Circle the Drain Chapter three
Penny sat next to Missy as she drove away from the airport.
"Penny, you can sleep at my place, ok?"
"Sounds good. What about the guys?" Penny nodded to Howard and Raj who were quietly sitting in the back.
"I've booked you at a hotel. It's clean you'll be ok."
Missy pulled into the hotel's parking lot. She turned to the men in the back.
"Howard, I'll be back in about an hour to take you and Raj to the hospital"
Penny looked sideways at Missy as they drove. There were so many questions she needed to ask but Penny was worried she would not like the answers.
"How's your mom taking all this, Missy?"
Penny was a little shocked at the look of resentment on Missy's face.
"Oh, Mama is, " Missy shook her head, "doing like she always does- praying to Jesus and hoping for doctors"
Penny put her hand on Missy's arm, and gave it a light squeeze, "And how are you doing, Missy?"
Missy was trying to smile but she was close to tears
"Me? Well, I'm praying for doctors and hoping for Jesus"
Missy had to pull off the road as she broke down, tears flowing down her face. Penny put her arms around Missy shoulders as she sobbed "Oh! Penny, if I lose Shelly…" As Penny hugged Missy she could not stop her own tears.
The tears had subsided by the time they arrived at Missy's house. It was small and set back on a quiet side road.
"Missy, can I grab a quick shower before we leave?"
"Sure, Honey. I'll show you the spare room"
As Penny sat on her bed drying her hair, she could hear Missy moving about in the kitchen. She thought about how things had changed over the last two days. How her life had changed. Penny still needed answers, and there was one question she could not put off any longer.
Missy was making coffee as Penny walked into the kitchen. "That smalls good Missy" Missy smiled at Penny
"Make the most of it, Honey. You don't want to drink the coffee at the hospital.
Penny stood drinking her coffee, working up the courage to ask Missy about Sheldon and Leonard.
"Missy, what happened with Sheldon? How did he get sick?"
"Didn't your friend Howard explain? The doctors think he may have had a stroke"
"And what else?"
"AND WHAT ELSE NOTHN! The doctors talked about bleeding in his head, that he could wake up tomorrow like nothing had happened". Missy was crying now tears rolling down her face.
"Missy we both know Sheldon. If he has a cold, he'll have an MRI done! He has doctors on speed dial, for god's sake. What happened to him?"
Missy had to sit down; she was worn out by crying for her Shelly.
"Penny that was the old Sheldon. A year ago, when he came home, he had changed. The only person he would talk to was Memaw"
"How is she? I had hoped to talk to her"
"You don't know? Memaw passed away last month"
"Oh my god Missy I'm so sorry" Oh! Sheldon
"Sheldon tried to phone your friend Leonard after the funeral but he hung up on Sheldon"
"But they were best friends?"
"All I know is Sheldon just closed down after the funeral, maybe he just needed to talk to Leonard. I don't know?"
Penny sat down and put her arm around Missy shoulder.
"Mom found him in his room the next day laid out in the centre of his bed just like! Like he was resting"
"Have you called Leonard, Missy?" Penny just left the question hanging in mid-air. She saw the anger burned in Missy's eyes at the very mention of his name.
"Yeah, I called him or I called his service"
"And?"
"Do you see him Penny! I called all the numbers in Sheldon's phone book only three of his friends turned up"
Penny sat trying to take in what had happened to her friends, still no closer to any answers
It was only a short drive to the hospital after picking up Howard and Raj, Penny was glad she had been shocked at Missy's reaction when she had asked about Leonard. How could she have been so blind not to see how Sheldon had felt about Leonard? About her.
Missy looked pensive as Penny tried to make small talk
"So, guys, how's your hotel?" Raj tried to smile and shrugged. Penny knew Howard would hate it but it was not about them now "It's not home but it'll do". Howard said.
As they walked up to Sheldon's hospital room, Penny tried to steel herself to what she would find. Sheldon looked as if he were just asleep; he was in his vampire position in the centre of the bed.
As they stood next to Sheldon's bed, Penny could see wires and tubes coming from under his blanket.
