Chapter 19: Good to Go

Will Niki be cleared to take Sheldon his meds?Will Leonard convince Sheldon to make it to his next lecture?This could get interesting.

While Niki and Penny were busy dealing with the aftermath of Sheldon's little error in judgment, in Heidelberg Leonard Hofstadter was figuring out his next move concerning how to deal with Sheldon Cooper. It was late in the evening, close to an hour after Helmut had left their apartment, and Leonard was finding it difficult to convince his friend to continue with his lecture series.

After Leonard had filled his friend in on what had gone down with Helmut and how he had helped them, Leonard felt compelled to urge his friend to talk about his apparent reluctance to continue with his lecture series, "Sheldon, I can tell you aren't exactly thrilled with the idea of speaking tomorrow. I think I know why, but fill me in if you can."

The taller man gave a long sigh and turned away from his friend as he explained, "Leonard, by tomorrow afternoon word will most likely be out about what happened between me and Dr. Powers. I do not wish to subject myself to a room full of whispers and stares."

Leonard played with the water bottle in his hand and replied in an earnest voice, "Who's going to tell anyone anything? The only people who know what happened are me, you, and Helmut. I don't think any of us is going to be spilling the beans about this evening to anyone else."

Sheldon finally looked over at his friend, "Leonard, have you forgotten that Heather Powers was here also and that she has stated she will get her revenge for my refusal to have coitus with her and add her name to one of my papers?"

The smaller man's face fell and he groaned, "Oh yeah, I forgot about her. Look Sheldon, we have to fulfill our contractual obligations to the university. Remember, we both have that big dinner the school is throwing for the guest faculty next week. If either of us fails to show up for our lectures and that dinner, both Binary and our facility could face a very ugly lawsuit for breach of contract. I know it will be a bit awkward for you, but you've got to give your lecture tomorrow."

"I understand your concerns, Leonard. But can you kindly inform me as to how I am supposed to go into the room tomorrow and face a multitude of people who I am most certain have been speculating on the state of my marriage and love life? And may I add that their speculations will most likely not be flattering."

Leonard got up and went into the small kitchen where he retrieved a bottle of water for his friend, "I can tell you exactly how you are going to do it. You're going to do it with me by your side."

Sheldon gave his friend a puzzled look and asked, "But this was supposed to be a solo lecture from me. How will we explain your presence?"

Leonard took a swig of water and then grinned at his friend, "Very easily. The reason I came back to our apartment this afternoon was that my lecture had been cancelled for an emergency staff/student meeting. The university made me a vague promise to reschedule my talk for next week. Let's just announce that I chose to present with you at tomorrow's meeting so the lecture series would not be disrupted any more than it had to be by the cancellation."

Sheldon studied his water bottle for a minute and then questioned his friend, "But won't that upset everyone there? I am the one scheduled to speak. Some people may not like that you are there, also."

"C'mon, buddy, it's the same crowd that comes to mine. No sweat. And the school may actually appreciate that we helped them out. It's kinda hard to change the order of lectures, that just ends up confusing everyone."

Sheldon finally capitulated, "Very well, Leonard. You have made a valid point. We will spend tomorrow afternoon lecturing together. Wait, it is now past midnight. Let me make a correction. We will spend this afternoon lecturing together."

Leonard finished his water and threw the bottle into the recycling bin. He then got up from the couch and announced, "Now, let's both go to bed and get some rest. Trust me, Sheldon, there are more people on your side than you realize."

Sheldon looked very busy studying the pattern of the carpet as he answered, "I do hope you are correct in that assumption. Otherwise, I am doomed."

Leonard's patience finally reached its end and he decided it was time for some tough love. He turned to Sheldon and barked, "You're not doomed! Stop talking like that. You threw out a skank who made an uninvited play for you." He then continued in a much gentler tone, "Those kinds of things happen all the time. I remember one occasion where Penny had to throw a big movie star out of her dressing room for the same reasons. She was flattered that he wanted to see her backstage and she thought he wanted to suggest to her that they work together. To make a long story short, that's not what he offered her. She got his ass out of there pdq. As you can see, Penny's career is still going strong."

At the end of Leonard's tale, Sheldon brightened visibly and smiled at his roommate, "Your words have given me faith that everything will turn out favorably for me, Leonard. You are a true friend, even after the way I have treated you since we have been here in Germany. All I can say is Thank You!"

"Hey, none of us are perfect. You've been a pretty good friend to me, also. You left your wife and child for an entire month and traveled all the way over here just to help my paper get some recognition. I think helping you out here is the least I can do."

Sheldon looked a bit hurt and felt compelled to remind him, "Leonard, have you forgotten? My name is on that paper, also."

Leonard's smile was wide and genuine and he told Sheldon, "Yeah, it is. But my name is listed first, as the prominent author. It makes a difference."

Sheldon slowly nodded and admitted, "I'll have to give you that. You don't know how many times that gravity nullification paper has been referred to as 'mine' when it was just as much Niki's and Koothrappali's."

Leonard reached out his hand to help his friend up from the couch, "Yep. So, are we back to being best friends and partners?"

Sheldon took the offered hand and was soon off the couch, "Always, Leonard. Of that, you can be sure."

"Now, as I said before, let's both go get us some sleep. Okay?" Leonard began to head towards the hallway and the bedrooms.

Sheldon joined him and left him at the doorway of his own room, "Of course. Good night, Leonard."

