Disclaimer: This is a complete work of fiction. There's no resemblance to actual persons, places and / or events. If so, it is utterly not intended. I do not claim to own Big Bang Theory or anything to do with it at all. Character exposure in this story is completely non-profit and just for fun. I own nothing but my own plot-bunnies. Thank you.

Summary:
Penny's acting real strange lately; buying reading supplies, sneaking out without the guys - just what is she up to?

Warning(s):
Not set between any season in specific, just a general little idea I came up with since I adore the show.

Genre(s):
Friendship

Pairing(s):
None, heavily hinted Lenny though

Rating:
K+

Author's Note:
Hello everyone! It's me, CreativeWritingSoul here with another new fanfic, xD I absolutely LOVE this show and I knew I had to do something in the world of fanfiction with it! So here's my little idea and I do hope anyone who reads, enjoys :)

°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸ Big Bang Theory °º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸

It was a typical afternoon, the familiar blonde had made an unexpected trip. It was out of her usual shopping patterns - as Sheldon had noticed, but the others weren't worried about it. "She's up to something." He warned his roommate, Leonard Hofstadter who shrugged it off as casually as it was said.

"She's a female, they do weird, crazy and unexplainable things often within a monthly reoccurrence." He smirked to himself, knowing full well what he was referring to.

Sheldon was quite lost in the matter, however. "Monthly occurrences? Are you referring to repetitive human patterns? I shouldn't have to tell you Leonard that-"

"I'm referring to her menstrual cycle, Sheldon!" He was forced to either blurt that statement out or listen to Sheldon deduct exactly what was meant in the literal sense. He certainly didn't want to participate in the latter.

"That's rather ignorant. Her menstrual cycle shouldn't have an effect on her spending routine. Mind you, they could be vaguely comparable to a bar tab she once had." He thought briefly, but didn't waste much time on the situation.

Leonard didn't bother to say much of anything after that - sometimes it was better to not answer Sheldon, instead of carrying on a conversation that would get intellectually out of hand. "I'm gonna check on her, maybe something's wrong?" He set down his shoulder bag and opened his apartment door, closing it behind him.

He started to stroll across the hall with mild confidence. He always had some sort of inner force of second thought that made him wonder if he should even bother Penny at all. Suddenly the apartment door swung open, it stopped Leonard in his tracks and out came a disheveled Penny, shoving her latest fling out the door. "So, you gonna call me?" The tall, muscular blonde asked her.

"I don't know, maybe. You did say you weren't sticking around right? I kinda have somewhere to be..." She told him abruptly, dismissing the fact that he clearly wouldn't have minded getting into her skinny jeans.

Her male visitor advanced in on her. It was this kind of confidence and percentage of arrogance that Leonard sometimes wish he had within himself. To just take Penny and sweep her off her feet and never look back.

But the reality was, he didn't have that astonishing level of arrogance or confidence. He wouldn't amount to anything more than he currently was. Before she moved in across the hall - he was fine with that fact. But after setting eyes on Penny for the first time, he wanted to change for her.

"Look, I'm just gonna be forward..." he leaned against the door frame. "wanna do it?"

Penny rolled her eyes, "No, no I don't 'wanna do it'. I'm way too preoccupied, I only have a half hour until they close! You don't understand. I. Need. That. Store. So move."

From across the hall, Leonard raised a suspicious brow. She sure was adamant about going somewhere in a quick hurry. "Wow, I've never had a chick turn me down - you're not gonna be the first." Grabbing her arm didn't even phase Penny.

She slammed him up against the wall and gave a thoughtful knee to his groin. "Well I am the first and I won't be the last. Later loser." Fighting back the urge to spit in his face, she locked her apartment door and walked away with what resembled a 'victory strut' of sorts.

Leonard stared down the jock-type before rushing after Penny. "Hey! H-hey, you... what's the rush?"

"Hi Leonard! I really don't have time to chit chat right now, I gotta be somewhere but we can talk or you can awkwardly stutter - whichever, when I get back, 'kay?" She looked frazzled, he knew it was evident that she wasn't lying about having somewhere to be.

"S-sure, that's fine." He gave a smile to try and smooth over his 'geeky-cuteness'. Or that's what some girl told him he had once.

