For a moment Penny sat stunned on the floor, her heart still thumping hard in her chest as she thought of Frieda's lips on hers. It was when she looked around her now solitary lounge, with the two bowls sat on the coffee table and the empty glass which had held the water that Frieda had so thoughtfully had waiting for her with some Ibuprofen ready for when she woke up from her sleep that she came to feel as though there was truly something missing from her flat. She had enjoyed Frieda's company that afternoon and evening. She had enjoyed being taken care of and was so touched that someone was willing to do what Frieda had done out of sheer kindness and concern with no warning whatsoever. She had enjoyed seeing the other woman smile and laugh which up until now had been something so uncharacteristic of her. Now she had gone and once again Penny was all alone, not knowing what had happened in those last few moments to cause the sharp exit that was now causing hot tears to roll down her cheeks.

Sighing, a sniffing Penny walked over to the DVD player and turned off the movie. She then padded around the flat taking the bowls, cutlery and glasses into the kitchen and washing them up, pausing occasionally to sneeze or to blow her red raw nose. Deciding to have an early night she then made her way to the door. Her hand was just resting on the bolt when she heard movement from outside.

Opening the door quietly, Penny peeped around it to see Frieda sat just next to it, her knees pulled to her chest and her head resting on her crossed arms. She had been crying and Penny felt her heart jump in her chest. Pulling the door two Penny sat down beside the dark haired woman, pulling her knees into the same position and wrapping her arms around them. She turned her attention to Frieda, bumping her shoulder against the other young woman's and smiling softly.

"Penny for them..." She said quietly. Frieda just looked at her in confusion and Penny sighed.

"I should not have run." Frieda told the redhead, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her jacket and Penny realised then that she must understand a lot more than she had been letting on.

"Then why did you?" Penny asked and she found herself almost afraid to hear the answer.

"Fear." Frieda replied simply. "It scare me. I should not have kissed you."

"Why should you not have kissed me? Frieda I wanted you to." Penny reassured her trying futilely to stifle a yawn.

"You are tired. I should go..." Frieda remarked, getting up.

Penny grabbed hold of her arm and gently pulled her back down. She shook her head.

"Why are you scared?" Penny asked Frieda, shyly linking her fingers with the dark haired woman's; Frieda holding on to Penny tightly.

"I like you. I been with women before. You...you have not?"

Penny shook her head.

"So you might change mind. I be an experiment to you and get hurt."

"I wanted you to kiss me. Doesn't that tell you anything?"

Frieda looked at Penny and smiled.

"You want to spread your germ to innocent people?"

Penny smiled in response. She shook her head.

"Just because you want me to kiss you...does not mean you want me...or us. You confused."

"I'm anything but confused. I may have a fever but I am thinking clearly." Penny reassured her; giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

"And what about work? Are you not worried what people might say?"

"I didn't think Frieda Petrenko cared about what other people say or think."

"It may hurt you."

Penny shrugged.

"I had a relationship with a patient. I really don't think any gossip about us could be any worse. Besides they don't have to know anything. Not yet and when they do they'll get over it pretty quickly. There's always another infidelity or another conquest."

"True." Frieda responded with a nod.

"Tonight meant something to me. More than you could possibly know. I didn't think you liked me yet there you were when no one else cared enough, taking care of me."

Frieda cupped Penny's warm cheek with her palm.

"Would I have told them to let you go home if I did not like?"

"You told them to...I thought it was because of the patients." Penny asked feeling truly shocked.

"That may have been a little white lie. You very pale. I was worried." Frieda admitted, the blush once again appearing on her cheeks.

"So you came to cook me soup."

Frieda nodded and looked at the floor somewhat shyly. She really was beautiful and to Penny the vulnerability that she was showing made her even more enchanting.

"You would do same for me yes?" She teased and Penny grinned.

"Without question." She replied honestly, knowing that after seeing the care and compassion in someone who she once thought so cold that she would do anything to repay the kindness that she had been on the receiving end of that night.