Chapter 25

It was weeks after going to Disneyland, before Penny would have another opportunity to help with the alter issue. During those few weeks there was notable change in the groups' dynamic. Howard and Bernadette broke up over domestic issues (apparently Howard thought Bernadette would act like his mother, which was a no-go for Bernadette). Leonard started dating Penny's friend, Bree, and were hitting it off so far. Bree was just pushy enough for passive Leonard without being completely domineering.

This left Sheldon and Penny plenty of space and time to hang out. They had not progressed past sweet kisses, which suited Penny just fine. Normally, she was big ol' five but she wanted to take it easy with Sheldon. 'When I fix this alter problem, I'm going to go all Junior Rodeo on him.' Penny thought to herself as she sat next to Sheldon trying to watch anime again. Leaning on Sheldon's shoulder, Penny smiled to herself. With the integration of the two alters, two things became more apparent: Sheldon was more fun to be around and Sheldon liked her to be close. The first was due to the integration of Johnny, and the promise that Sheldon would still have fun. Penny and Sheldon had gone to the beach and built a huge sandcastle. The second trait was from James. James reason for forming was to shield Sheldon from romance. However, Sheldon no longer had that shield, or rather buffer, to inhibit him anymore. Sheldon was still picky about being touched by people, but if it was Penny, he normally made an exception.

As the credits rolled down the screen, Penny extracted herself from Sheldon to stop it. She didn't expect the swift swat to her behind as she bent over the DVD player. Slowly turning around to face him, Penny was greeted with a cheeky grin that definitely did not belong on Sheldon's face.

"Sheldon?" she tried just to make sure.

"Sorry gurl! I've taken ova' the body for now. Sheldon is no longer in the building. It's" striking a 'fabulous' pose, he gestured madly over Sheldon's body "Fabio time!" Grinning at Penny, he made his way to the 'Alter Closet.'

"Fabio, what are you doing here? Sheldon is not distressed or tired, so there is no reason that you could have taken over…" Fabio pressed his finger to her lips.

"Uh-Uh girlfriend! I can't be sharing my secret escape skills. You'd find a way to ruin that too. Now," Fabio shoved Penny towards that front door, with her struggling the whole way. 'Damn him having Sheldon's strength' Penny groused to herself. "Go put on something fabulous. We're goin' out!"

"Out? Oh no mister! You're not going anywhere with that body!"

"I guess I could always sneak out" Fabio gave a salacious grin and shimmy for good measure. "However, if that happens, I can't guarantee Sheldon won't be feeling it in the morning. Your call, Barbie" Fabio started back towards the 'Alter Closet.'

Penny was fuming. 'How dare he act like he can do whatever he wants with Sheldon's body! That bitch!' Glaring at Fabio, Penny ground out a terse "Fine!" before making her way over to her apartment. Upon entering, she made a beeline for her bedroom closet. Tossing the door opening, Penny started riffling through her more outrageous outfits. "Probably going to a gay club. Can't be a frumpy hag! Ugh! This shouldn't be an issue!" Penny mumbled to herself as she grabbed a sparkly pink dress that twisted in the front and flared out when she twirled. Enough to make her fabulous at the club but not enough to make her stand out entirely.

She threw herself into her bathroom and started to get ready for a night out. As she was pinning her hair back, inspiration hit. 'I can figure out Fabio's deal!' Slapping herself on how long it took her to realize this, Penny hurried through her preparations. Finishing both her physical and mental preparations, Penny made her way back over to the boy's apartment. Upon entering, she wished that she had taken longer.

Fabio was dancing around to Lady Gaga, putting on makeup, and teasing his hair. In nothing more than a tiny red thong. Half of Penny's brain told her to look away while the other half was ogling Sheldon's body. She remembered that he had defined abs from the Lee escaped months ago, but she had never seen the whole package. Literally. Penny averted her eyes when Fabio noticed that she was looking. Laughing, Fabio pulled on a pair of pants that were tighter than anything Penny owned. Grabbing a tight shirt and Sheldon's wallet, he ushered Penny towards the door.

"Let's go girl! The night is young and so are we!" Linking arms with Penny, Fabio pulled her out the door and to her imminent gay-doom.

A few hours later, Penny had forgotten her plans to subvert information out of Fabio. After grabbing a couple of energy drinks, they hit up one of the trendiest gay clubs in Pasadena. Fabio and Penny had been dancing with multiple men throughout the night, while drinking copious amounts of colorful alcohol. Penny had planned on not drinking anything, but Fabio was persuasive on the subject.

"This is great!" Penny yelled at Fabio. The bass in the club was so loud that there was no other way to talk.

"I know! It fan-frickin-tastic! I don't know why I let Sheldon have the body at all!" Fabio yelled right back.

