Disclaimer: I do not own The Big Bang Theory
So I know I have been on the Leonard and Amy hate train, but that is what I focused on for the first few chapters. Leonard is almost out of the story, you'll see why later. It is going to now focus on the Shenny aspect, and character growth. Extremely AU from here on out.
PS, sorry for the long wait, COVID-19 and writers block don't help things. (Okay, the wait was way too damn long. I promise not to leave you guys on a cliffhanger like that again.)
Sheldon woke up at the early hours of the morning, with Penny still curled into his side, and he intended to stay with her for as long as he could, so he knew what he had to do. He silently unwrapped himself out of Penny's embrace, making sure he didn't wake her, and he walked silently to his own apartment. The clock on the stove read 6:35 AM, and he knew that Gabelhauzer would be up by now, so he knew he could call him now. Picking up the phone on the end table next to his spot, he dialed his number.
"Hello, this is Dr. Gabelhauzer," He said.
"Hello, sir. This is Dr. Cooper, and I would like to allocate a week of vacation time this week so I make take care of my emotionally traumatized friend." He tried to say it with as little fury as he could, which took all of his willpower considering that Leonard was still fresh in his mind.
"Absolutely, but if I may ask, what happens to be so important that would make you finally use vacation time?" The question only added to Sheldon's anger.
As calmly as possible, he finally spoke after what seemed like an eternity. "My friend Penny was sexually assaulted by my roommate last night, and she requires somebody's presence at all times for the foreseeable future. And as I just to happen to reside across the hall, I figure I am the easiest choice."
"Wow… Ok. Just let me know when you wish to return to work, you may take a sabbatical as well should you wish. Please accept my sincere condolences, and make sure your friend is taken care of."
"I will, thank you Dr. Gabelhauzer." He hung up.
Sheldon then entered his kitchen, he thought briefly that he could cheer Penny up with something to eat, perhaps a hot beverage. But knowing that Penny preferred human contact and touching, he decided against it.
Entering her apartment, he heard crying coming from her bedroom, and he inferred that she had woken. He swiftly entered her bedroom, and she reached for him like a newborn baby. He obliged, and wrapped her in his arms. Between sobs, he heard her trying to formulate words, and he responded by holding her tighter, rubbing her back in long and gentle strokes. This elicited purrs from Penny.
When she managed to hold back tears long enough, she said "I have to get up for work, Sheldon." His sympathetic look turned to concern and authority.
"You absolutely will not, I have already called the Cheesecake factory and informed them of the events of last night, your manager wishes you well and asks that you take time away to emotionally recover. And if you will not listen, I will force you to stay and recover." He then chuckled, hoping humor could somehow lighten the mood.
She snuggled into his chest even more than she already had, and looked up at him with her emerald eyes. "Thank you for standing up for me, sweetie. I don't even want to think of what would have happened if you hadn't came when you did." She started to shiver, so he held her tighter.
"I was briefly sexually assaulted by Amy after she revealed her five-year plan to me, so I exited the predicament as fast as humanly possible. I apologize for losing control with Leonard, and possibly traumatizing you any more than you already have been." He looked down at her apologetically.
"If anything, that helped. That bastard deserves way more than you gave him, there is a special place in hell for assholes like him."
He rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Although I don't ascribe to theological ideas, I can understand the metaphor. He does indeed deserve to 'burn in hell' as you put it. I suppose prison will have to be a substitute for now, until he turns up deceased."
"After that little show last night, I am never letting you go honey, you better know that." She moved up and gave him a long, suffocating kiss on the lips. And when she pulled back, his face was scarlett red.
"I find that I am not averse to that idea, actually I find it quite pleasant." A smile broke out on her face that spread from ear to ear, and her eyes betrayed her pure joy mixed with emotional terror. Sheldon wondered why he could see through her smile. "You may be happy that I agree to your terms, but I can see you are putting on a façade of stability, so I can only infer that Leonard's actions last night regarding you are affecting you more than I thought."
She was biting her bottom lip now, tears welling in her eyes. "OF COURSE I'M NOT OKAY! I FUCKING GOT RAPED!" She was shivering to such a degree that Sheldon noticed it was not far off from a seizure, and so he did the only thing he knew how to do in situations like this.
"What do you suppose I do then? How can I help you to recover?"
"J-just, stay here and hold me. I need you Sheldon, now more than ever. Don't leave me…" Sheldon lay down on the bed, and pulled Penny on top of him, and held her tight. They didn't move for hours.
