Fic TBBT: Blind chapter 4
Knock, knock, knock, Penny.
She took her bag then waited.
Knock, knock, knock, Penny.
She glanced at her clock watch.
Knock, knock, knock, Penny.
She opened to find Sheldon in his black suit, a brown bag on his feet. She smiled.
‘Hello Sheldon’
‘Penny, it’s a great surprise to see you wide awake at this time of the day. You should wear your dress. We won’t have time to change over there’
She grinned then unbuttoned her coat. She was wearing her dress under it.
‘Oh, very clever!’
She closed the door behind her and followed him through the stairs in silence. They went to the car and after taking the road to the station, Penny broke the silence between them.
‘So…did you sleep well?’
Sheldon looked at her skeptically.
‘You know I don’t like chit-chat Penny. But yeah, I slept profoundly’
‘Good! Me too. I’m really exited to go to Texas. I’ve never been there’
‘You’ll like it’
He had a genuine smile. God, when did he become like that? It was the suit, no doubts at all. They arrived to the station and were glad to see the train had already arrive. After a good moment of hesitation to find the perfect spot, they sat next to each other, Penny letting Sheldon close to the window. He loved trains and it was a delight to see him in such a good mood. The train left the station and Sheldon emitted a weird sound between excitement and pure joy. Penny giggled.
‘I knew you liked trains but not that much’
‘There are so much amazing things about trains that most people ignore. I don’t know why they’d rather take the plane’
‘It’s faster’
‘Of course, but you don’t get to see the world around you. In trains, you take your time to savor it’
Penny smirked at him with affection. He looked like a kid. She fell asleep and woke up thirty minutes later. She turned to Sheldon, who seemed fascinated by the outside. And…oh God. When did he take off his jacket? His shirt was beautiful. He rolled up his sleeves absently and Penny gasped. Sheldon faced her, worried.
‘Are you okay?’
She nodded, her eyes focused on his arms. How exactly arms could be a turn-on? His arms were, as well as his elbows. She was sick. She knew him for two years, she was familiar with him and yet, he surprised her. His clothes didn’t play on his favor. She always assumed he was cute in a geeky way -like Leonard- but with this shirt and those pants, he was handsome, attractive, hot.
‘So…hum….when are we get there?’
Sheldon glanced at his watch.
‘A short hour’
‘I’m exhausted’
‘Then why don’t you take some rest? I know it’s Saturday. But you offered to come’
‘I know I did and I’m not regretting. You’re right…I’m going to sleep…just for a while’
She closed her eyes and sensed Sheldon closer to her. He smelled nice, a mix of soap and coconut. She could feel the warm of his body and his breathing, soft and clear. She put her head on his shoulder, knowing that it was crossing the lines but she was sleeping. That’s what he thought. He jumped a little on his seat but didn’t remove her. She could hear his pulse. The sound was so calm that she fell asleep.
‘Penny, we arrived’
Penny opened her eyes in panic, forgetting for a few seconds where she was.
‘Texas’ Sheldon added, helping her to get up. They were received by Mary Cooper, Sheldon’s mom.
‘Oh Shelly, you brought a friend! Penny, right?’
‘Yes. Nice to see you again’
She hugged Sheldon and Penny shrieked when she saw that he hugged her back.
‘Is your little friend fine?’ Mary asked, pointing at Penny.
‘Yes Mom, she’s fine’
‘Well then, let’s go home!’
They took the car and Penny felt like home. It looked a lot like Nebraska. Well, not a lot but close enough.
‘So Shelly, how’s work?’
Penny frowned. Sheldon hadn’t got back to work since the North Pole. She looked at him for support but his eyes were on his mom.
‘I didn’t go back to work’ he said, a little guilty, ‘my humiliation was too big’
Penny remembered the boys’ return and how she find Sheldon devastated. It was hurting her to see him like that.
‘Well I’m sure you’ll find something else sweetie’ Mary said, caressing his face with her thumb.
