"So how's the nursing business going?"
"Ha ha Bernadette," Penny said drily.
Penny and Bernadette were at the supermarket picking up a few items. They were casually strolling through the aisles, baskets in hands, chatting more than shopping.
"But seriously Penny, how is everything? Sheldon seemed so...different when Howie and I came over for dinner last night."
"How so?"
"Well when Howie handed Sheldon the wrong meal by mistake I thought for sure he'd take the opportunity to belittle Howard's masters degree in some way, but instead he just quietly switched it."
Bernadette grabbed a jar of kosher pickles off a shelf.
"Yeah, I think everyone noticed. When I'm there during the day he really doesn't say much other than 'thank you' whenever I help him. Im afraid this is all my fault. He's obviously still mad about his accident."
They turned onto the produce aisle of the store.
"Don't beat yourself up so much Penny. It was just that - an accident. I'm sure Sheldon doesn't hate you."
Penny picked up a peach and sniffed, then added it and several others to a bag.
"Yeah, but we're talking about Dr. Whackadoodle, the same guy who held a grudge against Wil Wheaton for over a decade for not appearing at an autograph signing."
Bernadette paused for a moment and thought about it. "Yeah, you're right, he probably hates you."
"Bernadette!", Penny gasped.
She giggled, "Just kidding."
Penny stuck her tongue out at her friend and they continued shopping.
Later that evening Penny was in her apartment relaxing with a glass of red wine and the latest edition of Comso.
Four sharp knocks sounded at her front door.
Penny glanced at her clock and noted the time at 9:37. Who the heck would be at her door this late?
She opened up to a stressed looking Leonard.
"Hey Penny, so sorry to bother you but there's an emergency at the university and I have to get there right away."
"Is everything okay?"
Leonard sighed, "Well apparently one of the cleaning people accidentally spilled water on a laser at the lab and it caused some sort of meltdown."
"That sounds like a big mess to clean up."
"Yeah, well I'm going to be there for most of the night so I just wanted to see if you could check in on Sheldon from time to time."
"Of course no problem is he asleep already?"
Leonard looked relieved.
"Yes he is. Thanks Penny I really appreciate this."
"Okay, go go go - I've got it,"she shooed him out the door.
Penny put her wine glass in the sink and went across the hall to Leonard and Sheldon apartment. She didn't see any sign of Sheldon so she sat down and clicked on the TV.
She sat there half dozing watching the latest rerun of Project Runway.
Penny was startled awake by the feel of someone placing a blanket over her body. She looked up into the big blue eyes of Sheldon gazing down at her with a vulnerability that she had never seen before.
"Sheldon what are you doing out of bed?"
"I just got up to get a drink of water when I saw you lying on the couch asleep."
"I was just resting my eyes! And I could have got that for you."
"Penny you know that this walking cast allows me to be mobile. I'm in less pain than initially so I am able to move around a little bit better now."
Penny set up on the couch and looked down at her hands folded in her lap.
"I know sweetie I just wanted to be helpful."
Sheldon eased his way over to sit down on the couch in his spot. He turned to her sitting on his right in the middle cushion and looked her directly in the eye.
"Penny the last thing I want to do is be a burden to you or anyone else."
And suddenly everything clicked - his abnormal quietness, his social withdrawal from the group. Sheldon was feeling like a burden to everyone and was actually feeling bad about it.
Penny's heart immediately softened.
"Sheldon you are never ever a burden to me. True you drive me crazy sometimes but that's who you are. You do have minor flaws, but who doesn't?"
"Penny?" Sheldon ventured.
"Yes sweetie?"
"Maybe you can help me help me to be a better person?"
"Sheldon you're a great person. You don't need to change who you are - yoj just need to learn how to filter little bit and consider other people's feelings. I know it hard for you but I believe you can do it."
He look directly into her eyes and said with the utmost sincerity "Thank you Penny."
They sat that way for a moment looking deep into each others eyes as though hypnotized by the true souls beneath them.
Penny shook herself out of it after a few seconds.
What the fuck just happened and why is her heart racing just a tiny bit?
She glanced over at Sheldon who looked just as surprised as she felt.
Uh-oh time to go...