(A/N: I know the angst is pretty thick, right now. Sorry. I think RL was seeping into my story. I probably shouldn't write when I'm feeling low, but after going back and re-reading this far, I can't bring myself to lighten it up.)

Penny lost control and poured out her anger, pain and despair to Sheldon after he told her he loved her. She doesn't believe him, and he doesn't know how to fix things between them.

Sheldon sat down on the chair in Stuart's office and pulled out his phone. Bernadette and Missy were upstairs watching The Lake House with Penny, so he had snuck away to call Penny's dad. He hoped Wyatt could help him get some insight into Penny's mind. The phone rang twice before a deep voice spoke.

"Hello?"

Sheldon licked his lips nervously. "Mr. Queen, it's Sheldon Cooper."

"Hello, Sheldon. How's my girl?"

"Sir… I regret to tell you she appears to be in a deep depression. Her physical injuries are mending, but emotionally…"

There was a heavy sigh over the phone. "I was afraid of that. Her mom and I could see it in her for the last year or so. She's always been …difficult to deal with. I'm afraid we messed up when she was a kid."

Sheldon frowned, curiosity building in him. "What do you mean?"

"I'm ashamed of it," Wyatt said softly. "You have to understand, I've always loved my little girl. When she was a kid, I treated her like a boy. Took her hunting, fishing, camping. Signed her up for softball, rodeo, karate, the works. She seemed to enjoy it, I swear, but when she got older, and discovered boys, well, it was hard to let go of all that. It was difficult for me to accept that my little slugger was more interested in school dances than catfish."

Sheldon gripped the phone a bit tighter, hoping that what Penny's dad told him would help him get through to her.

"Joyce, my wife, well, she's had her own demons, you see. She had a rough childhood, and…." Wyatt audibly swallowed. "Joyce is 7 years sober, now. Penny didn't really have a lot of guidance when she was a teen. I didn't know what to do with a teen daughter, and Joyce was sick. Penny told her grandmother once that she felt like she wasn't lovable. I know it's because we didn't show her she was. By the time I realized there was something wrong, Penny was too far separated from us. I've tried to make up for a lot of things, but I know there's nothing I can do to erase those years."

Sheldon closed his eyes and leaned his elbows on Stuart's desk. "She said she hates me," he admitted sadly. "I abandoned her. I thought that she would go on as she always had, being happy and chaotic and basically Penny. I hoped she would miss me a little, but I didn't really think she would."

Sheldon braced his forehead on the palm of his right hand. "I don't think she is suicidal, but I think she cares little what happens to her at this point. I ...I don't know how to make her want to live, sir. I don't know how to help her get well emotionally. I don't even know if I can help her. I've never been very good with emotions, myself."

Penny's dad was quiet for a long moment. "Do you love my little girl?"

"Yes," he said without hesitation.

"Then don't give up. Because, honestly, if anyone has a shot at it, it's you," he said firmly.

"Why me?" asked Sheldon, hoping he knew what Wyatt would say, but needing to hear it aloud.

""Because she loves you." Sheldon could almost hear him shrug over the phone. "I know my girl. If she didn't care about you, your leaving wouldn't have made a difference to her. If she didn't love you, she would have made you leave by now."

"She tried to throw me out," Sheldon admitted. "She has told me repeatedly to go away."

"Did she call the cops? Try to have you arrested?" Wyatt asked calmly.

"No," Sheldon admitted with surprise. If Penny had truly tried to get rid of him, a simple 911 call would have worked.

"Then she doesn't really want you gone. She's just hurt, and she is lashing out," Wyatt said. "Penny is hard headed. You're going to have a hard time changing her mind, son. But don't give up on her. She needs you. And I think you need her, too."

"I do," Sheldon said softly. "I have loved her for three years. Part of me wishes I hadn't left, but I had to. I had to fix me. I had …well, let's just say I was barely functioning before. For all my intelligence, I was barely able to take care of myself. I'm no longer that man-child. I am by no stretch of the imagination perfect, but I will always endeavor to do my utmost for Penny."

"You know, the moment you told Leonard that you were back in her life, and not anyone else's, I knew that Penny was in good hands. I don't want to add to your pressures, son, but I've got a lot of faith in you. If I didn't think you were the best thing for her right now, I would have fought that piece of paper at the hospital."

"Thank you, sir," Sheldon said sincerely. "I promise to do my very best. I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me. I know you're a busy man. Farms don't run themselves."

"Call anytime, Sheldon. I'm always here," Wyatt said sincerely.

They said their goodbyes and Sheldon hung up. He leaned back in Stuart's chair and tried to think of what to do next. He needed to find a way to make Penny trust him first and foremost. Without trust, nothing else mattered.

XXXXX

He waited until they were alone for the night. Penny was on the couch, watching a rerun of M.A.S.H. Once again, he was surprised by her fondness for a show he would never have imagined she would like. When he questioned her, she said she liked Hoolihan, that the nurse reminded her of her grandmother.

He brought tea over to the coffee table and slipped under Penny's legs. She no longer flinched when he did so. He was counting it as a victory, albeit, a small one. He had spent several hours thinking about his new idea. There were two ways he could go about it. He could force her to go along with him. Or he could ask her to. Both carried high risks. Forcing Penny into anything was a dangerous prospect, physically. Also, she may never forgive him. But asking her, well, he risked her saying no, and being forced to abide by that. He took a moment to settle his nerves and turned to the woman he loved more than anything.

"Penny, next week, when the doctor says your infection is gone, and you are cleared medically, I want to take you somewhere."

She looked at him with surprise. "What? Take me where?"

"Finland." He turned slightly to face her fully. "I want to show you where I've lived the last two years. My work, my apartment, everything. Finland is a very beautiful place, full of culture and fascinating places to see. I want you to see them. Will you let me take you there? For just a little while?"

Penny's expression became closed off swiftly. "Lots of wheelchair ramps in Finland, I guess?"

He shoved aside his immediate anger, and quirked an eyebrow at her. "There's only so much bitchiness I am willing to put up with Penny."

She glared at him fiercely. "You could always leave."

Sheldon shook his head calmly. "No, I cannot. I love you too much to leave."

Penny snorted and turned back to the tv. "I'm not going anywhere. Now, I'd like to watch my show while I still can. Friday the cable is getting cut off."

Sheldon rubbed her knees absently. "No it isn't. I paid the bill. All the bills are caught up, including the rent."

Penny gasped and swung her head back toward him. "What?! I didn't ask you to do that!"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "I am staying here, too. I do not intend to go without cable, hot water or lights. Nor do I intend for you to do without. We may not be married yet, but it is still my duty to provide for you."

Penny's hands clenched involuntarily and Whack whimpered under her grip. She immediately released him, making soothing coos to the mutt. She put him down onto the floor and grabbed her right knee. She swung the leg to the floor and grabbed her left. Sheldon clung to it for a second before allowing her to pull it off his lap. Her eyes sparkled, with tears or anger, he wasn't sure since she turned away so quickly. She leaned over her knees, arms wrapped around them tight.

It took him a moment to realize it wasn't anger or tears, but panic setting in. He scooted over immediately and wrapped his long arms around her. Gently he cradled her against him chest and rubbed her back.

"Follow my lead," he said softly. He breathed in deeply and out slowly. It took a couple of tries before she mimicked him, and soon he could feel her relaxing a bit. Okay, so maybe he should have eased into that a little slower.