:The Decision:

She slowly opened her eyes, and grimaced at the darkness. She tried to move, but her entire body felt weighted down. Her mouth was dry and her arms and chest hurt pretty badly. She struggled to remember what had happened. Vaguely she recalled a fight with someone. Someone important, maybe? Seems like it was, but she couldn't remember who. She tried to focus harder, but that just made her head pound.

She took a deep breath and tried to move her hands. Fear began to build when she realized they were pinned to her sides. She bit her lip and struggled a little, but she couldn't budge. Everything but her head seemed to be strapped down.

She bit back a sob, afraid that whoever had tied her up would hear her. She squeezed her eyes shut against the darkness and tried to remain calm. Her heart raced in her chest and she couldn't seem to get enough air. A large hand settled on her forehead and she screamed. Strong hands grabbed her shoulders as she began to struggle frantically.

"Penelope! Stop struggling. You're safe here."

Slowly she focused on the voice calling out to her. Sheldon? She whimpered slightly when she heard a click. Through her eyelids, she could see the darkness was gone, so she slowly opened her eyes. A lightbulb overhead shone brightly and she had to turn her head away.

The first thing she noticed was the white lab coat. She followed it up to the strong jaw and blue eyes of Sheldon Cooper. She relaxed slightly. Sheldon would never hurt her. If he was here, everything would be okay. She was certain of that.

"What happened?" she asked with a timid voice.

He slowly released her shoulders and sat down on the stool. He regarded her closely, eyes narrow. "What do you remember?"

She nibbled her bottom lip and tried to shrug. She glanced down at the restraints across her chest, hips and legs. "Can you let me up?" she asked.

He shook his head firmly. "Not yet. I need to know what you remember."

She sighed and let her head flop back onto the pillow. "I was arguing with someone. It got pretty heated. I can't remember who or what about, though. How long have I been out of it?"

He was watching her closely, his expression pessimistic. "Do you remember anything else? Anything at all?"

Penny glared at him. "Dammit, Sheldon! I just told you I didn't. Now let me up! Where is Leonard? Where is Amy? Why the hell are you wearing that? You're a physicist, not a surgeon!"

Sadness filled his eyes and he stood up. With a heavy sigh he left the room, ignoring her protestations and begging. He closed the door and headed down the hall. When he reached the end of the hall, he pulled a iron key out of his pocket and slid it into the lock. The heavy steel door unlocked and he slipped through, pulling the door securely shut behind him before continuing on his way. He reached a nondescript office and settled behind the desk. Papers and folders were stacked haphazardly on it's entire surface. A knock on the door frame drew his attention to his colleague. Stuart Bloom walked in and settled in the chair across from Sheldon.

"So? How is she?"

Sheldon sighed heavily. "She asked for Leonard and Amy. I'm afraid she's getting worse."

Stuart sighed and leaned back. "Shel, I'm going to give you a bit of advice. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, a patient is beyond our help. Penelope Queen has spent the last fourteen years inside her mind. Ever since her family was murdered, she has lived a fantasy life where her family is alive, and she is surrounded by friends who adore her. Breaking her out of that is difficult, if not impossible. Quit beating yourself up."

Sheldon nodded, knowing his friend was correct. "I think the hardest part is how she keeps incorporating everyone she comes into contact with into her delusion. Did you know that you own a comic book shop in her mind? Or that I am her neighbor? She has even turned the couple who murdered her family into her boyfriend and best friend. Perhaps the strangest part is she thinks this is all happening forty years from now in 2013."

Sheldon sighed and picked up a file with a heavy heart. "I've tried everything I can think of. Even when she is in the real world, her mind still associates me with that fantasy version. And she's starting to get more violent."

Stuart took the file and flipped it open. His eyes widened at the final notation. He looked at Sheldon with surprise. "Are you sure?"

Sheldon Cooper, M.D. stood and turned to the window. "She almost killed that orderly, Koothrappali. He may never walk again. This isn't the first time she has turned violent. I have thought about this for several months." He turned to Stuart, resignation in his expression. "If you have an alternative, tell me. I would love to keep trying."

Stuart stood and set the file back down on the stack closest to him. "You and I both know we've exhausted all the treatments. I'll put it before the board."

Sheldon nodded as Stuart walked out of the room. He picked up Penelope's file and opened it up. He re-read his recommendation with a heavy heart. He felt like he had failed her.

Zack Johnson glanced at the bandage around her head with distaste. Usually he had a lot of empathy for the patients here at the sanitarium, but the one thing he had never gotten used to was the dead, glassy stare of the lobotomy patients. It made them look like living dolls. He shuddered and approached the locked door. Another orderly appeared and opened it up. He quickly signed his name to the transfer sheet, glad to turn her over to the next ward. Once the other guy wheeled her off, he quickly made his way back down the hall. Poor girl. Locked in her head for the rest of her natural life.

For Darkly Dreaming, who continually challenges me in ways I suspect she wishes she didn't.