Sheldon woke up and looked at his clock. It was flashing four thirty five.
He got up and did his morning vocal test and stretches before putting on his housecoat and slippers. Since he'd already seen Doctor Who there was no need to hurry. After all, he might be trapped in a closed timelike curve but that didn't mean he should be without his routine. That was absolute madness. Besides, he had some thinking to do.
After refreshing himself in the washroom, Sheldon went into the living room. His eyes longingly looked at his train set. Technically, Sunday was train day but as he seemed to have difficulties reaching Sunday he might have to make an exception one day.
"But I'm sure it won't come to that," he murmured to himself and went to the kitchen to prepare his breakfast. Saturday was cereal day but he'd had cereal several days in a row and was finding himself growing tired of it. Normally, the fiber count was of concern but as he seemed to be as regular as always no matter what he ate, he realized that this time loop did affect him to a large degree. In fact, the only thing that seemed to be incongruous with the situation was his memory of prior events. That shouldn't be, and yet it was. Then again, he was Homo Novus.
Deciding on French toast, Sheldon set about preparing breakfast. As he worked, he pondered his impending interaction with Penny. He really couldn't see what was wrong with what he had said to her but obviously there was some sort of violation of social protocol given her negative response. Of course, this might also indicate Penny's time of the month was early, but even Sheldon thought this was not a subject to broach with her.
"I'm a physicist. I shouldn't have to be someone's emotional snuggle bunny," he said as he cracked an egg into a bowl. The thing was, this wasn't just someone, this was Penny. The woman who took him to the miniature golf course and tortured him with her off-key caterwauling and high-pitched laugh. The one who incessantly chatted instead of taking his order and continually questioned his intellectual authority even as she inundated him with sarcasm (or so Leonard explained. Sheldon still wasn't sure of the process so could only take his roommate's word for it).
So much chaos added to his life and here he was again making another alteration in order to appease her fragile ego. He shook his head. "Maybe my mother ought to have me retested." Still, he had an IQ of 187 and Penny was a community college dropout so figuring out Penny shouldn't be too complicated.
Forty minutes later Leonard dragged himself into the kitchen towards the coffee maker. "Thank God," he mumbled as he poured himself a cup.
"I took the liberty of switching on the coffee maker since the power outage canceled the timer feature," said Sheldon between bites of French toast as he sat in his spot. "There's also some French toast for you warming in the oven."
"Thank you," sighed Leonard as he sat in the easy chair to watch the end of Doctor Who. In order to save fuss, Sheldon had switched from his Susskind lecture on PVR to Saturday's Doctor Who episode.
As the credits rolled Sheldon turned to his roommate.
"Leonard, do you find Penny to be problematic? he asked.
"Penny?" Leonard stammered. "Of course not. She's funny and kind and beautiful." He sighed wistfully. "And perfect."
"Hardly perfect," Sheldon snorted. "I can see your powers of insight and observation have been overwhelmed by your libido."
"That's not true," Leonard countered. "Penny is an awesome person and any guy who ends up with her will be the luckiest man in the universe and that doesn't mean I have a 'thing' for her."
"You stole her mail." Sheldon took a bite of French toast.
"We had a date and she shot me down."
"Ah yes, the 'date'. I'm still puzzled by that. From my understanding of observing Missy and her various paramours, both participants must be aware that they are on a date. As Penny—"
The door opened and Penny entered.
"Dear God tell me you've got coffee," she pleaded. She had gotten up to use the washroom and nearly had kittens when she saw her alarm clock flashing. Since she wanted the evening off to go with the guys to see the July Fourth fireworks she'd taken an early shift at the Cheesecake Factory.
"Coming up," Leonard said quickly and popped up and went to the kitchen to prepare her mug and refresh his own.
Penny leaned against the counter. "Anyways, I'll be finished work at three so I'll meet you at Ostler Park at around five thirty."
"You know, most people might not realize the importance of menial help to the workforce but if it wasn't for amiable underlings like you, people like me would be wasting precious time in food preparation and serving. So bully for you," Sheldon said cheerily and punctuated it with a flash of an awkward smile.
"Yay underlings," Penny mock cheered as Leonard handed her a mug. "Be nice if we were rewarded for our work with something a little better than minimum wage."
"Well, it's not like what you're doing is complex and can't be done by a child," Sheldon said.
"Uh, so four thirty," Leonard stammered as he took in Penny's frown. "Sounds like a plan."
"Well, it's not like what you do can't be done by a kid," Penny snapped. "What was his name, Dennis Kim?"
Sheldon's face tightened as if slapped. He took in a breath to let out a scathing retort but then recalled the intent for this interaction, i.e. cheering Penny up.
"Point," he muttered. "Look, I'm not saying you aren't good at what you do. In fact you're exceptional." Here his eye twitched. "It's that what you do is menial. Perhaps you ought to reconsider community college."
