Author's note: Much love to my followers and reviewers. I'm honored by your attention and it helps inspire me to continue writing. Sorry for the delay. My laptop died and being tethered to my PC for writing is not as conducive to the process.

Disclaimer: Yada, yada Bill Prady and Chuck Lorre own it.

"Time came and showed me your direction. Now I know, I'll never ever go back
Taught me that I can be a better girl"

I Love Your Smile - Shanice

-o-o-

The buzzing continued and Amy's hand reached for her cell phone on her night stand. When accidentally knocked it to the floor she groaned, "noonoo". The buzzing stopped but restarted again minutes later. She shook herself awake so she could pick up her phone.

"Hello," rubbing the sleep from her eyes she tried to sit up.

"Ames, its Penny, I need your help."

"mmmhmm"

"Amy, listen to me. I can't miss my audition and interview today but I don't think I can drive."

"What?" suddenly aware that her best friends voice had a serious tone of concern. "Penny, where are you?" she asked ignoring the pinch in her neck as she stretched.

"I'm at home but I woke up and my knee is the size of a grapefruit."

Now wide awake Amy's clinical tone took over. "Are you in pain? What happened?"

"You know what happened. You were there. It doesn't hurt very much if I stand up or walk on it. I just can't bend it and the swollen part is hurts like a mothar."

"ahh - now I remember. Adrenaline is a seductive bitch. You thought you were an Amazon princess when you broke that cue stick on your leg."

"I don't think Amazon dot com has a princess, but yah the cue stick."

"It sounds like a severe contusion but I wouldn't want to risk the possibility of a small fracture. The clinic may not want to do any x-rays until the swelling subsides but we should take you anyway."

"Ames, I don't care about the knee, I can take care of that later. I need to get to my audition and interview. Can you miss work and drive me?"

"Sure. Let me get my team organized. I'll just go in tomorrow. It's 9:30? I've over slept severely!" Amy felt soreness in her muscles and aches in her back like she had just been bouncing off the Grand Canyon walls. "What time is your audition? And where?"

"It's at 2 o'clock and at 3 o'clock I have an interview. It's at the Bonaventure hotel."

"Oh great. A twenty minute distance but a two hour drive. I don't want to risk not getting you there on time. I'll pick you up at 11:15 and we'll grab lunch or do I need to help you get ready?"

"No. I'm okay. Just text me when you're on your way and I'll meet you in front of the building."

"In the meantime, elevate that leg and get some ice on it. See you in a bit."

They hung up and Amy stood up to shower only to feel a sharp piercing pain in her ankle. She winced and plopped back on her bed. She raised her ankles to look at them and she saw some discoloration on her left ankle and slight swelling. She tried to trace circles with her toes and she noted the restricted range of motion and discomfort with her left foot. She tentatively tried to touch it but winced from a pain in her elbow.

"Ouch. Okay, no more bar brawls for me."

She noticed her cell phone message light flashing.

Good Morning.

I've been trampled by a herd of elephants.

Call me when you can.

-S

Sheldon had sent the message at 7 a.m. which was later than his usual 6 a.m. routine. She made her way to the bathroom for her morning grooming before sitting back on her bed to make her call.

"Good morning, Sheldon."

"No it is not, but according to convention I should say good morning anyway. Amy, I can hardly move my neck, I've showered four times since last night and I still don't feel clean or free from all that touching AND I have more bruises on me than when I've played in a paint ball tournament."

"I'm sorry you don't feel well. Have you taken some naproxen? That should help."

"Of course I have. What I need is my girlfriend here to take care of me. By the way how are you feeling?"

"I'm glad you finally squeezed that question in there and I am feeling very much like you, trampled. Are you at home?"

"No, I came in to work but it's been difficult to get anything done. Maybe we should spend the day taking care of each other?" He almost whispered his question and spoke in a higher pitch giving it a playful tone.

Amy smiled and let out a tiny sigh. "Oh Sheldon, I wish I could but Penny is injured and needs me to drive her to her audition. Do you want to come with us?"

"No, no. I don't see how that would be soothing to my condition. What's wrong with Penny that she can't drive herself?"

"Something is wrong with her knee, it's swollen. I'm planning on taking her to the audition and then a clinic for evaluation."

