A/N: I'm finally back from my vacation and I apologize for how the story ended kind of abruptly. Thanks to angeleyes2838 and to several of my friends, I've decided to revise the final chapter :) I hope you like it as much as the original. Again, thanks to everyone who has reviewed and faved this!

Chapter 15

"Oh good LORD." Sheldon fought to catch his breath as he stumbled into the train station. It had taken him a good amount of time, running into dead ends and going in circles, before he finally found it. However, it was such a large structure, and Sheldon pondered how he had missed it in the first place.

He looked around. Unlike the rest of the city, the station seemed to be deserted. He approached the turnstiles and spotted the train docked at the boarding area. Relief washed over him.

I can still make it…but where IS she?

The train whistle sounded and Sheldon snapped to attention. He tried entering the boarding area, but found that the barrier would not budge.

Sheldon cursed, and gripped his bag strap with his clammy hands. No no no…thwarted by a metal turnstile…He glared at the train. But I must. And anything is possible… He reached into the pocket where he had slipped the expo marker what seemed to be ages ago.

What he took out though was not the marker. In his hand, he held a sonic screwdriver.

Moving quickly, he activated the screwdriver and ran the blue light over the barricade. A soft click meant it had worked and he dashed into the boarding area, which was just as devoid of life.

Sheldon could not help but admire the train momentarily. It was majestic, with more compartments than he could count from where he stood, and much like how he imagined a train should look like. The Sheldonopolis version of the Orient Express. Regaining his thoughts, his eyes began to search the windows.

"Penny? Penny!" He called out, but no answer came. He tried every door, only to find them locked, and the sonic screwdriver didn't seem to work. As he ran down the length of the train, he spotted a familiar flash of gold towards the last car. "Penny!"

The metal of the train gave a loud lurch, and steam escaped, blocking his view. He shut his eyes, coughing, but once he opened them, he knew he was too late.

The train began to move, gaining speed as it exited the far tunnel of the station. The last car passed him, and that was when he saw her. Her head was resting against the glass, seeming much more pale than when she had left.

He yelled out her name, running by the window. When he mustered enough courage to get close enough and pound on the window, her eyes widened and focused on his.

'Sheldon?' She mouthed. She tried opening the window, but it was stuck. Frantically, Penny gestured towards the end of the car. Of course! She should be able to open that exit! He slowed until the door came into view, and it slid open.

Penny stepped out, gripping the sidebars. "Sheldon? What-"

"Don't leave Penny!" He ignored the burning in his legs. Panting, he continued. "Stop the train! Get off…Just…don't leave!"

"Are you kidding me? I can't get off this train!"

"What if I say sorry?" He yelled back.

"Sheldon!" She rolled her eyes at him and, still gripping tightly, stretched out her arm. "Holy crap on a cracker, I can't believe I'm doing this." She said to herself. "Sheldon, grab my hand!"

"Grab what?" He stared at her hand.

"Grab my hand Sheldon! I'll pull you onto the train." Glancing ahead, Sheldon saw they were near the gaping tunnel and he willed his legs to move faster. He extended his own arm to grab onto her.

Their fingers touched, but it wasn't enough. I can do this, he thought. With a final push, he leaped forward and their hands locked. Penny heaved and pulled him into the car. He fell on top of her as the dark tunnel engulfed the last of the train.

Sheldon collapsed with Penny still underneath, and she laid still, looking at him with confusion.

"Penny, I must admit…" He wheezed. "That was more fun than running with hot dogs in my pants…" Penny laughed at this, patting his chest.

They lay on the floor of the train car, heads turned towards each other in silence, save for the steady beat of the train's mechanics. Penny moved to rest her forehead against his and smiled.

"Why did you run after me…you had the choice to stay back there. Also, you're not the kind of guy to apologize."

"Yes, but after some consideration and…" He rolled off of her, arms splayed out. "Some questioning of logic, I've come to realize that I'd rather follow my heart. For once."

He reached over and unpinned the pennyblossom from his strap. He gave it back to her, but Penny clasped her hand with his, the flower trapped between their palms.

