Leonard paced back and forth in his living room checking his phone every 15 seconds. The last text from Penny said that she finally got Amy out of bed, dressed and they just left for Bernadette and Howard's house.
Earlier that day after Leonard got off the phone with Penny and Bernadette at work, he went to find Raj and Howard and fill them in on everything that had happened and about the plan to get Sheldon and Amy back together. Bernadette had already told Howard about Amy keeping the kiss a secret from Sheldon but Raj was stunned.
"Do you think the kiss meant something to her?" Raj had asked.
"I don't think so" said Leonard. "Why would you think that?"
"Because she kept it a secret for so long. And because she was making "goo-goo" eyes at that guy last night at the party" he said.
"Really?" said Leonard. "I didn't see her doing that."
"To be fair, you couldn't really see much of anything in those contacts" joked Raj.
"Ha, Ha" said Leonard.
"No, I think Raj is right" Howard said. "I saw her and she was not acting normal. Or at least not normal for Amy" he smirked. "She was…I think she was trying to flirt with him or something."
Now as he continued to pace in the apartment, Leonard could not stop thinking about Howard and Raj's comments on Amy's behavior. Flirting was definitely not normal behavior for Amy. Leonard hoped that Amy keeping her kiss a secret from Sheldon wasn't because she really did have feelings for another man. Or worse, something more than just a kiss happened between them. That was not cool, he thought. Sheldon was his best friend and, as much as he liked Amy, he would have a hard time supporting them getting back together if she had cheated on him.
Leonard looked at his phone again. But until I hear differently, I'm all in for Operation Save Shamy. Let's do this, he thought.
"Sheldon, oh no Sheldon!" Leonard called to Sheldon's room. "You have to come help, please".
Leonard heard Sheldon open his old bedroom door and come into the living room. He was still in his pajamas. "What's wrong Leonard?" he asked.
"It's Howard. He's hurt." Leonard lied.
"Hurt? What happened?" asked Sheldon with concern.
"I'm not sure Bernadette didn't say exactly but she said we need to come over right away? She's alone and scared" Leonard lied again.
"Well, I guess, but can't Penny go. I mean she's better than any of us in a crisis situation" Sheldon scowled.
"No, she can't go. She's, um," Leonard hesitated to come up with another plausible lie. "She's staying with Amy, remember".
"Oh, of course. But I do not have any clothes here. I do not want to go next door" he said sadly.
"Penny brought these over earlier" Leonard said as he handed him some clothing. "Amy picked them out" he said quietly.
Sheldon took them. Amy, he thought. Always taking care of me. Always making sure I have what I need. "Thank you" he choked out. He cleared his throat. "Tell Bernadette, we will be right there. Just let me change and we can go. And see if you can find out what happened. We need to know which emergency supply kit we need to bring" he called from the hallway.
The ride over to Howard and Bernadette's house was not as bad as Leonard thought it would be. Normally Sheldon would be asking a myriad of questions about Howard's so-called "injury" that Leonard lied about but he was quiet. When they arrived, Sheldon grabbed his emergency kit and barreled through the front door.
"Alright, no need to panic Bernadette. We're here now…" Sheldon stopped talking upon entering the Wolowitz's living room. Amy was sitting on the couch. She jumped up when Sheldon entered the room.
Sheldon's heart started to flutter and he felt like sweat was forming on his forehead. What was she doing here? It looked like everyone was here. Penny was standing by Amy, Howard and Bernadette were on the couch and Raj was in the chair. But Leonard had told him that Bernadette was all alone. And that Howard threw his back out again and was lying on the floor. But clearly he was sitting on the couch and Bernadette was most certainly not alone.
"What is going on here?" Sheldon asked no one in particular. "Howard. I thought you were hurt."
Leonard came up behind him and put his hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry Sheldon but I lied. Howard is fine" he said.
Sheldon shook Leonard's hand from his shoulder and took a step back from him (and from Amy.)
"Oh, I see how it is" he snarled. "First my wife betrays me and then my best friend. When does it stop? Will everyone I know just suddenly turn into liars and cheats?" he yelled.
"Sheldon" Penny said coming toward him. "No one is a liar and a cheat. Leonard said that about Howard to get you over here so you would talk with Amy."
"Of course" he said. "More of her trickery and deceit. I should have known" he scoffed.
"Sheldon" Bernadette yelled "Amy had nothing to do with this. She didn't know you were going to be here either." She took a deep breath and rose from the couch. "Look, we're all going to go into kitchen and give you two some privacy. I suggest you take advantage of this opportunity and talk. You need to work this out. Now" she said.
Bernadette ushered everyone out of the living room leaving Amy and Sheldon staring blankly at each other. When they got to the kitchen they all crowded around the small table in the middle of the room.
"Howard, why is the baby monitor on the table?" Bernadette asked. "The kids aren't even here. They're still at my parents."
"Well, I thought it might come in handy so we could listen in" he replied as he turned on the monitor. It came to life with sounds emanating from the living room.
"Howard!" Bernadette chastised. "We can't do that! That would be wrong" she said as she scooted closer to the monitor.
Everyone scooted in closer around the table as they heard Amy begin to say something.
Amy stared at Sheldon. He looked awful. His eyes bloodshot and dull. She was worried about him.
"How are you?" Amy asked Sheldon finally. Her voice was horse. She couldn't believe he was standing here with her. She didn't know if she would see him again and now that she has, she didn't know what to say.
"Can't complain" Sheldon retorted. "And you?"
"Sheldon. I am doing awful" Amy whined. "Are you really saying you have nothing to complain about?" she asked.
"No" he said. "My statement was a reactionary common man reply to a common question" he said. "In reality, I am doing awful as well" he noted.
"Well can we talk about it?" she asked. "It looks like our friends went to a lot of trouble to give us an opportunity to talk." Amy knew she needed to tread carefully. To be patient with Sheldon.
"Amy, I do not have anything to say to you right now" Sheldon said angrily.
"Sheldon, I understand you are angry and you have every right to be upset that I kept something like this from you but I don't understand why you are treating me like I'm your enemy" Amy said. "I am sorry for keeping the kiss a secret from you."
"Why did you do it?" Sheldon asked.
"Why did I keep it a secret?" Amy clarified.
"Yes" he said. "If that kiss really did not mean anything to you, then why hide it?" he asked.
"Because I felt guilty Sheldon" she exhaled.
"You felt guilty because of the kiss" he said vindictively.
"I didn't feel guilty about the kiss Sheldon. He kissed me. I felt guilty about how I responded to the kiss. I felt guilty about what happened between the two of us that night, after he kissed me" she said looking towards the ground with her head down.
