A/N Sorry, I'm a bit late today, but I was busy today, but it's only about 8 hours. A bit of background, I wrote the first draft of this chapter, just after I bought Red Dead Redemption 2, so I thought I'd add that section with Leonard, because I thought of the bit where Sheldon is playing Red Dead Redemption, and offers Leonard a drink. This leads to one of my favorite lines, "I can't, I'm playing Grand Theft Auto later."

Chapter 51

Apt 314, 8:30 PM Sunday Nov 4th 2012

"I just can't talk to you about it right now," said Penny

"Well, if you're not going to call with me here," said Jeanie, "I'll leave."

"No, no, no, please don't go," said Penny pleadingly, she needed some advice from her, and she desperately didn't want to be alone.

"OK, then," said Jeanie, "you call Leonard, I'm going to run to the bathroom."

Jeanie got up and went to the bathroom, while Penny selected Leonard's number and tapped it. She was hoping she would be off the phone before Jeanie got back. She heard Leonard's phone ring, then Leonard answered, "Penny, is that you, are you all right?"

"I'm still feeling a little sick to my stomach," said Penny. "I was laying down, trying to get some rest and so I can feel better before tomorrow." Penny felt guilty again for kind of lying to Leonard, but all she wanted was to get off the phone, so she wouldn't have to talk to Leonard and start crying, or still be on it when Jeanie came back.

"That's fine," said Leonard, then continued, almost pleading, "but, please answer my calls and texts, or call or text me back. I'm really worried about you right now, to let me know, OK?"

"It's nothing Leonard," said Penny, "but I'll call." She really wanted to be off before Jeanie came back, so she felt a little white lie wouldn't hurt. She didn't notice Jeanie had left the bathroom and was standing behind her.

Penny continued, "Like I said, I'm not feeling well, and I think I'm running a fever. I was dozing off when you called and I didn't get to answering it."

"OK, I feel better now, hearing from you," said Leonard. "I'll let you go then, get back to sleep, and get better."

"I will, more sleep and more fluids," said Penny, "goodbye, Leonard."

"Goodbye, Penny," said Leonard, "I love you."

They both disconnected. Penny had a smile of relief on her face, until she heard Jeanie, "What the hell was that, Penny? You're not sick, just hungover, why are you lying to Leonard?"

Penny turned, shocked to see Jeanie behind her, and she asked, sounding a bit panicked, "How much of that did you hear?"

"Oh, enough," said Jeanie, "like you being nauseous and just dozing off, before he called, which I know isn't true. So, again, what the hell is going on, and why are you lying to Leonard?"

"Jeanie," said Penny, starting to choke up, "it's been a very rough week for me, and I don't want to get into it, OK? I've got some issues that I need to work through, part of it has to do with Leonard, so I can't talk to him."

Jeanie looked around, looked at her, and scoffed, "I wouldn't say it's been a rough week, how about it's just been a rough weekend? You have dishes on the counter, dishes out here, your garbage is full, and an awful lot of empty wine bottles, like you've been drunk the whole weekend. I would say that's what the problem is, from the way your hair looks. So what's going on?"

Penny looked away from Jeanie and said evasively, "I told you, I really don't want to get into it. Let me work some things out and I may decided to tell you, although if I work them out, it won't really matter." She turned back to Jeanie, "But, I need your help."

Jeanie just looked at her sternly, "What you need, is my help to to quit drinking, and quit lying. What's going on?"

"I told you, I didn't want to talk about it. What is so hard for you to understand?" Penny had snapped at Jeanie, and continued angrily, "I need some advice, and I need it before tomorrow, so can we concentrate on that?"

Jeanie paused, she really wanted to know what Penny's problem was, but she could sense Penny was already defensive about it, but she thought she'd give it one more try. "Come on Penny, if something is bothering you, I might be able to help, just…"

"NO, dammit," yelled Penny, "You can't help with the problem and I would hope you would respect my feelings on this." Penny's voice became softer, but still sounded angry, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't snap at you because I have a problem. But if you keep pushing me, I will be angry. Now, if you don't want to help me with what I need, just tell me now, and I'll try to find someone else."

"OK, Penny," said Jeanie, "I'm your friend and I want to help you solve your problems. But, it looks like you don't want help for what seems to be the major problem, so what is it that you need from me before tomorrow?"

Penny glared at Jeanie, "Just some advice." She was wondering how to explain her hatred for Brent right now, so she decided to be vague. "Something happened between Brent and I this week, and like I said, I don't want to get into it. My problem is I have scenes with him this week, and we have to pre-shoot about five tomorrow."

"What happened?" asked Jeanie grinning. "Did you two end up making out or something?"

Her flippancy about the comment, along with how close to the truth it was, made Penny angry, and she said through clenched teeth, "I said I didn't want to talk about it. What is so hard about it that you can't understand?"

