25
The week proceeded and Penny got more settled in her duties. She started learning her way around the CalTech computer system, requisitioned a few things for the office and did as much as she could to prepare for Alex's arrival. She was surprised that things weren't very busy but figured that would change once Alex got back. Leonard continued to have meetings that he wouldn't talk about with Penny. Penny gleaned as much information as she could from Sheldon. Apparently the FBI put their investigation on hold when they found out that Joyce Kim was requesting asylum in the U.S. As part of that process they would be interviewing her and decided to postpone any further action until after those interviews took place. The following week promised to be more action-packed. Alex would be coming back to work. Sheldon and Missy's older brother would be arriving with Missy's car. And at some point Penny would be auditioning for Wil Wheaton's show. She hadn't mentioned that to anyone but Sheldon, partly because she thought she might need to leave early to deal with it and partly because she really didn't think it would go anywhere.
Penny was sitting at her desk Monday morning when Alex arrived carrying a box of office stuff. Alex was followed by another woman, also carrying a box.
"Hi. Penny, right?"
"That's me. Hi Alex. I guess Sheldon didn't tell you that he hired me to work for you guys. Is that okay?"
"Sure it's okay. I wasn't sure we were even going to have an assistant yet. And I guess I'm a little surprised it's you considering our history."
"We have a history?"
"Leonard."
"Oh, that. Leonard and I got engaged a couple of months ago. Anything that happened with you two is ancient history."
"Nothing happened, Penny. I promise. I made a mistake."
Standing behind Alex, her friend coughed.
"Oops. Sorry. Penny, this is my friend, Nora. Nora, this is Sheldon's and my assistant, Penny. You guys have something in common. Penny's an actress, too."
"Hi, Penny. Nice to meet you."
"Yeah. Nice to meet you too, Nora. Though I'm kind of not really doing the acting thing any more. Had my last bad experience and I'm walking away."
"Yeah, I know what that's like. I've got a few horror stories myself."
"I bet you don't have anything to match my last experience. I got fired off a movie where I was playing a go-go dancer that got turned into a gorilla."
"Believe it or not I auditioned for that movie. But I turned it down when they said I'd have to do most of it naked. I thought maybe it was a little too gratuitous."
"The whole thing was gratuitous. But I only had to be naked under the ape hair so I was okay with it. And the director was a real ass. So you had a problem with the nudity?"
Alex and Nora looked at each other and laughed.
"What's so funny?"
"It's funny I guess. When I first met Nora she wasn't wearing anything."
"I don't understand."
"Okay. Sometimes to deal with pressure and stuff I go and take a life drawing class. I'm not a great artist but I can draw and it's nice to use my non-science muscles once in a while to clear my head. There's this Saturday class at Pasadena City College that's open to the public so I went in a few weeks ago and Nora was the nude model."
"Yeah, acting doesn't exactly pay the bills so I bartend and model for art classes on the side. The money isn't bad and you get to meet lots of interesting people."
"So the two of us got to talking after class and we hit it off. We've kind of been inseparable ever since. I couldn't have finished my dissertation without Nora making sure I ate and slept and kept going with it."
"Wait a second. Are you guys together?"
"Yup."
"Alex, I'm not judging or anything but I thought you were…"
"Straight. Yeah, me too. Guess it just took meeting the right girl."
"Wow. Just wow."
"Is this a problem for you, Penny?"
"No. Not at all. Not me. And I know Sheldon won't care. He probably won't even notice."
"So anyway, which office is mine?"
"You've got the one on the left. The stuff from your old office is in there. I didn't know how you wanted it organized so I didn't unpack it. When you're ready I'll be happy to give you a hand."
"I think we have it covered, Penny. Do I have any messages? And where's Sheldon? And his little nephew. I have to say I'm really curious to see him and this baby."
"Oh my God, he's like a different person with him. He's sweet and affectionate and very un-Sheldon-y. Right now he's across campus squaring away things at the Child Care Center with Missy. Oh, you probably don't know that Sheldon's sister just got a job managing the Humanities Building cafeteria."
"She's his twin, right?"
"Yeah, but they're completely different, almost opposites."
The phone began ringing.
