A/N Sorry for the lateness. This chapter is unbetaed, so I apologize for the possible grammar errors. Remember, I'm not an English speaker
I noticed that some of my favorite fics have disappeared and I read in the LJ Shenny Community that there is an asshole harassing the authors. I guess it's the same person I was talking about in my former A/N. I thought it was silly and funny… I was wrong. IDK, I'm argentinian and here don't exist these ship wars. So I don't get it, is this normal? I visited the main TBBT forum the other day for first time and… wow. For a show that prides itself on having millions of fans it's curious that there are only 4 or 5 persons controlling the site. They seem to be the hooligans of the show, willing to intimidate anyone who posts something contrary to what they think. And there's this guy saying that we are too delusional and deserve to be mocked and that he won't stop to get us out of internet. Wow, that's a little fascist. It's obvious it's the same person. Who knows how far he can go.
So I want to express my solidarity with all the authors whom have been harassed. Stop this crazy! It's just a damn TV show people!
Disclaimer: I don't own this show.
Chapter 7:
Sheldon knocking on your door and offering you to consider one of his 'agreements', it's the dream of every girl, for sure. (Sarcasm). Here's how the morning had begun to Penny: Sheldon came to her apartment with a folder fattened by a quite abundant pile of leaves (as if it could be otherwise) and entitled simply as 'Proposed agreement'. "Here, read it carefully and think it deeply. You have until 8PM to let me know your decision ", it was all he said and left before she could finish yawning her greets of 'Good morning'. Short, fast, and ambiguous. That itself was really new to him, or probably it was just that he had exhausted all his wordiness on to the writing. Oh, God forbid it.
Penny's mind swirled around all possible speculations: A moving? Leonard had spent enough nights in a row outside their apartment so Sheldon could apply the cancellation clause that bound both in their agreement. In that case, Penny would be the most logical choice to become his new roommate. After all, they hung out together, they dined together, they practically lived in coexistence. Only bedtime separated them. In her favor, it'd clearly alleviate the finances by passing to split the payment of the rent. On the other hand, well… it was Sheldon. She could have had many opportunities to find a roommate before, but she liked living alone, it gave her peace. So, was precisely a lunatic who would make change her mind?
Hell yes, it would. No matter what the experts say, with this she had proof that madness is contagious. However, it was likely that she doesn't respect most of what might be included in the agreement.
Another more remote possibility was that Sheldon pretend her to be his new assistant. Alex deserved some credit, she had endured much longer than expected the quirks of his boss. Even being delegated to tasks that they had not to do strictly with her employment. But a sane person has limits, and she escaped happily when she found another good paying job. Penny had a suspicion that Sheldon was just concerned about finding another driver to ride him to work. Anyway, her answer would be a resounding no. There were plenty of reasons for that: If it is difficult to deal with Sheldon about everyday things, those associated with his work would be traumatic. She would have to be his slave and give in to all his demands, and it was clear that giving in wasn't one of her features. In addition, they were spending too much time together. Too much. A bit more and she'd directly be an extension of him, stuck to his ass. But essentially she'd be under a lot of pressure: if any error of hers could delay or prejudice Sheldon's work, to achieve forgiving herself would be even harder than getting forgiveness from him.
A more interesting thought. Could it be that Sheldon wanted to fill the empty space left by Amy and not Alex's? Not that there were many reasons for both of them to bring the possibility. Yes, lately they enjoyed each other's company, outside the usual skirmishes they might have, and Penny had added some physical contact with occasional hugs and kisses on the cheek. But that was all. Either way, who knew with Sheldon? His relationship with Amy hadn't been exactly deeper in any aspect beyond the intellectual one, and yet he called himself her 'boyfriend'. Would she accept an agreement of this type? Surely not, although she wouldn't deny that she would be willing to discuss the idea. Confirmed: she was totally crazy.
