Penny woke with a start at 1.37am. It was dark and cold in her room, not to mention it didn't help that her dream had been turbulent and full of images of Priya and Leonard kissing and making love. Grabbing her phone, she sent a text to Sheldon. When there was no response after 5 minutes, she called him. Penny threw her phone against the wall when her call went straight to voicemail; trust Sheldon to turn his mobile off whilst asleep. Putting on her dressing gown, she scrambled to find the spare key to Sheldon and Leonard's apartment and went over there as soon as she could. Her heart was racing when she stepped foot into the apartment, only 6 hours ago she had been walking towards Leonards bedroom and found him in the arms of another woman. Swallowing her tears she walked straight past Leonard's bedroom and crept into Sheldon's room.

Sure enough, Sheldon was lying there in bed. The way he slept reminded Penny of a vampire, if he could levitate she was sure he would be one. She took in the way he looked as he slept, so peaceful and still, almost as if he were actually were dead.

'Sheldon,' Penny whispered to no avail. She crept forward and poked him, 'Sheldon wake up!'

'DANGER! DANGER!' Sheldon yelled, sitting straight up.

'Sheldon, shhh it's me, Penny!' she said, hushing him so he would not wake Leonard.

'Penny?'

'Yes, it's me.'

'You're in my bedroom. You're not allowed in my bedroom,' Sheldon gasped and Penny sighed and knelt down so she was leaning against his bed.

'I know but I woke up and I feel so alone and I couldn't sleep and I had nightmares about Leonard and Priya and…' Penny began to cry again, placing her head in her arms.

'You can't be in my bedroom Penny, no one is allowed in my bedroom.' Sheldon repeated, oblivious to Penny's crying. It was only when he felt that his sheets were getting wet with Penny's tears did he notice how upset she was. 'Penny, you're going to stain my sheets'.

'I'm sorry Sheldon, I guess I'll just go then, I was silly thinking you'd understand and want to comfort me. You don't really feel do you, sometimes I don't think you have any emotions at all,' Penny said angrily through her tears as she stood up sharply.

Sheldon wasn't usually one for getting angry but for some reason those comments riled him. He turned on his side light, threw back his sheets and got out of bed, standing up to his full height. Penny hadn't seen him standing up properly fall and he was a good 5 inches taller than usual.

'Now hold on just a darn tooting minute. I understand that you are upset but you have no right to enter my personal space where no one is allowed but Amy and insult me. I'd like to think that I have been extremely lenient until now; I mean I even hugged you, lifted you and sang to you! And you have the audacity to come into my room and tell me I have no feelings and emotions!'

Penny suddenly felt less than 2 inches tall, almost like a schoolchild who had just been scolded.

'I'm sorry,' she whispered and Sheldon sighed. For some reason he couldn't stay angry at her.

'I accept your apology Penny. Now, since you've awoken me what can I do to help you?'

'I need you,' Penny whispered.

'Penny you forget that I already have a relationship agreement with Amy and am opposed to all coital regimes.' Sheldon scoffed. Penny just blinked at him as her jaw dropped.

'No, I don't want to have sex with you Sheldon!'

'Thank goodness for that!' Sheldon cried with relief and Penny raised her eyebrows before sighing and sitting down again on Sheldon's bed, wiping away the residue left on her tear stained cheeks.

'I don't know what to do Sheldon. I don't think I can forgive Leonard for doing this to me. I loved him and he went and slept with Priya behind my back!'

Sheldon pursed his lips together and sat down beside her. 'Look Penny, only you can make the decision on what to do about Leonard. Perhaps weigh out the pros and cons. He admitted to me when I returned to the apartment that he loves you.'

'I just can't believe it. If you love someone, you don't go and sleep with your ex girlfriend! And you know what the worst part is?' Penny looked at Sheldon, who sighed.

'That you haven't yet processed your feelings on the matter through the use of an alcoholic beverage?'

'Sheldon! No!' Penny cried before realising that actually he was right, she really needed to drown the pain in alcohol, 'ok fine yes. However that wasn't what I was going for. The worst part is he didn't seem to care at all! I mean he didn't even come over to grovel or apologise!'

