RUN TIME Chapter two

Penny smiled as she laid in her bath "Bubble bath and a glass of wine- what more could a girl want?"

Well there was one thing?, Penny giggled. She was not sure whether it was due to the wine, or the look on Sheldon's face only hours ago when they had stood almost nose to nose trying to stare each other down. She knew it was mean to put his name down for the running team, but the way he had tricked her he had been asking for it. As the effects of the warm water and wine took hold, Penny thought back to when Sheldon had tried to go jogging with her. He did have cute legs. Penny still had the picture in her head of Sheldon in shorts as she changed for bed.

She looked at the far bedroom wall. Beyond the wall, over in 4a Sheldon would now be asleep. Penny smiled as she settled into bed This was going to be so much fun

Over in 4a Sheldon was still standing in front his white broad writing and then rewriting symbols and formula. Leonard walked along the hall from his bedroom.

"Sheldon what the hell are you still doing up?"

Sheldon raised his eyebrows and slightly inclined his head "Leonard I cannot permit that woman to win"

"Woman! What woman? You mean Penny? Sheldon, for God's sake, this is a fundraiser."

Sheldon's eyebrows were now even higher "Is it Leonard? Is it?"

"I'm going back to bed,. You both deserve each other . You're both crazy". Sheldon looked at the door of 4a and smiled "Revenge is a dish best served cold".

Leonard heard Sheldon from his bedroom "Oh' great now he thinks he's 'Karan'".

he next morning Leonard stood by the kitchen island, enjoying his first cup of coffee of the day. His mouth full of coffee however was sprayed across the counter at the sight of Sheldon walking down the hallway in his shorts

"Sheldon, it's a little cold for shorts." Leonard was trying very hard not to laugh.

"Sarcasm Leonard?"

"Little bit.", He squeezed his thumb and index finger together. "Why are you dressed like that? Why aren't you ready for work?

"Two valid points Leonard,. I'm wearing shorts as I'm about to go running, and I'm not going into work till this afternoon. Raj is picking me up".

Leonard sighed "Ok Sheldon. So why are you doing this?"

"A good question, Leonard. I'm proving a supposition that due to evolution an individual such as myself with a higher brain function will always prevail over the lower species".

"Ok I'll ask again- why are you doing this?"

Sheldon tilted his head slightly and gave Leonard a puzzled look. " Leonard were you not paying attention? When Penny threw down her challenge to us…".

Now it was Leonard's turn to look puzzled "Sheldon please it's a fun run don't do anything crazy." look who I'm asking not to be crazy!. Leonard looked at Sheldon who, by now, was pacing the floor. He tried to work out what was going on in that brain of Sheldon's. This had to be about more than just a race?.

Sheldon walked to the hall door

"Sheldon, where are you going now?"

Sheldon looked over his shoulder at Leonard "I told you I'm going running with Penny"

Leonard looked at his watch "At 8.40 ! She'll kill you, Sheldon".

Sheldon had his 'kill batman' smile on his face as he arrived at Penny's door.

Penny was lazing in bed. This was so good- a long lay in. She had the late shift so she could take her time

Knock, knock, knock

"Penny"

Over and over again

"SHELDON! You better be dead or dying" Penny yelled . She stumbled to the door, pulling it open with such force that Sheldon took a step back. "What Sheldon"

Sheldon looked confused "Penny, why would you ask if I were dead or dying?".

"If you were dead, Sheldon, I'd kick you to make sure. If you were dying, I'd finish you off" Penny was standing in the doorway with her arms folded "Sheldon, my bed is getting cold".

Sheldon tilted his head and grinned "Penny, I thought we could start our training today."

Penny looked from Sheldon's face down to his bare legs "Nice knees and no, Sheldon, I'm not training today.

Sheldon was sensing a possible victory he was just about to speak when Leonard came out of 4a. "I'm off Sheldon now play nice. Bye, Penny"

"Bye Leonard, Sheldon why aren't you going to work with Leonard?".

Sheldon rolled his eyes and sighed " I've taken time off to train. With you." Penny combined her flittering eyelash look with her most sarcastic tone " But I'm not training today, Sheldon".

As Penny went to close the door Sheldon started to grin "So you're giving up before you start?" Sheldon's face had moved from sarcastic grin' to an I knew you would smile.

'Ok Sheldon you asked for it' " I don't need to go running everyday Sheldon that's why I go to a gym. Everyone in the gym has been helping me, unlike some people ' Penny looked Sheldon up and down, "I'm at the peak of fitness"

Penny was still smiling as she closed the door the look of horror on Sheldon's face had been classic.

…..

Leonard sat in his lab at Caltech. He was at peace with the world. He had had a good morning and he had finished his work in record time "Ah life is good" Leonard said as he put his feet up on his deck.

"LEONARD! Leonard! We've miscalculated . Something is wrong" So much for peace and quiet'

"Hi Sheldon. How you doing?"

"Leonard, we have a major problem on our hands" Sheldon was nervously pacing the room.

"Sheldon if I may interject here, you keep using the word 'we'- why?"

Sheldon sighed, "I'm sorry Leonard but as you're a part of team Cooper of course I say 'we'".

"Ok Sheldon, what did you do?"

"We underestimated how devious Penny can be.".

"Sheldon, I'm sure your reading way too much into all this"

Sheldon tilted his head and looked at Leonard.

"Leonard, if you're just going to silly there is little point talking to you"

"Ah so you're dropping me from team Cooper?" Leonard was praying he would say yes. Sheldon shook his head.

"No silly you're my friend and you drive!" Leonard folded his arms on his desk and rested his head on them "Yay me".

"Ok Captain Speedo what's up? You said code red in your text" Howard and Raj were standing in the doorway; Leonard looked up "Captain Speedo what's with that?"

"My new pet name for Sheldon" Howard grinned. Sheldon gave Howard a disapproving look " Yes all very amusing, but can we get back to our problem"

"Which is?"

Sheldon was about to speak when Leonard piped in " Sheldon has found out Penny is no pushover"

Howard started giggling "I don't know Leonard she had sex with you" Now, both Howard and Raj were giggling. Leonard scowled at Howard.

Sheldon pinched the bridge of his nose " It's like working with monkeys"

"Sheldon, I know this is slightly redundant now, but may I point out again this is only a friendly fun run. No winners. No losers. Just for fun, and all the crazy stuff has been from you"

"Leonard there can be only one winner 'Sheldon raised his eyebrows and I'm not crazy"

Leonard shook his head and sighed "Ok Sheldon, let's hear your master plan" Leonard rested his head on the desk.

Sheldon was smiling which they all knew was a bad sign.

"We're joining Penny's gym"

Leonard still had he head resting on his arms, he had a terrible feeling about what Sheldon was going to say next.

Raj shook his head both he and Howard were laughing "Sheldon joining a gym not something I thought I would ever say" Raj said through fits of laughter.

"Yes that's right Raj, but I feel I should correct you on one point"

Leonard sighed here it comes' "I'm not joining the gym, Raj. We are joining the gym" .