25 – The Conditional Reflections

Penny was scared. Scared of what Leonard could do. She'd heard stories about children taken from their parents for the flimsiest of reasons and how hard it was to get them back once they were in the system. She didn't want that to happen to Cyndee. She would do whatever she had to do to prevent that from happening to Cyndee.

Later that week

"Sheldon?"

"Hello, Nora."

"What's going on with you and Penny?"

"Nora, I haven't seen or spoken with her since before she went to Omaha. I'm aware that she returned but we have not encountered each other."

"Sheldon, she's miserable. She looks terrible. She's not eating. She's working all the time except when she's at school."

"Nora, I don't know what to say. I'm trying to do as she asked even though it pains me greatly. It seems to me that as her best friend you would be in the best position to help her."

"Okay. But it just seems to me that there's more going on with her than just what's between the two of you."

"Perhaps so, but I am in no position to help determine what it is."

"Okay. Talk to you later, Sheldon."

"Goodbye, Nora."

Sunday night at Manny's, closing time.

"Sweetie, what the hell's going on?"

"What do you mean, Nora?"

"I mean you look terrible."

"Well, I'm working a lot and I have final papers to get done and I miss the hell out of Cyndee. How am I supposed to look?"

"Points taken. But you aren't taking care of yourself. You aren't eating right and, Penny, you've been drinking. A lot."

"So, it's the holidays. I'm celebrating."

"Damn it, Penny. You stopped drinking like this before you had Cyndee. I know. I was there. You only drink a little wine with dinner sometimes and you hardly keep any alcohol in the house."

"So I need a little help to get through all this. So sue me."

"Penny?"

"I know what this is about, Nora"

"What's it about, Penny?"

"You're just wondering whether you'll be able to fuck me while Cyndee's away and I'm not seeing anyone else."

"Damn it, Penny."

"I mean, I get it. Fucking me is lots of fun. Everybody wants to do it. You. Sheldon. His pervert roommate. The customers."

"Penny, where's all this coming from?"

"Just stay away from me and mind your own business, Nora."

Penny ran out to her car, got in and started it up, and broke down in tears. She was trying to stay away from her apartment. She took every shift and private party that was available. She spent as much time at the library doing schoolwork as she could. Even with that she had to come home at some point. And when she did he came to her door with demands for more. And she had no choice.

As soon as she walked into her apartment she went straight for the kitchen cabinet and grabbed the bottle of Grey Goose that she now kept there. She took a couple of quick swigs straight from the bottle and then poured some more into a coffee mug. Five minutes after she walked in she heard his knock. He didn't bother imitating Sheldon any more. Penny silently opened the door and let Leonard in.

"Aw. You look so sad. Probably because you've spent so much energy trying to avoid me. Well, I have some good news for you. You get to be my date to the big fundraising gala next Monday."

"But Sheldon will be there. I was supposed to be his date."

"Well that's not going to happen. And he's going to see that you're with me and he'll never have anything to do with you again."

"I won't go."

"Oh, you'll go. And you'll dress up in the sexiest dress you have. And you'll do whatever I want because I have the photos."

"Fine."

Leonard unbuckled his belt and undid the button and lowered the fly on his slacks, letting them drop to the floor. He then slid his boxers down and stood there waiting for Penny with a great big smile on his face.

And Penny drank the entire contents of her mug.