Author's Note: A fun challenge from pepperdadog who requested, "If you have, then what if you put Parker in Penny's situation where she's with the "idealistic" man and Eliot's a total looser (though he is Eliot so it'd be a tough feat to make him un-cool). I really like the last scene the best, so if you could do that one that would be great!" I was a little confused by what you wanted, but I tried my best! I hope you like it! Now a few things before you read:

1) Watch Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog or read a summary of it BEFORE you read this. Otherwise, you'll be lost.

2) Listen to "Slipping" since this song is featured in this chapter.

3) Enjoy!

Penny Parker is nervous.

She's sitting onstage while her boyfriend Captain Nate Hammer is prattling on about some hero ceremony. She's happy to support her wonderful boyfriend who single handedly saved a homeless shelter for her cause, but she doesn't like all the attention she's getting—especially from those creepy fan girls of his. Still, she smiles and plays her part of the dutiful girlfriend but she wishes she could just go back to her favorite laundry mat and eat some frozen yogurt with Billy Eliot, the adorable guy that is so nervous all the time!

"So I thank my girlfriend Penny," Captain Hammer says as he points to her. She smiles brightly. "Yeah, we totally had sex." She feels heat rush to her cheeks and quickly sees everyone glaring at her.

"Time to go," She mumbles as she gets down the stairs. Everyone is singing with Captain Hammer when he's suddenly frozen in place.

Evil laughter fills the room and she knows who it is—Dr. Horrible. He's the completely evil nemesis of Hammer and the fact that he's here can only mean something bad is about to happen. Miss Parker tries to hide, but Dr. Horrible has her paralyzed in fear.

Look at these people
Amazing how sheep'll
Show up for the slaughter No one condemning you
Lined up like lemmings
You led to the water

She knows she should run, but his voice is haunting and familiar somehow. Penny feels like she's known him from somewhere and she feels like he's important. She senses pain within him—so much agony—and she wants to help him.

Why can't they see what I see?
Why can't they hear the lies?
Maybe the fees too pricey for them to realize Your disguise is slipping
I think you're slipping!

He was pointing at Captain Hammer now and for some reason, she didn't care. She thought about going to him and trying to help him. His pain was hurting her as well and she wanted nothing than to help. She was going to help as soon as she came up with a way to do so!

Now that your savior is still as the grave
You're beginning to fear me! Like cavemen fear thunder
I still have to wonder
Can you really hear me? I bring you pain
The kind you can't suffer quietly
Fire up your brain
Remind you inside your rioting Society is slipping
Everything's slipping away…

It was then that she was able to see that he was holding a gun in his hands, but it wasn't an ordinary one. She squinted and saw that it was a death ray! Oh god, she had to do something to help this man who had obviously let down by someone. He just needed a caring hand.

So… Go ahead, run away
Say it was horrible!
Spread the word, tell a friend
Tell them the tale
Get a pic, do a blog
Heroes are over with! Look at him, not a word
Hammer meet Nail!
Then I win, then I get
Everything I ever

People were running away, but she couldn't leave. Something wanted her to go closer to the super villain and find out who he really was without those goggles and lab coat on. Was he just a normal guy who had fallen down on his luck? Was he someone she knew?

All the cash, all the fame
And social change
Anarchy, then I run
It's Dr. Horrible's turn You people all have to learn
This world is going to burn! Burn!

He turned to a reporter and pointed at her paper:

"No, it's two "r's". H-O-R-R-, right."

Burn!

He was saying something else, but she couldn't hear him. Was he apologizing to someone for his actions? Was he doing this as a service for someone? A nagging question of why lingered in her. The next thing she knew, Hammer was back and Dr. Horrible was on the ground. She wanted to cry out to have Hammer stop, but her voice had vanished. Hammer pointed the death ray at Dr. Horrible and pulled the trigger and then she felt pain. Her breath was coming less frequently and she was beginning to feel cold.

"Penny, Penny?" That voice was so familiar to her . . . it made her feel happy and loved.

"Billy?" She questioned, forcing her eyes open. "Is that you?" There he was and she knew. Billy Eliot was Dr. Horrible. That's why she had felt such a strong connection to him before.

"Penny, hold on," He pleaded, but she could feel the blood coming out of her. She didn't need a doctor to know that was bad. "Oh, no, no, no, no."

"Are you alright?" She needed to know because if he was hurt too—it hurt too much to think about.

"Hold on," He begged and she felt herself becoming tired. She needed to calm him somehow and try to get him to rest.

"It's ok, it's ok," She repeated as she smiled gently. "Captain Hammer will save us."

Her eyes shut.

And then flashed back open as Parker woke up with the credits of Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog playing on the TV. What a strange dream! She had been Penny who had been dating Nate—ewww!—and then Eliot was the bad guy.

Eliot! That reminded her of the fact that he had been watching with her. It was then that she noticed that she was lying on top of his chest. She and he had fallen asleep together. She blushed even though she wasn't sure why and then smiled. A yawn escaped her lips and she quietly sung:

Will you lend a caring hand to shelter those who need it?

Her eyes shut again.

Author's Note: Review please and don't forget to request!