"Dr. Sheldon Cooper, that may be the most logical thing you've said since you got here."

"Penny."

"Hmm?"

"I'll let that slide for now."

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Sheldon's brow twitched with each beep. What in the world…His eyes slowly opened, and he laid still until the blur of his surroundings came into focus.

Of several things he was certain:

There was something warm curled up by his side. It was not at all unpleasant.

He was not in his room. His room didn't make beeping sounds.

The pain in his ribs was getting worse.

He had a strong urge to eat a hamburger.

His eyes shifted, and he saw he was in a hospital room. But…what are my action figures doing here? Is that my model train? And are those my COMIC BOOKS?

Whatever had been sleeping next to him stirred, and after a moment he realized who it was.

"Sheldon…?" Penny woke up when she felt his muscles flex. She watched him blink several times before she realized he was awake. "Sheldon…Oh my god! SHELDON!"

She threw her arms around him, tears flowing.

"Ugh…" He groaned, but he returned the hug, albeit weakly. "Hello, Penny." He buried his face in her hair, and smiled. "There, there…Sheldon's here…"

When he looked up again, Leonard, Raj, and Howard stood by the doorway. They had dropped what they were carrying, all sharing the same dumbstruck expression.

"Sheldon!" Leonard was the first to break out of the stupor. "Buddy, you're awake!" He ran over to Sheldon, followed by Raj and Howard, who embraced them in a tight group hug.

"Leonard! Howard! Raj…" He noticed what they had been carrying in their arms: several brightly wrapped gifts. "What day is it…" He whispered. Penny let go, wiping away the tears.

"Sweetie…it's December 24. Chri- Saturnalia eve."

"Saturnalia…Oh! Well that's fantastic. I have so much to tell you. I had the most wonderful escapade." He turned to Leonard. "But first, I must say Leonard. Kermit had nothin' on you."

"Kermit?"

"Yes. The frog."

Raj looked at Howard, who only shrugged.

"And you two…oh my little Oompa Loompas of science! And Penny…"

She gave a squeak when he pulled her back into his embrace, but returned it eagerly as she willed her heart to calm down. "Oh Sheldon…"

Howard nudged Leonard. "You should probably call Stephanie…he's awake but there might be some looser screws up there, cuz I don't sense a bazinga coming our way." He chuckled lightheartedly as he picked the up the gifts.

With one last glance at Penny and Sheldon, he smiled a genuine smile. No. This is right…everything is as it should be.

The nurses and various specialists put Sheldon through a myriad of exams throughout the day, despite his protesting. Even after weeks of being in the hospital, his muscles had not deteriorated as much as they had anticipated.

At one point, he had to be strapped and slightly sedated. Leonard, who had to endure their recounting of Sheldon the madman, quietly wondered. He usually likes tests…

Stephanie flashed the ophthalmoscope into each of Sheldon's eyes.

"I have to say, Sheldon. You're doing really well."

"Well, I could have told you that."

"Heard you almost wrecked the CT scanner."

He snorted. "I didn't need a CT done in the first place. Those are solely for the purpose of scanning for tumors, hemorrhaging, and bone trauma. It has been weeks since the accident. If I had any of those I wouldn't be awake now would I?"

Leonard cleared his throat. "So what do you think, Stephanie? Can he head home?"

She slid her hands into the pockets of her jacket and shrugged at him. "I don't see why not? The tests were clear and, for a patient who just woke up from a coma, he's doing amazing. What do you say Sheldon?"

"Where's Penny?" he asked, fidgeting.

"Penny?" Leonard thought a moment. "She should be packing your things into the car- whu- HEY!" Sheldon grabbed his bag from Leonard's grasp and sprinted down the stairs, towards the parking area in front of the hospital.

He approached the glass windows that made up the entrance of the hospital and he stood hidden by the large glowing Christmas tree, observing Penny. She seemed to be engrossed in making sure nothing had been left behind. He noticed that she had lost quite a bit of weight, and there had been dark circles under her eyes, but Howard and Raj had explained her plight.

