A/N It seems weird, after a year and a half, not to have anymore of the first draft to write on this story. My first reader's job is complete, (thanks TBBT78) as I'm done writing, and they are done reading. I have to send my second reader two more second draft chapters, which will bring me to hapter 75, in second draft, my usual ten ahead of what's published. After this, each week I'll be doing the final draft of the next chapter to be published, then sending the second draft of the next chapter to my second reader. I'll have to find something else to do. Hmmmmm, I could restart Red Dead Redemption II, I had to give it up a few months ago, due to my wrist/elbow injury, those are better now, so, yeah, RDRII is my next project.

Chapter 65

Apt 314, 10:30 AM Tuesday December 4th 2012.

Penny was sitting in her apartment, surfing the net, just looking at random things, when she received an email, from People Magazine. Opening the email, she found that People were going to name her the favorite new TV star. Penny was shocked and didn't know quite what to do, when her phone's tone for Jeanie started ringing. Penny picked up her phone and said, "Hi, Jeanie, what's up?" Before Jeanie could say anything, there was another tone, and looking at her phone's screen, she found Kelli was calling. She said, "Jeanie, Kelli is calling, I'll be right back."

Jeanie, sounding excited, said, "Go ahead, talk to her, it's probably for the same thing, call me back when you get done."

Penny disconnected with Jeanie and answered the phone, "What's going on Kelli?"

"Did you get the email from People?" asked Kelli.

"Yes," said Penny, "I just saw it. I think Jeanie knows about it too."

Kelli said, "Yeah, they probably want to talk to her, because they also want to talk to me. They would like to see you, at the studio, today at 1 PM. They want to shoot some pictures around the set, and ask you some questions, can you be there?"

Penny didn't really want to go, but Kelli sounded so excited about it, she told her she would be there at 1 PM. Kelli thanked her and said her goodbyes. Penny called Jeanie back and when she answered Penny asked, "Is this about People?"

"Yes," said Jeanie, still sounding excited, "isn't this great? This will really help your career. And, they want to talk to me, so I can tell them how great you are."

"Yeah, Kelli wants me down at the studio at 1PM," said Penny resignedly. "I guess they want to shoot some pictures and ask me some questions. I really don't want to do it."

"Are you nuts?" asked Jeanie

"Jeanie, it's the same thing," said Penny. "I don't feel I deserve it, you know you and Dave carry this show much more than I do."

"And, you know that's not true," said Jeanie. "Do you really not know how much good publicity you've brought to the show?"

"Look, all I know is that you and Dave have saved me more than I can count, in one way or another," said Penny. "When you add everything going on in my life right now, not to mention how this acting thing is not turning out like I expected, I'm really not in any mood to do this."

"Penny, you have to do it, Kelli…"

"I know, I know," said Penny. "I'll do it because Kelli is so excited about how much it will help me and the show. I know I owe her, so yes, I'm going in."

"That's better," said Jeanie. Wondering about the comment about this acting thing, she said, "Now, come up and see me when you get back."

"I will, now let me go get a shower and get ready."

"OK, Penny, talk to you later, goodbye."

Penny said, "Goodbye," and disconnected, then headed for the shower.

CalTech Laser Lab, 2:00 PM Tuesday December 4th 2012.

Leonard was looking over the file Oxford had sent. It detailed what his new job would entail. Basically research into any ideas he had; reading classes, which meant lecturing in US terms, he had found out; and what they called tutorials. It would be a bit of a shift for him. While he would still be doing research, the paperwork they sent, showed he would not be running the lab. He would be lecturing and doing tutorials, although he wasn't clear on what exactly those were. A second page mentioned the possibility of running the laser lab, helping with other's research, but all that was yet to be decided.

There was also information for living arrangements, how professors were expected to act, both during and outside of classes. There were some minor differences, from Cal Tech, that Leonard was sure he would be able to adjust to, although he would have to ask about the dressing requirements, he had heard professorial dress, at Oxford, was much more formal.

