Sheldon didn't sleep at all that night. He spent the entire time trying to rationalize what was happening to him. When day came, he left his room only for his scheduled bathroom breaks and meal times, wishing to avoid interaction if possible. This was made easy by Leonard's being at the university that day. When dinner finally rolled around, Sheldon had been through a list of over a million explanations as to what was happening to him. Just as he heard Raj and Howard entering with the food, he managed to settle on what he felt was the only logical inference to his predicament; he must be allergic to Penny.

He emerged from his room to find his two friends setting the meals out on the living room table.

"Ah, Howard, just the gentleman I wanted to see." Sheldon strode over, his usual air of self-importance having reestablished itself somewhat.

"Really." Said Howard disbelievingly. "You were hoping to run into an 'acquaintance'?"

'If you'll recall, I said "treasured acquaintance," Sheldon countered, "but returning to more important things – you are well versed in the ways of allergic reactions, correct?"

It took Howard a moment to process the meaning of his words. When he concluded that they still made no sense he raised an eyebrow.

"Excuse me?" He asked.

Sheldon sighed with impatience.

"You experience milder allergies aside from your bodies violent protest to peanuts, yes? Cat dander, dust mites, grass..."

"O-kay..." Howard hesitantly confirmed.

"Well I'm curious. What sort of symptoms do you suffer with those lesser allergies?"

They stared at each other, Sheldon expectant and Howard trying to determine what the frack Sheldon was on about, before Howard finally responded.

"What are you getting at Sheldon?" He cut to the chase, wanting very much for this conversation to be over.

"I have an issue." Sheldon sat down beside Howard in his spot. "See, I believe I have begun to develop an allergy."

"Is that so?" Howard responded with utter disinterest, hoping Sheldon would detect it and knowing he wouldn't.

"Yes, to a...person." Sheldon said.

"A person?"

"Yes."

"Whom?" Raj spoke up.

Sheldon's eyes darted about nervously as he tried to come up with an adequate cover.

"First of all, the proper form of the word in such a context is 'who'," Sheldon stalled, "and second, if you must know, it's...it's someone from work."

"Okay," Howard said carefully, interrupting before Raj could ask anymore questions that would make the conversation drag on further, "Sheldon, you do realize that it is next to impossible to develop an allergy to a person?"

"Of course!" Sheldon admonished. "I'm not suggesting the person's self is what I am allergic to. But perhaps their soap or-or brand of clothing; it could be any number of things about them."

"So what are you saying?" Raj asked. "What exactly happens when you are with this person."

"Well," Sheldon began, a hint of the sensations washing over him upon imagining, "I become out of breath, my head swims, my heart rate accelerates to hummingbird velocity, my hands become slick with sweat...I could go on, the symptoms are numerous."

Howard shook his head at the description of what was obviously not an allergy.

"Sheldon, that-"

But Raj raised a hand to stop him. He was studying Sheldon with a look that teetered between bewilderment and concern.

"Good Lord...Sheldon...it's a woman isn't it?"

"What?" Sheldon stiffened.

"What?" Howard asked in a 'seriously, you too?' sort of tone.

"Don't you get it?" Raj said. "Sweaty palms, dizziness, rapid heart rate - he's not allergic, he's-," Raj paused, his expression suggesting he couldn't believe what he was about to say. "He's attracted."

Sheldon blustered at the accusation. In actuality he was upset that his fear had been confirmed over what he had been feeling for Penny when he had come to his friends for reassurance that it could be anything but...that. Rather than admit that, however, he attempted to pass it off as being indignant.

"How dare you!" He declared. "What a ridiculous thing to say Raj. I am not some mindless jackaninny at the mercy of his primitive biological urges. I would never indulge in such behaviour."

"Maybe not willingly," Raj said, "but trust me Sheldon, take it from someone who is immobilized at the mere sight of a woman – you are attracted to this girl. Or guy, if that's the case."

"A girl of course...I mean...shut up!" Sheldon stood and rushed away once again to the refuge of his room, leaving Howard and Raj stunned in his wake.

"Sheldon is attracted to a girl." Howard said as if seeing how the words tasted in his mouth. "I have to say, I'm a little scared."

He picked distractedly at his meal with a shake of his head. Raj, however, remained still as another shocking revelation dawned on him.

"Holy crap." He breathed.

"What?"

"I know who the girl is."

Howard scoffed.

"How could you possibly know that? He was clearly lying about it being a woman from work."

"Yes, that's true." Raj agreed. "But think about it Howard. Yesterday when he gave Penny her birthday present she kissed him. Because of that he escaped to his room."

"Yeah, so? He's an anal nutbag, what does that have to do with anything?'

"Exactly. We assumed it was because he was angry at Penny for passing germs or some other insanity but...I think it's something else. I think the girl he's attracted to is Penny."

A stark silence fell between the two until-

"Right, okay, you nearly got me there, Raj. Good one."

"This is no joke. Sheldon has the hots for Penny." Raj stated with conviction.

"You're officially as nuts as he is." Howard said.

"Fine. I'll bet you fifty bucks I'm right." Raj stuck out his hand to his friend.

Howard shook it gladly.

"Fine. You'll lose that bet buddy."

"We'll see..."