Knock knock knock.
"Penny."
Knock knock knock.
"Penny."
Knock knock knock.
"Penny."
"Go away Sheldon!"
There was a pause.
Knock knock knock.
"Penn-"
"Oh, for Gawd's sake!"
Penny threw open her apartment door, and glared at Sheldon.
"What the hell do you want, Sheldon?"
Sheldon stood there, staring at Penny. She folded her arms and continued to shoot him a dirty look as he softly finished his knock on her doorframe.
"May I come in, Penny?"
"No."
Sheldon shot Penny a confused look.
"I don't understand why you're so mad at me, Penny."
"Oh really? Something the amazing Dr. Cooper doesn't understand? I didn't think that was possible!"
Sheldon reached out his arm, and gently ran his fingers over the dark circles under Penny's eyes. His hands were strong but comforting, and Penny leant into them, moving aside so the taller man could access the apartment. His hand fell away from her face as he entered.
"Sheldon.. What the hell?" Penny asked breathlessly.
"Google is a magical place, Penny." He replied, rubbing his hand across his t-shirt.
She shook her head, but at his touch her anger had thawed. Outside, the rain pattered against her window.
Sheldon settled down in his chosen spot. He took a deep breath.
"Penny, your symptoms suggest you have an eating disorder." He informed her bluntly. She winced.
"From your lack of denial, I gather you already knew this?" He asked her. She nodded slowly, chewing on her bottom lip.
"Penny, this isn't something you can overcome alone.."
"You can't tell anyone!" Penny yelled.
Sheldon frowned.
"There's nothing wrong with my head! I'm not seeing some creepy old man in a dark office and confessing all my secrets!"
"We'll Penny, I'm not qualified to help you. However, there is one alternative."
"What?"
"As you know, Leonard's mother is a psychiatrist."
Penny leapt up.
"I'm not telling Leonard's mom! Are you insane?!"
"Why not? Doctor-Patient confidentiality forbids her from informing Leonard. She is perfectly qualified, unlike me, and you've met her. She's also female."
"How is her gender relevant?!"
"She's not some creepy old man, as you said."
Sheldon watched Penny as she slowly sat down again.
"Sheldon.. She's not the most comforting person in the world.."
"And that's a bad thing?"
She nodded. Sheldon smiled triumphantly, before turning stern again.
"The point in seeing her isn't to be comforted, Penny. It's to recover."