The Digital Dating Experimentation Chapters 1-5
A mothermedusa20 , tempestjo and trippy41 collaboration
Authors: mothermedusa20 tempestjo and trippy41
Title: The Digital Dating Experimentation
Word Count: 5, 305
Rating: PG-13/R
Summary: Penny and Sheldon have a first date. Skype, texts and e-mail follow.
Disclaimer: We do not own.
Chapter One
Penny and Sheldon walked up the stairs, returning from their first date. As first dates go, it hadn't been that bad. Pretty low-key actually. They had gone bowling and the only indication that they were on a date was that it was Couples' Night. They had trounced the married couple who had been their competition once Sheldon had shown her a way to angle her wrist to put a spin on the ball which consistently resulted in a strike.
Penny waved the small plastic trophy at him.
"Do you mind if I keep this?"
"Not at all.“ Sheldon said quietly. They had reached their landing.
“I keep a memento from all my first dates." Penny volunteered.
"That explains the state of your apartment." Sheldon veered toward her door. She gave him a look of annoyance.
"What I meant to say is I keep a souvenir from all the memorable first dates." She leaned against her door.
"Is this the first one during which you won a trophy?" Sheldon stood across from her, arms at his sides.
"Yes." Penny batted her eyes. "But it's also because I won it with you."
"Well, you certainly couldn't have done it without me. Your form is terrible and it was Couples' Night ergo, in order to even participate, you had to be part of a couple."
Penny stared. This might end up being their last date. Sheldon could kill a moment faster than a poison apple could do in a fairy princess.
Her bowling partner cleared his throat and clasped his hands behind his back.
"Penny, I would like to ask if you would care to go out with me again next week? Dinner?"
Her immediate reaction was to refuse him. Tonight had been no different than any other time they'd spent together. Still, as she considered him in his black Chevron shirt with yellow under sleeves and pants that weren't plaid for once, that feeling came back. The one she 'd had when she had first seen his whiteboard. The feeling that told her that this one was different. Life-changing. Also, it was flattering to be asked out a week in advance! Their eyes met.
"I'd like that. When I get my schedule, we'll make plans." She smiled.
Sheldon was pleased, "Remember, Wednesdays are out due to comic books and Halo."
"I am aware, Sheldon."
"Saturdays are for laundry."
Penny nodded and opened her door.
"Sundays are a challenge due to work the next day."
"Sheldon!" Penny turned to him. "Don't make me change my mind."
Sheldon drew an imaginary zipper across his lips. Penny laughed. "Good night, Sweetie."
Sheldon tapped her shoulder, "One more thing."
She gritted her teeth, "Yessss."
"Thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable evening," He bowed slightly and went to his door.
Somewhere, a cat meowed
XXXXX
Sheldon entered his apartment and found Howard, Leonard and Raj staring expectantly at him.
"Hello." He greeted warily.
"Hello." They replied in unison.
"How was the date" Howard patted Sheldon's spot invitingly.
Sheldon looked at Leonard who gave him a tight smile.
"This might not be the best time." Sheldon said.
"C'mon Sheldon," Leonard sounded forced. "We've been waiting. It's okay. Really."
Sheldon shifted from foot to foot, "We went bowling, won a trophy and came home."
"That's it?" They all moaned.
Sheldon pulled his yellow sleeves down. "Penny drank a beer. I had a Coke and she tried to get me to consume a vile concoction known as the chilli cheese fry."
"She loves those." Leonard muttered under his breath.
"It would appear so since she consumed the entire basket with gusto." Sheldon agreed.
"Basically, you and Penny hung out at the bowling alley instead of here." Howard clarified.
"Isn't that what a date is?" Sheldon's head tilted.
"Sheldon, " Raj said gently. "On a date you're supposed to treat a woman differently. Pay. Show her that she is special. Share things."
"But I did all those things!" Sheldon protested. "First, Penny never pays-we've known that for four years. Second, I deliberately went bowling on Couples' Night. Competition is an area in which Penny excels. Finally, I did share. I taught her how to execute the Cooper Cannonball."
"Is that some kind of sex act?" Howard was always hopeful.
"No. It's a manner of throwing a bowling ball guaranteed to get a strike. I don't give that information to just anyone." Sheldon explained.
"I'm sure Penny had a good time." Leonard assured him.
"I would think so. She agreed to have dinner with me next week."
Three pairs of eyes bugged out at him.
"She...she what?" Leonard sputtered.
"You asked her out again? So soon?" Howard questioned. Raj grinned widely.
"I've been led to understand that when a gentleman has serious intentions toward a young lady, then he secures her company for the next date at the conclusion of the current one." Sheldon crossed his arms.
"Where did you get that idea?" Howard glared at Raj.
"Intentions!" Leonard yelled. "What do you mean 'intentions'? Are you planning on pursuing a serious relationship with Penny?"
"Oh Leonard," Sheldon settled into his spot, turned on the DVD player. "When have you ever known me to do anything half way?"
Chapter Two
Penny burst into the guys’ apartment the next morning.
“Wow! You jonesing for coffee that badly?” Leonard had the pot in his hand.
“No. I haven’t even slept yet.” Penny told him.
“Can’t figure out how electrons move through a grapheme sheet, huh?”