Sheldon cleared his throat, 'well then, perhaps this will comfort you: at least you're still attractive enough to acquire a new mate.'

'Really, Sheldon? That was supposed to make me feel better?' Sheldon looked lost for words and racked his brain for something else to say but ended up being speechless for once, 'Come on Sheldon, you're supposed to say "of course he should have come and checked on you. He should have been running and begging at my feet for forgiveness. Not carried on have sex with Priya and making you look after me. And also that he didn't sleep with Priya on purpose".'

'I'm afraid I couldn't say that because that wouldn't be true at all,' Sheldon said and Penny put her hands in her head. Sheldon shuffled to face her more and gently took her hands away from her face so she could look at him properly. 'Look Penny, you are a very beautiful and strong independent young woman. Leonard clearly doesn't appreciate you and what he has, well had, with you. You deserve better than to obsess over his stupidity; you deserve a man who will look after you, will respect you and will love you, both physically and mentally.' Penny was shocked at his words, unknowingly; Sheldon was already making her feel better but then came the nerd part of his speech, 'In Star Trek Voyager…'

'Sheldon…' Penny interrupted, 'I haven't seen it and I don't get your references, you've already made me feel better, don't spoil it.'

'Spoil it? I think you'll find that I'm adding to my point. Look, in Star Trek Voyager, there was a character called Kes. In the episode "The Gift" her atomic structure begins to collapse. However, just when she is about to completely destabilise and be gone forever, she uses her powers to catapult the crew and the ship towards the alpha quadrant, throwing them past Borg space and cutting 7 years off their journey so that they can get home. What I am trying to say is that, like Kes, you are broken and completely destabilising but you need to use the attributes that make you an amazing woman to push yourself forward and past this horrid ordeal so that you can move on and live your life. If you dwell and obsess over Leonard's incompetence, you will forever be in Borg space, where you will be assimilated into the collective of women who can't leave unhealthy relationships behind them. If you stay well: Resistance is futile.'

Penny was shocked. Sheldon had made a Star Trek reference that she understood and had linked it directly to her. 'Sheldon, I never thought I'd say this but you truly are an amazing guy. Amy is lucky to have you.'

'I should think so. I am a genius after all. Now, can I go back to bed?' Sheldon yawned and Penny chuckled to herself before realising that she would be going back to an empty apartment.

'Sheldon, will you stay with me tonight? Not for sex, but for company. I need to know you are there incase I wake up with nightmares again,' Penny whispered and he sighed in defeat.

'Fine, but I hope your couch offers the right support for my neck and back. I don't wish to wake with a crick in those areas.'

'OK, well you take my bed and I'll stay on the couch?' Penny suggested and Sheldon nodded.

'Agreed.'

Both Penny and Sheldon then made their way over to apartment 4B. Upon arrival, Sheldon walked directly to Penny's bedroom, leaving Penny to stare at the couch. About 5 minutes past before Penny realised that Sheldon was sound asleep in her bed. Swallowing, she crept into her bedroom and slid under the covers next to him. Luckily, he didn't stir and she snuggled up closer to him. He smelt of antibacterial hand sanitizer mixed with… green apple? Surely he didn't use the same shampoo as her? Then again, he had requested that she revert back to using green apple as opposed to coconut. Sighing, she lay her head on his chest and couldn't help but feel that sleeping next to Sheldon made her feel extremely safe and it was a massive difference than sleeping next to Leonard. Leonard tended to roll onto his side so his back was facing her but Sheldon… he slept on his back, perfectly still and easy to cuddle into. Suddenly Sheldon twitched in his sleep and Penny froze… maybe her snuggling into Sheldon's body had awoken him? However instead of waking up, something extraordinary happened, Sheldon placed an arm around her and brought her closer to his warm body. Penny was shocked at this and felt her heart flutter slightly. Sheldon had hugged her, called her beautiful and strong and was now sleeping beside her. Albeit he didn't realise he was sleeping beside her, it still felt amazing. Though she remembered that Sheldon did indeed have Amy as his partner of three years and Amy was her "bestie". Sighing, she decided that tonight she was just going to forget all of that and let the steady breaths of Sheldon lull her to sleep.

Chapter 2 complete, hope it was ok Will try to update as quick as possible !