Mary Cooper opened the door to Sheldon's room and found him typing on his laptop. "Shelly?"
"Yes?" Sheldon answered without looking up.
"How long are you planning to stay in Texas?" Mary asked. "Not that I want you to go or anything..."
Sheldon looked up at her. "There's nothing to go back to, mother," he said matter-of-factly.
"Well," Mary looked down at her feet before continuing. "There's Penny... You're, uh, best friend...?" She said silently.
Sheldon was silent, and Mary felt his eyes seemingly boring holes through her. "You're right," he declared suddenly. "How could I have not realized that?"
Mary crossed her arms. "Mothers know lots of things, Shelly."
Sheldon smiled. "Thanks, mother." He said before booking a plane ticket back to Pasadena.
Penny felt herself smile a little as she sat. Running out on Leonard felt good.
When she grabbed her car keys, she really had no idea where to go, but somehow, she ended up here. Her safe place, maybe? There was nothing like the silence and serenity that she was experiencing at the moment.
She looked around, then smiled even more when she realized that nothing had changed. She thought back on her life for the past two years, and realized that if things had been different, she wouldn't be here right now, feeling betrayed by the one person she, well, loved the most.
"Damn it!" She muttered as she furiously wiped at the tears sliding down her cheeks.
Sheldon turned the knob, surprised to find that it was unlocked. Was he being robbed again? He opened the door cautiously and was amazed to find a woman sitting on his couch.
"Penny?" He asked incredulously. "Are you okay?"
She looked up at him with puffy eyes. Seconds later, she had her arms wrapped around him, wetting his shirt with her tears. "S-sorry I c-crashed on your apartment," she choked.
Sheldon awkwardly patted her on the back, not sure how to make her feel better. "It's alright." He led her back to the couch and tried to get her to sit, but she lied instead, leaving Sheldon kneeling on the floor beside her. "Have you been here long?" He asked.
"I don't know... Four hours? How long have you been in Pasadena?" She replied, a little more clearly this time.
"I have just landed. I have decided that there is, in fact, something here to go back to." He replied. And it's right in front of me.
He stared at Penny for a few minutes, then when she fell asleep, he got a blanket to cover her. He might not know how to comfort her, and he might not be able to carry her into a more comfortable bed, but at least he could keep her safe.