Pay Back
One of the things Penny loved about Sheldon was that he was never vindictive or sarcastic, a master prankster yes but vindictive no.
Leonard however had being vindictive and sarcastic down to a fine art, a child hood of being psycho-analyzed by your mother will do that to you, Sheldon always seemed to be the brunt of his petty jokes, some of his tricks however were not so petty. No one ever told Penny what had been behind the trouble on their Arctic trip, but she knew that the relationship between Sheldon and Leonard had changed since their return.
Sheldon could just ignore Leonard's petty and at times very childish attempts to play tricks on him, Sheldon had his work which was an integral part of his life nothing else mattered or could matter.
Leonard was still Sheldon's roommate but Leonard had caused to be Sheldon's best-friend, sometime ago Sheldon had once told Penny "I'm re-evaluating a number of friendship contracts. You are safe Penny".
The act that made Sheldon think of some form of retaliation was Leonard tricking Penny into picking him up from work, on the pretence of picking up their Halo 3 game. To Sheldon's mind his intellect protected him from the lower life forms and Leonard, but he would stand no truck with anyone using him as part of a trick on a friend.
"Sheldon sweetie I don't have a problem picking you up, I really enjoy your company" but Penny was mad with Leonard for tricking her.
On their drive home Penny had been asking Sheldon about the Marquis-de-Sade, she had seen part of his bio' on TV.
Thinking about what a bad ass like De-Sade got up to, made Penny think how hot she would look dressed in leather with a whip. And how she could get pay back on Leonard. And, as Sheldon had realized, what Penny was planning he had been only too willing to help her "I'm in". They were standing in Penny's apartment before confronting Leonard
"Penny I do admire your zeal in wanting to inflict pain on Leonard, but I do feel stealth is needed here".
"But Sheldon! I would 'so rock in a leather outfit"
"Ah! Yes as fun as that sounds" Sheldon filed the image of Penny dressed in leather away in his head. "Physiological warfare Penny is needed here"
"Psycho' what, Sheldon?" Penny looked at Sheldon, her head tilted to one side.
"Physiological! Oh' heaven save us! We are going to have to mess with his head, Penny!"
"Now was that so hard Sheldon?" Penny grinned up at him.
'Why do I allow this woman into my life?'
"So what do we do Sheldon?"
"Do! Penny, we do nothing. We let Leonard's own paranoia do the work for us"
"Sheldon this is just pay back right nothing else?"
Sheldon smiled at Penny which should have sent alarm bells ringing.
That was the one problem with an eidetic memory you forgot nothing!
"Oh Penny, now, would I hurt Leonard?"
But Penny had seen that mad-professor look in Sheldon's eye .
Poor Leonard
So as they walked into 4a as if nothing was wrong, Leonard grinned "Hi Penny sorry about the mix up. Oh good, you got the game".
Both Sheldon and Penny just looked at Leonard and smiled.
But whatever Sheldon had thought was going to happen 'didn't.
Or so it seemed.
A week or so later Penny walked into 4a ,Sheldon was in his spot on the couch reading
"Hi Sheldon what's up?"
"What's up where Penny?"
Wow that was all he had.
Penny sat next to Sheldon and turned to look at his face "Ok Sheldon what is it and don't say what is what . TALK! TO ME, and where are the guys tonight anyway?"
"Are you finished?" Sheldon was giving Penny his annoyed look but there was something else. "Leonard' Howard and Raj have gone to the movies"
"Oh I see. Didn't you want to go?"
"Penny the question of if I wanted to go was not discussed as Leonard only had three tickets"
"You are freaking kidding me, Sheldon! He only had three tickets and he took Raj and HOWARD?"
"I am here. They are not -you do the math Penny"
"Sarcasm Sheldon?"
"No"
Penny had never known Sheldon to be so quiet. As a rule you could never shut him up.
"Tea, Penny?"
"What? Oh yes. Thanks Sheldon" As Sheldon occupied himself making their tea, Penny was deep in thought. There was no way Leonard was going to win. This had gone beyond just pay back. Leonard had upset her Sheldon…wait… her Sheldon?
The very idea she could have feelings for Sheldon were crazy. He didn't do 'emotions' did he?
Penny sat next to Sheldon drinking her tea she looked sideways at him, if it had been anyone else Penny would just have said he looked a little lost' or unsure but this was Sheldon.
"Look Sheldon your plan is just not working I say we go to plan 'B'"
Sheldon looked down into Penny's face "Penny what is this obsession you have with leather?" although he would not admit it the image of Penny in her leather outfit was still very clear in his mind.
"Sheldon what has Leonard always fixated on?"
"Women, sex, you, and work"
"You could have left out the sex part, but yes he is still a little jealous and I think he still wants me?"
