54

The last of Leonard's things made it down to the lobby around 3:00am. Since that included the brown leather couch and the bed, which Penny refused to ever sleep in again, she slept at Alex and Nora's. The next morning as Alex went to work, Penny and Nora headed back over to 2311 North Los Robles. After doing a quick inspection of Apartment 4B they knocked on the door to 4A.

Missy opened the door.

"Hi sweetie. We were expectin' Nora but how come you aren't headed to work?"

"I just wanted to come over to make sure we got all Leonard's stuff out and help you guys get ready for work. We were all up pretty late last night and I figured that the baby might be cranky."

"Well, you know how he is when he hasn't had his REM sleep."

"I didn't mean Sheldon."

"Yeah, well he's been stompin' around all mornin'. He's still pretty pissed off at Leonard."

"Maybe I can calm him down."

"Well, you do kinda have that effect on him."

"He's in his room?"

"Yeah. You two want some oatmeal?"

"Sure, if there's enough. And coffee if you have some made."

"'Course I do."

Penny went back to Sheldon's room as Nora sat down for some breakfast. Sheldon's door was open. He was just sitting on his bed staring straight ahead.

"Sheldon sweetie, are you okay?"

"Oh, good morning Penny. I wasn't expecting to see you until I got to the office."

"I thought you guys could use a hand and Nora was coming over anyway."

"Yes, for the locksmith. He should arrive in about an hour. I gave him specific instructions as to the type of locks he is to install."

"Thanks. I'll repay you for that as soon as I get paid."

"Penny, don't concern yourself with that at the moment."

"Yeah, and about that, can you sit down with me sometime later and help me figure out how much I actually owe Leonard?"

"Certainly, though I don't believe you should have made that offer to him."

"Sheldon, I really don't like the idea that Leonard would think I owe him something because of all the money he spent on me, especially over the past few months. It makes me feel cheap."

"Penny, though you didn't intend to sell yourself to Leonard, nor would you, I am quite certain that Leonard did not expend those funds out of the goodness of his heart. I believe he was quite certain he was purchasing you."

"I'd rather not even think that even if it is true."

"In any case, I would be happy to help you determine a fair total. But first we will review the SyFy contract proposal you gave me over lunch today."

"Sheldon, how could you possibly have found time to look at that with everything we did yesterday?"

"Between the time you gave it to me and the time you came over from your apartment and burst into tears I was able to glean enough and make appropriate notes and suggestions."

"Okay, fine. But first let's get ourselves together and head in to work."

"Alright. I wouldn't want you to be late because of me. That would not be a good example to set."

They gathered their things, the baby and his things and went to work. Though tired after a long night of packing, once they got to the office they found Alex already there and hard at work still following up the work she'd done on Sunday. Sheldon headed into his office to go over notes for a coming paper and Penny sat down at her desk reviewing the upcoming calendar and making sure that Sheldon and Alex were prepared for the rest of the week. Missy brought the baby to childcare and began her own day.

Around mid-morning Penny got a call on her cell. She saw it was the landlord so she answered the phone.

"Hello."

"Is this Ms. Queen?"

"It is."

"This is Ms. White from the 2311 North Los Robles Corporation, your landlord."

"Hi. What can I do for you?"

"We'd like to know exactly when you'd be moving out. We have another tenant lined up for your apartment."

"Excuse me? I have a lease and I know my rent has been paid. I don't understand."

"We received a call from a Dr. Leonard Hofstadter this morning. He claimed to be your fiancé and roommate and he informed us that you were moving to Princeton, New Jersey imminently. The building manager reported that your things are being picked up from the lobby this morning. Dr. Hofstadter was also kind enough to recommend a new tenant who is able to move in immediately, a Dr. Fowler. If you have already moved out we would like to inspect and paint the apartment and prepare it for Dr. Fowler. She is due in this afternoon to sign a new lease."

"Um, I'm gonna have to get back to you in a few minutes, okay?"

Penny got up from her desk and immediately ran into Sheldon's office.

"Sheldon, you are not going to believe what my creep of an ex-fiancé did."

"Penny, there are any number of possibilities."

"He called the landlord this morning and told them we were moving out and recommended that Amy take over my apartment."