All she had to do to know the answer was turning the page. There was no need to ramble like this that only gets her more nervous. Why the suspense? Not that she was watching a show where the host doesn't want to reveal a 'big data' before the commercials or reading a story from a mediocre writer who to keep the reader's interest has no other recourse but to blatantly lengthen the narration in a complete act of childish verbiage. That kind of people who talk a lot without saying anything. And eventually, you discover that the futile attempt to create expectation was not justified and that it was all staged to make a little fun of you.
Finally, she opened the folder and the truth was revealed: Sheldon was proposing an expansion of the business with the Penny Blossoms. Disappointing? No, but strange. In his view, a website would never be enough to turn it into something profitable, but with the aid of a correct funding could be plausible. Of course, either money or logistic, would be managed by him. At first glance, it seemed that the idea was Sheldon as a businessman and Penny as his partner. However, just a little progress in reading was enough to infer that he actually only intended to give her the initial push so then she could took over the business on her own. As if it was just a loan.
Surely, Sheldon would never admit it (sensing that Penny would never accept otherwise) and into his proposal there was a whole section full of 'admonitions' if she failed to comply with certain of her obligations. The fact is that they were all in potential: 'he could disassociate her, he could withdraw her name of the product, he could make her responsible of economic consequences. He could, he could, he could… she knew very well that it's not the way a contract is usually written. Normally, wherever he put a 'could' there is a 'will' instead. Sometimes, Sheldon could underestimate her a lot.
Oh, and that was another thing. In the introduction of the written he had clarified that the wording had been sufficiently dumbed down o that even someone with so little level of attention as she could understand, but if that were not enough, she should consult her doubts. Please, a little more dumbed and she would have the Teletubbies in her home explaining it with placards.
The venture needed a physical place and Sheldon already had a property where they could mount the business. Yes, Sheldon owned a small property. For what reason? Better don't ask. Maybe it was a place to store his collections of all kinds constantly in expansion. Or perhaps it was just a kind of investment. The guy doesn't trust in banks and no super hero has his ass so big to save all Sheldon's money. The important thing was that it was located in a great shopping area and would enjoy of good visibility.
Undeniably, was a good opportunity to Penny, anything that gives her hope to leave the fucking Cheesecake Factory once and for all, it was enough incentive. Nonetheless, she had a lot of hard work to do. Sheldon had diagrammed the adequate initial stock for each product (which now included more refined and expensive materials) as established advertising channels and the point at which the production - if the project was successful- would need more manpower. The issue was that the task required getting in moving immediately, so everything could be ready at the time of the inauguration. The answer would be a definite 'yes'.
TBBT
Minutes before 8PM, Penny came without knocking into the 4A carrying the contract in her hand. Sheldon was sitting on his spot, scribbling on a imaginary blackboard on the air like so many other times. She sat beside him and leaned the folder on the coffee table as he continued his work impassively.
"I read it and thought about it thoroughly. Everything on time." She announced.
"Did you arrive to a decision?"
"Yes, but first I want to talk about a couple of clauses in the agreement." This time he stopped altogether to pay attention to Penny and did a motion indicating her to continue. "Fine. How is it this that when you recover your initial investment, I will pass automatically to become the sole owner?"
"What don't you understand?"
"I understand, it just seems unfair. You are putting a lot of money on this as to not think about having a profit."
"Penny, it's your work. I will not make a profit from someone else's effort on something that is not my job." He said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Actually, Sheldon wasn't too much worried to make up that money; He didn't need it at the moment. It was just that he was aware that she would want at least give back his investment.
"But this is your idea, and obviously you've spent time and effort in it. You should get some credit for it."
"Penny, Penny, Penny. Many of my ideas deserve credit, but I think this is not one of them. This is something that even a mind as defective as Leonard's could diagram if he could stop thinking of having coitus for a few minutes."
Sheldon was wrong; Leonard would do something like this only thinking of having sex. That would be the credit sought. The saddest part was that Penny gave him his 'prize' for much less.
"Alright, I guess." She kept going over some points of the contract. "One last thing: while I accept your suggestion to drive you to work every day ..."
"It's not a suggestion." He interrupted but Penny ignored him and continued.
"... I'll never accept this other clause under any point of view."
"Which do you mean?"
