Okay, so it wans't the best possible outcome for Sheldon, but at least Penny didn't give him the brush off.
Penny waved to some of her study group and headed out of the PCC library. She was meeting up with Bernadette in an hour for lunch and she didn't want to be late. She was halfway across the parking lot when she spotted Leonard leaning against her car hood. She slowed for a moment, having heard from both Sheldon and Wil what had happened between the roommates. She sighed to herself and walked over to him. Better to get this over with now.
"Hello, Leonard. What brings you here?" she asked.
Leonard stared at her with narrow eyes. "So. You and Sheldon?"
Penny sighed and opened the passenger door to put her bag inside. "Leonard, first of all, Sheldon and I are just friends. I'm not in a position to date anyone. Second, it is none of your business anyway. You do not own me or Sheldon and have no say in who either one of us dates. And last, but not least, I do not appreciate you and Amy conspiring to force me into doing what you want. That is not how friends treat each other."
"Penny, I'm just trying to look out for you," Leonard insisted. "I mean, come on! Sheldon? He's a robot! You think he really loves you? Sheldon loves Sheldon. He always has. He's arrogant, and emotionless, and anal. He's using your sex drive against you."
She flinched, his words striking a little too close to her original worries. "Leonard, I'm trying to remake my life. I've been making all sorts of changes. I've worked my butt off to undo a lot of the damage I've done to myself. All I have offered Sheldon, or anyone, is friendship. Sheldon says he loves me, and I believe him. He wouldn't lie about that. But that doesn't mean I'm going to throw myself at his feet. I don't know what is going to happen with Sheldon and I. But I do know it is none of your concern. Stay out of it, Leonard."
His expression turned ugly and mean, and Penny felt a fissure of unease. "In other words, step aside and let Sheldon walk off with the prize? I saw you first! I'm the one who invited you over to the apartment, again and again! I'm the one who made you part of our lives! I'm the one who got you away from the meat headed idiots and into the best relationship you'll ever have! Me! And if Sheldon thinks for even a second that I'm going to just step aside so he can reap the benefits of my hard work, then he's a moron! And you're just too stupid to see who's best for you! Just like Sheldon is too crazy to realize Amy is the only girl he could ever have!"
Penny took a little step toward Leonard, anger growing within her. "I'm not stupid," she said quietly. "Sheldon's not crazy. Mary had him tested. But I'm beginning to think you might be. You are acting as if this is some big conspiracy against you and Amy. It has nothing, let me repeat that Leonard, NOTHING to do with either of you."
Penny ran a hand through her hair with exasperation. "Why is that so hard for you to understand? This is my life we're talking about, Leonard! It's not about getting a boyfriend, or making you jealous. It's about me growing up, having a career, making something of myself. It's about me dealing with my addictions, fixing my problems and being happy with who I am. My life is about me, Leonard!"
He shoved his glasses firmly on the bridge of his nose and glared at her from the bottom of his lenses. "What about my life?" he insisted. "I planned on spending my life with you, and you're telling me I can't have that life now!"
She ruthlessly pushed away the guilt trying to take hold of her. "I never promised you a life together," she reminded him. "How many times did you ask me to marry you, and I said no? I'm not telling you how to live your life, Leonard. I'm just telling you there's no room in mine for a romance with you."
Penny moved around him and opened her car door. She shoved her purse and backpack in the passenger seat. "That's something I've never been able to figure out about you, Leonard. In your mind, it's always about you. What you want. What makes you happy. You think everything revolves around you. Well, you're wrong. I do not revolve around you. I am my own person. I had my own life before we got together, and I have my own life now that we are separated."
Leonard snorted cruelly. "What life? Hopping into bed with any dumb jock that came along? I'm the best thing that ever happened to you!"
Penny slipped into her car quickly, knowing it was useless to try and argue with Leonard when he was in this mood. She went to close the door, but Leonard grabbed the frame.
"You keep talking about all the changes you are making, but I see you still run away when you know you're losing an argument," he accused. "All your changes did was make everyone else miserable. You hurt me, you hurt Amy, and you ruined two relationships!"
Penny jerked the door shut and lowered her window a bit. "I'm not running from an argument," she corrected. "I'm just putting an end to a stupid argument. The best thing that ever happened to me was Amy and Bernadette breaking my nose. Otherwise, I'd probably still be half drunk, going nowhere career-wise, and letting you manipulate me into being your bed buddy. Like it or not, Leonard, I don't need you. And with the way you are acting, I don't like you very much, either. Excuse me, I have to meet a friend for lunch."