Penny looked at him blankly, “What? Oh, I get it.” She smiled and motioned for a mug of coffee. “Where’s Sheldon?”
“Bathroom.” Leonard handed her the coffee.
“Sheldon! Get out here! I have news!” Penny hollered; Leonard cringed.
“You’re not supposed to talk to him through the bathroom door.”
“I didn’t. I’m here at the island. The bathroom is waaay over there.” She sipped her coffee.
Sheldon came storming into the kitchen, tying his robe. “Somebody had better be dead.” He barked.
“Morning, Sweetie.” Penny smiled at him; Sheldon tightened his robe.
“Good morning, Penny. How nice to hear your dulcet tones at this hour. To what to I owe the pleasure of having my routine disrupted?”
Penny placed her mug down. She beamed at both men. “I’ve been cast in a movie!”
Two mouths dropped open. Two voices made exclamations of disbelief and then Leonard was hugging her.
“Penny, that is fantastic.”
“I know.” She extricated herself from his embrace. “I leave tomorrow for Canada. It’s a six week shoot. It’s a small role but I have some lines and…”
“Excuse me!” Sheldon cut in,” Did you just say you leave tomorrow for six weeks?”
Penny nodded.
“Well, that is unacceptable. You won’t be home for our date next week.”
Penny tapped her nails on the countertop, “About that, Sheldon.” Her eyes flicked nervously to Leonard who nodded and backed down the hallway.
“C’mere,” Penny tugged Sheldon by the crook of his arm. “Let’s talk.”
Sheldon followed her to the couch. This didn’t feel right. Whenever his mother did this, it was to lecture him about not acting superior to the neighborhood kids (As if he could help that) or to explain why one can’t “store” yellow cake uranium. Penny went to take his hand but let hers hover over his unsure of what to do.
“Sheldon, I’ll be gone for six weeks and be really busy. I just don’t think that this is the best time to enter into a relationship, you know?”
Sheldon’s expression was blank. He didn’t even tilt his head. Penny kept talking.
“I’ll be in Toronto. There’ll be a time difference. You go to bed at 9; I’ll be working late…” Her voice trailed off in the face of his unresponsiveness. “Sweetie, do you get what I am trying to say?”
Sheldon took a quiet breath. He felt like his brother and Missy were sitting on his chest.
“No.” He finally said.
“No, you don’t get what I’m saying?” Penny frowned.
Sheldon rose from the couch, “Of course I comprehend what you are saying, Penny. I simply refuse to go along with it.”
Penny was dumfounded. How…he couldn’t…hold on a second!
“Sheldon, we can’t possibly start a relationship when one of us isn’t here.” She wailed.
Sheldon crossed his plaid covered arms, “ So, you were going to leave for six weeks and not contact us at all? We didn’t do that and we were in the Arctic circle which, I can assure you, is much farther north than Canada.”
“It’s just…I think it’s best…”
“You know,” Sheldon interrupted, “I find it highly contradictory that for as long as I’ve known you, you have wanted success in both your professional and romantic lives. You now have opportunities present in both and you are running away.”
“I am not!” Penny flared.
“Are so.” Sheldon taunted. “I, for one, am not going to let you do that.”
“Let me!?!”
“Yes. There are myriad ways for us to remain in contact. I’ll even set up your laptop with a webcam and draw up a phone, video and texting schedule if you like but I will not go a month and half without speaking to you. Not when I do it every day.”
A lump formed in Penny’s throat. She never ever would have thought that Sheldon Cooper would be so…she blinked rapidly.
“Okay.” Her tone was resigned.
“Good.” Sheldon gave a curt nod. “Now get out or this morning’s bowel movement will be an unmitigated disaster.”
Chapter Three
Penny picked up her laptop and plugged it into the wall, anxiously typing in the hotel's wireless code. She stared at the machine while it booted up, chewing on her lip. If this didn't work... She didn't want to think about it. It would work, of course it would, because Sheldon said so, and Howard knew people that could probably position a satellite right over her head and get her Internet that way if she needed it.
She might have to flash him though. Sheldon wouldn't like that. Maybe Sheldon could just rescind one of Howard's strikes, that might be a better option.
Her wireless indicator glowed green. "YES!" Bribing Howard would not be necessary. Now she just had to click on the icon over there, and type in her password and...
There was a ringing sound. Something appeared on her screen, and asked if she would like to answer the call. She clicked yes.
Sheldon appeared in a little box on her screen. "Greetings Penny!"
She grinned at him. "It's working!"
"Obviously. How was the flight? Did you remember to wipe your tray and arm rests with the antibacterial wipes I gave you?"
She nodded. "I did. The flight was horrible. We hurt turbulence somewhere, and the girl next to me puked, it was awful." She shuddered.
"And your hotel?"
"It looks clean. See?" She waved her hand around behind her, like Vanna White did on Jeopardy.
"Don't use the in-room coffee maker." Sheldon said ominously.
Penny winced. "I'll take your word for it."
"Good." He was smiling at her. "You'll be pleased to know that Howard has convinced Bernadette to switch shifts and serve us on Tuesday nights while you are away, and I have already emailed her my detailed order so that she may have it memorised by Tuesday."
