Chapter 10

Hate me. The car chase story is a flash back later on down the road. We fast forward a few days; to Saturday Night.

"So Penny, what are you doing tonight?" Leonard asked giving her his best puppy dog eyes. The mess in the lab had been cleaned up. Leslie was once again the queen bitch to him, so he didn't have anything or anybody to do.

Leonard never questioned Penny's bandaged arm; just laughing it off as her being clumsy. It had been almost three days and she felt fine. "I'm going with Sheldon and James to watch the college's ROTC drill team. Then we're going to watch Kelly's Heroes on the big screen at the Bijou. Sheldon convinced them it would be a good promotion for a military appreciation weekend."

Leonard frowned, "But Penny," he started to whine, "I thought we could go out and give Sheldon and James time to work on the wedding. You have been putting in long hours and I hardly get a chance to see you!" Leonard didn't know that Penny had given notice and would soon be quitting the Cheesecake Factory. Helen had hired her as the assistant store manager for The Station BBQ. While she may put in the same amount of hours, she would be making twice what she had been getting.

"Leonard, I have told you; I like you, but we have tried this a few times. It's just not in the stars. Besides I like hanging out with them. When James is around I don't always have to ride herd over Sheldon."

Sheldon popped his head up from a comic he had been reading, "Hey now…"

"Sorry sweetie, it's the truth. And I am getting a load of information about you."

"Why would you want to know more about Sheldon? We all know his weird quirks, his schedules, his…"

"Leonard, Leonard, Leonard, but now I see where they come from. Sheldon is my best friend. James is his family, so I'm getting to know both of them." Penny was starting to get riled up by what Leonard was saying.

"But Penny, I…"

"That's just it Leonard, YOU. YOU! It's always about just you. I don't have the energy anymore to inflate your ego bubble."

"Come on! What about Mr. 'I'm-the-smartest-man-on-the-planet' Cooper? Let's go out. We can try again. A Gamma test!"

Sheldon was going to speak up but he caught sight of Penny's eyes. Even from this distance, they were starting to cloud over and she was hunching her eye-brows together. He knew that sign. He smiled slightly; this was going to be good.

Hands on her hips, Penny looked at Leonard. Really looked at him and thought back to all the times they were together. When she was around Sheldon she felt her pulse quicken. Either from getting ready to gear up for an argument or for fun. With him she didn't need to be anyone but herself. With Leonard she had to be the party girl and that usually involved alcohol. And then when they had broken up, there was the crying. Usually Leonard's.

That was another thing that was bothering her. She had spent more time upset in that relationship than she did smiling. She couldn't remember the last time he'd made her laugh. He was too ashamed of her to tell his mother about her. He ridiculed her for never finishing community college. He was constantly "superior" to her. He didn't see Penny. He saw a beautiful blonde. He was jealous to the point of idiocy.

"Go out with you? I can't believe that at some point in our past relationships, I started putting up with your petty jealousy. That I'd listen to your whiny crap; that I would give in to your wishes just to make sure we didn't have a fight. That I'd take all of that negative crap you keep throwing at me."

"Oh very good Penny," Sheldon whispered.

"That you keep shoving shit down my throat about my job, about my acting, about my beliefs, about who I am. Honestly, if you have such a problem with me, why did you date me in the first place? You know what; don't try answering that, because I'm smart enough to tell you the answer. You date me because I'm blonde, I'm beautiful, and I'm good in bed. That's it. Because you'll never get an arm trophy as good as me, and you'll deal with everything else, just to keep that. Well let me tell you something, mister, I don't need you. I can support myself. I'd rather date a dozen Kurts than one Leonard Hofstadter. I'm tired of dealing with you and your crap. I will not be with a man I do not love—that's right Leonard. I don't love you, not any more. I will not spend my life miserable. I made a promise, and I intend to keep it."

"So you'd prefer Sheldon's company to mine? Why? Cause he has a friend that is more like you? So you two can baby-sit him together?"