‘Mon, CalTech was my only insurance. I planned on being a great scientist and win the Nobel Prize. Now I have to find another university with the same program and it’s not an easy business’
‘Come on Sheldon, I trust you. You’re a great physicist, and the university will die to have you back’ Penny said with a confident tone.
She was in a backseat so she couldn’t touch him. She didn’t say that she’ll die to caress his face with her thumb. Oh, what?
‘Thank you Penny!’ Mary exclaimed, delighted. She glanced in the mirror and smirked at her. ‘You listen to her cookie, she’s right’
Penny laughed because of ‘cookie’. Sheldon turned to her and raised his eyebrows which made Penny laugh even more.
‘Oh Shelly, she’s not familiar with your nicknames. And that suit really matches you by the way’
‘Thanks Mom’
They entered the house which was crowded with Sheldon’s family. Penny recognized Missy, his twin sister and a man who would only be his brother. But he had brown eyes. Then she saw an old lady who seemed adorable and could only be his Meemaw.
‘Now Shelly, be nice’ Mary warned him, ‘there are people here you don’t know and they’ll be friendly so shake hands and kiss the ladies’
‘But Mom, what about insanities?’
‘Nonsense Shelly. Penny will help you. Oh Penny, are you and Leonard….’
‘Yes’ Sheldon cut her off, sighing, ‘they are currently in an intimacy relationship’
‘Oh. Well then…how nice of him to let you go for the week-end!’
‘He’s very comprehensive’ Penny replied, looking down because she felt herself blushing with embarrassment.
Mary smiled then left to put their bags upstairs.
‘Let me introduce you’ Sheldon said softly.
He was home and he was fine. It was so sweet to watch him move in his environment. He took her by the arm and introduced her to his grandmother.
‘Moonpie!’ she shouted, happy to see him.
‘Hi Meemaw!’ he shouted back, delighted.
Then he hugged her tightly. Penny widened her eyes then grinned.
‘This is Penny’ Sheldon announced, taking her by the arm to show her at his grandma.
‘She’s beautiful!’
Penny blushed.
‘Geez, thank you! I live across the hall’
‘Then I understand why you fell in love with my Moonpie’
Penny giggled and Sheldon shook his head.
‘No, no, Sheldon and I are not together. I date his roommate, Leonard’
‘Really?’. she seemed disappointed. ‘You’ll make a cute couple. Oh well, you don’t know what you miss!’
Sheldon rolled his eyes and glanced at Penny, who was staring at him.
‘What?’ he asked, wondering if he had something on his face.
‘Nothing!’ Penny gasped, defensive. ‘Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you. Why do you call him Moonpie again?’
‘Good grief’ Sheldon whispered, avoiding Penny and his Meemaw’s faces.
‘Because he’s yummy-yummy and I could eat him up’
Penny smiled and looked up at Sheldon.
‘I agree’ she said softly and Sheldon widened his eyes in surprise.
‘Excuse me Shelly, I have to help your mom. Enjoy the wedding. Have fun you two’
She got up, Sheldon helping her and left them to go find Mary Cooper. Sheldon faced Penny, his blue eyes trying to read her mind. The intensity of his gaze made her shiver but she couldn’t look down.
‘Penny, why did you come?’
She knew he would ask but not so soon.
‘Because I wanted to help you’ she replied, never leaving his eyes, his fascinating blue eyes.
‘Help me to do what?’
‘Go through with it’
It was maybe the first time in her conversations with Sheldon that she had all her answers ready. And Sheldon seemed impressed by her.
‘Thank you for being here’ he said, grinning.
Ok, she didn’t expect that. And now, what was she going to do? She didn’t want to leave. Ever. She thought of Leonard but her feelings for him vanished. Maybe she never loved him. She was supposed to because if she haven’t, that would have destroyed him. But being here with Sheldon, him being so sweet….she had to reconsider everything. And she knew it wouldn’t be easy because while she was thinking, his blue eyes were still into hers. It seemed like the environment around them had disappear. Holy crap on a cracker!