Penny snickered. Poor Bernadette. She would have to get her some autographs from the other cast members for her. "You never sent ME an email about your order." She said coyly.
He tilted his head slightly and wrinkled his eyebrows. "I never needed to, your short term memory skills are highly advanced, due to your chosen profession. I also reminded Bernadette to make sure she thoroughly cleansed her hands before her shift, lest she let a new super virus escape the lab."
"Aw, that's nice of you sweetie, saving the world." She teased.
He was smirking. She could hear voices behind him all of a sudden, and he looked away at someone off-screen. "I have to go Penny, it's Halo night."
"Ok," she waved, "goodnight!" His picture vanished from the screen, and she stared at the place it had been for a few moments before reluctantly closing her laptop.
Pathetic. She wasn't even gone twelve hours, and she missed him already.
XXXXX
His phone vibrated on his nightstand and he saw the text:
Penny: Can't sleep Can u?
Sheldon: As a matter of fact I can. I was.
Penny: LOL sorry sweetie
Penny: I think I am homesick
Sheldon: No doubt. You are in another country. And timezone.
Sheldon: It’s after midnight in Toronto.
Penny: It’s cold
Penny: I miss Cali warm
Penny: I miss you
Sheldon: I aired out your apartment and dusted.
Penny: ur way of missing me too?
Sheldon: Yes.
Sheldon: Will do the laundry you left too.
Sheldon: Were you really going to leave it for six weeks?
Penny: Yup
Penny: Sheldon? Can you call me?
Penny: And sing Soft Kitty?
Sheldon: You’re not sick.
Penny: We’ve already made homesickness a type of sick
Sheldon: Calling you now.
Sheldon: But no rounds. I’m sleepy
Chapter Four
Penny listened to the rain drum on the balcony outside her hotel room. The cold was bad, the rain worse and the two of them together were pure misery. Shooting had been delayed since all around her cast members were falling victim to various degrees of cold and flu.
“Thank God for corn-fed vigor.” She muttered, booting up her laptop. That and the giant bottle of hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes Sheldon gave her as a going away present with a detailed list of when to use each item. Her inbox had three messages. Her mother (Keep your feet warm.), her father (Try not to spend all the money you make.) and her sister ( Autographs?) Penny began typing to explain to her sibling that, sadly, this wasn’t a major motion picture. Rather, it was a made for TV movie due to air on the Hallmark channel. Or was it Lifetime? Another email came through.
To: Pennyblossoms@hotmail.com
From: DrSheldonLCooper@gmail.com
Penny,
Now that you have settled in, I see no reason for us to not keep our dinner plans for this week. Email your schedule to me ASAP so that details can be confirmed.
Sheldon Cooper
PS: There is a collection of herbal tea in your carry-on. I read about the rain.
She smiled. How he managed such a mix of annoyance and endearment must be part of his genius. Or maybe it was just Sheldon. She replied.
To: DrSheldonLCooper@gmail.com
From: Pennyblossoms@hotmail.com
Dear Sheldon,
Thank you so much for the tea. I’ll find it eventually. It was so kind of you to ask about filming, my health and the food. You are so thoughtful.
She hit SEND and resumed typing to her sister. His reply was instant.
To: Pennyblossoms@hotmail.com
From: DrSheldonLCooper@gmail.com
Was that sarcasm?
Sheldon Cooper
Her answer was just as brief. I’ll let you know on Thursday. My morning is free.
He replied again. A breakfast date it is.
XXXX
Penny had just sat down with a mug of coca and a croissant when Sheldon appeared on screen. His hair was slightly tousled, there was an almost invisible shadow of beard on his cheeks. His eyes still had the veil of sleep but she could see the brilliance percolating through. He was in his robe and held a bowl of cereal in his hands. He looked adorable.
“Good morning, Penny.” At this hour, his voice was soft and twangy.
“Good morning, Honey. How are you?”
“Given the hour and disruption to my REM cycle, surprisingly well.”
Sheldon ate a mouthful of cereal. Penny noticed how his hand cupped the bowl. Fingers gently braced along the striped side. Arousal skipped across her stomach.. “How goes the filming?”
Penny drew her eyes sway from his hand, “It’s weird how they shoot scenes out of order but it all comes together in the end. I’m actually more interested in how they set up scenes, design costumes, choose makeup.” She looked at him expecting to see utter boredom on his face. He was staring at the screen, listening intently.
“Perhaps your interests lie in the more technical aspects of cinematography.” Sheldon suggested when she had finished speaking. Penny had thought of that herself and had gone so far as to strike up a friendship with the costume designer.
“What’s going on with you?” She sipped her cocoa. “How are the guys?”
“Leonard is still derivative. Howard is still horny and Raj is still mute.” Sheldon ticked each name off on his hand. Penny’s eyes fixated on each finger. What was wrong with her this morning?
He suddenly reached down. “I neglected to give you this at the start of our conversation Sheldon held a small cut-glass vase with a large white Gebera daisy in it.
“For you.”
“Aww, Sheldon. Thank you . How sweet.”
“I would have presented you with a rose but, seeing as this is breakfast, a daisy seemed more fitting. I have emailed you a picture of it as well.
“It won’t stay alive until I come back.” Penny said through a mouthful of her pastry.
