Authors Note: Thank you for all the reviews,

Disclaimer Big Bang its characters belong to someone else. The story belongs to me

Present Day

"Moonpie"

"He's just left sweetie" said Nurse Walker as she walked up to Penny and sat down across from her

"Do you want me to get someone to bring him back?"

"No please I am not ready"

"Well it's good to have you talking Penny, we were worried about you, not as much as that young man, and I will let the doctor know you are speaking"

"Could you wait awhile?"

"Sorry Honey, I have to let her know but I could tell her you need some time before you wish to see her"

"Thank you and could you tell no one else, especially Sheldon, I'm so scared and I need time"

"As you wish"

"Thank you" Penny said weakly "You know he said he loved me"

"Darling that boy does not just love you, he would have swapped places with you if he could"

"I am so ashamed"

"Honey you have nothing to be ashamed about"

"But I"

"No but Penny, from what I hear, you had something pretty horrible happen to you and no one to turn to, you could not cope, that is nothing to be ashamed of"

"It hurts so much"

"Of course it hurts, darling, but you have friends, your parents, Mrs Cooper, Mrs Lee and of course Sheldon to help you, and Doctor Wallace is one of the best."

"I do not know if I can do this"

"Penny you can do this, Doctor Wallace believes you can do this, God knows Dr Cooper will carry you through this, and that man has been a right pain in the ass when it comes to you, every day coming in with some new treatment he read on line, querying Dr Wallace every step of the way."

"Some days I thought we would have to lock him up, the crazy loon"

"He's not crazy, his mother had him tested" Penny chuckles softly

"Well it's good to see you laugh"

"I will leave you now until I come to get you for dinner"

Nurse Walker got up to leave, "I will shut the door sweetie, and buzz us if you need anything"

"Thank you" Penny said as she began to cry a little more.

"He loves me, what did I do to deserve that"

The Cheesecake Factory

Howard and Bernadette walked into the Cheesecake factory and were shown their seats.

"Will Doctor Cooper be joining you this evening?"

"Yes Clara he should be joining us shortly"

"Has Penny gotten better?"

"No change but there is hope"

"Howard, Bernadette" shouted Leonard from across the room

"Oh crap the troll" Bernadette whispers to Howard who chuckles quietly

"How are you?"

"Fine Leonard and you" Howard asked composing himself

"Oh just grabbing a bite to eat with some of the show's writers before we head back to the studio"

"So the show business gig is working out then "Howard asked politely

"Yeah, did you here that I am nominated for a Daytime Emmy "

"No we didn't" said Bernadette

"What they giving awards out for most unimaginative experiments now Leonard" Sheldon said as he walked up and sat down

"Sheldon"

"Leonard"

"Still trying to get a Nobel Prize"

"Why yes, so thoughtful that you would ask" Sheldon said sarcastically

Howard stared at Sheldon and thought he really is beginning to get a handle on Sarcasm

"Well how's Penny, Sheldon"

"Why do you ask, you really do not care Leonard"

"Just being polite Sheldon"

"What as considerate as you were when you were having coitus in your office when she walked in"

"Sheldon" Howard and Bernadette exclaimed

"Face it Sheldon, your jealous, I have a successful career, a beautiful woman and a great life, what do you have"

"Penny"

"You do not have Penny, an empty shell, staring at the walls in the looney bin"

"What did you just say" Sheldon said as he sprung to his feet

"You heard me Dr Spock" Leonard said retreating out of Sheldon's reach

"She is not that she is the most beautiful and precious person I know, you hurt her you spineless self-centred little troll, she is going to get better and she will be a hell of a lot happier without you"

"Whatever Sheldon, good evening Howard and Bernadette" as he walked away

"Good bye" said Bernadette "yeah good bye Troll" said Howard

Leonard scowled at Howard as he walked back to his booth and collected his things as he walked out the door.

"Whoa Sheldon I have never seen you so aggressive" Howard exclaimed.

"Lucky there were no smoothie around or we might have gotten kicked out" laughed Bernadette

"I apologise for my behaviour, but that little troll deserves to be squashed"

"Sheldon, you care for Penny" said Howard "I suspect you even love her, do not apologise, when she gets well, I hope you too can make it work"

"Yea Sheldon, you are a very loving and honourable man, you will make Penny very happy" said Bernadette

Clara came over and took their orders and they then settled down for a nice meal. Howard told Sheldon that Raj would like to come over for Halo, if Sheldon was up to it, while Bernadette and Amy had a girl's night.

Sheldon agreed, though he was not sure if he would enjoy it but he knew that Penny would want him to keep the group together.

He finished his meal and listened to Howard and Bernadette tell him about their day and their plans for this weekend. Clara asked how his burger was and he said fine, it was not the same and not like it had been in the past but there was a reason for that. Penny was not the one bringing it to him.

He did not know what he would have done without the two before him these past months, when Penny was better he would pay them back and he would also show Penny how much he cared.

No matter what he achieved, he was determined to be there for Penny.