I know its been a looooong while. But I'm back. This is just a short one shot based off a Young Sheldon episode.
Marie and Stephen age 10
Amelia age 7
"You know if we ass what you have here to my calculations at work, that would really help" Leonard commented
"If I do that then we're calling it the Cooper-Hofstadter equation" Sheldon pointed out
"Why? It was my idea" Leonard whined
Sheldon let out an exasperated sigh, "For alphabetic reasons. But, depending on how much of my math is used we can choose to rename it"
"Yay" Leonard said with a little smirk. He watched Sheldon close the marker and hold his upper arm. "You okay there buddy?"
"Fine" Sheldon said still holding his arm, "It just feels a little numb" he continued massaging it slowly
Leonard's brow furrowed "Maybe you just need to shake it out"
"Maybe" Sheldon repeated walking out to the dining room
"Amy why are we sitting at the table?" Penny asked as she took a sip of wine
Amy shrugged, "Amelia wanted too, and you know Sheldon"
Penny chuckled, "They really have power over him. I've known this guy twice as long as them and I still couldn't get him to eat at a table"
"I don't even think I have that much control over him" Amy joked causing Penny to laugh
"Hey you guys go wash your hands for dinner" she said to the kids sitting around the kitchen island
"Race you upstairs" Marie said as she hopped off the stool and started running. Luke and Amelia ran after her, "That's cheating" Amelia called out
Stephen sighed, "Don't worry momma, I'll be the only civilized one and walk to the bathroom down the hall" he said hopping off the stool
"Thank you Stephen" Amy called out after him
"There you are" Penny said when she saw Leonard and Sheldon approaching, "I was just about to call you to help set the table"
Amy and Penny laughed as they saw Leonard's eyes widen and Sheldon put a hand to his chest. "Don't start panicking. We'll get one of the boys to do it"
Leonard relaxed but Sheldon kept a hand to his chest, his blue eyes wide. "Sheldon relax" Amy said, "she meant Luke or Stephen"
"No" he muttered fisting his shirt in his hand, "my chest" he let out in a strangled whisper, stumbling back a few steps
Penny put down her wine glass, "Leonard! Help him to a chair" she called out as she and Amy rushed forward
"I'm calling 911" Penny said reaching for her phone
"Sheldon? What's wrong?" Amy asked as her worried eyes looked over her husband's face. He fumbled around until he could grip her hand tightly, "It hurts…to breathe" he panted out
"Its gonna be okay" Amy said brushing back a lock of hair from his forehead and trying to give a reassuring smile
"What's wrong with daddy?" Stephen asked walking back into the dining room
The adults turned to see not only Stephen but all the kids looking at them with wide eyes
"Daddy?" Amelia whispered as tears pooled in her eyes
"Leonard, can you.." Amy started
"Already on it." He whispered, he turned to the kids, "How about we play a little game?" he said trying to usher them towards the hallway. He got them to take about three steps before Amelia turned, "I want to stay with my daddy" she cried rushing towards Sheldon
"No can-do Lia" he said as he scooped her up. He winced when he felt her struggling and kicking against him.
"My daddy!" Amy could hear her call out as Leonard led them away
"What's wrong with daddy?" Marie asked crossing her arms when they entered Sheldon's "man-cave".
"Why can't we stay with him?" Stephen asked
"Your dad is feeling a little sick, and might have to go to the hospital" Leonard explained
"We have to sing Soft Kitty when someone's sick" Amelia whispered
"Not this time. He needs doctors to help"
"You're lying!" Marie yelled pointing a finger in Leonard's direction, "my daddy's smarter than you and he said soft kitty always works" she said before running out
She stopped short at the sight that greeted her at the front door. Sheldon being loaded into an ambulance with an oxygen mask strapped to his face with a worried Amy climbing in after him. Amy looked up and made brief eye contact with her daughter before the door closed.
Penny came up to Marie, "Come on sweetie, let's get you something to eat"
Two hours had passed since Aunty Penny told them to go to bed, but Marie couldn't sleep. Stephen and Luke had stopped whispering about an hour ago and Amelia finally fell asleep after Marie suggested they sleep together. But she couldn't sleep.
She pretended to be asleep when Uncle Leonard had checked in on them 20 minutes ago.
"Yeah they're sleeping" he whispered into the phone. "Just keep us posted" he said after a couple seconds
She pressed her head deeper into the pillow. Why couldn't they go with them? Why did Uncle Leonard say soft kitty won't work? Was it because daddy was too sick?
She quickly wiped away the tear that fell. She closed her eyes and tried to get rid of the image of her dad on the stretcher.
She woke up, what felt like, seconds later to someone poking her shoulder. She almost screamed when she opened her eyes and saw Stephen's face inches from hers.
"Wake up Lia. We're going to see dad" he whispered
"Did Aunty Penny send you?" she whispered back
"No. I sent myself. This entire situation is malarkey. We should be able to see daddy if we want to. So wake up Lia. I'm going to use Aunty Penny's phone to order us an Uber" he said before slipping out the room
She turned around and woke up Amelia and went to find clothes for the two to wear. She had just finished tying her shoes when Stephen returned.
"You're still not ready?" he whispered harshly "I had time to get the Uber and pack us a bag" he said holding up a red backpack
"We can't all be the Flash Stephen" Marie said rolling her eyes and tugging Amelia toward the door.