"Good night, Sheldon."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Niki Cooper got off the phone with Sheldon's doctor and breathed a sigh of relief. He had assured her that he would inform Lufthansa of her situation and that a hard copy note would not be necessary. It seemed spouses delivering forgotten meds to their wives or husbands happened more often than she had realized. Niki then went into the kitchen, made herself a relaxing cup of tea, and prepared herself for going online and purchasing both plane tickets and making hotel reservation for everyone in their party. Three adults and two children under two. Oh yeah, everyone on that particular flight was going to just be overjoyed when they boarded the plane. But it had to be done and Niki, for all her faults, was a devoted mother who was not about to leave her child for several days in the care of others, even though they were people she both loved and trusted. She looked over at her daughter, happily playing on the floor and mentally blew her a kiss.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Penny's voice calling out to her from the yard, "Nik, got a minute?"

"Come on in, Penny!" she called back, "The door's unlocked."

Penny Hofstadter walked into the Cooper living room and addressed her friend, "Did everything go okay with Sheldon's doctor?"

Niki looked up from her tea and replied, "Yep. As far as the meds go, I've been cleared to take them to Germany. Dr. Soehmer was kind of surprised Sheldon forgot to take them with him. He does have that eidetic memory thing going on."

Penny blushed, spied Lori in the room and decided to keep her response safe for children, "Well, Leonard and I did kind of set him off that morning."

Niki shrugged, "I know, but still…anyway, the good doctor will inform the airline once I make our reservations."

Penny took a seat next to her friend on the couch, "Good. Look, I have to ask you something."

"What is it?"

Penny picked up a magazine from the coffee table in front of her and pretended to read it, "Is it all right if I tell Leonard we're coming? He mentioned something about some big dinner the university is holding for all their visiting staff. I don't want to mess that thing up for the guys."

Niki's face brightened and she exclaimed, "As usual Penny, great thinking! Yes, by all means, clear it with Leonard. Just make sure you make him promise to NOT tell Sheldon about our visit. I kinda want to surprise my husband by just showing up."

Penny put the magazine back and grabbed her friend by the arm, "Hey, I've got an idea, Nik!"

"What?"

Penny was almost jumping in her seat as she shared her thoughts, "Let's surprise them both by showing up at that dinner. I'm thinking they could both use a gorgeous woman on their arms."

Niki threw her friend a wry smile and informed her, "Speak for yourself, girlfriend. I'm not gorgeous."

At her friend's remark, Penny looked a bit confused and amused as well. She responded to it quickly with, "You haven't looked in a mirror lately, have you? You're not actress gorgeous, but your eyes are amazing and your complexion and hair are flawless. With your height and weight, well, you'd make a perfect model."

Niki gave a soft chuckle, "Penny, I'm a little long in the tooth to be a model."

"Sweetie, you have aged very well. You don't look a day past thirty-five."

Niki's eyes got a far-away look as she mused, "Whatever. I'm just kind of curious as to how I stack up against Dr. Heather Powers."

The pretty blonde reassured her friend with, "Rest easy, girl. Leonard showed me a picture of her. She's tall and thin, like you, but her eyes don't have the sparkle yours do. She's got very sharp features and doesn't have freckles like you do. God, Sheldon always goes on and on about your freckles."

"Yeah, he's told me my freckles were the first thing that attracted him to me. I don't know why."

Penny shook her head disbelievingly "They're cute, that's why. They're in just the right place on your face, just a few on your cheeks and the bridge of your nose. They make you look kinda impish, without being too much. I mean, your face isn't covered with them or anything. They're just part of you and Sheldon loves them. Look, you're prettier than Powers, if that means anything to you."

"I guess."

Penny sighed and continued, "Look, to Sheldon, you are the most beautiful woman in the world. God knows he tells Leonard that all the time."

Niki looked over at her friend in shock, "He does?" she squealed.

"Yep. When Sheldon is in love, he doesn't see anyone but the object of his affections. That's why I believe he saw that Powers woman as just another scientist he could talk to. Nothing more."

Niki hastily explained her reaction, "I get that. I just never knew Sheldon told other people I was beautiful."

Penny threw her friend a look of exasperation she usually saved for Sheldon, "Nik, the man's batting waay outta his league and he knows it. Let's just say most of the time he appreciates it. Leonard was just telling me the other day…"

Niki cut her off with, "I don't believe in 'leagues', Penny. Sheldon and I are a good match. Like you and Leonard, we just fit together very well. I understand him and he understands me. Plus…"

"The sex is good?"

Niki frowned, looked over at her daughter, and vaguely replied, "Yeah, something like that."

Penny gave a hearty laugh and rose from her seat on the couch, "Anyway, I've gotta go home. I've got Bernie over and she's watching Blake for me."

Niki got up as well and began to walk her friend to the door, "Okay, girl. I'll call you with all the info when I've made our reservations. Oh, when is that dinner?"

Penny quickly checked the calendar on her phone, "Let's see…February nineteenth, just before they leave for home. So, in a week from now."

Niki thought for a moment and then asked, "Gotcha. Hmmm…I want to get Sheldon's meds to him asap. Do you think we could stay for a few days over there?"

"I don't see why not. I've got permission from the producers to Skype my rehearsals in. They've had a booking problem with some rock concert or another, so the opening night's been delayed another week. That works in our favor."

"Yep, it sure does. Okay, go back to Bernie and Blake and I'll call you when everything is settled."

Penny walked out the door and then stopped and turned to ask, "Okay. And Nic?"

"Yeah?"

"This is going to be so much fun!"

Niki leaned against the doorframe and replied, "I sure hope so, Penny. I sure hope so."

Will everything go off without a hitch?Well, since I'm the author of this story, I would rather doubt it.What could go wrong?Wait and see.