being exhausted if she waited a day or two," said Leonard.

"What did she give you?" asked Penny.

"Her card, so we can call her," said Leonard, extending his hand out, with the card in it. "What's with the third degree? Jealousy coming out?"

"No, it's not," snapped Penny.

"Really?" said Leonard, smiling. "Come on Penny, I think it is and I think you know it is."

"Yeah, okay, it is," said Penny, feeling embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I just don't feel attractive right now."

"I think you're beautiful," said Leonard. "You have Annika and Jesika in that lovely belly. There's nothing she can do that could match that."

Penny smiled weakly, "I know that's not true, but thank you. I know it's silly, but I couldn't help it. I just feel so unattractive. Let's forget about it."

"Come here," said Leonard reaching out his hand.

"Where are we going?" said Penny taking his hand and getting up from the stool.

"I'm taking you over to your recliner," said Leonard. "Where I'm going to rub your feet, put some lotion on your belly, and tell you how much I love you."

"You don't have to do that," said Penny.

"Shhhhhhh," said Leonard. "I know I don't have to, I want to."

Penny sat down and for the next 20 minutes, he rubbed her feet. Then he put lotion on her belly, telling her how much he loved her and how beautiful she was. When he finished, Leonard leaned over and kissed Penny, "Now, I'm going to straighten up the kitchen, order some pizza and then go pick it up. How's that?"

Penny smiled, "That sounds good. I love you." She leaned back in her chair and turned the TV on, while Leonard started clearing the dishes from the island.

Saturday 13 June, 5:30 PM

Penny had finished getting ready long before Leonard did, something she was not going to let him forget. Leonard, for some reason, was taking a long time to get ready and he had to help her down the stairs in his underwear, before going back up to finish dressing. Although Dr. Samuels had said one time down and one time up, Leonard had insisted that getting ready to go out for dinner didn't count as an up and down on the stairs.

They had gotten ready early and Leonard said they didn't have to leave for a half-hour, so he suggested she sit down, and he would rub her feet again. Penny readily agreed and while he did that, Penny was thinking, happily, about going out for dinner. She had been in the house since Tuesday evening, and she was ready to get out and go somewhere.

The doorbell rang and Leonard got up and answered the door. Penny heard him say, "Right on time, come on in." When she looked, she saw Bernadette, Amy, and Denise carrying some boxes.

"What's going on?" Penny asked.

"Well, the guys and I are having Thai food tonight," said Leonard. "And, afterward we'll be playing Halo." Leonard smiled and continued, "Meanwhile, these three ladies are throwing you a surprise baby shower." He looked over at her and his smile got bigger, "You were an actress, so try to act surprised. I'm going to leave, to go pick up the Thai food, and let them start decorating."

Leonard walked over and kissed Penny, but before he could leave, Bernadette said, "Tell Howard that if he touches the food in the kitchen, I will make him look back fondly on his vasectomy." She paused for a few seconds then said, "That goes for you too."

Leonard smirked at her, but walked over to Bernadette, whispered something to her, and left.

"What's all this?" asked Penny.

"These are decorations," said Amy. "We are going to put these up first."

"Besides the food, there are drinks and presents over at Bernadette's also," said Denise. "We'll go back and get them once we have the decorations done."

"Around 6 PM, there will be a group of people coming over," said Bernadette. "Some of them will be from Zangen. A few will be from The Cheesecake Factory, some still working there. Some used to work there, but don't any longer, so I had to chase them down. But, all of them were your friends at one time or another. And, I was just told there will be a surprise guest."

Penny looked at the three women with tears in her eyes, "Thank you," she said.