"The betrayal of trust carries a heavy taboo."

-Aldrich Ames

Throughout his meal, Sheldon felt uncomfortable eating with his so-called friends. After Raj revealed the heinous acts that they have committed, he had been distancing himself from the group of men. Raj understood why he did that, knowing that Sheldon felt betrayed and knew more bad things about them than good. When Leonard tried asking him why he was acting differently tonight, Sheldon shrugged his shoulders and lied that he was getting a stomach ache. Leonard dropped the conversation before moving on to talk about where Penny was.

Sheldon pretended not to care. He sat there quietly eating his barbeque bacon cheeseburger as Leonard went on and on about Penny. The topic of her caused him to look up and around the restaurant, hoping to catch the glimpse of the blonde waitress he had wanted to see again. He had a feeling that she was in there with him, and he wished to say something before he left.

"She's just beautiful, and even though we didn't talk that much when we saw each other here, I think she's a delightful young woman. If I see her, I'll try and get her number, so wish me luck." Leonard said as he turned his head to find Penny. He flagged down Patricia who was on her way to their table with the deserts they ordered. "Excuse me, do you know if Penny is working the shift tonight?"

"Penny? Never heard a Penny and I've worked here for almost five years. She might be new and I haven't met her." Patricia placed Leonard's carrot cake and Sheldon's hot fudge sundae in front of them. Leonard scraped off the cream cheese icing away, and Sheldon remembered that he was lactose intolerant.

"I love cheesecake."

"You're lactose intolerant."

"I don't eat it, I just think it's a good idea."

"Well, she has blonde hair like yours, longer though. She has green eyes- and... perfect." Leonard drooled at the thought of Penny and her looks, causing Sheldon to roll his eyes for the umpteenth time that night.

Patricia nodded. "Alright, I'll look out for this Penny. Call me over if you need anything else."

"Dude, you just broke up with my sister like three weeks ago." Raj informed him.

Leonard looked at his friend across from him. "So?"

"So? Don't you think you're going too fast? You don't know anything else about her and only like her because of her looks. When you were still with Priya, you told her how much in love you were."

"Oh. Well, Priya cheated on me back in India. And Penny's not only pretty. She's... funny, too."

"Really? What did she do that you found funny?" Sheldon asked.

Leonard paused. "Uhh... she was cracking up jokes when she took our orders. That's gotta count. Anyways, I do believe I'm harboring feelings for her and I want to see if things can work out with us."

"Are you even sure that she is single?" Sheldon dropped his gaze to his smaller companion.

"That didn't come up. Maybe we'll go out for coffee as friends before moving forward."

Sheldon sighed, reached down for the napkin on his lap and placed it on the table, and then excused himself to use the restroom.

Howard turned his head behind him and watch as Sheldon walk away. "Gee, what's wrong with him? Did he remember something bad?"

"Possibly the time when my grandmother with Alzheimer's had that episode during Thanksgiving and she took her clothes off. He's probably mad at me for inviting her to our apartment in the first place." Leonard guessed as he proceeded to take a bite out of his carrot cake.

Splashing cold water to his face, he thought about the burning questions inside his head waiting to be answered.

The most important one was why his friends stayed with him even after they realize he was 'too much of a burden he was in their lives'. Raj did not use those exact words, but based on what he told Sheldon, it made it sound like he was. Sheldon could not do much at that moment. It was more of a forgive and (though impossible for him) forget kind of a situation. It happened in the past, so it should stay in the past.

The only thing that was bothering him more than it should have was how he felt during those situations. Yes, Raj told him what he did to them as a result, but he wondered if he ever forgave them. According to Raj, he never actually told them if he accepted their apologies or if the other two regretted their actions. He only issued them strikes and asked them not to repeat it once more.

What they did to him in the Arctic was one he could not believe. Leonard, Howard, and Raj knew how important science was to him. The three had the audacity to tamper with his experiment, causing him to be the laughing-stock of the university when he published false data. It didn't end there for Sheldon, because the people in the scientific world doubted his abilities and often question the papers that he submits. In other words, because of the Arctic expedition, most scientists were not able to take him seriously.

But there were even more things that they have done.

Sheldon was thrilled when NPR had called him requesting to interview him over to phone from his office.

"Are you really going to be on NPR?"

"Yes, they're interviewing me by phone from my office, regarding the recent so-called discovery of magnetic monopoles in spin-ices. It's pledge week and they're trying to goose the ratings with a little controversy."

"Very cool, congratulations."

"Thank you. My mother is very excited. She's convening her Bible study group to listen in, and then pray for my soul."

Raj told Sheldon how the three of them thought about pulling a prank on him during the phone call. They came up with the idea that Kripke executed for them. Kripke planted a hose connected to a helium tank, which he released into Sheldon's office. As he continued talking, Sheldon noticed a slight change in his voice, and at first he thought it was just something in his throat. His voice got higher and squeakier, and Sheldon knew that something was definitely up. He abruptly ended the interview and ran out of the room. He walked through the corridors, feeling a little light-headed. Entering the cafeteria, he watched as Raj, Leonard, and Howard, as well as the others in the room, laughing uncontrollably.