She had whirled for the door but then turned on Leonard with her finger inches away from his nose, "You listen to me Hofstadter; I know Sheldon can be a handful but he can take care of himself and he looks out for those he cares about. And I am very lucky that he cares about me. Over these last few days I have come to realize something that was staring me in the face; I care for him in ways that I could never, ever care for you." She smiled over at Sheldon who sat stunned in his spot.

Penny cares for me? Penny cares for me! Sheldon blinked as he quickly added that data to everything else. In less than 3 blinks, he realized he cared for Penny more than just a friend. When he met her eyes she smiled seeing the realization dawn in his. Then Sheldon turned to look at Leonard. Now it was Penny's turn to blink as she saw that Evil Genius look; and she had a good idea what he could do to Leonard if given half a chance. She quickly shook her head as if to say 'I got this.'

Sheldon saw her head shake and settled back in his spot, not even realizing he had leaned forward about to launch himself. He knew Penny could take care of herself. And if not; well he started to count the ways on how he could hide Leonard's body.

Leonard was still concentrating on Penny and missed the exchange between her and Sheldon. He still operated under the delusion that he was the nice, right guy for her. In his mind, he deserved her. She was his.

Penny took a breath and centered herself for what was to come next. She reached out and slapped Leonard hard across the face with her good arm as the door opened to reveal Howard, Raj & James.

It was a tie who was more shocked; Leonard or Sheldon.

"I hope that was a wakeup call Leonard. I do not now, nor will I ever want anything to do with you. For that matter, I don't even want to be your friend. You put on a good front; like this nice guy. You're not. I mean, how many men go to their ex-girlfriend and ask if it was ok to cheat on their current girlfriend with another woman?"

She turned to Raj, "That was your sister he was asking to cheat on."

Leonard rubbed his face where Penny had slapped him. He still had that puppy dog look, but slowly his feature screwed up into a cold rage, "If I hadn't invited you over do you think he would have? You wouldn't have met any of us or been treated better. Do you think those lame brains you bring to bed can see that?" He took a step forward, "I don't know what I was thinking, yeah you're hot and great in bed, but you have no education. Now down stairs you have a lot…"

He never got to finish that as an arm had wrapped around his neck and it was constricting his ability to talk.

"Do you know it takes only 15 PSI to snap your neck? Or I could just apply pressure and make you pass out or continue and just strangle you." The voice was soft and without any emotion, almost whispering in his ear.

Leonard looked at Penny. In her eyes he saw that dead look of pity he had always hated. He saw her look past him and her eyes suddenly became alive. She shook her head, "No Sheldon, let him go. We're better than that."

The pressure gone, Leonard took a deep breath, "At least I know you two weren't sleeping to…woof!"

Leonard fell to his knees after Penny did a hard kick to his groin. All the guys winced as they heard her connect.

"That will be the last time I ever touch any part of you. I hope you enjoyed it. Now stay away from me."

Leonard tried to stagger up and looked at Raj & Howard, "Can I crash with one of you tonight?"

Howard and Raj looked at each other. Then Raj spoke, "Sorry Leonard. I've been doing some thinking and over this last week I have come to realize that I have done things that I don't like because I have listened to you. My Karma is in need of some serious overhaul and I'd rather be around people who I enjoy spending time with. When I am with you, all you want to do is get drunk and try to score with women. I don't know what happened to you, but you have turned mean. And it all seems to be directed at Sheldon. You knew what kind of person he was and yet you went with him… we all did, to the Arctic."

"I'm sorry Sheldon. I hope you can forgive me." Then turning and squatting to get eye-to-eye to Leonard, "And I don't like how you have treated Penny. Those two reasons are enough to sever whatever friendship we had. Don't bother contacting me."

"Howard?" Leonard said, slowly regaining his feet.

Howard didn't blink as he looked Leonard up and down and then went into the kitchen and whispered into Raj's ear.

