As the train inched closer to the Pasadena depot, Leonard's apprehensive level rose to the point of near panic. Sheldon tried to calm him down and he nearly had to drag him to the bar and ordered him a stiff drink.
The train stopped at the station and Leonard just wanted to stay on the train and head back east. "Sheldon, you did promise my mother, sister and sister-in-law a return visit. They are going to be disappointed. What about your mother and Missy? It isn't fair to tell them we are going to stop and see them and then change our minds."
Sheldon scoffed, "Leonard, since when do you want to spend time with your mother. As for my mother and sister, they just may be happy we're not coming. Either way, they will understand when I explain that we needed to sort things out with both of our relationships."
Leonard picked up his bag and patted Sheldon on the back, "As always, you're right Sheldon. I hate to admit it this time, but I have to say you have grown tremendously in your social skills and it's time for me to step up and confront my issues face to face. Thinking back, I should have stayed and worked things out."
Sheldon nodded and then chuckled, "You, I guess you're right, but you can't dispute the fact that we had an incredible time. You may have second thoughts about going on the train trip, but I wouldn't trade it for all the tea in China, and you know how much I love tea."
Leonard finally cracked a smile and nodded, "Yeah it was something, that is why I stipulated in our relationship agreement that I get to keep doing this every summer."
"Yeah, even though we're cutting this year's trip short, we are going to make a precise outline for next year's trip. Come on, let's go, I see Penny and Amy standing out there on the platform. Penny looks just as apprehensive as you are. Suck it up Leonard and let's get this over with."
They disembarked and before his second foot him the pavement, Penny's arms were wrapped around his neck and she tried to kiss him. He avoided her lips and kissed her cheek lightly. He pulled away and gave her a weak smile, "I believe we need to take things slowly Penny. I need a shower, how about heading back to the apartment so I can clean-up?"
Penny felt shunned, but she sucked it up. She knew, especially for her this is totally uncharted territories for her. She usually was the one breaking up or throwing a fit and throwing cellphones out windows. She refused to let him get to far away. She wrapped her arm around his and led him out the parking lot.
Leonard was disappointed to see Amy had driven and he knew he had to get in the back with Penny. He placed his suitcase in the trunk and allowed Penny to get in first. He climbed in and hugged the door, not wanting to get especially close to Penny.
Penny immediately noticed this, but wasn't going to push things. Luckily the trip to the apartment wasn't very long and as soon as Amy pulled to the curb, Leonard hopped out and asked Amy to pop the trunk. He got his luggage out and hurried into the apartment.
They all walked up the stairs in silence and as Leonard reached his apartment door he turned to Amy, "Thank you for picking us up Amy. I gotta shower and change, I'll talk to you later." He was looking to Penny when he said that and hurried into his room where he dropped his suitcase and pulling out some clean clothes. He headed into the bathroom where he closed the door and locked it.
Sheldon was left out on the landing. He looked to Penny, "You have to give him some time. He was getting more and more upset the closer we got to Pasadena. I had to drag him to the bar and get him something to drink to calm his nerves." He gave her a tiny smile, "He does want to give your relationship another shot, but he's stuck in neutral and he's afraid to make the first move. He's been burnt too many times and he's worried it will happen again. He's my very best friend and if he's hurt again, I'm not sure he can survive."
Penny nodded, "I know I fucked up Sheldon, I'm not sure how I can prove to him I'm going to change."
"I guess the only way you can prove it is by actions in the future. I'm not lecturing you, but talk is cheap and he's heard it over and over again. You have to show him and not just for a few weeks, it has to be an everyday occurrence, a real lifestyle change." He hugged her, "I have to get in there and make sure he's okay."
Penny frowned, "I'm sorry Sheldon, I know you cut your summer train excursion across the country short. You are a good friend please take care of him. Tell him when he wants to talk, just come over, I'll be waiting."
Sheldon entered the apartment and unpacked as he waited for Leonard to exit the bathroom.