Penny raised an eyebrow. "I thought you said community college sucked?"
"Community college does not challenge my intellectual capabilities, but that's irrelevant to my point. What matters is what you're capable of doing and I believe you're more than capable of completing a community college course."
"Not helping, Sheldon," Leonard whimpered.
"How am I not helping?" Sheldon said in an exasperated tone. "Penny works for minimum wage and hasn't procured a paying acting job since we've known her. Now, either she can choose to continue her fruitless path or she can change her fortune and attain something better than what she has now—which at this point isn't difficult."
"My acting isn't fruitless," Penny scowled. "I'm getting experience and making contacts."
"But are you getting paid? Are you satisfied with your current situation?"
"Of course not. But that doesn't mean I won't make it."
"The odds are not in your favor."
"Screw the odds. And screw you," Penny said, her eyes slits as she glared at Sheldon.
"You're upset?" He took in her 'no shit Sherlock' look. "There's no reason to be upset."
"You're calling my career a waste of time."
"I'm only concurring with you. You told me in the hallway before you started playing Age of Conan that you were a failure."
"And you're supposed to tell me that I'm not!" Penny said loudly. In her agitation she spilled some of her coffee on the floor. "You're supposed to be my friend!"
Sheldon was confused. "You are my friend. Why would I lie to you?"
Penny let out a frustrated growl.
"It's social convention," Leonard piped in.
"So I'm supposed to perpetuate the delusion that she'll 'make it', even though I hear her wallowing in self-pity and consuming an overabundance of alcohol?" Sheldon said. "I see." A very warped smile came to his face. "Buck up, pal."
"Y'know, maybe I'd be better off with Dennis Kim," Penny said and marched to the door.
"Fine. Go to the fireworks by yourself," Sheldon spat back.
After Penny had slammed her apartment door shut, Leonard shook his head in disgust. "You're something else."
"Oh stuff it," Sheldon snapped and marched to his room.
...
At three twenty seven Sheldon heard the sound of keys in the hall.
He frowned as he stared at his formula on the whiteboard. Penny was home and in roughly fifteen minutes she'd be out the door and off to an appointment with the AAA man on the side of the road. He'd say it was the alternator acting up and advise her to get it fixed in Harrison but she'll decide against that so he'll fix her up as best he can and send her on her way.
Exactly fifteen minutes later he heard her door shut and the sound of her flip-flopping feet in the hallway until they disappeared down the stairs. No apology. All Sheldon was trying to do was bolster her spirits and encourage her to pursue something worth her while and what did he get in exchange? Dennis Kim bested him. He pursed his lips even as he clasped his hands behind his back. Still, he'd have today without her to work in peace. A day without country music, sarcasm and banal conversation.
"Perfect," he said with a small smile and resumed pondering his plight.
...
Sheldon didn't like what he was seeing on the board. He was never one to leave things to fate but in this instance he realized that he had no idea what caused the closed timelike curve to appear much less how to escape it. What if I can't escape?
"Now, now, Dr. Cooper, no need for hysterics," he tsked. It wasn't like he was in immediate danger of death so he might as well take advantage of—
The phone rang. "And that should be Penny asking me for a loan for her car," he said as he picked up the landline phone. "Hello?"
"Have you heard from Penny?" Leonard asked, his voice concerned.
"Not as yet." Sheldon picked up his cell phone and called Penny. No answer. "She's not picking up. Why isn't she picking up?"
"I don't know. She called to say that her car broke down and that she was going to get it serviced but I don't know where—"
"Harrison. That's the closest garage to where she broke down. That's where she would have been towed," Sheldon said seriously. Gone was all trace of smarminess.
"How do you know that?"
"It's only logical, Leonard. They're not going to send her across State to deal with a faulty alternator."
"How do you—"
"We're wasting time," Sheldon snapped. "Get to Harrison and I'll keep trying to reach Penny."
He hung up the landline and proceeded to text her.
scooperphd: Penny, are you all right?
scooperphd: Call or text Leonard if you don't want to talk to me.
Sheldon couldn't shake the fear which unsettled his stomach. There was no reason to suspect that something had happened to Penny. The AAA man was civilized enough and Sheldon couldn't see him doing anything inappropriate. Besides, Penny could take care of herself. Right?
scooperphd: Penny, please call me.
One hour became two and then three and still no call or text from Penny. Sheldon knew that someone as verbose as Penny wouldn't be willingly incommunicado for this long. He called her number again.
"Hi there! Can't take your call but that doesn't mean I don't wanna, so leave a message." BEEP
He hung up and called Leonard.
"Have you found her?" Sheldon asked, not even trying to conceal his panic.
"Nothing," Leonard said.
Sheldon could barely hear him for all the crowd of people around him. "Where are you?"
