Okay, I know the ending of this episode didn't go exactly how I started out this chapter. But it's not that much of a difference, so I went with it. Enjoy!

Chapter 4: The Prestidigitation Approximation

We can't be friends.

Penny tried to hold back her tears as she walked out the double doors of her apartment building. While Leonard never actually said those words, Penny understood loud and clear. She couldn't even begin to explain the anger that was building up. This'll make for a great day at work, she thought sarcastically.

Penny had barely made it three steps out of the door, when she heard a loud bang, followed with a muffled curse. Turning on her heels and speeding back, she threw the door open to find Leonard sitting on the floor, against the wall, holding his head.

"What the hell was that?" Penny exclaimed, wondering what he'd done.

Leonard lifted his face to look at her, squinting. He gave her a sheepish grin that Penny couldn't help but find adorable. "I ran into the door."

Those damn contacts. Penny, without even thinking about what she was doing, held out a hand to help him up. "C'mon."

Leonard grasped onto her outstretched hand and stood, wobbling slightly. She noticed that he couldn't hold his left eye open. That'll definitely leave a bruise. Once he was fully on his feet, Penny dropped his hand quickly, stepping back. She frowned as Leonard swayed a little. "Are you going to be okay?" She couldn't stop herself from being concerned, even after the conversation they had just had.

At Leonard's nod, Penny took another step back towards the exit, her eyes never leaving him. Because of this, she immediately noticed Leonard walk towards the stairs and stumble into the nearest wall. Penny jumped forward, grabbing onto his shoulder to keep him upright. "Okay, c'mon. Up the stairs we go."

Leonard sighed, "Penny, I'm fine. You have to get to work."

Penny shook her head, continuing to try to guide him up the stairs, "I'm not leaving you down here by yourself just to hurt the only functional eye you have left. Now, move." This time when Penny started up the stairs, Leonard allowed her to help him.

When they finally made it to the fourth floor landing, after what felt like an eternity to her, Penny directed him to his doorway. Using her right hand to open the door, Penny never let her left hand leave Leonard's shoulder until she had him safely seated on the couch. "Lay back," She instructed.

Leonard tried to argue again, "Penny, seriously, you need to get to work."

Penny pushed on Leonard's shoulder until he was on his back on the couch. "I'm horrible at my job. They won't miss me if I'm a little late." She walked across the room to the kitchen and pulled out one of the many ice packs she knew Sheldon kept in the freezer in case of a medical emergency and some Tylenol out of the cabinet. Pouring a glass of water and walking back over to the couch, she found herself surveying the apartment. How many memories did she make here the past four years? And now? Now she was not allowed to visit anymore? It didn't seem fair. This was like her second home. Some days it felt even more like home than her own apartment across the hall.

Penny handed Leonard the ice pack to hold against his slightly swollen eye and the medicine, setting the glass of water on the coffee table beside him. She knew she should leave. She had done what she intended, gotten Leonard back to his apartment and made sure he was alright. She really should walk out the door and go to work. But instead she found herself sitting in the armchair next to the couch. Leonard's chair. How many times had she snuggled up to him in this chair while dating, nuzzling her face into his neck, covers thrown over them, some Science Fiction movie playing on the television? Penny wished with every fiber of her being that the anger she felt earlier would resurface. She liked the anger. It protected her, kept her standing tall. This feeling though? The feeling that came after the anger had vanished, she hated. It made her feel so fragile she could crumble to pieces at any second. She just felt..numb.

"I guess I need to start wearing my glasses again."

Penny looked up at the sound of Leonard's voice and the chuckle that followed. "I like your glasses," she said softly. She didn't even mean to say it, didn't even think Leonard had heard it, until she saw the smile that slowly slid across his face.

Penny replayed their earlier conversation over again in her head. Even despite her missing Leonard, she had decided she wouldn't let that affect her opinion of Priya any further. She knew Leonard deserved a chance to be happy and she was willing to give him that. Hell, she even liked Priya. A little.

But now she felt like she was on a see-saw. On one side, she could tell Leonard her feelings, knowing he'd run back to her. She could bring up to him that, not even that long ago, he told her nothing would stop him from being there for her. He would agree and take her in his arms and they'd be happy. For a while. Until she did something to screw things up again. And she knew she would.

On the other side of the see-saw, Penny had the option of keeping her feelings to herself and giving Leonard the opportunity to try out this new relationship, even if it meant losing their friendship. Lifting her head once again to stare at Leonard, she contemplated her options, going back and forth. Each came with pros and cons, each with some kind of unavoidable heartache in the end.

Noticing the slow rise and fall of Leonard's chest, along with the way his mouth was hanging open slightly, Penny concluded he had fallen asleep. Standing, she thought about retrieving his blanket from his room to cover his sleeping body with. But she knew if she went back there, she might not want to ever leave. The memories would really hit her full force then.

She bit her lip and glanced down at Leonard again. The see-saw in her brain going back and forth, up and down. Confess or walk away? Risk hurting him again or hurt yourself?

A couple of minutes passed and her mind had finally been made up. With one last look around the room, Penny turned, and on shaky legs and tears threatening to escape, she walked out of apartment 4A for possibly the last time.