Penny rediscovers a long suppressed identity. Who's the real woman? Penny the waitress or Rene the spy? More importantly, which one does she want to be?

They silently stared at each other for several minutes. He watched her watch him. He wasn't used to this kind of scrutiny from Penny. He was used to her being more …flighty. More emotional. Sheldon remembered when he was a child and his father had thrown him into the swimming hole insisting he would either sink or swim. That's how this felt. Like he was in over his head. He pushed up the sleeves of his green thermal awkwardly and then tugged the bottom of his orange Flash shirt down.

Penny crossed her arms and leaned back against the door. "Do you want to go first, or do you want to hold your questions until later in case you need me to explain something?"

"Penny, I truly believe you are having an unanticipated mental lapse due to your concussion. Or you've been possessed by an alien parasite. It would be advisable to seek medical attention." He looked at her worriedly. "Please?"

Penny stared at him for several seconds and then walked over. Sheldon's eyes grew wide as she moved so closel her breasts were barely pressing against his chest. Her hands came up to thread through his hair. She moved leisurely, giving him ample time to pull away or protest. Lazily, with the barest press of her finger tips, she drew his head down and kissed him. His hands fluttered in the air for a moment before settling on her waist.

A low gasp escaped Sheldon's throat and his fingers clasped her hips tightly. All rational thought evaded him as he pulled her tight against him. Her mouth opened and her tongue darted out to stab at his lips. He obediently parted his lips and shuddered as she invaded his mouth. He marveled at the manipulation of the eight muscles found in the human tongue. They made the organ curl around his own in a stroking caress.

He tasted like mint and red vines. She slid her hands down to his chest and around to his back. His hands clenched tighter, and she knew she would have ten finger shaped bruises in a few hours. Languidly she pulled back and release his mouth. She licked her lips, savoring the taste of his mouth. "Make no mistake," she said gently. "I know who am I, where I am, who you are and what I am doing. I'm giving you ample warning right now, Sheldon. I want you. I'm going to do everything in my power to have you. The only person who can stop that is you. No one else has a say in this. I like Amy, but that won't stop me. I like Leonard, but that won't stop me. Only you can turn me away."

Sheldon looked down into her sea-colored eyes. He saw absolute certainty in them. She was completely sure of what she was saying. Emotions warred within him. Panic, desire, fear, need. He took a couple of unsteady breaths and released her hips. "Penny….." He closed his eyes and swallowed the lump in his throat. He opened them again and looked at her. "I don't know what to do."

She nodded her understanding and stepped back. "Then you should go. If you stay much longer, I'm going to rip those chinos off you." She smoothed out her crimson top, drawing his eyes down to the thin band of flesh her low rise black jeans left exposed. He could see a couple of imprints from his fingers on her golden skin.

He gulped and moved toward the door. He paused and looked back at her. She smiled seductively at him. "Sheldon, when I masturbate tonight," her eyes flashed with passion, "and I will, I'll be thinking of you."

Sheldon blushed a bright red and nodded. He opened the door and slipped out into the hall. He hurried across to his door and stopped. He looked back at Penny and gathered what little courage he possessed at the moment. "It only seems fair, since I think of you," he blurted out. Then he darted into his apartment and shut the door.

Sheldon flinched from the look of anger Leonard was giving him from the couch. "Good night, Leonard."

"What did she say?" he asked in a low voice. Leonard stood up, hands clenched into fists. "Did she tell you where she had been?"

Sheldon shook his head. "No." He hurried away before Leonard could ask him anything else.

Penny was walking back up the stairs with her laundry when her phone buzzed. She looked at the screen and answered. "Hey, B."

"Penny, I was wondering if you were up for a girl's night. I could tell you all about that new "book" I mentioned last night."

Penny adjusted the basket on her hips. "Okay, girl's night it is. And I can tell you all about my break up with Leonard."

"So soon?" Bernadette asked. "What about the other thing?"

Penny smiled and glanced at the clock on her phone. "Already on it. In fact, I'm quite hopeful."

Bernadette laughed lightly. "This is gonna be a rough ride. Are you absolutely sure?"

Penny smiled as she thought about this morning. "Remember when I said I was so close it was almost a moot point? I was wrong. I'm already there. I love him, B. And I'm going to fight for him."

"Okay," Bernadette said supportively. "Well, I'll see you at 6, alright?"

""Be there with bells on," Penny confirmed before hanging up. She hurried on up to her apartment and put away the linens and towels she had washed. Her apartment finally met her standards. How in the hell had she survived in that chaotic swirl?

Sheldon sat at his desk and replayed the kiss over and over in his mind. Penny wanted him. She had kissed him. And he had kissed her back. Not the begrudging kisses he gave Amy's cheek when she demanded it. Not the chaste pecks he gave his Mom or Meemaw. He had kissed Penny with fervor. He had always found Penny appealing. She was undeniably beautiful and sexually arousing. He had always pushed that awareness away, though. A knock on his door signaled Amy's arrival. He called out for her to enter and then stood. Better to get this over with now.

Amy stepped inside and smiled. "Sheldon, what was so urgent I had to come over right away?"

He waved her into a seat and moved around the desk to sit beside her. "Amy, I would like for you to release me from our relationship agreement."

Amy's eyes widened and she looked at him with shock. "What? Why?"

Sheldon looked at his lap. "Penny has ceased relations with Leonard.."

Amy gasped. "Again? But I don't understand. Just because your best friend and my best friend have broken up doesn't mean we have to!"

Sheldon looked up at Amy. "She told me she is interested in me. She kissed me this morning." He blushed slightly. "And I kissed her back."

Amy's face turned pale and her hands bunched her skirt. "You…kissed Penny?"

Sheldon nodded. "I am sorry to hurt you, Amy. I tried to be a decent boyfriend. But I am not attracted to you. You and I have discussed this before. I know you think I would grow to want you, but after kissing Penny, I know that is not possible. I feel something for Penny I have never felt for anyone before."

Amy's voice hissed out at him. "She's supposed to be my best friend and she kissed you?! You cheated on me with Penny?!"

Sheldon looked at Amy sadly. He expected her anger and pain. He regretted it. But he was not going to lie to her, or sneak around. "I am sorry, Amy. I know that means little right now, but I hope someday you forgive me."

Amy stood and looked down at him. She drew back her hand and paused. Then she slapped him across the face and walked out. Sheldon rubbed his jaw and watched her go.