AN: So we are starting to progress in the story and things are moving rather quickly. I'm sorry if things seem dull but I have to show the admiration and pride that is felt in this chapter for future chapters. I hope everyone enjoys it and I hope you all had wonderful holidays! Happy New Years everyone! Chapters should come more frequently now that everything has settled down. Thanks for baring with me!

Enjoy!

SPOV:

I did accompany Penny to the rehabilitation hospital they were sending her to. The facilities were nice and the nurse that admitted her seemed knowledgeable and attentive so I felt that she was fine to be left alone at night. She ensured me that if anything should happen that was less than satisfactory to her recovery should happen she would notify me immediately. With that assurance I returned to work on Tuesday.

I spent my lunch break, however, visiting Penny while she went through the rigors of physical therapy. Her sessions were scheduled around my normal lunch so I would leave the campus and go to see her. We didn't talk about much, just her progress. I could have very well be an outsider to it all because she posted ever milestone on Facebook.

I took my first real steps today. Four to be exact.

40ft today!

I made it 104 ft today! I am kicking ass on the parallel bars!

Started walking with a walker today. I feel like an old lady but I was able to walk 132ft!

237 ft today! They are already talking about releasing me early! Three weeks here my ass! This is what Nebraskan blood does to a person!

She was proud of everything she did and I couldn't blame her. I was proud of her as well. She had been there just over a week and they were already talking about letting her out on Saturday. Her therapists needed to meet and confirm that she could be released and she would know on Thursday. I scheduled off work that day. It worked out in my favor as well as it got me out of another ridiculous grad student lecture I did not want to do.

When Thursday came I went to the hospital to find Penny still sleeping. It was after 8am. Her occupational therapist would be by in an hour to help her get cleaned up and ready for the day. I knocked on her open door.

Knock Knock Knock "Penny"

Knock Knock Knock "Penny"

Knock Knock Knock "Penny"

She stirred slightly and shifted in bed. I noticed that she was laying on her side and looked to be doing so comfortably. I was pleased with how well she looked. I walked over to the couch and sat my messenger bag down and turned to see her eyes locked on me.

"Morning." She whispered sleepily.

"It's well before 11am but I trust that that rule has been abolished after these events. You've yet to punch anyone in the throat which I can only hope to mean that I am safe in the future as well." She smiled and sat up slightly. I watched her reposition herself in the bed and adjust it so she could sit to face me. While I did this I took inventory on her appearance. She seemed to have lost weight. I knew she wasn't eating in the hospital but clearly she was not eating here as well. I am ashamed to say that I did not feel it was necessary to monitor her eating habits here. I assumed once she was in the process of healing she would begin eating again. Her cheeks were sinking in and her hair was thinning.

"I believe it is safe to say that the rule has been temporarily suspended for now." She seemed to notice my scrutiny. "What?"

"I just can't help but notice you seem to be losing more weight. Penny, why are you not eating?"

"Oh, sweetie, I just never seem to be hungry. I mean, I feel like I'm starving and they bring me something to eat and I take one bite and I feel sick." She paled at the thought of food. I noticed that someone had brought in a tray of food before I arrived that sat on her bedside table. She noticed my glance at it and stopped me before I could begin. "I've already tried this morning. When I couldn't eat I went back to sleep."

"Perhaps you should speak to the doctor about it. They could change your pain medication to something more agreeable with you."

"The doctors know. When the nurses come in to get my tray they log the amount of food I eat. I've been chastised already for it. They've made me drink Ensure shakes three times a day to keep my strength up but otherwise have made no mention of changing my medications. Oh! I have a surprise for you!" She smiled and raised her bed and lowered the side rail. I watched with a curious eye as she leaned over and reached for her walker and pulled it closer to her. She gingerly moved her legs over the side of the bed and took a few deep breaths and then pulled herself up, one hand on the walker and on hand pushing up from the bed. She steadied herself and smiled triumphantly at me.

"That is excellent, Penny! I am very proud of you! The last time I saw you stand on your own you needed support."

"I know! Yesterday I asked Jenny to help me stand on my own and we worked a little over my normal hour after you left to teach me. It's hard and it hurts but it feels so good to stand. But I'm not supposed to do this-" She was cut off.

