Chapter 4: I Need a Hero

Penny was exhausted.

It had been a week since she had last hung out with Sheldon and Leonard, or seen them at all for that matter. However she feels the new couch and coffee table she found was completely worth it. Today, though, she was ready to get off her feet and lie down after her long shift at work. Penny entered the building and stops short when she sees Sheldon at the mailbox. His back was turned to her reaching into the mailbox and she couldn't help but notice the flexing of his broad shoulders. Quickly shaking her head of those thoughts she walked over to her own mailbox.

"Hey Sheldon." She tried to say as enthusiastically as possible.

"Hello Penny."

There is silence as she sorts through her mail but Sheldon is quick to point out the large manila envelope on the desk that was addressed to her.

"Penny I believe you missed one." She picked it up and saw it was from the Pasadena police station. She flipped it over hoping Sheldon hadn't seen who sent it.

"Thank you Sheldon." Penny turned to walk up the stairs but Sheldon followed.

"Penny, although I don't like to delve into other people's personal lives, I noticed your envelope was from the police force and I must tell you I don't feel comfortable living across the hall from a felon."

The waitress stops short on the second floor and Sheldon walks ahead before turning back to look at her. "I'm not a felon and even if I was, I wouldn't hurt you or Leonard after how nice you've been to me. They're just…" Could she even tell him what she held in her hands? She was worried about what he would think and that made her confused. Why would she care what he thought of her? And why did his reaction matter so much?

"They're restraining order papers." she mumbled as she made her way up the stairs but Sheldon's Vulcan hearing picked it up.

"Should I be worried about someone coming into the building and killing me with a knife or gun while I lie in my bed? If so I believe we should talk with the building manager and explain-"

"Sheldon, no!" The man jumped at her raised voice and looked at her noticing she had worry in her eyes. Mostly because she didn't want to worry him about something that doesn't concern him whatsoever, and partly because she didn't want anyone else involved. It was hard enough to admit what the papers were to Sheldon.

"I'm sorry about the yelling but you have nothing to worry about. If anyone is going to end up dead in the situation it will most likely be me."

"Why would someone want to kill you?" He was genuinely confused. Even though he had just met Penny she didn't seem like a threat to anyone. If anything she needed the protecting after the behavior she displayed a week ago. Sheldon knew something was off with Penny and he had a hunch that she had experienced recent abuse. However Sheldon had no inclination to ask Penny about her life and quite frankly he wasn't interested. Oddly enough Sheldon found that statement to himself a bit false but he would never admit that to anyone.

Penny wasn't sure what to tell the man in front of her. She had the urge to tell him everything she went through and the pain of the process she is going through currently and it terrified her. Telling Bernadette was difficult yet somehow with Sheldon, the crazy neighbor she had just recently met, she felt like saying everything to him would be like slicing a knife through softened butter; extremely easy. Instead she reined her emotions in and thought of someway to say something slightly true.

"My ex-boyfriend wasn't too happy when I broke up with him. He became threatening and so I just needed to find a way for him to leave me alone." That works, she thought.

Sheldon nods his head but says nothing more on the subject. They reach the fourth floor landing and they hear a bunch of shouting coming from Sheldon's apartment.

"Raj you have one on your tail!" shouted Leonard.

"Ah! He's got me!" replied a high pitched voice with a heavy Indian accent. I guess that is Raj, Penny laughed silently to herself.

Sheldon opened the door and Penny found Leonard on the floor, with one guy sitting on the middle cushion of the couch to his right and another sitting in a wooden chair on his left. All three men were pounding their computer keys as if their lives depended on it. Sheldon moved over to his desk and set down his messenger bag before breaking out his laptop. As much as he wanted to join in the quest, he still had a few things to get done before dinner time. Penny was left to stand and watch the men until Leonard looked up and gave her a smile. He presses a key on his computer and stands up while taking his headphones off.

"What are you guys playing?"

"Oh it's just some online multi-player game, no big deal," Leonard said with an embarrassed laugh. "How has the move been going?"

"Not too bad I guess. I still need some other furniture and what not." Penny looked to the side and saw the other two men standing up staring at her. The one with the fluorescent yellow shirt and skinny jeans that would make her look fat strolled over, trying to look smooth, though Penny thought he was just a little creepy.

"Howard Wolowitz my lady," he said with a bow. "You've probably seen my work it's currently hovering above earth on the international space station."

"I'm Penny. I work at the Cheesecake Factory." she gave him a small smile and then looked at Raj who refused to look her in the eyes. Leonard took his cue to save the poor man.

