A/N Thank you to SRAM and Richard76310 for their reviews. I am so grateful for your input. I am still borrowing these characters and will put them back when I am done.

*************July 13, 2015, 6:30 A.M.**********************

The next morning Leonard1 and Leonard3 both faced the same situation, one that Leonard2 did not have to face. What to do about work? Fortunately, they both were Experimental Physicists who worked at Caltech. Both discovered they had discussed their current projects with their respective Sheldons, so they had some idea of what they were working on. They both figured they could get by as long as no one demanded a status report.

Leonard1 did get a call from Penny3 and they arranged to meet at a restaurant for lunch.

Penny sat waiting for Leonard, amazed at how much she was looking forward to seeing him. She knew she had to be careful. She still marveled how close she felt to him. After all, they had only known each other a few hours. But she remembered how she had sensed something about him from that first moment she saw him. How she had felt she could trust him.

She couldn't believe what an impact he had made on her life in such a short time.

Leonard came through the door and saw her waiting. When she saw him and smiled, he smiled back. It was like when he and Penny were just friends. He knew this was a person he had only known a short time, but he felt close to her.

When she sat down, she spoke, "Hi, Leonard. Thank you for coming."

He smiled, "It was my pleasure, Penny."

After the waitress had come and taken their orders, Penny asked, "How is it going? I mean work."

"It's a little strange, but still kind of familiar. It's amazing how much the labs are alike."

Penny nodded but then couldn't wait any longer.

She looked at him, "Leonard."

"Yeah."

"I have decided to quit being a prostitute."

Leonard was surprised but thrilled, "That's great, Penny. But what about your friends?"

"They were upset at first, but then they said if that's what I wanted…" She hesitated, "They wanted to know what made me decide, but I just said I had been thinking about it for a while."

She looked at him, "I did it because of you."

Leonard was stunned, he was thrilled at her decision but a little worried about what she had said. "I am glad you are going to quit but we hardly know each other." He hesitated, "You don't think that you and I…"

Penny quickly broke in, "No, Leonard. That's not it. I know you love your Penny."

She reached out and took his hands, "It's hard to explain." She paused, "It's just knowing that there is a Penny that you love, a Penny that makes you happy, make me feel I can be that Penny for someone too. That I can find someone and by happy too."

Leonard squeezed her hands, "I have no doubt, Penny that you will." He smiled, "Someone is going to be a very lucky man…"

They would have been surprised that the same thought hit them. If Leonard did transfer again, and the Leonard of this universe returned, could maybe he and Penny…

After the meal arrived and they were eating, Leonard asked, "So, what happens next, do you have a place to go?"

"Although Brenda and Darleen were a little upset at first, they both told me they understood my decision, knowing I have always been uncomfortable about it. They told me I could stay there until I find a place of my own." She hesitated, "I am thinking about going home. I haven't seen my folks for a long time. Even though they don't know about what I am doing, I was too ashamed to face them."

Leonard was a little upset at himself as he realized he didn't want her to go. He knew he would miss her. Shrugging that off, he said, "Are you going to tell them?"

"No. It would just hurt them."

After they finished eating, Leonard said he had to go back to work but asked her to come over to the apartment that night and spend some time with him.

She asked if that would be okay with Sheldon and he told her not to worry about that.

When Penny arrived at the apartment, she was surprised and happy that apparently Sheldon had decided she was going to be a part of his life. She was also gratified to see Amy was there.

While they were eating, Penny was stunned and more that a little bemused at the variety of topics Sheldon would discuss, most of them foreign to her.

When she finally asked him how he could remember so much stuff, he proudly told her about his Eidetic memory, which did impress her.

After they finished eating, Sheldon turned to Leonard, "Do you mind if I ask you some more questions? It might help me better understand."

Leonard smiled, "Fire away. I would welcome any ideas."

"You said this was the second universe you have visited. Can you tell us about the other? Was it more like your universe or this one?"

Leonard wondered if he should say anything, not seeing how it could help, but then realized how curious they probably were.

"Well, first of all, I was a teacher of math and physics at UCLA."

Sheldon couldn't help it, "I have often pointed out you should consider teaching as more suitable to one of your abilities."

Penny surprised them all by saying, "Hey. That's not nice. Leonard is every bit as smart as you."

She blushed a little when she saw Leonard smiling fondly at her, "It's okay, Penny, my Sheldon has said something similar." He turned to Sheldon, "But I know deep down he respects me and my work."

Sheldon was stunned for a moment and then said, "I have to admit you have shown yourself to be quite proficient on several occasions."

Before Penny could say anything, Leonard smiled, "It's okay, Penny, that is a huge compliment coming from Sheldon."

He went on, "Getting back to the second universe. He smiled at Sheldon, "Get ready for a little shock, you were married to Penny and it was Amy who was not part of the group."

It was priceless to see the look on both Sheldon's and Amy's faces. Sheldon finally got out, "I was married to her?"

Penny sneered at him. "Believe me, it is kind of disturbing to me too."

After a long period of silence, Amy spoke up, "Leonard, do you know why I was not part of the picture?"

He turned to her, "Apparently, when Raj tried to fool that Sheldon with the dirty sock, he wasn't fooled and so never met you."

Amy relaxed a little. It wasn't because they had rejected her, fate had just taken a different path.

Penny wondered what that was all about but decided she would ask Leonard later.

Sheldon had finally recovered from the twin shocks about Leonard having coitus with his sister and him being married to Penny. What could they possibly talk about?

He spoke up, "I think that is enough about that. Hopefully that world is the exception that proves the rule. What I did want to ask was how long you were in that world. I was thinking that if you have gone to two universes, it could be possible you could continue to do so."

