Leonard, Penny, and Amy arrived back at Penny's world through the portal. Howard and Bernadette met them. Leonard introduced Amy.
"It's nice to meet you finally," Howard said, shaking her hand. "We have heard so much about you from Sheldon."
"I hope it's all good things," Amy said in a cracked voice.
"I'm Bernadette. I read your paper on Stem research. It was mind-blowing, especially your take on diseased body development."
"You heard about me and read my book? Are you interested in understanding the diseased body development and homeostasis?"
"No... let just say it was an interesting read."
Amy's thoughts went back to Sheldon, "Thank you. How is Sheldon doing? Is he doing okay?"
"Sheldon is doing well, he is a little depressed, but I'm sure once he sees you, he will feel much better. He talks about you constantly. We feel like we already know you." Bernadette replied.
"Oh my God, are you engaged." Penny squealed as she spotted the engagement ring on Bernadette's finger.
"Yes," she blushed. "Howard asked me last week, and I said yes." they both giggled in unison.
"Congrats, Howard," Leonard said and shook his hand.
"Congratulations." Penny hugged Bernadette. "Fyi Leonard and I are a couple," Penny whispered excitedly in her ear. Bernadette squealed. "I knew you guys would get together."
"Leonard, you dog, you took your time." Howard was happy for his friend and slapped him on the shoulder.
Amy just followed them into the building, wondering what the hell was going on.
After the go-ahead was given, Amy was allowed to see Sheldon. He ran up to her and embraced her into a tight, stiff Sheldon hug. They sat down in his secure room and gazed at each other. Sheldon finally spoke and apologized for letting her down. Amy held his hand as they both cried. Happy to be together once again, regardless of the potential troubles ahead.
Leonard and Penny and a few others stood behind the glass window in the secure room that held Sheldon. They watched the emotional reunion. Bernadette tried her best not to cry.
"So how are you.? Have they been treating you okay.?"
Sheldon shrugs his shoulders and says. "I guess good most of the time. They don't understand me and keep getting annoyed with me. Howard stopped them from torturing me a few times. Apparently, I'm condescending."
"No…" Amy rolled her eyes.
Sheldon gave her a blank stare and said, "sarcasm?"
Amy diverted. "So, what's new?"
Sheldon thought for a second and said. "I fixed a mistake in a mathematical superstring calculation today."
"That's nice, Sheldon." Amy forced a smile.
"I didn't think you would come. I thought you hated me."
"I will never hate you, Sheldon."
"I can be a better man, and I promise I have changed, just wish they all would understand," Sheldon said uneasily.
"I know you can, and we will get through this. I promise."
"I don't want to spend the rest of my life in a prison drowning my sorrows. Amy, I want to spend my restless nights joining faces with you." Sheldon cried.
"I would love that and more, you are in some serious trouble, and we need to find some way of getting you home. Be strong, Leonard is working on how to get you home. you just got to be patient."
They were delighted to see each other and talked small talk and about how things could have been different; they promised to be devoted to each other and conquer any obstacles in their ways.
"Ma'am, your time is up." One of the guards said.
"Is it an hour already?" Amy complained.
"Yes, in fact, 1hour and 5 minutes to be precise." The guard said.
Amy was disappointed to be leaving so soon. She had so many questions to ask Sheldon. He was visibly upset too. "Sheldon, I promise I will see you soon. Be strong for me." she wiped a tear.
Sheldon nodded as he curled into a ball. He was rocking back and forth.
Penny booked a room for Amy at the nearest motel so she could visit Sheldon when permissible. Amy was grateful for all the support of Leonard and Penny. She knew they were going out of their way to help her, but she felt it was genuine and not just based on getting the information they needed from Sheldon.
After Amy left, Sheldon was taken to an interrogation room with Leonard Howard and representatives from Penny's world. Sheldon sat facing the men.
"So we kept our end of the bargain. Your turn, tell us where the time machine is?" Leonard stated.
Sheldon played with fingers, hesitating before answering. "I'm afraid I haven't been honest with you."
"What do you mean?" Howard asked.
"I didn't just send it to another dimension; I sent it back in time approximately 60 million years."
"What... That's when a meteorite wipes out the dinosaurs. You destroyed it?" Leonard asked.
"Yes, I didn't want anyone getting their hands on it, I have seen first-hand the destruction it can cause. I'm sorry." Sheldon said.