"Can we plan for dinner then? No one is coming over tonight for classic game night. It would be just us."

"Okay. I would like that."

Sheldon would often text about evening plans but this sounded like he wanted her to play hookie from work and be together for the day. She threw herself back on her bed and fantasized about spending a whole day in her bed with Sheldon. The image of cuddling, reading and talking was forefront in her mind before it shifted to cuddling, touching, kissing and nibbling. Her desire for more had come true and she could swim in her contentment which is why she felt a tiny pang guilt wanting just a little more. She sprang up not allowing herself to dream further. She hopped her way to the bathroom to get ready for her day.

-x-x-

"This is kind of cool. It's like we're Thelma and Louis on the lamb from the pigs."

"I owe you big, Ames. I hope this doesn't get you in trouble at work."

"Don't worry about it. Now that I've filled several positions I'm able to shift my work around a little easier. Where did you get that cane?"

"I bought it when Leonard shot himself in the foot and good thing that I kept it but I'm not going to use it when I walk into the audition. Ima going to try to walk in like normal."

"When you're done we need to get that knee examined. Do you have your lines memorized? Are you ready?"

"I'm ready. I have a good feeling about today. So you slept in late, huh?"

"I used to be like a possum at night but now I can't handle 2 a.m. bed times any more."

"I know someone else whose routine was off but that didn't stop him from spending an extra twenty minutes walking you to your apartment. And I know with an elevator that should only take ten minutes. Spill!"

"There's nothing much to spill. He told me he liked my t-shirt and my jacket. He wanted to know why I wasn't wearing my glasses. He told me he preferred my hair down and wavy, not straight. You know he has his opinions."

"Well obviously he was checking you out all night but nothing to congratulate you? No hug? No kiss? No nibbling on your 14?"

"mmmhmm"

"Wait. Mmmhmm what?"

"He hugged me and congratulated me. I told him I was glad he came and that I was proud of him for helping Bernadette. I mentioned that he must have spent a fortune on taxis this week and he said," then with a dreamy sigh she added, "It was all worth it."

"Wow. We need to keep him up past midnight more often if he is going to be so sweet. Last night he hardly complained like he usually does and who knew he had it in him to get in a fight and pick up Bernadette like he did. He finally strapped some on."

"So explain to me about his fight."

"The guys said that he does get jolts of superhuman strength when he flips out. Well he flipped out because some guys were saying some pervy things about you. I didn't hear all of it but Sheldon's Vulcan hearing did and bam! – next thing you know he's lifting a guy up by the throat. Ask him about it. Just explain to me how you knew to do all that dirty stuff you were doing with the cue stick. You had your opponent and half the guys in the stands drooling and sweating."

"I was just planning my moves. I don't know what you're talking about." Amy answered as a mischievous smile settled across her face.

"Oh cut the crap! I'm not buying it. Come clean Miss Inexperienced. You did the same routine all day without the added smuttiness and that just doesn't come from thin air!"

"If Jack hadn't tried to distract me it wouldn't have occurred to me to do such a thing but it's something I read in either Master of Desires or The Duchess and the Spy. I'm going to have to read them again to make sure. Too bad those seduction methods don't work with Sheldon." She giggled at the prospect.

"Romance novels?" When Amy nodded she added, "Well if Sheldon's eyes would have been lasers, that guy, Jack would have been vaporized. So he came on to you, huh?"

"Posturing is more like it. I am familiar with the intent, especially through high school, undergrad and even now with the occasional groupie."

Penny scrunched her nose," You lost me."

"Guys flirt specifically because they want something. Copy your work, get you do their reports, or distract you to gain some sort of advantage but they have no real interest in the person whatsoever." Amy explained as she recalled the annoyance of past encounters.

"I get that all the time but they don't want my mind they want to get in my pants. So what'd he tell you?"

"He complimented my eyes but his intent was poorly disguised so I turned the tables on him. Thank goodness it worked. I really was not in the mood for losing."

"So, um did guys flirting with you happen a lot cuz you do have pretty eyes? In fact if you showed off your curves more guys would be lined up."

"I'm well aware of the power of my beckoning hips but Bestie, that's not me. I prefer men of greater depth and besides I've only wanted one guy to line up and take notice. And no flirting doesn't or didn't happen a lot but just enough to give me some life lessons."

