Chapter Five

Wednesday

Penny hugged Missy tightly. "Thank you for everything." They were standing in the foyer waiting for the taxi to arrive that would take Missy to the airport.

"I didn't do anything except talk and listen." Missy said.

"That's what I needed. I've been hanging out with the guys so much, I hadn't realized how much I missed girl talk." Penny gave her another quick squeeze.

Missy looked down at her. "You remember I'm only a phone call away if you ever need me."

Penny let Missy go. "Thanks Missy, that means a lot."

Missy smiled at her and went over to say goodbye to Sheldon. "Bye now, Shelly. Penny's a strong woman, but you watch out for her and take care of her just the same."

Sheldon suddenly found something interesting on the floor to stare at and barely let out an audible whisper. "I will."

Missy hugged her brother goodbye. He didn't stiffen up as much as he used to and for a moment he genuinely returned her hug. "Promise you'll take care of her. She's really worked wonders on you!"

He looked over to Penny and a hint of a smile played at the corner of his lips. "I promise."

The entrance door swung open to admit Raj who was wearing a chauffer's cap and he held up a sign that read COOPER. Missy lifted her hand to her mouth to cover her smile and looked over at Penny with something akin to joy in her eyes.

Penny shrugged. "It was the least I could do after what happened last night."

Missy shot Penny a look of appreciation as Raj picked up her bag and then offered the crook of his arm to escort her to the car.

Sheldon looked sidelong at Penny. "Is there something going on between the two of them that I should be aware of?"

Penny rolled her eyes and said sarcastically. "What gave you that idea Sheldon?"

"I believe that I am becoming more adept at reading facial expressions, and…" Sheldon stopped unsure of how to continue.

"And?"

Sheldon frowned slightly. "I don't like the way Koothrappali looked at my sister."

Penny grinned and patted Sheldon on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it Sheldon. Missy's going back to Texas."

Sheldon cocked his head to the side as he looked at Penny. "You have a lot to learn about my sister."

At the Southwest counter, LAX

Missy looked down into Raj's dark brown eyes. "I guess this is goodbye."

He nodded sadly and held out his hand for her to shake, as he was unable to will himself to talk.

"That just won't do." Missy said as she leaned into him and gave him a deep kiss that he could feel down to his toes.

"Wow!" Raj clapped his hand over his mouth. He actually spoke! He couldn't believe it himself. He tried to say something again, but nothing would come out.

"Well, it's a start." Missy cooed at him as she ran her index finger along his jaw line. She took a piece of paper from her purse and pressed it into his hands. He glanced down at it. The paper listed her address, her email, and her phone number. "You can write to me, yes? I mean, if you still can't get to talkin'?"

Raj nodded his head vigorously and smiled. He then took her in his arms and kissed her. She was the one who said 'wow' when they finally broke apart.

Back at Apartment 4A

Penny and Sheldon were settled on the couch watching a mini-marathon of the ninth incarnation of Doctor Who on BBC America before Penny had to leave to work the dinner shift at the Cheesecake factory. Sheldon had not brought up the subject of the fight between Penny and Leonard because he thought it might make her upset and cry again. He looked at her from the corner of his eye. She appeared unaffected and not uncomfortable to be in his and Leonard's apartment, but then again, she hadn't seen or talked or rather yelled at Leonard since the night before. And Leonard had left before Sheldon awoke, so he could not ascertain his state of being.

I hope my circadian rhythms return to normal when I have to go back to work next week.

Sheldon stole another quick glance at Penny. Her utter calm was unnerving him. Maybe he should ask her how she was feeling. It was maddening not knowing.

"Penny?"

"Ssh, this is the best part!" The Doctor was about to kiss Rose to release the time vortex from her body. Everyone preferred David Tennant, but Penny was a sucker for Christopher Eccleston. He was just so goofy and tall, and he had those amazing blue eyes. Just like Sheldon's. She could get lost in those eyes.

Stop it girl! Stop it!

Sheldon tentatively asked again. "Penny are you alright?"

Penny's nerves were still raw. She just needed time. Time to get her head straight. She looked to her left into his concerned face, and she tried to muster a smile but couldn't. "I'll be fine Sweetie."

Sheldon missed the ebullient Penny. Seeing her so spiritless affected him in a way he couldn't explain. If he could only do something to make her happy. Then it clicked. "Wait here, I'll be right back." Sheldon got up from his spot on the couch and went down the hall to his bedroom.

Penny thought she had made him uncomfortable. She mentally kicked herself. It must be awkward for him. He had to live with Leonard. She wondered if they all could still be friends. She was still musing over that thought when she heard a key in the lock. She stood up from the couch and turned to look as the door swung open and Leonard came in. They stood staring at each other for a heartbeat.

"Leonard."

"Penny."

Penny steeled herself. "Leonard, I think we need to talk."

Sheldon came down the hallway and saw Leonard and Penny staring at each other. He quickly put his hands behind his back and stopped in his tracks.

Leonard glanced over to Sheldon and back to Penny. "Why don't we go over to your place so we can talk privately?"

"I think that would be for the best. Just let me tell Sheldon I'm leaving." She turned to call to him and was surprised to see him standing at the edge of the hallway step. She hadn't heard him walk back.

"I'm right here," was all Sheldon could say.

Penny gave him a brief smile. "I'll see you tomorrow to take you to the doctor's."

He nodded his head to her as she turned and left the apartment with Leonard. He brought his hands around from behind his back and adjusted the white ribbon around the gift box. "I'm always right here."

Apartment 4B

They had barely gotten through the door when Leonard spoke. "Penny, I didn't sleep with her, I swear!"

"I know that Leonard." Penny sighed.

"Then why -"

Penny cut him off. "You lied to me Leonard, and I think I know why."

He stood waiting for her to continue.

"I think…I think you never got over Stephanie." Penny stammered. "One minute you two were hot and heavy, and then when you tried to slow things downs, POOF, it imploded without any resolution."

Leonard held his chin up but would not meet her eyes. "Is that so?"

Penny held up her hands in front of her as she tried to explain things. "I think that's why we never…we never were clicking right."

Leonard took a step closer to her. "Penny, I know things haven't gone exactly as smooth as they should in a relationship."

Penny steadied herself. "Leonard, I don't think we were ever in a relationship."

Leonard looked away dejectedly. He had wanted Penny for so long. He didn't want to admit to himself that when he finally got her, that he felt there was nothing there.

She continued to try and explain it, as much for herself as for him. "Leonard, we just never had that, what's the word? Spark! We never had that spark to keep a romantic relationship going." Penny took Leonard's hands in her own. "You had that spark with Stephanie. Maybe that's why I was so upset."

Leonard looked into her eyes. "Were do we go from here?"

Penny looked at him steadily. "We try to remain friends if we can."

Leonard still hoped they could work things out. "Is that all you want to be?"

"For now, that's all I can offer you." Penny said as she touched his cheek.

"Friends?"

"Friends."