There was also a handwritten page, talking about his current research, and how Oxford expected him to continue to perform the experiments, and send the results to Cal Tech. It was something Geoff was already doing, except, now, instead of the results being sent to Leonard, Leonard would be sending them to Sheldon. Also on the handwritten page was a detailed breakout of what Oxford was offering, in terms of pay, for Leonard's position. He noticed that they included the pay with and without him running the laser lab. He also noticed that part of his money would come from Trinity College, not Oxford University. Hmmmmmmm, I'll have to ask about that.

The amounts were also dependent on where he lived. He could take a couple of rooms at the college, along with meals, and that would be taken out of his salary. But, it would be within walking distance of the lab, and he thought it best, for the first semester at least, to take advantage of these rooms. It would let him get acquainted with the area, and learn to drive on what was, for him, the wrong side of the road. Leonard did have some questions, and he had written them in the margin of the papers. Many of those were just minor things he felt sure wouldn't be a problem. He would talk to Geoff about most of it tomorrow, after talking to Alain about his salary. He felt the offer was low, but if he and Alain could work out the salary, he would be accepting the position.

He sent an email, telling them he would call at 3 PM, their time, then he started looking through his files, trying to determine which ones would be left here, and which he would send to Oxford. He knew he was going to be staying late here, and then he had to stop and talk to Stuart, so he wouldn't be able to take Sheldon home. He looked up Amy's number, on his phone, to ask her to take Sheldon home.

Apt 314, 6:00 PM Tuesday December 4th 2012.

Penny had just gotten home, from the interview and the photo shoot. It would appear next week in the magazine, and on People's web site. Before she left the studio, she had gotten a message from Jeanie, that dinner would be ready around 6:30, and she should come up to Jeanie's apartment, around then, for dinner. Penny stopped by her apartment to drop off her purse and coat, then headed up to Jeanie's apartment, taking her bag with her. She knocked on the door and waited. After about a minute, she was getting ready to knock again, when the door opened and Jeanie said, "Come on in," before running back to the kitchen.

Penny entered and closed the door. She heard Jeanie say, "Sit down at the table, I have to finish putting the food in the oven, I'll join you in a minute or so."

Mindful of Penny's drinking, Jeanie asked, "Would you like some tea?"

Penny was expecting wine, but accepted the tea. She sat down, and took a sip. True to her word, Jeanie sat down a minute later. "So, tell me," said Jeanie, "how did it go?"

Penny spent the next 20 minutes telling Jeanie about the interview, telling her some of the questions, and her answers, then the photo shoot. How they used several of her costumes, to illustrate Jess, and some other clothes to make her appear more glamorous than Penny felt she was. At that point Penny continued talking, while she started setting the table, and Jeanie finished the dinner. She had made broiled chicken breasts with asparagus, and a baked potato for each of them. She put it on the table and they started eating, again, talking about the article and photo shoot. After they were done eating, they cleared the table, washed the dishes, and then went out to the living room, sitting on the couch.

Jeanie had sat down, but before Penny sat down, she brought over her bag and gave Jeanie her script. "That one is yours," said Penny. "I read mine while they were setting up different shots today."

Jeanie was surprised, since they had been off for two weeks, and she had forgotten her script would be arriving today, and especially surprised that Penny brought it. Jeanie thanked Penny, then paused, she wanted to ask Penny something, but she was aware of how Penny could close down. Finally, she said, "Penny, can you tell me what you meant earlier today, by this acting thing not going as you expected?"

Looking sad, Penny sighed, feeling an emotional pain, "You sound like Leonard."

"That didn't answer my question."

Penny paused, she was wondering if Jeanie was going to ask about Leonard, or how she was feeling about it, but she didn't say anything or move.

Jeanie looked at her, "What did you mean about this acting thing not working out?"