"Thanks, later Leonard!" She rushed out of the apartment, leaving a very puzzled Leonard in her midst.

: : ~ * ~ : :

Despite all possible efforts there was no way Leonard could keep Penny and her suspicious ways off his mind. He had to talk to someone about it. Sheldon was an option, but he analyzed everything so easily - he had no feel of basic socialization or consequences to highly unflattering spoken words. Although, he didn't have to physically speak to him to come to what Sheldon's conclusion would be. It would go something like, 'Leave her alone' or 'She's demonstrating that she needs space' or the like.

Even though he could be right, there was something deeper. Leonard searched the depths of his mind, as far as drug-use to explain her behavior. He just wanted to be there for her and help in any way he possibly could, if it was needed. 'No, she's not on drugs. Usually they what... stop eating, become distant, act strange?' the more he thought about it, the more it was a possibility. But if that were the case, wouldn't he see people coming and going? Penny's also been to work every single day - normally those on a path of destruction would stop doing everything altogether. This didn't make sense.

When he stopped her in the laundry room the other day, she had a small grocery bag, with a bright pink bookmark, a pair of reading glasses and she set it in the bottom of her laundry basket as she continued to fold and make small conversation with him.

'That's it! Bookmark, glasses - she's reading something! She's got to be... but what?' It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Penny certainly didn't look like the type to curl up with a good book. But maybe it was that new thing that highlighted acting promiscuously with whips and sexual toys? That series gained plenty new readers alone. He doubted Penny was into that, but he could be fooled.

He really wished that he could find out what she was reading. An idea hit him, he pulled out his cellular phone and composed a new message.

Raj! Would you do me a big favor?

A few minutes later, his phone buzzed with a reply.

Wat is it?

Leonard chuckled, Howard probably told Raj that the 'in' thing with texting, was the popular slang used. Leonard never bothered with it, he felt like he needed a decoder to receive any messages.

Penny is going somewhere periodically, I can't figure out where. When I give you the cue, can you follow her to see where she's going?

Almost instantly, a reply came back.

You want me to stalk her? Not cool.

Leonard couldn't help the grin that spread across his face at the suggestion. As crazy as it seemed, yes, this was exactly what he wanted Raj to do.

If you do it, it doesn't seem like stalking! Please? I'm worried she might be into something that she shouldn't be.

Again, another instantaneous reply.

So you want me to stalk and babysit her... for real?

Leonard composed his reply just as rapidly.

Yes. Thank you in advance, :)

In a strange way, he felt that he was doing no wrong. Anyone might question his approach of sending Raj on this mission, but he had a good feeling about it. Now it was time to sit back and get the details shortly.

: : ~ * ~ : :

"Why do I have to follow Penny? What's Leonard doing that makes him so busy that he can't stalk Penny himself?" Raj mumbled to no one in particular, pulling the zipper up his sweater. Penny had just left the apartment again, walking down the street. He followed a good distance behind. He knew her silhouette well enough that he didn't feel the need to get any closer.

Taking in the surroundings, he felt a strong sense of nostalgia. This was a very familiar route she was walking. As a matter of fact, his jaw nearly dropped when he watched Penny walk into the beloved comic store. Raj and his friends always went there! What was Penny doing near this place?

He fumbled for his mobile phone and called Leonard. "Dude! Dude, you would not believe what I just saw." As he spoke in hushed whispers, he made his way towards the large windows, peeking over miscellaneous memorabilia to see what she was doing even clearer.

"Where are you? Where's she?"

Raj's eyes widened, "She's at the comic store, browsing through comics!"

"No seriously Raj, c'mon... what's Penny really doing?"

Raj narrowed his eyes, "You took me from my warm bed, gave me the okay to stalk Penny and when I tell you what she's doing, you doubt me? Whatever dude, you'll see." He felt like arguing further, but he exited the call and took a quick few pictures of Penny rummaging through the bins of endless comics. She pulled out a few in particular and even though he couldn't zoom in far enough to snap a clear picture, he took them anyway - just in case they could be proven useful.

Before Penny was done her browsing, Raj took off down the street with his newly found evidence.

: : ~ * ~ : :

"I got it!" There was no knocking, nothing but disruption from their middle-eastern friend.

