(Sheldon is assaulted, and Penny comes to the rescue.)

He had curled up with his back to her an hour or so earlier, drawing their clasped hands around his waist. She eased up until her back was against the headboard and reached for his phone. She figured it was one of the guys calling to check on him, so she didn't bother looking, she just answered.

"Hey, it's Penny."

There was a moment of silence. "Penny? The young lady across the hall from Shelly?"

Penny froze and looked at the screen. "Fuck!" she whispered. She cleared her throat. 'Uh, hello Mrs. Cooper. How are you?"

"Well, confused at the moment. Why are you answering Shelly's phone?"

Penny checked to make sure he was asleep still. "Well, Sheldon's not feeling well at the moment and I'm looking after him. I wouldn't have answered but I thought it was Leonard calling to check on him."

"Leonard called me and said Shelly needed me. I was calling to tell him I'll be there in a day or two. How sick is he?"

Penny silently cursed Leonard and sighed. "Just a moment, Mrs. Cooper. I'll get Sheldon and you can talk to him yourself." This was not a decision she could make. She muted the phone and shook his shoulder gently. Sheldon jerked awake and twisted around. She was gratified to see relief flood his face when he saw her.

"Sheldon, your mom is on the phone. Leonard called her." Anger and fear crossed his expression swiftly. "She wants to know if you want her to come visit. To help take care of you."

Sheldon sat up and shook his head frantically. "No! No, Penny! I can't have her here. I don't…I only want you here! Please!"

Penny reached over and pulled him into her arms. She rubbed his back and reached for the phone. "Sweetie, just speak calmly. Tell her you're just a bit under the weather. She can't see you, and it's not like you're lying really. Reassure her, and later, I'll deal with Leonard, okay?"

Sheldon drew in a deep breath and took the phone. He laid his head on her chest and un-muted the phone. "Mommy? Yes, I'm a bit under the weather, as they say, but there is no need for you to come here. Penny has taken adequate care of me and I will be at my optimum soon." He twitched slightly at the lie, but pressed on. "Yes, I am getting enough fluids and Penny will make me another grilled cheese soon. There's no need… Fine Mommy, have your prayer group pray for me. No, I can't feel your loving arms all the way from Texas. I love you, too, Mommy. I'll call you when I feel better. I need to rest now."

Sheldon hung up the phone and sighed. "Thank you," he said softly. "Thank you for not leaving. For helping. For pulling her.. Thank you."

Penny laid her chin on his head. "I hope I never have to do it again, but I will if I have to. No matter what we are to each other, Sheldon, I would never turn my back on you if you needed me."

They were both silent for a long time. Finally Sheldon pulled away from her and rolled over to face the window. "Penny, thank you. I know you don't want to be here. I owe you an incredible debt."

Penny lay behind him and molded herself to his back. "Sheldon, don't do that. Don't pull away from me. I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be. I would have let you sleep and told your mom to get here quick. I told you the truth, sweetie. I'm not going anywhere. As long as you want me here, I'll be here."

He was afraid to ask her, but he needed to know the answer. "Because you feel pity me?"

Penny sat up and pulled him around to look at her. She placed her hand on his jaw, to keep his eyes on hers. "Sheldon, I'm pissed that she tried to molest you. I'm worried because you are upset. I'm scared you will bottle this up and retreat from us all. I'm terrified that I couldn't prevent this from happening in the first place. But I do NOT pity you. You don't need my pity. You are the strongest, most determined man I have ever met."

Sheldon placed his hand over hers. "I don't think I can do this on my own."

Penny drew him up into a loose hug. "You don't have to, Sheldon. I'll help you."

He slid an arm around her waist. "I should see Bernadette's cousin, shouldn't I?" Penny nodded. "Will you go with me?" She nodded again and stood up.

"Come on, Moon Pie. You get dressed and I'll do the same. Then we'll go see what can be done."

Sheldon desperately wanted to ask her to stay while he changed, but in the harsh light of day, he was too embarrassed to ask. She must have seen it in his face though because she hugged him tight and walked to his closet. She pulled out his plaid pants and a black thermal shirt. She grabbed his melting rubix shirt and clean underwear. Then she took his hand and they walked to her apartment. She set his things in the bathroom and left him to get ready.

Sheldon could hear her on her phone as she moved around her bedroom and got ready. He looked at his reflection in the mirror. How different he looked to his own eyes in only 12 hours. What would happen when he spoke to the officer? What were his friends going to say? He flashed on the way Howard had helped last night. Leonard and Raj had also, but they hadn't been able to look at him. Only Penny and Howard had met his eyes. They had understood. They hadn't flinched away from him. He wondered why Howard. Why had Howard stepped up when his roommate couldn't or wouldn't?

