Sheldon is finding it hard to reconnect with Penny. The last two years have changed them all. Is his Penny still inside her somewhere, or is the woman he cared for gone forever?

Getting Penny up to her apartment wasn't too hard. Wyatt simply picked her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs. She held herself stiffly with pain, her arms tight around his neck. Stuart was waiting on them, Whack on a leash by his side. As soon as Penny was stretched out on the sofa, she clucked her tongue and Whack jumped up onto her lap. She hugged the animal close and smiled softly.

"I missed you," she mumbled against his fur. Sheldon watched the joy and love on her face as she cuddled with his sort-of namesake. Missy went to make some tea while Mrs. Queen fussed over Penny and he, Wyatt, and Stuart walked back down to the car to get the rest of Penny's things.

"She looks better," Stuart said in his bland voice. He looked at Sheldon and smiled slightly. "I just want to say thanks. You didn't have to come back, but I'm glad you did. Penny needs you."

Sheldon sighed and shook his head. "She hates me. I left her, thinking she would carry on as she always had before. I thought she would continue being Penny. But she hates me for leaving. She doesn't want me here."

Wyatt snorted. "Oh, I don't know about that. She's mad, sure. She's very angry with you for leaving. But she's spent two years missing you, Sheldon. She doesn't hate you. She hates how much she needs you." He pulled out a small piece of paper with a phone number on it and handed it to Sheldon. "Which is why Joyce and I are going home tomorrow. It's not us, as much as we wish it was, that she needs. If you need us, call us. If you have anything to report, call us." Wyatt laid a hand on Sheldon's shoulder. "If you need an ear to chew, call us."

Sheldon picked up the duffel bag and handed Stuart the bag with her medications and release papers inside. "I need her, too," he admitted softly. "I will do my best for her."

XXXXX

Penny watched Sheldon putter around her kitchen. Missy and Stuart had left an hour ago, but Sheldon seemed to be reluctant to go. She set her tea down and looked over at him. "You don't have to hover around," she said blandly. "I'm settled in for the night. I just want to go to sleep."

Sheldon sighed and looked at her. "I'm not going anywhere, Penny."

Penny snorted under her breath in disbelief. She looked at Whack sleeping on her lap. "I'll be fine. I just had a pain pill, so I'm good for at least 8 hours. If I need anything, Stuart is across the hall."

Sheldon looked at his hands nervously. "You won't need to call on Stuart for any help." He took a deep breath and walked over to sit on the armchair beside the couch. "I moved in last night."

Penny could only stare at him. She was certain she had imagined those words. Slowly she closed her eyes and shook her head. "Wha…what did you say?"

Sheldon looked at her sternly. "You know very well what I said. I moved in. I placed my belongings in the bedroom alongside yours. When you are ready for bed, I will get you settled. I will sleep on the small trundle bed Stuart set up for me. Until you are capable of getting along on your own, I will stay here with you."

Penny's nostrils flared angrily. "Get out," she bit out roughly.

Sheldon shook his head. "No. You are injured. You may not want my help, but you need it."

Penny's hands clenched into fists. This was the first time she had shown any emotion for more than a few seconds. He was oddly grateful for that anger rolling off her in waves. At least he knew now that she was still capable of it. "I don't want you!" Penny snarled. "And I sure as hell don't need you!"

Sheldon steeled himself against the guilt he could feel building in him. He stood and quirked an eyebrow at her. "Oh? Then let's see you get yourself to bed."

Penny gasped in outrage. Silence reigned for several seconds. He almost relented when a tear formed in her left eye and then slid down her cheek. "You're a bastard," she whispered.

Sheldon nodded. "Maybe I am," he said softly. "But I'm the bastard who's going to take care of you, Penny. I'm not going anywhere. Hate me if you have to. Yell, scream, throw things, whatever it takes. But I'm not leaving. I'm going to take care of you, whether you want me to or not."