"OK, OK," said Jeanie, "geesh."

"Let's just say I really, really dislike him right now. I'm at the point where I don't want to be anywhere near him, and yet I have to shoot these scenes. How do you shoot scenes with someone you really don't like?"

"I'm not sure what to tell you," said Jeanie. "If you dislike him that much, that just being near him is a problem, I really don't know how to fix it. To get through the shoot, the only thing I can think of is to use the energy of disliking him, to work through the scene."

"How the hell would I do that?" asked Penny.

"That's something you're going to have to figure out," said Jeanie. "Have you heard stories about two actors that hate each other, but they seem to have a lot of chemistry, on screen?"

Penny nodded.

"I had that happen once," said Jeanie. "It was someone I absolutely hated, and we had to do a scene where we were making out. I was very aggressive in the scene, making it look like I wanted him desperately. Hate is a passion, as is love. So, I took that hate, and turned that feeling into what appeared to be love. But it wasn't love, it was my hate of him."

"Aggressive?" said Penny, "I can't be aggressive with him in that scene. And, besides, this is a comedy."

"I don't mean physically aggressive," said Jeanie, "you just use the dislike, emotionally, except you channel it into the emotion of the scene. And don't ask me how to do that. Each person is different and has to figure it out for themselves. I can tell you what you have to do, but not how you can do it."

"But, I don't know how to do that," said Penny sadly.

"I think you'll find," said Jeanie, "that once you start, you'll figure it out. OK, try this, a lot of your lines are sarcastic, it might help to turn your hate, into sarcasm, look for places in your script tonight, where you use the sarcasm toward Brent, not the character. The same with emotions, put your anger in that one scene, towards Brent, not the character."

"I guess," said Penny, nodding. "I'll think about it some tonight, look at the script, and try to channel it tomorrow morning, maybe I'll figure it out. Do you want some wine?"

"I would," said Jeanie, "but, from the looks of this place, you, and especially your table, I don't think you need any tonight, so I'll pass."

"Who are you to tell me that?" said Penny.

"Yes, I drink, but Penny, just look around at this place" said Jeanie. "Here's what I'm going to do, I'm going to take the two full bottles home with me, and I highly recommend you put the dishes in the dishwasher, take the trash out and straighten out the rest of the place."

"Then you will go to bed and get up around eight, so you can get a good breakfast and a shower. Then use the rest of the time, until I get here, to try and channel your dislike into the emotion or line or action of the scene. I'll be here at 9:30 to get you, got it?"

Penny said, with some relief, "Ok, I will. Thanks Jeanie, it's good to have you back. I could have really used you this weekend. And I'm sorry I got angry and yelled at you."

Jeanie looked around again, "No doubt, but I'm here now, so we'll take care of it. And don't worry about getting angry, it seems you're upset and the anger is compensation. See you tomorrow."

Jeanie leaned over and gave Penny a kiss on the cheek, then hugged her. She walked over to the table and grabbed the two unopened bottles of wine, then walked to the door, and opened it, before saying, "Goodnight Penny, see you in the morning," as she closed the door.

Penny watched her leave and whispered "Goodnight, Jeanie." Penny turned and looked around her apartment. She walked to the table and starting to pick up all her dishes.

Apt 314, 9:30 PM Monday Nov 5th 2012

Penny was sitting on her couch, the TV playing in the background. She was starting to feel the wine. She had gotten through the pre-taped scenes with Brent, apparently without any trouble. Jeanie had commented on how easy she had made it look, and even Steve had complemented her on those scenes, compared to how she had looked the week before.

Penny knew otherwise. It had taken all of her will power not to think about what had happened with Brent, during those scenes. When she did think of it, she was reminded she had cheated on Leonard. That had happened a couple of times, but she had managed to hide the feelings and prevent the tears from forming, enabling her to get through the taping, of those scenes.

She had refused Jeanie's offer to make dinner and spend the night with her and when Jeanie had continued to push, Penny had cut her off, again angrily. Jeanie ignored that, because she was sure the anger was due to the unknown problem, but until Penny opened up, she wouldn't know what the problem was.

As soon as Penny got home, she felt the pressure of the day weigh her down, and she started drinking immediately. Around six, she made herself dinner and afterward, as she aimlessly flipped through the television channels, she continued to drink.

She was feeling really down, about what she had done, and now felt on the verge of tears as she realized she didn't want to talk to Leonard, because she was afraid that she would mistakenly tell him what had happened. She started to get up, to pour another glass of wine, when her phone started playing Leonard's ringtone.

She just stared at her phone, she couldn't even reach for it. She was already close to tears. was also afraid if she answered, she wouldn't be able to keep from crying. And if she was crying, Leonard would ask what was wrong."

And if he did ask, she would have to lie again or mistakenly tell him the truth. The tone finally stopped, and a minute later the tone for a voicemail went off. Looking at the phone, her tears started flowing. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," was all she could say, over and over.