"That is unacceptable. Leonard does not have that right. You didn't add him to your lease, did you?"

"No. I had the paperwork but you know how Leonard is with paperwork. Everything else comes first. He never even bothered adding me to his medical plan."

"Penny, I'll take care of this. It's fortuitous we are having the locks changed."

Sheldon picked up the phone and called Ms. White, a woman he knew to be terrified of speaking with him.

"2311 North Los Robles Corporation. Ms. White speaking."

"Ms. White, this is Dr. Sheldon Cooper."

"Dr. Cooper, you promisd that all of our communications would take place via email or letter. You said that you wouldn't call."

"Excuse me, Ms. White, but I promised that I would not use the phone as long as the corporation did nothing that perturbed me. You have done something that perturbs me and I wish it to be addressed immediately."

"Dr. Cooper, I promise that we have done nothing."

"Did you accept a call from a Dr. Leonard Hofstadter claiming that he and Ms. Penelope Queen would be vacating apartment 4B?"

"Well, yes."

"Is Dr. Hofstadter a signatory to the lease on apartment 4B?"

"Well, no. But he said he was Ms. Queen's fiancé."

"And that gives him property rights?"

"Um, no."

"But you assumed that he spoke for Ms. Queen without ever checking with Ms. Queen. You immediately assumed she would be moving and made arrangements to rent her long-time abode out from under her in violation of her lease, did you not?"

"But he said he had a new tenant lined up who could move in right away and Ms. Queen has always had a spotty record in paying her rent on time."

"Ms. Queen is currently employed by me at CalTech and also by the SyFy Channel and I can guarantee you that she is quite capable of paying her rent now and in the future. The potential tenant Dr. Hofstadter recommended, however, is currently under investigation by a government agency, as is Dr. Hofstadter."

"Oh, my."

"You might also like to know that my own investigation has revealed that Dr. Hofstadter was responsible for the destruction of the building's elevator ten years ago. Isn't it about time you repaired it?"

"Dr. Cooper, I'll need to look into that."

"Please do that. Now, I assume Ms. Queen will be hearing no more about moving out?"

"No, not at all. There might be a problem though."

"And that is…"

"Dr. Fowler said she would be going over there this morning to inspect the apartment. The building manager is meeting her with the key."

"Thought it is truly none of your concern, Ms. Queen ended her engagement to Dr. Hofstadter yesterday evening and demanded that he leave the building. As a security precaution I suggested that she change her locks, which is being done as we speak. The building manager will be unable to enter Apartment 4B. She will provide him with a new key this evening."

"Then Dr. Fowler…"

"…will need to find another place to live."

At 2311 North Los Robles

The locks for Apartments 4A and 4B had both been changed and Nora was about to leave for CalTech, when there was a knock at the door. Nora found Amy Farrah Fowler there with a scowl on her face.

"Excuse me, but what are you doing in Sheldon Cooper's apartment?"

"I was doing Sheldon a favor. Now excuse me but I'm on my way to see him now."

"I wish to employ Sheldon's spare key in order to enter apartment 4B."

"Um, no."

"The building manager seems to have the wrong key. It does not work. I know for certain that there is a spare key available in this apartment."

"Even if there is, you have no right to go into Penny's apartment."

"You are misinformed. Penny is moving to New Jersey with her fiancé. The apartment is now mine."

"Yeah, I think you're the one who is misinformed. Penny lives there. Leonard is on his way to New Jersey."

"Where I presume Penny will be joining him in advance of their coming nuptials. Despite our recent tiff I still fully expect to be her Maid of Honor."

"Lady, no joining. No nuptials. No Maid. And definitely no honor. I suggest you go elsewhere and buy a clue because you clearly have no idea what's going on around here."

"I am a renowned neurobiologist. I know a great deal more than you will ever know. Please accede to my wishes immediately."

"Boy, I have dealt with you just twice and the only thing that I know is that you are some kind of serious dingbat. I'm leaving now. So are you. If you don't I'll be calling the cops. Then I'll call Sheldon and Penny. But no matter what you'll end up out on the street on your ass. And I believe you are still owed an interesting trip down the stairs."

Amy Farrah Fowler immediately turned and ran down the stairs.