A/N – hello everybody, sorry for the very long wait. I've been having difficulty finding spare time to right new chapters because of college coursework but I have about 2 weeks before another project so I will make it up to you all now J
Chapter 4 – They will kill each other
''Hey, Shelly'' Penny greeted him with a yawn as she entered the kitchen.
''Don't call me that'' Sheldon replied through his clenched teeth as he sat at the kitchen island.
Penny smiled and shook her head as she made her way over to the kettle to make her morning coffee. She definitely needed it seeing as it was 6:00am in the morning.
Once her coffee was made she leant back against the counter and watched Sheldon as he read his newspaper and ate his cereal across from her.
''Can I help you with anything?'' Sheldon asked evenly without removing his eyes from the newspaper after sensing her eyes on him.
She startled at his question and blushed. ''Uh, no thanks, I'm good'' she replied nonchalantly.
After a few more moments Sheldon lets out a long suffering sigh and glares up at her through his eye lashes.
''Can I help you with anything?'' Penny says feigning innocents as she tries to swallow her amusement of his distress.
''Why are you watching me?'' Sheldon asks with irritation.
Penny shrugs as she places her now empty coffee mug on the counter and then turns to face him again. ''I'm waiting for you to give me an order captain'' she straightens her back and clasps her hands behind her back.
Sheldon looks at her hello kitty shorts and small, pink tank top. Her apparel makes him swallow a rush of strange emotions as he quickly averts his eyes back to his newspaper.
''Very well, go get dressed and meet me here in exactly 15 minutes'' he commanded without looking at her. His Texan accent was even thicker and his voice was lower.
''Eye, eye Captain'' Penny saluted him and marched out of the kitchen with a smirk on her face. She caught his eye roll on the way out of the door.
She was going to enjoy today. She has only known him for a few hours and she already loved irritating him. She can't swipe the grin off of her face as she climbs the stairs to get ready for the journey.
16 minutes later, Penny strolls into the kitchen with all of her belongings and is greeted with the Cooper family talking amongst themselves.
Sheldon was the first to notice her, ''you are late'' he said simply with an annoyed expression.
''Hello darlin'. We were hoping that we could all say good-bye to ya, before ya left'' Mary interrupted before Penny could give him a smart comment.
''hey, yeah, well I'm not exactly the captain on this voyage'' Penny shrugged and sent a playful, pointed look towards Sheldon. Who simply rolled his eyes and shook his head.
''Now darlin', ya don't let shelly control ya'' Mary informed her.
''Ya can let me control, if you'd prefer'' George junior interrupts with a wink as he joins them in the kitchen, looking very tired and wearing only a pair of boxers.
Missy stepped in behind him and slapped his bare back, hard. The SLAP sound echoed through the kitchen, which resulted in everyone wincing apart from Penny who just smirked at Missy. Junior tried to swallow his shriek of pain and keep his face straight which ended as a sharp intake of air. He turned to face his evil sister with a death glare.
''I suppose that would be our cue to leave'' Sheldon's dry voice interrupted the tension in the room as he stood to leave.
''Thank you all for the help. I have given Missy my facebook and phone number so that we can stay in touch. I'm sure that you will be receiving a wedding invitation from a certain someone in the near future'' Penny said sincerely with a happy glint in her eye as she made her way to the door with everyone following her.
Mary hugged her tightly ''it was a pleasure and I want ya' to tell us what happens. Good luck''
Missy hugged her next and Penny felt as if they had been friends for years. ''I hope that my brother doesn't kill ya' or drive ya' mad, I'm lookin' forward to the weddin' '' she smiled as she pulled away.
Junior stepped up next and she was hoping that he didn't try anything. He wrapped his muscular arms around her, ''I like ya' gal, and I'm not sorry for hittin' on ya'' he shrugged as he released her from the tight hug put her at arm's length away, ''Good luck with ya' fella and I will see if he is worthy of ya at the weddin' '' he winked, but it wasn't the seductive kind but more of a protective brotherly kind, which she didn't mind.
Penny said her thanks again and told them to say good-bye to Meemaw for her, seeing as she wasn't there with the rest of them to see her off.