After about 15 minutes, she was still weepy, but she turned off the TV, and took her glass to the kitchen and put it in the sink. She took a couple of aspirin, drinking a whole glass of water, before heading for her bathroom, where she brushed her teeth, flossed, and washed her face.

She then changed into a nightgown and climbed into bed. As she was turning off the light, she again caught sight of Leonard's picture, still upside down, and she started crying again, finally crying herself to sleep.

Apt 4A, 10:30 PM Monday Nov 5th 2012

After leaving the message, Leonard tried to go back to work on his idea, but he was worried and kept thinking about Penny. She's been nauseous for a week now, and she hasn't been to the doctor, maybe I should call Jeanie, maybe she'll be able to get her to go see a doctor.

Leonard decided not to call Jeanie, he figured he could give Penny another week or so to get better. To kill some time before bed, he grabbed the controller for the Playstation, and played a mission from Red Dead Redemption. That took him about a half hour, then he shut it off, turned off the lights in the living room and kitchen, and went to the bathroom to start preparing for bed.

Studio 44, 10:30 PM Tuesday Nov 6th 2012

The actors had taken their bows, the auditence was leaving, and Jeanie was talking with Dave and a friend of his. Dave was looking around, his friend wanted to meet "Penelope", but he couldn't see her.

Jeanie now started looking for her also and, she too, couldn't see her anywhere on the set. She said goodbye to Dave's friend, and walked over to her dressing room. Before going in, she stopped and looked at the stairs, wondering if Penny had gone up to her dressing room.

She started up the stairs and knocked on Penny's dressing room door, and heard from within, "Just a minute."

Penny came to the door and Jeanie could see the tears in Penny's red streaked eyes. She also saw traces of mascara running down Penny's cheeks, and immediately became concerned.

"What's wrong, Penny?" Jeanie asked.

"Nothing for you to worry about," said Penny, choking up.

"But, you're crying."

"It's none of your business, right now," said Penny sharply, "just leave it alone, OK?"

"I don't get it," said Jeanie sounding frustrated, "You had such a great night, you killed it out there, so what do you have to be upset about? Just tell me, I ca…"

"I SAID LEAVE IT ALONE," yelled Penny, then she turned away.

Jeanie was hurt and wanted to lash out back at Penny. But, it was obvious something serious was bothering her, so she took a deep breath and said, "OK, calm down, I'll leave it alone. But, I'm going to ask you when I think something is bothering you. Penny, you are my friend, I care about you."

"Right now, you aren't behaving anything like you behaved prior to last week. Something is obviously bothering you. If you don't want to talk about it, just tell me. You don't have to yell."

Penny now felt even worse, now she was hurting Jeanie. She turned and nodded. "I'm sorry Jeanie," said Penny, sounding contrite. "I told you, I've got several things I have to figure out on my own, no one can help me, right now. It is upsetting me, I sometimes get teary, but for now, I can't say anymore. So please just let it go for now."

Jeanie smiled at Penny, "I can do that, as long as you realize that if I see you upset, I am going to ask, I'm even going to bug you about it, I can't help it, I care about you."

Penny smiled weakly back, "I'll try to remember that, before I yell at you."

"Good, now," said Jeanie, "are you about ready to go to Jake's"

Penny felt slightly panicked, not wanting to see Brent there, "No, I think I'm just going to go home. I know I'm upset and I'm just not feeling right. I want to get some sleep."

Jeanie looked at her, then nodded, "Ok, I'll see you tomorrow morning then."

Penny walked up to Jeanie and said, "Thank you for caring." Penny then hugged Jeanie, holding on tightly. Jeanie noticed how tightly Penny was hanging on, and returned it.

After they broke the hug, Jeanie said, "You're welcome sweetie. See you in the morning." She then left.

Penny sighed, and turned to pack everything up. She got everything into her bag, left her dressing room and locked her door. She walked down the stairs and out of the studio, saying goodbye to some of the cast and crew.

She left the studio, walking east on 57th and at the corner she crossed the street, looking at the door to Jake's. She thought about changing her mind, and going in. But, then she thought that she might see Brent, and she really didn't want to see him, so she kept to her plan, passed by Jake's, and continued toward her apartment.

She had walked about 100 feet from the corner, when she got a peculiar feeling. She turned to find Brent, watching her. He looked at her, pursed his lips, and basically made a kissing motion toward her. She turned around, and with her eyes filling with tears, walked quickly home.

After getting home, she closed and locked her door, leaned against the door, and began full out crying, tears streaming down her cheeks. After a few seconds, she threw her things on the table, took off her coat, and went to her bedroom, changing for bed. She didn't even bother with washing her face or brushing her teeth, she just threw herself on the bed and began loudly crying until she fell asleep.