Technical Difficulties

Downtime and a Chance of Procreation

A/N: The reviews! I got at least 10 in the first posted day!

And hey look, you got a nice big chapter! ;D

To Anon13: Thanks for your review, but I personally don't think she overreacted. She's very clingy and would be majorly ragey if Penny slept with Sheldon. I think she'd see it as the ultimate betrayal.

Breathing heavily, Penny stomped over to a cupboard and pulled out some wine. "Penny!"

"I think I deserve this one, don't you?" Penny said, scowling. Sheldon folded his hands in his lap and said nothing. After just a sip of wine, Penny set down her drink abruptly.

"I'm sorry, Sheldon, I'm being selfish and this isn't necessary." Penny put the bottle away. Sheldon gave her a small smile.

"Thank you Penny," he said. "You're being very responsible." He twisted his hands in his lap. Penny smiled proudly and then noticed his drooping expression.

"What's wrong, sweetie?"

"I feel mixed emotions."

"Please elaborate?" Penny was pleased with her use of a 'big word'.

"Well," Sheldon sighed, "I feel disappointed in Amy. She was so promising, but she has stooped to the likes of Leonard. I am dwelling on the fact that she and I will now not procreate - " Jealousy flared up in Penny and she fought hard to keep her cool. " - and as a result, our separation lessens the chances that a superior being could be brought into the world."

"Wouldn't the baby be dumb though? Two somethings cancel each other out...two negatives make a positive, right? Shouldn't you 'procreate' with a dumb person? To increase the chances of the smart gene being passed on." Sheldon seemed to be looking at her with new respect.

"You're right! Well, partly. Your hypothesis is much more stable than mine." He thought for a moment. "Why, a superior being would have more chance of being born of myself and you!"

Penny's eyes widened. She couldn't help dwelling on the making of a baby. With Sheldon. Right that moment. As soon as she caught up with her lusting train of thought, she stopped it abruptly (and a little reluctantly).

Sheldon laughed his breathy laugh a little late. He caught Penny's eye and held her gaze longer than he should have.

As they lay in bed that night, Penny was thinking about - obsessing over - their conversation about procreation. She knew it was a silly thing to dwell on, but it kept replaying in her head. Penny snuggled closer to Sheldon and fell asleep.

The next morning, Penny woke early, feeling like death. Sheldon fluttered around her as she lay in bed, wrapped in blankets. "Are you sick? Do you require a hot beverage? Would you like me to sing Soft Kitty to you?"

"That's sweet, Sheldon, but I'm sure it's just a migraine," Penny said sleepily, though her heart protested. Actually, it practically screamed at her.

"If you're sure," Sheldon said worriedly.

"I thought you were scared of sick people? Why are you here?"

"You require looking after, Penny, and as your friend I am here for you." Under his breath, he then added, "Migraines are not contagious."

Penny didn't hear. Between talking and listening, there was a dull thudding in her head.

"I believe you should take the day off work," Sheldon pressed on.

"Come off it Sheldon! I'm fine!" Penny protested.

"You cannot work while - "

Penny knew he was dumbing it down.

" - while you can't concentrate. You might get orders wrong, spill items, drop trays, God only knows what else...as my mother would say..."

"Nice save," Penny commented, smirking. "Is the offer still open for having Soft Kitty sung to me?"

"Of course, Penny."

Penny slept until midday, having been sung peacefully to sleep (courtesy of Sheldon). At some time past twelve, her phone began to ring. Hoping she could ignore it, Penny turned over, but the incessant ringing and buzzing was too much of a distraction.

"Hello?" she said groggily, holding the phone to her ear.

"Hey, Penny! It's Krystl!" Penny's cousin squealed down the phone.

"Hi, Krystl. How have you been?" Penny said unenthusiastically.

"Great! You know I'm living in California now?"

"Really? How long?"

"Only like three months, I'm getting settled in. There's still boxes everywhere."

"Any particular reason you called?" Penny hadn't had enough sleep or coffee to deal with her hyperactive cousin.

"Well, you know how I always wanted to be like you? An actress?"

Penny remembered all too well. Krystl had copied everything she'd done. Except rodeo. That had always been Penny's thing. Thank God.

"Yeah, I remember."

"I got an acting job! I got a part in a new crime TV series!" Krystl said excitedly.

"Oh...that's great, Krystl!" Penny hid her frustration. "Is that ALL you wanted to tell me?"

"Actually, I was wondering if I could ask for a favour..."

"Go on..."

"Well, back in Omaha, Daddy gave me a puppy, and I'm gonna be away for like three days or whatever, so could you, um, dogsit for me?"

"I guess so," Penny said reluctantly. "I dunno what Sheldon will think though," she added, mainly talking to herself.

"Ooh, who's Sheldon? Hot name. Is he your boyfriend?"

"No," Penny sighed.

"You wish he was?" Krystl had always been smarter than she looked.

'Damn her for being a ditzy blonde and catching me off guard,' Penny thought. Krystl took Penny's silence for a yes.

"So you live together?"

"We're roommates. Do you wanna drop the dog off today or tomorrow?"

"Nope, I'll bring her over Saturday. I daresay you'll be having your usual Halloween rave, and no one wants a pup around for that," Krystl said bluntly.

"That'd be great," Penny said, relieved. Penny gave Krystl her address and hung up at last.

"What have I gotten myself into?" she asked aloud.

"So you want pizza with mushrooms, sausage and olives?" Penny asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"Yes," Sheldon answered, giving her a strange look. "You know that only the third Thursday of every month is 'anything can happen Thursday'. Today is the last Thursday of the month."

"Thanks for the update," Penny said sarcastically, flipping through the pizza menu.

"You're welcome," Sheldon replied, oblivious to the sarcasm. Penny huffed and rolled her eyes, but carried on flicking through the little menu.

"It's surprising how many different variations of pizza there are," Penny commented, making slightly awkward small talk.

"Indeed."

Penny ordered quickly and sat down on the sofa. Sheldon remained where he was: perched awkwardly on a stool.

"Are you going to my Halloween party tomorrow?"

"I will consider it."

"Great," Penny said chirpily. "Listen, do you like dogs?"

"I am not adverse to the creatures, however large dogs..." He shuddered. "Myself and Missy had a dog when we were little. We got it for our eighth birthday, but it was put down by our ninth. It made funny noises." He raised an eyebrow. Penny raised her eyebrows too.

"Well, my cousin called. I'm gonna be babysitting her puppy for three days...is that okay?"

"That is fine, however I absolutely refuse to clean up after it."

Penny visibly relaxed. "Awesome!"

A/N: So I know this chapter touches on some serious stuff. Flame if you will. Read the explanation first though, and THEN I give you permission to flame.

When Sheldon talks about procreation, he's being completely scientific. He does want to bring a superior being (haha) into the world, he was just DISCUSSING possibilities with Penny, and Penny's lusty mind blew it out of proportion. It is a big deal to her, but not Sheldon, and he didn't realise that.

Don't worry, we won't be going into that yet. We've still gotta plow through Shenny until we get to the serious stuff!

P.S. The negatives, positive stuff of baby making is probably all wrong, but for the sake of this fic, please leave it out? I wanted fluff, I got fluff. Sorry to any super science people!