Chapter 4
Sheldon was right about there being less shoppers at this time of night. It was nearly 1 a.m. when they walked in to the almost empty store. The brightness of the florescent lights made both Penny and Sheldon squint.
"I like Denton's better," Sheldon said, wiping the metal cart's handle with a wet wipe (he brought it himself of course). "They use a lower wattage yellow bulb. It's much less of an optical strain. Plus, experts believe it to create a friendly atmosphere. Makes it seem more inviting."
Penny just nodded. She appointed herself as cart pusher and followed Sheldon down the canned food isle. She had only been shopping with him a few times but knew he had an order that must be followed. What she came to find out was that given the free range of a nearly empty store, Sheldon become even more precise about the items he picked. He checked every single item for the farthest expiration date. He studied package shape for optimal storage. He even color coordinated them in the basket. It was nearly 2:30 a.m. when they finally checked out.
She didn't mind. Sure, she was dead on her feet but he didn't even mention her posture as she leaned on the cart. She watched him in almost complete silence, oddly fascinated by his actions. It was like watching a documentary on the Science Channel. "Day in the Life of an Obsessive-Compulsive Super Genius." The furrow of his brow when he was concentrating. The way he drew invisible calculations in the air. His strong jaw line set once a problem was solved...
Stop it, Penny. Think about something else. At least until you get this all sorted out. This. Is. Sheldon. Sheldon! Thankfully her mind became too blurry to really concentrate on anything when they were almost home. She helped him carry his bags in and sat them on the counter when her eyes started to become heavy. She shook out of it and began to help unbag the items, feeling herself slowing down...
Someone was holding her arm tightly then.
"Penny," Sheldon said, snapping her out of it. "I believe I can handle the task of unbagging groceries. You, obviously, cannot right now. You nearly fell asleep standing up! You would do best to get some rest. Come on." He was leading her gently by the arm across the hall to her apartment. He even walked her back to her bedroom to make sure she didn't fall. She hit the bed without a hesitation. He stood in her bedroom doorway looking just a little bit upset.
"I'm sorry I kept you from your much needed sleep. I didn't realize how long we were there. My god, any longer and you might have dozed at the wheel and killed us both!"
She responded with a snore.
He fidgeted his arms a bit, looking everywhere but at her sleeping. "Don't worry. I'll lock your door for you. However, I will only be able to secure the spring bolt on the bottom. This would, of course, give any would be burglar a 48% higher success rate if they tried..." he trailed off. He looked at her then, curled in a ball on top of her comforter. He slowly and uneasily reached for the blanket farthest from her body and threw it over her. He headed for the door, whispering "good night" and "thank you" even though he knew she couldn't hear it.
Penny was basking in the glow from a standing ovation of her sold old play, complete with a shower of roses. She took a final bow and waved at her adoring fans before leaving the stage and heading to her private dressing room filled with hundreds of fresh, fragrant flowers. She had just slipped on a long, silk robe when there was a knock on the door. She opened it to see a drop dead gorgeous Robert Downey Jr. standing there.
"Penny," he said, stepping in."You were absolutely fantastic. Unbelievable. Would you care to join me for a drink tonight?"
An exasperated Penny shut the door and backed up against it, clutching her rob dramatically. "Why Robert! I don't know what to say!"
"Just say yes my darling," he said, pulling her by the hand to him. She looked deep into his warm brown eyes, feeling herself getting closer and closer to his face....closer and closer to his lips...
There were three quick knocks at her dressing room door. She tore away from Robert to answer it. There was Sheldon, holding two old super nintendo controllers in one hand, a 6-pack of Dr. Pepper in the other. He said nothing. She looked back to Robert who was standing with open arms, then back to Sheldon who jostled the controllers, grinning.
She didn't even saw a word to Robert as she shut him in that dressing room alone, walking arm in arm with Sheldon. He opened his mouth to speak but this horrible screech came out. Penny frowned.
Then she groaned loudly realizing it was her alarm blaring next to her head. She was so annoyed that she actually threw it across the room, enjoying the silence once it hit the closet door. She wasn't worried about breaking it. If it was broken, she could just get Leonard or Sheldon to fix it...
Sheldon. She groaned again and buried her face in the pillow.