"Penelope Stephens! What are you doing?" I assumed it was her nurse. "You have not been cleared to be up and about unless someone is in the room with you! What if you fell?" Penny laughed.

"Sorry, Joyce! I was excited to show Sheldon my progress. I can assure you if anything would have happened, Flash over here would have caught me before I fell." Joyce looked unconvinced. I felt a swell in pride that she thought that highly of me. "Since you are here, care to help me to the bathroom?" Joyce nodded and opened the large door to the oversized bathroom. Penny shuffled with Joyce by her side into the room and they closed the door on me.

I took the time alone, not to listen to what they were saying or Joyce's berating, but to amaze at how quickly she was progressing each day. Overnight it seemed. She was awaking a new and stronger person, someone I never thought could grow from my Nebraskan neighbor. She was strong to begin with but now she could be compared to the Hulk (if he could be injured). She also seemed to be in better spirits. She smiled more as she spoke of her recovery. When she would come back to her room on the days that I was able to stay longer she would wheel herself down to the lunch area down the hall and fill up bags of ice to put on her thighs and talk about how proud she was of herself and how the pain seemed to be getting better. I had no choice but to admire her.

They opened the door and Joyce helped her back into bed and checked her tray. "Still not eating." She commented. Penny gave no response and Joyce didn't seem to need one. She walked out the door without so much as a goodbye. I glanced at my watch which read 8:32. Twenty eight minutes until her OT arrived. Penny seemed to like her therapists. Karen, her OT, had been in her position before. She had apparently broken her tibia in a sporting accident and after being non weight baring for three months, spent another three months in out patient therapy. Penny says that's why Karen became a therapist. I still don't know why she seems to think I care about these other people.

"So what's new in the world of CalTech?"

"I have nothing new to report. Leonard is still moping. Howard is still starting arguments he has no hope in winning, and Raj still can not speak to women which should prove interesting because he has to give a lecture for me today in front of some new grad students. The chances of them all being male are slim so I believe he said he would be taking some liquid courage with him." Penny laughed.

"And they let him do that?"

"What they don't know wont hurt them. I'm certainly not going to say anything as it got me out of my obligations to spend the day with you." I said sincerely. Penny seemed to shift uncomfortably and I knew it had nothing to do with her legs. She smiled at me, though shyly, and reached for a hair tie to pull her hair up.

"Sheldon, what are we doing?" She asked.

"Having a conversation." I answered pointedly.

"No, I mean what is going to happen when I get out of here?"

"Well, I can't be sure. I would assume I will still oversee your recovery to make sure you are doing what you need to do to get well and perhaps move take out nights to your apartment. Although I must stipulate that you let me clean it properly before we do."

"No promises." She laughed.

"The elevator is working now. They finished their repairs yesterday." I reported happily. The super told me three days ago they believed they would be a week behind schedule. I spent over a hour on the phone with him demanding that they work harder and why. He seemed unwilling to pay the extra money but I believe he felt it would be easier to get me off of his back if he did so and went with that option.

"That will certainly make things easier. We've been talking about things that I am going to need when I am home. They are sending me home with a shower and toilet seat. I'm going to need someone to take them over to my place before I leave."

"No problem. Howard can borrow his mother's van. We can take care of that for you." I pulled out my phone and sent him a text. I knew, for Penny, he would be happily willing if not just because Penny was his fiance's close friend. Within minutes Howard replied back that he and Leonard would come by as soon as they could to pick up the equipment and set it up for her.

"When will you be getting it?" I asked so as not to bring Leonard here before he needed to be.

"Probably tomorrow if I am getting out on Saturday." I nodded and sent that information along as well. The confirmation came soon after.

We sat in silence listening to the reports of the Olympics on the TV over my head. Considering the channels she had access to here it was the best we could ask for though neither of us cared. Karen walked in ten minutes early.

"Good morning! Great news!" Karen beamed. "We're going to evaluate you in your sessions today, most of the things you will do on your own. If you are able to, and we are happy with it, you will get to leave Saturday. Knowing you, I have no doubt that you will be gone and I'm happy to say I will be glad to see you go!" Karen hugged Penny and I heard Penny breathe out in relief.