"Once the store is opened ... No way I keep going on Tuesdays to the Cheesecake Factory just to serving your burger!"
"Drat! At least be sure to train well the next waitress. Don't want to find one day someone decided to put tomato in my burger."
"That will never happen. You've been six years asking for the same order, everyone knows and no one could mistake, except PTB."
"Who?"
"Pam 'The Bird-brained'. A moron with a short attention span. Don't worry I won't let her touch your food.
"Alrighty. Are those all your objections?" She nodded, and he went to his desk to print the amendments. Once ready, retired two thin glasses from the cupboard, apparently used only for special occasions, he filled them with Mountain Dew and invited Penny to approach. "Apparently, we have a deal."
"I guess so." They made a toast and Sheldon took a pen for stamping his signature.
"Your turn."
"Where do I have to sign?"
"Above your name and surname, of course." She vaguely stared at the role for a moment.
"Don't you recognize your own identity, Penelope Boldt?"
"Yeah… It's just weird to see my last name... and well written. I mean, it's not that hard but for some reason people tend to write badly. Sometimes I'm Penelope Bold, others Penelope Bolt." She explained before closing with all the formalities.
"Congratulations, partner." Sheldon said, offering his hand politely. Penny looked at the hand with a smirk and instead of accepting it she attacked his body with her arms surrounding him above the shoulders and resting her head on his chest in a warm hug. Sheldon timidly accompanied the movement with a couple of soft pats on her back.
"This is not an appropriate behavior for these circumstances." He point out without making any effort to get rid of her embrace.
"Why are you always so grumpy? Are you angry because I hugged you or because it was just a hug?"
Sheldon took the hint and hid his shame in a refreshing sip of Mountain Dew. "It just baffles me why physical contact seems to be your answer for everything."
"Not for everything. It's just that when you don't find adequate words to express your feelings, you solve it with a hug. Capisce?"
"I suppose. Are you saying that your constant displays of affection are only a product of your lack of vocabulary?" The corner of his mouth quirked up indicated that the intention was just pushing her buttons. He thought he was smart, but that was a game in which Penny was way better. She pouted and shrugged pretending to have been defeated.
"I can think of no words to answer that. So I will hug you again."
TBBT
"What now?" Boy, they're really annoying. A pain in the ass, as Penny would put it." Sheldon growled sulkily when arriving at his office, he found a telegram from the University Committee informing that he must to be presented that morning in the chamber of Professor Siebert. Just when he had diagrammed a hard day of work trying to catch up after spending time thinking about a solution to Penny's financial situation. And all this, likely to receive another unfair scolding.
The scene promised to be worse after seeing that Barry Kripke and Leslie Winkle were in the front door of his destination since apparently, they also had been invited to this kind of gathering. Not that the situation was weird, More than once the university authorities had to interfere in their disputes, but things had been relatively quiet these days.
"Look. It's Dr. Dumbass. Does all this have to do with you, have you raised some of your stupid complaints? Winkle did pick on him.
"No. Although my objections to you, multiply constantly as subatomic particles subject to collision, I guarantee you the last thing I expected this morning was your unwanted company."
"Weally? Whatevew, hawdly this is a good thing if includes you." Kripke chimed.
"Good morning colleagues." Dr. Gablehauser interfered when he made his appearance with Professor Siebert and invited them to enter the office. They both sat down behind the main desk in front of the three seats available for each summoned physicist. Sheldon chided at Leslie when she sat in the chair located towards the left, which he considered was his spot. Quickly they were cut by the severe but still calm tone of their boss asking for order. Consequently, Sheldon sat reluctantly in the middle seat.
"Well, surely you wonder why we have cited you." Dr. Gablehauser started getting the attention of the three. "You see, as you may know, in six months there will be a Congress in Geneva with the participation of the best physicists in the world. There will be discussions and readings to catch up on the most advanced theories and a committee of experts will evaluate which of them might be plausible to be subject to study at CERN. And one of those physicists will be someone representing Caltech." He made a pause and checked his papers parsimoniously enjoying the infrequently opportunity to have their interlocutors quiet and paying attention. "The Committee believes that you the three of you are the greatest physicists of this establishment and that you are on the same level."
