Alternate Universe Young Sheldon

Season 3 Episode 12: Paige's Breakdown

Sheldon walked into his and Missy's room.
"Missy, I need a moment with Paige!" He told his twin, who was getting her eyebrows plucked with tweezers by the girl genius.
"Make it quick, I'm only half beautiful!" Missy responded, leaving the room. Sheldon sat in the chair Missy was sitting in and looked at Paige patiently, hands in his lap.
"Yeah?" Paige asked expectantly, befuddled by Sheldon's gesture.
"I'm listening." He replied, sounding sincere.
"To what?" Paige asked, slightly impatient. Sheldon never really seemed to show her much attention other than rivalry, what had changed? Why is he all of a sudden 'listening'?
"To you." He responded softly.
"I'm not saying anything." She replied
"Well if you wanted to say anything I'd be listening."
"But I don't want to say anything," Paige said, Sheldon could tell she was speaking reluctantly.
"It's not often I can pick up on emotions, but right now I can tell that you're bottling something up, and I'm here to listen." Sheldon smiled.
"You're being weird.... And not in the usual way... I guess that's my life now...." Paige sighed.
"What do you mean?" Sheldon asked, hoping Paige would continue.
"Everyone is acting weird. My Mom is going on dates and my Dad is acting like a child. My sister is crying all the time..." her voice started to break. Sheldon wanted to say something to try and comfort her, he didn't really understand what the warm sensation in his chest was. He gave her a sympathetic look and let her continue. "I just wish that everything could go back to the way it was." Paige looked down towards the floor before looking back at Sheldon, "I don't think it will." Sheldon continued listening as Paige opened her heart. "I have to live in two different houses... and my grandma says the meanest things about my Dad... I know that everyone is upset that I'm not doing well in school." Paige's eyes began to fill with tears, Sheldon wanted to hug her as his sister hugs him when he's upset. But he felt like she needed to say more. "It's just ... hard to care... everything that used to seem important to me... just... doesn't anymore. So I guess I really just feel like I'm alone." She told him.
"That sounds hard..." Sheldon sympathises with her.
"Yeah..." she cried softly, "it is."
Sheldon bit his lip pensively before standing up and wrapping his arms around Paige. To say that she was surprised would be an understatement. And yet she sunk into his chest. Sheldon stood there with Paige sobbing into his chest. It seemed that having someone listen to her allowed Paige to really let her emotions out. Sheldon waited until her crying had subsided before he said anything.
"Would you like a hot chocolate?" He asked, now filled with the warmth from his chest.
"That'd nice," Paige gave Sheldon a little smile.
"Be right back," Sheldon left the hug and went to make Paige a warm comfort drink. Back in the twins' bedroom, Paige was definitely feeling a lot better compared to when she arrived. No one had ever cared to simply sit down and listen to her before. Nor had anyone let her cry into their chest. She wondered why all of a sudden, Sheldon of all people was the one who did. She definitely wasn't complaining. Out in the kitchen, Sheldon was finishing up Paige's drink when his Dad walked in.
"Whatcha doin?" He asked. Sheldon turned around with the kettle still in his hand.
"Paige is sad so I'm making her a hot beverage." He stated with a smile.
"Aww, you're a good kid... I'm proud of you." George gave Sheldon a proud smile.
"Thank you!" Sheldon grinned as he gave the beverage a final stir and took it back to Paige. He handed it to her and sat back on the chair.
"Thank you Sheldon." Paige grinned, taking a sip.
"Paige, I'm also really sorry for all the times I've been cold towards you. You are really smart, but you don't let it define who you are. Which I often make the mistake of doing. And you're not alone, even if it seems like it sometimes. You've got me, and Missy." Paige listened as Sheldon talked to her, taking in everything he said.
"And you're always welcome to stay with us," a new voice spoke. It was Missy. Sheldon turned to look at her. And then back at Paige, who was waiting for Sheldon to object. But instead he nodded.
"Indeed, if you ever feel like you need a break from everything, we'll be here. And I'm pretty positive Mom won't mind, given her strong connection to Christianity." Hearing this Paige smiled at the twins, how and why she deserved such good friends she didn't know. But she was thankful.

That night:

Sheldon and Missy lay in their respective beds.
"That was really kind of you today with Paige,"
Missy told her twin.
"I could tell something was bothering her, so I asked Dr Sturgis for advice and he told me to listen. I'm glad I did too, it felt nice having someone hug me besides you or Mom."
"Aww!" Missy grinned. "I'm proud of you Shelly,  I could tell when Paige was leaving she seemed to be feeling happier and brighter than she did when she arrived."
"She did cry a lot into my chest. I don't even know how long I stood there letting her cry." Sheldon told Missy.
"I was watching the clock, it was about half n hour." Missy said proudly. Sheldon smiled to himself.

The next morning:

Everyone was having breakfast while George and Mary were getting ready for the day.
"Your dad told me about what you did for Paige yesterday, that was very kind of you Shelly!" Mary beamed at him.
"Thank you, Missy and I will always be there for her. She deserves some happiness with everything that she told me she's going through." 
"You're such good kids. You make me a proud father." George smiled.