Raj smiled, "Howard said, 'What he said' meaning me. Also, that there was no vacancy as Casa del Howard."

Howard whispered something else and Raj's face took on a hard look, "He also said that if you come near Bernadette, you'll be sorry. With extreme prejudice."

Leonard's color was back in his face and his breathing was normal. He looked at his former friends and then turned his attention to James. "You! This is all your doing. You turned them all against me!"

James folded his arms, "I doubt that. From everything I have heard and seen you did all by yourself."

Before Leonard could mount any more retorts, Sheldon said, "Leonard, I am here-by letting you know that you are no longer welcome in this apartment. Therefore you have 2 weeks to find another place or your possessions will be placed on the curb."

All faces turned to look at Sheldon. He was standing behind Leonard, a look of stern disapproval on his face.

Leonard let out a half laugh, "That's bullshit Sheldon. I pay half the rent. I have a lease! You can't do that. Only the manager could, if he had provocation."

Raising an eyebrow is a very Spock-like manner, Sheldon clasped his hands behind his back, "Like knowing the real reason the elevator doesn't work? Or a multitude of other violations you have been guilty of? For that matter, you can be kicked out without anything more than notice by the owner."

"What are you talking about?"

Sheldon's 'evil-villain' grin was back, "Leonard, you never do read any of the fine print on contracts you sign, do you? The owner has the ability to terminate any lease, giving the leasee two weeks' notice."

"So what if I didn't Sheldon? Do you think the manager or the owner is seriously going to kick me out? After all the letters you have written to them over the years? What about all the complaints you have filed?"

James had started drinking a Diet Coke, and nearly choked. Looking at Sheldon, "They don't know?"

Sheldon shook his head at James's question before replying, "I own the building."

A stunned silence hung over the apartment. Even Penny was silent for a moment until she found her voice, "What do you mean you own the building?"

The evil grin disappeared as Sheldon explained, "When I first moved out here I just wanted a place. There was an empty apartment here. It was nice enough, central to everything I wanted so I made an offer and the previous owners accepted."

"But where did you come up with the money?" Howard asked.

James spoke up again, "His family's really rich."

Like a tennis match all heads now swiveled to look at Sheldon. Clearing his throat he picked up where James had left off, "Um yes. The farm is on approximately 8,000 acres. We run cattle and have a few small oil wells. We also have some business property in downtown Dallas. Over the years I have been able to take the profits and make sizeable increases through investments. With some of those profits I purchased this building. Normally I like to try and keep my business confined to Texas. But real estate has always been…"

Penny held up her hand and walked over to him, "So you're telling me you own the building and my rent goes to you?"

"Yes."

"Then why haven't you fixed the elevator?"

Sheldon's face broke into the smile he reserved for her, "Penny, Penny, Penny. Walking up and down the stairs is a proven method of losing weight, stress reduction...its great exercise. Think of all the money you have saved on not going to a gym."

"Shel-don!" She growled.

"Ok, ok, I'll get the elevator fixed." Then his smile dropped off and he fixed Leonard with his stare, "But Leonard; you are still moving. That is not negotiable. With this new paragon shift..."

"You mean between us." Leonard spat out.

Sheldon blinked twice, "Actually I was referring to Penny's and mine." He looked at her, "Unless I heard wrong?"

For only a moment Penny didn't move. Then she reached over and slipped her hand into Sheldon's, "You didn't."

Nodding, "As I was saying Leonard; you have two weeks to vacate the premises. And since it looks like no one here is anxious to have you as a roommate, why don't you go and sleep in your office tonight?"

"It's always been luck with you hasn't it Sheldon? From not being in your room in K barracks to winning the Stephenson to getting Penny." Leonard spat out the words like they were poison.

Sheldon blinked and looked at Leonard like he was just seeing him for the first time. "I never mentioned what barracks I lived in. How did you know?"

Leonard had been panting hard from the adrenaline and realized he might have said too much. Before he could think of a good answer, Sheldon cocked his head and squinted at Leonard.

