Hey everyone, just like last time I'm going to keep this intro super short and just dive right in. So please enjoy!
For the rest of the week, Howard was mostly silent, not interested in any activity other than getting to tell off the man who ran out on him as a child.
His children had also started to notice a change in his behavior. He was more distant and serious. Less interested in activities with them such as watching Peppa pig and playing outside. It was getting to them, both believing he didn't love them anymore, a thought their mother was trying to put to rest.
Unfortunately for the engineer his friends weren't as willing to keep silent, as evident as the quartet were in Comic Centre later that week.
-x-
'' Can you believe it? I have a masters degree, two PHDs and a Nobel prize in physics, yet I'm still expected to pay 12,99 for a trade paperback! You're what's wrong with this country!"'
Stuart Bloom looked at the well-groomed ventriloquist dummy of a man before him with a deadpan gaze.
'' Sheldon, I don't care if you invented time travel or a way for me to stop looking like a grey prune down there, 12, 99 for the book, end of discussion.''
'' Can you believe him Leonard, go on, fight him'' Sheldon pointed at his shorter friend.
'' Why? I don't mind paying, mostly because the guy at Capital Comics keeps trying to see if he can give me children's discounts.''
'' Whatever, point is, you can't argue with the sales clerk, its rude and unfair'' Leonard shook his head.
'' Fine, here'' Sheldon handed the impoverished clerk the cash. '' Say, have you noticed something off with Howard lately?'' the man then cocked his head in the direction of the aforementioned man, reading an issue of Action Comics.
'' Who, me , no why?'' Leonard responded quickly, approaching a section of the store dedicated to fantasy weaponry.
'' Leonard, what are you hiding from me?''
'' Nothing- hey look a replica of Excalibur and a stone to put it in'' Leonard changed the subject quickly.
'' Leonard tell me.''
'' I can't.''
'' Why not?''
'' Because it's a secret. And you know how you are with secrets. You develop ticks, twitches, bug everyone around you and then crack and tear a hole in our group's structure.''
'' Leonard, Howard is a dear friend of mine. I can handle it.''
'' Fine, but I'm not telling you…ask Howard.''
'' Alright then'' Sheldon approached the engineer.
'' Howard?''
'' Hey Sheldon what is it?''
'' You've been acting odder than usual lately, what's wrong?''
'' Nothing, go, back to annoying Leonard.''
'' Tell me-
'' No.''
'' Please, tell me-
'' No.''
'' Howard come on-
'' I said no Dad!'' Howard shouted, causing his friend to wince in repulsion.
Looking around, Howard saw everyone look at him with an odd gaze.
'' Sorry, I, lost my cool'' Howard sighed. '' Sheldon if you really want to know I'll tell you. My father phoned me on Saturday evening, I'm meeting with him at the end of the week.''
'' Hold on, your father's back in town, why?'' Leonard asked.
'' His girlfriend in San Diego broke up with him, my step mom broke up with him and Josh lives here now, he's coming to live here in Los Angeles again.''
'' Can you handle it? Because if not that's a perfectly valid thing'' Sheldon said.
'' I can handle it'' Howard snapped. '' The man was gone most of my entire life, he has some explaining to do. Not just for me, but for my mom too.''
'' Is Josh coming too?'' Leonard asked.
'' No. I already told him not to, he knows our dad and says he's manipulative as it is.''
'' If you know this then why're you still seeing him?'' Sheldon asked.
'' I already told you, I have to, I need closure. And besides, I'm meeting him at Emily's hospital's restaurant so the chance of my tearing him a new one in front of people I know will be reduced.''
'' Aww, Leonard, he gets to go to a hospital, when I asked her she told me I wasn't sick and that the brown skin patches on me were clearly chocolate'' Sheldon whined.
'' Yeah, if Emily wouldn't let you have your birthday there, you aren't coming to see Howard confront his father.''
'' Also I told Bernadette no-one else was coming. This is my issue to work through, not, yours.''
'' Still, if you need us we're here.''
'' Thanks, but you guys have jobs, wives and kids of your own.''
'' Penny's acting classes are in the afternoon and Sheldon, Amy and I can take vacation days.''
'' Again, thanks, but I need to do this for myself. Remember, I have a vendetta here. I need to take care of it on my own'' Howard answered, picking up the comic he was reading and taking it to Stuart's counter.
'' DO you believe he was being honest?'' Sheldon asked.
'' No. We know him, he wants us there, he's just too proud to admit it.''
-x-
Howard sat in the restaurant's booth area, nervously tapping his foot. He couldn't believe it, but a part of him was genuinely excited to see his father, even though he was still fighting back a patricidal urge, it would be nice to finally tell him how great he turned out without his dad in his life.
'' Hi, I'm your best friend's fiancée/ person whose toilet you clogged on a blind date'' came a familiar sarcastic voice.
Howard looked behind him to see an attractive redheaded woman in a white blouse, blue jeans, brown boots and a doctor's coat.
'' Emily? Why're you here. I thought you I wanted to do this on my own.''
'' Howard, let me tell you something'' Emily sat down in front of him. '' When I first got introduced to your group by Raj, you helped me settle in, deal with Sheldon's narcissistic condescension and made me feel welcome. You made Raj realize that I was the one for him and vice versa, for that I owe you big time. So the only way you're removing my butt from this booth is with brute force, something we both know you don't have.''
