It had been a week since the fight and the make-up. Hank had to admit that saying good-bye to Missy had been hard. Sheldon's sister had been a delight, especially when she and Penny had made a girl's night of it with the "normal" Cooper and got all dolled up. Other than publicity stunts she rarely put on a dress, so it was kind of nice to play it pretty for a night, even if she did trip several times in those heels.
When Missy left on Friday everyone seemed to be upset, though they all did their best to ignore Howard, who tried to swoop in on the girl's group hug. Phone numbers, emails, and Facebook names were exchanged, and Missy encouraged Hank to let her know when she needed help with her brother.
Saturday night Leonard had convinced (after much persuasion by Hank) Sheldon to take his new girlfriend on a "real" date, so they ended up seeing a midnight revival showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at one of the local theaters. Unfortunately no one could convince Sheldon to dress up as Frankenfurter (or anyone else for that matter), but the evening went surprisingly well considering the amount of audience participation involved in the show.
Hank supposed the drive home could have been better, since she had to listen to every nuance of what was wrong in the film, the audience delivery, and the costuming- but again, considering the choice of movie and her date she was still pleased by the experience. And it had ended with a mutual hug, a surprising step up for the neurotic Dr Cooper.
But all of this could not compare to the anticipation Hank was feeling over Penny's call back on Monday. The first two auditions had gone really well, and now it was down to Penny and three other girls for the part Hank had suggested to her friend. She was sitting in 4A with all four of the boys on that evening, having convinced them to help her level up her Human Warlock character by going through multiple levels of The Scarlet Monastery™.
Her heart wasn't in it, though. Sure, she really wanted the Necrotic Wand™, but every few minutes her eyes moved to the door as she waited expectantly for Penny to walk in.
"Hank, behind you!"
"Oh, fuck!" she swore as she died once again.
Sheldon looked up, giving her one of his disapproving gazes. "We only did this dungeon at your insistence. If you do not want to be here I propose you switch over to your tank and we head to Gruul's Lair™. I am still trying to get the Axe of the Gronn Lords™."
"No, it's not that, I just-" She stopped as the door opened and a dejected looking Penny came through it. Moving her laptop over to the table, Hank stood, at once feeling gloomy.
"Oh, Penny, I'm so-"
Before she could complete her sentence Penny looked up at Hank with one of the brightest smiles anyone of the occupants of the room had ever seen. "And that's why I got the part!" she said, pointing at Hank.
It was all Hank could do to keep her own excitement in check, which she pretty much failed at. She bounced over to Penny, nearly knocking Leonard's laptop off his lap in her hurry to get around the coffee table. "Oh my God, you got the part?!"
"I got the part!"
"You got the part!"
Penny and Hank celebrated by hugging each other and jumping up and down in a circle, collectively making squeeing noises.
From his perch on the chair near Sheldon, Howard gave a sigh of contentment. "Someone pinch me, I think I've died and gone to heaven."
Raj and Leonard smiled at both the show and Howard's comment, and even Sheldon couldn't help the slight upturn to his mouth at the amount of joy exuding from the two women in the room. Leaning over, Raj whispered in Leonard's ear.
Leonard shrugged. "I don't know, but I guess Penny got the part?"
After a moment the two girls calmed and turned to face the boys, though from the beaming expressions on their faces it seemed as though at any moment they might regress to squealing once more.
"So," Penny began, wrapping an arm around Hank's shoulders as she spoke. "As you all know, our darling Hank here is making a movie."
"I'm not making a movie, I just-"
"Yes, yes," Penny interrupted, before Hank pulled a Sheldon and started analyzing her sentence to death. "Anyway, there was a role available, so she got me an audition, and the casting director loved me and I got the part! Twenty-seven lines of dialogue and a kiss with that hunky male lead they got!"
"Oh, please tell me they went with Gerard Butler," Hank muttered.
"No, I think they asked that one guy... The other one from PS I Love You."
"Sam & Dean's dad? Oh, that's okay then."