Penny made a pouty face at Amy and then occupied herself finding some music on the radio that she liked. While she searched Amy was able to reminisce about her last private moment with Sheldon. She would later write in her diary that it was their first make-out session. She didn't know if there were specific time limits or quantity of kisses necessary under some unwritten make-out standards but she didn't care. Their brief fifteen minutes had been heaven.

-x-x-

He had walked to the elevator with her as she mentioned his taxi expenditures and told him, "You must be tired. You don't have to walk me my apartment. You've already been so chivalrous with Bernadette and me tonight."

"Of course I do. It's very late and we haven't had a moment to ourselves." He smiled as he pressed the button to her floor. On the short ride up she took a second to release the bun in her hair. As she shook her hair loose she noticed Sheldon's eyes dilate and then taking some of the dropping curls in his hand he said, "I like it when your hair has curls and waves," then touching her jacket he added, "this shirt and jacket suit you very well but maybe next time you can wear your boots with this outfit."

"Uh-okay. I'll remember that." She blushed slightly as she felt the heat of his eyes roaming over her body. He leaned in to kiss her but the elevator doors opened. They walked hand in hand and she had barely stepped inside her unlocked apartment when he had pulled her into an embrace.

"Congratulations champ." Then he tilted her chin up and kissed her. Amy had often wondered why women in classic films would raise one leg during a deep kiss. As she moved her arms from his waist to his neck, she still didn't know the answer but she did it. She bent her right knee, impervious to the pain going on in her left ankle. When he placed four soft kisses down her neck she was certain every hair on her body had formed a tight spiral.

"Amy, please promise me you don't want to have another night like tonight. It was dangerous."

Amy who was love drunk would have agreed to anything at that moment breathlessly answered, "but I like this." And proceeded to kiss Sheldon's neck focusing on a mole on his left side. Sheldon felt himself sinking into quicksand as Amy kissed him but he managed to mumble, "I meant the rest of tonight."

"I promise." She moaned as his mouth covered hers again in a passion filled kiss.

When he freed her from his embrace they were both gasping. "I need to go. Penny's waiting in the taxi." They both stood looking into each others eyes trying to regulate their breathing.

Sheldon shook his head and said, "We'll talk tomorrow."

Amy remained dazed even after he had closed the door.

-x-x-

Amy had told Penny the truth but left out the juicy details. She was a horrible liar but proud that she was able to think on her feet by still answering Penny's prying but keeping private things private. She grinned with pride.

"Amy, the light is green."

"oh"

"What naughty things were you thinking about?"

"Um. I'm a champ and it feels good."

"You and Bernadette are pool sharks and you didn't tell me. All you said was that you had played in college for book money. We need to do that again. I had a blast."

"Not me. It was fun but I've had enough. Anyway I was never a match player I was more of a trick shooter."

"I'll ask you again in a few weeks. Hey, we made it in under an hour we'll have plenty of time for lunch."

"This is a pretty pricey place are you sure it's an Indie picture? I thought that type had tiny budgets. I'll drop you out in front and meet you in the Bona Vista Lounge. That's the name of their café."

-o-o-

Amy had made sure that Penny's leg was elevated and iced while they ate. She had given her some anti-inflammatory tablets and helped her practice her lines. Afterwards Penny sat amidst twelve other actresses waiting their turn outside a hotel suite visualizing her delivery. She felt she was dressed suitable for her character, a twenty-something girl from a middle income family that lived near a beach. She wore wide leg pants, perfect for hiding her injury, a loose fitting boho blouse and embellished flat sandals. She looked for commonalities among her competitors and aside from height and age there was very little that she could pinpoint. This elevated her hope that perhaps the producers were not set on a character type or perhaps the lead role had yet to be cast.

"Julia Stiles read this morning. I don't think the rest of us stand a chance," offered another blonde to no one in particular.

"If you're so sure why wait?" Penny challenged, determined not to let doubt worm into her mind. A few of the actresses rolled their eyes, others ignored everything completely but a young brunette at the furthest seat down the hall smiled and nodded agreement.

When she was called her stomach fluttered, she stood and winced internally as she slid her leg off the nearby chair but managed to walk into the room with a bounce in her step.