"Cause it's Moonpie's body!" shouted in response. Grabbing a pair of pink tubes off a waiter walking by, Penny handed one to Fabio in salute. "Here's to Moonpie's body! Yummy, yummy and I want to eat it all up!" The pair cackled at this before downing the brightly colored shots.

"Hey Pen! We should go get something to eat! I'm thinking pancakes!" Fabio pulled her from the dance floor. "Let's go get some pancakes and maybe hit that rave we heard about later!" Pushing her towards the door, he motioned to the back. "I have to see the ladies room, but I'll be right back! Go get us a cab!"

Fabio strutted to the bathrooms while Penny tried to remember how to work her phone. "Stupid smart phone." Penny looked up to see Fabio walking into the ladies room and giggled to herself. "Stupid Fabio. Doesn't he know only people looking to hook up go into the women's rest room at gay clubs?" Penny giggled to herself. It took a moment for it to sink in.

"That bitch!" Penny shot across the club. Slamming the door open, Penny walked in on Fabio making out with another guy.

Lifting his head up at the intrusion, Fabio pouted when he noticed who it was. "Damn. I was hoping you wouldn't know gay lingo. Oh, well" Patting the guy he was with on the cheek, he extracted himself from his embrace. "Sorry darlin'. My keeper has come for me. Maybe next time." Fabio swaggered over to Penny and pulled out of the ladies room. Looking over at Penny, he just shrugged. "Can't blame me for trying." He yelled over the deafening music.

They made it to the front of the club and were trying to hail a cab. Penny, still fuming over the fact that he almost pulled a fast one over her, was watching Fabio as he drunkenly tried to get a cab over. Sighing, Penny walked over and bumped him out of the way with her hip.

"Let a woman show you how it's done." Jutting her hip out, Penny made a wave a passing taxi. It screeched to a halt and pulled over to the curb she was standing on. Penny smiled victoriously at Fabio before sliding in the cab. They told the man to take them to the closet place for pancakes and they were off. Penny lasted two minutes before she burst.

"I can't believe you tried to hook up with someone! In Sheldon's body! You're unbelievable!"

"Puh-lease! You've been trying to hook with this body. Why can't I use what I got?" Fabio rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. He scowled out the window.

"Cause it isn't your body to be using!" Penny ground out through her teeth.

"Then he shouldn't have been stupid in Germany then!" Fabio all but sneered.

"What does that even mean?" It was Penny's turn to roll her eyes.

Fabio glanced over at her, his gaze unbelieving, before a dark smile graced his face. "Darlin, why do you think I was created? Cause Sheldon is homophobic? Nope, " Fabio said drawing out the 'o' before leaning in closer to Penny. "I was created cause when your beloved Moonpie was 15 and working in Germany. He had a professor that decided they were to be real close. Poor Sheldon. His brain cracked right down the center when he found out he couldn't do anything. That is where I came along." Fabio sighed and looked out the window. "I don't think I want pancakes anymore. Let's just go back to the apartment." He told the cab driver the change of directions before slumping back in his seat.

Penny looked down at the floorboard. Sheldon had been molested as a child? Fabio hinted at it earlier when she first met him, but Penny hadn't held any merit to his word. How could a school hire a rapist on their staff? Penny felt the sting of tears prickle in her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she looked up at Fabio. It was easy to mistake him and Sheldon when he was looking so pensive. Not like his normal bubbly self. Understanding hit Penny full force.

"It must be hard" Penny whispered.

"What?" he snapped.

"Having to carry such a terrible secret. To be the person that such horrible things happened to. It is just horrible."

"Sheldon did what he had to stay sane."

"At what cost? The split of his personality? That isn't sanity. I'm sorry that you have to carry such a rough burden." Penny reached over and squeezed Fabio's hand. His breath hitched before he roughly pulled his hand out of hers.

"If I wanted your pity, I would have asked for it." He hissed at her. They had reached the apartment and Fabio all but sprinted up the stairs. Penny paid the cab driver and hurried after him. She reached the guys' apartment and let herself in. Upon hearing water running, she headed towards the bathroom. Knocking lightly, she tested the waters. "Hey, you ok in there?" She jumped when the door slammed open. Fabio looked crazy-eyed, devoid of makeup, and started stalking down the hall to Sheldon's room. He tossed his clothes into the alter closet on the way past and slammed the bedroom open. Penny followed silently behind him but Fabio stopped her in the doorway.

"I underestimated you Penny. I won't be so stupid next time." Fabio slammed the door in her face.

Penny lightly tested the door, locked, before heading back to her own apartment. She had plenty to think about and more to add to her board. This alter was not going down without a fight.

***Chapter 25! Crazy! I am amazed and a little sad that I am this far. Amazed that I made it this far, but sad that it has taken me this long. Thanks to everyone that has stayed with me. I hope that this chapter was worth the wait. Thanks for all the lovely reviews. I hope that I can live up to such praise. I'll get the next chapter out as soon as I can. Much Love!****