"Got what?" Leonard asked him, a look of total confusion on his face as Raj entered his apartment with no warning what-so-ever.

"Put these on there and check them out," he urged them, pulling out a cord that would allow his phone to connect to the computer.

Wasting no time with a clearly frantic Raj, Leonard hooked up the device right away. He noticed a blonde in the photos and clicked on one, "Oh, that's Penny alright. And she is at the comic store! Stuart's comic store at that!"

"See? Now do you think I'm batty?" He narrowed his eyes precisely in Leonard's direction, who continued to search through the many pictures.

"But who can say she's there for herself though? Didn't she purchase a comic for a nephew once or something like that awhile back?"

Raj was bound and determined that Penny was there on her own accord. "Think whatever you want, after you make the rest of the pictures bigger. Go ahead."

Leonard did just that and found out that Penny was holding chapter 3 of a very well-known comic titled, 'Watchmen'. "Whoa... Penny's into the 'Watchmen'? What?"

"I'm telling you, no one I know including Penny, buys comics like that if they're only getting it for someone else."

"Thoughtful people do," Leonard interjected, but was cut off in mid-sentence with a difference of opinions.

"Well most don't know comics like we do, so they're not thoughtful - listen! The point is, Penny's probably hooked into the storyline and the pictures prove it." He gave a sly smile, "Besides, I may or may not have seen the first two chapters in the bottom of her laundry basket."

It was official! Penny seemed to be into the series and the evidence Raj brought to him was hard to argue with. "Well, I guess it's safe to say that maybe she has a little more in common with us than she thought she did."

Sheldon entered the living room, sitting in his usual 'spot'. "Leonard, I have a fascinating piece of information that's probably escaped your lingering intellect."

Leonard sighed, "Not now Sheldon,"

"Ah, you say 'not now' because you cannot be bothered. Well, I guess the calendar has also escaped your mind, otherwise you'd know Penny's birthday just so happens to fall sometime next week."

Leonard nearly jumped up, "Sheldon! You're genius."

He didn't seem to be flattered nor insulted, "Did it truly take you this long to figure that out?" he deadpanned.

"Raj, we'll go to Stuart's and get those comics collectively - that way we can all pitch in and get them for Penny."

"And it's no wonder I'm the genius," he gave a sliver of an innocent smile. "that took you much too long to figure out."

Raj softly chuckled, but unplugged his phone from the computer. "I'll give Howard a text and we'll get back to you. Sounds like a good plan to me."

"Me too! Later." Leonard and Sheldon bid Raj goodbye for now as they continued on about the rest of their day.

: : ~ * ~ : :

"What do you mean you don't have any?!" Penny was ready to leap over the counter if need be. "You had them all just last week! What, did a storm of comic book nerds come through and swipe them up with their filthy, greedy little paws?!"

"Yes, actually. I guess you could say that." Poor Stuart was nearly frightened. He didn't know what to say to Penny, who'd very recently became a regular customer over this one series she was into - which he just so happened to have sold the remaining comics. He was sworn to secrecy so he couldn't tell Penny exactly who had them in their possession and what their intention was.

She sighed in defeat, realizing that no matter how badly she wished she could give Stuart a wedgie for selling the last of the comics she wanted to read - it would do no good. "It's my birthday today, and the whole day has stunk. I was so hoping that I could grab another few chapters of the W-men, they always just take me away from my stress and like, even they have some baby mama drama going on and I feel for them, y'know?"

He sighed as well, "I believe you have 'JAC' syndrome."

Penny raised a brow, "What's that now? I've been tested and I'm clean - just sayin'."

He smirked, "No, no... it's not a sexually transmitted disease or anything. It stands for, 'Just Another Chapter' syndrome. It's just my own clever little acronym." He could see she was still bothered by not having any reading material tonight. "Can I interest you in Spiderman? Or Batman maybe?"

"No, I don't want to read about anybody's spidey-senses tingling, or bats in the cave..." She tossed her purse over her shoulder. "I'm good, thanks for asking though."

He nodded, "Anytime. And look, come back in another couple days or so, people buy, sell and trade stuff all the time. You might have them sooner than you think."