Penny thought about the question, and Jeanie pushing it, she hadn't expected that. She had been feeling down about everything, but she had been passing it off as a carryover of her sadness at that night, and breaking up with Leonard, but she knew there was more. Jeanie was looking at her, and she figured it wouldn't hurt to talk to her about it.

"It's actually a combination of things, I think," said Penny. "You know how down I am about what happened with Brent, and my breakup with Leonard. Oh, I know it's not Leonard's fault, it's mine, and the way I acted didn't help. I think those things are affecting how I feel about working on this series, or in the business, generally."

"What do you mean?"

"It's probably my fault," said Penny sadly, "because of how I pictured what the business was like. I saw the glitz, and the glamour. The red carpet, the interviews, and photo shoots. I never realized how much work went into a series, until I started here. Or how much work those photo shoots are, until today."

"And, it's not just all the work. If I do this job right, it takes all my time. I'm at the studio all day, then when I get home at night, I have to study my lines, my marks, keeping my character consistent, all of that."

"Starting out in acting isn't easy, Penny," said Jeanie. "It get's somewhat easier, once you have the routine down. But, yeah, you still have to study, your lines, your marks and all that, which is going to limit your free time."

Penny looked sad, "But, I miss my friends. I can't find any friends here because I don't have time during the week, and when I do have time, on the weekends, I don't know anyone to go do anything with, except for you. So how do I make new friends?"

Jeanie looked a Penny with compassion, "Do you remember when we first met, I told you we were probably going to be friends?"

"Yes, I do," said Penny, "how did you know?"

"Penny," said Jeanie, "we spend a lot of time together on set, and off. With work, we don't have a lot of time to see other people, so cast mates can end up as friends. We hit it off so well, and got along right from your audition, so I couldn't see there being any problems between us. I figured we would become close, and we have."

"Oh, it can go the other way, you end up hating the people you work with. In your case, with what happened, you really dislike Brent, and that's understandable."

Penny nodded, "OK, I can see that. It still doesn't make me feel any better about not seeing anyone else. And, now, I can't go home, because I broke up with Leonard, again, that's all on me. If I go back, I'll run into Leonard, and that wouldn't be fair to him, so I stay here, and dont get to see my other friends."

"You know, I still think you should go back and talk to Leonard…"

"No, Jeanie," said Penny, "it's better for him, with us broken up. If I stay with him, I'll just end up causing him more pain in the long run, and I don't want to do that to him, so just leave that alone right now. Besides, with what I did, and how I acted after, I don't deserve him, he deserves someone better than me."

"OK fine," said Jeanie putting up her hands, "I'll just leave it alone."

Penny tried changing the subject, "There's also that situation with someone telling the rags I'm causing trouble. That's something I never expected. Seeing my name in the paper, talking about how awful I am, how useless. And they still haven't found out who is doing that, even with two new articles, over the last couple of weeks. I just don't know if I'm up to having that happen all the time."

"It doesn't happen all the time," said Jeanie. "Those papers will take whoever is hot, right then, and try to come up with the most lurid things they think they can get away with. Don't forget, those papers wouldn't be in business, if it wasn't for those people out there who will buy them, because they want to see what the stars are doing."

"I had it happen to me, a couple of times. Once when I was on Sex and the City and another when I was doing a movie. Actually, the movie thing was more about my co-star. He was married and someone got a picture of us, out having coffee, and those papers had a field day. Here's the funny part, his wife was there, she had stepped out for a moment to go to the bathroom, and that's when they got the picture. Had to laugh at that," Jeanie was chuckling.

Penny thought about it, she remembered buying those types of magazines even back when she was still in Nebraska. Now, however, she felt guilty for buying them, knowing what it was like from this end. "Well, it did happen, remember the picture and article I showed you with me and Brent?"

Jeanie stopped chuckling, "Yes, I remember. It's just another example of them trying to build something up, that isn't there. You're news, dating a co-star is entertainment news."

"Well, I'm not dating him, and I don't like it," said Penny. "It's shit like that, that makes me want to give up."