Sheldon frowned and decided to head home alone.

Only Raj saw him leave.

Leonard and Raj later found him in curled up in his bed, humiliated and depressed. He ignored their apologies for not doing anything about it as they listened to the broadcast. They lied, saying it was all Kripke's idea, and were able to convince Sheldon on blaming it all on him. He even executed a revenge plan along with their help, only to end up being reprimanded by the president of the university.

A week later, Kripke came up to him and confessed.

"Cooper, I apologize for taking part of a wrongful doing that resulted in embarrassment to you. Human Resources called me up and explained how inappropriate and uncalled that was for." Kripke said with a meaningful and apologetic voice.

Sheldon nodded. "Alright, Kripke."

"And I hope that you would forgive Leonard, Howard, and Raj, too."

He shot him a glare. "What do you mean by that?"

"You didn't know? They were the ones who gave me the idea. They are as guilty as I am, too. Leonard was even the one who supplied the helium tank."

After learning about their treachery and deceit, Sheldon marched to the trio. Enraged and betrayed, he yelled at them like how his father did when Sheldon or his siblings have done something wrong.

"Kripke has informed me of you three partaking in the incident last week."

Howard stood up, checking his watch. "Gee, I would love to know what we did, but I have to go pick up Bern-"

Sheldon pointed to the couch with a stern face. "Sit back down."

Leonard looked warily around the room. "Sheldon, we don't know what you're talking about."

"No, Leonard," Sheldon started to raise his voice higher, "you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about."

"Sheldon, you may have misunderstood. It was a tiny prank, no one got hurt and it was all for laughs." Raj tried to explain, but only made the situation worse.

"ALL FOR LAUGHS? What did I do that made me deserve of this tomfoolery? You knew how important this was and that it was a live broadcast. Is it that I am, to use your words, annoying and insufferable that caused the three of you to betray me once more?"

"Look, we're sorry. Really, we are. Right guys?" Howard asked, as they nodded simultaneously.

Sheldon had enough. "I do not need your apologies. They do not mean anything to me anymore. You do not understand that just by saying 'I'm sorry,' does not mean that damage can be undone and we'll all resume our normal lives. It no longer does. Even if you say it a thousand times, I know in a matter of time, you will repeat such offense, and expect me to forgive you."

"Please, Sheldon, calm down. It was-" Raj spoke, but Sheldon hushed him.

"It was not a joke. It was not a prank. It was to sabotage me for all the crap I have done, you don't have to say it. Did you also know that I could have died right there in my office? With the lack of oxygen when all the helium released into my office, I should be inside a casket by now." Sheldon headed down the hallway leading to his room. Leonard got out of his seat and tried to follow him. Sheldon turned around one last time. His eyes were watery and exhausted.

"Do not speak to me. Any of you. If the time permits, I will see if you are worthy of my trust again, but by the looks of it, you have a very small chance of that happening." Sheldon stormed inside his bedroom without another word.

It wasn't until three weeks later when they all saw Sheldon for more than thirty seconds. Since his outburst, they have not seen him that often. No longer did he join them for Halo night or eat Chinese food in the living room. Those three long weeks were quiet and different. The three thought that things would still be the same with Sheldon gone, but found that he was regularly brought up in their conversations no matter how hard they tried not to.

Sheldon wasn't doing any better. He was late to work several times since the buses to work took forever to ride in. He would sneak out of his room when he was sure no one else was outside.

Leonard would sometimes leave food that he bought for him, but the next morning, it would still be there.

Three weeks of no Sheldon. It seemed like heaven to them first, but it never felt like it. Once they cornered Sheldon inside the apartment and there was no way for him to leave, they apologized over and over again. They put on their best faces and hoped to be forgiven. Sheldon listened to each of their explanations and nodded as they finished.

He started to hang outside his room more often.

Leonard drove him to work.

Two weeks later, Sheldon began to speak to them.

After listening to his Raj's extensive narrative, Sheldon noted how Raj didn't say that he told them he forgave them for their actions.

He should feel betrayed by his friends. He shouldn't even call them friends. But he figured that it took him years to find one that stuck around long enough that he was dependent on them, and with them gone, it'll cause some kind of chaos and disruption in his routines and schedules.

Sheldon wiped his face with a paper towel and looked at himself one more time before exiting the bathroom.

His table was on the other side of the restaurant, and Sheldon had a lot of filled tables to pass through. There were several children running around, and some bumped into him as he minded his own business. The aisles were packed and he had to squeeze through people standing in the middle of them. It was a child's birthday party, which explained the abundance of children and adults in one area of the room.

There was a small crowd gathering around a table singing 'happy birthday' to a small girl with brown pigtails. Her cake had a candle in the shape of a three and the little girl waved at Sheldon as he passed by. He became distracted by her gesture that he didn't realize he bumped into one of the waitresses walking opposite to his direction. Sheldon glanced down to see the plates that the waitress had dropped because of him, so he lowered himself onto the floor and attempted to pick the shards of glass out of the floor.

