Chapter 7 Behind Enemy Lines

Apartment 4A Thursday mid-August

Pasadena was in the middle of a heat wave. It was the third day in a row of hundred degree weather. The apartment buildings air conditioning had failed on Monday. The building superintendent had promised it would be back up today but by early evening it was still out. Penny looked over from her spot on the arm of Leonard's chair. She was dressed in her shortest white shorts and a red tank top. Penny could feel the sweat running between her breast and down her back. Leonard beside her was also in gym shorts and a t-shirt, a rarity in itself. The others were all dressed normally. Of course the air conditioning worked at their places. Raj, Bernadette and Amy sat on the couch and a chair. They all looked hot and uncomfortable. Penny looked over at Sheldon standing beside the digital screen on the kitchen table. He was dressed in his normal clothes, two shirts and long pants. Penny wondered why he wasn't sweating also as he began his presentation.

"Okay folks so this is a longer trip than our last one. We'll be taking Walnut street to Maple street and then onto Interstate 210 heading north. Then we will get on Interstate 5 until we turn off onto Interstate-580 and finally Interstate-80 into San Francisco. We'll be stopping for fuel and a meal here near state highway 140. Its 381.6 miles folks so if we keep from any unscheduled stops," He looked over at Penny who smirked in return. "Then we should be at our hotel in 6 hours and 38 minutes."

Penny reached up and wiped the sweat from her brow. Maybe getting married in San Francisco wasn't such a great idea. She could have lived with Amy being maid of honor. It was looking like a better option every moment. Then Sheldon looked at his tablet and continued.

"Now on to our convoy, we will be taking two cars. Leonard has suggested and I agreed that Amy and I will be in the lead car designated A. Leonard and Penny will be in the B car."

Penny couldn't help herself, "The fun car."

Sheldon gave her a condescending look then went on. "I'm sure our rousing game of Counter Factuals in the A car will be quite entertaining Penny."

He turned his attention to Raj and Bernadette, "Because Howard is still in space which of you two would like to ride in the A car with Amy and I?"

Bernadette and Raj looked at each other. Then quickly each pointed at the other.

Sheldon scowled at both of them, "We need to distribute the weight properly to insure an equal fuel consumption ratio. Based on Leonard's smaller stature and the amount of luggage Penny will require Bernadette should ride in the B car."

Penny smirked again.

Raj was beside himself but being sober could only make hand gestures. Leonard took up his cause.

"Sheldon why don't we shift luggage to car A then Raj can ride with us and keep Bernadette company in the back?"

Sheldon considered this for a second, "All right because your car gets slightly better mileage than Amy's that should work."

Penny could see Raj looking over at Leonard with gratitude written across his face. She reached over and squeezed Leonard's hand. He gave her sideways look and small grin. Sheldon had just started into the details of stops and legs of the journey when she felt the cool air.

Penny stood, "The air conditioning is back on, Thank god." Penny started walking toward the door finally an excuse to leave.

Sheldon looked up protesting seeing Leonard rising to follow, "Where are you going we have a lot to cover still?"

Penny spoke without looking back, "I need to go close the windows and cool down my apartment."

Leonard looked back at his roommate, "We've got the word document and the power point presentation Sheldon. I promise we'll go over both. I need to help Penny."

Apartment 4B

Penny walked into her cool apartment and shivered. Leonard walked in behind her and closed the door. He walked over to the portable air conditioner unit from his lab that was set up near the window. He switched the unit off and turned as Penny wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed him lightly and pulled back looking into his face.

"Did you just outwit Dr. Sheldon Copper Phd?"

Leonard got a large smile on his face, "No one outwits Sheldon Penny, well maybe Leslie Winkle. I took his specifications from the travel plan and did some math. I knew he would do the same math thus saving Raj or Bernadette from 5 ½ hours of Amy and Sheldon."

"I thought Sheldon said 6 ½ hours?"

"That included stops and breaks. I figured they would give the game a break at lunch."

Penny went over and sat on the couch covering her legs with a small blanket that was there. She patted the seat next to her. Leonard came over and sat beside her. She handed him the essay book off the coffee table.

"Okay physicist how's our plan working out?"

"Your dad and mom are due in Sunday night from Omaha. The hotel should be cleared out pretty well by then. My mother is in the next morning. Our friends all think we won a private meeting with the Star Trek actors at 11:30. They will all show up and the guests and everyone else will already be there. How did the conversation with my mother go?"

Penny reached over and held his hand, "Your mom is onboard she won't tip Sheldon off. Leonard she actually sounded excited about us getting married. Well as excited as I've ever heard Beverly sound when she's sober."

"Okay then you just got to decide which Star Trek costume you're wearing."

Penny scowled now, "Do I really have too?"

Leonard kept from chuckling but barely, "Come on Sheldon is going as Spock and Amy already has her blue outfit. Raj is going as a Klingon. Bernadette is doing a New Generation pants suit. I ordered a costume for you and I think you might like it. Here I'll show you."

Leonard got her laptop off the coffee table and pulled up the picture.

Penny looked then looked back up at Leonard, "That was in Star Trek? Wow, when?"

Leonard smiled again, "The original series, I'll go as Kirk and you can go as Droxine from Stratos."

Penny seemed more excited now, "You got a deal. By the way why didn't you hook the air conditioner up at your place?"

Leonard smirked at her, "Sheldon has been controlling the thermostat for 5 years and a little out of control does him good. Besides I got to stay over here all week. It does have its benefits."

Penny pulled him to her, "Sometimes you really are an evil genius Leonard"

For those of you who don't know who Droxine was from the original series there is a picture on the blog.

Ellipticalthreads dot com, Check the chapter 7 post.

Enjoy

SOK