I'm not that happy with this chapter. It's mostly dialogue and I think that Sheldon may be a little OOC, I'm sorry if that's the case. I hope some of you enjoy this anyway!

I also wanted to add that draco pryde gave me the idea of them to bond over Firefly and I thought that was a good idea. I've been wanting to watch the series for awhile and now I have the perfect opportunity to do so!

Now, enjoy!

Chapter 8

That night, Penny went to bed with a smile on her face. After she and Sheldon finished watching Star Trek, he had popped in the first season of Star Trek: The Original Series. Penny had seen a few episodes here and there, but she had never watched them in order. She found herself enjoying them, even though she missed the Uhura/Spock relationship from the movie.

After two episodes, Sheldon looked at his watch and announced that it was time for him to go to bed.

She had pouted. "Do you really have too?" She forgot for a moment that this was Sheldon and he always adhered to his schedule. Well, except for nights when he decided his work was more important than sleep.

"Penny." He turned to her after he had carefully retrieved the disc from the DVD player and put it lovingly back into its case. "You know that I have work in the morning and I must go to bed at a proper time, so I that I can wake up and feel refreshed. Any deviances from this may cause my brain functions to be lessened and I can't have that while I'm at work."

"I know." She continued to pout. "But I'm not tired at all and I'm bored."

"I'm sorry, Penny. If it were the weekend, I would not have been adverse to watch a few more episodes of Star Trek with you."

"It's alright." She stood up and stretched. "I'll just go back to my apartment and see if there is anything good on TV. Night, Sheldon."

Her hand was on the doorknob when his voice stopped her.

"Penny, wait." She turned to face him and in his hand, he held a DVD case that wasn't Star Trek. ""If you don't wish to take your chances with what is on TV this time of night, I can let you borrow this." He held out the DVD case and she could make out the word Firefly. "You have to promise me, though, that you will take good care of this."

She walked back over to Sheldon and took the case gingerly in her hands. She had heard the boys talk about this show and how it been cancelled prematurely, but she had never seen an episode of it.

"I believe that you will find this TV series to be quite enjoyable." His hands went behind his back and he looked down at her. "There are only fourteen episodes, so it shouldn't take you long to view the series in its entirety."

"There's only fourteen episodes?" She flipped the case over to look at the back. "That's not a lot."

"Unfortunately, it was cancelled way too early, in my opinion. They did, however, make a movie after the series unfortunate demise and it helped clear up some of the plot points that were still left untold."

She nodded. "Well, that's good."

"You should let me know when you are done with the series, Penny. I would very much like to watch Serenity with you."

She smiled. "Of course!" Any time spent with Sheldon was all right in her book. "I'll let you know when I'm on the last episode and then we can plan accordingly."

"Sounds acceptable." He gave her one of his half smiles. "Now, I really must head to bed. Goodnight Penny. I hope you have pleasant REM cycles."

At the door again, this time she had it opened, she turned around and smirked. "Goodnight, Moonpie." Before he could protest, she was already opening the door to her apartment.

Once in her own apartment, she made herself a cup of tea and sat down to start the first episode. It was a longer episode and she found herself nodding off, not because the show was boring but because she was more tired than she had let on. So, she switched off the TV and told herself she would start the episode again tomorrow. It really had been interesting.

She carefully placed her empty mug in the sink, she was done to two now since she had broken one last night. Making her way to her room, she shed her clothes as she went and quickly threw on the first pair of pajama shorts and tank top she grabbed.

Then she settled herself under the covers. Today had been a good day. Sheldon had acted better, not quite his normal self, but better.

So, with a smile on her face, she fell asleep.

*Knock knock knock*

"Penny." She had to be dreaming, there was no way that Sheldon would be up at...3:30 in the morning.

*Knock knock knock*

"Penny." She rolled over and promptly fell out of bed. Her head hit her night table and the pain radiated through her school. Nope. She was definitely not dreaming. Sheldon was really knocking on her door.

It had better be for something important.

*Knock knock knock*

"Penny." She hurried to the door and opened it, before he could start another round.

Sheldon stood there dressed in his pajamas (the buttons were done up right this time), hair mussed as if he had just gotten out of bed, but his eyes looked alert and awake.

"Sheldon, is there something wrong?" She asked and leaned against her door. All she wanted to do, right now, was go back to sleep.

"I couldn't sleep."

"I figured that, sweetie." She sighed. "Would you like to come in?" She opened her door wider.

"Yes, I would." He stepped inside. "Thank you."

"Would you like me to make you some tea?" She headed towards the questions.

"No, thank you, Penny. I've already awaken at an hour you're not use too, I couldn't trouble you to make me some tea." He took a seat at his spot on her couch.

Her eyes widened. "Are you sure?"

He nodded. "Yes, I'm sure."

"Alright." She shrugged and took a seat next to him. "Now. Tell me why you can't sleep."

He sighed. "Thoughts of my meeting with Dr. Gablehouser, tomorrow, keep going through my mind. I am not sure what to except when I walk into his office."

Penny placed a hand on his shoulder, happy that she could do this now without him flinching, and spoke softly to him. "I'm sure everything is going to be fine, Sheldon."

"How do you know?" He looked at her, his eyes weary.

"I just do, sweetie."

He turned and looked at her door. "Forgive me, Penny, if I tell you that your words don't reassure me."

She sighed and sank deeper into her couch. "Are you sure you don't want any tea? I bet it'll help you go to sleep."

"No, it's alright." Sheldon stood up and looked down at her. "I'm just going to have to find some way to quell these thoughts, so that I can at least get a few hours of sleep before work."

"Okay." She stood up and faced him. "I hope you can get some sleep, sweetie, and if you need me to sing Soft Kitty, just let me know."

