Chapter 18 - The Party

The unbearable need to get air, slowly disappeared and everything seemed to go into slow motion as the pain dulled. Leonard in the back of his hazy mind knew people felt like that at the end before their mind shut down from lack of oxygen, it was almost peaceful. However his peaceful end was broken when suddenly in seemed like Penny's face was in front of him. It was his Penny too, she had short hair and even though he only saw her face, he somehow knew she was pregnant, but what was disturbing was she was crying and trying to talk to him he couldn't hear her. He was trying so hard to understand her, what she was saying, he kept struggling to hear her, then suddenly her words came loud and clear to him. 'Leonard don't do this baby, don't do this to us, use your inhaler honey, please I love you, don't leave me, use your inhaler'. Leonard was having trouble thinking, he couldn't stand Penny crying and he so didn't want to leave her and if using his inhaler would somehow make her stay there, he thought, he pushed the inhaler button, once, twice, three times.

Suddenly Penny was gone, as pain came back to his lungs, he tried to scream her name, but he was choking, trying to gasp for air, and slowly while grabbing for lungs full of air, the room came back into his view. He was back in his nightmare, trying to suck in as much air as possible as the medicine in the inhaler took effect, opening his airways. Leonard sat their gasping for over 15 minutes before finally he could actually breathe a little normally again. His heart also started to slow to normal and his lungs stopped hurting so bad, and as he came back, he knew he had suffered a hallucination, his own mind tricking him to save himself. He felt he was a coward, he was a coward for trying to kill himself to escape, a coward for then not going through with it, and he put his head in his hands as the tears started to form in his eyes again.

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Sheldon's mind raced as Penny led him into the one of the university areas they used as a banquet room, which was now decorated for a party. Inside there was a huge banner overhead reading 'Congratulations Dr Cooper' and other signs saying Nobel Prize winner in Physics, along with food and drinks and a large amount of people. Sheldon could barely get into the room before him and Penny were mobbed, however everyone seemed to know him well and his feelings about things, they didn't crowd him too much and they limited their touching, to his surprise. It was actually pleasant, people were honoring him and he couldn't help feeling pride that these people were finally recognizing his work and he was getting the respect he felt he deserved.

"Dr Cooper, being escorted into your Nobel Prize party by a beautiful actress. You really must be on top of the world right now and justly deserved, I must say."

Sheldon turned in surprise to Siebert's voice, surprised when he saw the man smiling at him after giving him a complement. "Thank you President Siebert, I am quite happy, I have to admit."

"Good. Like I said well deserved. Remember our meeting on your accomplishment, coming up Monday, the board would like to make you an offer concerning your continued presence here at Cal Tech." Siebert reminded him.

Sheldon was a little surprised, Siebert was gracious and extremely nice to him, something Sheldon was not use to. "Yes President Siebert I won't forget."

"Well I won't monopolize your time, because I know there are more people that want to congratulate you, so I will see you later." Then Siebert smiled at Penny. "Penelope, your presence is always welcomed, thank you for coming." Siebert then turned and left.

Penny smiled and nodded, but as soon as Siebert was gone she sighed. "I guess I should have really come around much more over the last year." She then looked up at Sheldon, a sad apologetic expression on her face. "I am really sorry I didn't."

Sheldon tensed, again not knowing exactly what to say. "Well being an actress keeps you busy, doesn't it?" Sheldon hoped he was saying the right thing.

Penny nodded, "But married to a member of the School's faculty is important too, don't you think?"

Penny looked really sad to Sheldon and he wondered why, "Well maybe you could adjust your schedule some in the future." he hoped that was a general statement that would not get him in trouble.

Penny sighed again, "You are probably right, I need to do something, I really need to support my husband." Penny then looked up at Sheldon with a weak smile and a little nod.

Sheldon immediately got scared, was he suppose to kiss her now, he had never kissed Penny, on the lips before, only Amy and he didn't think he could do it. However, she looked at him for only a second or two and then turned her face to look ahead again. Maybe she didn't kiss him in public he thought, maybe they didn't do that because it was something Sheldon didn't do. Penny as his wife would know that and would cater to his desires, wouldn't she? He really hoped that was so, he didn't want to screw up with her in public where more people would question his not standard behavior.

"Hey dumbass." Sheldon knew that voice anywhere and turned to look at Leslie trying think of a quick response back. Sheldon wasn't ready for what happened next, when he actually turned towards her.

Leslie wrapped her arms around her friend and squeezed him, she was so happy for him today. "Congratulations Sheldon, you so deserved this."

Sheldon was in shock, both from being hugged and that Leslie was actually being nice to him, he didn't know what to do so went with a standard response, "Thank You."

Leslie let go of him just as quickly as she grabbed him. "Sorry Sheldon, I know you don't like surprise hugs, but I had to do it, I'm so happy for you."

Sheldon was actually a little touched, but quickly dismissed it as being too hippy-dippy, even if it was Leslie that was being happy for him. "Again thank you Leslie."

Leslie chuckled, "It is sort of nice, two friends, acting like adults, instead of me calling you 'dumbass' and you calling me 'blockhead', isn't it."

Sheldon had his second surprised, they were friends and they had nicknames for each other, things had really changed. "Yes of course, 'blockhead'."

Leslie laughed and even Penny giggled a little, Sheldon smiled a little at his own impromptu joke being taken so well. "Well I better get going, I know there are more people who want to talk to you and I get to see you every day at work and they don't." Leslie gave him a big smile and a wink. "Bye Sheldon." her sing-song voice actually sounded a little flirty, which surprised Sheldon because he didn't usually recognize things like that.

