Sheldon and Penny are roommates now, and with some encouragement from the guys, he's decided to accompany her to her work. He doesn't really care about her profession but he does care about her.

Sheldon twitched slightly when a buxom redhead sat down beside him and grinned. "Hey, cutie. What's your name?"

"Doctor Sheldon Cooper," he said stiffly, keeping his eyes on Penny and the slender blonde in the ring.

"A doctor? Cool. Maybe you could take a look at my hamstring," she cooed. "It's very tender."

Sheldon stood abruptly and shook his head. "Madam, I have no interest in your hamstring. I am a theoretical physicist, not a medical doctor. Good day." He hurried over to the ring and edged around to where two men were wrapping tape around their wrists. He sat down a foot away from them, his eyes once again focused on Penny.

He had to admit, this was not what he had been expecting. He thought, naively he supposed, that training would consist of Penny watching and directing the trainees. Instead she was actively participating in the action. She would demonstrate moves, and then work one-on-one with each women until they had a basic grasp of the move. He flinched every time she took a fall. None of it seemed to phase her, though. She immediately got back up and went over the good and bad of each attempt.

Surprisingly, he found the entire endeavor interesting. Penny may not have realized it, but much of what she was teaching involved physics. Balance, center of mass, calculating speed and mass, these were all physics related techniques she was using to improve the abilities and effectiveness of her wrestlers. Even the way she taught them to take a 'bump', the transference of force from back to hips, or hips to legs, was pure physics.

"…telling you man, today's the day. Penny is going to say yes."

Sheldon didn't look at the two men, but they definitely had his attention.

"No way," snorted the other guy. "I'm telling you man, you got no chance. You've heard how she talks just as well as I have. She's got her sights set on another man. Greg brought her flowers and she called him Gary when she shot him down."

"Yeah, but the guy she talks about is some kind of geek. An egghead professor or something. What was it she told Candace he was?"

"A beautiful mind genius kind of guy."

"Yeah, that's it. Sounds real impressive. I bet he can't even bench press 50 lbs."

"Maybe she doesn't care about how much he can press, as long as he's pressing the right way, if you know what I mean," the second guy joked as they stood and moved away.

"Hey." He turned to see a petite blonde standing beside him. "Are you the egghead?"

"I am a theoretical physicist," he said stiffly.

"I'm Angie. Penny's told us about you." She tossed a towel across her shoulders and plopped down on the bench. "She's pretty smitten with you."

Sheldon cleared his throat nervously, and committed. "I am pretty smitten with her, as well."

"Penny's really cool, "Angie said, watching the action in the ring. "She's been super supportive. My parents think I'm living in a dream world, but Penny says I have a lot of potential and talent. She says I'm better than she was at my age." Angie grinned, her eyes shining brightly. "She's a five time women's champion," she said reverently. "She's also a two time battle royal winner. And she thinks I can be a pro."

Sheldon looked from Angie to Penny and back. "If Penny thinks you have talent, then you do. She is a very honest person, and has a talent for seeing a person's true worth."

"Like she sees yours?" Angie asked.

He shrugged his shoulders. "Like the way she sees the gentle, kind side of her… our friend Howard. Like the way she sees the warmth in an old woman at a farmer's market. Like the way she sees a lonely scientist with no social skills and spends her time drawing him out of his shell and into her light."

Angie looked at him with a smile. "Wow. I knew she had it bad for you, but you've got it just as bad for her. I'd wish you luck, Dr. Cooper, but she's already yours. You just have to let her know you're hers, too." Angie stood and headed back toward the dressing rooms, waving bye to the other girls.

Sheldon blushed and turned so no one would notice. He was conflicted, to say the least. Penny obviously talked about him. She gave the people here the impression she wanted him to be her man. His only concern was whether he could fulfill that role. He had never been involved with anyone before. He had never desired to be. What if he couldn't be what she wanted?

"Hey," Penny said. He looked up to see her leaning over the ropes above him. Her feet were on the bottom rope, and her perch seemed precarious to him. "What's got you looking so serious?"

He stood and walked over closer. Penny hopped off the bottom rope and climbed through them to drop down on the apron. Sheldon gulped as she reached out and snagged his shirt. He didn't resist as she drew him closer. He kept waiting for his mysophobia to kick in. He could see the sheen of perspiration that covered her skin. It should have appalled him. Instead he was fascinated by the trickle of sweat that slid into her cleavage.

Penny giggled, making him realize he had been caught ogling her. Color flooded his cheeks as she leaned closer and kissed his cheek. "I'm done for the day. Give me ten minutes to shower and change and we'll go grab some lunch, Sugar."

Sheldon snorted in disbelief. "Penny, in the month we have lived together you have not taken a shower in less than 20 minutes. I will wait here for you, fully aware that it will take you at least thirty minutes to prepare yourself."

He stepped back to put a bit of distance between them "Penny, why do you insist on calling me by the ridiculous name of Sugar? I have nothing in common with the product."

"Because you're a bit square, but really sweet," she teased.

He looked down at the mat with embarrassment as his cheeks burned. "You are incorrigible."

"Don't get smart with me, mister," she growled playfully as she hopped off the apron and grabbed her duffel bag.

He watched her walk away, but had to have the last word. "I cannot help being smart, Penny. And it's Doctor, not mister!"

Sheldon sat back down on the bench. Across the room he could see the two men he had overheard staring at him with stunned jealousy. He had to admit it made him feel a little bit smug to know he was the man they envied.