Chapter 7
Leonard was walking back towards the woman's fitting rooms from the front registers, holding a small bag with something he bought and didn't want Penny to know about yet. He had figured with her in the changing rooms he could sneak off and purchase the item, hide it in his pocket, and then get back before she came out, just like nothing happened. However, as he stuffed his purchase in his jacket pocket, while walking up the main aisle of the store back to the changing rooms, that plan fell apart when he saw Penny walking towards him with a store employee.
Something was definitely wrong, Penny was walking with her head held down looking towards the floor and the employee seemed to be escorting her as she walked. Leonard first thoughts were of the worst, that Penny had somehow done something wrong, and that maybe Sheldon was right, she had caused trouble, it made him hesitate for a moment. But those thoughts lasted in his mind for only a second, being immediately replaced by concern for her, as he told himself she was his responsibility so if she was in trouble he needed to try and help to get her out of it.
Leonard walked straight up to the employee and Penny, almost blocking their way, "Penny?" he first said to her, then he looked at the employee, "Is there something wrong?"
Penny's eyes shot up to him, catching his attention as he turned to look back at her, her eyes expressing a wild scared pleading look in them, it actually hurt Leonard to see her in such a way, it also angered him, making him then turn again towards the employee to address her, "Is there something wrong? Why and where are you taking Penny?"
The employee, who knew exactly what she was doing a minute ago, now was confused, the young man did not look homeless and he seemed to know the young woman. Suddenly the saleswoman was not so sure of herself and what was happening, her thoughts now becoming that she just wanted to be gone, "Um…do you know this girl."
"Yes she is with me shopping." Leonard told the woman with a edge in his voice.
"She told me she has no money and was not shopping." the saleswoman said, trying to now to defend her actions and as sort of a challenge to the man.
"That is because I have the money and she is shopping with me. I am Dr Leonard Hofstadter from Cal Tech University and again I'm asking if there is some problem." Leonard was actually talking down to the saleswoman, something he never would do normally, but Penny was obviously scared, which in-turn angered him and he blamed this woman for it. Leonard pulled out his University faculty ID and put it in front of the woman's face, another thing he never had done before that moment.
The saleswoman now was the one scared, people were starting to stop and watch the confrontation that was happening between her and this college 'professor' and she knew if he complained she could loose her job. "I'm so sorry, this was just a misunderstanding, I'm really sorry." the saleswoman now blurted out.
Leonard took Penny's arm and pulled her to him, she didn't resist at all, being next to him and protected by him was exactly where she wanted to be at the moment. But with Penny now with him Leonard got the feeling the crisis was over and so he softened his tone with the saleswoman, he really did not like having to bully a person, it was completely opposite to the person he was inside, "I can understand that there was a misunderstanding, so if you don't mind we will just continue shopping."
The saleswoman nodded and smiled, "Yes please continue shopping and if there is anything I can do to make your shopping experience any better please let me know. Thank you." the woman then turned on her heals and disappeared down a clothing aisle.
Leonard would have chuckled if the whole situation hadn't been so serious, he knew there was no way he was going to find that saleswoman again, she just disappeared, but he didn't even smile as he looked at Penny who was just watching him. He really didn't know what to say to her, he now felt terribly guilty that he had left her in the first place, so he just said, "I'm sorry." but it must have been enough because the scared look in her eyes softened and she nodded.
They returned to the apartment about 2 in the afternoon after that crazy morning of shopping at Target on Christmas Eve. After their little incident Penny stayed glued to Leonard the whole rest of the time, making it almost impossible to get her to try on some more pants, her now being scared that she would loose him again and she would have no place to go. It took Leonard talking to her for a few minutes and promising not to move off the chair outside the fitting room, until she came out again, for her to finally try pants on again, but even then she came out to show him each article. Even Leonard knew it wasn't for his approval but to check every few minutes that he had kept his promise and to make sure he was still there.
Leonard also took her to lunch, before they returned back to the apartment, picking a buffet place to allow her to eat all she wanted. That too being a little awkward since she would only leave the table to get food when he did, so he made several trips, eating probably more than he should, to make sure she got all she wanted. So now it was actually a relief to be back to the apartment for both of them, Leonard noticing her relax a little after he closed the door behind them. Her immediately sitting on the couch after they got settled, and as he watched, slowly getting more comfortable each minute she was there.
After all the activity and stress Penny went through, she was tired, also her belly was full and now she just wanted to lay around, so she got comfortable on the couch. Leonard sat in his chair and went through his bags, emptying them all on the coffee table before he went over to make tea for both of them. So no sooner then he left for the kitchen, Penny did the same thing, emptying her bags on the couch, to inventory all she now had. The first thing she pulled out was the underwear, over a weeks worth of panties and bras, all of them very durable and functional, but most of all new and clean. Then there were the tops, again over a weeks worth and several pairs of pants to go with them. Finally there was nice new sneakers, a nice pair of comfortable walking shoes, a set of woman's sweats, pajamas, robe, slippers, undershirts, a new hoodie and a warm coat. The coat would normally be too warm for California, but after loosing Leonard at the store that day and her fear of being put outside again, Penny never wanted face that cold again without a coat, and it was on sale, plus cheap, so she bought it. Leonard said nothing when she picked it up and didn't even try to stop her, also saying nothing when she put it on after they got outside the store. But that was still not all, even with all those items, she also had some smaller items, toiletries and socks, so she had everything she now needed, and a wheeled duffle bag to put it all in. Just seeing it all in front of her made her feel even more human again, all the clothes simple and functional, none of them expensive, but she appreciated them all like they were designer names.