Sheldon snorted, “If Leonard can preserve a snowflake, I can certainly fossilize a flower.”
Penny stopped chewing. “This isn’t a competition , Sheldon. You don’t have to try to out do Leonard. Just be yourself.”
Sheldon drew his eyebrows together then shook his head. “I believe we’ve had a classic misunderstanding, common on second dates when familiarity begins to set in yet both partners are still trying to present their best sides.”
“Huh?”
“Penny, I do not have to try to out do Leonard.” Sheldon let the statement hang there. “As for being myself, why would I ever want to be someone else?”
Penny decide it was time to steer the conversation back to more traditional topics.
“Sheldon why did you want to become a scientist?”
“I need answers.” He sat up straight, more comfortable with the topic. “There is so much to know and understand and why things work as they do. So much to conquer.”
Penny swallowed. He gestured as he spoke. His right hand flowing elegantly in the air. She pictured standing near him as he spoke and his ring finger looping into her hair. “Is that why you keep to your schedule? To show what you have conquered?”
Sheldon tilted his head at her question. He then rested his head on his hand. His fingers tapped on his cheekbone unconsciously as he stared at her. His chin cradled in his palm, thumb moving back and forth in thought. The heat warming her stomach at the sight of that deliberate movement surprised her.
“I suppose. I never can predict what I will discover in the course of my research. I make hypotheses and test them, usually with favorable results, but there is always the element of the unexpected. So it helps to keep order in other areas of my life. Control the variables if you will.”
She had never heard him speak so plainly and was stunned by his insight into himself. She leaned toward the screen, realizing that her tall neighbor was an extremely complex man. A Japanese puzzle box that she couldn’t just step on to open. She’d have to unlock it herself. His thumb rasped against the stubble on his chin catching her attention.
“Sheldon, “ Her voice was breathy. “Is that the thumb with the callus on it?”
Sheldon looked at his hand, “Yes. Why?”
Penny closed her eyes, imagining his rough against her smooth. The heat flickered to a blaze and her cheeks reddened.
“You like control, don’t you?” The question was not intended to be asked out loud. Sheldon’s eyes widened a bit. The blue intensified by the plaid of his robe. The silence grew and their stare locked into place. Sheldon gave a very tiny nod. Penny rubbed her moist thighs together. A voice called that she was needed in hair and makeup.
“Sheldon, “ The roughness of her voice seemed to break the spell. “I’m being called.”
“Of course.” He leaned back in his chair. “I enjoyed our “date” He made air quotes and Penny’s knees weakened at the curling of his fingers.
“Me, too. We’ll talk later?”
“Yes.” Sheldon held his palm to the screen. She pressed her palm to it.
Chapter Five
Sheldon: Penny? Are you busy?
Penny: No. In trailer waiting
Penny: For lighting to be finished on set
Sheldon: I too am waiting, for Leonard to drive me home.
Sheldon: What are you filming tonight?
Penny: Ballroom dance scene
Sheldon: You have to dance?
Penny: I can dance
Sheldon: Yes, to music you play on your iPod.
Sheldon: This scene will require strict choreography.
Penny: What do you know about it?
Penny: You don’t dance
Sheldon: No I don’t but I know how to.
Sheldon: In Texas we are taught to square dance and two-step as children.
Sheldon: My Meemaw made me learn how to ballroom dance.
Penny: I call dibs on third date activities
Sheldon: No.
Penny: Yes Sheldon. You are taking me dancing.
Penny: My call came and I gotta go
Penny: Miss you
Penny: Will think of you while I’m dancing
XXXXX
A week later though not the exact same day or time, Penny and Sheldon had their third date. Penny had texted Sheldon that she would be in charge of the activities and he should be prepared for anything. When he appeared on her screen Penny could see he had his Apocalypse bag on the couch behind him. The smile broke across her face the moment she saw him.
“Good evening, Penny.” Sheldon sat in his chair. “What are the evening’s festivities?”
“We’re going to play a game.” Penny announced.
“Oh I love games!” Sheldon enthused. “Which one?”
“Twenty questions.” She waggled her eyebrows at him.
“A personal favorite of mine.” Sheldon’s eyebrow gave- could it be- a flirtatious lift.
Penny leaned back in her chair. She had to take this slowly. The had been communicating back and forth and she definitely felt that they had grown closer through their exchanges but she felt, even after four years and countless hours spent with him, Sheldon was still a mystery.
“Me first.” Penny informed him. Sheldon nodded. She took a deep breath overwhelmed by butterflies.
“Why did it take you so long to ask me out?”
“That’s not how you play!” Sheldon exclaimed. “It starts - animal vegetable , mineral.”
“My game, my rules.” Penny snapped. Sheldon visibly pouted. “Unless you want to end the date now?”
Sheldon’s eyes widened in alarm, “No. I’ll answer. You just caught me off guard.”
“I always do.” Penny flashed a wicked grin.
“I never had any interest in romantic entanglements,” Sheldon began. “They were complicated, everything couched in double talk and suggestive phrases not to mention the mess- both emotional and physical.” He shuddered. “But then I met you.” He sat back and crossed his arms.
“That’s it?” Penny looked down her nose at him.
“What more do you need?”
