In the last chapter we were over a New Years Eve and I didn't change 2024 to 2025, so that was my mistake, but no one noticed as I kept you guys occupied with the Shamy fighting. But now I'm changing it.
2025 Nick
Now I'm pissed. I planned everything. Debbie was not in the plan. I have to convince her to leave without being loud and getting caught. It will be hard, as she seems really determined.
When we arrive at Union Station I stand up and get down from the bus and try to blend in with the crowd and disappear but she is really hard to get rid off. She grabs my bag not to lose me.
Then I'll go to the ATM and use my parents cards to get cash. Luckily there's no row so I can easily do that without anyone noticing me. Debbie is behind my back. She really tries not to lose me. I can't use the credit cards anymore as they can be easily traced.
I'm buying myself a new phone first. The cashier looks a little suspicious as I'm an eight year old kid but doesn't ask questions. Then I throw mine out and ask Debbie to do so too. She wants to gain my trust so her phone lands in the dumpster without a word.
I walk up to the bus I want to get on. It goes to San Fransisco and it leaves in twenty minutes. That's all the time I have to get rid of Debbie.
" Now please leave. " I say.
" No, I told you. I'll go with you. "
" Debbie, please. It's a long trip. Your parents will be worried. "
" I don't care. They are never worried about me. I hope at least they experience that. "
" Debbie, I hate you, you hate me, it's pointless. Plus you don't have the money to buy tickets. "
" You're right, I don't. But I do have your travel plans. I took them from your bag and read them while you were in the bathroom. So come on, let's go back to school. A bus leaves soon. We can make it to our second or third lesson."
I can't believe she did that to me. Maybe she is more cunning than I expected.
" I won't go back. "
" Then I'll tell everyone about your plans and they'll find you easily. "
I'm not that easy to convince.
" Then I'll find and officer there and cry and tell everyone that you made me stole my parents money and forced me to threw my phone out, so I ran away because I was so embarrassed that a girl bullied me."
" Don't you dare. " Now she seems angry.
" You bet I dare. And they will believe me. But I can go and travel unplanned."
" That would be very unlike you and really dangerous. And I think you choose these destinations because you actually want to visit them."
" Fine, then the first options stays, when I'll tell everyone, that you made me run away."
" But that won't help the fact that you will be found easily and all your plans will be cancelled. Do you think it will be that easy to pack your stuff and steal Aunt Amy's credit cards again? So the only way for you to run is to take me with you. "
I sigh. Why Debbie Wolowitz of all people? If I could choose, she would be the last pick from all humankind, I'm sure.
" You got yourself a deal. " I murmure.
2025 Sheldon and Amy
Amy stepped into Sheldon's office in the evening. He already filled their table out, that this day, he's going to work late.
" Sheldon... " she said.
" Amy, why are you here? Do you plan on giving me a talk to again? Or are you here for showing off about dating other men?"
Amy shook her head.
" So, Nick's not here either." she said. She was feeling like she couldn't breath.
" Of course he's not. He's supposed to be with you. I already made clear that I'm going to work late tonight.".
" I know." she said slowly. This started to become a nightmare.
" Amy, what's wrong? You seem dizzy. "
" It's about Nick..."
" What is about Nick? Did he do something at school again?" Sheldon seemed puzzled.
" No. He's missing." So there it was, she said that out loud.
" What do you mean by missing? Where is he?"
" We don't know. He didn't even go to shool. The teachers thought that he's only sick and we forgot to call. I just realized when I went to pick him up."
" But that was hours ago! Why didn't you call? " Sheldon asked.
" Because, well, that's not the first time he runs away a little. But usually I find him quite quickly in a park near his school. I didn't want to upset you. We thought we got this. We thought we may find them."
" Them? What do you mean by them? Is Dory missing too?"
" No, thank God, no. She is with Raj now. Debbie is missing too. She hasn't been in school today either."
" How do you know he's not at home?"
" Well, when we found out they were missing, Penny kind of organized everything. She called Raj and Leah. She picked up the kids and took Chloe and Justin and Maya and Dory and she brought them to the Wolowitz house and now Raj is there, watching them. Meanwhile Leah is at our house waiting for them to come home. After that Penny and Leonard came back to school and helped me and Bernadette looking for them. Then it got dark and we gave up and decided to go here and tell you and Howard. He is in his lab too.
" So you're saying that no one knows where my son is and he's been missing since morning, and everyone knew it for hours, and now it's almost eight p.m. and no one cared to tell me?"