Sheldon returned to the kitchen and finished putting away the dishes. He barely heard her next word.

"Why?" she whispered.

He turned to look at her, his expression calm and steady. "Because you matter to me."

XXXXX

Penny gritted her teeth against the pain in her back and head as Sheldon popped her on her side with a couple of pillows. It was too painful to sleep on her back, but she had a tendency to roll around in her sleep, hence the pillows. Whack lay near her shoulder, growling softly at Sheldon. She reached up and placed a hand on his haunch and he turned to nuzzle her fingers.

Sheldon tucked the blanket around her, the urge to lean down and again place a kiss on her head almost overwhelming. He rose and headed to the bathroom. He closed the door and leaned back against it. Even after two years apart, she still had the power to take his breath away. He ran a hand down his face and took a deep breath. He pushed away from the door and stepped into the shower stall. He washed quickly and pulled on his pajamas.

When he stepped back into the bedroom, Penny's eyes were closed. He wasn't sure if she was really asleep, or just feigning it, but he didn't have the nerve to find out. He slipped into the trundle bed and turned off the lamp on the bedside table.

They lay in the dark, too caught up in their own worries and memories to realize that the other was just as pained and sad as they, themselves, were.

XXXXX

Sheldon frowned and looked around the room. It was still dark outside, so he turned over to look at the clock. 2:36 am. He heard a moan and he shot up in the bed. Penny was shuddering in her bed, and Whack was whimpering in a high pitched tone. Sheldon rose and moved swiftly to the bed. Sweat beaded on her forehead and her lips were drawn tight with pain.

Sheldon went to get her a pain pill and some water and sat down beside her. Whack began to growl, and snapped his jaws at Sheldon. Sheldon grabbed him by the scruff and set him on the floor. Whack's legs were too short for him to jump back up. He eased Penny up against his chest and woke her carefully. This was still Penny after all, and she was still liable to punch him in the throat. Her eyes opened, clouded with pain.

"Here," he said softly. "It's a pain pill." Her mouth opened automatically and he placed it on her tongue. She sipped the water and slumped heavily against him. He cradled her head in the crook of his neck and leaned back against the headboard.

"Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur. Happy kitty, sleepy kitty, purr, purr, purr," he sang tenderly.

Penny's right hand tentatively settled on his bicep. "I still hate you," she whispered.

Sheldon's heart clenched in his chest. He nodded in reply. "I know," he murmured. "But you still need me."

XXXXX

He was just putting on a pot of tea when there was a knock on the door. He glanced at Penny, who didn't even glance at the door. Her eyes stayed glued to the TV, even though he very much doubted that she was actually watching the documentary on Nixon.

He walked over to the door and opened it up. Missy and Bernadette smiled at him and he stepped aside to let them in. Whack moved from Penny's feet, up onto her lap. His lips pulled back into a silent snarl and Penny placed a hand on his head to sooth him.

"Is that mutt ever going to stop hating everyone?" Bernadette muttered.

Penny smiled slightly. "He doesn't hate you, B. He's just protective."

"He's a menace," Sheldon muttered under his breath as he walked back to the kitchen. His shin still ached from the nip Whack had given him when he crawled out of Penny's bed this morning. He pulled a pan from the oven, the smell of cinnamon rolls permeating the apartment slowly.

He poured tea for everyone and placed the rolls on a plate. When he carried them over to the living room, Bernadette and Missy smiled their thanks and reached for a cup. Sheldon stared at Penny who glared at him. After a moment she grimaced and reached for a cup. Sheldon placidly reached for her legs and raised them up. He slipped beneath them, settling her calves across his lap. He picked up the last cup and turned his attention to the TV. He flipped through the channels and settled on an old episode of Deep Space 9. He pretended not to notice the confusion and surprise on everyone's faces. After a few minutes Bernadette began telling Penny a story about work and they all eventually relaxed. Small steps, Sheldon reminded himself.