Chapter 53

Janice entered Sue's office, a little worried she had done something wrong, because she didn't know why she had been called in. Janice had only been in the office long enough to be off probation, so now she could handle her own cases, instead of following another case worker around all the time. Janice actually relaxed when she found out that Sue wanted her to investigate the Penelope from the TV reports and have her come in for a competency hearing. Sue told Janice, she would get Janice a subpoena from their favorite Judge, to order this Penelope to the hearing, so Janice wouldn't really have much to do at first. Janice, left Sue's office feeling pretty good, she was going to get a good case and Sue was going to help her with it.

Penny talked with Bernadette for an hour then excused herself, so she could get some more sleep. After Penny retreated to the bedroom, Bernadette got out her laptop and started working on the reports, from work, while she sat on the couch. The morning turned out to extremely productive for Bernadette, she had gotten through so much reading, in her quiet living room, more than she would have ever finished reading the whole day, if she had went to work. It was almost noon, now and she was taking a little break, when Penny strolled back into the room, yawning a little.

"Good afternoon, sleepy-head." Bernadette said teasing her.

"I know, I can just fall asleep at any time lately." Penny responded

"Well pregnant women, do need their sleep, so that is natural." Bernadette told her.

"I really need to see a doctor and get checked up. I hope I didn't do anything to hurt the baby the last few weeks." Penny said, she was now biting her lip thinking about the last few weeks. Her face covered in concern, while she absentmindedly rubbed her belly.

"I know a couple of girls that just had babies. Do you want me to get doctors recommendations?" Bernadette asked her.

"Would you? That would be so great. I don't have any idea who to call." Penny said with excitement.

Bernadette spent the next hour on the phone, with Penny writing down the information Bernadette got on doctors for her. They had a doctor recommendation, that seemed really good, and due to a cancellation, he had an opening come up on Wednesday afternoon, so that made Penny happy. After Penny's doctor situation was resolved, Bernadette then decided that since she was home, she would prepare a roast, for when the guys came home. Penny watched everything Bernadette did, so some time later she could make one for Leonard, she really wanted to learn how to be a wife and mother. Bernadette put the roast in the oven, , then excused herself to take a shower, leaving Penny alone for a little while, so she turned on the TV. Her curiosity got the better of her and she turned on the news channel, finding out she wasn't really prepared, as she thought, to see the news about her.

Leonard sat in the cafeteria, watching a news feed on his laptop, as he drank coffee and waited for Alex. Leonard didn't like what he was watching, it was all lies, and he hoped Penny never saw any of it. He had never really questioned the news that much, but now he wondered how they could lie so blatantly and twist the story to make it more sensational. He was disgusted.

Alex walked in the cafeteria, with her coffee, and saw Leonard sitting at a table looking at his laptop. His face was very troubled and she wondered if it was because all the news about Penny this weekend. Alex couldn't believe Penny would do that stuff, she had told Alex she loved Leonard and would fight for him. But the stuff they said she did was all so horrible, could it all be a lie, and she was an actress, like the people they arrested from the party. Alex couldn't help but wonder what Leonard's and Penny's situation was now, and she hated herself for thinking such thoughts.

"Hi, Dr Hofstadter." Alex said standing by him and seeing he was looking at a news feed.

Leonard jumped a little, he had not even noticed Alex walked up to him, he was so engrossed in the news feed on his laptop. He quickly closed his laptop and motioned for Alex to sit down. "Thank you for coming. How are you feeling?" he asked.

Alex didn't know what to think, his face changed so fast from being upset to now being pleasant. She wondered if she should say something or just act pleasant too. "I'm fine." she said, then decided to ask. "Are you OK?" she asked with concern in her voice.

Leonard's face changed back to a frown, she could tell he was thinking and trying to decide what to say. Something was definitely bothering him, and it had to do with the news they were saying about Penny. She just decided to wait for him to say the next thing.

"Well no. Have you seen the news about Penny?" he asked and Alex nodded, afraid to say anything. "I can't believe the lies they are putting on TV about her and there is nothing we can do." he said. "She is pregnant, but it is with my baby, not this ass, Todd's. The only thing he did was almost get her killed, he was drunk, and they are making her out to be the bad guy, saying she drove him to crash his car." Leonard told her, shaking his head in the end.