Amy nodded painfully. " I'm really sorry, Sheldon. I was just hoping he'll come home. I really didn't intend to shut you out. I'm really scared."
Before he could react to that the door swung open and a little man ran into the room grabbing his throat and pushing him to the wall.
" You son of a bitch! "
Sheldon was a lot taller and heavier than him but the attack took him by surprise. Amy wanted to help him but before she could do anything Bernadette arrived.
" Let him go! Howie! "
" It's his fault! It's his fault that my daughter is missing! "
" Release him finally! " Bernadette shouted at him again.
Howard finally did so but he still seemed pissed.
" Your son kidnapped my daugther! he said.
Sheldon massaged his neck, now looking back angry at Howard.
" My son? Your daughter was torturing him for years! "
" Yes, that's why now he takes revenge on her. "
Leonard and Penny finally arrived barely catching a breath.
" Guys, please. " Leonard said and took a little brake using his inhaler. " No one kidnapped anyone."
" What if both of them are kidnapped by someone else? " Amy asked finally with a bitter expression.
" Sweetie, I'm pretty sure that's not the case. " Penny stood behind her.
" I think we can find that out easily. " Leonard said. " Haven't you lost credit card or money recently? Is anything missing from any of their rooms? "
" My credit card is missing. Both of them actually. I thought I just forgot them. " Amy said with a relief. So Nick left on purpose.
" Well, mine are here and Bernie checked hers earlier. So that's an evidence that Nick just kidnapped Debbie. " Howard said angrily.
" If Nick stole the credit cards maybe we should check online how did he use them if he used them at all. " Leonard said.
Amy grabbed her phone and started typing.
" One of my cards was used at 9:05 at the ATM at Union Station. The other… The same just three minutes later. "
" If they were at Union Station… Mabye they are not even in Pasadena anymore…" Bernadette said sadly.
" Or maybe Nick stole our cards to run away but someone took it from him. " Amy added.
" We have to call the police. " Sheldon said finally.
" I guess the police could ask for the security camera's data of the ATM. So we could find that out. " Leonard said.
" You should go to the police station. Both Chloe and Dory can sleep at our place if you'd like too. I'll get them from Raj. " Penny said. " Maybe we should ask the kids. Justin and Dory. Maybe they know something. "
" Please, don't tell her. Dory. Not yet. Maybe Nick will come home. " Amy said.
" Okay, then I won't. "
" Thanks Penny, call if there's anything wrong. " Bernadette told.
" Yes thanks and call me too if you need anything. I don't think I'll be sleeping. At all. " Amy gave Penny a hug.
" I'm going to the ploice station with them. I don't want them to kill each other. See you later." Leonard kissed Penny goodbye.
After a long and unusually quiet waiting on the police station they finally got in. The officer was a middle aged man and seemed kind of helpful, so after an hour they finally had the access to the security camera's recording. Before they turned it on, Sheldon grabbed Amy's hand. It was the first time he touched her ever since their night together which ended kind of catastrophically in the morning. Amy felt this contact natural. Her stomach flipped. That was Nick and Debbie on the screen healthy and safe. So Nick took a lot of money and they were at Union Station. They ran away on purpose.
It was both sad and a relief. At least there was a chance that his son is still alright and not killed or taken by strangers. Although she felt the guilt immediately, as his son left because of them, she was sure.
After the police station, it was almost the middle of night, but she and Bernadette both insisted to go to Union Station knowing there was no chance that the kids are still there. Leonard went home instead. They asked about the leaving buses and trains that left around 10 p.m. and they put pictures of Debbie and Nick everywhere. No one saw them but most of the drivers were already home or still on their way back, so they hoped someone might recognize them tomorrow. After that, there was nowhere else to go but home. Home without Nick. Amy was exhausted but didn't feel like sleeping at all. Bernadette and Howard said goodbye to them before they went home wit the same sadness she also experienced.
Leah was still in her house but she texted her that she is free to leave as she arrives home soon. There was no sign of Nick yet and none of Debbie. Amy and Sheldon walked in the car park quietly. Only Amy had a car with her. As they got in, she drove Sheldon home and stopped the car in front of his building. They both sighed as they looked at each other.
" I'm sorry. I know it's my fault. " she said quietly.
" What? "
" It's my fault. That he ran away. "
"Amy…"
" It's totally my fault. I… I was a bad mother. I didn't realize what he's been going through. " she couldn't stop the tears anymore.
"Oh, Amy… I don't think it's your fault. I think it's my fault actually. "
Amy shook her head unable to talk.