Handing her resume and head shot to casting director she stood in front of their table and introduced herself.

"Hi, I'm Penny."

-x-x-

Amy did not want to go home or go to work knowing she would have to return through the traffic to pick up Penny. On her own she did not care for shopping unless she was looking for something in particular. She had learned to enjoy the outings with the girls as their presence was entertaining and bonding. She sat alone in the lounge rubbing her ankle having spent an hour looking over a binder she'd brought from work she began to ponder that she would enjoy a nap. Then she remembered the hotel was part of a property chain with which she had accumulated rewards, so she approached the check-in counter.

"Dr. Fowler, I'm happy to inform you that as a STAR member you have five nights available at our properties world wide. Here we can offer you our deluxe suite for tonight."

"I don't need anything fancy, just your standard room please."

"Ma'am, while our standard rooms are spacious our STAR members are entitled to benefit from our amenities and we currently have a Recharge package. It includes use of our pool area, in-room massage, our welcome basket and a room service voucher.

"I'll take it. Just tell me, who is your masseuse?"

"Soledad is on duty today. Would you like me to set up an appointment? And for your welcome basket would you like champagne or choco-wine."

"Massage in thirty minutes and I've never had choco-wine but I'll try it and I'll need a second key left here for my friend."

"Very well ma'am, enjoy your stay."

-x-x-

With her audition complete Penny headed to a higher floor for her interview. She received a text from Amy informing her that she had checked in to take a nap. She was pleased that Amy could have an afternoon to pamper herself. That girl was finally learning how to kick back. Three years ago she would have acted like a programmed robot trying to accomplish everything on her to-do list. Penny knew she had been putting in long hours at the lab and had to deal with Sheldon in her free time. Though Amy thought that it was a treat it was hard for Penny to comprehend how both of them could enjoy the hours and hours they spent together.

Even though Penny loved Sheldon she could still only tolerate him in small doses, unless it was before 11:00 a.m. then she couldn't tolerate him at all. Lately though in Leonard's absence he had seemed more vulnerable, even when they fought he wasn't holding on to his grudges as long. The biggest change seemed to be visible on Sunday evenings when the three of them were together. Penny could not express in words how happy she was to see him doting over Amy and the tiny touches that would occur between them as the two worked in the kitchen together. She suspected that Sheldon was more than just fond of Amy and she secretly hoped he would come to turns with that much sooner than she had with Leonard.

Coming back into the focus of her own situation she turned off her phone and tucked it away in her bag. She knocked on the door of the suite she had been directed to and waited while looking at the lavish decorations that led to a hallway with entrances into the large ballrooms atop the hotel. Looking out the window down at the city streets and across to towards Hollywood she recalled the lofty dreams she had as a young girl coming to the big city from Nebraska. Here she was ten years later feeling older, not much wiser and not at all accomplished.

The door was opened by a husky, bald and bearded redhead; whose raspy, booming voice made Penny whip her head around. "Are you Penny?"

With a nod and an extended hand Penny walked enthusiastically towards the stranger.

"Hi Penny, I'm Harry, I've looked over your resume and you don't have any professional make-up work experience. So let me tell you that you are here because you were recommended by my sister-in-law Susi and she said you were ready to jump at new experiences in the business."

His bluntness made her nervous but she preferred it to syrupy pretend niceness she encountered in her profession.

"Harry thanks for considering me. The makeup work I've done has been on stage plays for myself and other actors. It is something I like and I am willing to learn more about this part of the industry."

"I'm going to honest with you, it would be better if you at least had some artistic experience but this position is to work as one of my assistants but it can become an apprenticeship. What you get out of it is up to you, but you have to be serious and committed. To put it bluntly, looking at your resume it doesn't seem you are that serious about working in the industry."

Penny was jarred at the statement and put her hand on her stomach as if searching for a bullet wound. "What do you mean? I been taking classes and auditioning for years. I know I haven't gotten many parts but that's not a sign that I haven't been trying."

