I've been holding this one at bay for a very long time. I was almost finished writing it when a friend took a break from this site. I have been waiting on a certain someone to make her way back into the fold here, and now that she has returned, I can post it. So, in honor of the return of wolfofsheep, I give you "Changes".
Something was very different about Penny. She was behaving abnormally. Sheldon consulted his files again. They contained every interaction he had ever had with her. He had spent the last 3 days reviewing 3 years worth of data. He could only come to one conclusion. Something had occurred 5 weeks ago that had significantly affected Penny so as to change her behavior.
Penny never ate with them anymore. She still participated in other scheduled activities as long as she was not working, but she never showed up until after the meal was over. Once, Sheldon had deliberately held up the meal for almost an hour and she still did not appear until the last bite was consumed.
She no longer stole milk for her coffee. She had refused the last chocolates he had offered. And not once in the past weeks had he seen her with a drink of alcohol. Nor had he smelled any on her breath. At first he had attributed it to some sort of diet. Not that Penny needed to diet. She had a perfect body mass. Then he had noticed other physical changes. Penny stopped tanning. Over the last few weeks her skin went from golden to a peaches and cream complexion. She stopped lightening her hair, now it was the color of dark honey. Personally he thought it made her seem more beautiful. Her eyes shone brightly and her skin looked even softer.
Most perplexing of all, though, was her sudden career change. She had surprised them all by announcing that she had found a different job. She was now barkeep at a local club. She said it paid more, she made better tips and it was within walking distance. When she had first made the announcement, he had (quite rightly, he thought) been upset. Who would serve him his burger on Tuesdays? Penny had assured him she would still work one day a week at the Cheesecake factory to serve him. Her new job was only 4 days a week anyway. Friday through Sunday and Wednesday.
Now Sheldon's time with Penny was limited. Mondays she came over for TV in the evenings. Tuesdays he only saw her for his burger. Thursdays she would join them for a movie unless it was Anything Can Happen Thursday, in which case they would either play Age of Conan, watch a movie or go out for putt-putt or bowling. No more Halo, vintage video games or laundry night. Sheldon had not realized until now how integral she had become to his schedule.
Sheldon finished reviewing his files with a sigh. He had only one course of action. The biggest deviation was her work. He would need to observe Penny at her job. Howard, Raj and Leonard went almost every Friday night. Now that Penny worked there. it was easier for them to get in. He smirked at their reaction when he remarked he would join them the next Friday.
Penny wasn't surprised to see him. Interesting. In fact the moment he sat down at the end of the bar, she passed him a diet virgin cuba libre. He watched her closely. He was not sure what he had expected but he knew it wasn't this. Her hair was in ponytails. She was wearing jeans and a Wonder Woman t-shirt Raj had given her for her birthday. Neither was particularly tight. She wasn't dressed provocatively at all, yet she was heart-stoppingly attractive. She was also utterly professional. No matter what a patron said, no matter how much he or she flirted, Penny would make their drink, offer a friendly smile and send them on their way.
After three hours he had found nothing to suggest a cause for her changes. He sought out the others and found them near the dance floor. "I would like to leave now, Leonard."
Leonard rolled his eyes, and shook his head. "We're not leaving yet. It's still early. You can either take a cab, walk, or find a seat and wait for us."
He was about to argue when he saw Penny edging around the other side of the dance floor. She approached a blonde woman and they walked toward a door marked Employees Only. Sheldon followed them as quickly a possible. When he reached the door, he tried the handle but it was locked. He leaned against the door and waited. 23 minutes later Penny emerged. She quirked an eyebrow at him as she moved past. Sheldon waited another 15 minutes but the other woman never came out. He looked over at the bar, and Penny was turned away from him, talking to a group of guys. He turned the handle and the door opened. He glanced inside. Some sort of office. There was a door on the opposite wall marked with an EXIT sign, and the room was empty.
When he sat back down at the bar, Penny passed him a new drink. His fingers brushed hers as he took it and he was shocked. Her skin was warm, too warm. Almost as if she had been standing under a heat lamp. His eyes widened as she smirked at him again. It felt as if she was challenging him. Sheldon Cooper did not back down from a challenge.
While reviewing what little data he had garnered, he realized his mistake. She had known he was there, watching. The next Friday he told the guys he was working late. They were going to a new movie, and would not be at the club. Penny was scheduled to work 7-2. He sat in a darkened corner and watched her. Sure enough, during her break she approached a young man, and escorted him into the small office. 19 minutes later, she emerged alone. He watched her return to the bar and begin pouring drinks again. Then she turned and looked directly at him and waved. He scowled furiously. How long had she known he was there?
He returned on Sunday, since Leonard had a date and the other two were at Raj's. Once again, on her break she pulled a pretty blond from the floor. He was waiting by the door when she approached. She was about to walk by him, only a flicker of her eyes acknowledging his presence, when he reached out and touched her arm. With a sigh Penny whispered to the woman, who turned and walked away.
Penny sighed wearily and looked at him. "What is it, Sheldon?
"As you were about to take a break, I thought maybe we could talk," he said softly.
Penny shook her head and started to turn away. "Maybe some other time. I have to work now."
Sheldon felt a surge of anger, which took him by surprise. He took Penny's arm again. "Where were you going? With the woman?" He suspected the answer but he wanted to hear her say it.
She looked at him for several seconds before her lips pulled back in a parody of her normal smile. She leaned in close, her breasts brushing his chest. Sheldon felt his pulse rate increase.
"Do you want me to tell you I was about to engage in coitus," she whispered. Her vice was low and husky. "Take some random guy or gal back to the back room and have them up against the wall. Naughty, naughty Penny."
He couldn't hold back the moan that escaped his throat. He felt his body harden at the sudden images in his head. Penny's eyes flashed like his green lantern light. She looked down at the burgeoning erection pressing against her hip and then back up to him. She reached to the side and opened the door. Without thought he spun them into the room and was pressing her against the wall before it even closed.
He buried his face in her neck and gripped her hips tightly. How had he not known? How could he have not seen how much he was attracted to her? He saw it now though. Why he felt her absence so much, why she was the one he turned to when he was sick, why she was the one he trusted with his burgers, why he could never refuse when she had asked for help. He liked her. He wanted her.
"Not so different after all, huh?" He looked at her in confusion. She looked disappointed. It must be his lack of experience. He was doing something wrong, without realizing it. He kissed her, pressing his lips to hers fiercely. She went completely still beneath him. Unresisting, but unresponsive. Shouldn't she respond in some way? He pulled back and looked at her slowly. Penny looked at him blandly.
"Go ahead," she said calmly. "Bang the slut. It's what you're here for, right?"
His shock at her words washed away his desire. "Penny?"
Quickly she pushed him away. "No? Then go home, Sheldon. I have work to do." Then she slipped back through the door and out into the club. He stood there for several minutes trying to work out what had just happened. He came to three very startling conclusions.
One, he was very attracted to Penny. The feel of her lips against his, her hips in his hands, everything. He wanted her. He now realized he had for a very long time. Maybe even as far back as the night she had let him stay in her bed because he was locked out.
Two, he had hurt her deeply. Her words kept running through his head. She had said 'bang the slut' and accused him of being like everyone else. She thought he was only after a quick session of coitus. As if he was Leonard or Howard. His kiss, his arousal had not helped his cause at all. They had only confirmed her opinion.
Three, for a split second, she had responded to him. Her lips had softened against his for only a small moment. She was attracted to him, at least a tiny bit.