Before Hank could go off into her own world of casting dreams the four present males in the room brought the attention back to them.
"So you're going to be in a movie?" Howard asked, noting that Leonard had got suspiciously quiet.
"I'm going to be in a movie!" Penny squealed.
"Congratulations!" Howard replied, while Raj gave her a pair of thumbs up and one of his engaging smiles.
Even Sheldon smiled. "I believe this is one of those times where celebration would be appropriate."
"I agree," Hank said, giving Penny a quick side hug. "Lets all go out. Drinks on me!"
Before Sheldon could protest Penny stopped him. "Not tonight, sweetie. Tonight there are no rules, no schedules. You are not taking this away from me. We're celebrating, and even if you just have a Virgin Cuba Libre, you're coming."
And even though it went against everything in his universe, there was a surprising thought in his mind that he didn't want to take this away from Penny. So Sheldon gave her a nod, and turned his attention back to the computer so he could direct his avatar to an appropriate resting town.
Hank smiled at Raj, who seemed to be considering what this meant. "That's right, Raj-Podge. Even you get to speak tonight." She finished with a wink.
He gave a shy smile back at her, a slight pink to his cheeks as he gathered his own own computer gear together to put back in its case.
The girls excused themselves to go change and get ready to go out, while the boys signed themselves out of the game and did what little preparation they needed to leave. It was only Leonard, who had been quiet since Penny revealed her news, that seemed unaffected by the good cheer that had passed throughout the apartment.
At first it seemed that everything was going great. When they first got to the circular table at the bar everyone waited for Sheldon to pick a spot, then they all positioned themselves around him. Penny on his left, Hank on his right. Leonard sat down on Penny's other side while Raj took the empty seat next to Hank and Howard settled himself in the remaining chair between Leonard and Raj.
The drinks were ordered and served, the waitress rolling her eyes at Sheldon's specifications, though she couldn't help but smile when the pretty blonde leaned over and whispered that she could make his drink a little slutty and she wouldn't tell on her.
Howard asked about the role, and Penny talked about the scenes she would be in and the three costumes she would be wearing. Hank added in her own details about what would happen, things the casting director hadn't discussed but were still in the works as far as sets and slight dialogue changes.
"And, they said that Ewan McGregor had signed on to play my brother, isn't that awesome?"
"Isn't he the new Obi-Wan?" Raj asked as he sipped on his grasshopper.
"We don't talk about those movies," Sheldon added.
Hank smiled. "You know, that character is based off of Charlie- my cousin's boyfriend."
"The cute one from Thanksgiving?" Penny asked, leaning around Sheldon.
"That's the one!" she replied as she stood. "Excuse me, I'm going to find the ladies."
"Okay, that is it," Leonard said as Hank walked away, speaking up for the first time all evening. "You can't do this movie."
Penny's smile froze as she turned to face her boyfriend. "I beg your pardon?" she asked in a tone that clearly belied her expression.
Despite wincing at her tone he stood his ground, setting his drink on the table. "You can't do this movie, it's not right."
Her own drink was set none too quietly on the table. Next to her, Sheldon winced, though no one noticed. "And just what, exactly, is not right about it?"
"You should be getting parts on your own, not having them handed to you by your friends."
She took a deep breath. "You did not just say that."
"I did. Don't you think you'll feel more accomplished if you get the part on your own?"
Raj and Howard quickly turned their attention elsewhere, realizing that statement would not end well. Sheldon pursed his lips.
"Maybe if you were listening you would know that I did get the part on my own. No one auditioned for me, no one held my hand or went with me while I waited in line with hundreds of other blond women to get the opportunity to read a few lines." She shook her head at him. "The fact that you would even suggest that- who the fuck do you think you are?"
"I'm just your boyfriend. Or did you conveniently forget that fact when you started making plans to kiss hot male leads or flirt with Hank's cousins?"
