Hey you guys, continue the Warning: Rape. Please review. :)
Sheldon was clutching his mobile phone in his hand, desperately trying not to dial his friend and tell him to leave his dinner date to come home. He heard a noise in the hallway and his mental alert system went to red. He got up from his seat and went to the door, peering through the peephole. Then he saw them. His heart started racing, his hands began shaking, and his eyes began to water. It was them, the three men from the alleyway. He can tell from their build, and they were wearing what appeared to be similar outfits from that day. They were right behind the door. Sheldon whimpered involuntarily as he couldn't stop staring through the peephole. They were at Penny's door, and one of them pointed to Sheldon's and Leonard's door, immediately frightening Sheldon, who clutched his chest and his phone. It was like a deer in the headlights, Sheldon couldn't move, barely could breathe. He began hearing someone behind the door fiddling with the doorknob, Sheldon's eyes went wide, and began slowly backing away, shaking his head, this can't be happening. He heard a click of the door, and felt extremely helpless, a tear escaped his eye as he waited for the inevitable to happen. They had unlocked two of the locks on the door, including the bolt. All that was left was the chain, the door opened but it was stopped by the chain. Sheldon snapped into his senses, and realized he had his phone in his hand, he has to call for help. The door moved and slammed open, breaking the chain. Sheldon's fingers couldn't work the buttons on his phone fast enough before one of the intruders grabbed him and his phone, throwing both to the ground. Sheldon scrambled up, trying desperately to get away from his attackers, who were entirely too fast for him. They grabbed him by the ankles, dragging him to the center of the room, flipping him on his back and pinning his arms above him.
"Well, what a coincidence, haven't we met before?" one of the large men said as he sat on top of him. Sheldon squirmed, more tears running down the side of his head. "I truly enjoyed our encounter last time sweet cheeks, maybe we can play again lover" Sheldon shook his head vigorously, as the man undid Sheldon's belt, and trousers. Another man pulled his trousers and underwear completely off, the thinner man began screaming but his underwear stifled his cries as it was shoved into his mouth. "Don't worry, this is gonna hurt just as much as it did last time" the large man said, as he positioned himself, with the other two men holding Sheldon's legs open and his arms above his head. He felt an intense pain and squeezed his eyes shut. He heard himself screaming.
"SHELDON!" Leonard called out to him. Sheldon woke suddenly, sweat on his brow, trembling, eyes bloodshot. "Sheldon," Leonard started before his friend broke down, for the first time after a nightmare, he had broken down without holding back. He had seen Sheldon cry before, but he was usually able to keep his cool after a nightmare, but this was different. He held his friend, and the taller man sobbed uncontrollably on his shoulder, making it wet, completely unaware of his other friends witnessing his emotional expression. They were stunned, had no idea what to do, and looked to Leonard to make their next move. He motioned for them to leave the apartment and give Sheldon his space, and they complied, going into Penny's apartment instead. "Sheldon" Leonard called his name when he began hearing Sheldon come back into reality. "Sheldon what happened?" Sheldon sniffed, trying to regain his composure.
"A nightmare" Sheldon said, looking at Leonard with desperation. "I'm scared, Leonard, I'm terrified it's going to happen again"
"Sheldon, it's time to go to therapy, I will go with you if it makes you feel better" Sheldon shook his head no. Leonard was frustrated, he struggled to see his friend in such a state. "I know that you hate feeling like this and you don't want to have the nightmares anymore but-"
"But I can't let anyone else know" Sheldon said sadly, "please".
"Sheldon" Leonard sighed "Penny, Howard and Bernadette were standing here when you came out of your nightmare, they heard you scream and plead, they know something's up." Sheldon's breath hitched.
"Do you think they'll tell Amy?"
"I don't know" Leonard wasn't sure if Penny or Bernadette had already texted Amy letting her know of what they witnessed. "if they did, it will be okay"
"It will be okay? I can't let my girlfriend know what was done to me?!" Sheldon was not just scared but now he was angry that Amy could potentially find out and leave him. "I can't, she will hate me"
"She won't hate you Sheldon, why would she hate you?" Leonard tried to reason with Sheldon.
"I was sexually assaulted, Leonard, if you were my girlfriend, would you want to touch me ever again?" Sheldon said to Leonard as if this was a reasonable thing to think. Leonard was irritated.
"No, Sheldon, if I were your girlfriend I would want to be there for you when you're going through something difficult and I'd like to think you would feel the same way about me!" Leonard had trouble empathizing with Sheldon's rationale as to why he can't tell his closest friends that he's struggling.
"I do feel the same about you" Sheldon said matter of factly, sounding much like his old self, calming Leonard right down.
"Oh, well…Good" Leonard was stumped. "Now what?"
"I need to go to bed" Sheldon said, looking at his watch. "It's after 11pm" as if he didn't just experience another traumatic nightmare.
"Sheldon" Leonard called out, stopping the taller man in the middle of the hallway, looking back at the shorter man "I'm here for you". Sheldon nodded and continue to head back to his room. Leonard shook his head and left the apartment heading over to Penny's.