Penny looked around the apartment, becoming more relaxed as she was slowly becoming more comfortable there, and began to wonder if the tall man, Sheldon, would be back anytime soon, no one told her where he was going or when he was coming back. She just wanted to stay there for a while, if Leonard let her, until at least the cold was over, and the tall man worried her, he could always throw her out when he was there, so she couldn't help being nervous when she wondered when he would return.
Leonard noticed her looking around and quickly figured out why, as he saw the nervous look in her eyes return as she looked towards the hallway. "I should have told you before, Sheldon's leaving from the airport today was because he was going home for the holidays." Leonard then looked at the clock. "He is halfway to Texas already."
Penny's eyes jumped to his, "He went to Texas?" Leonard nodded and smiled, "How…is he going to be gone long?"
Leonard softly chuckled, "He comes back the day after New Years. He didn't go home last year, so his mother made him promise to come this year. But Sheldon doesn't like Christmas or the holidays, so he waits till the last moment to leave, and comes back on the first flight after New Years." Leonard swore he saw her physically relax, as she nodded to him.
Leonard now brought the tea over, the warmth of the brew made Penny feel warm inside and she welcomed it. The past two weeks on the street had seemed to drive the cold deep into her bones, making every trip outside, like today, feel even colder while out there. But this warm apartment, the warm drinks, warm showers and warm bed had helped her slowly push out the cold and make her feel better, along with the feeling security that kept growing in her around the man who was helping her.
The minutes passed quietly while they drank their tea, again the quiet time seemed comfortable, even relaxing after the day they had. Leonard finished his drink first, then looked at the items he bought and proceeded to sort through them like Penny did with hers previously. What Leonard was going through was something else they bought, while they were out buying her clothes, the Christmas decorations were on sale since this was the last day before Christmas, so Leonard bought a little tree kit, with lights and ornaments to set up in the apartment. Leonard started to now take that purchase out of the boxes it came in and as he worked at it, slowly Penny who first just watched, began to help him. They both spent the rest of the afternoon setting it up in the corner of the apartment, both standing and staring at it when it was done, it made feel like a real Christmas now.
The apartment now decorated with a small tree for Christmas only begged more Christmas activities, so it was very early evening that found Penny and Leonard back on the couch again, watching a Christmas movie while they had some lactose free hot chocolate. Penny lounging to one side now, having changed into her new pair of sweats she bought that day, the couch throw blanket over her while she leaned on a couple pillows, warm, secure and comfortable. Leonard sitting on the other side, again putting space between them, laying against pillows himself as he watched the TV. They hadn't talked that much and right now it was very quiet except for the TV but it was again a comfortable silence which made Penny relax even more.
It was almost two hours later, when Leonard gently shook her from her sleep, it seemed every time she got warm and comfortable she fell asleep anymore. "Hey, are you hungry?"
Penny looked up at him, not even realizing she had a little smile on her face, "Yes."
"I was thinking of getting some Chinese food, they usually stay open on Christmas and Christmas Eve. Do you like Chinese food?" Leonard asked her, also giving her a little smile in return.
"I love sweet and sour chicken…and some of that rice would be nice again." she felt starved again.
"Okay, I going out to get it. Will you be okay here alone?" He smiled as she nodded to him. She wasn't scared about being in the apartment alone, it was weird but it felt like her home now and she hoped she would be staying there for a little while. Also, she sort of knew in her heart he would come back, ever since what happened in Target, but why she knew that was still a mystery to her.
Penny curled back onto the couch, closing her eyes, then hearing the door close and lock as Leonard went to get their food. It felt so good to have a place to stay, especially now, and she involuntarily trembled as she thought about if Leonard didn't stop to help her, she would be out in the cold now, if she had even survived the night before. She had forgotten how amazing it felt to be clean, secure with a roof over her head and comfortable, even after only two weeks on the streets. She knew she didn't want to go back to the streets and she told herself she couldn't go back, those being the last thoughts before she dozed off again.
Later they ate and continued to watch Christmas movies, until about 11 that night, Penny now getting tired again, Leonard noticing her yawning and her eyes closing. "Hey, sleepy head, want to call it a night." he kidded her.
Penny opened her eyes, "I'm sorry."
Leonard chuckled, "You're doing it again."
"Oh" Penny said as she realized what he meant. "I'm sorry."
Leonard just chuckled, "Okay. You can go to bed, if you are tired, you don't have to stay up and keep me company."
Penny looked at the hall then at him, "I don't want to take your bed again."
"It's okay, I'm going to stay up and do a little work, then when I am done, I'll sleep." He smiled at her, "It is really better for me." Leonard still saw the indecision in her eyes, "Really, go to bed, I prefer to sleep here."
Penny just nodded, going to the bathroom to use the new toiletries Leonard bought for her, finally going to his room to get her new pajamas and robe, before she took another of those warm comforting showers in their bathroom. It warmed her and made her even more sleepy, so once showered and dried, with her new pajamas on, she crawled under the covers, cocooning herself in the blankets on Leonard's bed, and quickly fell asleep.
