SHELDON POV

He watched her. He tried to analyzer her. He tried to break the situation down into smaller elements that he could use to formulate a solution. There was her, a chaotic, undisciplined, emotional woman shaped like Venus, but with ten-fold the sensuality. There was him, the human him, who was rigid, controlled, emotionally neutral, shaped like a scare crow with one-tenth the sex appeal. Factor in the upheaval of a prank war, multiply by physical injury, increase exponentially with the addition of unnecessary guilt.

Sheldon sighed and put his muzzle on his paws. It made no sense. No matter how much he tried, he could not use math to figure her out, to solve this upheaval. He wondered what was going on in her head. She had asked for some warm water as soon as she had gotten here. At some point in the early morning, she had went to his apartment and gotten his body wash, 2 wash clothes, 2 towels, and his pajamas. Then she had closed the curtains around the bed and given him a sponge bath.

There was nothing sexual in it, just tenderness. She washed his arms and legs, then his back and chest, going in counter-clockwise circles. Then she had dressed him and combed his hair. She had sung softly to him as she worked. They were both raised in the country, so he knew the songs she sang. Mostly Exile or Sawyer Brown, but she also threw in some George Strait. When she finished she hooked up a small travel DVD player and stuck in Star Trek TOS season one.

She was just pulling back the curtains when things got interesting. His mom was there, with Leonard. Apparently they had assumed it was a nurse with him, because both were shocked to see Penny.

PENNY POV

She struggled to keep her vice light and steady. The bruises that marred his pale skin were horrifying. He would hate to have anyone see him this way. Covered in injuries, dirt, dried streaks of blood. She moved carefully and washed every inch of except his pelvic region. That would upset him more than anything, she knew. She knew she wouldn't get the flannel sleeve over that cast, but she had brought a simple white tee also. She left that sleeve off and just fastened the bottom few buttons.

She had cared for her Nana when she was dying, so she drew on that long ago experience to help her get Sheldon into his bottoms, rolling him gently from side to side to pull them up. When she was finished, she emptied the water and fixed up the tv so he could hear his favorite show. Then she opened the curtains.

"Penny?" Leonard looked at her in shock and then with suspicion. "What are you doing?"

Penny finished pushing the curtain around and then greeted Mrs. Cooper, who rushed to her son's side. "Good morning, Leonard. I was helping Sheldon get ready for the day."

Leonard looked over at him quickly. "He's awake? That's good!"

Penny shook her head. "No. Not yet." She sighed softly. "I just meant that if he wakes up today, he'll be clean and dressed. Two things he won't have to worry about."

Leonard's face turned red. "You, umm, washed him? All over?"

Penny shot him a look of exasperation. "I washed the dirt and blood off him, Leonard. I didn't have sex with him!" she said in a huffy whisper.

Leonard frowned and looked at Sheldon. "The nurses would have done that," he grumbled.

Penny rolled her eyes. "And how well would he have liked that, Leonard? He'll hate that I did it, but he'd hate having a stranger do it more!" Leonard started to respond, but a growl stopped him. The pup jumped from the couch and ran over to stand between them. He growled up at Leonard and barred his teeth. Penny bent and picked him up and he immediately licked her cheek. She nuzzled his furry head and steadied her anger.

"Leonard, I know you care about me. But I do not have the time to cater to your pride. Our friend is lying in a hospital bed, unconscious, and he needs our support. Not your jealousy or my guilt. So either work with me here, or go home. His mom is here now, and your emergency contact status is unnecessary."

Leonard looked at her with shock, anger and even a bit of desire. "Penny, of course I'm worried about him. I can't help it if I have feelings for you, though."

Penny looked at him sadly. "Then go home. This is a drama free zone." Then she turned and walked over to the other side of Sheldon's bed and sat down on a chair, cradling the dog on her lap and taking Sheldon's hand in hers.

MARY COOPER POV

She was surprised to see the neighbor girl pull back the curtain. She didn't think about it too long, though. Her baby boy was laying on the bed, covered in bandages and monitor wires. She hurried over and immediately said a prayer. She touched his face softly and could smell his Irish Spring soap. She had bathed him, Mary thought vaguely. Mary pulled over a chair and sat down. She placed her hand over his cast and hummed Soft Kitty as she straightened the blankets.

She could hear the two behind her, even when they whispered. Where did they think Shelly had gotten his excellent hearing from? She was a bit disappointed in Leonard. Wasn't he her boy's best friend? He sure was being awfully selfish. Mary sighed. Maybe she was being too hard on him. Shelly meant the world to her, but that didn't mean he meant the same to everyone else.

"he needs our support. Not your jealousy or my guilt"

Mary watched the young woman take the chair on the other side of the bed. She slipped her hand into Shelly's and ruffled the fur of the puppy in her lap.

"Thank you, dear for looking after my boy." Mary said with a smile.

Penny burst into tears. "It's my fault," she sobbed. "I was so stubborn and pestered him. He retaliated and ended up falling and getting hurt." The puppy whimpered and licked her hand.

Mary watched her carefully. Leonard had already told her about the pranks, and how Shelly had been retrieving the girl's things when it happened. Was there more to this than she had been told? "Now, honey, I'm sure Shelly don't blame you for this. It was an accident. Nothing more. You don't have to sit here cause you feel guilty."

Penny looked up and shook her head firmly. "I cry because I feel guilty. But I'm here because I care about him. He's my friend. Even if this was completely unrelated to me or our fight, I'd still be here."

Mary settled back in her chair. Well, well, well. Maybe there's hope for a couple little Shelly grandbabies yet, she thought.