"You don't have to Penny," said Jeanie, "You're my friend, and I'll be here to help you. But, for now, we have to go through the script, to get ready for the table read tomorrow. You said you've already read it. Well, read it again, while I read it for the first time, think of alternate ways to do the line reading, and we can talk about it when we're done, OK?"

Penny nodded, she was choking up, "Yeah, I can do that. Thank you Jeanie, for this, for talking to me, for not giving up on me, for…for just everything."

Jeanie smiled, "Get reading."

They both opened their scripts and started reading.

CalTech Laser Lab, 6:45 AM Wednesday December 5th 2012.

Leonard had just unlocked the lab office, and he went over to turn on the coffee maker. His travel mug was still half full, so he would be fine, until the coffee in the lab was ready. He unpacked everything from his messenger bag, connected his computer to the docking station, then pulled out all the paperwork he had received from Oxford the previous day, with all the notations he had put on the paperwork. His plan this morning was to call and talk to Geoff, and whoever was able to offer Leonard the job, and haggle over pay. He expected it to be Alain, but he had mentioned the president of the college, so Leonard wasn't sure.

Leonard spread out the paperwork, then dialed Geoff's number. He listened to the curious, he thought, ring, and after the second ring, he heard Geoff, "Hello?"

"Hi Geoff, it's me Leonard."

"Well, good to hear from you, Leonard," said Geoff. "Thanks for letting us know the time with the email. I have Alain here, and he just got off the phone to the President of Trinity College, and the Chancellor. So, what is your decision?"

"I have some questions and caveats, and if we can work out the salary thing, I am going to accept your offer. Then we can talk over some minor things."

"And those are?" He heard Alain ask.

"Let's do the salary first. I was looking at the salary that was offered. I asked around here and did some checking," started Leonard. "Since I'm both lecturing and doing research, and possibly running the lab, I believe that figure is low by about twenty thousand. So, I think it should be increased by that much, what do you think?"

"Actually," said Alain, "I told the Chancellor, that you might question the original offer, and we needed to be prepared to raise our offer. I think an increase of twenty thousand is a bit on the high side. Especially if you end up not running the lab, but it's not an outrageous demand, so another twenty thousand it is."

Leonard was surprised, as he expected to ask for twenty, and hope for fifteen, but expect only ten thousand more. That was pretty easy and he had a fleeting thought that he should have asked for more, but as the original offer was already quite a bit over what he was getting at CalTech, he simply said, "That's fine."

"What else?" Asked Alain.

"What about the possibility of running the lab?"

"We're not sure yet," said Alain. "There are some things here that we have to figure out. Rest assured, that if we pick you to run the lab, we'll talk about pay and your other duties. Anything else?"

"Nothing really," said Leonard. "I have some minor quibbles, that I can probably go over with Geoff, required hours, time in labs, those type of things. Most of this is basically informational for me. If we run into a major problem, I can get in contact with you, how's that?"

"That sounds quite acceptable," said Alain. "so, I'll turn you over to Geoff, for those minor quibbles." He chuckled, "Welcome to Oxford Leonard."

Leonard said, "Thank you Alain…I…oh, wait a minute, there is one other thing."

"And what is that?"

"Do I have to let you know, now, if I want to take advantage of a set of rooms? I thought it best for my first semester to stay close, and practice driving, before I look to get my license."

"Well, you don't have to let me know now," said Alain, "but, I'm glad you did. It will help us reserve you a set of rooms. And I agree with your thinking. You'll have the spring term to get aquatinted with the college, the university, and the town. Driving, in the town is quite restricted, so living in the rooms is probably best for you."

"Is that it, for now?"

"Yes, it is," said Leonard.

"I'm really looking forward to meeting you, goodbye, Leonard"

"Thank you and goodbye, Alain," said Leonard, "I'm looking forward to meeting you too."

There was a brief pause, then he heard Geoff, sounding rather jovial, say, "So what exactly are these minor quibbles?"