"At a county fair. We got to Harrison and found Penny's car at the garage. The alternator had blown so it was going to take a while to fix so the mechanic suggested she check out the fair. He tried calling her later but no response."
"Did you call the police?"
"I got the sheriff and he said he'd keep a lookout for her but that there really wasn't much to do until twenty four hours had passed. He said to come back tomorrow so we're—"
Sheldon hung up. He raced to his room, closed the door and flopped onto his bed. He closed his eyes, trying to steady his racing heart. Please, please, please. This had to work. It had to.
Penny, I'm sorry, I'm so—
XxX
Sheldon woke up and looked at his clock. It was flashing four thirty five.
Like a shot he bolted from his bed, grabbed his housecoat and dashed out of the apartment to Penny's door. He got into his housecoat and adjusted the ties before he knocked.
Knock knock knock "Penny?"
No answer.
Knock Knock Knock "Penny?"
Nothing.
Knock! Knock! Knock! "Penny!"
The door opened and—Thank you, Jesus!—a groggy Penny in her white undershirt and short shorts stood before her. "WHAT?!" she snapped.
He paused. "I'll be busy this afternoon so will require a ride to the fireworks."
"You woke me up at six thirty for THAT?"
"You said to give you advanced warning should I require a ride."
Penny rolled her eyes even as she closed the door.
Sheldon waited a moment before he took a deep breath.
"Time for breakfast," he said. Today was going to be a long one.
...
"Thank you and have a nice day," Penny said with a smile, even though she'd already done a quick count with her eyes and decided there really wasn't much of a tip on the credit card receipt given the amount of service she'd given to the family of two adults and four children.
"Looks like another round of bad cheques," she murmured as she pocketed the receipt and cash tray in her apron. She went to the bar and submitted the items and informed the bus boy that table seven was ready for cleanup.
In response the busboy grinned his gap-toothed smile. "Looks like someone came early." Penny turned and to her surprise saw Sheldon at his usual table. As she wandered over the busboy went about his business. Granted, Sheldon was strange but he did keep a clean table.
"Hey. Fancy meeting you here," Penny said in a friendly enough voice even though she was wary. Whenever Sheldon deviated from his routine it meant that he was up to something.
"It's an eating establishment and it's lunch time. My being here isn't surprising at all. If anything, it's most probable," he replied evenly. "Menu please?"
"I didn't bring one."
He raised an eyebrow. "Then how am I supposed to order?"
"You mean you're gonna order something different?"
"No, but that's not the point," he said. Penny rolled her eyes. "To place an order means that I've made a selection and without a menu of choice I can't make one."
"Even though it'll be the same choice you've made ever since you've come to this restaurant," Penny said with a smirk.
His blue eyes met hers. "Exactly."
Penny opened her mouth to say something but thought otherwise and went to get the menu. She had been mentally preparing herself for an afternoon of Sheldon in the car but apparently the crazy was going to start early.
"A menu for you," she said as she handed it to him. Before he said anything she began to write on her notepad. "One barbecue bacon cheeseburger. Barbecue sauce, bacon and cheese on the side and one lemonade."
Sheldon had a frown on his face as he perused the menu. "No wonder your tips are miniscule."
"Y'know, some people would tip me more because I know their order so I can get it in faster."
"I suppose some people would." Sheldon closed the menu. "I'll have the barbecue bacon cheeseburger. Barbecue sauce, bacon and cheese on the side, and a lemonade."
Penny whirled her pen in the air and tapped her pad. "Poof! Your order has been received."
Sheldon gave her a gaspy laugh and then punctuated it with a scowl as he handed her the menu. In response she winked and went to the order kiosk.
...
At three twenty seven Sheldon heard the sound of keys in the hall.
He sighed as he stared at his formula on the whiteboard. As much as he wanted to, he hadn't gotten any further ahead with his plight. At least not from a scientific bent. Instead he wondered about the personal walls of his 'prison'. It seemed that he was destined to spend his day with Penny or else—His brow furrowed as he chased the memory of yesterday from his mind. Like Penny had said earlier, maybe there was something Sheldon had to do in order to get out of his situation.
"Perhaps help Penny? But in what way?" He thought over her financial situation, her career, her drinking, nightclub hopping, frequent boyfriends. The list was endless. He shook his head. "Pygmalion had fewer things to correct."
His thoughts returned to improving Penny until the apartment door opened and Penny entered—showered, dressed and ready to go.
"All set," she said cheerily.
"As set as anyone with a check engine light on can be," Sheldon nodded before slinging his messenger bag across his shoulder.
Penny rolled her eyes as he walked past. "And to think I've got two hours of 'vintage Sheldon Cooper whimsy' to go."
After locking the door they went down the stairs. Penny looked to the physicist. "Hope you remembered to take a washroom break before we go. It was a nightmare driving with Raj. Poor guy ought to have his bladder checked."