"Why didn't you tell us this from the beginning?" One of the representatives asked.
"Because you wouldn't let me see Amy."
Howard looked at Leonard and said, "That's that then, our mission is over and can go home."
"Not yet, we need to negotiate Sheldon's hand over so he can be prosecuted back home," Leonard replied.
"Or we can just leave him here." Howard snarled.
"Not an option, he hasn't committed any offenses here, they cannot hold him."
Leonard walked in to see Penny sitting on the sofa watching TV with a glass of red wine in her hand. He had moved his small belongings from his motel to her apartment a week ago. Leonard knew his time in the world was coming to an end soon. With the capture of Sheldon, all that is left to do is negotiate Sheldon's release to his custody so he can be taken back to face justice. After lengthy negotiations and arguments who should prosecute Sheldon, It was finally agreed. It was decided that Sheldon will go back to his world with Leonard on condition. The last remaining time machine was destroyed with all the data so it cannot be recreated. The decision made Leonard uncomfortable as it meant he would not be able to return, it was out of his hands, and his superiors vetoed the deal, it was signed and agreed by all parties that it would be destroyed. Sadness covers his face as the thought of leaving began to sink in. Leonard wanted to stay to be with Penny, but that plan went out the window when he was told to escort Sheldon back and help with the destruction of all blueprints of the time machine as well as the device.
"So how was your day? I didn't see you at HQ today." She asked.
"Sorry, something came up at the base."
"Hope everything is okay."
"Yeah," Leonard lied, as he could not bear to tell Penny the truth.
Penny finally looks away from what she was watching, gesturing to him to sit next to her. Penny kissed him; she could see the worried look on his face.
"What's wrong, Leonard?" She asked.
"Nothing," he said quickly.
"Leonard. Don't you dare lie to me? What's going on?" She asked again.
"I think I might have to go back with Sheldon." he looked down at the floor.
"Why are you worried about going? I mean, you are coming back, right?"
Leonard did not answer straight away.
"Leonard, what's going on.?" She asked worriedly.
"I'm sorry, they want me to go back with Sheldon, and once we are back, the time machine will be destroyed."
"I don't understand why they would do that."
"It's too dangerous, and they don't want a repeat of someone stealing it again for their own gain."
"So where does that leave us, Leonard."
"I don't know; I don't want to lose you, Penny. I would love for you to come back with me." Leonard pleaded.
Penny thought about what Leonard said and after a long pause. "Leonard, I don't think I can come with you."
Leonard was stunned and asked, "why not?"
"I don't know, my life is here, and I feel like I will be letting my family down. I would not be able to visit their graves."
"I understand. You know, I want to stay here with you, but I can't right now. I have to help destroy the time machine when I get back and would not be able to return." Leonard said.
"I really want to come with you. I love you, Leonard, but there is so much here for me to do. Help save this planet from the disaster it is facing and much more to do. I can't leave with all that is going on, and I will never be able to visit my family graves ever again." Penny said sincerely and held his hand.
"I'm sorry, I understand, but it's the only way we could be together. It breaks my heart to leave without you." Leonard tightens the grip on Penny's hand.
Penny let go of his hand to pour more wine into her glass, more than usual, and drank it in one mouth full.
"You should go without me. I'm nobody." Penny breathed shakenly
"Do not say that. You are special to me, and I would do anything to be with you. Just like you, I need to protect my world from criminals who will manipulate vulnerable people like Sheldon to get what they want."
"And what about me. Leonard, don't I mean nothing to you." She said selfishly
"Penny, that's not fair, you mean the world to me. If there is any other way for me to stay, I will."
"Then stay with me. Howard can take Sheldon and destroy the device."
"It needs to be destroyed by an expert. Howard is not one."
"Penny, please consider coming with me."
"You know I can't." She sobbed
"Then that is it then," Leonard knew he would not change Penny's mind.
"I guess so," Penny replied angrily.
Leonard walked to the bedroom and returned 5 minutes later with his suitcase.
"I love you, Penny, but I can't change your mind. You gotta do what you think is best for you. I will never forget you. Goodbye, Penny."
Leonard reached the door and opened it. Penny spoke without looking at him. "I never thought about how difficult it would be to say goodbye. I will miss that look that always says hello." She wanted to say more to him, but the words would not come out. Penny ran towards the bedroom and locked the door behind her.