He listened with mounting amazement as she effortlessly said the same words he had spoken long ago. It didn't matter that she had used words from her own vernacular. All that mattered was that she took the time to memorize his long winded explanation and then she worded it the way she could easily understand it. No one else took the time or effort.

If it had been anyone else they would have rolled their eyes as they called him crazy or 'why did you have to ask that?'. Leonard's favorite statement was the mumbled and annoyed 'here we go'.

She paused at the end of her explanation, pleased and expectant- - - waiting for acknowledgement from him. The words he wanted to say bubbled closely the surface but they would have sounded better coming from someone else's mouth.

"Perhaps there's hope for you after all," he said in his usual snide way.

That was normal Sheldon- - - rude and sly Sheldon.

It didn't bother her- - - she smiled all the same. And when she looked at him, her eyes told him what her statement had really meant- - - I get you. I understand you.