"I will." He walked to the door and opened it. "Thank you, Penny." Then he was gone, shutting the door softly behind him.

It was a surprise when she found herself awake before eleven. Looking at her clock, she was even more surprised when she found out that the boys wouldn't have left for work yet. Throwing herself out of her bed, she rushed to the bathroom to run a quick brush through her hair and brushed her teeth.

She was up, might as well see the boys off. Especially Sheldon. She knew that he needed some kind of encouragement today, even if it was just a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

Five minutes later, she burst into the boys' apartment without knocking. They should be use to that by now, she thought and headed right to the coffee maker.

"Good morning, Penny." Leonard smiled at her from his spot at the counter. It looked like he was having a breakfast of toast and was still in his pajamas.

"Morning, Leonard," she threw over her shoulder and started the maker. "Where's Sheldon? Is he up yet?"

"I'm right here, Penny." The man in question emerged from the hallway, his hair still damp from his shower. "And of course, I am up. Today is a work day and I always get up at the same time." He went straight to one of the cupboards, took out his container of oatmeal and went to the stove to start making it.

"Good morning, sweetie." She smiled.

Without looking at her, he replied. "Good morning, Penny." He set a pan of water on the stove, turned on the heat and then looked at Leonard. "I suggest you take your shower now so we are not late to work."

Leonard rolled his eyes. "We have plenty of time." But he got up anyway and headed towards the bathroom.

Penny took his vacated spot, which sat facing Sheldon at the stove and sipped her coffee while made his oatmeal. "Did you end up getting any sleep last night, Sheldon?"

"Yes," He answered. "Quite quickly, actually. It seems talking to you last night helped." He over his shoulder at her. "Thank you again, Penny."

She smiled. "Aw, honey, it's no problem. What are friends for?"

"It seems you have gone far and beyond what is normally expected a friend, Penny." His blue eyes searched hers.

His gaze was a little unnerving; it was almost as if he could stare straight into her soul. So, she took a big gulp of coffee...and nearly burnt her tongue off.

"Penny," he handed her a napkin to clean herself off. "As I don't drink coffee, since I promised my mother I wouldn't do drugs, I am not sure of the protocol to drink it, but I am sure it is not to gulp it down like that."

"I know." She grumbled and cleaned the countertop, making sure there was no more coffee splatters before Sheldon sat and ate his breakfast.

They finished their breakfasts in silence. The only sound was Sheldon's spoon clinking on his bowl and Penny blowing on her coffee to cool it down. It seemed the two of them were so engrossed in their thoughts, that they hadn't heard the shower cut off and Leonard opening the bathroom door.

"Ready to go, Sheldon?" He asked when he stepped in the room, completely dressed and with messenger bag slung over his shoulder.

"I am." Sheldon stood up, moved to the sink where he quickly washed his dishes and then walked over to his desk where he grabbed his bag.

Penny watched him slip his bag over his head, her gaze lingering just a little too long on his arms. It wasn't like she could see if he had any muscle underneath his long sleeve shirt, but they were so long. They wouldn't have any trouble wrapping around her...Whoa. Wait. She couldn't think about him like that. He was her best friend and that was it.

"Bye, Penny." Leonard called to her from the open door, Sheldon stood behind him. "Will we see you later?"

She looked briefly at Sheldon, and then smiled at Leonard. "Sure."

"Okay, well, then I'll, uh, see you then." He gave her his lopsided grin and then walked out the door.

"Goodbye Penny." Sheldon's hand fidgeted on the strap of his messenger bag. "I look forward to seeing you later. It is Thai night."

"I know." She smiled and walked until she was in front of him. Placing a hand on his arm, she willed him to look at her. "Good luck, sweetie."

He rolled his eyes. "Luck? Really, Penny?" She didn't miss the mischievous sparkle in his eye.

"Blah, blah, blah. Hokum, I know." Her hand never left his shoulder. "What time is that meeting?"

"I believe it is at noon. I am to report to his office before my lunch break."

"Okay," she said. Biting her lip, she decided, why the hell not? and stood up on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. "I'll see you later."

Sheldon was stunned, his eyes were wide and he stood frozen in his spot. Maybe he shouldn't have done that. Now, she had broken him.

"Sheldon!" Leonard's voice grew closer. "Come on! I thought you said you didn't want to be late." He paused when he saw the state of his roommate and looked at Penny. "What's wrong with him?"

"Oh, um, nothing." She gave him a little nudge. "Right, Sheldon?"

He blinked and was suddenly back to normal. Without a glance towards her, he walked past his shorter friend and headed down the stairs.

Leonard still looked confused and was about to say something, when Sheldon's voice yelled up the stairs.

"Leonard, I do not wish to be late!"

Penny shrugged when the bespectacled man looked at her. Then with a roll of his eyes, Leonard descending the stairs for a second time that day.

Three hours later, Penny sat on her bed, freshly showered and looked at her closest. It was a mess and she had no idea how she was going to find something suitable to wear. If she was going to visit Sheldon before his meeting with his boss, she wanted to look nice. Not slutty, but nice.

Finally, she pulled out a white skirt, that wasn't too short, and a nice green top that she knew matched her eyes.

Now, shoes.

Should she wear those cute little white flats she had just bought last week or the five-inch strappy green heels?

Remember Penny, not slutty.

White flats it was.

Twenty minutes later, she was completely dressed, make-up on and hair is loose curls down her back. Grabbing her keys from the kitchen counter, she headed down to her car. She told Sheldon she would call before a visit, but this time she wanted to surprise him.

The next chapter will be in Sheldon's POV, which I haven't done yet, so it will be better than this chapter. I hope!

I'll see you all next week and thanks for reading! :D