Chapter 19

a/n *Sorry for the delay, my apologies! I reaaally hope you like this chapter. I am in love with your guy's reviews, this story means the world to me and honestly I would continue it regardless if nobody wanted to read it. I know where this fanfiction is going already but it seems to like to take on a life of it's own, so please enjoy this chapter(:

"Sheldon, I'm going to the Comic Book store, are you coming?" Leonard asked Sheldon through the door. His question was answered with silence. "Sheldon?" he asked again. "No!" Sheldon snapped, irritated. Leonard rolled his eyes and moved away from his door, back to Howard and Raj who were standing in the living room. "Lets go." He said. "Are you sure?" Raj asked. "Hey, a night without Sheldon? I'm all in." "Howard," Leonard said. "We've had 4 weeks in a row where everyday we can do stuff without him. Aren't you the least bit concerned for him?" he asked. "Well, yeah," Howard replied. "But, I mean think about it. Ever since we've got out of college our lives have been nothing but Sheldon-filled, lonely nights. Come on, this is our chance to gain years of our life back! Right Raj?" Raj looked like a dear in headlights and Leonard rolled his eyes. "Whatever." he mumbled, and the three left the apartment, closing the door behind them.

Finally, nobody was home. Sheldon listened for a moment, and when he heard nothing, he gently rose from his sitting position on the bed and moved to the door. Instead of opening it,

he put his ear against it, listening. When he again heard nothing, he opened the door slightly and peered out into the hallway. The hallway was empty and silent, so he crept out of his room and into the small, narrow hallway. Upon reaching the living room, he saw that indeed, nobody was home. Releasing a breath he hadn't realized he's been holding, he moved over to his computer desk to his and Leonard's shared laptop. Opening it, he found that it had to be restarted. Sighing, he restarted it and while it was restarting, he moved into the kitchen to make himself some tea. He figured that he might as well drink a hot beverage while nobody was home.

Once the tea was made, he moved over to the couch, careful to not spill it sll over himself or the laptop. Several moments later, the laptop displayed the home page and he unconsciously licked his lips. He then slid his finger across the pad and double clicked the Word Icon. For the next several minutes, he did not stop typing. He never even looked up from his screen. The only thing that made him stop typing was the phone ringing.

Although he stayed glued to his spot, his eyebrow shot up. Who could be calling at this hour? After a moment's debate, the phone beeped and turned to the answering machine. "Sheldon," it said. "We're on our way home." There was mumbling in the background. It said, "You know he's probably not going to care, right?" and then "I know, but it's still polite to call anyway." There was a pause, and then it spoke again. "Look, Sheldon. We're on our way home. Bye." and the room was silent once again. Sheldon hesitated, but then abruptly closed every program he opened (after saving it) and he placed the laptop back in it's original position.

"Sheldon, I'm home." Leonard called to an empty living room. His statement was met with silence once again and he slumped his shoulders, shrugging his bag and jacket off onto the couch. Now that he was faced with an apartment of silence, Leonard began to think about what he should do.

He had only been standing in the living room for a moment before he spotted the laptop on the desk. Walking over to it, he opened it, expecting to have to update it. When it didn't require for it to, Leonard assumed that Sheldon had used the laptop. It loaded rather quickly and he mimicked Sheldon's movement, swiping his finger across the pad and double clicking the Word Icon. Once opened, he had clicked the file and open at the top. Scrolling through the files, Leonard found a file titled "Reaction hypothesis." With a raised eyebrow, Leonard brought the mouse up to it and double clicked it.

"Are you being serious right now?" Penny asked. "No, Penny. I'm making this whole thing up." Leonard replied sarcastically. "Leonard," Penny said sternly. "Yes, Penny. That's really what he wrote. I'm worried about Sheldon." "We're all worried about Sheldon." Howard said. He was sat next to Leonard on Penny's messy couch, with Penny up and pacing and Raj sitting on the floor, in front of Howard, due to stuff cluttered on the other couch cushion.

