The Wolowitz Conclusion

Chapter seven

Leonard was mad, he couldn't remember the last time he was this mad, although he thought it would probably have had something to do with his mother. Howard had very nearly killed his wife. The shock and anger of coming across something so catastrophic had caused this, very nearly left four children, including a two week old baby, without a mother and him without a wife. Howard knew everything he and Penny had gone through over the years, how difficult it had been for them to get where they are now. He knew about Penny not being sure if she could have children, he knew about their breakups over the years, he knew how hard Leonard had worked to get him and to grind her down until she finally gave in and married him.

Leonard left Penny and Kristian, giving them each a kiss and he'd be back to see them both in the morning. Stephanie had arranged for Penny to have a private room so Kristian could stay with her, and the other kids would be able to come see her in the morning. He called Howard, simply to ask where his car was and where everyone else was. Howard told him he was at home, alone. Leonard got out his phone and opened the 'Uber' app. He typed in Howard's address and tapped on book.

The journey to Howard's seemed to take twice as long as normal and Leonard could feel his anger rising in his chest. As the uber drove up to Howard's house and dropped him off he tried to compose himself as much as possible but failed miserably. He knocked on the door as hard as he could and shouted, giving Howard no doubt as to who was there

"oh, hi, Leonard" Howard stuttered "how are you?"

"can I come in?" Leonard more demanded than asked "now"

"sure" Howard stepped back and took a deep breath as he followed Leonard into the main part of the living room "would you like a coffee?"

"no I don't want a coffee" Leonard answered, baffled as to why Howard would think they wanted to exchange pleasantries over coffee "I want you to explain to me why you're cheating on your wife"

"I don't know" Howard sunk down onto the sofa "Bernadette and I have been stuck in a rut recently, I wanted some excitement, some attention"

"then get a dog" Leonard threw his arms up in the air, "get a babysitter and go out, don't screw around with the new girl in your office during the working day"

"I know" Howard protested "but…"

"but nothing, Howard" Leonard shouted "you could have killed Penny today, you could have left four children without a mother, my children. We're still getting over Sheldon's death, you want to put us through another one"

"I didn't mean to cause Penny to be ill" Howard pleaded, fully aware that wasn't really the point "it shouldn't have happened but I didn't mean it, if Bernadette…"

"wow" Leonard couldn't believe what Howard had just said, he couldn't believe that he hadn't taken any responsibility for what had gone on, it was always someone else's fault, "so it's Bernadette's fault is it?"

"no, but if Penny hadn't gotten so angry…"

"okay, I see" Leonard's face flushed with anger "so it's Penny's fault"

"no"

"Bernadette wasn't the one cheating, Penny wasn't the one cheating" Leonard shook his head "the one cheating was you, Howard, you're the one that has been screwing around, you're the one that has ruined your life"

"is Penny going to tell Bernadette?"

"is that all you care about?"

"no"

"you haven't even asked how Penny is"

"sorry Leonard, how is she"

"well she's not dead" Leonard's eyes stung with the tears that surprised him, he had gone from anger to upset in a matter of seconds "I've just left her and Kristian at the hospital"

"okay"

"now, yes, she is going to tell Bernadette, but not until she's out of hospital, so I suggest you take the opportunity to tell her"

Penny rolled over in her hospital bed and looked at the clock on her phone. It was half past two in the morning, Kristian was sound asleep in his crib, but Penny couldn't sleep, she kept thinking the day through in her head. How such a lovely day of sleeping while Leonard looked after Alice and then picking up Megan and Elliot from school before showing Kristian off to the university and then their world came crashing down again. How could Howard do that, to Bernadette, how could he sleep with someone else? Penny had been cheated on before, and knew the hurt it had caused. As Kristian started to stir and Penny picked him up, she looked down at her son and started to cry. How close she had come to not being around for him, and the other children, and Leonard, and her entire family. How different life would have been for all those people if things had gone the other way.

"hello Kristian" Penny smiled, filled with love as the helpless little Kristian looked up at her with his big brown eyes, "I'm so glad I'm still here for you, and your sisters, and brother, I love you all so much" Penny undid her bra and let Kristian find her nipple before latching on and taking a big gulp, his strong, hungry suck was still causing her slight pain "you're so worth it" Penny half smiled, half winced "you all are."