She smiled, "Thanks, sorry for busting a cap in your ass just a few moments ago. Just an ugly case of 'JAC' syndrome."

They shared a quick laugh, "See ya around Penny." With that, feeling heavy hearted in her high heels - she began the walk back home.

: : ~ * ~ : :

Now with nothing to do in her spare time anymore, it was time to go bug the boys and see what they were up to. She realized she'd been neglecting them lately, but that damn storyline was so good and intense, she couldn't put it down! Unless she had to, such as finishing the chapter and having no more to read.

"SURPRISE!" They all shouted in unison, well - all of Leonard, Howard and Raj.

"Oh drats, I missed it. Surprise Penny." Sheldon managed a smile as he set a big wrapped box on the coffee table. "We hoped you would stop by so we could celebrate your day of birth."

Penny felt her cheeks get warm, which usually meant they were reddened. "Thanks guys! You're all so sweet. Just when I was thinking this would be the worst birthday ever, you managed to surprise me." She hugged each and every one of them - even a hesitant Sheldon.

A bottle of fine champagne on the table as well, some delicious cake and a big birthday present. "Well, open it!" Leonard urged softly, he was ecstatic for Penny, just knowing what was inside that box.

"Wow, okay. Pushy much?" She leaned forward, untying the big bow and opened the box. If her cheeks weren't red before, they were ten times worse now. "Guys! ... the rest of the Watchmen comics, how did you know?!"

Leonard shrugged it off, "Please - we're scientists."

"Most of us." Sheldon chimed in, but letting them carry onward.

"We figured it out." Leonard told her in a nonchalant manner, "Besides, now you have something in common with us after all." He deducted.

Penny smiled, her cheeks still rosy. "I really, really appreciate this. It's just that... a girl like me wouldn't be caught dead reading geeky things like these y'know? But I couldn't help being drawn in to the storyline... I found the first one outside on the ground coming home from work - someone lost it and Stuart was closed so, I decided to take a peek. Just to see what you guys get so worked up about. And it was cool. I can't wait to read the rest of them and see how it ends."

"I could tell you right now what happens, just tell me where-"

"No Sheldon," Howard shook his head with his signature grin. "it kinda defeats the purpose of giving her the rest of the collection."

"Fair enough." Sheldon decided, sitting back in his spot that he wouldn't share with Penny whether it was her birthday or not.

"Well thank you again, you guys are all great, so sweet and I don't regret a single moment I've spent with any of you." She soon cracked open the champagne, getting her little birthday party started. It was the perfect end to a not - so - perfect day.

: : ~ * ~ : :

It had been a few days since they heard from Penny - after all she had the rest of the comics to read so that was to be expected. "You always insist checking on things and need I remind you, it always lands us in favors, or trouble." Sheldon said sternly, early that evening.

"Oh relax, I'm just going to see how she's doing with them. I'll be right back." He didn't have to go any further than the opened apartment door. There Penny was packing all the comics they got her, as well as the first original 3 into a small box.

"Hey Leonard, what's up?" She greeted with a big smile.

"Y-you're packing the comics up?" He questioned her, that seemed like an awfully irrational thing to do after owning them all.

She widened her eyes in feigned shock, "Should I not be? Is this going against the 'Geek Code'?"

"Ha, ha, very funny. I was just wondering what you're doing with them," he paused, "they're limited edition y'know."

"Look sweetie," she taped up the box and picked it up. "I read the whole thing, all twelve comics and I loved every single one, I thought it was brilliant. But, now that I'm done reading them, now that I'm done the story - what are they gonna do, sit around and collect dust?" She didn't give Leonard a chance to answer before she finished. "I figured that because I adored it so much, instead of keeping it all to myself - that I should give them back because, maybe someone else would enjoy a good read, just like this one?"

Leonard stood there astonished. Penny was only going to give them back so she could help keep the story alive, ready and waiting for the next person to come alone and pick it up. It was the most selfless thing he'd ever heard of someone doing. In fact it made him realize that they all had a real gem of a friend in Penny. "That's... awesome Penny. I won't bother you, go ahead."

"Thanks, I'll just go pay Stuart a visit and go back to before where I didn't read anything geek chic, 'kay?"

Leonard shook his head and smiled admirably, "Sure thing, Penny."