Penny pursed her lips. What more did she need? That was a pretty high compliment. On second thought, she did need more.
“Yeah, that answer isn’t going to cut it , Sweetie.”
“Perhaps you should be more specific then.” Sheldon snapped.
“Fine!” Penny bridled. “What’s your favorite part of a woman?”
“Nothing.” Sheldon said calmly. Penny stared at him open-mouthed. “However,“ He went on to say, “if you would care to know what my favorite part of you is, that I can answer.”
Penny nodded. Her heart thudded as Sheldon leaned toward the screen. His eyes were Superman blue contrasting with the lilac shirt he wore over green and grey stripe.
“You have a freckle behind your right ear, shaped like a crescent. It’s also where you tend to dab your perfume when you wear it. That is my favorite part of you since I can only see it when you are in your spot next to mine.”
She honestly didn’t know what to say. She didn’t even know about the freckle but he did. He did.
“My turn now.” Sheldon chimed. “Why don’t you ever fix your ‘check engine ‘light?”
Penny guffawed. Leave it to Sheldon.
“I suppose to prove a point.” She answered truthfully.
‘Which is?”
“That I’m not going to let anything hold me back. The light had been on since I bought the car but it made it all the way to California and I’ve driven you all over the damn place in it and we’re still alive. Heck, it even survived your driving it! I want to be like my car- even with the most dire warnings- it still survives.”
Sheldon nodded, “Perhaps you should have picked a less terminal metaphor with which to align yourself.”
“Next question!” Penny barked.
“Alright, “ Sheldon cleared his throat. “Why did you react the way you did when I put on that suit?”
Penny chewed on her bottom lip- this was do or die time. They couldn’t be physically together but she had to know if red-blooded male lurked under C-3PO somewhere. She pulled her shoulders back. Full disclosure still she blushed as she answered.
“You turned a plain black suit into the sexiest thing I'd ever seen. I was stunned because what I really wanted to do was,” she dropped her voice and ran her tongue over her bottom lip, “was peel it off you. Bit by bit.”
Sheldon’s gulp was audible, “I don’t suppose you are putting some of your acting skills into practice now?”
She shook her head vigorously.
“Well, if we’re being truthful, “ He raised his chin. “I found your reaction to be flattering as well as stimulating.”
Bingo! Ladies and gentlemen, we have a pulse!
“Maybe you can wear it again for me sometime?” Penny winked.
“Maybe.” Sheldon was non-committal. “Next question- why do you pretend to be dumb especially when you were with Leonard? You never do that with me.”
“That’s because you won’t let me get away with it.” Penny ‘s bluntness caused Sheldon’s eyebrows to climb up his forehead. “Why do you bully the rest of the guys?”
“I prefer to call it “leadership.” Still, his lips twitched
Penny laughed. She hadn’t enjoyed herself like this in quite some time. “I’m having fun.” She admitted softly.
“As am I.” Sheldon whispered. “Shall we continue? Let me make some tea first.”
Penny waited. listening to the sounds of Sheldon bustling in his kitchen. She missed 4A like a limb. The disinfectant smell that was ever present laced with whiteboard marker. The sounds of Battlestar Galactia in the background or Raj and Howard giggling like school girls. Most of all, she missed sitting next to Sheldon. Scooting over into his spot just to feel his leg quiver against hers. He never did push her over, though.
“Did I tell you about the costumes?” Penny asked when he sat down.
‘Are we done playing?” Sheldon frowned. “Who won?”
“We’ll call it a draw.” Penny told him
“These costumes,” She complained. “take hours to get into and hours to get out of them and they are so uncomfortable. No wonder women fainted half the time.”
“That would be from the corset,” Sheldon informed her. “It compressed all the internal organs and limited lung capacity, Not to mention the marks it left upon removal and sometimes, permanent deformity.” He raised eyebrow knowingly.
“I know,” Penny shifted in her chair. “ I have a giant red welt on my left side from the damn thing.”
Sheldon’s had gripped the mouse as he pictured an angry red curve climbing the indent of Penny’s body. He had an excellent cream that he could smooth on it…
“Sheldon, why are you blushing?”
“Blushing?” He blurted. “My tea just caused a rise in body temperature. I believe I may have overheated the water.”
Penny raised an eyebrow but continued complaining, ”So now I am sitting here waiting for the costume assistant to get me out of these shoes.”
“Why do you need help getting out of your shoes?”
Penny’s answer was to push back from the screen. In a few minutes, her legs appeared on the screen. Her calves taut and smooth and angled from the shoes on her feet. They were white kid that climbed halfway up her shins. The bottom part of the shoe was shiny black patent leather and there was a three inch heel. The shoe facing the screen revealed a row of tiny pearl buttons- there were at least twelve.
Sheldon spat out his tea.
“Oh dear Lord!”
“Tell me about it!” Penny went on , completely oblivious to the physicist’s reaction.
“And you say someone is coming in to get you out of those? Sheldon was mopping up tea frantically.
‘Yeah. What are you doing? They have to get this little hook- like a crochet needle..”