"You were there." Sheldon said quietly. Confusion. Disbelief.

"Yes Sheldon, I was there. My last name at the time was Terrell, after my mother got divorced the second time. I was only a new boy, but after 8 weeks I was so sick and tired of hearing how I needed to be more like you. GOD how I came to hate your name! If you had been there longer you were sure to get Corp Commander; the youngest in the school's history. So that night I snuck down to your floor. I saw someone head for the latrines so I picked that door and yours and dosed them and the hallway. I figure they would try and find a connection between the both of you as to who did it. But only you would be dead. I didn't know you had guard duty."

"The posted sergeant-of-the guard got sick. Had I not volunteered, you might very well have gotten your wish."

Hate radiated off Leonard in waves as the drama that had started all those years ago was coming to a head.

"After the fire, I pleaded with my mother; told her I was having nightmares and wasn't feeling safe. I had to get out of there. Mom, being the know-it-all she thinks she is, concluded that I was suffering from shock and decided to enroll me in a public school near home. That way she could keep an eye on me. I flourished there. No more military school. No more YOU!"

"Then why did you agree to be my roommate if you hate me so?" Something was enveloping Sheldon. While some might have thought the knowledge of the past would have crippled him, Sheldon instead felt like ice water melting off an icicle. It was actually thawing something that had been frozen in him for years.

Running a hand through his hair to wipe off some sweat Leonard explained, "God Sheldon, you are dense. I wanted to bide my time and find just the right moment to get back at you. I wanted to make sure you were always at the bottom, like the way you made me felt. The way you make feel."

Sheldon stood a little straighter as he clearly spoke, "But your lifelong obsession with me didn't quite work out the way you thought. You knew what I liked; or thought you did. Those hobbies became yours. You thought by making sure that I only had a few friends… a few friends that you could control, you could destroy me." Shaking his head he continued, "But you weren't at Kemper long enough. Those of us there became family. Had you stayed you would have been a part of that. But you were so blinded. So…broken…. I don't know if we could have helped you. I wish I knew what happened in your life that made you who you are today Leonard."

"I AM NOT BROKEN!" Leonard screamed at the top of his lungs as spittle flew from his mouth. "It's you. It's always been you. You have blocked everything I ever wanted or tried to do. You!"

If anyone thought that Sheldon was only one lab accident away from a super-villain, should have witnessed this. Leonard had lost it. It was he who had done everything in his power to hurt Sheldon. It was Leonard, with his facade of a 'nice-guy'.

"You had better go now Leonard, because if Sheldon doesn't do something to you I think I will." Penny said. Leonard looked at Howard and Raj and both of them held looks of disgust on their face that it actually broke through the hate in Leonard's mind. He moved quickly to his room, slamming the door behind him.

Like air escaping, the room felt like an empty balloon. But that feeling only lasted long enough as Leonard reappeared and stormed for the front door, also slamming it.

Not realizing she had held her breath, Penny exhaled and released her grip on Sheldon's hand but slipped both arms around his neck, "Does this mean I still have to pay rent?"

Sheldon smiled his smile at her, "I can think of a way you don't have to pay rent; move in here."

Surprise on her face, "Feeling kinda sure of yourself mister?"

The old Sheldon look of surprise appeared, "No, you misunderstand. With Leonard leaving, I'd have an extra room. This way you can save your money for other things; like shoes."

Penny pouted at that, "But I thought we…"

Sheldon cut her off with a soft kiss before saying, "Penny, I have been and always will be a gentleman. I am not going to assume anything. Yes, I want a relationship with you. But I value you so much more than just a pretty face. I value you as my friend, the person who would back me up. The one who calls me on my idiosyncrasies. Who understands me. Who…I care for." Penny grinned at that and reached up and kissed him.

"Will you look at that?" Raj said. "Sheldon so does have a deal."

Howard leaned over to James, "So how rich are we talking?"