Leonard nodded, "I have thought of that myself. I also wonder what happens to the other Leonards. Is it possible they are also moving? Is it possible they return after I move on?"

"Very good, Leonard. I was thinking along the same lines. While it is entirely possible that this moving around is completely random and will go on indefinitely, there is the possibility that you are the random factor and that when you leave the other Leonard may return."

He sighed, "I am a little surprised at myself, but I find I want to believe that is true. The alternative is utter chaos."

Amy had caught up, "You are saying that at some point, this Leonard will jump again and our Leonard will return."

Sheldon smiled at her, "That is my hope."

Amy went on, "If that is true, it may also be true that there is a pattern to what is happening."

She turned to Leonard, "Leonard, how long were you on the second world?"

Leonard saw where she was going, "Let's see. I remember that the first jump took place on June 14, flag day. I remember because it fell on a Sunday and we were getting Monday off."

Sheldon broke in, "And you arrived here yesterday, July 12. That would make it 28 days."

Penny had been listening to all this in amazement. She had been lost at first but felt she had caught up, "So you guys are saying Leonard could come back."

Sheldon turned to her, "Correct. And if we assume the time frame would stay the same, he will return on," he thought for a moment, "August 9."

Suddenly Penny perked up, surprising everyone by excitedly saying, "You know, in Numerology, number 28 means a new chapter in your life is opening. That you should look for a new door opening."

She stared at them, her eyes widening, "Like a door to another universe."

Sheldon scoffed, "Numerology, Penny? Really? Do you believe in ghosts too?"

Penny glared at him, "Ghosts are real."

****************August 9, 2015, 6:12 P.M Pacific Time*******************

Penny3, Leonard1, Amy, and Sheldon sat in Apartment 4A. They had spent the entire day together. Even though Sheldon had mocked Penny's Numerology reference, he did agree it still was possible there was some significance to the 28 days Leonard had spent in the other universe. They all wanted to be there in case he did transfer.

Penny looked over at Leonard and thought how his coming had transformed her life. They had decided she needed to put all of that life behind her. Leonard had helped her find an apartment. He had also agreed she should visit her parents. She had spent a week there before returning.

Leonard and Sheldon had decided to have Leonard take two weeks of vacation one week on each side of August 9. During that week Leonard and Penny had spent almost all their time together. Although Penny wanted more than anything for Leonard to be reunited with his Penny, she knew she would miss him. She also wondered if their Leonard would return. She pondered how she would react to him. She shook her head; it was all so overwhelming. Where had their Leonard been?

Leonard saw Penny looking at him and smiled at her. He was so proud of her and how she had changed her life. He thought back over the two worlds he had visited. Although Penny and he did not have a relationship in either, there was also the fact that they appeared to have feelings for each other in both. In each, a single event had seemed to keep them apart.

He smiled to himself; he would miss this Penny. Then he shook his head, he was assuming that he would be leaving. Maybe he was stuck here. He felt a little guilty when he thought for a moment that if that happened, he and this Penny…

No, he was going to get back to his universe, back to his Penny.

At that moment there was a flash of light. Although they had all knew it was possible, they were all stunned when Leonard disappeared and another Leonard3 took his place.

Leonard3 stared at his surroundings. They had been right, he had transferred. He was stunned to see Penny3 sitting next to him. But where was he? Was this his world?

Penny stared at him; it had happened. But what Leonard was this? She smiled, "You still have most of your hour left."

Leonard's jaw dropped, "Carol?"

Penny laughed with joy, "No, Carol doesn't exist anymore, it's just Penny."

Then she shocked them all by moving over and quickly kissing him softly on the mouth before giving him a big hug, "Welcome home, Leonard."

Leonard1 looked around. It appeared he was in the lobby of the Apartment building. He had to smile; they had been right about the time frame. But where was he? Was this his world?

He had to smirk, at least it wasn't a hotel room.

Heaving a big sigh, he took the elevator to the fourth floor. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door. He heard a female voice call out, "Who is it?"

"It's Leonard Hofstadter."

"I'm coming."

When the door opened, he saw a girl who looked to be in her teens that he didn't recognize. Before he could say anything, she smiled, "Did you forget your key, Dr. Hofstadter?"

Just then, a four-year old girl sitting on the couch, smiled up at him. "Hi, Daddy."

Leonard3 and the others were waiting at Leonard's lab. Sheldon1 had noted that was where the other Leonard2 had shown up. He knew they could be wrong about everything but decided it was worth a try.

Penny was fighting to hold herself together. She had gone back to work but her heart wasn't in it. She and Leonard3 had spent a lot of time together. She had to smile, he still was amazed that she was married to Leonard. It seemed to give him some hope for when he returned home, if he ever did. For Penny it had been a mixed blessing. It did give her some comfort to be with him. He reminded her of when she first met her Leonard. She also had to sometimes struggle to not want to hold him, to have him hold her. But he was not Leonard.

Suddenly, there was a flash of light and Leonard3 disappeared, but was immediately replaced.

Leonard4 stared at his surroundings. What the Hell was going on? Where was he?

Sheldon1, Penny, and Amy looked at him. They had been right, he had transferred and he had appeared in his lab. But was it their Leonard?

But as Penny saw how he reacted, no matter how much she wanted it not to be so, she just knew this was not Leonard1. Penny couldn't help herself, she screamed out, "No, God Damn it, No."

Then she began to sob. Amy quickly moved over and put her arms around her shoulders, trying to comfort her.

Leonard stared in shock, forgetting for the moment his situation in his concern for her. "What's wrong, Penny, why are you crying?" Then a horrible thought struck him, "Penny, is it Sara? Where's Sara? Where's our daughter?"