Penny groaned as she woke up later. Her head pounded and her joints ached. She tried to roll over but hit something warm and solid. She opened her eyes to see a red tee shirt with a lightning bolt on it. She looked upwards and saw Sheldon's sleeping face near hers. She eased back some and frowned. She had dreamed about him. That he had carried her in his arms. That he had sung a song to her, something about purring.
Penny rolled over and tried to sit up. She groaned again and her bedroom door opened up. Raj peeked in and then hurried over. Penny smiled at him gratefully as he helped her stand up. How the hell had she gotten so weak? Damn flu bug. Once she was steady she slowly made her way to the bathroom.
Sheldon watched her through slitted eyes. Once she was inside he stretched and yawned. Raj looked over at him. Sheldon slid from the bed and stretched some more. "She seems better," he said.
Raj nodded. "Yeah, a bit weak, but she's not burning up anymore."
They heard the shower start and the curtain being pulled back. Sheldon turned toward the door. "Will you watch over her while I shower and change?" Raj nodded and moved to sit on the chair in the living room again.
Sheldon walked into his apartment and headed to his room for clean clothes. Leonard was slumped on the arm chair watching Battlestar Galactica, only looking up long enough to glare at Sheldon. He walked to the bathroom, replaying the night in his head. After she went to sleep the final time he had sat down on her bed, his back against the headboard. She had immediately rolled over and laid her head in his lap before slipping deeper into REM sleep. He hadn't been able to resist tangling his fingers in her hair.
Sheldon showered quickly and brushed his teeth. He finished dressing and headed out of the bathroom. Raj and Penny had joined Leonard by then. Sheldon walked to the kitchen and poured some juice for the himself and another for Penny. She smiled vaguely when he handed it to her.
"Thanks for taking care of me," Penny said softly. "I owe you."
Sheldon shook his head gently. "Why didn't you call me when you got sick? You shouldn't have been alone. Your fever was quite severe."
Penny grimaced. "I don't like relying on anyone, Sheldon. Besides, I wasn't expecting it. It hit kind of fast."
"Next time, tell me. It was quite unsettling to find you on the floor." he said sternly.
Penny reached over and patted his knee. "Sorry, BMG. I'll call next time."
Sheldon smiled at her and turned his attention to the TV.
With her busy season over, Sheldon saw more of Penny. They all knew Penny's 11 o'clock rule so they rarely saw her in the mornings. But most evenings she was over. The only nights he didn't see her were Tuesdays and Thursdays. Those nights she was usually at the city college working with the drama department or working for Stuart.
Even so it was a bit of a surprise when Penny burst into the apartment on a Saturday morning before 8am. Sheldon looked up from Dr. Who in surprise as Penny hurried in, phone to her ear and rushed down the hallway. Leonard looked at him from the kitchen and they both walked over to look down the hall.
"Okay, so I'll see you in 5 then. Thanks doll…" Penny paused as she came hurrying back around the corner. She froze at the sight of them and sagged a bit with relief. "I really appreciate this! Love you bunches!"
Penny hung up her phone and ran at Sheldon. "There you are!" She practically leapt into his embrace. "I have a nephew!" she screamed.
Sheldon blushed as she dangled from his neck. He slipped his hands to the back of her thighs to help steady her. After a couple of seconds she slid down and turned to Leonard. "Can you believe it? A nephew! I'm an aunt!"
Leonard smiled widely and moved in close to hug her. "That's wonderful, Penny."
She nodded and turned back to Sheldon. "Sweetie, can you get my mail for me? We're driving out immediately. We'll be gone about a week. Oh, and can you water the plants in the kitchen for me?"
"We?" Leonard asked. Penny looked over at him with confusion. Leonard smiled faintly. "You said 'we'll be gone' so I was wondering who was going with you."
"That would be me," said a voice from the door.
Sheldon glared and instinctively pulled Penny a bit behind him as if protecting her. Wil and Leonard noticed, but Penny's mind was still on her news and Sheldon didn't realize what he had done. Penny grinned widely and moved around Sheldon. Wil picked her up and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Wil hugged her mischievously, eyes glancing slightly at Sheldon.
"Ready to go Penny-Blossom?" Wil kept his voice even, hiding his amusement at Sheldon's obvious dislike.
Penny nodded and hopped out of his arms. "I need to grab my bag and we can go. Be right back!"
As soon as she was gone Wil turned to Sheldon and Leonard. "Well, hello Sheldon. I was just thinking about you."
Sheldon glared. "About how you cheated me? Guilty conscience?"
Wil grinned widely. "No. I was thinking about how you once again are following in my footsteps."
Sheldon frowned. "What do you mean?"
Wil glanced to the door. "First the tournament. You entered because of me, right? You got there second. Now there's Penny. Once again, you come in second."
Sheldon turned a deep red and drew himself up tall. "Penny is my friend. She was my friend before I ever knew you two knew each other." Suddenly Sheldon grinned. "Besides, she calls me her best friend. What does she call you?"
Wil leaned in close. "She calls me lover." He smirked as Leonard and Sheldon both gasped. A moment later Penny skipped back through the door.
"All ready!" she announced. Slowly her grin faded. She looked at the three men closely and released an annoyed puff of air. "Wil, what did you do?"
Will looked at her innocently. "Told the truth."
Penny walked over and laid a hand on Sheldon's arm. He was shaking with rage. "Sheldon? What's wrong?"
"Apologize," he said with barely controlled fury. "Apologize to Penny for what you said."
Penny spun around and glared at Wil. "Oh lord! What did you say?!"
Wil grinned. He told her word for word what had been said. Penny dragged a hand down her face. She turned back to Sheldon. "He wasn't trying to insult me, Sheldon. It's an old Saturday Night Live thing. Will Ferrell and Rachel Dratch play these weird professors who are very vocal about their sex lives. They call each other Loov-ah's. It's always cracked me up and Wil and I used to quote from the sketches all the time."
She turned to Wil and punched his arm. "You be nicer to Sheldon! He's my very best friend in the world and I want you to treat him better!"
Wil pouted, eyes twinkling wickedly. "But I was having fun!"
Penny pushed him to the door. "Take my bag to the car. I'll be right down."
She turned back and hugged Leonard bye and then hugged Sheldon. "Don't be mad at Wil. He's just a jokester. He likes yanking people's chains. But if it makes you feel better, I'll be cruel to him the entire week."
Sheldon looked down at her. "Why is he driving with you, anyway?"
"Wil is going to be godfather. He and Charlie have been friends for years."
Sheldon sighed and gave Penny another hug. "Please drive safe and call to let me know you arrived safe."
Penny nodded and headed out. Sheldon walked over to the window and watched her get into the backseat . He saw a caramel haired woman in front. He sighed softly with relief that it wasn't just the two of them. He would miss her.
