"Bye Eric!"

Sheldon's Vulcan hearing picked up Amy's melodious tone as the doors to the elevator were closing. That was Amy! Standing up straight he caught a glimpse of her just outside the elevator doors. Reaching out, he jabbed the elevator button, but it was too late. The elevator lurched and began the climb to the 23rd floor.

"Qu'vatlh !" He cursed. He had to get back down to the lobby as quickly as possible. As soon as the elevator doors dinged and opened, Sheldon hit the button for the Lobby, jabbing it repeatedly in his anxiousness. He sighed, feeling heat move over his cheeks, as the doors closed and the elevator moved- so slowly - down the shaft to the lobby. Shoving his way out of the doors and through the crowd waiting to get onto the elevator, he studied the room, searching for Amy. She was nowhere to be seen. Rushing to the desk, he shoved his way to the front of the line and found himself face to face with the bubbly blonde.

"Hi, remember me? I was supposed to be meet my girlfriend. You told me she was in 2311, but she's not there. Where did she go? Amy Farrah Fowler, Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler."

"Ok, sir, just wait a second. I'll look it up to see if I was wrong on the number." She typed leisurely as Sheldon tapped his hand impatiently on the desk. "Oh! I must have missed this, she just checked out."

He groaned aloud. "Did you see where she went?"

"No, I didn't. I didn't check her out. Hold on. Hey Bill?" The girl looked at the young man in the cubicle next to her.

"Yeah, Susie?" The boy seemed to drop everything and immediately stepped up to her, looking at her adoringly.

"Did you check this woman out? Amy Farrah Fowler?"

"Um, maybe?"

"She is 5'4", brown hair, green eyes, glasses. She's usually wearing a cardigan sweater. Her voice is low and sweet, like a song." Sheldon looked at the boy as he described Amy.

"Um… Maybe."

Grumbling, Sheldon reached into his pocket for his phone and brought up the picture of Amy that served as his home screen. "Here, ignoramus, this girl." He held it out for the boy to see, rolling his eyes.

"Rude. Yeah, I checked her out just a minute ago. If you hurry you might catch her at the valet station right out there, but she seemed in a rush. Maybe it was to get away from you."

Susie laughed, but Sheldon was already heading out the door, running to catch her.

Just as he was exiting the building he saw her car moving into traffic. He ran after her, waving his arms frantically and calling her name, "AMY! AMY! AMY!" His efforts weren't enough to attract her attention, and he watched her car speed up and turn a corner a block away. He ran to the corner, but as he turned he stopped as he watched the car merge into the tunnel and out of sight. Pulling his phone from his pocket, he looked to see that the satellites must still be down. Still no service. Feeling dejected he turned slowly and made his way back to the valet stand.

"Excuse me, do you know if the buses are running back to North Pasadena?" Sheldon asked, pointing in the direction of home. He didn't know where Amy was going, only that she had checked out of the hotel. With no information on where she may be headed, and the night sitting heavily around them, there was no logical course of action except to head back to the apartment. Feeling a rush of sorrow, Sheldon grimaced, as he watched the valet shake his head.

"No, sir. Not the crossway. But I think they are running uptown from Highland. About a mile that way. If you walk over there, you might be able to catch one."

"Thanks." Moving slowly, Sheldon turned to head toward home. It was going to be a long, lonely, cold walk to an empty apartment.

xxxxxx

Leonard pulled up to the side and watched the policemen approach his car.

"Where you headed?"

"Los Robles Dr, Officer."

"Los Robles? Oh, you can't go this way. It's blocked." Leonard looked over at Penny, who shrugged.

"Of course it is, " Penny said.

"Which way should we go?" Leonard asked, focusing his attention back on the policeman.

"Oh, you'll need to take the detour. There's a tree down by the Belshire, so we are having to redirect traffic completely. Take Ringwald to Humphrey and then catch 205. That should take you out to the junction for S. Los Robles."

"We're going to N. Los Robles."

"Yeah, well, from here you'll have to circle round. Sorry man. If you were on the other side of Belshire, you'd have a clear shot. But this way? No-go. Take it easy, and drive safe." The policeman gave him an understanding smile and gestured for Leonard to head in the opposite direction of home.

Sighing, Leonard turned the car around and pulled onto Ringwald Avenue. "Anything yet?" he said, glancing briefly over at Penny who was staring at her phone as if willing it to sound.

"No. There's still no service."

"Well, it's going to take us two hours to get home this way. Sheldon might be better off on foot."

"But it's getting cold, Leonard. And you know he's afraid of the dark."

"He's not afraid of the dark, just the usual night crowd on the streets after dark. He'll be ok, Penny. Besides, he probably already made it to the hotel and he and Amy are probably talking it out right now."

"I sure hope so. Nothing seems to be going right for the last couple of days."

Leonard reached over and covered her hand lightly with his. Squeezing her fingers, he nodded. "I know, but it can only get better from here. Strap in, we are in for a long ride." Penny smiled as he turned his attention back to the road.