"Who?" demanded Leonard. "Sheldon? Wil? Or some steroid-addled meathead? You better wise up soon, before I move on and don't want you anymore!"
Penny silently rolled back up the window and started the car. She pulled out of the parking space and drove away quickly. She made it to the corner street before the tears began to fall. By the time she was home, she was shaking, too. She fired off a text to Bernadette postponing their lunch and dragged her weary body up to the fourth floor. She kicked off her shoes and laid down across her bed. She felt too heart-sore and tired to deal with anyone. As much as she wanted to disregard Leonard's words, they kept bouncing around her head like angry ping pong balls.
Sheldon was deep in thought when his phone rang and interrupted him. He briefly considered ignoring it. With a sigh he picked it up and looked at the screen. He frowned as he answered it. "Bernadette? Why are you calling me?"
"Sheldon, have you talked to Penny today?" the diminutive blonde asked.
"No, it is my understanding she has a study group this morning and then lunch with you," he replied. "I have plans to see her this evening. I am joining the poker group tonight."
"Penny canceled lunch on me," Bernadette said worriedly. "Then Leonard called Howard. He was ranting about how Penny was making all kinds of mistakes and he was worried for her. He told Howard he wanted to borrow some spy cams that Howie apparently used before on Leonard and Penny. Howard told him no, and Leonard hung up angry."
"Bernadette, I have to go," Sheldon said firmly. He hung up the phone and walked over to the large windows. He could see Penny's car in the parking lot below, so he walked over and grabbed the spare key from the bowl by the door. Seconds later he was in front of Penny's door. He knocked carefully, calling Penny's name three times. When she didn't answer he used the key and let himself in.
He opened the bedroom door and studied Penny. Tear tracks cut through her makeup, and she was curled tight around a pillow. Her posture was indicative of sadness and pain. With a sigh he sat down on the edge of the bed. He gently moved her hair from her face as he reached for her pillow with the other hand.
Penny's eyes fluttered open and she looked up at him. "Sheldon?" she said softly. "What are you doing here?"
"Bernadette was worried about you, so she called me. I came over to check on you."
Penny slowly sat up, her eyes filling with tears again. "I had an argument with Leonard," she admitted. "He said some pretty mean things and I wasn't in the mood to have lunch. I'll be okay."
He reached out to hold her hand. "What did Leonard say?"
She shook her head. "He was just mad. He vented, and it hurt a bit."
Sheldon watched her carefully. He had little knowledge of emotions, or social interactions, but he knew that wasn't the entirety of what had happened. Penny was too hurt for it to be just Leonard letting off steam.
"Penny, tell me what he said to hurt you so much."
Penny looked down at her lap. "He said I was too stupid to know what was good for me. That all I am doing is making everyone miserable." She took a deep breath and looked up at Sheldon. "Is he right? Am I being selfish? Am I hurting everyone?"
He reached out and cupped her jaw. "Leonard seeks to own you. He has from the moment we first set eyes on you. That is not love, Penny. Remember what you told me; you and you alone can determine what make you happy. You are not responsible for Leonard's behavior."
"So why do I feel like everything is falling apart?" she asked with a little sob.
Sheldon struggled to think of a way to comfort her. "As James T. Kirk once said, 'Some people think the future means the end of history.' He went on to say 'People can be very frightened of change'. In other words, the changes you are making in your life have resulted in changes in everyone else's life as well. Leonard and Amy do not welcome those changes, and seek to restore things to the way they are comfortable with."
Penny sniffled and looked at him closely. "What about you? I thought you hate change. Why are you encouraging it, now?"
He smiled and leaned in to kiss her forehead gently. "Because these changes are making you a happier, better person. I love you. It makes me happy to see you happy."
Penny's eyes filled with a wary concern. "I haven't promised you anything," she reminded him gently.
Sheldon shrugged calmly. "Nor do I ask you to. I love you regardless of how anyone else feels. I am content to wait for you to love me back."
Penny took in the confident gleam in his eyes. Slowly she began to giggle. She slipped her arms around his torso and hugged him tight. "Thank you, Moon Pie. I feel a lot better, now."
Sheldon kissed the crown of her head. "Penny, only Meemaw can call me that." He held her close and thought about what Leonard had done. He was beginning to wonder if he would need to take action to protect Penny.
A/N: I know some wanted Penny to just go with it and hop into a relationship with Sheldon, but the fact is, while she loves him, and is attracted to him, she has not once said she is IN love with him. At this point, she hasn't given much thought to love and romance. She's too busy trying to keep from self-destructing.