"This is Raj. He's an astrophysicist at Caltech with us."

"Is he okay?" she asked worriedly. She had heard him before in the hallway so she knew he could speak English, so why was he having a difficult time talking to her?

"He's fine, he just can't speak to women." Howard interjected.

"Why not?"

"Because he's kind of a nerd." Penny looked at Howard who laughed at his own jibe before turning to back to Leonard. The man gave her a sympathetic look and decided to put her at ease. At least for a little bit.

"Penny would you like to join us for dinner? It's pizza night tonight."

"Oh sure, thanks. How much do I owe?" she reached into her purse to bring out her wallet. She didn't have much but hopefully he can let her pay him when she can.

"Don't worry it's my treat."

Penny smiled at Leonard in gratitude until Sheldon spoke up about how Leonard will be late in picking up the pizza as it is nearly seven o'clock. Leonard rolled his eyes at his roommate and told Penny to make herself at home before heading out the door. Penny saw Raj keep to the other side of the couch, while Howard kept smiling at her. She looked over at Sheldon working on his laptop and wished he would come over to the couch and sit next to her. So she did the next big thing she could think of.

"Sheldon? May I please sit in your spot?"

Three heads turned to her at once but she only looked at Sheldon. He looked flabbergasted that anyone would even ASK if they could sit in his spot. His buttocks may not being occupying it at the moment but that didn't mean anyone else could occupy it either. However it was the first time someone had asked for permission to sit in his spot and if he was being honest with himself, he found it rather touching. It was pleasant to know someone cared about things of his. He was so lost in what just happened that he didn't notice how she began to shrink back into herself, as if she had done something wrong. Sheldon finally snapped out of it and looked at Penny.

"Very well. You may sit in my spot but I require it back when Leonard arrives with the pizza." Sheldon turns his chair around to face his computer and finish what he was typing.

Raj and Howard's jaws dropped as she made her way to Sheldon's spot and sat down on the cushion. Penny suddenly felt very relaxed and leaned back. Sheldon was right about this spot, it was definitely the most preferable spot in the room but what caught her off guard was how much she enjoyed sitting on something Sheldon had claim over. Sitting in a guy's spot shouldn't bring her this much enjoyment but it did and she had a feeling it had more to do with the man who occupied the space frequently than the actual spot on the couch. Raj moved off of the couch and went over to Howard and whispered in his ear.

"Beats the hell out of me." Howard said out loud.

Fifteen minutes passed from when Leonard left and came back. He was also surprised to see Penny sitting in Sheldon's spot. Howard motioned over to the kitchen planning on filling him in on what happened during his absence. Sheldon got up from his desk and Penny immediately moved over to the middle cushion. The pizza box was settled down on the coffee table and people helped themselves while Leonard retrieved a drink from the fridge.

"Thank you for letting me sit in your spot." Sheldon looked at Penny, once more surprised at her.

"You're welcome." He watched her for a few moments before taking his own plate and placing two pieces on his plate. Penny helped herself too and nibbled on her first piece. It had been a while since she had a decent slice of pizza.

"So Penny has anyone ever told you that you are a beautiful blonde goddess that could rival Aphrodite?" Howard said with a smirk on his face.

Penny felt an uncomfortable twitch in her stomach and instinctively moved towards Sheldon. "No Howard…I haven't."

"Get used to it." He winked.

Sheldon felt her thigh touch his and jumped a little bit. He was not used to people being this close or even touching him at all. However he was surprised to find that he didn't really mind her being that close. He was grateful when Leonard brought up a different subject that interested him and, as he saw out of the corner of his eye, made Penny relax more now that attention was diverted from her.

Penny had never watched Star Trek in her life and was content to let the boys drone on about it. When Sheldon interjected during the conversation she watched his jaw move up in down quickly as he spouted off facts to the boys. Her eyes then moved from his jaw to his cheekbones then his crystal clear blue eyes. She could see how passionate he was about what he was talking about due to the little twinkle they held. Penny looked away from his face to his torso. Although the t-shirt and thermal did little to showcase his body, she saw he was very broad in his shoulders and was curious as to what he was hiding underneath his clothes. The thought made her blush but her redness grew deeper when he caught her looking. Her attention returned to her food and he stood up to go to the kitchen. Sheldon came back, placing a diet coke in front of her before opening his own beverage.

She turned to him with a smile. "Thank you."

He nodded and brought everyone's attention away from them and back to what they were discussing.