Alex was ashamed of herself, because deep down inside, she had hoped a little that it was all true about Penny and Leonard didn't want to be with her anymore. She still had this huge crush on Leonard, and she got goose bumps just being around him, but it was wrong and she knew it. He was now talking to her as a friend, and she wanted to be his friend.

"I'm sorry." Alex said to him, she really was, but for more than was happening to Penny.

Leonard was dumping on her again, he realized and he had to stop doing that, so he decided to change the subject to what he asked her to be there for. "Alex, how do you feel about still working with me. I know things are…..I don't know…different, but I sort of need you to help me finish this project. I think we make a great project team. I also checked, this would qualify for your dissertation. You would just have to brief the department board on our report and defend our results."

'Yes Leonard, I would love to work with you. I'd love to spend all my time with you.' Alex thought. She also thought, could she really do it, and not die inside because she still was in love with him. "Leonard can you give me a day to think about it?" Alex asked him.

"Sure, take all the time you need." Leonard told her, because what else could he do.

Bernadette came out of the shower, finding Penny in front of the TV, watching the news and crying. Penny couldn't believe what they were saying about her, the lies they were telling everyone. They were telling the world she was a tramp, or maybe even a prostitute. How could they do this?

Penny looked at Bernadette. "What if my parents see this. The people back home. I would never be able to go back." Penny said, the tears flowing down her face.

Bernadette knew this was going to happen when Penny saw this, she knew because she would act the same way. This was terrible and they were spreading lies about Penny and, yes, her parents might see it too. She didn't know what to tell Penny, because it was bad and it didn't look any better in the future. "Penny, we all know it's not true and your parents will too." Bernadette said to try and comfort her.

Penny just looked at Bernadette, then got up and went to the bedroom to cry in her pillow. She so badly wanted Leonard right now, this was all so bad and she needed Leonard. Penny didn't even notice Bernadette was sitting on her bed, rubbing her back, until 15 minutes later. Penny appreciated Bernadette, but she wanted Leonard, and she was also very tired again now, she fell asleep a few minutes later.

Janice knocked on Penny's apartment door, with the subpoena in hand to serve her. However, Janice never expected no one to answer, so she was at a loss at what to do. She kept knocking until she heard the lock click on the apartment across the hall, then the door opened and a tall skinny guy stood there staring at her.

"Penny isn't home." he told Janice.

"Is that Penelope?" Janice asked

"Yes Penelope, but everyone calls her Penny." Sheldon corrected her.

"Do you know her?" Janice asked

"Yes, only because she dates my roommate." Sheldon said

"Can you give this to her." Janice asked

"Who do you think I am? Her servant? No I won't give that to her." Sheldon admonished her.

"Will she come home soon?" Janice asked him

"How am I suppose to know. I don't watch her. Her comings and goings are none of my concern." Sheldon told her in disgust.

"But I have to give this to her." Janice pleaded

Sheldon was tired talking to her. "Just slip it under the door, she'll get it. I don't have time to be her messenger." Sheldon stated, "and quit doing that absurd knocking." then he closed the door.

Janice decided the tall man was probably right, so she just slid the subpoena under the door. The hearing wasn't till Thursday, surely she would see it before then. Janice then left satisfied that she did all that she could do that day.

Leonard left work at 3:30 PM and headed back to Howard's apartment with him. Howard had taken off early, too, but tomorrow he would probably have to drive himself, because Leonard was planning on getting out of work early all week. Raj, Howard and Leonard, were a little surprised that Sheldon didn't show up to work today, but Amy was out of town, seeing her mother, and he refused to ride the bus because he got something on his bus pants, the week before, and had to throw them out. Sheldon worked at home, to everyone's delight, but since he hates missing work, he was in a very bad mood when the guys called him to see if he was OK.

Howard and Leonard, arrived at the apartment, to find Bernadette reading on the couch, and Penny nowhere in sight. While Howard walked over to kiss his wife, Leonard stood there confused.

"She is in the bedroom." Bernadette told him, sadly. "She watched the news today and she has been upset ever since. I guess she had to see it sometime, but I was thinking it was probably better she did it today, while one of us was here."

Leonard nodded, Bernadette was right, it was better that someone was here. "I'm going to check on her." Leonard said quietly, then he walked over to the bedroom.

