Thank you for reviews and comments
Mary knowing just how skittish Sheldon was at the moment, decided to wait a few days until the weekend, before talking to him about what was going on, she gathered all the facts beforehand and waited until Meemaw had gone to bed and finally spoke to Sheldon
"So Shelly darlin, tell me what's troubling you enough that made you leave LA?
"You know what's troubling me mother, everything just got too much for me and I had to get away" replied Sheldon folding his arms impatiently hoping the interrogation wouldn't last long
"I see and have you kept in contact with your little friends? Asked Mary
"Yes of course, I text Leonard every day and Amy" replied Sheldon as his face started to twitch and betray the lie he just told
"That's interesting because Leonard tells me you are refusing to take his calls and ignoring his emails, now why would you do that Shelley?
"You've been spying on me? Asked Sheldon annoyed
"Not spying, you have some good friends and they are worried about you, why would you lie?
"Mother I don't want to talk about it" replied Sheldon starting to get up from his chair
"You sit back down Sheldon Lee Cooper" roared his mother causing Sheldon to freeze at the command
"No, I've had enough"
"Well you are going to listen to me because you have been running away for too long and need to deal with things, you didn't even tell me that Amy had gone to Saudi Arabia"
"Leonard told you that as well I guess?
"Yes and I have spoken to Amy as well, she told me her reasons for going and to be honest I don't blame her for wanting to get away after the way you reacted to a simple suggestion"
"Leonard and Penny don't deserve to know where I am anyway, they are one of the reasons I left" Sheldon was refusing to look at his mother now
"Just because they got engaged and were thinking about living arrangements? Sheldon the world does not revolve around you and the sooner you realise that the better" replied Mary
"Nobody understands" Sheldon sighed dramatically
He then got up and ignored his mothers stare and made for his room, locking the door and ignoring his mothers knocking, for the first time in a week he looked up Amy's Facebook and Twitter and saw all the pictures of her having a good time and grimaced, he started to wonder if he had lost her
The next morning at breakfast was tense, Sheldon refused to speak to Mary about the night before and was itchy to get out of the house, fortunately Mary made things easier for him
"I have to go to a church meeting at lunchtime and Meemaw is going to her bingo, I trust I can leave you alone and that you will be here when I get back? Asked Mary filling his cup up with more tea
"Yes, I said I would be here for a week or two and that's the current plan" replied Sheldon
"Good, I will even come back with you to LA and talk to your boss about your work issues if you like? Suggested Mary
"No thank you mother, I am old enough to do that myself"
"I just want to help you Shelley, you shouldn't be unhappy that your friends are engaged, you should be celebrating with them" replied Mary
"Fine mother" Sheldon gritted his teeth and smiled weakly
As soon as Mary and Meemaw left the house, Sheldon shot upstairs packed the few things that he had and he left as quickly as possible in a cab, once at Houston airport, he withdrew a large sum of cash and paid for the first available plane to LA and made his way to Amy's apartment, he got a surprise however when he unlocked the door to find Leonard and Penny sitting on the couch watching TV
"What are you two doing here? Asked Sheldon as the door shut behind him and locked, he whipped around to find Bernadette blocking any possible exit and scowling at him to dare try
"Same reason you are here, your mother called us and said you had gone, I have a spare key to Amy's apartment as well, we figured this would be the first place you would come" replied Penny
"Hello Sheldon" came from the laptop on the coffee table
"Amy" said Sheldon in surprise as Penny turned the laptop to face him
"Hello Sheldon, long time no talk" replied Amy smiling at him leaving Sheldon confused as nobody seemed annoyed with him
"Why did you come here of all places? Asked Leonard
"Because since the demise of the comic book store, it's the only place I feel really happy" replied Sheldon quietly
"Could you guys all leave and give us some time to talk? Asked Amy
"Fine but we will just wait in the car" replied Penny smiling at her friend
"Thank you" replied Amy waiting for them to go and Sheldon to sit down
"Amy isn't it the middle of the night in Saudi? Asked Sheldon
"Yes but I wanted to make sure you were ok, Mary called me worried that you would do something silly but I know you better than that"
"Of course I am ok, I am not a baby"
"Nobody is saying you are and that was nice that you feel you can come to my place, you can stay there until I get back if you like?
