Chapter Three – The Phone Call.

Leonard drove back from the hospital. He'd stuck the radio on, not for the music but to block out the silence that seemed to be following him everywhere. He had to remain positive. But what is positive about what had happened? It was something traumatic. He braked at the lights, waiting for them to change. He was still very much lost in thought, or rather denial of the whole thing. He didn't want to believe it had actually happened but the evidence lay under the shirt he was wearing, under the jacket he was currently wearing. The bruises. That still very much covered the upper part of his body. He wasn't sure if his legs were covered in them to. He didn't want to find out. The lights changed at last and finally Leonard was on the way home to the apartment. He cut the ignition of his car.

Shortly later and got out. Locking the car as he did so, before heading up the short pathway to the entrance of the block of flats. Just as a ringing caught his attention he took out his phone, and noticed 'Penny' flashing up on the screen as it continued to ring, he felt a wave of guilt over come him, as he made a two second guess at what button he pressed. He took a deep breath in,

'Hey Leonard' Penny's voice echoed into his ear. 'Hey' Leonard replied as calmly as possible, 'You okay?' he asked. As long as she was okay. Then he was okay. 'I'm fine, hope I'm not calling at a bad time' Penny tells him, he can hear the guilt emotion in her voice. Making him feel even guiltier than ever before.

'Leonard' she repeats his name. It sounds alien to him, 'Huh?' is his response as he's brought out of his thoughts. 'You okay?' she asks. 'I'm fine' Leonard tells her in the exact same tone as he did the doctor. He'd been saying this a lot now. That it was almost true.

'Listen Penny' Leonard says before he can stop himself. He's not exactly sure about where he's going with this.

'Yeah...' She replies. He goes quiet for a moment before finding his voice.

'There's something I've been meaning to tell you…' he begins each word getting stuck in his throat.

'What is it?' Penny tells him.

'I…I'm back at home' Leonard tells her. He hears her gasp.

'But Leonard, I thought you said…never mind I'm coming straight over' she tells him.

'Penny. I'm not across the hall' he tells her.

'What do you mean?' she asks him,

'Something-g-g happened while I was away. And I'm not home. I'm somewhere much quieter. 'Leonard tells her, he breathes a fresh of air, and she finally knows that I'm no longer away.

'Well where are you?' she asks him, he can hear the suspicion in her voice.

'I'll give you the address but please don't tell the other guys' Leonard tells her.

'What am I supposed to say when they ask?' Penny replies.

'I don't know. Think of something' he tells her. He knows he shouldn't be telling her this.

'Okay.' She replies. Before confirming the address he had given her.

Which he tells her is correct, 'I'll see you shortly then?' Leonard says trying to sound as normal as possible.

'Sure. Oh and Leonard. I've really missed you' Penny tells him.

'I've missed you too' he tells her, before they both say they're goodbyes and hang up. A lump forming quickly in his throat.