:I've Got Your Back:

Sheldon looked up at his neighbor with a grimace. Couldn't she see he was too upset to deal with her? Right now, at this very moment, his roommate was engaging in weird, unsavory coitus with his arch enemy, and all Penny could do was tease him about being on the third floor tonight?

"I still don't understand why you don't just go out to dinner or something," Penny said.

Sheldon closed his laptop with growing annoyance. He quickly explained to her why that was impossible, even though he could tell she just didn't understand. Why did he bother at times like this? Penny turned to leave and he decided to do something he usually abhorred doing. He would ask for her help.

"Are you sure things can't work out with you and Leonard," he asked hopefully. Maybe if Penny would agree to date Leonard again, Winkle would once again be relegated to the deep dark level of hell she was spawned from.

"Sweetie, come back. You're losing me," she said gently.

He took a deep breath and focused. "Leslie Winkle, Penny. She belittles me." Penny sympathized with him and he gave her a pleading look. "She calls me dumbass."

Penny stiffened and her eyes narrowed. Sheldon knew her Pissed-Off Penny look, and instinctively covered his throat. Penny spun and stormed up the steps. After a second's hesitation Sheldon followed warily. Penny stomped to the fourth floor and threw open his apartment door. Leonard screamed in fright and fell off the couch.

It was obvious to Sheldon they had been kissing in his spot. He opened his mouth the berate Leonard, but Penny spoke first.

"Hey! That's Sheldon's spot! No one sits in it but him! You know that!" she snapped at Leonard.

"Excuse me, but you are interrup…"

Penny whipped her head toward Leslie and growled loudly. "You're damn right I am. I have something to say."

Leonard got to his feet awkwardly, looking smugly pleased. "Penny, there's no need for jealousy. You and I had one date, sure, but I have Leslie now."

Penny snorted, but didn't bother looking at him. Her eyes were locked on Leslie fiercely. "As if, jerk. No, my problem is with little miss lab tech, here."

Leslie's eyes narrowed. "Lab tech?! I have a doctorate! I am a scientist! A well-respected member of my field."

Penny leaned closer, fury making her eyes blaze. "Listen up, Winkle. Call my Sheldon a dumbass one more time, and I'll make your life a living hell. I may not be a scientist, but I know everything there is to know about being a bitch. Leave. Him. Alone!"

"Or what?" Leslie asked, the same instant Leonard squawked "YOUR Sheldon!"

Penny grinned evilly. "How would you like it if your little misuse of lab equipment was made public knowledge? Using million dollar equipment to heat soup, but logging it as quantum gravity experiments? Or using the university's supply of liquid nitrogen on bananas?"

Leslie gasped and looked at Leonard, who blushed and looked away quickly.

Penny snorted. "Yeah, Leonard told me quite a few things, trying to impress me on our one and only date. No more calling Sheldon names. No more belittling him. Or I make good on my threat."

"Bitch!" Leslie snarled under her breath. She shot Sheldon a glare before looking back at Penny impotently. "Fine!" She grabbed her coat and looked at Leonard. "We're done!"

Leonard's shoulders slumped as she left. After a moment he looked back at Sheldon and Penny with growing suspicion. "What do you mean your Sheldon?" he whined.

Penny rolled her eyes and turned to Sheldon. "If you have any more trouble with that shrew you let me know, sweetie." She looked at Leonard over her shoulder. "You leave him alone, too. Sheldon is my friend, and as such, it's my privilege to protect him from bullies."

Sheldon froze as Penny turned back to him and smiled warmly, raising up to kiss his cheek. "If you need anything, just say so, sweetie." Then she left the apartment, went across the hall and entered her own.

After a moment's pause, Sheldon went back down to the third floor and retrieved his laptop. When he re-entered his apartment, Leonard was pacing the floor. He watched warily as Leonard muttered under his breath. Suddenly Leonard stopped pacing and turned to glare at him.

"Thanks for ruining my night, Sheldon!"

Sheldon flinched but held his ground. "I did not ruin your night. Penny did. I did not ask her to defend me. I asked her to get back together with you so you would stop seeing Winkle. When she asked me why, I told her how that harpy treats me."

"So Penny just bursts in and ruins my night because you got your feelings hurt?" Leonard yelled.

It clicked in Sheldon's head, suddenly. His eyes widened and he looked at Leonard with comprehension. "No one outside of my immediate family has ever defended me," he said softly. "Not until Penny."

"What's your point?" asked Leonard angrily.

Sheldon paused before shrugging his shoulders. "Well, now that your dinner with Winkle has ended, I believe I'll retire for the night." Sheldon walked past Leonard who was still fuming. He put away his belongings, went through his nightly routine and got into bed. He hesitated for a moment before picking up his phone and typing a quick text message. A minute later he received a reply that made him smile. Then he slipped down under his blanket and closed his eyes.

I am grateful for your friendship. -Dr. Sheldon Cooper

I've got your back, sweetie. Always. -Penny

A/N: Happy New Year to everyone. I hope 2015 brings you everything you hope for.