" I'm the one who always ran away whenever anything happened. He inherited that from me and not from you. " he said quietly.
" What will happen to him out there? What if he gets in trouble? You know he gets in trouble all the time. He is just a boy. "
" He'll come back. I know. I ran away more times than you as I pointed out, but I have never ever doubted not even for a second that I want to come back to you. I'm sure he feels the same. "
Amy shook her head again.
" What if he gets hurt? He is so little. We act like sometimes he's an adult, because he's so smart, but he's not. He is an eight year old child. And he is out there in the middle of the night. "
Sheldon looked at her. " Get out of the car. " he said. "Now I'll drive you home. "
" You don't have to take care of me just because of this. I get it that you're still mad at me and we're in the middle of a really bad divorce, even if I'm really scared right now. "
" I know, I don't have to. I want to. "
" Thank you. "
Another drive later they arrived to their former home together. It was dark, none of the lights were turned on. Nick was nowhere. Amy started crying just looking at the house again. She felt so stupid for crying but this was the only thing she could do and she knew that it wasn't helping at all.
" Let me come in with you, Amy. You shouldn't be alone right now. "
Amy shook her head.
" But Sheldon… It wouldn't be… appropiate. "
" Why not? "
" Last time… you were here… We just made everything worse. Now I can't imagine how things could get even worse but I don't want to risk that. "
" But now we are not drunk. And I promise I'll behave myself like a gentleman. "
" I really don't know. " she felt clueless. " I'm a little afraid that we'll just get in a fight again. "
" Amy, please. Actually I'm the one who doesn't want to stay alone tonight. I want to be there for you too of course but I… I can't handle this on my own. "
She sighed. He really seemed devastated.
" Fine. Come in. "
" Thank you. "
After opening the door and turning on the light Amy kicked her shoes off and sat down on the couch.
" I really don't know the protocol here. " he said
" What protocol? "
" Who gets to make the warm drink if one party is a guest who forced himself to invite in to a house which was both of their home before they decided to divorce but yet they haven't and while the other party still lives in the house the first party still owns half of it legally and they are both extremely upset. "
" There is no protocol or rules or anything. All these things seem meaningless now. "
" I was just joking. " he said.
" I'm sorry. I'm just nervous and frustrated. " she apologized.
" It's okay, me too. Would you like some tea? " he asked walking towards the kitchen.
" No, thanks. " she refused.
" Amy, when did you find out that Nick's missing? "
" Around 4 p.m. Why? "
" Have you eaten or drunk anything since then? "
" No. But I'm not hungry or thirsty."
" It's 2 a.m. You have to drink at least. " he tried to convince her. It was really heart-warming for Amy, but also it felt really wrong.
" Okay, I'll take the tea. But I told you, you don't have to take care of me. You have all the right to be angry at me, especially now."
" And I told you I want to. And yes, I'm angry at you for various reasons, and I'm sure you feel the same, but we both admitted our responsibilities, so this situation is something we created together. And I think, we have to fix it together too. "
" So you're offering a ceasefire? " she asked. The way Sheldon handled this really hard situation amazed her.
" Yes, I am. "
" Ceasefire accepted. "
They spent the night talking about Nick and making theories about where he could be. Sheldon tried to send Amy to bed a several timies, but she was unconvinceable about it. Sometimes they changed the topic for minutes but they always ended up talking about Nick again. As the morning light shone to the old living room slowly she started to cry again. Sheldon sat next to her on the couch.
" I'm sorry Amy. " he said gently stroking her back. Amy felt really embarrassed. Sheldon was so strong and she, well she wasn't. She coul only think about what could happen to Nick and what if she never sees him ever again.
" I thought he'll come home. I thought he just ran away to scare us. But it's already morning. He's gone for almost 24 hours now. Did you know that with every hour that passes by, there is less and less chance to find him ever again? "
" Yes, I knew. I'm worried too. This is so horrible. " he agreed.
" It is. And if he doesn't come home today, we'll have to tell Dory. She can't stay at Penny's forever. "
" Being a parent is really hard."
Amy nodded. She blew her nose than got up from the couch with a determined expression.
" I'll go, get a shower, change clothes. I'll drive you home after that so you can do so too. Then we should call in sick for today and then call Bernadette and Howard, and go back to Union Station and show his picture to bus drivers. If he isn't home by then, then we'll put his picture up online on every site possible. "
" Sounds like a plan. " he agreed.
" We have to find him. I can't live like this. "
" We will. I'm sure. "