"First off, it's a movie. Actors kiss in movies. Do you think that all those women were really dating William Shatner when he was going all Kirk on them? Or that chick who played Lois Lane didn't have a husband while she was in Superman's arms? COME ON. Just because I kiss someone in a movie doesn't mean I can't have a boyfriend to come home to." She scoffed at him. "Secondly, he wasn't Hank's cousin, I wasn't flirting with him, and he's GAY. Or are you so insecure that you can't even deal with me finding a gay man attractive?"
Leonard shook his head. "You're missing the point entirely."
"Oh really?" Penny shot back. "What is the point, oh wise one?"
He glared back at her tone. "You're my girlfriend-"
She quickly cut him off. "That's right, Leonard. I'm your girlfriend. I don't think you understand the meaning of that word. I'm not your possession, or your trophy. I'm not one of your stupid little toys that you keep in the original packaging and bring out to mock your friends with every once in a while before hiding away again." She picked up her glass and quickly drained the remaining contents before slamming it down on the table again. It was then that she noticed the spot next to her was now empty. "Where did Sheldon go?"
"Figures," Leonard said with a frown. "You care more about my roommate than you do about our conversation."
"This isn't a conversation, this is lunacy." Penny stood, glaring back at Leonard as she shook her head yet again. "You know, for someone who's supposed to be a genius you sure are a fucking dumbass sometimes." She grabbed her purse and turned to leave.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to find Sheldon, before he gets accosted by some mugger and shot for lecturing them on their skills at armed robbery." And with that she stormed out of the bar.
Pulling out his wallet, Leonard threw a couple of bills on the table before standing to leave as well.
Howard glanced at him. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going for a walk. This is completely ridiculous." And with that he followed Penny's angry steps out.
With a sigh Howard stood, and repeated Leonard's motions. "Someone should go talk to him," he said by way of explanation to Raj as he, too, followed the trail out of the bar.
Raj shrugged his shoulders and went back to sipping his drink as Hank walked back to the table. As she reclaimed her spot next to Raj, she picked up her glass and looked around before turning her confused expression to him. "Where did everybody go?"
Before he could respond the waitress arrived with another grasshopper. "Thank you, lovely," he said to her as he polished off the first drink and moved onto the second. "Everyone left," he said in response to Hank's question.
Hank frowned, leaning forward to rest her elbow on the table and prop cheek in the palm of her hand. "Was it something I said?"
"Only if your name is Leonard and you're a complete idiot when it comes to women."
She might have responded to that comment if Raj hadn't leaned forward and put a hand on her arm. "Hank, I don't want Lucky to be with Elizabeth."
"What?" she replied, not really believing what she was hearing.
"He deserves so much better. She's such a slut, sleeping with his brother." He shook his head, sipping at his drink. "Why can't Luke break his own rule and just TELL Lucky what he saw. All these veiled hints are driving me crazy."
Hank stared at Raj. After a moment of silence he glanced up and saw her look. "What?"
"Raj... You watch General Hospital."
He scoffed. "Well, I would if my cable box was working properly. I've missed the last three episodes."
Hank grinned, opened her purse to leave several large bills on the table to cover the finished and unfinished drinks, and then stood. "Come on," she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him up from the table.
"Where are we going?"
"You're looking at the girl that has the last three episodes recorded on her DVR." She grinned at him.
"You'll keep my secret?" he asked as they walked out of the bar.
"On one condition, Raj-Podge."
"What's that?"
"You have to tell me what happened while I was in the bathroom."
"Oh that," Raj began as they headed to Hank's car. "You'd think with all that drama we'd be on an episode of GH."
"Hey Penny."
"Hi Stuart," Penny replied with a weak smile. "I'm looking for-" she halted her sentence, spotting Sheldon near the back, facing a wall of comics. "Nevermind." She gave the shopkeeper a little wave and made her way over to her friend.
Though he sensed her approach Sheldon continued to flip through the graphic novel in his hand, pretending to ignore her.
"Hi Sheldon," she said softly, placing a hand on his arm.
He tensed. "Have you and Leonard ceased your delusional attempts at a real relationship?"