“I am familiar,” Sheldon cut her off. He couldn’t stop picturing kneeling at Penny’s feet, button hook in hand, slowly easing each pearl out of it’s groove until the shoe peeled away to expose Penny’s slender ankle. He placed his hand to his forehead. She was there on the screen -blond curls in disarray. Her lips were still crimson from the lipstick used. If he were there, he would hear the sigh of relief coming from her reddened lips as he eased the shoe open and then rubbed her ankle to get the blood flowing through her leg again. The he would open the other shoe, letting his hands drift up her legs…
Penny was still chatting. Sheldon sat down at his computer. Her robe had fallen to expose the expanse of her leg from delectable shoe to themed-section of her thigh. He squirmed in his desk chair.
“As uncomfortable as these shoes are” Her legs were still on the screen, “ There is something kinda sexy about them. Don’t you agree, Sheldon?”
Her question was so unexpected that the normally graceful Dr. Cooper knocked over the pencil holder and his tea in his efforts to stop the pens from rolling off the table.
Authors: mothermedusa20 tempestjo and trippy41
Title: The Digital Dating Experimentation
Word Count: 5, 305
Rating: PG-13/R
Summary: Penny and Sheldon have a first date. Skype, texts and e-mail follow.
Disclaimer: We do not own.
Chapter One
Penny and Sheldon walked up the stairs, returning from their first date. As first dates go, it hadn't been that bad. Pretty low-key actually. They had gone bowling and the only indication that they were on a date was that it was Couples' Night. They had trounced the married couple who had been their competition once Sheldon had shown her a way to angle her wrist to put a spin on the ball which consistently resulted in a strike.
Penny waved the small plastic trophy at him.
"Do you mind if I keep this?"
"Not at all.“ Sheldon said quietly. They had reached their landing.
“I keep a memento from all my first dates." Penny volunteered.
"That explains the state of your apartment." Sheldon veered toward her door. She gave him a look of annoyance.
"What I meant to say is I keep a souvenir from all the memorable first dates." She leaned against her door.
"Is this the first one during which you won a trophy?" Sheldon stood across from her, arms at his sides.
"Yes." Penny batted her eyes. "But it's also because I won it with you."
"Well, you certainly couldn't have done it without me. Your form is terrible and it was Couples' Night ergo, in order to even participate, you had to be part of a couple."
Penny stared. This might end up being their last date. Sheldon could kill a moment faster than a poison apple could do in a fairy princess.
Her bowling partner cleared his throat and clasped his hands behind his back.
"Penny, I would like to ask if you would care to go out with me again next week? Dinner?"
Her immediate reaction was to refuse him. Tonight had been no different than any other time they'd spent together. Still, as she considered him in his black Chevron shirt with yellow under sleeves and pants that weren't plaid for once, that feeling came back. The one she 'd had when she had first seen his whiteboard. The feeling that told her that this one was different. Life-changing. Also, it was flattering to be asked out a week in advance! Their eyes met.
"I'd like that. When I get my schedule, we'll make plans." She smiled.
Sheldon was pleased, "Remember, Wednesdays are out due to comic books and Halo."
"I am aware, Sheldon."
"Saturdays are for laundry."
Penny nodded and opened her door.
"Sundays are a challenge due to work the next day."
"Sheldon!" Penny turned to him. "Don't make me change my mind."
Sheldon drew an imaginary zipper across his lips. Penny laughed. "Good night, Sweetie."
Sheldon tapped her shoulder, "One more thing."
She gritted her teeth, "Yessss."
"Thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable evening," He bowed slightly and went to his door.
Somewhere, a cat meowed
XXXXX
Sheldon entered his apartment and found Howard, Leonard and Raj staring expectantly at him.
"Hello." He greeted warily.
"Hello." They replied in unison.
"How was the date" Howard patted Sheldon's spot invitingly.
Sheldon looked at Leonard who gave him a tight smile.
"This might not be the best time." Sheldon said.
"C'mon Sheldon," Leonard sounded forced. "We've been waiting. It's okay. Really."
Sheldon shifted from foot to foot, "We went bowling, won a trophy and came home."
"That's it?" They all moaned.
Sheldon pulled his yellow sleeves down. "Penny drank a beer. I had a Coke and she tried to get me to consume a vile concoction known as the chilli cheese fry."
"She loves those." Leonard muttered under his breath.
"It would appear so since she consumed the entire basket with gusto." Sheldon agreed.
"Basically, you and Penny hung out at the bowling alley instead of here." Howard clarified.
"Isn't that what a date is?" Sheldon's head tilted.
"Sheldon, " Raj said gently. "On a date you're supposed to treat a woman differently. Pay. Show her that she is special. Share things."
"But I did all those things!" Sheldon protested. "First, Penny never pays-we've known that for four years. Second, I deliberately went bowling on Couples' Night. Competition is an area in which Penny excels. Finally, I did share. I taught her how to execute the Cooper Cannonball."
"Is that some kind of sex act?" Howard was always hopeful.
"No. It's a manner of throwing a bowling ball guaranteed to get a strike. I don't give that information to just anyone." Sheldon explained.
"I'm sure Penny had a good time." Leonard assured him.
"I would think so. She agreed to have dinner with me next week."
Three pairs of eyes bugged out at him.
"She...she what?" Leonard sputtered.
"You asked her out again? So soon?" Howard questioned. Raj grinned widely.