"Yeah, true. But this time it's different." "How different?" Howard asked. "Different like not just not coming out of his room different, but different like not going into work, not doing anything. I haven't seen Sheldon in weeks and he barely ever talks to me. I never even see him move from his room to use the bathroom." "Maybe he goes when you're gone." Penny suggested. "Maybe. Or maybe he built a bathroom in his room and he's fasting." Raj added. "Whatever," Leonard said. "The point is, no amount of calling Sheldon's mom, or blackmailing him with a dirty sock will get him to come out and be a normal person again."

"Are you sure about that Leonard?" Penny eyes him suspiciously. "What? Do YOU have an idea?" He asked her. Penny scoffed. "Oh please Leonard," she said. "Don't talk to me like I'm stupid. Just because I'm talking to you now does not mean things are all better between us." She was glaring at him now. "Besides, I'm only doing this for Sheldon." Howard raised his eyebrows and wiggled them in her direction. "Ohh. Someone's got the hots for ShelBot. You're going to have to fight Amy on your own." "What?!" Penny asked, completely disgusted. "Never mind." Leonard said fast. "The point is, we need to help Sheldon. What's your idea Penny?"

"Well, I was going to say, how about we get Amy to talk to him? You know, bring him outside his comfort zone a little bit." "Do you really think that's a good idea?" Leonard asked. "He's been pushed too far out of his comfort zone. I think he's nothing more than a broken toy at the moment." "I think he's been like that for years." Howard mumbled. Penny glared at him once again. "Well, do you have a better idea, Leonard?" Penny asked. Leonard thought for a moment, pursing his lips. After a moment, he spoke. "Fine. But if anything goes wrong, you get to call his mother this time and have him be mad at you, not me." Now it was Penny's turn to purse her lips. "Fine."

*Knock knock knock* "Sheldon!" No reply came. Sighing, Amy leaned against the wall that was next to his door. Why had she even come? It wasn't like she was going to benefit from this. He wouldn't even talk to her, or even acknowledge that she was there. "Sheldon, open the freaking door!" Leonard yelled from the bathroom. Amy jumped, startled. Then she started to hear mumbling from inside Sheldon's room, before his voice was heard from inside. "What do you want?" His voice sounded raspy, damaged almost. "Sheldon," Amy said softly, but loud enough for him to hear through the door. "Can I please come in?"

There was silence on his side that Amy was sure he never intended on answering her. Well, he had to come out some time. When he did, she would be waiting for him, right there. So, like the smart person she was, Amy leaned against his door and slid down to the floor, bringing her knees up to her chest. She took a deep breath, and wondered what could be going on in that big brain of his.

Meanwhile, Sheldon stood in the middle of his room, unmoving. He was afraid that if he moved, all the air would be choked out of his lungs and he would be forced to go outside and talk to people. He had to give Leonard some credit; he had never thought in a million years that he would find that document. When and if he ever decided he was going to continue life as usual, he would have a strong room mate talk with Leonard about his privacy, something that Leonard was sure to get at least 4 strikes on.

But alas, life couldn't get lonelier in his room. He really didn't enjoy being in the presence of other germy, irritating people that called him their 'friend.' He could barely tolerate Leonard, who he considered his best friend. He was perfectly comfortable being silent all day, but something felt missing. He couldn't figure out what it was, his mind was too cluttered. He stood in the middle of his room for several more moments before sighing and moving to his bed, laying gently on it and quietly opening a drawer near him. If he was going to be stuck in his room all night, he might as well spend his night doing this.

Amy awoke with a sudden jolt, gasping for breath. She couldn't even fathom the idea that she had fallen asleep, outside of Sheldon's room, on the floor. She had her glasses on, but ever with them on her vision made things look all fuzzy. The darkness seemed to capture the room and surround it, giving it no chance to escape. She looked around and could barely make out where the wall had ended and the room was. Slowly, she pulled herself up onto her feet and walked silently over to the kitchen. In the kitchen, the oven clock displayed 4 tiny blinking green numbers that read 11:45. Amy glanced around and yawned. Finally, her eyes settled on the apartment door and she decided to walk over to it and open it, looking for her cardigan that she couldn't find. Sighing when it wasn't out in the hallway, Amy closed the door, and just froze. What she saw in front of her when she turned was not what she expected at all.

Finally, she's gone. Sheldon thought. I'm really thirsty. Carefully, Sheldon rose from his bed and placed his Mario gaming system on the foot of his bed, covering it with his blanket. Satisfied that nobody would find it if they broke in, he crept silently over to his door and opened it, walking into the living room. Once he was there, he could only think of one thing. Drat.