"Thank you!" She looked at me with tears brimming her eyes but I made no move to comfort her. She was happy.

"So, today you shower on your own without the chair. Then we'll head over the to gym and work on your arm exercises. Tomorrow I want to spend some time going over the home equipment you will use and then I will be done with you. Jenny plans on walking you to death and doing more leg strengthening exercises before you leave but she is confidant in your ability to get out of here as well. The board agreed with us so lets get started and not make liars out of us, ok?" She smiled and sat down next to me on the couch. Penny began to get up again and looked at Karen questioningly. "All on your own. Clothes, towels, everything. I'm going to watch. If you need help tell me." Penny nodded and set out on her tasks.

She repeated her earlier movements and stood on her own, steadied herself, but this time moved about the room alone. She pushed the walker in front of her and shuffled her feet forward to catch up. She walked around the bed, past Karen and I, to the cabinet that held her clothes. She grabbed a pair of shorts, underwear, a bra, a shirt, and socks and stuffed them into a bag tied to the front of her walker. I was thankful Bernadette saw to bringing her more delicate articles to her for me. She turned slowly and made her way to the sink across from her bed and stuffed a few towels and wash rags into the bag as well and then pushed her walker aside and used the counter to make her way to the sink. Her eyes didn't show any doubt as she brushed her teeth and then turned back to the walker and headed for the bathroom and closed the door. Karen got up and reopened the door slightly so she could hear everything happening in there.

We heard a few grunts as Penny struggled to take off her clothes. Karen asked several times if she was ok and Penny would confidently respond that she was fine. Twenty minutes later she emerged fully clothed and quite pleased with herself.

"Good job!" Karen said and continued to type away. "Do you want to dry your hair quickly or do you want to wait until we're done?"

"If you don't mind, I'll go ahead and do it now. But I'd prefer to sit down, if that is ok." She seemed nervous to use her wheelchair, as if it were against the rules.

"Of course." Karen nodded in permission and Penny sighed thankfully. She lowered herself and wheeled back to the sink and began to blow dry her hair. While she was doing so she spoke to Karen.

"I'm sorry for being rude. I don't think you've met Sheldon before." She looked embarrassed.

"No, and I apologize we didn't speak while she was taking a shower. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"It's fine. I'm just glad to see people who are more focused on her progress than the other people around them." I nodded. Karen smiled and extended a hand which I took.

"Nice to meet you." She turned back to her computer and resumed her typing. When Penny was finished she and Karen headed to the gym. I followed and watched from the window as they worked with weights to strengthen her arm muscles. My phone buzzed and I looked down to see it was Leonard calling. I couldn't ignore the call, as much as I wanted to.

"Hello, Leonard."

"Howard said Penny was going to get to come home soon and needed help getting some things to her apartment. As a peace offering, Priya and I wanted to take care of that for her if it's ok with her."

"Priya wants to help Penny?" I couldn't believe the words could even form in my mouth.

"Yes. We were going to stop by tomorrow after work and then head to her place and clean up and get everything set up for her. Priya's car is big enough." I considered this for a moment. Until now, Leonard had yet to involve himself in any way other than to upset Penny or myself. I was surprised at this change of heart but would not deny the assistance.

"I believe Penny would find that to be acceptable, Leonard. Thank you."

"You're welcome. How is she doing?"

"Much better than we could have ever hoped for." Leonard laughed.

"So the real Sheldon believes in hope?" He asked.

"There is a lot that everyone needs to learn about me now but I believe it will be Penny to be taught first. After all, I did promise her."

"You really care about her." He didn't ask. "I am shocked. I never saw this coming. But I think I will come to terms with it." He paused for a moment. "Eventually."

"Well you just focus on your partner and I will focus on my friend. We will be the better men for it." He was silent for a moment and I took that to mean that the conversation was over. "Good bye, Leonard."

"Good bye." I hung up and pondered the change in Leonard. I could only assume Raj played some part in this.

AN: Happy New Year everyone! Be safe and please fill in that little box below. It will really make my New Years awesome!