"According to your resume you've been in LA almost ten years. You've been taking acting classes, getting very few bit parts and working at the Cheesecake Factory. There's a saying that if you do what you've always done, you'll get what you always got. I know people that have come here with stars in their eyes and hustled like crazy to be a part of the industry and yet you're still doing the same things you did when you got here." He raised his eyebrows and waited for her reaction. She didn't seem like the hundreds of pretty girls who showed up hoping to get by on looks alone. She didn't seem like the type who was willing to put her self on casting couches for a part or a chance to latch onto a big wig. There was nothing distinctive about her at all and he couldn't figure out why Susi had made the recommendation.

"Well crap! I guess on paper it looks like I haven't done much but I still love acting and the business. I haven't given up in all that time even after hundreds of rejections. Hundreds of rejections and I didn't turn tail and go back home to daddy. Yah, maybe I've been crawling along but I've never stopped. I've even gone back to college as proof that I'm still willing to learn and I'm here now ready and willing to learn something from you."

"Good. I'm glad to see you still give a damn. If you don't get cast for a part in this movie, or the next or the next then what will you do? What is your Plan B?"

Penny hated the term Plan B mainly because she didn't have one and because she knew she was getting to the point where she had to accept that her Plan A hadn't worked. So she gave him the only answer that popped into her head, "I can tell you what it's not, three weeks ago I was offered the chance to join the Cheesecake Factory management training program. I knew the minute I got the offer that I did NOT want to do that for the next twenty years of my life. I want to be an entertainer or be in the business. It so happens that Susi and I spoke about this and she sent me your way. Honestly, I'm not ready to give up on acting but I don't want to continue working in a restaurant forever. I'm ready for something new but something that keeps me in the industry."

"So you're not willing to give up on hopes for stardom?"

"Oh, I was never planning on being Angelina Jolie or Sandra Bullock. I'm realistic enough to know that type of stardom happens to very few people. I just wanted to be a successful actor who is booked for jobs regularly and is respected for my work. I'm also realistic enough to know it may be time to look at my backup plan. So are you willing to try me out for this gig or not, cuz I'm hoping to make this my Plan B?"

"Look the only reason I'm even considering you is because I dug myself up from a summer job being a janitor at a studio to becoming a grip, a gaffer and the unappreciated position of python wrangler before I ended up in makeup."

"You worked with snakes?"

"Na, a python wrangler is the person who organizes all the cables from the production gear but mainly the sound equipment. I just pointing out that I built my skills in the industry doing different things just because I wanted to work here. I'm not just looking for skills Penny, I'm looking for fire. Hunger to work in a business others just dream about. I promised myself that if I made it I would return the favor in honor of others who gave me a chance. Do you have that fire?"

She'd been searching for her passion for a while but she didn't want to share anything that sounded like weakness. "Absolutely, I'm fired up."

"I don't know that I'm ready to make you my assistant but I can give you the dirty work of working with adhesives and applications. Then you'll have the glamorous job of clean up and then we can see what you're ready for after that."

"Um- What kind of make-up job are you talking about?"

Harry chuckled at the expression Penny gave him and answered, "Did you think we were going to make pretty people prettier? There's no fun in that. Making pretty people look wretched that's the way to go. This is FX make-up kid and we're making a comeback."

"Oh. Wow. I didn't know but it doesn't matter. I'll do it, but what do you mean by comeback?"

"Productions were going with CGI in movies and photoshopped print work instead of paying for FX make-up but now many want more FX work before sending it to the computer folks. It gives everything more realism."

Just then two firm knocks interrupted their conversation and a thin, long-haired blond man opened the door. "Harry, Geena called and her team is not going to make it. Told you she'd bail on you again. Quit giving her chances."

"Damn it! Now I'm down two. Penny you may have caught a lucky break. Can you start today?"

"Sure. What do I need to do?" She answered quickly not wanting to let the opportunity slip.

"We are here because we've been hired for a Halloween commercial and catalog photo shoot tonight up on the roof. I need you to fill in for some people. Here's the card to our HR person to get you settled with your paperwork. So go give them a call. Then I need you in the Palms ballroom ready to work in thirty minutes. We'll go over the movie project while we're working."

-x-x-

Amy was relaxed.

After Amy had two glasses of the sweet nectar that was chocolate wine Soledad had arrived to set up her massage table. She had worked out the knots in Amy's back, arms and calves then left her in a state of bliss. She lay in bed with nothing on but the hotel robe. Her clothes hung neatly in the closet as her fourth glass of wine hung neatly in her hand. The massage had been needed but the decadence of the wine was a gift she promised to put on her grocery list to give herself again and again. It was deceiving by its sweetness but potent in its effect, it made her consider something else that she needed.