"It's a nervous condition not a physical ailment."
"So he's nervous about driving?"
"He's nervous around you."
Penny grinned. "Still?"
"He said you smell wonderfully and still brings up the time you hugged him, mostly to infuriate Wolowitz."
They got to the landing. "Yeah, me hugging Howard is not gonna happen."
"A wise decision."
"A relatively easy one."
Sheldon's mouth opened in surprise as they exited the building. "There you go again."
"Go where?"
"Your reference to relativity. This can't be a coincidence."
Penny unlocked the car. "Why the big deal?"
Sheldon hesitated before they got into the vehicle. "Because it's Einstein, and his theories of general and special relativity involve areas of space and time."
Penny chuckled as she started the car and drove away. "Yeah, that's me. Call me Einstein." Her smile became a grin as she took in Sheldon's rolling eyes.
Traffic was light as most people were already at the beach or having barbecues at their apartments or houses. Penny loved July Fourth because it was a time for family and friends. Of course, this year meant getting exposed to Sheldon Cooper up close and personal. Not that she said it to anyone, but aside from thinking Sheldon as being one weird whackadoodle she did respect him for his mind. He was smarter than she would ever be.
Sheldon's mind was a flurry of activity as he saw the sign for the exit ramp to the highway. "Penny, before we go to the fireworks there's some place I'd like to go first," he said.
"Everything's closed," she replied. "Besides, the guys are waiting for us."
"They can wait a little longer. Now, I'd like to go to 726 Clearborne Avenue."
"What's there?" she asked as she drove past the exit ramp.
"A garage."
Immediately her mouth became a line of pressed lips. "I don't need a garage."
"Penny, we're going to be on the highway for an extended trip. I want to make sure the car is in tip-top condition. I mean anything could go wrong: a blown tire, overheated engine," his cheek twitched, "perhaps a blown alternator."
"Sheldon, I can't afford to—"
"I'll pay for the inspection. After all, it's at my request."
Penny pulled into the left hand turn lane. "It's not like it'll do anything. They could say the car needs a whole new engine and there's nothing I can do about it." Here she sighed. "I mean I'm still making car payments on this stupid thing."
"All the more reason why you should take care of your asset." Even Sheldon could see she wasn't convinced this was a good idea. "Besides, I owe you a tip from lunch."
"So, what, you gonna buy me a carburetor?" Penny snorted.
"If I have to."
"Nuh uh. Not a charity case here. I pay my own bills."
Sheldon was puzzled. "You mooch food and coffee from my apartment."
"Fine. I won't do that anymore." Her grip on the steering wheel tightened.
"As I said before, you are an integral part of the food chain with your scavenging ways. Besides, thanks to you we rarely have leftovers and have saved money on buying plastic wrap." Penny laughed and in return Sheldon flashed her a small smile. He wasn't sure what was so funny about what he had said but it had lightened the mood so he'd live with it.
They pulled in at Wallace's Garage and Sheldon told the mechanic that Penny's check engine light had come on so they wanted to know what was wrong before they drove the car out of town.
After twenty minutes the mechanic came to see them in the small waiting room with up to date Popular Mechanics magazines.
"The alternator's about ready to go," he said. "Can't do anything about it today since we don't have one in stock. The best I can recommend is drive this as little as possible and come back tomorrow."
"Damn," Penny sighed. Hello credit card. "So much for the fireworks."
"We're not limited," Sheldon said as he went to the counter and fished out his wallet. "They have plenty of fireworks streaming online we can watch."
"That'll be sixty five bucks," the mechanic said. Sheldon paid him cash.
"Thanks a lot, Sheldon," Penny said when they were back in her car. "I'll pay you back—"
"It's your tip and my safety. Think nothing of it." Penny put the car in gear and drove out of the parking lot. "So what's your course of action?"
"Well, I guess I get to a payday loan tomorrow and fix my car."
Sheldon was horrified. "Penny, those are a racket. You'll take a loan from me." She made to protest. "I don't charge interest and you'll pay me back when you can."
Penny thought it over and then glanced at him with a grateful look. "Thanks Sheldon."
"You're welcome."
She signaled and went right. "Okay, you paid for this so that means I'll treat us to some ice caps. No point in wasting what was gonna be a diet-popping occasion."
"Make it a lemonade and it's a deal," Sheldon said.
...
Leonard opened the door to find Sheldon and Penny on the couch watching the fireworks on the television. There was a pizza box on the coffee table and empty bottles of orange soda and beer.
"Hey guys," Leonard said as he deposited his keys in the bowl. "Sorry you couldn't make it. The fireworks were spectacular."
"Eh, there's always next year," Penny said and took a swig of beer. "Besides, we could have spent the evening camped out on the highway instead of in comfort here."
"Well said," Sheldon agreed. They clinked soda and beer bottles.
That night, Sheldon slept wonderfully.