"Why?
"Because I know you are not happy with Leonard's plan to move in with Penny and if being there makes you happy then you have my permission" replied Amy
"When are you coming back? Asked Sheldon suddenly
"I told you I would be gone for three months and I have only been gone for three weeks, I don't want to let anybody down and I am enjoying myself" replied Amy
"Yes I can see from the endless pictures" replied Sheldon sulkily
"Sheldon we have been over this already, I am staying until my time is up, have you decided if you want to stay at my apartment yet?
"I haven't no, I have to go Amy" Sheldon ended the Skype and left the apartment only to find Leonard and Penny outside the door
"Sheldon you can't keep running away like this" said Penny
"Oh I'm not running away, Leonard take me home" replied Sheldon marching off towards the stairs with Leonard in pursuit
"Penny I will drop you home if you want to go back in and get the laptop" said Bernadette
"Thanks Bernie, I don't think I want to know what's going to happen once we get back" replied Penny as she sent a quick message to Amy
Sheldon didn't say a word on the drive back home and Leonard found out why once they returned to the apartment
"So you and Penny want to live together, go ahead"
"What brought that on?
"The last few weeks I have managed on my own and if you want to move in with Penny across the hall go ahead, as long as you can still drive me to work"
"Sheldon we haven't decided where we are going to live yet" replied Leonard
"Well I'm deciding for you, I don't need anymore upheaval, its bad enough my girlfriend is refusing to come back until her time is up, I don't need you and Penny messing about"
"Sheldon not everything is about you, when Penny and I are ready to move in, then we will" replied Leonard as Penny came in the door
"It is about me though, I am going to do my laundry and I want an answer by the time I am done" replied Sheldon taking his case though to his room and slamming the door
"Leonard if you want to move in with me then I have no objections, I don't think I can live here with Sheldon being like this" said Penny going to the kitchen to make them a drink
"I'm wondering if he is bluffing though and he really wants us to live here" Leonard joined her in the kitchen and sat at the bench while Penny made them tea
"Then we call his bluff, move in with me"
"As long as you are sure?
"Totally and we tell Sheldon once he's done"
"Was Amy ok after you text her?
"Yes, she said she was going back to sleep, I hope she stays out there and doesn't come back earlier because of whack-a-doodle losing the plot again"
"Amy's a strong girl, she will be fine" replied Leonard
A bit later, Leonard and Penny had retreated back to her apartment and were watching TV when they heard the door slam at 4A and then knocking on 4b, Penny went to answer it and found Sheldon there with a suitcase
"Hello Penny, I am going to stay at Amy's until I return to work, could Leonard please drive me there?
"Sheldon we have an answer for you as well, while you are here" replied Leonard standing up
"Which is?
"I am going to move in here with Penny, I will move my stuff across the hall while you are gone and let you know when I am done"
"Fine, can you drive me or not?
"Yes, Sheldon are you ok with this?
"I said I was, now lets go" replied Sheldon
Leonard shrugged and gave Penny a kiss before following Sheldon down the stairs and drove him to Amy's apartment, Sheldon didn't even say goodbye to Leonard once he dropped him off and Leonard sighed heavily hoping Sheldon would maybe sort himself out away from Los Robles
Amy was exhausted the next day, she hadn't been able to get back to sleep for worrying about Sheldon and spoke to Faisal about it
"How long does he have until he has to return to work? Asked Faisal
"Three weeks, why?
"Maybe he could do with coming here and seeing you, I will pay for the flight and he can stay in one of our apartments" suggested Faisal
"I think that would be a good idea, thank you Faisal" said Amy surprising herself by giving him a hug
"It's not a problem, I suggest you speak to him now and book the flights, providing he wants to come of course" replied Faisal smiling at her
Amy quickly went to her apartment and Skyped Sheldon who appeared visibly relived at her suggestion and agreed to go to Saudi, Faisal booked the flight for the following day and Sheldon called Leonard to tell him what was happening and Leonard offered to drive him to the airport
Next chapter will have the reunion