Chapter 21

Gloria paused for a second, the strong familiarity of the voice coming back to her first before his saying his name registered in her brain. "Leonard is that really you?"

Leonard nodded but then realized she couldn't see him, "Yes it's me."

"It has been a while, at least a year since Steve and I have seen you last, how are you doing?" she asked, surprised by the call but still wondering how her and her husbands old friend was doing.

"Okay, I guess…..Well I do have a problem and I really hate to ask, but I need your help and you once said if I ever needed anything….." Leonard was a little ashamed to ask for a favor, and was about to say never mind, he was sorry for bothering her.

"Of course Leonard, how can I help." Gloria told him, she was indebted to Leonard in more ways than she could imagine, he had actually been responsible for her and her husband being together, he was a good friend even though they hadn't seen him in a while.

Leonard took in a deep breath, Dr Steiner was a clinic psychologist, professor at the University, and had several years of private practice experience, he knew if anyone could give him advice about Penny, it was her. "Well you see there is this girl…" Leonard explained for the next 20 minutes about Penny.

After listening to Leonard till he was done, and noticing his emotion, plus the sense of concern for this young woman in his voice, it made Gloria wonder if she should be completely honest with him or not. She had known Leonard for several years, she had began at Cal Tech with him at the same time, she also knew Leonard enough to know he was terribly insecure and wore his emotions on his sleeve, but he was also a good friend. So Gloria wanted to be completely honest, with him. "You care for her don't you?"

Leonard swallowed, "Yes, but I didn't do anything to her, I promise."

Gloria chuckled, "I know you didn't Leonard, you don't have to defend yourself."

Leonard sighed, "Sorry, it is just, I just feel partly to blame."

"You are a little, but it is nothing you could have done anything about. She needed help and you helped her, the only way this sounds like it could have not happened is if you left her there and it doesn't sound like that was an option, was it?" Gloria tried to comfort him, it was true what she was telling him too.

"She would have froze and maybe…" Leonard didn't want to think about it.

Gloria smiled to herself, Leonard was the kindest most gentle man she had ever know and had more empathy than ten people, it was part of the reason he could put up with that roommate of his for so long. "Leonard, it sounds like she has a dependency on you because you rescued her, which you did, and she has made herself need you." Gloria explained, "She needs professional help."

"I want to get her help, that is why I called you." Leonard responded

Now Gloria understood what Leonard wanted, "You know I can't treat her, I'm not in practice anymore, but if you want I'll talk to her and tell you how bad she is and then I can recommend some paths you can follow with her."

Gloria's words were such a relief to Leonard he wished he could hug her, "That would be so great, I really need help here." then he thought for a second, "When could we get together?" he hoped soon.

"I can come over after supper." Gloria suggested.

"Really! You can come tonight?" Leonard was totally surprised.

Gloria chuckled again, "Yeah, Steve is going to a sports bar to watch some soccer match with his guy friends, some male bonding stuff, so actually I was just planning to vegetate out and watch TV tonight, but your problem sounds much more interesting than TV, so yes tonight."

"Gloria, I don't know how I can thank you." this was much better than Leonard had imagined, he could get help for Penny tonight.

"No problem Leonard. You still live with Cooper, right?" she asked

"Yes, same place." Leonard responded.

"You know you need to let me talk to you about that some time." Gloria hinted.

It was now time for Leonard to chuckle, "Maybe sometime. What time should I expect you?"

"I'll plan on getting there about 7 PM, okay."

"Okay, and thanks again, this means a lot to me." Leonard said sincerely.

Gloria smiled, "It is really no trouble at all Leonard, I'll see you then, bye."

"Bye." Leonard then hung up. He then looked at the time, it was almost 3 PM, so he decided to go back to the bedroom, so Penny didn't wake up alone because he wanted her in a good mood when he asked her to talk to Dr Steiner.

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Leonard took a quick shower and put on some sweats, he didn't want to put on pajamas and get in bed with Penny after what happened earlier, but he still didn't want to lay with her in his jeans, like he was ready to leave her. He then went back to the bedroom carrying a set of Penny's now clean pajamas and panties with him, hoping she was still asleep, the thought of what she would feel if she woke up alone worrying him. But it seemed that she had been much more tired than he thought, because he found her gently snoring where he left her, and as he stood there watching her, he again thought of how much like an angel she looked when she innocently slept.

Leonard just stood there and watched her for a few minutes before carefully getting back on the bed and easing himself towards her, not even thinking about getting under the covers, where she was nude. He was almost against her when he stopped being so careful and for the second time that day took an armful of Penny and blankets into his arms to pull close to him. It was then Penny made a moaning sound and rotated in his arms until she had turned herself to face him her head moving towards his chest. So Leonard now laid back as she put her head on his chest and her arm around him, her eyes never opening the whole time. There was another adorable little moan from her before she stopped moving and relaxed on him, her breathing shallow and regular. Leonard then just laid there looking down at her for a few moments, bringing his hand up to gently touch her hair, he just wanted to protect her forever and knowing that was impossible a sad sigh escaped his lips. So he went back to considering his current situation, pulling the covers up over Penny's back till only her head and the part of her arm over him were visible. And once he had things situated he noticed how everything now seemed so peaceful, Penny against him making him feel relaxed himself, so relaxed he just closed his eyes and eventually let sleep take him.