Howard pulled two chairs over "Here you two sit down. We'll be outside". Penny ran her finger along Sheldon's hand. She looked at Missy, "Would it be ok to hold his hand?"
"Sure, honey. That's why you're here"
Penny looked at Sheldon's face -he looked so peaceful, She thought back to when they would have a stand up argument about something silly "Oh, Sheldon. I wish you could hear me"
"They do say a person in coma will respond to vocal stimulus".
Penny and Missy both turned to the door
"Leonard! Where…" Penny was cut off by Missy
"You've got some nerve coming here"
Penny was not sure what to do. The look Missy was giving Leonard was pure hatred.
"Missy let's talk outside. You know Sheldon hates fighting"
Penny grinned as she realized what she had said.
They were all standing in the hallway "Ok, Leonard are you going to tell me what's going on?" Howard and Raj looked confused "Leonard, I called you. I even left a message with your mom"
"I know, Howard. Thanks for that. The first time my mother has called me in two years is to ask how Sheldon is"
Penny looked across at Missy. Sheldon's twin's hands were balled into fists as if she would haul off and punch Leonard at any moment.
"Look, Leonard, why are you here and why now?"
Leonard looked from Missy to Penny "Sheldon is my friend or he used to be. I had to pay my respects" Leonard had never taken his eyes off Penny's face as he spoke he was smiling? Howard grabbed Leonard's arm "Let's go get a drink. You coming, Raj?"
Penny and Missy were left standing in the corridor. Penny looked at Missy's face- she was white, her eyes were cold
"He was smiling, Penny. HE WAS SMILING!"
"Missy, will you please tell me what the hell is going on. When Leonard left for NEW YORK, Sheldon was still his friend so what happened?"
"Penny, you saw how Sheldon changed after Leonard left. You don't know this but Sheldon begged Leonard to come back" Penny followed Missy back into Sheldon's room
"Yes, but Leonard had to look after this dad"
Missy shook her head "Leonard's dads didn't need him. Don't you see, Penny", Missy was looking at Penny "He was jealous of you and Sheldon" Penny nodded, deep down she had always known. Just the little things the way Sheldon had made room in his life for her. The way he would smile at her when he thought no one was looking. Even when she was dating Leonard, she had spent more time with Sheldon than her boyfriend.
"He was punishing Shelly for daring to love you. Leonard knew it would tear Shelly apart. That he would have to choose between his best friend and the woman he loved?"
Penny was totally lost. Her head was spinning. She reached over and took Sheldon's hand.
"But if Sheldon loved me, why did he leave me alone? He never called or anything"
"Penny' come on. Leonard had been his friend for seven years. He moved out because Sheldon loved you" Penny just sat to stunned to speak. "I only found this out after Sheldon came home but Leonard said he would never come back as long as Sheldon still had feelings for you"
Penny was looking at Missy; she could feel the tears at the back of her eyes. Missy looked close to tears as well.
"Penny, you know Sheldon. He can't handle emotion. His best friend had left so?" Penny looked down at Sheldon's face.
"So he did the only thing he could- he ran-way"
"Penny" Howard was standing at the door; Penny stood and followed him out into the corridor.
"Leonard's left. Penny, I'm not sure what went down just now, but Raj and I didn't know Leonard was coming"
Penny tried to smile but it was getting harder. "It's ok, Howard. Missy will drive you back to the hotel. I'll stay awhile"
After Missy had left, Penny sat next to Sheldon's bed holding his hand tightly in hers. Penny smiled. Her head was clearer now than it had been in so long a time She was with Sheldon. Where she belonged and where she was staying.
Almost under her breath, Penny had started singing 'Soft Kitty. She sighed. How corny was that?
Penny woke to a hand stroking her hair. She didn't even remember falling asleep. Penny looked up and saw it was Sheldon who was stroking her hair.
"Hi Sheldon" was all Penny could say past the lump in her throat. She was crying and laughing at the same time. "I've missed you Sheldon" Sheldon looked at Penny with his soft blue eyes and a slight smile crossed his face.