20
At CalTech
Penny was settling in at her desk the next morning when she looked up and found Amy Farrah Fowler staring at her.
"Oh. Hi Amy."
"Sheldon didn't inform me that he would be employing you Penny."
"Yeah, I guess he's been busy, Amy."
"I would like to speak with him. Is he in?"
"Sorry, Amy. He in a big meeting with President Seibert. Seems there's some kind of crisis. He hasn't clued me in as to what it might be."
"Alright then. I shall await his return in his office."
"Sorry, Amy. You'll have to wait out here. The baby's sleeping in Sheldon's office."
"That seems rather inefficient. Why does Sheldon not require Missy to take advantage of childcare available elsewhere? I was certain that his sibling's progeny would cause problems for Sheldon."
"Amy, the baby is sleeping in Sheldon's office because Sheldon wants him there. He's over at the childcare center this afternoon and most mornings but Sheldon wants him to be here at least a couple of days a week. That's not Missy imposing. That's Sheldon insisting."
"I find that difficult to believe. Sheldon has never evidenced any interest in infants of any kind with the exception of koalas. As I have only previously seen the infant for a moment I would like to look in on it to see what might fascinate Sheldon so."
"Okay. But please be quiet."
Penny tiptoed into Sheldon's office and Amy followed, not making any effort to mute her footsteps.
Amy leaned over the crib and the baby immediately woke up and started crying. Not a little, either. Out and out bawling. Penny quickly picked him up and began to comfort him but it was to no avail. He kept crying. Amy backed away from the crib and towards Sheldon's desk. Even though her attention was on the crying baby, out of the corner of her eye Penny saw Amy turn her back to her and begin to pick up Sheldon's stapler.
"Put it back, Amy."
"I was just…"
"Put. It. Back."
"But Penny…"
"If you lick anything on Sheldon's desk or in this office I will rip your tongue out of your mouth. Put the stapler down."
"You didn't seem to have an issue with my behavior before."
"And that's my bad. I think maybe you should either make an appointment to see Sheldon and leave or just leave, Amy."
"Sheldon and I are in a relationship, just as you and Leonard are, Penny. You should respect that."
"According to Sheldon that is no longer the case. Now please leave so I can take care of the baby."
"So you are actually more of a wet nurse than an assistant, eh, Penny?"
"Amy, what exactly are you doing here?"
"I have been quite clear that I am unwilling to allow Sheldon to toss aside our relationship like a dirty sock. I came to give him an ultimatum."
"Yeah, well that's between you and Sheldon. Now either make an appointment or leave."
"I choose to depart. I will telephone Sheldon later. You may tell him I came by."
"Oh, I'll tell him all right."
"Penny, as my bestie I presume you will exhibit the appropriate discretion."
"Yeah. Whatever."
The moment Amy Farrah Fowler exited the office suite the baby calmed down. Inside of five minutes he was asleep again.
"Wow. This kid does not like Amy."
Penny replaced the baby in his crib and went back out to her desk just as Sheldon returned.
"Penny, is everything alright?"
"It is now. Amy dropped by."
"And?"
"Funniest thing. You know how the baby almost never cries."
"Indeed. I've found it most surprising and gratifying."
"Well, apparently that changes when Amy's around."
"Really?"
"I know. As soon as he saw her he started up. And loud. Soon as she left it was like she was never here. Quiet as an angel."
"Why was Amy here?"
"To see you. I told her to make an appointment but she said she'd call."
"I see no reason to speak with her. I was quite clear. Anything else?"
"Nothing critical. So what's with the big emergency meeting?"
"I'm not permitted to discuss it yet. Some men will be here shortly to see me. I will use Alex's office so as not to disturb the baby."
"Okay. Is it related to the meeting?"
"It is and I am permitted to say no more. However, you may wish to consider staying with Missy and I again this evening."
"What's going on, Sheldon?"
Just then two men in black suits appeared. Sheldon acknowledged their presence and gestured to them to follow him. He looked quite serious.
"Gentlemen. Please accompany me."
Sheldon closed the door behind him.
"Wow," Penny thought, "whatever is going on must be big."
Just then Leonard suddenly appeared in front of her holding bodega flowers and candy.
Nervously, he began "Um, hi Penny. I came by to apologize for last night. It was really self-centered of me. You wanted to celebrate your first day of work and I kept talking about my problems. I'm sorry."
"Thank you, Leonard."
"So, these are the new offices. Pretty nice."
"We're getting used to them. Things should settle down next week when Alex gets here."
"So, you and Alex working together, huh?"
"I don't see any problems between me and Alex. I like Alex."
"Okay. I just thought…"
"What did you think, Leonard?"
"Um, so where's Sheldon? I haven't really had a chance to congratulate him on the tenure thing and the new office."
"Sheldon's meeting back there with a couple of guys in suits. He wouldn't tell me what about."
Leonard looked nervous.
"Um, I've gotta go. See you tonight. Bye."
Leonard looked scared. Penny started to get worried.