"I've been led to understand that when a gentleman has serious intentions toward a young lady, then he secures her company for the next date at the conclusion of the current one." Sheldon crossed his arms.
"Where did you get that idea?" Howard glared at Raj.
"Intentions!" Leonard yelled. "What do you mean 'intentions'? Are you planning on pursuing a serious relationship with Penny?"
"Oh Leonard," Sheldon settled into his spot, turned on the DVD player. "When have you ever known me to do anything half way?"
Chapter Two
Penny burst into the guys’ apartment the next morning.
“Wow! You jonesing for coffee that badly?” Leonard had the pot in his hand.
“No. I haven’t even slept yet.” Penny told him.
“Can’t figure out how electrons move through a grapheme sheet, huh?”
Penny looked at him blankly, “What? Oh, I get it.” She smiled and motioned for a mug of coffee. “Where’s Sheldon?”
“Bathroom.” Leonard handed her the coffee.
“Sheldon! Get out here! I have news!” Penny hollered; Leonard cringed.
“You’re not supposed to talk to him through the bathroom door.”
“I didn’t. I’m here at the island. The bathroom is waaay over there.” She sipped her coffee.
Sheldon came storming into the kitchen, tying his robe. “Somebody had better be dead.” He barked.
“Morning, Sweetie.” Penny smiled at him; Sheldon tightened his robe.
“Good morning, Penny. How nice to hear your dulcet tones at this hour. To what to I owe the pleasure of having my routine disrupted?”
Penny placed her mug down. She beamed at both men. “I’ve been cast in a movie!”
Two mouths dropped open. Two voices made exclamations of disbelief and then Leonard was hugging her.
“Penny, that is fantastic.”
“I know.” She extricated herself from his embrace. “I leave tomorrow for Canada. It’s a six week shoot. It’s a small role but I have some lines and…”
“Excuse me!” Sheldon cut in,” Did you just say you leave tomorrow for six weeks?”
Penny nodded.
“Well, that is unacceptable. You won’t be home for our date next week.”
Penny tapped her nails on the countertop, “About that, Sheldon.” Her eyes flicked nervously to Leonard who nodded and backed down the hallway.
“C’mere,” Penny tugged Sheldon by the crook of his arm. “Let’s talk.”
Sheldon followed her to the couch. This didn’t feel right. Whenever his mother did this, it was to lecture him about not acting superior to the neighborhood kids (As if he could help that) or to explain why one can’t “store” yellow cake uranium. Penny went to take his hand but let hers hover over his unsure of what to do.
“Sheldon, I’ll be gone for six weeks and be really busy. I just don’t think that this is the best time to enter into a relationship, you know?”
Sheldon’s expression was blank. He didn’t even tilt his head. Penny kept talking.
“I’ll be in Toronto. There’ll be a time difference. You go to bed at 9; I’ll be working late…” Her voice trailed off in the face of his unresponsiveness. “Sweetie, do you get what I am trying to say?”
Sheldon took a quiet breath. He felt like his brother and Missy were sitting on his chest.
“No.” He finally said.
“No, you don’t get what I’m saying?” Penny frowned.
Sheldon rose from the couch, “Of course I comprehend what you are saying, Penny. I simply refuse to go along with it.”
Penny was dumfounded. How…he couldn’t…hold on a second!
“Sheldon, we can’t possibly start a relationship when one of us isn’t here.” She wailed.
Sheldon crossed his plaid covered arms, “ So, you were going to leave for six weeks and not contact us at all? We didn’t do that and we were in the Arctic circle which, I can assure you, is much farther north than Canada.”
“It’s just…I think it’s best…”
“You know,” Sheldon interrupted, “I find it highly contradictory that for as long as I’ve known you, you have wanted success in both your professional and romantic lives. You now have opportunities present in both and you are running away.”
“I am not!” Penny flared.
“Are so.” Sheldon taunted. “I, for one, am not going to let you do that.”
“Let me!?!”
“Yes. There are myriad ways for us to remain in contact. I’ll even set up your laptop with a webcam and draw up a phone, video and texting schedule if you like but I will not go a month and half without speaking to you. Not when I do it every day.”
A lump formed in Penny’s throat. She never ever would have thought that Sheldon Cooper would be so…she blinked rapidly.
“Okay.” Her tone was resigned.
“Good.” Sheldon gave a curt nod. “Now get out or this morning’s bowel movement will be an unmitigated disaster.”
Chapter Three
Penny picked up her laptop and plugged it into the wall, anxiously typing in the hotel's wireless code. She stared at the machine while it booted up, chewing on her lip. If this didn't work... She didn't want to think about it. It would work, of course it would, because Sheldon said so, and Howard knew people that could probably position a satellite right over her head and get her Internet that way if she needed it.
She might have to flash him though. Sheldon wouldn't like that. Maybe Sheldon could just rescind one of Howard's strikes, that might be a better option.
Her wireless indicator glowed green. "YES!" Bribing Howard would not be necessary. Now she just had to click on the icon over there, and type in her password and...
There was a ringing sound. Something appeared on her screen, and asked if she would like to answer the call. She clicked yes.
Sheldon appeared in a little box on her screen. "Greetings Penny!"
She grinned at him. "It's working!"