A hand stopped him from continuing, so he pulled himself up, only to meet face to face with the woman he was hoping to see throughout the entire night.

"Hey." Penny softly whispered as a busboy ran to them and started sweeping the mess away. She pulled him over to the other side of the room away from the crowd. "You should have left the glass alone or else they would have cut your fingers."

"I know. Should have thought of it before I bent down." Sheldon chuckled. "Penny, I haven't seen you since you visited the hospital. H-how are you?"

She smiled."I'm fine, but what about you? I mean you don't look as bad as you did when we first met. How's everything now?"

"I'm still recovering, physically and mentally."

"Mentally, huh? That son of a bitch took a toll on your emotions. I would so go all junior rodeo on him if I found out who this idiot is." Penny clenched her fist and playfully punched Sheldon gently on his chest, careful not to hurt him.

"The events that I experienced did not mentally scar me. Though I am a bit afraid of walking around dark alley at night, I was referring to the temporary amnesia associated with this."

"Aww, well I hope everything comes back." Sheldon sighed, and sat down on the chair closest to him. Penny hovered by his side, waiting for a response.

"I don't know if I want them to."

Penny sat directly across from him. "Why not? Don't you want to know who you are and how your life is?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "My friend informed me earlier about how my other friends betrayed me countless times, and I want to not remember how angry I felt that day."

"I don't understand."

"Let me put it this way. I realize that I do not have that much friends. I only have my girlfriend Amy, Leonard, Howard, and Rajesh. Most of my colleagues at work avoid any type of communication with me. Raj revealed to me the treachery that they, with the exception of Amy, have committed. Although I now know it, I do not recall the exact feelings I had when I found of what they have done the first time. I must have felt betrayed, and it's understandable. But for some reason, they stayed with me and I let them into my life once again. A part of me wants to know why, and the other does not. The reason being is that if I end up not knowing, then it would almost be like a new page."

"A new page?"

"Yes, or in other words, start all over. I do not wish to feel how betrayed I was."

"What if they do come back, even though you don't want them to?"

Sheldon looked up to her face, his eyes locking with her green ones. "Then it is a burden I must live with till the end."

"Wow, it seems like you can't trust anyone that easily." Penny said, in which Sheldon nodded in agreement. "But what about your girlfriend? Amy, right?"

"That's her name, and I have not seen or spoken to her as much as she promised."

"Do you have her number?"

"Yes, but I did try to contact her and said she would call back whenever she can."

Penny bit her lip. "That's not a very good girlfriend if she leaves you feeling alone and hurt."

Sheldon listened to her statement, and agreed with her. Amy had promised him several times back at the hospital that no matter what happens, she would be there with him. Lately, she hasn't been there, and it upset Sheldon even more knowing that she broke her promise. He knew she was still feeling down about him not remembering the memories they shared that Amy cherished, but she could have at least tried to help him.

They sat together in a brief moment of silence before a small tap on the shoulder caused Sheldon to look behind and see his bespectacled roommate.

"Hey, Sheldon. We've been searching for you throughout the restaurant. We're about to leave." Leonard said, seeming a bit flustered and acting shy around him and Penny. He blushed when his eye met Penny's. "It's nice to see you again, Penny. I'll take Sheldon away so he won't bother you anymore, and you can get back to work."

Penny sighed. "He's not bothering me, I can still hang around for a few minutes. None of my tables are done eating anyways."

"Leonard, I'm currently speaking to Penny here." Sheldon pointed out after noticing Leonard just standing there awkwardly next to him.

"We have to go, Sheldon. I have work tomorrow and you need your REM sleep or whatever you call it."

"But I'm-" Sheldon began, but was interrupted by Penny standing straight up.

"Your friend's right. I'll get back to work." She turned around and walked away.

Sheldon was annoyed at Leonard for cutting his conversation with her short. "Fine, let's go."

They reached the front entrance of the Cheesecake Factory, but stopped for a minute to zip up their jackets to keep them warm outside in the cool air. Sheldon was behind them, watching his friends laugh about some ridiculous dirty joke Howard made. He rolled his eyes after seeing their immaturity. He felt someone tug on his right arm, and saw that it was Penny.

She slipped a piece of paper inside his hand and gave a gentle squeeze on his arm before Leonard called him over.

That night, before he went to sleep, Sheldon unfolded the note that Penny gave him.

I understand how you feel. If you need anyone to talk to, always know that I'm here. I could use at least one decent friend like you in my life. Please, don't hesitate to contact me for anything. I'll be the friend you want to have standing beside you through it all.

-Penny

Along with the message, Penny included her cell phone number on the paper.

Sheldon smiled before closing his eyes, now knowing he wouldn't feel alone anymore now that Penny was there for him.

A/N:

I hope I didn't confuse anybody. It's been challenging getting a point across for me.

To all my new readers, thank you for clicking on this story. It means a lot.

We have a long way ahead for Shenny to be together at the end.