"Wait" Stephen said, "We need jackets. It's a little nippy"
Marie helped Amelia put her jacket on. "Do you think this is going to work Venny? I doubt they're going to let 3 kids ride an Uber alone in the night"
"Its California" he said with the wave of his hand, "Stranger things have happened"
Amy shifted for the tenth time in the uncomfortable hospital waiting room chair. Every time she asked for an update, they kept saying they were running tests.
How many tests could they run on one man?
She didn't even have time to process what was happening. 'The kids must be so confused' she thought. Her stomach grumbled again and she wrapped her arms around herself. In her haste she had forgotten to take any money with her. The last meal she had eaten was lunch and that was hours ago, and right now she was starving. All she had was her phone, ID and insurance card.
She sighed and went to the nurse's station again. "Is there any update on my husband?" She chewed her lip as she watched the nurse type the name Cooper on the system
"It says here that they are still running tests"
"Still?" Amy stressed "Its been three hours. How many tests can they run?"
"I'm sorry I don't have better news. I would let you know as soon as they're finished"
Amy nodded her head in response and slumped down in one of the chairs. She felt tears burning her eyes and lifted her glasses to wipe the corner of her eyes.
She turned her head when she heard a noise, thinking it was the nurse but instead she saw three blurry figures running towards her. She placed her glasses back correctly just in time for Amelia to crash into her, wrapping her arms tightly around Amy's neck. Marie was right behind her sister while Stephen stood in front of Amy.
"We came to see daddy" he said gripping the handles of his backpack
"Where's Aunty Penny?" Amy asked
"She's at home" Marie said
Amy narrowed her eyes "Okay. So where's Uncle Leonard?"
"At home with her" Stephen mumbled
Amy pried Amelia and Marie's hands from her neck so she could look at them, "How exactly did the three of you get here?"
"Venny got us an Uber" Amelia answered
"You took an Uber?! In the middle of the… Stephen?!"
"We should be able to see daddy if we want to" he said "No one told us what was happening. We just had to stay behind in the dark a-and that wasn't fair to us" his face softened, "I want to know what's wrong with daddy"
Amelia and Marie nodded in agreement. Amy sighed and ran a hand through her hair, "Come sit" Marie sat in the seat on her right side while Amelia crawled on her lap. Stephen opened his bag and aggressively pulled out wipes and began wiping the seat, "This hospital is full of germs" he mumbled before throwing away the used wipes and sitting
"Your dad had a problem with his chest and they're running some test to figure out what happened. And while I understand that you were very concerned, you cannot just go taking cars without supervision in the middle of the night. Do you understand?"
"Yes momma" the twins said while Amelia nodded her head and yawned. Amy glanced at the clock, "It's way past all of your bedtime"
"Its okay. We're not tired" Marie said shaking her head. She glanced at her sister who was leaning on Amy's chest with her eyes half open "I can't say the same for Lia"
Amy tried to adjust her as comfortably as possible on her lap. Amelia sighed and wrapped an arm around her mother's midsection at that same time Amy's stomach grumbled again. "Your tummy's making noise momma" Amelia mumbled sleepily
"I know. I'm sorry" Amy said as she ran a hand through her daughter's hair, "Try to get some sleep"
Stephen turned to his mother with wide eyes. "You haven't eaten" he said
"Its fine Stephen" Amy tried to say
"Its not fine. We were supposed to have dinner at 7, but you left before. Its after 10 and you still haven't had anything to eat"
"I know" Amy sighed, "But I don't have any money on me to buy something to eat"
Stephen waved his hand dismissively at his mother and opened his bag. Amy peered in and saw an assortment of snacks and juices.
"Did you raid the pantry?"
"I brought two snacks, a water, and juice for all three of us. But you can have one of mine" he said handing a bag of chips to Amy
"Its fine Stephen. Save your snacks" Amy said, but he shook his head and thrusted the bag in her hand. Amy sighed and reluctantly took the bag. 'He's just like Sheldon. Once they get their mind on something' she thought
Amy opened the bag. "I would only eat this, if you promise to take some as well"
Stephen narrowed his eyes and tilted his head as he thought. "Deal" he said taking out a bottle of hand sanitizer "but we should share it 70/30 as I ate dinner and you didn't"
Amy opened her eyes when she felt a tap on her shoulder. When had she fallen asleep?The last thing she remembered was calling Penny to let her know the kids were safe with her. She tightened her hold on Amelia as she looked up at the nurse from the front desk
"I waited until I had as much information to give before waking you up. Your husband's in the CCU recovering. It was a minor heart attack, no damage was done." Amy breathed a sigh of relief. "Apparently there was a wait for him to get an X-ray that's what took the tests so long"
"C-can I go see him?" Amy asked
"Yes. But normally children under 12 are not allowed in the CCU"
Amy's face fell "I can call my friend. She can be here in the about 15 minutes"
"Its okay. I overheard your conversation earlier and I think after all they went through they deserve to see their daddy. I'll see what I can do" she said walking back to the desk
Amy looked down at her sleeping children and decided Marie was the easiest to wake. She gently nudged her hand, until she looked up with sleepy eyes
"Guess what?" Amy said with a bright smile, "we can go see daddy"