I'd like to say a huge thank you to my Beta, hazelra7, without whose help, this story would probably have never seen the light of day.
The Assignation Interference.
Chapter 4.
Sheldon was frozen to the spot, shocked by the ferocity of his own anger.
He didn't regret doing it, and he'd do it again in an instant, to defend his beloved Amy.
He'd have preferred the word 'protect', to defend, but he hadn't protected her.
Sure, he'd responded to Penny's horrible behaviour, but he'd failed to protect her from it.
All he could think about was Amy in tears, then her running from the apartment.
He shook himself out of his stupor, and turned toward the door.
As he went to leave, Leonard began, "Penny didn't really mean to …."
Sheldon spun on his heels, fixing Leonard with his steely blue eyes.
Extending his right index finger, he pointed it straight between Leonard's eyes, snarling "DON'T!"
Then he was gone, taking the stairs two at a time, as he raced to the lobby.
Bursting onto the street, he began searching frantically for a cab.
-o-o-o-o-
The tears were flowing down Penny's cheeks, like a river. She'd give anything to undo what she'd done, but she knew that was impossible.
There were three rapid knocks at the door. She held her breath, praying there wouldn't be three more. She couldn't face Sheldon, after what she'd just done.
When no more came, she breathed a huge sign of relief, dragged herself from the couch and opened the door.
Leonard was shocked by Penny's appearance. Sure he'd seen her cry, but never like this.
She fell into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Through her tears she cried "I've screwed it up Leonard. I've ruined it, forever".
He wanted to comfort her, reassure her, tell her it would OK, but he couldn't see any way it could be OK.
Instead, he stood, holding her, feeling her whole body quaking to the rhythm of her sobs.
-o-o-o-o-
Amy knew she should clean herself up, but she barely had the energy to stand up, let alone take a shower. Instead she just lay on the couch, continually replaying the incident in her head.
Knock, knock, knock - Amy
Knock, knock, knock - Amy
Knock, knock, knock - Amy
She'd been hoping, praying, for Sheldon to come to her, but now she was scared.
She knew he cared about Penny, not in a romantic sense, but he certainly cared about her, and now he was caught in the middle?
She dragged herself from the couch, stumbled to the door, and opened it.
Sheldon was stunned. There before him stood, what he had always believed was, his strong, self confident girlfriend, eyes red from the countless tears that had rolled down her face.
He wrapped his arms around her, drawing her to him. He kissed away the tears from her cheeks, then moved to her mouth. With each passing second, the kisses became stronger and deeper.
Amy started to back into the apartment, pulling him with her, but in truth she didn't need to pull. It was as though there were a magnetic attraction between them. He was totally under her power, and she was under his. Wherever one went, the other would go.
As she backed into the apartment, she bumped into the arm of the couch. She tried to catch hold of something to stop the fall, but there was nothing there to grab. They fell over the arm, onto the edge of the cushions, then rolled off. Sheldon landed on the floor, with Amy on top of him.
She was a little winded, but she couldn't stop now. She needed him more than she needed life itself.
She put her hands on his chest, she could feel his heart pounding, pounding, pounding, like it would burst from his chest. Her own heart pounded in her ears.
They broke the kiss, gasping for breath. He looked into her face. Her eyes bore into his, filled with burning desire.
She sat up, so she was straddling him. She could feel the bulge in his trousers, pressing into her.
Her loins were on fire, aching for him.
This was it. She wanted this, she needed this, she would have this!
Then she stopped.
This was wrong. This wasn't how it was meant to be.
She fell onto him, gasping. The tears were coming back.
She whispered in his ear, "No Sheldon, not like this".
-o-o-o-o-
Penny sat on the couch, clinging to Leonard, as though her life depended on it.
The crying had stopped, the tears had dried on her cheeks, but she felt like they would start again any minute.
"Oh God Leonard. What am I going to do?" Her whole body shuddered, then she went on. "I've lost them both."
Leonard wanted to tell her everything would be fine, but how could it be?
-o-o-o-o-
Amy sat on the couch, staring into the distance. Sheldon was right next to her, but it was like she couldn't see him, she was so deep in thought.
The minutes dragged by, then she took a deep breath and turned to him.
"Sheldon", she began, "I owe you an explanation".
Sheldon shook his head. "You don't owe me anything."
She reached out and took his hand, clasping it between hers. "Yes I do. You see Sheldon, it would've been sex, not love, and that's not how I want our first time to be."
She looked deep into his eyes, and continued, "I do want you, you must believe that, but it should be driven by my love for you, not my hatred of Penny".
Sheldon looked into Amy's eyes, "I love you, without reservation, and without end. I will always love you."
Without a moments hesitation, she replied "I love you too Sheldon, always and forever."
They fell into each others arms. Sheldon's embrace felt like the warmest, safest place on earth. She felt totally protected, totally contented.
A look of horror crossed her face. She put her hand to her mouth. "Oh my God Sheldon. Penny lives right across from you." She shook her head, "I can't face seeing her, so how can I visit you?"
Sheldon hesitated, "Actually, that won't be a problem, because I'm moving out".
"Where will you live?"
Sheldon let his eyes drift around the room.
For a moment he seemed deep in contemplation, then a smile spread across his face.
"How about here?"