"Penny! to say Leonard is a 'little jealous' is to say humans only need a little air to breathe. He is obsessed not that anyone could blame him for that" Sheldon ended in almost a whisper.
But Penny had heard him "Thank you Sheldon" she said smiling.
Penny looked into Sheldon's deep blue eyes. She could have just sat next to him all night not touching just looking into his eyes.
"So plan 'C' Penny?"
"Oh right plan 'C' we need to start dating"
"What! that's your plan we have 'coitus?"
"Boy! Sheldon why is everything about sex with you?" Penny tried but she could not hold in her laugh.
"Yes ha' ha very amusing now 'coitus' Penny"
"Not right now Sheldon I'm thinking" Penny could see Sheldon's face was getting redder and his right eye had start to twitch, she shook her head "Sorry sweetie but it's so easy with you at times".
"Penny Leonard will be back soon so?" Sheldon gave Penny his patented glare.
"Ok Sheldon. We only act as if we're dating just in front of Leonard you know to make him jealous. After all, I am an actress Sheldon"
"Umm' and what would this dating comprise off?"
"Well we would keep it within your comfort zone maybe a little touching" Penny saw Sheldon's eyebrows go up "only on the arm Sheldon ok?"
"Yes I believe that would be agreeable very well Penny" Sheldon stood up.
"I'll draft a contract for you to read and sign tomorrow" as Penny stood up she was not sure what to do. Should she hug him, shake his hand, what? If he were anyone else, they would have kissed but this was Sheldon.
"Ok then I'll be going"
"Yes it's time for bed,Penny" Sheldon was getting annoyed that Penny was not moving, but then he had seen Penny's face light up as he said 'bed'.
"Penny I'm unsure why you are smiling? 'BUT GO HOME"
As Sheldon started to walk towards his bedroom, he looked back over his shoulder at Penny who had still not moved "I bid you good night Penny please close the door on your way out"
Penny shook her head as she headed to the door she was dating Sheldon Cooper it may only be play acting but it was going to be fun.
At the front door Penny stopped.
"Oh Sheldon"
"Yes! Penny" Sheldon almost yelled from his bedroom.
"I'll require one kiss per day in public make sure that's in our contract" Penny heard a bang from Sheldon's room as if he'd fallen out of bed "Night sweetie" Penny was still smiling as she crossed the hall to her apartment door.
Penny sat on the couch next to Sheldon eating her dinner, she looked around the guys no one it seemed had noticed how close she was sitting to Sheldon.
"So what's the plan for tonight guys?" Penny asked hoping that Sheldon would play along.
Howard and Raj were both looking at Sheldon waiting for a 'Sheldon put down' for Penny. Leonard's eyes were still on his food. Penny turned her head to look at Sheldon and smiled "Well Sheldon and I have plans so count us out" Penny could see a slight smile on Sheldon's face but his expression never changed while she had been talking. The same could not be said for Howard.
"What the frack! You and Doctor Doom have plans?" Raj whispered into Howard's ear "Just give me a chance Raj and I will- what plans?"
"Oh, we're just watching a movie, and I have an order of 'Penny Blossoms' to make up".
Leonard who had still not looked up from his food
"Very quiet there, Sheldon. Nothing to add?"
"No I believe Penny has covered all the salient points"
Raj again whispered in Howard's ear "Yes I'm going to" both Howard and Raj were grinning. Howard leaned forward "How about the less relevant points?" Penny stood up " I think we're done here. We have a movie to watch and Penny Blossoms don't make themselves".
As Sheldon stood up to join Penny at the door, Leonard looked up at Sheldon "Like to catch me up here Sheldon?" Leonard had tried to sound indifferent but the slight tone change in his voice gave him away.
" And what would you like to catch up with Leonard?" Howard and Raj had not moved from where they were sitting but their eyes moved back and forth between Sheldon and Leonard. Raj whispered in Howard's ear again "I don't know you're here too".
The tension was broken by Penny "Sheldon! Movie! Blossoms! Now!" Sheldon, who had not taken his eyes off Leonard's face, replied "Yes Penny"
As the door closed behind Sheldon and Penny, Howard was the first to speak "What just happened?"
Raj just shook his head but his eyes were on Leonard's face "You ok,Leonard?" Leonard stood up so quickly from his chair that Thai food cartons went flying across the floor "How could she do that right to my face?"
Howard looked confused "how could who? Penny?"
"Oh come on! You all saw how she was looking at me trying to make out she's over me and using Sheldon of all people"
Now even Raj was confused "Dude, did I miss something?"
"No Raj but I think Leonard did"
Sheldon stood behind the front door of 4b listening to the voices over in 4a his smiling just slightly "Sheldon sweetie for those of us who don't have Vulcan hearing what's going on is it working?"
"Penny I think it may be working too well"