36

Penny continued sobbing.

"Missy, I'm not certain what to do now."

"Shelly, take Penny back to your bedroom and put her to bed. Sit with her. Don't come back out until she's asleep."

Sheldon draped his arm across Penny's shoulder and slowly guided her back to his bedroom.

Missy took command while still holding her baby.

"Junior, go across the hall and make sure Leonard leaves. You know what to do if he doesn't. I don't see no reason to be gentle."

"Nora and Alex, I apologize. This is a mess you're smack in the middle of and I'm not sure which way it's gonna go."

"Missy, if you don't mind, I think we'd like to stay and do what we can to help, at least to clean up. Penny needs people around her that are there for her, not for her and Leonard. Fuck Leonard." Alex replied.

"I'm with Alex. Even though I just met most of you I'm pretty good with first impressions. I immediately liked Penny when I met her and I thought Leonard was a douche when I met him. So far I see no reason to change my mind." Nora added.

Back in his bedroom Sheldon sat Penny down on his bed and removed her shoes. Then he helped her lie down on the bed and put a light blanket over her. Penny just looked at him and smiled a little through her tears.

"But Sheldon," Penny protested through her sobbing, "nobody's allowed in your bedroom."

Sheldon began to sing.

Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur.

Happy kitty, sleepy kitty, purr, purr, purr.

Sheldon kept singing until Penny was asleep. He tiptoed out of the room to the waiting group.

"Penny's asleep."

"Shelly, Junior made sure Leonard left."

"What now?"

Nora thought for a second and then spoke up.

"I think Penny needs some space. Maybe Penny would be better off if most folks, especially Leonard, couldn't find her for a couple of days while she figures stuff out. She's welcome to stay with me and Alex. We have a spare room and we can either be there or not be there, whatever she wants."

"Thank you, Nora. Of course it's Penny's decision but that sounds like a reasonable proposal. I suspect that Leonard will attempt to reconcile immediately and begin harassing Penny with phone calls and messages and likely emissaries."

"Sheldon, I know I'm pretty new to this bunch, but why are you so dead set against Penny being with Leonard. I know he's obviously a jerk but they are engaged to be married after all. Sometimes people marry jerks."

"Penny is my friend, Nora. She has been a better friend to me than Leonard ever was. She took care of me when I was sick. She patiently explained social situations to me when nobody else would. Even when she and I fought we enjoyed it. She is a worthy opponent and a worthy friend. Even when I ignored her in favor of Amy Farrah Fowler she still stood by me when necessary. And in turn I allowed Leonard to cajole her into his bed again and again. I encouraged her to stay with him despite my feeling that he only wanted her as a decoration, an accessory. I ignored what was happening to her as she drank more and more alcohol and eschewed the many friends she had before she pair bonded with Leonard because he felt uncomfortable around them. And when she was at her lowest, with no job and no prospects, Leonard of course swooped in and convinced her to commit her life to him. And what did I do? I ran away. And she told me it was the right thing for me to do despite the fact that it essentially left her alone to fend for herself with no real support. She was correct, of course. I did have to leave. And now that Leonard has been exposed as the shallow, venal individual he is, how can I do anything but stand by her side? I must help her. Her life is finally beginning to become what it should be. I gave her a position not just because I believe she can perform the duties adequately. I gave it to her because she needed to gain confidence in herself again. So she could be Penny again. Penny may not have the academic credentials we have and may not yet be an accomplished professional, but as a person she is probably the best of us. And she makes us all better as people. I would be lost without her in my life."

"Shelly, admit it. You love her."

"Missy, whether I do or not, now is not the time. Penny needs to be Penny, not part of another coupling. She needs to make choices that benefit her and her alone. She needs to choose her own future. And if I am not part of that future I will accept that and move on. But I will not confuse her at a time when she can ill afford it. I will be her friend. And I will do that with no expectations. I will not, as those who previously claimed to love her or be her best friend, manipulate her to my will. Penny is not a doll. She is not an accessory. She is light and joy and chaos. She is Penny."

Penny had woken up and was coming out for a glass of water when she heard Sheldon speaking. She hung back in the hallway where nobody could see her and listened. When he was done she tiptoed back to his bedroom, got back on his bed and fell back asleep with a smile on her face and a little tear in her eye.

Penny woke up again a couple of hours later and found Missy, Sheldon, Alex and Nora waiting for her in the living room. Junior had apparently gone out for a couple of beers.

"Sorry for wrecking the party."

"Penny, you did no such thing. Leonard and Amy Farrah Fowler conspired to bring chaos to the situation."

"So what now?"

"Penny, you need some time and some space. You may also wish to speak with your new therapist."

"I guess that makes some sense."

"Leonard is gone but I suspect he will try to insert himself back into this situation as soon as he can."

"Yeah, he's already called my cell a bunch of times and keeps texting me. I deleted everything. I know I have to speak with him. I owe him that much. But right now I'm not even sure what I want to say."

Nora joined the conversation.

"Penny, listen, I don't know all the whys and wherefores or details of what's going on here. Alex and I were thinking you need some time and space and could maybe come stay with us for a couple of days. We have a spare room. We can be there for you or we can find somewhere else to be so you have some time to yourself. No one will tell anyone where you are. How's that sound?"

"Actually it doesn't sound so bad. Not really that sure I want to be alone, though."

"People have told me I'm a pretty good sounding board."

"Penny, you should probably leave your phone at home because you know Leonard'll probably try the same crap Amy was doing and track you," added Missy.

"Okay, I'm just gonna go put some stuff together. Okay?"

"Want some company?" asked Alex.

"Sure. Nora, you come too. Okay?"

Penny, Alex and Nora went across to 4B to gather Penny's things.

"Wow, Leonard must have thrown some tantrum. This place is a wreck."

"Sorry to say that it looked pretty much like this before. The broken dishes and cracked picture frames are new but the rest…it's a pretty small apartment and Leonard has a lot more crap than I thought he did. This is just gonna take me a few minutes."

"Penny, don't forget to leave your phone here. We can pick up something at the mall that you can use for a few days."

"Yeah, Leonard can be pretty persistent when he wants something."

Back at 4A

"Sheldon, Penny really has to figure out the next steps for herself."

"I know, Missy. I know. I just want to be there for her."

"I think she knows that. And if she needs you she knows where you are. But she has to figure out what she wants to do about Leonard. She has all the information she needs. Give her the space."

"Alright."