18

A few hours later, in apartment 4B

Leonard shambled into the apartment, a very dour look on his face. Penny immediately came over to him to give him a kiss hello.

"Hi, sweetie."

"Do you know what happened today? Do you? Of course you do. You work for him."

"A lot of things happened today, sweetie. It was my first day of work."

"Yeah well the university gave Sheldon tenure. Sheldon Fucking Cooper! After pretty much going nuts they went and rewarded him. Maybe that's what I oughtta do."

"Sweetie, Sheldon has been at the university longer than you and he's worked very hard for a very long time. He deserves to be recognized."

"And I don't? I went to the freaking Arctic with him. What a nightmare! And I spent four freaking months on a boat for Stephen Hawking. That should have guaranteed me tenure. Hell, they should have made me the head of the department!"

"Leonard, sweetie, you'll have your chance. There'll be other opportunities."

"Not for at least another year. And that means I won't be getting a raise. We'll be stuck in this place for another year at least. This was supposed to be temporary."

"I thought you liked living here with me."

"I love living with you. I'd just rather it be in a bigger place. And away from him. He was really selfish not letting us have the bigger apartment. That's so typical of him. So what was going on with you and him at lunch, anyway? I saw you."

"We were doing exactly what I said I was doing. And don't think I didn't see you skulking around at the cafeteria. What the hell's the deal with following me around anyway?"

"I wanted to make sure you were doing okay. I got worried when I saw Sheldon's empty old office. So now he's probably got a better office too, doesn't he?"

"Kinda?"

"So what did they do, set him up sharing a big office with Alex and you're out in the hallway?"

"Um, not exactly."

"So?"

"Leonard, are you sure you want to talk about this? I wanted to celebrate my first day of work. I made us a special dinner, cheeseless lasagna, and I picked up a special wine and I have a surprise for you a little later…"

"Tell me about Sheldon's new office, Penny."

"Okay, fine. Sheldon has an office suite with a reception area and three individual offices. It's pretty nice."

"See! That should have been my office."

"Leonard, he got moved there mainly because he had me and Alex working with him plus the baby. He needed more space."

"I could have needed more space."

"Leonard, you think maybe you're acting a little childish?"

"You're taking his side. You're engaged to me and you're taking his side."

"Leonard, there aren't sides here. Sheldon got a promotion and you didn't. Big deal. It happens. There was this one time at The Cheesecake Factory…"

"I don't need to hear about The Cheesecake Factory."

"So are you just going to pout like a little baby all night?"

"If that's what I feel like doing, yes."

"And I'm supposed to just sit here and watch."

"Yes, that's exactly what you're supposed to do. And be supportive. And then later, you get to put me in a better mood."

"What?" Penny glared at Leonard.

"What do you mean what?"

"You know, I did have plans for us later but maybe I should reschedule them. It looks like maybe you should prepare to stay in the mood you're in."

"What?"

"If I want to see a baby pouting I'd rather go across the hall to see Missy and the baby."

"And Sheldon."

"He's not home yet."

"He will be."

"Good night, Leonard. I'll see you later. Maybe."

"What does that mean?"

"Oh, figure it out. If you can't maybe that's another reason you didn't get tenure."