Chapter 2
Penny bid the final customers goodnight with a radiant smile.
It was officially the holiday shopping season and that meant good business, happy customers and great tips. The Cheesecake Factory had been brimming with people, and she was glad that her shift is finally over.
Taking her apron off, she went to the back to clock out, excited that she'll be able to satiate her grumbling stomach once she gets home.
"Penny?" Her boss poked his head around the doorframe.
"I'm in here Chuck. Was about to clock out, what's up?"
He approached her and, with slight hesitation, he handed her the phone.
"It's for you. And, I just wanna let you know…that if you need anything, just come talk to me and I'll do what I can."
"Oh..kay.." She gave his retreating form a quizzical look before bringing the phone to her ear. "Hello?"
"Penny?" It was Howard.
"Oh hey Howard. Listen, I'm about to-"
"You need to come to the hospital, Penny. Like, right now. Raj is already here and Leonard is on his way."
"W-what? Why?" She became only slightly aware of the cold, sinking feeling that started to bloom in her chest. Anything that included an urgency to be at a hospital never boded well.
"It's Sheldon…" Howard mumbled something she didn't catch. Sheldon? Was he sick? No…if he were sick, he would be at home. Abandoned. Alone. He would have made the call himself. "Just, please get here. We're in the E.R."
Wait…E.R.?
"What happened to Sheldon, Howard? Howard?" He had hung up on her and, dropping everything, raced to her car.
Within fifteen minutes, Penny arrived into the hospital. She approached the nurse's station, craning her neck to see if she could spot a familiar face amongst the people in the waiting room, but there were many who needed to be seen and the rooms had curtains drawn.
"Excuse me, but I'm looking for a patient. His name is Sheldon. Sheldon Cooper?"
The nurse turned to the board behind him and he looked back at her. "He's in room 32B. Are you family, miss?"
"No, I'm…I'm his friend. But I got a call, and I really have to see him." She wrought her cold fingers together, hoping that she would be allowed inside, although she didn't understand why.
Because Sheldon is your best friend. Because you care, her mind reasoned.
But before the nurse could answer, Leonard stepped out from one of the rooms.
"Penny! We tried calling you earlier but your phone's been dead...I got here a few minutes ago." Turning to the nurse, he said, "It's alright. She's with me." For a brief moment, Penny felt affronted by his comment, but she said nothing as the nurse granted her permission to head inside.
Leonard extended his arm and gently placed a hand on her shoulder, shepherding her into the room.
The sight that greeted her dealt a blow to her stomach.
Howard and Raj were sitting by Sheldon's body, covered in tubes and wires that were monitoring his vitals and providing sustenance via I.V. drips. From where she stood she could see the bloodied gauze and plaster that seemed to be holding his body together.
Penny approached the bed and saw his face…His face was riddled with cuts and bruises. A small gasp escaped from her lips.
Leonard broke the silence. "It was a hit-and-run. Few witnesses saw the accident, and they haven't caught the driver yet. The doctor said he's lucky to still be alive."
She sat next to Howard, silent, her eyes never leaving the broken form before her.
"…There were some fractures in his ribs, and a dislocated shoulder. Everything is-"
"Everything is going to be ok? He'll wake up and be good ol' Sheldon, right?" Her eyes searched his, and Leonard looked down.
Howard shook his head. "No. There was massive head trauma. There's some cerebral swelling. Penny…he's in a coma. He won't…can't wake up."
He wrapped his arms around her tightly when she began to cry, and she didn't mind because the only thought that went through her mind was that this was her fault.