The Ornament Disintegration- Ch 4
The Ornament Disintegration
Chapter 4
Sheldon almost skips as he returns to 2311 Los Robles with his take-out from the Indian restaurant. Raj and Howard left this morning with Howard’s mother, headed for relatives in Boca Raton. His mother agreed to a visit during the spring semester break thus sparing him 12 hours of church. Leonard was now on a cross-country flight to Guilt and Inadequacy-ville and would return in a week more permissive and compliant than ever. The corner of Sheldon’s mouth lifts in a smile. He’s practically giddy. And Penny? Penny is in Nebraska. Sheldon stops for a minute at that. He is alone. He steps onto his landing. Alone. It’s Christmas and he is completely and utterly alone.
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When Penny walks into 4A after talking with Leonard, she is instantly reminded of an old squabble with Sheldon. It was probably over toothpicks or the subtleties between mauve and dusty rose. She’s thinking of that quarrel not because of the topic but because, at one point, Sheldon, in response to her griping about why he was always in her face, had snapped,
“Penny, ‘the obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious takes a little longer’. Edward R. Murrow said that.”
At that time, Penny’s answer had been an eloquent, “That’s the stupidest thing I ever heard and who the frak is Edward R. Murrow?” leading to another argument.
But now? Standing in the glow of the Christmas tree( Sheldon must have rigged some device so when one entered the apartment, the tree blazed to life), the air rich with pine, Penny realizes this beauty before her has to be Sheldon‘s doing; Leonard couldn‘t even grow lima beans on paper towels. She hears the Murrow quote again. Will Sheldon ever cease to amaze her? She sincerely hopes not.
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Sheldon still hasn’t entered his apartment. Penny wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye! No matter how nasty their fights got, the two of them always fulfilled their social contracts. Sheldon even had a non-bath related gift for her wrapped and sitting on his bureau. He turns from his door and walks to hers. A snort escapes him at the jingle bell wreath hanging on Penny’s door. It is a pale comparison to the tree in his living room.
Knock-jingle, knock-jingle, knock-jingle!
“Penny!”
Knock-jingle, knock-jingle, knock-jingle! (The bells are throwing off the rhythm.)
“Penny!”
Knock-jingle, knock-jingle, knock-jingle!(He may have to remove the wreath and begin again)
“Penny!”
There is no shuffling of feet. No faint sighing. No opening door. No Penny.
Sheldon concludes getting exactly what he wants for Christmas sucks.
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Penny’s head turns when she hears the muffled tinkling of bells and knocking a cross the hall. She glances at the coffee table before clicking off the lights in the apartment. The door opens. Sheldon enters and the tree flares.
“Penny!” He squawks when she appears before him. “I thought you had left.”
Penny adjusts her Santa hat. “So , you’re talking to me now?”
“Obviously.”
“it’s a Saturnalia miracle.” Penny says dryly. Sheldon frowns.
“Was that sarcasm? Are we still fighting? What social situation is this?”
“Yes. Somewhat. An apology.” Penny rattles off.
“Penny, I believe I made it very clear that I cannot overlook this.” Sheldon tries to move past her but she blocks him.
“Then why were you knocking at my door?”
Sheldon looks down. Away. Up. Anywhere but at her.
“Sheldon, please. Why are you so hung up on that ornament? Is it because it came from your grandmother?”
“Of course not!” He barks. “I have items of far more significant value from Meemaw.”
“Then what is the big deal?” Penny is toe-toe with him.
“The big deal is that you are careless. How you treat a person’s belongings is indicative of how you will treat that individual.”
Penny jerks her head. Was Sheldon actually implying something?
“Sheldon, honey, I came here to make things right between us. I won’t be able to enjoy Christmas knowing you are still angry with me.”
For once, he’s silent. Two miracles in one night.
“So I got you this.” Penny steps aside. On the coffee table is another tree. Table size. It is strung with blue lights. Spock blue. Sheldon blue. Penny had twined black and gold beads as garland. Sheldon steps closer as the ornaments have caught his eye. There are seven- A Vulcan command ship, the Enterprise, the transporter chamber complete with Kirk, Spock and Scotty, three different Spocks and one with Kirk and Spock.
“Penny, do you know what this is?” Sheldon touches the Kirk and Spock one.
She nods. “It’s from The City on the Edge episode. Kirk and Spock have to go back in time to repair the damage to history. Look, “ She presses the ornament and it flashes and quotes from that episode play. “I got it because it is about fixing the past.”
Sheldon stares at her, his eyes beyond wide.
“So, “ Penny twists her fingers. “Can we go back to being friends?”
Sheldon touches each ornament once more.
“No.” He says softly.
“No!” Penny cries. “What do you mean ‘no’? Do you know how hard these were to find? How expensive? For God’s sake, I made you your own Sheldon tree! What more do I have to do?”
Sheldon’s answer is quick. It is lingering. It is chaste yet Penny can feel his racing pulse. It is warm but she is shivering. It is unsure while at the same time, knowing. Oh-so-knowing.
The best Christmas presents are the ones we never knew we always wanted.
The End
Author's note: I am totally fried and done with writing for a bit. Now it's time for someone to write me a fic. Bah Humbug!