Three derisive laughs sounded in unison discrediting the last phrase. Dr. Gablehauser made a noise of disapproval and hastened to continue his speech before the start of the inevitable childish altercation. "That's why the Committee will evaluate the theories that you are currently working in and will decide who is the most pertinent to gain this opportunity. You have three months to submit your thesis. So I hope you take this seriously. This university needs to regain the lost reputation after what happened a few years ago. Do you have a notion of the harm that carries announcing that one of your scientists has proven String Theory without being true? Imagine someone announcing a cure for cancer and then retracting. In this case we should be thankful that physics has not so much media exposition as medicine."
"But that was all the fault of the idiot Sheldon Coopew." Sheldon paled and swallowed the lump in his throat that was nothing more than the words he wanted to say.
"Yeah, after that failure, he has no right to compete for this." Winkle added.
"And you? You only scratches theorems that lead to dead ends like everything in Loops Theory."
"Both awe wight. I am the only one who should be chosen to travel to Geneva."
"You giving a lecture in that ambit? With your pronunciation, it would be an embarrassment for the entire university." Leslie returned to the charge.
"Alright, it's enough!" Professor Siebert disrupted for first time. His countenance usually smiling and pleasant was replaced by one of severity and anger. "You're supposed to be top professionals, not high school students. As the president, I will not tolerate any inappropriate behavior. I don't want any kind of disputes or pranks with helium or a mixture of chemicals or anything of the same nature. If we find out that one of you interfere in other's work, not only will be automatically out of this conference, will seriously jeopardize the future of their career too. Do you understand?"
The three nodded primly. "Very good. You will receive all the formal details in the coming days. That's all, you may leave."
Taking the output through a narrow passage, Sheldon was abruptly shifted to one side by Leslie Winkle. "Move, dumbass."
"Obviously you didn't understand anything of what we were told, you mosquito brain."
" ." Professor Siebert caught his attention from his back, annoyingly holding his shoulder as usual.
"I did nothing."
"It's not about that this time. I want to talk something with you, but this can't leave out of us."
"Is it a secret? I don't think I'm good for that."
"It has to do with what happened on your expedition to the arctic."
Sheldon looked concerned. If something was not wanted, was to speak on the subject, every time someone remembered it, his face became as white as the snow of that damn place. "I don't think I have anything to add. I have explained everything in my recantation note assuming my responsibilities and leaving my destiny available to the Committee."
"What about the responsibilities of your companions?"
"I see no point to the question; all their actions come into my range of competence. Even if they could have had... a slip..." Sheldon struggled to pronounce that euphemism. "I chose my companions and I am responsible. A good captain assumes the errors of his crew."
"Have you ever wondered why we didn't fire you?" He paused and saw Sheldon nodding uncomfortably. Yes, he had thought about it. In fact, the reason he had resigned so quickly was to avoid the impending humiliation. "The matter was discussed at length and even today some people want your head. We were going to fire you until someone confessed." Sheldon's eyes widened at the revelation. Unsuccessfully, he tried to mumble a few words, all he wanted to ask was: 'who?' "Judging by your reaction, I confirm my suspicions that you was aware of nothing, You can be as smart as naive."
"I.. I don't… how is that…" he still tried to articulate.
"We had our doubts that this man was telling the truth and wasn't only protecting you, considering his proximity to you. His appearance also makes it hard to believe that it is capable of such a thing. But the evidence presented was untestable. We didn't fire him because the Committee felt that it wasn't a good move to the reputation and image of Caltech. It's a boring story. Not everything is science here, money and advertising are important too, so we just retained both of your jobs and filed the matter."
"What's the point of telling me this now?" Sheldon turned slowly to recover his composure.
"Because you're my favorite, Dr. Cooper. I think if anyone can bring glory to this university it's you. But you also are very innocent and I wanted to mark it. I mean, nobody else would hire someone who has betrayed you once."
