What if Sheldon, instead of Leonard, "took one for the team" with a donor?

This was degrading. It was insulting. It was an abomination. Forcing a brilliant physicist to frolic with overly hormonal widows in an attempt to garner donations was ridiculous, crass and surely some form of prostitution. He looked at his friends and colleagues. Howard and Raj were talking with Leonard. All three looked cheerful. Barry was talking with Carl. They looked resigned. Everyone else looked bored.

"Hello, dumbass. Looking forward to getting a little wrinkled hand on the tush?"

Sheldon glared at Leslie Winkle and sighed. "This entire endeavor is ridiculous. My time could be better spent unraveling the universe."

She rolled her eyes at him and wandered off.

President Seibert stepped into the room and smiled at everyone. "Okay. Our donors have arrived and are checking in. I want one of you at each table." His voice held a core of steel. "You will make small talk. You will eat. You will be pleasant." He looked Sheldon in the eye. "You will NOT insult anyone. Now, go grab a chair so our guests can decide where they want to sit."

Sheldon slouched off to a small table for four in a corner. He glared around the room as others jockeyed for the best tables in the center of the room. After a few minutes the large doors opened up and elegantly dressed money bags walked in.

He noticed her the moment she walked in. She was beautiful. She stood out not just because she was half the age of everyone else, but because she was dressed in slacks instead of the usual evening gown. He saw Leonard hop up and hold out a chair for her. She sighed and stared to move to the chair, but stopped. Her eyes met his and she abruptly changed direction. Sheldon watched with surprise as she skirted around everyone else and walked to his table. She paused by the seat across from him.

"May I join you?" she asked softly. Sheldon nodded with astonishment. She sat down and reached for her water goblet. She took a sip and smiled. "Thank you."

Sheldon placed his hands in his lap so she wouldn't see the way his palms began to sweat. Good grief, what was happening to him?

"I am Dr. Sheldon Cooper," he said.

She smiled. "I know. I saw your presentation at the Reason Rally in L.A. I'm Penny Queen."

Sheldon blushed. "I know. I have the dvd for the Dark Knight Returns part one. I watched the behind the voices feature. You make an very good Robin."

Penny smiled at him. "Thank you. I love doing voice work. And Carrie is a great character to do."

A waiter came by to bring them drinks. Sheldon declined and was surprised when Penny did the same, asking for a ginger ale instead. She noticed his look and shrugged.

"I don't drink. Not any more. I was at a party, wandered off, got hit by a taxi when I stumbled into a road." Her voice was calm, unemotional as she said it. Sheldon could detect a hint of humor, though. Like she knew something no one else did. "Turned out to be a good thing. The scars on my legs and arms ended my aspirations of being a leading lady, and I stumbled into animation."

"My father was an alcoholic," he said.

Penny nodded understandingly. "So, I guess we're supposed to talk about your work," she said. "But I can see you aren't exactly comfortable." Penny leaned forward slightly. "Wanna ditch this place?"

Sheldon's eyes went wide. "You want to leave? With me? Are you expecting coitus for your donation?"

Penny laughed. He liked the sound. "Nothing like that, sweetie. Just go somewhere else, where we can relax. As for the donation, I had a check already made out before I ever got dressed."

Sheldon stared at her for a moment. "Do you play Halo?"

Seibert looked up from the older gentleman he was speaking with to find Cooper standing behind the gorgeous blonde. She was some sort of actress, he remembered. Good lord, what had Cooper done in so short a time?

Penny held out a check. Seibert looked at it for several seconds. He sputtered a grateful thank you and watched the two of them walk away. Seibert looked back at the check. $10,000. Cooper had raised $10,000 in just 20 minutes.

Leonard, Raj and Howard trudged up the stairs wearily. The night had been dull, boring and their bottoms hurt from all the pinching.

"I should have done what Sheldon did. Insult the donor immediately so she leaves and then I can leave myself," Howard said.

Raj frowned. "Is that what happened? I didn't see him leave."

Leonard rubbed his eyes and replaced his glasses. "Yeah, she disappeared quick. She was gorgeous, too. I know I've seen her somewhere before."

Leonard unlocked the door and they walked into 4A. Then they walked back out and looked at the apartment number before slowly walking back in. Yep, right apartment. Wrong reality, though.

Sheldon was sitting in his spot. So was the blonde from the party. Her head was laying on his chest, his arms were around her body. An afghan was thrown over their laps. They were both sound asleep. The tv was on, the credits for The Lord of the Rings was rolling.

Howard looked at Leonard and Raj. "What the frak?"

Sheldon's eyes opened and he blinked at them several times. He reached over and shook Penny's shoulder.

She yawned and stretched her arms over her head. "What's wrong, sweetie?" she asked sleepily.

"My roommate and friends have returned. It is past my bedtime. I need to go to bed," Sheldon replied calmly. Penny nodded and stood up. Sheldon rose, nodded to his friends and took Penny's hand. He lead the way toward the bedrooms.

Penny waved and followed him. "Goodnight," she said over her shoulder. "See you in the morning."

And she did. She saw them the next morning, and every morning after that. Except when Sheldon took her to Texas to meet his Meemaw that Christmas, and when they went to Germany for their honeymoon two years later.