(Sheldon has asked Penny to be his assistant for a lecture tour.)


November 2004

"Want to catch me up," Leonard practically growled to Sheldon.

Sheldon sighed. "What part did you not understand? I'm going to go lecture. I need an assistant. I asked Penny. She is thinking about it."

Leonard's face was red. "You think I can't see what you're doing? You're trying to take Penny away from me!"

"You know, this is getting really old." All four men looked over to see Penny standing in the hall. She looked tired and timid. She stepped down into the living room and walked over closer. "Leonard, I have had enough."

Leonard's jaw dropped and he turned red.

Penny squared her shoulders and looked him in the eye. "I have no interest in you. I don't find you attractive, I don't want to date you. You're making me uncomfortable in my own home."

Leonard sputtered for a few seconds. "Penny, you just need to give me a chance! I love you!"

She shook her head firmly. "No you don't. You don't even know me. You want to sleep with me. That's too bad. I don't want you."

Leonard threw his arms out. "You have no idea how I feel! You never look at me. Sheldon's always in the way! Okay, so yeah, I find you attractive, but I care about you a lot!"

Penny crossed her arms over her chest defensively. "One, Sheldon has never given the slightest indication he was interested in me. If he did, I'd tell him the same thing. I don't want a boyfriend. I don't want to get involved with anyone. He's not in the way, because there is no "way" to get to me. You may very well care about me, but you know nothing about me. You can't be in love with someone you don't know."

Leonard grabbed her arms and looked into her eyes. The other three stood quickly, worry etched into their faces. "Penny, I know everything I need to know. I love you." He slammed his mouth onto hers and wrapped his arms around her tight.

Sheldon started to reach out, but Penny's eyes met his. It was a clear message to not interfere. Sheldon's hands clenched at his side as Leonard kissed Penny. Finally he pulled back, smugly sure of himself because she hadn't struggled.

She looked at him impassively. "If you knew anything about me at all, you would know you just destroyed any chance of a friendship between us," she said calmly. "Now, take your hands off me. Don't ever touch me again."

Penny pulled away sharply and walked away.

Leonard watched her go and then spun to face Sheldon. "This is your fault!" he said angrily. "You turned her against me!"

"No he didn't," Howard said. "Leonard, you're the only one who doesn't see it. Penny keeps every one of us at a distance. She hasn't shown any interest in anyone. Not just us, but you've seen the guys at the restaurant hit on her. She never flirts back. She never accepts dates. She's not interested."

Raj nodded. "Yeah, dude. It took almost 4 months to get her to join us for a meal here in the apartment. Yeah, Sheldon is closer to her, but that's because they share an apartment. They spend more time together. You just screwed up big time."

Sheldon stared at the empty hallway. "Leonard, you met Penny 16 months ago. In all that time you have never once taken a moment to actually get to know her. Excuse me. I need to go check and make sure she is fine."

Sheldon walked away before he said anything more. His friendship with Leonard was teetering at the moment. He walked back and raised his hand to knock on Penny's door, but it opened. She looked up in surprise.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

Sheldon looked her over. She had changed into thick tights and an over-sized shirt. "I wanted to make sure you are alright."

Penny smiled slightly. "I'm fine. I just wanted to change before we watched anything."

Sheldon nodded and stepped back to let her by. He was surprised when she reached out and patted his shoulder comfortingly. They walked back down the hall and into the living room. Leonard was just going out the door, obviously still angry. He slammed it behind him after one last glare. Raj and Howard looked at Penny apologetically. She went to get napkins. She paused, her back still toward them.

"Thank you, Howard and Raj. For defending me. I know he is your friend, and I know it was not easy. So, thank you."

She turned and gave them a small smile. Howard and Raj grinned back at her. Sheldon cleared his throat and dramatically looked at his watch. Penny laughed and rolled her eyes. She walked over and sat down. The armchair was her spot. It had been since the second day she moved in. She got comfortable and accepted the plate Sheldon handed her. Time for Doctor Who.

Three days later, Sheldon got a call at work. "Hello?"

"Sheldon, It's Penny. I'll take the job. If you still want me to."

He closed his eyes with relief. "I do."

"Okay then. I accept." She said a quick goodbye and hung up.

Sheldon picked up a folder. Inside was all the paperwork he would need to file for Penny. He had already filled it out. He had done so as a gesture of confidence, but deep down he hadn't been quite as confident of her answer as he pretended.