Author's Note: This is turning out to be really fun. I'm always nervous when I branch off into a new fandom but the support for the story is staggering in an awesome way. Now, that I've managed to successfully get into Sheldon's head, it's time to tackle Penny's. This story is going mainly be told in Leonard's, Sheldon's, and Penny's POVs but I may go to other people when appropriate. This is set 2 weeks after the DVD delivery and I hope you guys enjoy it.

Disclaimer: "Honestly, it's not mine!"

I'm still with my family in Texas. All of them are in good health. G.J. is contemplating a trip down to Rio de Janeiro and despite the numerous risks to my person I am strongly considering accompanying him, if not just to keep him from getting arrested down there. He claims that a "pretty Brazilian little thing" will break me right out of my morose state but I replied that I already had you to cheer me up and you are very aesthetically pleasing, despite your Nebraskan heritage.

I'm unsure as to why but after my statement, my mother and Missy both hugged me and hit G.J. over the head in what I believe is called a "Gibbs slap". When I have a solid hypothesis as to why, I'll gladly share it with you. I hope that you are in good health and strong spirit, Penny and I will email you again within 48 hours.

-Dr. Sheldon Lee Cooper.

A soft smile curved her lips as she remembered the previous morning's email. She had lied when she said that she wasn't sure where he was. As soon as he let his siblings hug him without so much as a twitch, she knew he'd go home. Unlike the rest of the group, his family was actually normal and filled to the gills with love and accepting warmth. Galveston had just enough familiarity to start a new routine and logically (yes, she knew about logic, even before she knew about Mr. Spock…), she knew that Sheldon would piece himself back together much quicker. Plus, the further he was from his so-called "friends", the happier he'd be. Lord knew she was happier without the 3 wise men...

No more getting leered at. No more soft squeaks and drunken flirting. No more mommy issues, closet nerd issues, Napoleon issues, more issues than Playboy and Nat Geo combined…

Since Sheldon had granted her custody of his things, she used his XBOX for HALO on Wednesdays, still ate Thai food on Mondays, still did her laundry at 8:15 on the dot on Saturdays, and she still did her normal shift on Tuesday. The guys still tried to talk to her, include her in their plans (jaunts to the Comic Book store and the occasional bar), and Leonard kept looking at her with pleading puppy eyes but she wasn't biting.

Real best friends also don't fraternize with the enemy…and Leonard still made her want to spew. He had fooled her so good with his game. He was supposed to be different. He always said that he was and acted like it. He was supposed to be sweet and loyal, a good friend and person even with the Nerdy Stuff. And some of the Nerdy Stuff was pretty cool when she thought about it. Age of Conan, Star Trek: DS9, Iron Man with RDJ, Firefly with the hunky space cowboy…it was okay, certainly far from a deal breaker. Leonard obviously thought the world of her and he'd make a good boyfriend and maybe something more, she had figured.

The Arctic "Prank" changed everything. It had opened her eyes to his true colors and she had thrown herself into Sheldon's camp immediately.

She had been the one to insist on telling Gablehauser everything. She had been the one to call his family. She had been the one to wipe his first silent tears and assure him that he could still win a Nobel Prize, that his reputation was not permanently destroyed. She had been the one suggest taking a break from his work and leaving Pasadena, permanently or not, it was up to him. It was his life to live and he shouldn't let anyone else try to ruin it anymore. Leonard and the other two had deliberately tried to not only destroy his career but his life's dream.

Penny hated dream killers. She hated dream killers more than cheating boyfriends and brussel sprouts combined. She had grown up with dream killers and had moved to California to get away from them. Once Leonard had become one with little to no remorse, it was over. Never again. Never, ever again…

"You wanted to talk to me, Penny?"

"Yeah. I want my key back."

Leonard's face fell instantly and she folded her arms across her chest in response. She knew that he was still holding out hope that they'd get together. She had heard him say in the hallway that he'd be willing to give her some time to calm down before trying again. To their credit, Raj and Howard told him point blank it was over but Leonard had dismissed them, saying that just because she had taken Sheldon's side in everything didn't mean that they couldn't still be together.

Yes, it did. And she wasn't sure if it was just because of the true best friend definition or more. It may be more than that but before she could figure it out, she had to pull anything personal with Leonard up by the roots.

"Penny…" he started but she held a hand up.

"I want my key back and I'm going to check for anymore cameras that Howard may have snuck in. Tell him that if I find any, I'll make sure that the Wolowitz line ends with him. Give me my key back. It's still on your ring, isn't it?"

"Yeah, but…"

"But, nothing. Either give me my key back or you're footing the bill to change my locks. I don't want you in my place without my permission and here's your key back. I don't need it anymore."

"What if there's an emergency?"

"There are other people living in this building, Leonard. Key. Now."

He finally handed it over and she turned away from him, moving towards the stairs…

"Even when he's not here, he still ruins everything…"

She stopped cold and turned around slowly, meeting his narrowed gaze.

"What the hell did you just say? I know you didn't just blame Sheldon for what you fucked up."

"It was just a stupid prank!" he insisted for the umpteenth time.

"It was stupid but it wasn't a prank, Leonard! And that's not why I don't want anything to do with you anymore! I don't want anything to do with you anymore because you're just as much of an asshole as Kurt or the other guys I dated! Hell, you're worse! At least they didn't spend 2 years acting all sweet and caring before letting it out!"

"Sheldon's not a saint, Penny!"

"I never said he was! He never said he was! He's got nothing to do with this!"

"If that's true, then why are you letting his choice to cut me out affect you?"

"Because it's the right damned choice!"

Leonard's face twisted before falling again and she repeated her action from the auditorium, jabbing him with her finger for emphasis.

"It's the right damned choice. I'd rather be true friends with Sheldon than lovers with you any day of the week. No, he's not a saint but he's an honest person. A good person. Weird as all get out but good at the end of the day. Better than you, anyway. Leonard, you need to grow up and realize that just because your childhood sucked doesn't mean you get to tear everybody else down so you can feel better. Or think that I'm gonna be your hot blonde ego boost. It's called a shrink and I strongly suggest you get one before you piss the wrong person off and end up dead. Or you lose what and who you've got left."