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It was about 5:30 PM when Leonard woke back up, not having moved an inch from his place in the bed and immediately noticing Penny was still laying in her same place too. However, Penny's breathing and slight movement of her arm over him told Leonard she was awake, "Penny did you sleep well." The only answer he got was a slight nodding of the blonde head on his chest, which again worried him since her not talking could mean she was upset again.

"Penny can you do me a favor." Again he got the head nod.

He reached over to the night stand where he put her pajamas and panties, picked them up and brought them over until they were about a foot in front of Penny's face. "Penny would you put these on?" This time there was no nod, there was nothing at all.

Leonard brought the arm up that was behind her and ran his fingers through her hair, almost immediately he could feel her push her head against his hand, inviting him to touch her. Leonard kept running his fingers through her hair, gently grazing her ear and neck, hoping this more innocent intimate touching would satisfy her, from wanting anything more sexual, and keep her from getting upset. It must have worked, for after a few minutes, Penny took her panties and pajamas from him, slipped them under the blankets, then put them on.

Penny lifted herself up after putting her pajamas on, so Leonard took that opportunity to sit on the bed, which then seemed to make her move to a sitting position facing him too. They sat there and looked at each other for a short time, saying nothing, until Leonard decided they needed to start talking, but again he also knew he had to be careful what he said to not get her upset. Therefore Leonard decided to touch her, she seemed to respond well when he did that before, so he gave her a small smile then reached over and took her hands in his. She first seemed surprised but then her hands gripped his hands tightly after that surprise had past.

"Penny I care for you. You know that don't you?" he now said to her.

"Yes" she whispered, Leonard holding her hands was comforting to her and she didn't want it to end so she would agree with anything he said to keep in contact with him.

"Penny because I care for you, I want you to feel better. You understand that when people care for each other they want the other person to be happy." Leonard again gave her a little smile.

Penny nodded and again whispered "Yes"

"Penny it makes me unhappy to see you so sad all the time." Leonard looked directly into her eyes when he said that.

Penny suddenly became more animate and upset, "I'll be happy Leonard, I promise I'll be happy from now on." she quickly said, a very forced smile now covering her lips.

It was not what Leonard had wanted, her being more stressed trying to force herself to be happy for him. He sighed and knew he had to do the only thing that always seemed to work with her, so he pulled her hands until he pulled her next to him, again her offering no resistance, then he took her into his arms and pulled her close to him. He immediately felt her arms go around his neck as she pulled herself the rest of the way until she was tight against him. Though there was something different this time, her face was turned to his face and her lips against his neck, him feeling her give him a slight kiss as soon as their skin touched. He would have done something right then but there was only one soft kiss and she didn't do it again, instead she just held herself close to him.

Leonard held her for he figured about 10 minutes before he began to speak again. "Penny would you do me a favor? It is very important to me." He felt her head nod then a whispered 'Yes' from her. He didn't know she was just agreeing to stay close to him.

"Penny, I have a friend coming over in a couple hours and I need you to talk to her. Could you please do that for me?" Leonard then waited, but nothing happened.

Leonard again got concerned, "Penny please. She is a doctor and a good friend, please tell me you will talk to her. I promise she will not hurt you." again Penny did nothing. He had now idea what was going on in her mind, Penny wanted to say 'No' but she was afraid to say anything but 'Yes' so she just froze up and said nothing.

Leonard sighed, then brought his arm up to rub her back, feeling her relax like he expected. He needed to try something else, "Penny, tell me what you want. Tell me what you want from me, I need to know."

That feeling of Penny relaxing went suddenly away and Leonard felt her breathing increase, but still no words from her. It made Leonard feel like she was hiding from his questions, so he grabbed her sides and pushed her off of him, but not very far, they were looking directly at each now but their faces were only about a foot away. "Penny tell me what you want from me." Leonard said a little more sternly.

Leonard staring at her made Penny want to cry, his eyes so intense it almost felt like it hurt. She did not like what he was asking and did not want to answer, but the real answer was that she wanted him to want her, take care of her and be with her forever. She was still afraid of telling him 'No', afraid she would upset him and that would lead to him turning her away, so Penny just sat there staring back at him afraid to speak.

Leonard was so helplessly frustrated now, it was making his head hurt, nothing he did seemed to get through to her, she acted like she was terrified to do anything. He was even thinking his reaction to her earlier had somehow scared her even more and now making her fail to act to anything even simple. The hugs seemed to be the only thing she truly appreciated but even now he was losing the ability to get her to respond with those too. He closed his eyes, there was only one thing else he could think to do, something he knew that would probably make him hate himself afterward, but he didn't see any other choice, he had to get through to her, and it seemed to be something she wanted before.

Leonard open his eyes to look directly into hers, then took his hands off her sides and moved them to sides of her face, gently rubbing his thumbs near her scalp and ears, watching as her eyelids got heavy telling him she was relaxing. He also noted her eyes seemed to blacker while he held her and just caressed her face, he desperately tried to think of anything he could do other than what he was planning next, but to no avail, so while still holding her he brought his lips to hers and kissed her. She didn't move for a second, then suddenly her arms went around his neck and her lips crushed into his as she returned the kiss. Before Leonard could do anything else to control the situation, Penny was in his lap, her body against his, her tongue against his lips begging for entrance.