The Problem is the Nobel Prize (And Also Leonard)

By gertie_flirty

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to the Big Bang Theory.

Summary: Sequel to The Marital Observation. Sheldon and Penny are starting a relationship, but they have to deal with some problems on the way.

A/N: I'd like to thank everyone who left reviews on my last fic, "The Marital Observation." You are all amazing people and I love you. This is a tad more serious (in the tiniest of ways) from my last fic. I only hope it's half as clever.

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Part One:

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On the tenth of December every year, as the snow falls on the buildings and residents of Sweden, a grand ceremony is given in the Stockholm Concert Hall. People from various nations around the world attend to watch the best and brightest minds accept an award from the King of Sweden himself. For discoveries that have benefited mankind beyond all others, and stood the test of time, a diploma, a medal, and a sum of money is given to the honoree, although it is really the prestige of the award that is most valuable. The Nobel Prize is the most important award in physics, and some scientists strive their entire lives to be counted among the talented laureates.

Sheldon Cooper was no exception.

"My mind is full, Penny." He told her.

"Full of what?" she made a face and stuck out her tongue playfully.

"Oh, well, various materials make up the gray cells of your cranial—"

"It was a joke, Sheldon." She smiled wistfully and handed him a spoon. "Here. Stir that."

They were in her kitchen, making dinner.

"I was speaking metaphorically. My mind isn't actually full, as it was never empty—"

"Sheldon, I know what a metaphor is. I just don't know what you mean – metaphorically – by your brain being full."

"I simply meant—" The egg timer went off, interrupting him.

"Oh no oh no oh no," Penny scurried over to the other side of the kitchen, gently shoving Sheldon and grabbing a dishtowel she used as an oven mitt. She pulled out the casserole dish and placed it on the counter. "Ah, there we go. You ready to eat?"

"I thought we were baking a cake."

"We can finish that up after dinner. Come on, I'm starving."

It had been one week. One week since Sheldon's disastrous almost-wedding. One week since she had kissed him. One week since he had grudgingly opened his heart to a possible real human relationship. Things were going pretty well, in Penny's opinion. Although Sheldon seemed a bit shyer, a bit quieter. For the nearly five years she had known him, he had matured, in painstakingly small increments. He was better at eye contact. He could make socially acceptable jokes. Sometimes he even teetered on the edge of understanding sarcasm. And now, to honestly pursue a real relationship with a real girl was an almost unbelievable step of progress.

And Penny didn't know, but Sheldon was on the verge of a breakdown. Keeping a secret from Leonard was killing him.

It was a secret, of course. Both Penny and Sheldon knew they couldn't tell Leonard, at least not yet. Maybe not for a while. The thing was, Sheldon was atrocious at keeping secrets. He spent his night drawing up detailed day plans and concocting ridiculous alibis for the time he spent with Penny. Leonard had believed them all, perhaps a little too easily.

"Sheldon, are you sweating?" Penny looked at him over the table.

He touched his forehead in amazement. "Yes. I am perspiring. This is unsanitary. I should go home and shower."

"Don't be ridiculous, Sheldon, I'll just turn up the a/c." Penny stood and walked over to the front door where the thermostat was.

"No!" Sheldon said loudly. "No, I should really go. I have to go. I'm going."

He was on his feet, awkwardly pushing past Penny even as she started to protest. "But Sheldon—"

"I'll see you tomor-ACK!" Penny had grabbed him by the back of his shirt, choking him slightly.

"Sit."

Sheldon sat.

"Now," Penny took a seat in the chair next to the couch. "Explain yourself."

"I'm a bipedal organism consisting of-"

"Not the science-y explanation, Sheldon, we've been through this. What's wrong with you?"

Sheldon squirmed in his seat. "I can't do this, Penny."

"Was my cooking that terrible?"

"Yes, but I could still eat it. I'm not talking about that. It's Leonard."

"Leonard doesn't have to eat it."

"No, I meant—" Sheldon jerked his head in the direction of the door. "I'm scared that at any second Leonard will come running through that door, brandishing his suspicions about and find us—canoodling."

"Canoodling?"

"Canoodling."

"Oh sweetie." Penny slid into the seat next to him. Gently, she held his hand. "I know you don't like keeping a secret from your friend. I really don't like it either. Maybe we should tell him."

"I've already ran through all the possible scenarios in my head. Leonard is an incredibly fragile man. In the best case scenario, he simply screams 'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO' while falling to his knees a là William Shatner in 'Wrath of Khan.'"

"What's the worst case?"

"He destroys ten city blocks with a homemade atomic bomb."

"Well." Penny patted his hand. "Let's try for a happy medium."