TBBT
"Oh dude, want to remind me what the point of doing this is?" Raj blurted out in frustration while having lunch with Howard in the cafeteria. One of the few times when they could be alone lately.
"I know. Who misses Sheldon?"
"I do!"
"Well, in that case you should wait for the plan to work. It's your fault the delay, this would have been much better if you had given us more information before."
"Oh, what have you been doing?"
"Dealing with Amy!" Howard fought back with a scowl that explained the situation by itself. Well, Bernadette more than me, Amy doesn't cease drooling on her. Trust me, no one but my wife wants to get things back to normal. But this is necessary, how do you think Leonard and Amy would feel if we pretend that nothing happened? They are the underdogs here and Bernadette doesn't want to give up."
"Great. Just what we needed: another stubborn person. This is too childish and it's not going to end well." Raj seemed resigned.
"We already have established the boundaries. They'll surrender before things get ugly. Soon we will see some people on their knees."
"Yes, US! We have no chance against them, we are NOT at their level. If things get badly, they'll massacre us in the same way that when they are a team in Halo." Raj lowered his voice at seeing that almost everyone turned their eyes towards them, as if they were a couple arguing. "I only ask you to do nothing that affects Sheldon's work. He's on a roll and I'm part of it, it's the best project I've been involved. And you should see him; he never treated me as good as the last few days. I feel like a Hindu God."
"You see? The plan is working! He miss us and he's learning to treat us better. You must resist a little more. And stop worrying, we won't interfere with his work."
"We did it once."
The latent memory thrown suddenly made Howard get blanch, he knew they had been wrong, forgiving himself was much more complicated to justify it with others and that's what he did again: "That was different; we were in a very difficult situation. Anyone would understand what we did putting themselves in our place."
"That is the most disturbing. We could openly confess what we did and others wouldn't look it that bad. There is definitely something wrong with this world. But I believe in karma, if not in this life, my punishment will come in the next one. Maybe I'll reborn into a cockroach."
"Our punishment was the three months in the arctic with Sheldon! Don't be so melodramatic, this will end soon. Even more, I'm sure that they won't pass the next phase of our plan. If you're right and we are not at their level, what we need to do is simple: call the backups." Howard concluded triumphantly.
"Oh wonderful. I take it back, you're right. That's not childish at all."
TBBT
Remorse. That strange feeling that rarely took control over Sheldon. He was, as usual, standing in front of a whiteboard full of equations that only a handful of people could understand, appearing to be completely immersed in it. But his mind did not give up its toil to torture him playing over and over into his head the last interaction with Penny. They had had a disagreement, which in certain way was the original purpose of Sheldon. However, it turned out to be one of those experiments that although successful considering his performance, produce contrary effects to those intended.
After receiving the news of Dr. Gablehauser, he resolved that he should concentrate more on his work. This time he couldn't fail, therefore it was necessary to reduce idle activities that stay him away from the goal. If something had made clear on the time with Amy, is that relations were counterproductive to his concentration. It was just ending things with her and instantly see how the ideas sprouting again in his head. No more distractions, even he questioned have spent so much time drawing up the contract with Penny, and though he knew it wasn't fair (she hadn't forced him to do anything), thus he blamed her somehow. He wasn't supposed to alter his priorities by another person. Consequently, he told himself that he would not make the same mistake, only an idiot stumbles twice over the same stone.
So when Penny had entered his apartment looking very jovial, Sheldon exaggerated his indifference to her, bringing out the darker side of roughness that he had developed recently. She seemed not to pay much attention to context and suggested they should go out to celebrate the latest good news. He replied curtly that there was nothing yet to celebrate and he had a lot of work to do. but this doesn't placated her and Penny pressed on the issue, arguing it was 'Anything Can Happen Thursday', saying that work was all they did recently and she was bored.