Penny laid awake on the bed, she had heard the front door open and she was hoping it was Leonard. She didn't want to talk to anyone but him, right now, so she just waited on the bed hoping he would join her soon. This moment she could wait a little longer, but if he didn't get in there soon, she was going out to get him, she needed him right now. She turned her head when she heard the door to the bedroom open.

"Leonard." she said softly, her voice a little strained from crying.

Leonard, kicked off his shoes, then got on the bed, putting his arms around her. "How are you doing, honey?" he asked her quietly, his face close to hers.

Leonard's arms around her and his face so close to hers, was so soothing to her, and it actually physically made her feel better. She forgot everything for the moment, except how much she had missed him being gone, she turned, so she was on her back, then wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him to her, so she could kiss him. She was obsessed with Leonard's lips, they were so soft, moist and it always gave her a little rush when they met hers. It seemed now that every time she kissed him, she would forget about everything except him, his lips, mouth and body being close and hers. He had become her happiness drug, she was addicted to him and she never wanted it to end.

She didn't know how long they kissed, but eventually they naturally parted their lips, Penny smiled a little. "I've missed you." she told him, her nose touching his.

Leonard smiled and chuckled, "Really, I didn't notice." he said and was rewarded with her pinching his side. "Ouch! I missed you too." he admitted. "How are you?" his earlier concern returning.

"Honestly, I'm really feeling better, now." she told him, him being so close to her always made her forget her problems.

"Well, I do have that affect on women." he told her, teasing her again. "Ouch!"

"There better not be any more women, you are affecting." she told him in mock anger.

"Only you, baby." Leonard said kissing her, "Only you." kissing her again, "Always, only you." kissing her deeply.

He pulled slowly away from her lips and now she could look at him, 'God' she was so in love with him. She couldn't explain the feelings she was having right now, but she knew she never wanted them to end. She just felt good, laying there looking at him, and she couldn't help herself from touching him, and it made her so happy he was hers. She ran her hand alongside his face and he smiled, she loved his smile, he was so cute, she just wanted to cuddle with him. This was going to be the rest of her life, him, their child and there life together as a family, it just made her smile.

"I must have done something right, Wow, what a big smile you have. What are you thinking about?" he asked her.

"I was just thinking, that I am happy, and what a sexy little nerd, I have in bed with me." Penny said with a smile. "I was also thinking about us married and having a family."

She seemed happy, which always made him happy. However, her talking about being married, made him remember something he did earlier. "I have to get something." he said suddenly and started to get up.

Penny didn't want him to go, so as he got up she was pulled up with him because she wouldn't let go of him. Once he realized what was happening, he got back down so she was back on the bed. She was biting her lip and he could tell she was thinking about something. "I just want to get something, I brought home, I promise I will come right back, honey." he told her.

She didn't want him to go, it scared her for him to leave, she knew it was her hormones, they were driving her crazy sometimes. She forced herself to let go of him, it was really hard, "Ok, but come right back." she finally said.

Leonard got off the bed and went out the door, but was back 20 seconds later with a stack of magazines. She felt so relieved when he came back in she didn't even notice what he was carrying until he sat next to her, on the bed, and put the magazines on the bed next to her. She couldn't help notice them then, they were all bridal magazines.

Penny sat up next him and put her head on his shoulder, "Where did you get all these?" she asked, as she picked each one up and looked at its cover.

"One of the PHD's in the chemistry department got married a few weeks ago, and was back to work today, so I asked, and she gave them to me. They are only one to two months old, so they are still very current." he said, smiling at her. Then he got real serious, "Penny do want to talk about getting married?" he asked, quietly.

She knew they were going to get married, but she had not thought much farther than that. She thought for a moment, yes she wanted to talk about it, she needed to start doing some planning. She looked at him and was immediately concerned because she could see the worried expression on his face. "Yes, Sweetie, I would love to talk about it." she said, smiling, then gave him a kiss.

"Can I tell you something?" he asked, and Penny nodded, "I really want to be married to you before you get too big. I want to be your husband, when we go through those baby classes, when you are big and I am holding your hand, and especially when I'm with you, when the baby comes." he confessed.

Penny, smiled, she loved this man so much, "Me too." she responded and gave him a very long kiss.