Around eight-thirty, the boys started to throw away their garbage and head out for late night bowling.

"It's Anything Can Happen Thursday and since bowling is an activity Sheldon approves of we decided to go to midnight bowling," Leonard explained to a confused looking Penny. "Would you want to come with us?"

Penny liked bowling and was pretty decent at it but she wasn't in the mood to go out. The manila envelope she left placed in her purse was also calling her name, begging her to open it. At the same time she wanted to not think about what was going on in her life for once. She deserved to have some fun out of all this chaos.

Oh what the hell, she thought.

"Yeah it sounds like fun."

Normally when they went bowling the boys would split up into two teams of two but since Penny had come along, they decided to use only one lane. Due to Sheldon's southern upbringing he insisted that Penny be up first as is custom when a lady is present. The blonde retrieved a pink ball and sent it down the lane. The crash of the pins reverberated throughout the alley with none of them surviving the impact of the ball. The boys applauded her and she did a little curtsy. Unfortunately she also gained the attention of other male bowlers.

Sheldon was up next. She watched as a look of concentration crossed his face when a guy came up from behind her seat and began to chat her up.

"Why don't you ditch your friends and come join my team? I could even show you a few pointers." The guy wiggled his eyebrows.

Penny tried to give a nice smile but it came out as more of a grimace. "No thank you I'm fine here with my friends."

"Come on sweetheart. You should be with someone who could show you a good time."

He reached out to stroke her face causing Penny to jump out of her seat and stumble into someone's chest. She looked over her shoulder and saw Sheldon was behind her. He placed a hand on her shoulder and stared down at the man who wouldn't leave.

"I believe the lady said she wasn't interested in whatever request you have given. Now if you would be so kind as to leave so she can enjoy the rest of her game." He sat Penny back down in a seat away from the guy before occupying the one next to her. The guy shook his head and went back to his group. Sheldon looked at Penny who seemed catatonic. He nudged her a little bit and saw that she was coming around. Her hand found his and gave it a squeeze. Sheldon's body froze at the gesture and a little nagging sensation in the bag of his mind wished she would do it once more.

"Penny you're up!" spoke Leonard. This made her snap out completely. She looked at Sheldon and smiled. Before he knew what was happening, Penny kissed his cheek so quickly he was sure the Flash would be jealous by her speed.

Penny stayed next to Sheldon until they had played two games and Howard needed to get home to help his mother. When the occupants of the South Robles apartment building returned, Penny and Sheldon let Leonard go first as they hung back and walked side by side up the stairs. They reached the fourth floor landing and went to their respective doors.

"Good night Penny." She turned and gave Leonard a smile.

"Night Leonard. Thanks for inviting me tonight."

She pretend to unlock her door and when she glanced back to see Leonard had entered the apartment she called out for Sheldon. The man looked at her and she closed the distance between them. She raised herself on her tip toes and gave him a light peck on the lips.

"Thank you for saving me tonight."

Sheldon could only nod and scurried into his apartment.

Penny entered her own place and sat on her new blue couch. She glanced at the envelope that was still in her purse and figured she might as well get it over with. Penny reached over to grab it and held it in her shaking hands before turning it over and opening the seal. She perused its contents and couldn't believe what she saw.

Kurt was contesting the restraining order.

She had two weeks before the court date to make her case. Penny knew she didn't have enough money to hire a lawyer to help her out and she wasn't about to face Kurt without something in her arsenal. Penny stood up from the couch and went into her kitchen to look at her calendar. Hopefully Bernadette wasn't working that day and would be willing to tag along for emotional support. However in the back of her mind Penny wished that was the case because maybe a certain physicist would accompany her instead. She leaned against the island in her kitchen and placed her hand underneath her chin.

Somehow she felt safer with Sheldon around. It confused her about why though since the guy looked like he couldn't take on the smallest insect let alone her testosterone driven ex-boyfriend. Still she needed his presence; a desire she noticed was growing each time she looked at him. All these thoughts brought on a sudden headache and decided it was time for bed.

Across the hall, unbeknownst to her, Sheldon paused in the middle of brushing his teeth as his brain processed what happened tonight. He had never felt such a strong desire to protect in his life, especially someone he just met and more importantly someone who was a female that he wasn't related to.

I know it was a long wait but I hope this chapter makes up for it.

Thank you for all of the reviews, alerts, and favorites. It really gives me confidence as a writer and in this story :)

Enjoy and I'll get the next chapter up as soon as I can!