It was then, after crossing a few more words, when everything unchained. Wanting to finish as fast as possible with the sterile discussion, Sheldon resorted to what he knew was a low blow: suggesting that maybe she was just being prey to her sexual urges, lately neglected, and she should take the night on her own to find a partner with whom to 'have fun'. The impact of his outburst was clearly reflected in Penny's face and he instantly regretted it but he hid his compunction, not daring to leave his look out the whiteboard. He expected her to fight back, that was what she always used to do when he provoke her. Notwithstanding, this time was far from being a game and she just kept quiet from her place on the couch. She finally said: "Okay, that's what I'll do", she got up and walked away, leaving the sound of a slammed door in her way out.
And here he was now, uselessly forcing himself to try to concentrate on his labor. It wasn't the first time he was stuck, but this time it felt different. On previous occasions, yet unsuccessfully he hovered over his work. Now, the only calculations that were made were how inappropriate he had been, how angry Penny was and how much level of sarcasm he perceived in the last statement. What if she told the truth and would find a man? Why does that bother him so much?
At this point, it could be already considered a lost night's work. Worse, it was threatening with have sequels that may affect his REM cycle of sleep. Maybe spending time with Penny didn't affect his concentration. Maybe he came to rushed conclusions, he hadn't done a thorough analysis about it and that had been negligent on his part. Could it be true that you can't always force the emergence of good ideas? Sometimes you make more progress in an hour than in a week. He couldn't work only when he had an 'inspiration moment' though. That's what hippies do. The only truly irrefutable was that in recent weeks his progress had been significant. The reasons of it, he would search them later with a more suitable research, meanwhile there was no reason to change something that works. Yes, if his conscience needed a rational justification for what he was going to do, now he had a good one. It would all be for the sake of his work.
Minutes later, Sheldon was in front her apartment without really having a plan of action. He made his OCD knocking with a duller mood and at the end of it she opened the door. Her expression was a strange mix of anger and sadness waiting for him to speak.
"This.. I'm… I'm done for today. So I accept your proposal". He said through a dismal performance where his twitch was not even the biggest informer of the lie.
"It's too late."
"Oh come on, night is young as they say."
She wasn't for any foolishness now. If Sheldon wanted to reconcile, he'd better explain well. "Is that your best move after being a jerk for no reason? I don't get it, you were extremely sweet the last days Is it that you were just recovering from your breakup with Amy and now you're back to being the same insensible as before?"
"I… that's not… " How to put it into words? He didn't even have an explanation for himself. He had to fix it in another way, so he opened his arms around her and uncomfortably began get closer to melt with her into a hug. "I'm sorry…" He whispered.
The bastard. She shouldn't be so easy to soften; it was not fair that he can be so adorable with so little. She relented and accepted his embrace resting her head on his chest. "Ok, we're good. But next time, let me know if you have a problem, it's not my intention away you from work. I just thought you could use a little distracted."
Neither of them made a move to try to wriggle out of their position, then she sighed and spoke again: "Anyway, you're right about something. it's not healthy to spend all day with the same person. We will end up killing ourselves, we need friends, Sheldon. Don't you miss doing things like discuss comics, or play video games with someone you can win?"
"Maybe." Then he did something unexpected: resting his chin on Penny's scalp. Hard to determine who was more surprised by it. The truth was that no one dared interrupt anything. How many seconds passed, Sheldon and Penny couldn't say. Both with their eyes closed, and their hands over the back of each other, lost track of time and context and were only brought back to reality when they heard the sound of a throat clearing intentionally behind them. Sheldon released his grip and turned to see the familiar but unexpected figure in the hall who watched in amazement with her arms on her hips.
"Mom? What are you doing here?"
Little ramblings:
- This was mostly a filler chapter but it was totally necessary. Anyway, it sucks. I hate it.
- A bad last name is better than none
- Okay, now I know it's a stupidity that Sheldon owns a property since he prefers to carry thousands of dollars in his pocket and his desk. Despite he has been stolen and it was a traumatic experience… Really, writers of TBBT? Really?
- Yeah, I can't stop throwing digs at the writers, and I won't. Actually, I have planned worse things for them…
- Nothing against Alex, but I don't watch the show and I've never seen an episode with her thus I can't portray her. So bye bye Alex…
- I'll try to write faster but I don't promise anything. See you (soon?). Bye!