It was nearly half an hour, but he finally came out, refreshed and ready to face the music. He entered Sheldon's room, "I'm going to order a pizza. I have to have something in my stomach other than the alcohol I had earlier. Hopefully I'll be calmed down and ready to talk to her. You know as soon as I saw her on the platform, all the anger returned and I nearly stayed on the train."
Sheldon didn't know how to reply. He just nodded, "I'm on your side Leonard; let me know if you need to vent. I'm not very good at this, but will do my best to back you."
It seemed like forever for the pizza to be delivered and as the delivery guy knocked on the door, Leonard opened it and saw Penny throw open her door. He saw the disappointed look on her face. He paid for the pizza, "I was coming over after having some pizza." Once again his good nature took over, "Would you like to join us, we have more than enough for the three of us?"
A huge smiled crossed her lips and she nodded vigorously, "Yes, oh yes, I'd love some." She stood there waiting for him to allow her in. She hurried past him when he turned and allowed her to pass.
Leonard got paper plates and a couple bottles of water. He handed them to Sheldon and Penny and was glad Sheldon was there to run interference. They ate in silence and after waiting so long for the pizza, he didn't want to finish too soon. The longer he ate; the longer he was able to delay talking about all of the issues before them.
Sheldon took the pizza box, empty plates and napkins to the kitchen to be disposed. He turned and saw the two of them sitting there, neither of them looking at one another. He entered the living room and stood over them, "Okay let's address the 800 pound gorilla in the room. You two need to get your asses up and go over to Penny's and settle your issues and I'm locking the door and chaining the door until I hear you two have settled things." He waited till they got up and left the apartment. He went over, locked the door and chained it.
Penny opened her door and waited for Leonard to enter. She closed the door and immediately went over and cracked open a bottle of wine and poured two glasses. She took them over to the coffee table and set them down and sat on the sofa, but not too close to Leonard. She let out a long sign, took a sip of her wine and turned towards him, "I've missed you! I never realized how much I really loved you until you were no longer here in my life. I'll do anything to make this work, please give me a chance to show you."
He nodded in agreement, "I know in your heart you really want to do this Penny. I know you can do it for a short period, even longer knowing how I feel about it, but over the long term, four, five years after we are married. How do I know you won't get bored with just one man, me? You may think I'm too invested and will look the other way and you'll do it once. You'll find I didn't catch you and you'll try again and again, then what? You lied right to my face in a car on the way to our wedding. How do you expect me to feel and to wonder when the other shoe will drop and you'll fall into the same old rut?"
She looked down at her hands as she clutched them together and she shrugged and in barely a whisper she replied, "I don't know, Leonard. I just know that this past month has been the worst month of my entire life. I had numerous opportunities to have sex. On my job, I'm hit on by rich, handsome doctors, but they were not you. I turned them all down and will continue to do so. I don't want to jeopardize that ever again. That is why I'm against this 36 hour long orgy. I'll do it if it means you'll come back to me. Will I enjoy it?" She shrugged, "I'm only human and once alone with all of those men, who can resist? I know you'll have a great time. I saw the names on the list you sent me, some old flames and others I don't even know."
He slid closer to her, "If you follow through on what you just said, I see no reason why we can't be together. Words are cheap, you have to prove it to me and you know I'll trust you eventually, but not for the foreseeable future. Whenever you are late, come home looking disheveled, I'll wonder. Can you blame me?"
She gave him a weak smile and again she shrugged, "No, I guess not, but I can't live my life wondering when I'm caught in traffic will you believe me. It's going to be hard living like that."
He nodded, "I understand, but look at your past or better yet, put yourself in my shoes and if all that occurred, would you believe me? Especially the way you can lie and not bat an eye while doing it. What says to prove to me, if you're caught in traffic, call me, facetime me and show me the traffic. If I'm home alone and you come home tired and rush into the bathroom to shower because you say you're sweaty, would you believe you or wonder if you're washing off the sweat and bodily fluids from someone else."