He wanted to run. He wanted nothing more than to run away from there, back into his room forever. His legs didn't seem to get the message, and there he stood, blankly staring at her. In the darkness of his apartment, Amy's face was concealed away from his sight, the darkness surrounding her. He could barely make out her shimmering green eyes, which were wide open due to shock. Sheldon felt his body tell him to retreat, demanding him to run away from the situation. But somehow, he couldn't find it in himself to leave.

He's actually out of his room?" was the first thing that Amy thought. Then, distracting herself from her thoughts, she began to take in the sight of him, of what she could see in the darkened light. He looked… rough. His eyes were half open, almost devoid of any sort of life. But his body was tense, like he was ready to punch her at any moment. She could feel the tension that hung above their heads, begging to be spoken. Neither chose to acknowledge it's presence. Finally, Amy couldn't take it any more.

"Sheldon…" His eyes flung open wider than she ever saw them and she watched him retreat a couple of steps. Whatever he was going to do was obviously important otherwise he surely would have run back into his room by now. "Sheldon, talk to me!" Amy pleaded. He remained silent, and Amy threw her head back, groaning. She stomped over to the light switch and turned it on full blast, temporarily blinding the both of them.

For the first time in weeks, Amy could clearly see Sheldon, and her suspicions from earlier about him looking rough could not even describe what he looked like. He was dressed in a light white tee shirt, and a pair of plaid pajamas. His hair looked as if it hadn't been combed in weeks and his eyes were puffy, cheeks scarlet. Bruises ran up and down his arms and he had a slightly fat lip. Amy gasped quietly, hoping that this was a dream. Right then and there, her heart shattered into a million pieces, all over again. "Sheldon," Amy said again, this time, barely over a whisper. She slowly walked towards him, giving him time to run if he desired. However, he stayed put, looking like a dear caught in head lights.

Amy was now inches from him and she slowly raised her hand to his face, placing it gently on his cheek. He winced at her touch and jerked back, yelping slightly, but staying put. Amy's hand seemed to be frozen there, her hand still tingling from the feel of his skin. "Talk to me," Amy whispered. Sheldon slowly shook his head and Amy lowered her hand, bringing it down by her side. She stood there, staring at him for a moment, his eyes on the ground, when suddenly, he looked back up at her, and they had a firm eye contact that lasted several seconds. Finally, Amy broke the gaze and moved over to the couch, plopping herself down on it and holding her head in her hands, pitying herself.

Why is she crying? Sheldon thought. I'm not good with people who cry. I was going to make myself some tea, seeing how she's upset; I might as well make her some tea too. Slowly, Sheldon silently moved from where he had been standing to the living room and he began to gather things to prepare their tea. He worked silently, but he could feel Amy's faze on him, stronger than ever. Several minutes later, the sound of water boiling filled the room and Sheldon turned off the stove, removing the tea kettle from it and pouring both of their teas. Carefully, he selected a tea he thought Amy would best enjoy and took both their mugs in his hands. Closing his eyes, he took once last deep breath and reminded himself that he could do this and he wouldn't stoop down to Amy's level and tell her how he felt. He could do this.

"Sheldon," Amy said in awe. "You didn't have to make me tea I'm fine." Sheldon slightly nodded at her and handed his mug to her, taking a seat in his spot, sliding as far close to the edge as he could. Amy held her mug in her hands, gazing down at it, the steam slapping her in the face. Sheldon had already finished half of his tea when Amy decided to speak, setting her own mug on the coffee table in front of them.

"Sheldon," She said gently. He managed to move his gaze to her, holding a brief eye contact with her. Before he knew what he was doing, a small smile formed on his lips. Moments later, Amy spoke. "See?" she said. Sheldon immediately wiped the beginnings of the smile from his face and replaced it with a frown of confusion, furrowing his brow. "Why can't it still be like this?" she asked him. "Where we would spend all of our free time together, where our favorite form of communication was eye contact. Where we could sit in the same room together for hours in silence and never have it be anything less than amazing. Why can't we just do that again?" she asked him. And for the first time in his life, Sheldon didn't have an answer to the question.