At Penny's, Howard and Bernadette were sitting on Penny's couch, while Penny drank wine in her chair. All were very silent when Leonard walked into the room. All eyes turned to him for an explanation of they just witnessed. The first to speak was Penny.
"Is he okay?" Penny looked concerned. Leonard nodded.
"Yeah, he just had a nightmare that's all" Leonard replied attempting to avoid eye contact.
"It is really all?" Howard was suspicious.
"That's really all that you need to know" Leonard said, trying not to be a jerk about it.
"We're just worried about him, I don't think any of us have ever seen him like this" Bernadette commented.
"Apparently, Leonard has" Howard said pointing out how calmly he handled Sheldon's outburst. Leonard sighed.
"I wish I hadn't" Leonard was sad, sad that his friend had to endure the pain, sad that he felt alone in the situation, sad that he was restricted on telling anyone else even for his own mental health. "Look, all I can say is that, Sheldon experienced something traumatic, and he's going through the symptoms, he doesn't want anyone to know about it, and doesn't want to talk about it, and most importantly he doesn't want to be treated any differently"
"What happened?" Penny was really concerned at this point.
"I can't, I can't tell you Penny, or anyone else for that matter, he had made me promise not to reveal it. I'm sorry, I know how frustrating this can be, but it's Sheldon's wish and I feel that we probably should respect his privacy and wish" His friends reluctantly nodded, in unison. Leonard was satisfied with his speech and knew he needed to go back home.
Two years passed since the incident occurred and Sheldon's symptoms seemed to have reduced except for the occasional nightmare, he had seemed to return to his regular self, successfully carrying the secret with him throughout these years. Leonard kept to his word, and was there whenever Sheldon needed him to be, and respected his friend's privacy. Amy and his other companions never found out what the trauma was, and didn't pursue finding out to Sheldon's relief.
Sheldon woke up one morning, having a nightmareless goodnight sleep, and felt compelled to discuss his history with Leonard. Leonard was not expecting a morning filled with angst, and emotion, but he received it anyway, from the least person he expected. Sheldon.
"Leonard, I need to speak with you" Sheldon said coming out of his room in a nice suite. Leonard was sipping his coffee where he normally does, and turned toward his friend.
"What is it?"
"It's about what happened to me two years ago" Leonard didn't expect this and remained silent. "The sexual assault" as if Leonard didn't know what he was talking about.
"Yes, I figured that's what you meant" Leonard said slightly stunned by the sudden expression.
"I want to test your hypothesis with Amy" Leonard was a bit groggy this morning, and his mental capacities were not alert enough for a conversation like this in the morning.
"What hypothesis?" Leonard was beyond confused.
"The one where you theorized that Amy will not think I'm disgusting, but will instead tell me that she cares about me and wishes to help me anyway she can" Sheldon said bluntly.
"Oh right, that hypothesis" Leonard mocked remembrance.
"Today, will mark the two year anniversary of the incident, and I want to talk to Amy about it" Leonard was shocked, he didn't think that Sheldon ever wanted to talk about it, he just assumed that he will take it to his grave.
"Oh, um…Okay Sheldon, - Can I ask a question though?" Leonard was curious what brought on this sudden change of heart.
"If I'm going to spend the rest of my life with Amy, I want her to know everything there is to know about me. As of yet, she doesn't. I want to be honest with her, and if she wants to leave me because of this, I guess I have no choice but to reside to the fact that I am damaged goods and accept it as my fate" Sheldon stated clearly. Leonard was reluctant to answer this, wanting to reassure that Amy won't leave him because of what happened, and reassuring him that he is not damaged goods, but had difficulty getting the words out. Observing Leonard's silence Sheldon questioned "was that the question that you wanted to ask?" Leonard hesitated and nodded.
"But Sheldon, you…you aren't damaged goods" He was trying to save his friend from the disturbing thoughts that he is no longer of any use to anyone because of his experience.
"Nevertheless, I need to talk to her about this" Sheldon waved his hand.
"When?" Leonard was curious
"I guess now whenever she picks me up, we're going on our monthly morning date" Sheldon said smiling. Leonard paused,
"Woah, wait, you're going to tell her about your trauma over your morning breakfast date!? Do you really think that's a good idea?"
"Why not? It's the perfect time. We're alone, it's quiet, we're at a public restaurant"
"Sheldon, you don't know how she's going to take this, you can't expect her to abide by the same rules that you gave me before you told me the truth"
"Again, why not?"
"Because normally people don't work that way!" Leonard was frustrated with Sheldon's lack of knowledge of how this will affect his girlfriend. "I had a really hard time following your requests"
"You didn't do a good job at it"
"Sheldon it was difficult! I tried my best, but I can't act as if this isn't something huge and life changing"
"I don't want it to change my life, that's why I need to tell her, to get it off of my chest"
"I know, but you need to find a way to do it discretely, and not on your date in a public area"
"But today marks the-"
"Anniversary of the incident, I know I know, but can't you at least wait until you two got home" Leonard pleaded. He knew if Sheldon revealed this to Amy in a public restaurant, who knows how Amy is going to react and then it will be humiliating for Sheldon. Sheldon paused for a moment, considering this.
"Alright, I will wait" Sheldon finally said, Leonard let out a sigh of relief.