"The Fair Collaboration"

10. The Gym Revision

Walking into McKinley High, it hadn't been clear what Sheldon had put into practice, but eventually they had pieced it together. He had made it so they would walk in as a group, only it felt more like he was in the middle and they blocked all points of access to him. He had gone and created a surround human shield. Once Leonard had pointed it out, there had been a collective groan, after which the circle around Sheldon had dissolved.

"This is ridiculous!" Penny had proclaimed.

"Is it?" Sheldon accused. "You're not the one with the target on your head, Penny."

"Keep this up and she might let him hit you," Howard muttered.

"I heard that," Sheldon turned on him.

"Forget about him," Penny insisted.

"She's right. You have more important things to do," Amy told him. "Just think about the science." She turned a look to Penny, wordless but clearly telling: You keep an eye on him. The blonde rolled her eyes, but she nodded.

"We have to check in with Principal Figgins," Bernadette reminded them.

"I'll wait for you in the gym then," Penny nodded.

"Wait, you have to stay with us," Sheldon interjected.

"I'm not a judge, remember? I won't be far."

At the very least, if there was one thing able to distract Sheldon for some time, it was receiving his judge badge. He had brought along his own clipboard, ready to take notes as he reviewed the various projects presented by the students.

The group had split off into teams of two, Howard and Raj, Amy and Bernadette… and Leonard, Sheldon, and Penny. He needed her close at all times 'just in case.'

"That won't work," Sheldon pointed to one display on his left. The boy standing next to it looked up at him in shock when he heard. "If you didn't know that, then what are you even doing here?" Sheldon shook his head, and the boy sank on the stool he had set next to his table.

"Sheldon…" Leonard frowned.

"What? Do you want me to lie to him?"

"A little less honesty," Penny suggested.

"What would be the point in that?" he still shook his head, but they were looking at him and he sighed. "Fine, I can change approach." He looked around, taking in the next display before looking to the girl in front of it. "You tried," he put on a smile before moving along. "She didn't try at all," he muttered back to Leonard and Penny.

"She can still hear you!" Leonard didn't know where to look. Sheldon was too busy taking notes to listen.

They had carried on with their first quick look around before they started their in depth judging of the presentations. Leonard had begged Sheldon to let him do the talking, even if he knew that wouldn't last very long.

Penny was close to bailing out, though she wanted to stay for Brittany's sake, when Sheldon slid up behind her. "I think I saw him," he whispered, and she jumped.

"Sh… What? Wh…"

"The ice box," he muttered," nodding to one side. Penny took a look.

"Sheldon, that's not him, just relax and keep judging, that should be easy." He wasn't convinced. "You just let him try, see what happens."

Once they had reached Brittany's display, he had found it easier to focus. A few of the other kids from Glee Club had been hanging around just before they arrived, though they'd moved along by the time they got there, leaving only Brittany there with Santana at her side.

"Hey, you're here!" Brittany was happy to see them. "What do you think?" she stood back to let them see her presentation.

It was peculiar, without a doubt, although coming from her they would have expected no less. They could still see that she had put a lot of work into it.

"Brittany, it looks great," Penny smiled, coming up to her.

"Do you think it'll work out?"

"No idea," she admitted. "You'll have to ask those two." The boys were busy looking over the display, checking out the finished product after having been aware of bits and pieces along the way.

"Can they even hear us right now?" Santana joked, looking at how concentrated they were.

"You should see them sometimes, it's like the world goes away," Penny agreed.

"What are the odds right now, what did you hear?" Santana asked.

"What do you mean?"

"The other projects, what did they say?"

"Oh. Well…" Penny looked around the room. "That one, hopeless. That one, dangerous and hopeless. Over there a few they went 'huh…', one they went 'woah…'. That one cried, that one is still crying. Right now your biggest competition is over there," she pointed.

"Maybe I should pay them a visit," Santana thought out loud.

"Don't," Brittany begged.

"I was only kidding," Santana promised her, although she still had half a mind to go and 'accidentally' knock the display over. She really wanted Brittany to win, with all the work she'd put into it. "Mostly."

Sheldon and Leonard had finished their observation of Brittany's presentation. They gave her the cursory thanks before moving along. "Look who likes to play official," Penny chuckled.

"Penny!" Sheldon called after her.

"Right, that's me. I forgot I'm playing bodyguard today. By the way, if you see that kid from the hall, try and keep him away from Sheldon? He's about to lose it." She scurried off to rejoin the boys before Sheldon threw a fit.

"What kid, what's she talking about?" Santana turned to Brittany.

"Nothing, just Azimio," the blonde shrugged evasively. Before Santana could ask her anything, she had looked back to her. "Do you really think I can win?"

"We've been through it, but I'll tell you again, my vote's on you."

"You're not a judge," Brittany reminded her.

"Still counts for something."

TO BE CONTINUED (NEXT FRIDAY)