Mary turned to Sheldon and hugged him, which he reluctantly returned. ''Now Shelly, I just want ya' to protect this women with ya' life. This is a strange place for her and ya' of all people know how cruel this place can be. Do ya' understand, dear?'' she held him at arm's length and stared into his eyes whilst speaking loud and clear.
''Yes Mother, I understand everythin'. We won't stop, even for a second. The drive isn't very long so I will be back this evenin'. Now, we really better be on our way, as it seems Penny is a natural at being unpunctual so it's up to me to get her to New York before the weekend.'' Sheldon said with condescension, but it looked like Mary and the rest of the Cooper house hold were used to it.
They watched from the door way as Penny and Sheldon walked towards the old, battered Pickup truck. They could hear them squabbling the whole way about condescension and tardiness.
Penny jumped up into the passenger's seat and watched as Sheldon walked round the front of the truck. She found her mind drifting to dangerous thoughts as he seated himself in the driver's seat and started up the car. He looked so in control and confident. His movements were graceful yet strong. There was something about seeing a man in a blue checkered shirt with faded blue jeans on, that just caught Penny's eye. She looked at his rolled up sleeves and the superman symbol popping up from the neck line of his shirt. She shook her head and smirked at her minds ability to drift.
They drove in silence for about half an hour but eventually Penny couldn't stand it anymore. She was going crazy.
''Do you think that we could play some music in this rust bucket?'' Penny asked innocently as she glanced at him.
''Rust Bucket?! How dare ya'! This is a 1953 Chevrolet. She has saved me on many of accessions. My mother has had this truck since before I was born.'' Sheldon said defensively with a passion that shocked Penny.
''Let me guess, you have some fast sporty LA vehicle.'' Sheldon continued with sarcasm as he kept his eyes on the road.
''I wish'' Penny scoffed, ''my little Gold Cabriolet barely even reaches 60 mph''
Sheldon sighed as he calmed himself down and let his irritation ebb away in the silence that followed. They got about a mile up the road before the truck started to make a strange ticking noise that disturbed Penny.
''What's that?'' Penny asked cautiously.
''I'm not entirely sure. It could be the oil pressure or the lack of oil and so the lubrication failed and has resulted in seizin' the engine.'' Sheldon mused as he voiced his thoughts of the situation.
''What do you mean seized the engine? We are still mov-'' Penny was cut short as the truck jerked and grounded to a halt, ''I spoke to soon'' she muttered to herself.
''Yes well. You killed it'' Sheldon huffed and accused.
''Me?! What did I do?'' Penny screeched at his accusation.
Sheldon huffed and turned to face her, ''This truck has never had any problems before you stepped inside it''.
Sheldon shook his head as he opened the truck door to get out.
''Where are you going?'' Penny asked incredulously.
She could see him stop a few feet away from the car and turn around to walk to the passenger side door. She flinched as he pulled the door open and offered her a hand.
''Where do you think I'm going? I'm continuing the mission'' he stared at her as if it was obvious. ''now come on, we can leave the truck here and I will retrieve it on the way back.''
She nodded and took his offered hand. He helped her down and waited for her to grab her bags before closing the door.
Penny had mixed feelings. On one hand she appreciated him for carrying on for her but on the other she felt bad for dragging him along on this mad journey. She would be lying if she didn't appreciate the company.
''What happened to never leaving a man behind?'' Penny asked with a smile and tried to lighten the mood. She was walking a few feet behind him along the road and she could see his shoulders relax a bit.
''Sometimes sacrifices have to be made'' He feigned sadness ''a grave decision in a time of crisis'' he bowed his head and slyly glanced at her trying not to break his act.
He caught her eye as she caught up with him and quickly looked away and tried to hide his smile.
''Don't ever try to be an actor'' Penny laughed at his good natured glare.
Sheldon laughed as penny walked slightly ahead of him. They walked in silence for a few minute stuck in their own thoughts.
''So what now Mr Spock?'' Penny asked casually as she strolled in front.
Sheldon increased his pace to walk next to her and looked at her incongruously after her unpredicted reference.
Penny caught his expression, ''I saw the DVD box set next to the television. I presumed it was yours'' she smiled at him.
