Got the Job / Tactical reward

In 4A the hushed concentration of TV watching is disrupted by a distant happy squealing that seems to get louder until Penny bursts in, clutching her phone and shouting "I got the job!

Leonard smiles. "You got a job? Well done!"

Sheldon nods smugly "I knew you could. The only probable outcome where you didn't would involved the entire company being stupid. Which sadly is more common than I prefer to think from the last few auditions. "

She throws her arms around Sheldon "thank you! thank you! thank you! They even had a read through of a scene from the previous game, they were really impressed I already knew it." She laughs Though the guy doing the motion capture was as shy as Raj about putting markers on my boobs. I had to help him! "

"He was obviously intimidated by your talents and tactical use of a Wonderbra."

"Well, you said to impress them with my talents and assets. and it worked wonders!"

"Of course. Now you remember your promise."

"Yes, when I quit the waitress job I'll train my replacement to your standards of hygiene"

Leonard looks worried "You're quitting your job? are you sure?"

They both look at him scornfully until he looks away.

"Now I had a look at the contract your agent uses and its frankly archaic. I've added a few clauses more suitable for computer games and motion capture work. This way you keep rights to your form, face and voice plus options on any sequels, live action appearances, conventions and similar."

Tactical

the Next day Sheldon has a surprise gift for her "After Leonard proved his gangster credentials by managing to load and discharge a pistol into his own foot I thought id provide you with a more enjoyable firearms experience as congratulations on your successful audition."

"I've booked you an intensive weekend course with Taran Tactical firing range on their three gun special. I'll be your timer and record keeper"

"You're not shooting?"

" although Texas is in my blood I've no desire to fire any actual firearms, but give me a clip board and a stop watch and hot damn I'm there! "

The afternoon sun was beating down so Sheldon took shelter in the shade, clutching his stop watch and clip board with undisguised glee. Penny had been doing really well and he had lots of stats to prove it. He decided he'd make her a graph to put on the fridge in triumph.

Around him other spectators gathered , both customers and trainers. There was tension in the air, but his attention was fixed intently on Penny

Penny was on the start line, ready to go on the final run of the triple gun course. She'd stripped down to cycle shorts and a sports bra in matching black with hot pink colour panels and chunky tactical sneakers with high grip soles. Over that she had a tactical harness with a broad belt holding a pistol in a rigid holster at her hip.

Her hair was pulled back into a tight pony tail and she had earplugs and yellow tinted shooting glasses on. Practicing in the afternoon heat her tan skin had a sheen of sweat as she limbered up, balancing on one foot, gripping her other ankle and stretching her leg out.

Putting her foot back down she bounced on the spot and wiggled her hips, part to show off to the watchers, especially Sheldon, part to ensure the custom Glock 34 pistol at her hip stayed holstered.

She looked back over her shoulder, grinning at Sheldon. He felt a surge of pride and lust, part at her nubile form ,sweaty and near naked in skin tight clothes, part the contrast of her soft flesh with the harsh brutality of black webbing straps and guns. His eyes met hers. Mostly, he admitted to himself, it's that she's Mine.

Her hands flickered through a few words of sign language he'd taught her for use when things were too loud for comfort "we good?"

He signed back "looking good" , knowing his grin conveyed the double meaning

She laughed, feeling happy. He was watching and he was proud of her, a thought that gave her a positively indecent thrill. When this was over she'd give him a very eager thank you.

But she focused on the task in hand . She put on her serious action hero face and checked her pistol.

Turning to the weapon master she took the rifle, checked its safety , gripped it but didn't put her finger in the trigger guard yet. Good trigger discipline was important.

The rifle was a short barrelled ar15 with a skeleton stock, custom vented on the muzzle to help handle the recoil . It had two sets of sights, a long range scope on top and a combat sight for close range set on a canted rail to the side, so you could switch between them simply by how you angled the gun

"Shooter ready?"

She chambered a round and put her finger on the trigger. She nodded. "Ready. "

"3.2.1. Go! "

Sheldon's finger twitched, starting the stop watch.

She was off at a sprint, legs pumping as she races to the first position, rifle shouldered as soon as she stops, snapping off rapid shots . Answering plinking noises from the metal targets as they fall

She hits the closest target dead on, shifts to long range, hits the two furthest, switches back to close and hits the last two on the rifle section.

Sheldon watches, admiring her form. She'd taken to the training well even though the instructors were very strict on safety and form, getting her stance and grip right. Throughout she'd occasionally glance to see if he was watching, almost unconsciously looking for his approval and reassurance. Just a simple nod and she'd grin and dive back in.

Penny Moves to the next shooting line, she draws the pistol from her hip and moves rapidly through the targets, double tapping each with two shots to the chest PLINKPLINK

She smoothly reholsters her pistol and snatches up the shotgun, blasting the nearest target with a deep bass CHOOM of shot that scours a clearly visible circle in the centre of the targets paint and makes it ring like a gong. Swinging the long barrel round, every trigger pull another blast, another clean hit.

She fires the last shot and steps back, checking the shotgun is clear.

"Time? "

"23.14!"

"Wooo!" she jumps in the air, slapping a high five

Sheldon smiles and notes it on his clip board

Bounds happily into his arms. he hugs her close, She smells of desert dust , gunpowder and gun oil.

"Did you see that?! It was awesome! and nineteen of nineteen targets, I hit everything dead on."

Earlier, one of the bystanders tries to make small talk wit Sheldon as they watch Penny practice

"Good form. Are you her trainer?"

"Trainer? in some ways, yes". The idea amuses him. "And I'm her boyfriend."

"I thought the two of you were together, she lights when she looks at you"

"Thank you, This course is her reward for a successful audition."

"Audition? She's an actress?"

"Yes, though she's only done adverts and bit parts, we're still looking for a big break"

"well, she has good form. here's my card. send her portfolio over, we may have something she'd be interested in" he hands him a card, neatly embossed with the legend 'Company Films' and several numbers and emails .

"you look after her, You two have got something special"