He couldn't help but feel gratitude.

Sheldon had pieced together the conjunctures, and found so many overlaps. Her endeavors paid off. Fascinating.

Penny put the last of his belongings into the trunk and wiped her forehead. Stephanie had assured her he would be ready to leave in no time. The worst had come to pass, and things would be back to normal (or as normal as they come when it involved Sheldon.)

"Penny?" She turned. He stood before her, in the same clothes he had worn the day he was hit: Striped long sleeve, layered with his violet lantern shirt. His beige windbreaker folded neatly over his arm. Penny grinned.

"Hey Sheldon! Did Dr. Barnett say you could go home?"

"Technically, she said 'I don't see why not.' I suppose it was a yes." He stood next to her, cheeks flushed. "Penny, I want you to know that…I am thankful for everything you've done while I was comatose."

"Aw…Sheldon, it wasn't a problem." She shrugged at him. "So, what was it like? Being in a coma…you mentioned Kermit."

"It was like a madhouse. I was in Sheldonopolis, which was a metaphor for my mind I suppose, and I fought my way to save it, but not without help." He pointed at her. "You were with me. It wasn't until the end that I learned why, though."

"Oh really?" She said, playfully. "And what was the reason, whack-a-doodle?"

"My mind, filled with logic and rationality, had evidently been suppressing other feelings that turned out to be quite vital. Once in my comatose state, those feelings were able to manifest into your form and emerge." He took out the letter she had written from his bag and handed it to her. "Because of this, and of you, I conquered what had been keeping me under."

Penny laughed. Yep, that's good ol' Sheldon, alright. "I'm glad then. That I was able to help."

His brow arched, miffed. "You clearly missed what I've been trying to explain."

"Huh? W-"

He bent towards her and brought his hand up to cup her face, as he had wanted to do since that moment by the pennyblossom tree.

Sheldon…?

"It's relatively simple." He stroked her cheek before gently tilting her head up. "I love you." His lips met hers tentatively, but he let out a groan as Penny pressed her body against his, their kiss deepening. Once they pulled away for air, Sheldon searched her eyes.

"Penny, do you-"

"Shut up, Sheldon." Penny held his gaze. "I spent every day regretting ever writing you this stupid letter." She threw it to the ground and he gulped, backing away from her until he hit the glass. She poked his chest as she continued. "Every day, I prayed and I wished for you to just wake the hell up. I sang, and I held you, and I just…wanted you to come back. I wanted to tell you that I was sorry and I needed you to know."

"And you are forgiven. But that doesn't-"

"Sheldon!"

"Sorry. But what did you need me to know?"

It was her turn to give him a miffed look, and she grabbed his shirt, pulling him down so that his face was leveled with hers.

"For a genius, you're not very smart. I needed you to know that I love you, too."

In the light of the hospital's Christmas tree, ignoring the stares of the staff and patrons, they kissed passionately, locked in each other's arms.

When everything was signed, they finally headed home. Raj and Howard decided to hit the bars in celebration, leaving Leonard to drive Sheldon and Penny.

He glanced at his rear view mirror from time to time. Sheldon had insisted he sit in the back with Penny, and they spoke to each other in hush tones, although Penny animatedly explained everything that happened while Sheldon was under.

"So, you sang? I might have heard it…sadly, there was only one instance when that Penny sang."

"Really? Can you remember what song it was though?"

"Penny, I remember everything." She playfully punched his shoulder, eliciting a small 'ow'. "Lucky I'm in love with my best friend. Lucky to have been where I have been…lucky to be going home again."

They kissed again, and Leonard shifted uncomfortably in the driver's seat.

Sheldon suddenly popped his head next to Leonard, causing the car to swerve.

"Whoa! Sheldon, what are you doing?"

"Penny and I wanted to say you should keep your eyes on that road, Kermit. And Merry Saturnalia."

Oh yes, Leonard thought, smiling. Merry Saturnalia.

~The End~