''Yes, well you presumed correctly. Back to your previous question. We shall walk until we either find you another source of transport or we reach the airport.'' Sheldon offered more as a statement rather than a question.
Penny gave a mock salute at the captain's order as they continued on up the road.
An hour passes and Penny can't stand it any longer. Sheldon won't shut up about random science facts. She is on the verge of pulling out his tongue. Some facts are interesting and she can appreciate the new knowledge but others are gibberish or too advanced for her to understand. It doesn't help that he talks faster than the facts can enter her ears.
She clutches her suit case handle tighter and tries to suppress the urge to remove his tongue.
Suddenly there was silence between the pair. It took a couple of seconds for Penny to realise that Sheldon had stopped talking. She turned to look at him and instantly noticed the worried facial expression that he used. He looked deeply conflicted and his eyes looked as if he was calculating something. She was about to ask what was wrong until the faint sound of a car engine caught her ears.
Sheldon could see the moment that Penny was able to hear the engine. She looked at him curiously which he could only guess that she was confused that he could hear it before her.
Sheldon began to get even more uncomfortable as the sound got closer and louder. All Penny was thinking about was getting a lift and to rest her feet.
''What's got you all fidget? We can get a lift and make better time on the mission.'' She joked but Sheldon looked even more conflicted and uncomfortable if that was possible. His left eye was starting to twitch and he was walking closer and closer to Penny..
''Penny. Do. Not. Ask. For. A . Lift.'' Sheldon dangerously as he looked straight into her eyes. ''just keep walking'' he said with a softer voice after noticing her scared eyes and defensive posture.
Penny was about to protest but suddenly Sheldon grabbed her arm and moved her so that he was blocking Penny from the road, and the car, Sheldon thought.
''Sheldon!'' she shrieked in shock at his attitude. Why was he being so strange? She tried to get free of his hand.
''Penny, trust me. You do not want to get into their vehicle'' Sheldon pleaded desperately for her to listen but reluctantly released her hand when she glared at him. He didn't let her moved away from his side though.
Penny reached her hand around Sheldon and flagged the truck down. It stopped a few feet in front of them.
''see its fine'' Penny reassured him as she walked closer to the rusty, beat up white truck.
''hey there pretty thin' '' A 20years old looking man said from the driver's seat window.
''hi, do you think that you could give me a lift to Houston airport or at least close?'' Penny ignored the endearment and got straight to the point.
''Sure thin' doll face. Let me just take that far ya' ''he as he stepped out of the truck to take her main suitcase from her hand and put it in the back.
She tried to ignore the white wife-beater and ripped jeans he was wearing and turned to Sheldon when she heard him speak.
''Penny'' he warned her from where he was standing, a few feet away. He was looking extremely uncomfortable.
''It's fine sweetie. See the nice man is being very helpful and is doing us a big favour here'' penny said, trying reassure him. She was confused as to why he was being so strange. He looked as if the guy was about to kill her.
When he didn't calm down she turned back to the truck and shook her head as well as her hand to dismiss him casually.
''Penny, I wouldn't do that if I were you'' he says in defeat and drops his head.
She ignores him and walks around to the passenger seat and grips the handle. There is a pause of tense silence before a surprised yelp fills the air as the driver pulls away and drives off whilst laughing.
''What the HELL?!'' Penny screams at the disappearing truck before she is overwhelmed with embarrassment.
''I hate to say that I told you so'' Sheldon tells her, smugly. ''I did warn you'' he continues with more sympathy than before.
She didn't reply but instead just ducked her head away from him. Sheldon stepped closer and looked down at her small carry bag that she was clutching in her hands. He reached forward and pried it from her hands, against her weak protest.
''I can carry that'' Penny said in barely a whisper.
''I think that it's best if I take responsibility of your belongings from now on'' he said lightly to try and brighten the mood.
''Thank you'' she said quietly but laughed humourlessly, looking longingly at the road ahead. What had she gotten herself into?
Wayyyyy! *cough* I mean, awww. I hope that should quench your thirst for another chapter. If not, I will get started on the next one right now and I t should be on in the next 3-4 days.
Please give me a review, good, bad, just to shout at my tardiness or to give me some advice. As always, please follow and favourite to join stick with Penny and Sheldon on this journey.