'' Fine, why aren't Bernadette and Raj here by the way?''
'' Who says we're not?''
Howard looked next to him, his best friend taking a seat next to Emily and his wife next to him.
'' Seriously, why doesn't anyone respect my wishes?''
'' Because we know you, you wanted us here but were too proud to say it'' Raj answered.
'' Thanks'' Howard beamed. '' Sorry if I've been pushing you guys aside.''
'' Its fine Howie'' Bernadette nuzzled closer to him. '' DO you know what he looks like still?''
'' He looks like a man in his prime'' came another voice.
Looking to his right, Howard saw a face he never thought he'd ever see again. A blue eyed man with silver hair, fading smile lines with a grape- purple dress shirt, beige khakis and white shoes.
'' Hello Sam'' Howard said coldly.
'' Hey there kiddo. Oh are you his wife?'' Same asked, sitting down and looking at Emily.
'' No, I'm not, she is'' Emily pointed at Bernadette who waved shyly.
'' You're gorgeous, how'd my son get you to go out with him?'' Sam joked.
'' I showed interest in him and didn't leave him as a child resulting in a broken man who even 20+ years later is still healing'' Bernadette spat.
'' That. I'm sorry to be this person but can Howard and myself have some privacy?'' Sam asked.
'' Ok'' Raj shrugged, the trio moving slightly away so they could still listen in.
'' So…how've you been?'' Sam asked.
'' Fine. My daughter and son start pre-k soon.''
'' Hey, I have grandbabies? Awesome, can I see pictures of them?''
'' Not now, maybe later. Honestly, Sam, I don't know why you even wanted to see me. You had hundreds of opportunities to contact me my whole life, and you picked now, why?''
'' First of all Howard, call me dad, we're still father and son. Second, your brother got hold of me a few weeks ago-
'' Dammit, I'm going to kill that son of a bitch-
'' Howard! Don't. He explained to me that you were having a great life without me, and I realized that I wanted to be a part of it, to be there for you even though I wasn't, all those years ago. Also I did get hold of you, on your 18th birthday I sent your mother a letter to give to you.''
'' I know. I torched it. My friends know the content though. They told me multiple versions of it, one of them being true.''
'' Oh yeah. What did they tell you?''
'' That it was a frog farside cartoon saying happy 18th birthday, I love you, dad. That you were in the auditorium at my high school graduation and you cried because you were so proud of me. That it was the plot from Goonies. That you weren't who you said you were, your past life had caught up with you and the only way to keep me and mom safe was to leave. That family is the most important thing and I should never throw it away like you did and that it was a picture of you holding me on the day I was born saying Howard my son, my greatest gift.''
'' Oh that letter, yeah, they're all true.''
'' Wait what? All of them are?''
'' Yes, they all are. Howard, its time you knew the truth about me, before you were born, I was an agent for the Jewish mafia. I know it sounds ridiculous, but its true. I lived a dangerous life of risk and reward. I thought I had it all, until I was sent to a convenience store who were behind on protection payments, I had one order…get the money any way I can. I stormed in with two rookie agents, at least 20 people were there, including one woman tending the register; your mother. I was ready to spray lead everywhere, then I saw the fear in her eyes, and I put down my gun, told my men to leave. We got to talking, she told me her name was Debbie and that she was working here to pay for college. I told her I was Sam, I couldn't tell her my job, if the mob found out they'd go after her, I had to lie and say I was an accountant, I regret that lie every day.
Eventually I got out of the life by faking my death. I got a job working as a storage manager for a local butchery chain. Your mother and I got married, moved into your house and started a family, for years everything was ok. I thought I'd finally be safe, until one day an old friend from my mafia days showed up, told me he had been watching us for years, he knew where you and your mother were and that unless I turned myself over to them, you two wouldn't survive the night. That's why the next morning I was gone.
Thankfully, I gave them the slip, the entire operation went up in flames after I took a stupid risk of throwing a Molotov cocktail into their HQ window. I went to San Diego married your step mother and we had your brother. I love them both but I knew I had to see you, your mother would never let me see you so on your 18th birthday I wrote that letter and left it at your door, I stayed in Pasadena for a few days and went to your graduation ceremony. I feel awful for what happened, and I never should have thrown you and your mother aside to save my own ass. I don't expect you to forgive me but I want to make amends.''
Howard was taken back. He never thought of his father as anything but a scumbag, but he seemed to not be one at all, more of a man who knew he needed to fix certain things.
'' Howard, say something.''
'' Fine. You're sorry. Look, I get why you did what you did. But you still hurt me and mom hugely. I don't know if I'm ready to call you dad, let you meet my kids or even tell you where I live. Sorry.''
'' Then I'll learn your trust kiddo, any way I can.''
'' Aww'' Bernadette cooed.
Howard and Sam looked behind them at the blonde and her partners.
'' Sorry, I needed to know. Anyway Sam, I'm with my husband on this one, it's going to take a while.''
'' Fine. What can I do to earn your trust?''
Howard looked at his best friend, wife and Emily. '' You like engineering?''
'' You kidding? I bought you your first LEGO set, took you to that space museum too. I love it.''
'' Then come to Cal Tech next Thursday 3PM. I'll show you my lab.''
'' Done.''
Howard looked at the man in front of him again. This risk had better be worth the wait.
