Chapter 2

Leonard hurried after Sheldon, the taller man purposely using his longer legs to make Leonard almost run, it was just another way he would try to impress Leonard of his assumed superiority to him. But the extra effort Leonard was making to keep up and the heat that it generated, still couldn't mask the nip in the air making him nevertheless still feel cold. That cold also reminding him of the weather report for that night calling for just above freezing temperatures, that would go below freezing tomorrow night. He also remembered there would be a chance of a light dusting of snow for Christmas, something southern California was not use to but actually looked forward to by all the people he knew, except for Sheldon of course. Sheldon hated any change and a chance of light snow was just another change he did not like.

However, even with that all going through Leonard's mind, there was something else troubling him, he had noticed and felt immediately awful for the lonely person on the bench they passed, he was obviously homeless and not dressed for the cold. The more time his mind dwelled on that person, it made his empathy go into overdrive, as he stopped at the apartment building door, to look back at the solitary figure sitting there on the bench and with that look he knew he could go no further. Leonard always tried to help, partly because he felt extremely lucky that he had his life, like it was, and partly because he knew many of the homeless couldn't help that they ended up that way. However today was worse, it was the holiday season and he felt no one should be suffering, especially in this cold, so he sighed and then pulled out his wallet to take out some money, hoping it would help.

He couldn't see the person's face, as he walked up, the hood he was wearing was pulled tight around his head, but he could see the person was shivering, which made him wonder how much a hotel room would cost for that person tonight. "Excuse me." he said as he walked up to stand next to the bench.

Penny didn't hear him, her mind was off somewhere else and the cold was the only thing that was penetrating into it. Her shivering made it worse and as she tried pull into herself to survive, the outside world was lost to her. It was the third 'Excuse me.' that finally got through, even though she didn't even register the words, the noise and presence of another person finally broke through. She turned her head up to look at the person who was looking down at her, someone had noticed her and she became immediately scared that she would do something to make them leave.

Leonard was taken back when the person's head turned up to look at him and he was greeted by the penetrating green eyes now staring up at him, he had been completely wrong. It left him speechless for a couple of moments as he looked at her face and his mind processed he was actually looking at a girl that was younger than him. It then took him a moment to compose himself as he finally got out, "Are you okay?", now thinking that just giving her money didn't seem enough, she was a young woman and he needed to make sure she was alright.

Penny had never even noticed that he had turned back and had been a little shaken when he spoke to her, but now looking at him, she felt like crying. She looked up into his deep brown eyes and she saw a tiny bit of hope, the horror of the last two weeks now seeming to well up in her mind as she croaked out, "No." It was the truth and all she could say as she then turned her face back down to look at her hands shaking from the cold.

Leonard sat down next to her, he now couldn't leave her out there alone, "You are cold." it wasn't a question but a statement and he felt stupid saying the obvious as soon as the words left his mouth.

Penny just nodded, then quietly responded, "Yes."

Leonard thought quickly, even though he knew Sheldon would have a cow, there was no way he was leaving her outside. She would get sick out here or even worse, because it was going to get even colder tonight, close to freezing, she needed to be inside. "You want to come inside. I have some soup, I could heat up for you."

Normally a strange guy asking her up to his apartment would have kicked Penny's survival instincts into high gear, but she had given up long ago, she was cold, hungry and had lost all hope. She really had no choice if she was going to survive, so as she slowly looked back at him again, she was beyond resisting his offer and all her reservations went away at the thought of being warm and eating. "Okay." she responded.

Leonard stood up and waited for her to stand, then lead her to the apartment building door, unlocking it to bring her in. "I'm sorry the elevator doesn't work, we have to use the stairs, I live on the fourth floor."

Penny just looked at him, "Okay."

Leonard slowly led her up the stairs, walking at the same slow pace as her, she seemed to him to be very tired and he was concerned by her movements, that she might not make it up the stairs. So he watched her closely, noticing she was probably just as tall as him, but looking like she was a couple inches shorter, slouching like she was, also that she was very skinny, he thought her weight to not even be 100 pounds. He even thought he would have to help her on the last flight of stairs but was surprised when she finally made it to the top by herself.

"We're here, my apartment is 4A." Leonard said with a little smile, trying to keep talking to her for reassurance. He took out his keys, then opened the door to let her in, immediately looking for Sheldon as they entered. He was relieved to see his roommate not around, so he lead her over to a stool near the kitchen, which would be easier to disinfect after Sheldon found out she sat there.

Penny did what she had been doing since she left the bench, just following to where she was lead, sitting on the stool and just happy to be off her feet. Her previous nights long run, then sitting in the cold had stiffen her feet and made them sore, so now sitting inside, away from the cold and the coming night, was like dream to her. It also felt so good to be somewhere warm, but now out of the cold her hunger seemed more severe, it quickly became her next priority as she eagerly looked around the kitchen. She was both hungry and thirsty, but very scared to say anything, afraid the warmth she was now in would be taken away from her if she complained to this man who was being nice to her.

"Do you want some soup. We have chicken noodle." Leonard said as he watched her look wide eyed around.

Penny nodded eagerly, "Yes please."

Leonard nodded then went to quickly make the soup, putting a steaming bowl in front of her in record time, with a bottled water, then stood back and watched. He had never seen someone attack food like that, she wasn't sloppy, she just inhaled the soup while drinking the water in between. It actually made Leonard feel bad, to think there were people out there so cold and hungry right now like her. He was so deep in thought that it surprised him when he noticed she had finished the bowl and water bottle was empty. He was about to ask her if she wanted some more, when he heard the gasp.

"What in holy hell is this." Sheldon exclaimed, immediately grabbing Leonard's attention.

"Sheldon calm down, everything is okay." Leonard quickly answered.

"Leonard, everything is obviously not okay, you have a bug invested street urchin in our home." Sheldon then slowly approached Penny waving his arms, "Scoot you disease ridden pest." as he tried to force her out of the apartment.

Penny was startled and got up from the chair, a terrified look in her eyes as she backed away from Sheldon towards the front door, tears now coming down her cheeks, as she barely squeaked out, "I'm sorry."