"Good morning. Dr. Cooper and Dr. Jensen's office. This is Penny"
"Penny, it's Wil."
"Hi Wil, what's up?"
"Listen, I thought I'd be able to give you more notice but I need you here at the studio ASAP. The Syfy honchos are coming in and they want to see how I work with a co-host this afternoon."
"Wil, I haven't even auditioned for the job yet."
"Penny, I'm really stuck. Please?"
"Fine. I'll get there as soon as I can. You owe me."
"I have a feeling you'll like the payback, Penny."
"Bye, Wil."
Penny got up and went back to Alex's office where she and Nora were starting to unpack.
"Alex, something's come up. I need to leave for a couple of hours."
"Is something wrong, Penny?"
"No. Not really. I kinda told this guy I'd audition for this thing as a favor and he needs me to come over now."
"Who's the guy?"
"Wil Wheaton. From Star Trek."
Nora's eyes lit up.
"You know Wil Wheaton?"
"Yeah, kinda through Sheldon but he was also in the stupid gorilla movie."
"Y'know, I heard through the grapevine that he was looking for a co-host for his new Syfy show but that he had a really specific type in mind."
"Like I said, I'm doing him a favor. I don't expect this to go anywhere. But, can you do me a favor? It's okay to tell Sheldon why I'm away because he already knows about this. Please don't tell anyone else. Especially not Leonard. He wants me to stop even thinking about acting."
"No problem. We won't say a thing. We'll tell people you're off campus doing something for Sheldon if they ask."
"That'll work. Thanks, guys. I owe you."
"Good luck, Penny."
Penny grabbed her stuff and ran out the door.
"Alex, I have a feeling Penny has this gig even if she doesn't know it."
"That would be nice. Penny could use some good stuff in her life."
"I thought she said she just got engaged."
"Yeah. You haven't met who she's engaged to yet."
Coincidentally, few minutes later Leonard wandered into the office.
"Oh. Hi Alex. I dropped by to surprise Penny for lunch. Do you know where she is?"
"Sorry, Dr. Hof…Leonard. Penny had to go off-campus to take care of something for Sheldon. She should be back in a couple of hours."
"Oh, okay. Say, who's your friend?" Leonard asked as he cocked his eyebrows and smiled."
"Oh. Leonard, this is my friend Nora. She's helping me move my stuff in. Nora, this is Dr. Leonard Hofstadter. He's engaged to my assistant, Penny."
Still grinning, Leonard asked "So Nora, are you also a scientist?"
"No. I'm an actress. And a bartender. And a model. And whatever pays the bills."
"Wow. My fiancée used to be an actress but she gave it up to be with me and have a family."
"She must really love you to do that."
"I presented the case to her and it made sense. And I love her."
"So anyway, Leonard, I have a lot of unpacking to do. I'll tell Penny you came by."
"Thanks, Alex. I'll stop back later. Nice meeting you, Nora. I hope we get to see each other again."
Nora looked at Alex dumbfounded.
"That's the kind of guy you were attracted to?"
"I have no excuse. Big, big mistake."
"You think? And what was with that thing he did with his eyebrows?"
"Oh, that. He thinks it's sexy. He figures when he does that women can't help but want to fuck him."
"And that actually works?"
"Apparently it worked with Penny. She's gonna marry him."
"And he still does that to other women?"
"I guess he figures he already got Penny. He wants to see whether he can do better on the side."
"What an ass!"
"Yeah. And I kinda feel sorry for Penny."
"Maybe she just needs a couple of friends to set her straight, so to speak."
"Yeah, Nora. I wouldn't be expecting Penny to decide to come play for our team."
"Too bad."
"Hey!"
"No need to worry, Alex. It's just such a waste. Penny seems like a really nice person and that Leonard is obviously an ass. She doesn't deserve that."
"Nobody does."
A/N: To the reviewer who believes that Leonard has never done anything wrong, that he's only motivated by his deep love for Penny and that Sheldon probably belongs in jail. You're reading the wrong damn story.
To those of you who've followed, favorited and reviewed, thank you. I hope you enjoyed the return of a couple of my favorites this chapter. You should all know that we're a bit more than halfway through. Those in the U.S., enjoy your holiday weekend. I'll likely be posting throughout.