Now that Howard knows, Sheldon has been asked a question he has wondered about himself. What will he do now? Does he wait for Penny to contact him, like she asked, or does he seek her out? You know Sheldon. He never acts spontaneously.

Sheldon powered down his laptop and slipped it into the case. He stood and looked around the bedroom. "Now or never," he murmured. He pulled on his jacket and walked out of the room.

Amy opened her door and smiled with surprise. "Hello, Sheldon. This is a pleasant surprise!"

Sheldon stepped inside and watched his girlfriend move to the couch. He sat down beside her and reached into his bag. He set the letter on the coffee table. "Amy, I have not been completely honest with you."

She looked at him warily. "What do you mean?"

Sheldon looked down for a second. "I have not lied to you, but I have concealed some things from you. I like you, Amy. You are smart, funny and attractive. But I do not desire you the way you desire me. I have always said that I am not comfortable with the casual intimacy most others indulge in on a daily basis. That is not completely true. There is one person whose touch I not only do not mind, but looked forward to. One person I care for immensely."

Amy gasped and clenched her hands. He could see the knowledge in her eyes and wondered how long she had suspected. "Why did you ask me out if you wanted Penny?"

Sheldon cleared his throat. "I asked Penny out. She assumed I did so out of jealousy over your date with Stuart. She was partly right. I was jealous of you and Stuart. I wanted what you and Stuart so casually tried. Only I wanted it with Penny. She pushed me to you and I let her. Because I had no idea what to do."

"You used me," Amy whispered.

Sheldon shook his head adamantly. "No! I truly do care about you, Amy. I regret what I am doing now. Because I hate to see you hurting. I really tried, to the best of my inadequate abilities, to love you like you deserve. The failure of this relationship is on my shoulders."

Sheldon took a deep breath. "Penny moved 5 weeks ago. She left Pasadena. I don't know where she went, or if she will ever come back. But I'm going to find her. I have a starting point. She went to visit my sister for a couple of days. I am going to go see Missy and try to find Penny." He looked at Amy's anguished face. "I love her, Amy. I can't be without her. I hope you will forgive me someday."

He stood and moved to the door. Amy's voice stopped him. "What if she doesn't love you?"

Sheldon shrugged. "At least I will know that I tried." Sheldon opened the door and stepped into the hall. He heard a harsh sob and placed his palm on Amy's door. Pain lanced through him to know it was his fault. He turned and made his way down the hall. He had four more stops to make.

He rapped sharply on the door. It opened and a teenage girl looked at him with a sneer. "Dad! It's the crazy guy again! Want me to set the dogs loose?"

Sheldon briefly considered trying to blow up her head. A moment later his boss appeared in the doorway.

"What do you want, Cooper?" President Seibert asked wearily.

Sheldon handed him some paperwork. "I am requesting a sabbatical. I have a personal issue that I must attend to."

Seibert looked at the papers. "Couldn't this have waited until morning?"

Sheldon shook his head. "I am leaving in a couple of hours. I apologize for the short notice, but I only made up my mind this evening. I am leaving regardless of your decision. You can either grant my sabbatical, or fire me. At the moment I do not care which."

Seibert looked him over closely. "What is so important that you would risk a black mark on your career?"

Sheldon blushed slightly. "My friend Penny has broken up with Leonard and left town. I must find her and speak with her." Sheldon squared his shoulders. "I love her. I did not realize I did until she left. I must find her."

Seibert was silent for a long time. His wife walked over, having heard Sheldon's statement. She looked at the man who was the largest thorn in her husband's side, but also the biggest asset under his belt.

"Gordon?" she said softly. Seibert looked over at her, warmth in his gaze. "He sounds like you did when you spoke to my father."

Seibert turned back to Sheldon. "Good luck. I hope your sabbatical is a success, Dr. Cooper."

Sheldon nodded, relief evident in his expression. "Thank you, sir." Sheldon turned and walked back to the waiting taxi. He gave the driver another address and prepared himself.

Raj opened the door and looked at Sheldon anxiously. He could see Raj's girlfriend standing by the tv nervously. "I already know," he said. "Amy called me."

Sheldon nodded. "Then the only thing left to discuss is the work. I will check in with you weekly by skype to see if you need anything from me. I will send you daily emails to go over our progress. If you have any questions or problems, you may call me. I will continue to work on my theories, but they will not be my focus for the next few weeks. I will let you know when I will return as soon as I know myself." He handed Raj the letter Penny had left him.

Raj took it and looked at his name scrawled across the front. "Bring her back to us, Sheldon." He looked at his boss and friend. "Please."

Sheldon nodded with a serious expression. "I'll do the best I can."

Raj smiled suddenly. "The best you can? Then you have all but promised me."

Sheldon smiled slightly and turned to leave. He paused and turned back. "I have one request, though." He quickly explained and Raj readily agreed. Lucy stepped forward and offered to help. Sheldon thanked her with surprise.

Sheldon grew more and more uncomfortable as he watched Bernadette crying on Howard's shoulder. Howard was patting her arm soothingly, but she didn't seem to be calming down. Finally Sheldon stood. "I must go. I still have to speak to Leonard."

Howard gently pushed Bernadette off his arm. "I'll go with you. Leonard isn't going to take this well." Sheldon started to shake his head but Bernadette jumped up and wiped her eyes.

"Howie is right. Leonard is going to explode. We'll both go with you, Sheldon." She grabbed her purse and Howard's jacket.

Sheldon held out a hand. "That will not be necessary. I know Leonard is going to be angry. I am prepared for that."

Bernadette stalked over. "I said we're going with you, buster. Now, get moving. We don't have all night." Howard and Sheldon both 'eeped' at her forceful tone. No one wanted to mess with this Bernadette.

Sheldon paid the cab driver and settled into the back of Howard's car. He was dreading the upcoming talk, but it was necessary. He needed to clear the air and start this quest with a clean slate.

Sheldon stared in disbelief at the people in the lobby. Amy, Lucy and Raj stood waiting on them. Amy looked at him sadly. "I'm still upset with you, Sheldon, but you are right. We are friends. We are all friends. I guess we all kind of lost sight of that where Penny is concerned. Her letter…" Amy brushed away a tear trying to form. "I realize now how hard this past year was for her. Sheldon, she is hurting so badly."

Raj patted Amy's shoulder. He looked at Sheldon. "We can provide support. Leonard is going to lose it. He's always been a bit jealous of you. He has never forgotten that first day."

Sheldon frowned. "First day?"

Howard smirked. "The day you two met Penny. The way Penny went to your white board first, was impressed by your work the most. The way she called you a beautiful mind. He still brings it up a couple of times a year. Along with the way she took care of you, offered to give up that trip for you, the various wars you two have had. I think he knew deep down that you and Penny connected in a way he and Penny never did."

Amy nodded. "I've felt it, too. That's probably why I clung to you so tight. Why I made Penny my bestie. Because you and Penny spark off of each other, Sheldon. You two are like yin and yang. She's the electron to your proton. I wish it would have been me instead, but I think your heart was already taken long before you and I met." Tears filled her eyes again and Sheldon slumped.

"I am sorry, Amy."

She gave him a watery smile. "So am I."

Bernadette slipped an arm around Amy's waist comfortingly. "Okay, people. Into the lion's den. Sheldon has to get going." They all headed up the stairs with varying degrees of trepidation.