Circle the Drain Chapter two
"Hi Penny. I am outta here; will you be ok?" Penny looked up from her newspaper and waved "See you later, Sol"
Penny laughed Sol Watson. The way he talked, he could have just stepped out of an old 'B' movie.
Penny looked up as a shadow fell across the table.
"Well, look who it is? Slumming it, are we Howard?"
"Hi Penny. How've you been?" Howard could not meet Penny's gaze.
"How've I been?" Penny stood and walked behind the bar, She nodded to the empty room
"Not the step up from the Cheesecake Factory I hoped for," She snapped. How the fuck do you think I've been, Howard? I've been alone!".
"Penny, you're upset-I get that- but it was your choice to be alone" Penny started to wipe the bar down. She kept her thoughts to herself. Howard and Raj were no company for her.
"Penny we were all friends once. What happened to you?"
"What happened? Howard, I'll tell you what happened- YOU ALL LEFT ME!" Penny could feel her eyes starting to sting but she could not allow herself to cry maybe later when she was alone. Alone.
"Look, Howard, what do you want? I have work to do." Howard glanced around the nearly empty bar but didn't comment.
"Sheldon's in the hospital" Howard finally said.
Even as Howard was speaking, Penny's expression had changed from one of total indifference to one of shock and concern.
"Oh my god."
" Missy called me. She tried calling you but you changed your number. He had a mild stroke there was bleeding into his brain"
Penny had turned and was staring out the window. Howard was still talking.
"He's in a coma. They're not sure if he'll wake up."
"Thanks for letting me know, Howard." Her voice was cold and small.
"PENNY! This is Sheldon we're talking about. Our friend"
Penny turned her head to look at Howard, the shock was wearing off a little now "Come off it, Howard. You never liked Sheldon so cut out the hurt friend act"
Howard grinned and nodded his head "You're right, Penny. I never liked the nut bag but then again I never loved him".
Penny's head turned as if she had been slapped across the face.
"What are you talking about? There was never anything between Sheldon and me"
"Ever find the time to tell Leonard that?"
"Go to hell, Howard."
"Look, Penny, Raj and I are flying down to see Sheldon. We booked three seats"
Howard placed an envelope on the bar and walked toward the door.
"Howard, I can't just leave."
Howard looked around the bar " I can see why you would want to stay"
"Howard, I don't have the…" Howard cut in.
"Penny, the ticket is paid for -use it, tear it up. Whatever?"
As Howard got to the door, he turned, "Penny if anything happens to Sheldon and you're not there, could you live with yourself?"
Penny watched Howard leave the bar, the tears that she had held back flowed down her face. She looked at the envelope on the bar. He was right.
Missy was at the airport to meet them. Penny went to hug Missy "Oh Missy I'm so sorry" Penny could see by how red Missy's eyes were that she had been crying.
"Penny, honey, I'm just so glad you and the boys could get here in time"
"Is it that bad?" Penny could see Missy was close to tears again.
"It's bad but you're here now" Missy was trying her best to smile.
"Howard, go with Raj and get our bags I'll stay with Missy". As the two walked away, Penny took hold of Missy's hand
"Missy did Sheldon ever talk about me before this happened?" Penny's voice was almost a whisper.
"All the time, honey, all the time".