"Hi, Sheldon"

"Amy, why didn't you use Facetime to call me?"

"I can't Cuddles, I'm naked," she slurred.

"Have you been drinking?" He questioned judgmentally as he stood to pace his office.

"Yes, why else would I be giving you a booty call?"

"A what? Amy where is Penny?"

"She's at her thingies so I booked a room for a nap. I want you to come join me."

He raised his eyebrows at Amy's brazenness then asked "Then how is it that you are drunk?"

"hmmmm good question," she snorted, "I did this all by me self, my shelf. I mean I did it. I wanted to relax."

"Amy, stop drinking and take your nap. It's barely three in the afternoon for Pete's sake!"

Amy began to pout, "but I want you here kissing me. I have a cowboy who is a master kisser and I want him here kissing me."

"Amy, I do enjoy kissing you," he said softy with a hit of longing, "but my concern is the state you are in – um – and - um – well I can't go there."

"Let's have phone sex then."

"Amy, take your nap!"

"I'll start. I kiss your Adam's apple. What do you do?"

Sheldon's head was telling him to stop but his nether regions had awakened with curiosity so after a long pause he answered, "I gingerly caress your back. What do you do?"

"I climb on your lap and nibble your earlobe and you…"

Returning to sit on his office chair at work Sheldon's thoughts had been interrupted many times by the thought of having Amy on his lap. It was something that evolved after he became stuck on a problem he thought of her there with him, helping him work through it. In recent months though her presence in his thoughts had turned into a fantasy and she would sit on his lap completely naked. He squirmed as he recaptured the vision. Did she know he wondered?

Amy cleared her throat and melodically sung, "I'm nibbling."

"Yes uh yes and I pull you closer and draw your lips to mine. What do you do?"

"I kiss you."

"I kiss you back and then," he paused to make considerations, "I kiss your neck."

"ooooh, I tilt my head back for you to kiss it and then I begin to undo the buttons of my sweater and blouse."

"What? I thought you said you were naked."

"No. I mean yes. Not in your office. I'm naked here. You know - I'll send you a picture of what I'm wearing."

Just then someone knocked at the office door.

Sheldon sat up startled as if he'd been caught red handed in a candy store and he spoke rapidly, "Don't. Don't do that. That's not wise. Amy, I have to go someone is at my door. Please take your nap. I'll understand if you don't make it tonight."

Knock, knock "Sheldon, it's me Raj."

"Cuddles, of course I'll make it." He heard Amy say in his ear.

"Come in," he reflexively called towards the door before addressing Amy again, "listen, it may be better for you to stay there. I'll talk to you later. Good-bye."

Hanging up the phone Sheldon put it on his desk before looking at Raj.

"Is everything okay? You were kind of short with Amy there."

"Everything is fine. Amy took Penny to her audition and she's just going to wait for her?" he tried to cover the nervousness in his voice.

"That's right, the big audition was today but why did Amy have to drive her there?"

Sheldon's phone beeped with a message but he steeled his neck so he wouldn't look at his phone and kept his focus on Raj. "Something about her having pain in her knee. Yes, that's it. Her knee was swollen."

"Aw, poor Penny. Aren't you going to check your message? Maybe she's out from her audition." He reached towards the phone but Sheldon grabbed it and looked. It was a message from Amy but he was certain it was the photo she promised and he began to salivate and swallow rapidly.

"It's not. It's not any news. Raj, please state your business."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to pry. I just wanted to hear Penny's good news." He paused but since Sheldon remained looking at him with anticipation he continued, "Anyway, I will be there tonight to play video games. I was supposed to meet Lucy at the library but she cancelled. I will be working on the cantina on the roof first because I have some workers dropping off the furniture I designed. I'm leaving at four, if you want a ride home meet me out front."

"Lucy? I thought that ended the night of Leonard's party."

"I've sent her cards and emails. I'm still concerned about her. I still want to be her friend."

Sheldon let out a heavy sigh. He had no words to offer Raj since the only one that came to mind was hurt and he didn't know how to turn that into something consoling. So he just shook his head. Raj looked at his feet preferring Sheldon's silence over of his opinion.

