Chapter Seven:
Penny was sitting at the bar, waiting for Lee to come back from his adoring public. Men kept grabbing him to talk to him, take pictures, and even proposition him. Numbers were being shoved into all of his pockets, normally followed by a firm squeeze. She giggled at the Lee's attempts to be polite but still get away. He finally made his way to Penny and leaned against the bar. This brought back the thoughts of him leaning against the pole on the stage. Half naked and glistening. Before she could go down that train of thought, Lee interrupted her.
"Man! Those guys are all fingers. I think my poor butt is abused!" looking at Penny, he smirked. "Would you kiss it better?"
Penny's drink spewed across the bar, to Lee's amusement and the men around her disgust. Glaring, she wiped her mouth before turning to Lee fully. He was smiling at her and made her want to push back a little.
"Well Sugar, it's not my cup of tea but I'm sure I could find someone who'd like to do something with your butt" she made to turn but Lee pulled her back. Directly into his arms. She fell flush against him, feeling just how warm he was and how solid his body was. She couldn't stop thinking about how much she liked him. He wasn't like her choice in men. Normally she was attracted to men that were bulky and had bulging muscles. Lee, or Sheldon rather, was lean with tight muscles. More a gymnast then a football player. She glanced up and noticed how close his face was to her. She licked her lips at the sight of his lips. Just a few more inches and she could just…
"Did you know Sheldon's favorite color is red?" Lee said charmingly.
"What?" Of all the things that he could say at that moment he said that. Penny pulled back and reminded herself that this was Sheldon. Lee was just a small facet of him and would go away. Blinking, maybe that's why he said it.
"So, 2351"
"What?" He was jumping everywhere.
"2351 is how much I made from winning. 2000 from winning the contest and 351 from people shoving bills in my pants. So 1175.50 goes to you."
"What! No Lee! You won that and it was you up there shaking what your mama gave you"
"Actually what she gave Sheldon but that is beyond the point. I wouldn't have done it without you dragging me here, after saving me from going to jail. It is only fair that I give you half. That and you could use the money to fix your check engine light. Sheldon would be helped and thus helping me. It all works out"
"That was…a rather Sheldonesque answer. It's surprising got think that he is still in there" Lee looked a little put off by that statement. Penny remembered that they were only here because Sheldon was having a mental breakdown. Lee was only here because Sheldon was in such distress that he couldn't cope.
"Lee, I'm sorry. I didn't think"
"You didn't but that's ok. Sheldon will be alright and be back eventually." Turning towards the door, he turned back to Penny. "We better go find the guys and see what they got up to" He walked out the door while pulling out his cell phone.
Penny followed him out while thinking about Sheldon v. Lee. She didn't get very far into the train of thought due to Lee finding the guys. They were wasted and missing a few articles of clothing. They had been looking for them and went into most of the bars on the street. Problem was they were coerced into taking shots in each one. Penny giggled at this notion. There were twenty something bars on this street.
Lee herded them into the truck and headed back to the apartment. Howard and Raj were dropped off along the way at Raj's apartment. Lee made sure they got in the apartment safe and left Penny with Leonard in the truck.
Penny leaned back thinking about all that he transpired. She learned that Sheldon had DID. That Lee was one sexy beast and she was interested in him. That he didn't want her to be interested in him. He continued to remind her that Sheldon was coming back. She thought about why that was. Was he trying to tell her something about Sheldon? She dozed on this thought that she didn't realize Lee had come back. Or that they had made it back to the apartment. Someone shaking her shoulder woke her up.
"Penny. We're here" Lee helped Leonard up the stairs while Penny trailed after them. He put Leonard to bed before turning back to Penny. He walked her to her apartment door and leaned against it. She looked up at him waiting for him to say something.
"I like you Penny. Truly I do. When I am not 'out', I try to keep up with you through Sheldon" Penny smiled at his admission. She opened her mouth to reply. To tell him that she liked him too but then he pressed a finger to her lips.
"It would never work Penny. At all. You need to remember that I am not here forever. I wish I didn't even exist but I do. I am what most would call a necessary evil. "He smile self-depreciatingly. "You should try for a guy that is an actually option for the long run. I am short term at best. Just think about it." Lee kissed her cheek before heading back to his apartment. Before he walked in he called back "Sheldon will be in this body next time you see it. Act accordingly. Good night Penny."
Penny felt the tears sting her eyes before she thought to go into her apartment. 'Figures. Perfect guy rolls in and he is the most unavailable' she groused as she got ready for bed. Lying down, she reflected about why she liked Lee. She started alphabetically but only got to 'Abs' before she fell asleep.
Coffee was her main objective in the morning. She ran out again cause she forgot to buy some. Her reasoning being that the guys always had coffee (or at least Leonard does) and she could just sweet talk her way into him giving her some.
Preparing for Sheldon's 'Milk Thief' rant, she walked in with her key to Leonard trying to open some Advil. A better word would be failing. He looked too hung-over to comprehend the tiny instructions on the top of the cap. Penny walked over and opened it for him. Rather than letting him spill the bottle, she handed him a few to take. He smiled weakly at her before taking them dry. He proceeded to chug down some Gatorade.
Penny set up to start some coffee before the sound of footsteps made her turn. She saw Sheldon walk in the room, looking oddly out of sorts.
"Morning Sheldon" Penny said while Leonard merely grunted. Sheldon looked up disbelieving into her eyes. Worried, Penny lifted her hand to his forehead. "You feelin all right sweetie?"
Lightly pushing her hand down, Sheldon looked at her a bit more anxiously.
"I'm not Sheldon. We have a problem"