Pulling her hand back she opened her mouth to give a scathing retort but stopped before speaking. If Penny were honest with herself she would admit that there was a lot of truth to Sheldon's statement, and he wasn't saying it vindictively, he was just being Sheldon. "I don't know," she finally said. "Probably."
"And how will this affect the friendship paradigm?" he replied, still not looking at her.
"What?"
"Is there going to be an awkwardness so palpable that people will want to leave every time you two are in a room together?" He closed the book in his hand and turned his expression to her. "Should I expect frequent repeats of tonight's performance?"
Penny shook her head. "I can't answer that question, sweetie. Do I want it to be that way- no. But I can't guarantee things won't happen." A beat. "Sheldon, I promise that no matter what you are my friend and I'll try my best to make sure you're never uncomfortable around me."
Whether or not she would always be comfortable around him was a different story.
"I suppose," he said after a moment, "That a schedule could be created to spend time with both you and Leonard on separate days. Perhaps a weekly plan, or it could be organized on a day to day basis."
"Let's cross that bridge when we come to it, sweetie," she replied with a sigh.
Sheldon stared at her for a moment, pursing his lips together. "Penny."
"Yeah?"
"Are you going to be alright?"
With a small smile, Penny leaned into Sheldon for a half hug. He seemed reluctant at first but hesitantly he put one arm around her shoulders and patted her as if to say there, there.
"Sure I am," she said with a sadness in her voice.
Sheldon remained quiet, letting her lean against him. He couldn't help but wonder why she seemed so sad over a relationship she never seemed to want to be a part of, and Penny was thinking that what hurt the most was how much she missed her good friend Leonard ever since they had started dating.
"What are you going to do?" Howard asked Leonard as they walked down Euclid Avenue. He was shivering in his sports coat, which was more conducive for style than warmth, though he didn't dare ask his friend if they could go back.
Leonard shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I don't know. I guess this was to be expected."
"What was?"
"The end. Sheldon's pretty much been saying it every week since Penny and I started dating... This relationship was doomed to failure."
"So you're just going to give up?" Howard asked as he rubbed vigourously at his arms for warmth.
"I'm not giving up!" He sighed. "This whole thing- I think it was a mistake."
"How can dating someone as hot as Penny be a mistake?"
Leonard pursed his lips together, finding it tough to say something that he couldn't even admit to his girlfriend. There was a moment of silence and an expectant look from the engineer before he finally got the words out. "Penny's great. She is. And Sheldon had some valid points about why she is a good girlfriend... In general. But I'm starting to realize..." Starting to admit his conscience interjected. "We both try to be other people when we're together."
"So?"
"So... Shouldn't we all be with someone we can just be ourselves with? Isn't that the basis of a good relationship?"
Howard scoffed. "Like you would know about a good relationship."
"Thanks, Howard." Leonard replied, his voice thick with sarcasm. He gave another sigh. "However, I think I know enough about bad relationships to know that this is one of them."
Pausing in his steps, Howard forced Leonard to stop with him and turned to face his friend, giving him a serious look. He had tried to be on the physicist's side, but now he was forced to ask- "If you really feel that way why were you so angry back at the bar?"
"You think I like admitting this? Do you really think I want to be in a bad relationship? For years I've been so positive that Penny and I were a sure thing. That if we could be together... that it would be epic, the stuff of dreams. I get angry that she doesn't feel the same way- that she can sit there and talk about these hot actors she's going to kiss, and random other guys who are so much more attractive than her boyfriend."
Howard decided not to mention that Leonard had never had a problem admiring an attractive woman, despite his anger over Penny doing the same thing with other men.
"I guess the more these conversations come up, the more it makes me realize that I wasted nearly three years pining over a bad relationship," Leonard continued. "And now I've probably lost a good friend, too."
"Maybe not. Have you considered that if you told all of this to Penny that you two might be able to go back to just being friends?"
"Even though I know we're not good for each other... I don't know if I could watch Penny go out and date someone else."
"Yeah, about that-"
"No, Howard."
"Right... Bro's before ho's," Howard replied with a sigh of his own.