"Yes. I'll meet you out front."

"Alright," he nodded and left to drop off Leonard's mail in his office.

Sheldon kept looking at the closed door. He didn't understand how easily Raj was still willing to open himself up to be hurt again. Wouldn't he be better off dedicating himself to science? His thoughts returned to Amy. He looked at the phone in his hand and tossed it on his desk backing away from it like it was a bomb about to detonate.

"Amy would never send him a naked picture of herself."

"Drunk Amy is unpredictable."

"She couldn't possibly be able to take a picture of herself."

As each of these thoughts left his brain he inched closer to the phone. Finally he picked it up, clicked the message and closed his eyes. He cautiously opened one eye to a narrow slit until he could see the picture. Both eyes flew open and he let an enormous sigh as he braced himself with his hands on his desk.

The picture was obviously of a white terry cloth material with the hotel insignia bearing the embroidered words: Property of the Bonaventure Hotel

"Drat!" he exclaimed, surprising himself.

-o-o-

Penny quietly entered the hotel room to find one unmade bed and no sign of Amy. She checked her phone for messages but then the bathroom door opened.

"Ames, you startled me. You were really quiet in there."

"I had a great nap then I showered. I'm refreshed and ready to go. Its 6:00 let's go to dinner."

"Did you read my text?"

"Yes. Sounds like you had a great new experience. I knew they wouldn't be able to resist your triple threat of talent, beauty, charm and the added bonus of that dazzling smile. I take it you're hired."

"Thanks to a lucky break I got the job. I'll hear about the audition later but I think that went well too. The thing is they want me to stay for the photo shoot tonight. We were already provided dinner and they want me back at 7:00."

"Perfect. Just stay here tonight and I'll bring you some clothes tomorrow when I pick you up. I'll call down to the desk and ask them bring you some toiletries. Now let's get that leg elevated during your break. I'll go get some ice."

Penny arranged all the pillows on the bed so she could sit up and place her legs up comfortably. She carefully rolled up her pants leg to reveal a purple, black and blue mess which aside from the color, did not appear any worse than it had that morning. Considering she had to spend most of the afternoon on her feet she was happy that the pain did not slow her down.

She was amazed at how quickly the afternoon passed. She had learned about airbrushing makeup, mixing goop to attached prosthetic pieces. Her job for the night would be simple, prepare the models, glue the prosthetics to their skins and blend in makeup for a natural appearance before sending the models to the makeup artists. It was fun watching her creations come to life. Creating something out of nothing gave her a greater sense of pride than mixing drinks.

The thought that her doctorate boyfriend had more experience with the skills needed for her job made her laugh out loud. In a few hours she would skype with him and share the detail of her day knowing he would be very pleased to discover she had stumbled onto something that could bring them closer. She was sure he would tell her to expect a training seminar with Raj on FX makeup. A month ago she may have rolled her eyes in annoyance but now she was grateful that she wouldn't feel alone on her new venture.

When Amy returned she had ice, an ace bandage and a soda. How could someone so socially awkward have turned out to be such a great friend? She asked herself. Amy and Bernadette were not the type of girls she would have befriended in her youth but they had turned out to be true friends. They were loyal, dependable and never expected anything in return; unlike many of her previous friendships she was beginning to feel like Amy, who had once said that they were family.

"I hope you'll be okay on your own. How long do you think you'll be working?"

"Until we're done was what I was told. That could mean 3 a.m. I'll just roll with it."

Clapping her hands together quietly Amy said, "I soo happy for you. It's time for you to turn over a new leaf, turn a corner, start with a clean slate, get jiggy with it. FYI we are not wanted by the cops. Bernadette went to the bar and found out the guy who I hit causes trouble regularly; he gets banned then shows up a few weeks later to lose more teeth. The girl you hit had a history too so no one filed a complaint against us. We're free to roam. In other news I need to go find out if I scared my boyfriend into a cave."

"Oh no. What happened?"

"Choco-wine happened and I left you some. I need to go fill in the parts I don't remember, that is if he is still talking to me. So goodnight just let me know what time to come by tomorrow."

A/N: Thank you for sticking with this story. Next chapter coming soon.