He was still thinking about that when Penny looked back up at him with a frown on her face. The frown then changed to a very stern look as she began to speak to him, "Sheldon be careful with that girl, she is the type that can ruin a marriage, you understand me." Sheldon could tell a strong warning when he heard it, and Penny was definitely warning him to stay away from Leslie. Sheldon was so not use to a girl being extremely jealous over him, especially a girl like Penny, so he just nodded to Penny's demand.

The next ten minutes several other people came to congratulate him, a couple he knew and a couple he didn't but Penny did. She saved him from embarrassing himself and with his eidetic memory once he knew their name and face he was fine. He also listened to them talk to Penny too, trying to learn more about his wife, as they spoke. It seems Penny was a successful TV star with a show currently running that everyone seemed to like. She also hadn't been around the university over the last year for a reason that seemed awkward because everyone seemed to purposely avoid it. Penny also seemed to get a little quiet whenever they got close to that reason, Sheldon hoped that reason came out soon because if it didn't and she brought it up, he was screwed.

The next person that stopped to talk to Sheldon was Kripke and like in his time Kripke knew him and Penny pretty well. Kripke had just commented how is was nice to see Penny after so long, when Sheldon thought of an idea to try and find out what was the reason for her actions over the last year. "Well Barry she has been very busy the last year." Sheldon offered, immediately sensing he said something wrong when Kripke gave him a stunned look, then quickly apologized because he had to leave for some reason.

The next minute, after Kripke left, remained very quiet, Sheldon knew he had said something very wrong and was getting more and more nervous, until Penny looked back a Sheldon, a sad look on her face and in her eyes. "Sheldon, I'm really sorry that happened, I didn't mean for it to happen, please can we not mention it?" Penny was almost in tears.

Sheldon didn't have a clue what she was talking about, but she was obviously really upset, he could even tell that, by just looking at her. Penny not wanting to talk about whatever it was that was upsetting her, was actually a relief and made Sheldon relax a little, it would also give him time to find out what it is later. Sheldon however did notice that she seemed to act like whatever happened was her fault, so Sheldon figured he was safe for a while and if she asked him about it before he found out, he could use the same excuse as her, he didn't want to talk about it. Sheldon forced himself to relax inside as he realized he was out of trouble for now, "Okay of course."

The next ten minutes was the same as the previous 10 except now Penny seemed nervous, Sheldon thinking it had to do with this thing with her that she didn't want to talk about. He just kept his answers to other people short and tried to really listen when they talked to gather as much information on this timeline and his place in it. He did notice however, that Penny kept looking around while they talked and was preoccupied, which made him wonder if it was because of her problem or her feelings toward Leslie.

It was at that point Siebert returned looking a little bit confused, "Have either of you seen my Dean of Physics? I thought for sure he would be here by now, especially with both of you here."

Sheldon was at a loss, he had no idea who the Dean was in this timeline and was beginning to start feel scared again, until Penny saved the day again. "I only saw Leonard for a minute when I got Sheldon." She then looked up at Sheldon. "Did he was when he was coming to the party?" her face was covered in concern.

Sheldon shook his head, "I'm not sure he will be coming President Siebert, he was not feeling to well, so he might not even show." He caught the surprised expression on Penny's face, with his peripheral vision as he told Siebert that.

Siebert, nodded, obviously thinking, "I understand, well it was still nice seeing you Penelope and of course Dr Copper, congratulations again. Siebert then walked away.

Penny turned to Sheldon immediately after Siebert got out of ear shot, "What is going on, you told me Leonard would be up here shortly. What did he actually tell you Sheldon, I know you two are close friends, spill it." Penny seemed extremely agitated to Sheldon concerning Leonard, which took him back and made him wonder, was she now mad at him or mad at Leonard.

Being worried about screwing up and putting some truth in his response to her made it possible for him to lie better. "I'm not really sure he is coming up Penny, I just told you what I think was going to happen before. He is not feeling well."

Sheldon watched Penny's face turn from anger to concern, as she continued to look at him, "You should have been more honest with me Sweetie, he has been….sick a lot the last year and…you just should have been more honest." All Sheldon thought of doing was to nod in agreement, as he wonder again what was going on. However he was surprised when Penny looked around the room again then looked at him, "Sheldon I have to go for a little bit, please excuse me." and then just started to walk away, her face having a far away look on it while she walked.

Sheldon was now more confused, why was she leaving, she was his wife she was suppose to cater to him, plus he knew Penny better than anyone else here, which was comforting at this moment, and she was actually his way out of here, plus probably his ride home. "I will see you later?" he said at her retreating back.

Penny stopped and nodded, "Later…?" she seemed to think for a moment. "Sure Sweetie." she then continued to walk off.

Sheldon again thought it seemed weird his wife would just walk off like that after talking about Leonard, Sheldon now wondered if he made her mad, Penny was always a bit of a hot head, so maybe she was angry with him. Sheldon was mulling that over in his mind, when he suddenly felt a pair or arms circle his waist, for the second time since he got to the party, again surprising him. He quickly overcame his surprise and became angry as he thought of Leslie and what Penny said, thinking she probably watched Penny leave so thought this was okay now. He looked down at the obvious female arms surrounding his waist and turned in them to give Leslie a piece of his mind, after everything that had happened the last few minutes, he didn't want Penny to get anymore mad at him, especially over Leslie.

However, Sheldon never expected to see who he did when he turned, and his heart leaped when he looked down at the person smiling up at him. He found himself in shock and filled with happiness at the same time as he just stared at her, a smile forming on his own face to match hers. They just stood there and smiled at each other for a few minutes until Sheldon finally composed himself, knowing he had no idea his status with her was now. So he took a big breath in before he began talking, "It is good to see you Amy." He tried to sound formal addressing her but he couldn't help himself from still feeling the excitement that she was there and they knew each other, even in this timeline.