Penny tapped on the door just as he pulled the t-shirt on. Sheldon looked over at her. She was wearing jeans and a flowery top. In her hair was the first Penny Blossom he had attempted. He could tell by the uneven clumps of glitter. She held the door open and he moved out into the living room.

"Officer Rowins will be here in 30 minutes," she said as she sat beside him. "Sheldon, I have to warn you."

He looked at her in alarm. Warn him about what?

"He said that since there was no actual intercourse, there isn't going to be a lot he can do. Assault cases where the man is the victim are rarely reported and most prosecutors won't risk losing that type of case." Penny said, trying hard to keep her anger and disappointment from showing.

"Then why is he coming?" Sheldon whispered.

Penny took his hand in hers. He immediately moved over so their shoulders touched. "Because there are some other things he can do. Help get a restraining order, put this on file so there is a paper trail, things like that. He has dealt with this situation before. He can answer questions, give you some advice, maybe find you someone to talk to."

"A psychiatrist." Sheldon's voice was flat, but Penny could still sense his shame.

"Not necessarily. Maybe someone else who has been through this and will understand. Someone you can talk with who knows what you are going through," she said soothingly.

Sheldon shuddered at the thought of telling a stranger about it. He just pressed his weight against her a bit more. He need her comfort more than he needed anything else.

All too soon there was a knock on her door. Penny rose and opened it up. She wasn't sure what she expected but Gandalf wasn't it. He was wearing a grey suit, and had a beard ZZTop would have envied. His grey hair was pulled back into a ponytail and he smiled brightly.

"Hello, Ms. Queen. I'm Jack Rowin. May I come in?"

Penny stepped back and watched with a smile as Sheldon gaped at the officer. He took the armchair and looked Sheldon over carefully.

"Well, Dr. Cooper, I'm happy to say you look in better shape than I feared." he said. "I'm glad. More often than not, I have to wade through a lot of anger and embarrassment before the guy will speak with me. I've had a lot of punches thrown my way. I'm glad you don't look like you want to take a swing at me."

"I don't want to hit you, Officer Rowin," Sheldon said in a confused voice. "Why would I want that?"

"Call me Jack. Usually it's from a need to prove they are still a man. Rape is an ugly thing and it can mess someone up pretty badly. Men feel like they have to assert themselves so they don't feel like a victim."

Sheldon shook his head and pressed back into the couch more. "I wasn't raped," he murmured.

Jack nodded. "I know. But it was a near thing, wasn't it?" Sheldon glanced at him and then at Penny. She moved to sit beside him again and he fought the urge to grab her hand again. Slowly he nodded.

Penny reached over and slid her hand into his. He squeezed it timidly and she squeezed back. He relaxed a bit and found it was easier to speak with Jack when Penny was by his side.

"Well, we have a few things we can do," Jack began. He went over various options thoroughly and answered any questions Sheldon had. He even answered a couple Penny had. He offered some advice Sheldon wasn't going to use and some he would. When Penny mentioned Howard's cousin, Jack recommended him highly. He had even brought a card for that very therapist to give to Sheldon. Two hours later they said good bye to Jack and he promised to let them know the moment he got the restraining order.

Penny closed the door and yawned. Sheldon fidgeted on the couch. "You didn't sleep, did you?"

Penny shook her head. "Not really. I couldn't. I was too worried about you. You kept moving in your sleep. I was afraid you would fall out of bed."

Sheldon knew that wasn't the whole truth, but he didn't press. "You need to sleep," he said in a low voice. He looked down at his knees. "Penny, can I stay?"

She smiled and nodded. "I'd rather you did. I don't feel like being alone, and I definitely don't want you to leave."

A weight fell off his shoulders when she said she didn't want him to go. He kept waiting for her to send him back across the hall. Alone. He stood and followed her back to the bedroom. Penny toed off her slippers and crawled into the bed. She moved over to leave him plenty of room. He gingerly slid in and lay on his back. Penny was on her side facing him. After a few heartbeats she reached over and tugged him toward her. He quickly rolled over and wrapped an arm around her. He pressed his head against hers and breathed deeply. It wasn't just that Penny made him feel safer. It was that Penny didn't make him feel weak.

Soon she was fast asleep, her warm breath on his neck. He cringed at first, his mind screaming at him about germs and sickness. Soon, though, it quieted down and another part of his mind took over. It said "home".