A/N: Based on Just Like Heaven, alternate universe where the gang aren't friends and only Leonard is another featured character - sad concept, but give it a try. I don't own The Big Bang Theory or Just Like Heaven.

Just Like Sheldon

Chapter 1


"It's perfect."

She surveyed the room around her, taking in the open spaces and already contemplating how she could re-decorate. The price was practically a steal and the place came fully furnished - for someone like her who didn't have a lot at the moment, in terms of belongings or cash - it was a dream come true.

"I'll take it."

"Excellent! I'll have the papers written up in a jiffy and then the place will be officially yours! I must say, I never thought the legal owners would lease."

The woman gave her companion an inquiring look. "Why not?"

"Well," she answered in hushed tones, like she was telling a secret and the walls had ears. "It's all quite scandalous, if you ask me. Three months ago the tenant was involved in a car crash and has been in a coma ever since. His family has him on life support at the hospital, but they're not local and can't keep affording to pay his bills while they sit around and hope he pops an eye open. They finally decided to rent the place just last week."

"And the furniture?"

"No use to them," she shrugged. "They just packed up his most loved possessions. There's probably some knick knacks still laying around somewhere."

She looked around the place, suddenly uncomfortable with the idea of living here.

"Do you know much about the guy?"

The realtor pushed her cat eye glasses further up the bridge of her nose. "Apparently a genius - a real contender to win the Nobel prize."

Penny didn't know much about the world, but she did recognise and acknowledge what an achievement like that meant. "So probably like one of those beautiful mind guys, right?"

"Not too sure, honey. All I know is the family is thinking of cutting the life support soon, so then you could officially be the sole tenant of the place. I'll give you a call when I hear the news."

Penny cringed at the thought of receiving a phone call, informing her some man she had never met was now dead and then congratulating the fact the apartment was now hers. Instead she said, "I wouldn't want to bother you."

"Nonsense, sweetums." She sighed. "You remind me so much of myself, you know. Young and full of hope, moving to a new city to start a new life. Next thing you know you're selling shoe boxes to people you know won't be able to pay their rent."

Penny raised an eyebrow. "Not that I'm referring to you," The realtor - Barbara she thought her name was, if she thought hard enough - rushed to explain. "I have high hopes for you."

Penny didn't have any words to say to that, so all she did was smile politely.

"Well enough of this chit chat. If everything goes well you should be able to move in by the end of the week. I'll give you a copy of the key now."

She accepted what the outstretched arm was offering and quickly pocketed it in her jeans. The two walked out from the apartment, Barbara constantly chatting about her life and Penny pretending to listen. They began the trek down the four flights of stairs - broken elevator, Penny would have to speak to the buildings landlord about that - until they reached the lobby, and Penny realised she had been nodding and say yes periodically even though Barbara had stopped talking.

"It was nice doing business with you, Peggy." She didn't bother to correct her. She had only just remembered the woman's name herself, and still couldn't be entirely sure that was her actual name to begin with.

"Thank you for helping me find the place."

Barbara nodded and smiled before leaving the lobby and Penny to her thoughts. Was it weird to feel guilty for taking this man's apartment? Acting as the replacement for someone that hadn't even passed yet? Was it?

The lobby door swung open and she nearly groaned at the thought of Barbara coming back, but a short man donning glasses and a thick jacket entered instead, despite the warmer temperature. He stopped at the sight of her, clearly taking in her appearance, but was polite enough to try and maintain eye contact.

"Hi," she smiled.

"Er, hello," he said, then coughed awkwardly, and the sound echoed in the silence.

"I'm Penny," she said, walking over to reach out and shake his hand.

"I'm Leonard," he replied smiling but obviously confused and a little bewildered that this beautiful woman was introducing herself to him in the shabby lobby of his apartment building. "I live in an apartment on the fourth floor."

"Oh, cool!" she exclaimed happily. "I just began renting the apartment opposite you, so I guess that makes us neighbours now."

"T-The apartment opposite?"

She nodded.

"I didn't know that was up for rent since the... um..."

"Accident?" she finished gently.

Leonard nodded.

"Yeah, only recently. Did - do you know him?"

"Barely," he answered. "We saw each other a couple of times but hardly spoke. Sheldon liked to keep to himself."

"Sheldon?"

"Yeah, Dr. Sheldon Cooper. He was a little...eclectic."

"Oh." She didn't know how to continue the conservation without sounding desperate for information on this dude. For some reason, for perhaps the first time in her life, she actually craved to learn something.

"But that doesn't matter any more I guess, with you moving in and all."

"Yeah," she smiled, and she watched as Leonard lit up at the sight. He was cute she supposed, in that dorky way that was verging on nerd and chic geek. But more on the nerd side. She wasn't really in the right frame of mind to date though, and didn't want to get his hopes up by being overly friendly. But then again...

"I better head off and start packing some boxes. I'll see you later?"

"Yeah, yeah," he nodded, perhaps too eagerly. "Definitely."

"Okay then," she said, stepping around him and heading to the door. "Bye."

He gave her a little wave, his face still stuck in awe. Once she was in her car she took a moment to fully comprehend the next step she was taking in her life. She might still be waitressing at The Cheesecake Factory, but she was far away from Kurt and was ready to get her acting career on track. She was ready to become the person she had always wanted to be and ready to do it by herself, not with her nosey mothers help or Kurt's overprotective stubbornness. She was ready to do this for herself and not for anyone else.

Her thoughts drifted back to Dr. Sheldon Cooper as it began to lightly drizzle, and she reached into her pocket to pull out the key to the apartment - her home now. She took a deep breath. She could do this, she wanted to do this. She fingered the key before pulling out of the parking lot and letting the tyres spin hard on the gravel, feeling already strangely connected to apartment 4A.