:Empathy:
"Um, why is Penny's door open?" Howard asked as the guys reached the fourth floor.
They all looked at each other worriedly for a moment. Sheldon walked over and peered inside. The kitchen and living room were empty. Leonard moved around him and put his ear to the bedroom door.
"I don't hear anything," he said with relief.
"Maybe she's in your apartment," Raj suggested.
Sheldon twitched and hurried across the hall. "She better not be!"
They all searched carefully, but the apartment was empty. Finally, after making sure Leonard still had the spare she had returned to him after the midnight cleaning debacle, Sheldon shut and locked her door.
A few hours later Sheldon was about to head to bed when his phone rang. He didn't recognize the number, but he couldn't leave the phone unanswered, either. "Hello?"
"Is this Sheldon?" a gruff voice asked.
"Yes, I am Dr. Sheldon Cooper. Who is this?"
"I'm Wyatt Queen, Penny's dad. Have you seen my daughter today?"
Sheldon felt a strong sense of worry creeping into his mind. "No sir, I have not. Her door was open when my associates and I returned from work. The apartment was empty so I shut and locked it."
A pained sigh seemed to echo over the phone. "Thanks, son. I'm sure she'll be home soon enough."
Sheldon looked out the window at the steadily falling rain. "Sir? Is something wrong? Do you suspect Penny is in trouble?"
Mr. Queen was silent for several seconds. "My son died of an overdose last night," he said brokenly.
Sheldon flinched as Mr. Queen choked back a sob. "I am very sorry, sir," he mumbled.
"Thank you," he answered sadly. "Would… would you please call me when Penny returns home? Let me know she's okay?"
"Of course, sir," Sheldon promised. "I will personally make sure she calls you, as well."
Mr. Queen hung up and Sheldon put down his phone. He stood and walked out of the apartment. He hesitated only a moment before turning and walking up the staircase to the roof.
He shivered as the rain hit him, but he walked over to the lawn chair someone had placed up there years ago. He sat down beside Penny and stared out over the city. She didn't acknowledge him at all, her eyes downcast.
"My dad was an alcoholic," Sheldon said softly. "When I was 15 my mom called to tell me he had liver failure, but was not a good candidate for a transplant. Two days before my 16th birthday he died."
He looked at her sympathetically. "I know the two are vastly different. What I am trying to express is that losing someone to their own demons is not easy. I do not pretend to understand your pain, but if you ever need to talk, I would gladly listen."
After a moment Penny reached out and threaded her fingers with his. Sheldon shuddered, but he wasn't absolutely certain whether it was from being touched or the cold rain.
"How'd you know?" she asked.
"Your father called me looking for you," he answered.
Penny scooted a little closer. "I gave him your number for emergencies. You know my phone is sometimes off until I can pay the bill." She looked up at him, her eyes bleak with misery. "How'd you know I was up here?"
Sheldon slowly tugged his hand from hers and placed his arm around her shoulders. "When my father died I went to the roof of my dorm and waited for the sun to rise. I figured that since you and I are both dreamers, you would do the same."
Penny laid her head on his shoulder and blinked at the tears building up again. It felt comforting that Sheldon understood. She had known the boys for almost a year now, and found them strangely fascinating, but she wasn't very close to them. Now, though, she felt a true affection for Sheldon. He had stepped way outside his comfort zone for her tonight. She appreciated that more than she knew how to say.
He was grateful for her silence as they awaited the dawn. He was cold, tired and wet, but the idea of leaving Penny up here alone was abhorrent to him. He had to admit, it wasn't too unpleasant having her tucked under his arm. He laid his cheek on her head and got as comfortable as he could. Dawn was still hours away.