"Obviously. How was the flight? Did you remember to wipe your tray and arm rests with the antibacterial wipes I gave you?"
She nodded. "I did. The flight was horrible. We hurt turbulence somewhere, and the girl next to me puked, it was awful." She shuddered.
"And your hotel?"
"It looks clean. See?" She waved her hand around behind her, like Vanna White did on Jeopardy.
"Don't use the in-room coffee maker." Sheldon said ominously.
Penny winced. "I'll take your word for it."
"Good." He was smiling at her. "You'll be pleased to know that Howard has convinced Bernadette to switch shifts and serve us on Tuesday nights while you are away, and I have already emailed her my detailed order so that she may have it memorised by Tuesday."
Penny snickered. Poor Bernadette. She would have to get her some autographs from the other cast members for her. "You never sent ME an email about your order." She said coyly.
He tilted his head slightly and wrinkled his eyebrows. "I never needed to, your short term memory skills are highly advanced, due to your chosen profession. I also reminded Bernadette to make sure she thoroughly cleansed her hands before her shift, lest she let a new super virus escape the lab."
"Aw, that's nice of you sweetie, saving the world." She teased.
He was smirking. She could hear voices behind him all of a sudden, and he looked away at someone off-screen. "I have to go Penny, it's Halo night."
"Ok," she waved, "goodnight!" His picture vanished from the screen, and she stared at the place it had been for a few moments before reluctantly closing her laptop.
Pathetic. She wasn't even gone twelve hours, and she missed him already.
XXXXX
His phone vibrated on his nightstand and he saw the text:
Penny: Can't sleep Can u?
Sheldon: As a matter of fact I can. I was.
Penny: LOL sorry sweetie
Penny: I think I am homesick
Sheldon: No doubt. You are in another country. And timezone.
Sheldon: It’s after midnight in Toronto.
Penny: It’s cold
Penny: I miss Cali warm
Penny: I miss you
Sheldon: I aired out your apartment and dusted.
Penny: ur way of missing me too?
Sheldon: Yes.
Sheldon: Will do the laundry you left too.
Sheldon: Were you really going to leave it for six weeks?
Penny: Yup
Penny: Sheldon? Can you call me?
Penny: And sing Soft Kitty?
Sheldon: You’re not sick.
Penny: We’ve already made homesickness a type of sick
Sheldon: Calling you now.
Sheldon: But no rounds. I’m sleepy
Chapter Four
Penny listened to the rain drum on the balcony outside her hotel room. The cold was bad, the rain worse and the two of them together were pure misery. Shooting had been delayed since all around her cast members were falling victim to various degrees of cold and flu.
“Thank God for corn-fed vigor.” She muttered, booting up her laptop. That and the giant bottle of hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes Sheldon gave her as a going away present with a detailed list of when to use each item. Her inbox had three messages. Her mother (Keep your feet warm.), her father (Try not to spend all the money you make.) and her sister ( Autographs?) Penny began typing to explain to her sibling that, sadly, this wasn’t a major motion picture. Rather, it was a made for TV movie due to air on the Hallmark channel. Or was it Lifetime? Another email came through.
To: Pennyblossoms@hotmail.com
From: DrSheldonLCooper@gmail.com
Penny,
Now that you have settled in, I see no reason for us to not keep our dinner plans for this week. Email your schedule to me ASAP so that details can be confirmed.
Sheldon Cooper
PS: There is a collection of herbal tea in your carry-on. I read about the rain.
She smiled. How he managed such a mix of annoyance and endearment must be part of his genius. Or maybe it was just Sheldon. She replied.
To: DrSheldonLCooper@gmail.com
From: Pennyblossoms@hotmail.com
Dear Sheldon,
Thank you so much for the tea. I’ll find it eventually. It was so kind of you to ask about filming, my health and the food. You are so thoughtful.
She hit SEND and resumed typing to her sister. His reply was instant.
To: Pennyblossoms@hotmail.com
From: DrSheldonLCooper@gmail.com
Was that sarcasm?
Sheldon Cooper
Her answer was just as brief. I’ll let you know on Thursday. My morning is free.
He replied again. A breakfast date it is.
XXXX
Penny had just sat down with a mug of coca and a croissant when Sheldon appeared on screen. His hair was slightly tousled, there was an almost invisible shadow of beard on his cheeks. His eyes still had the veil of sleep but she could see the brilliance percolating through. He was in his robe and held a bowl of cereal in his hands. He looked adorable.
“Good morning, Penny.” At this hour, his voice was soft and twangy.
“Good morning, Honey. How are you?”
“Given the hour and disruption to my REM cycle, surprisingly well.”
Sheldon ate a mouthful of cereal. Penny noticed how his hand cupped the bowl. Fingers gently braced along the striped side. Arousal skipped across her stomach.. “How goes the filming?”
Penny drew her eyes sway from his hand, “It’s weird how they shoot scenes out of order but it all comes together in the end. I’m actually more interested in how they set up scenes, design costumes, choose makeup.” She looked at him expecting to see utter boredom on his face. He was staring at the screen, listening intently.
“Perhaps your interests lie in the more technical aspects of cinematography.” Sheldon suggested when she had finished speaking. Penny had thought of that herself and had gone so far as to strike up a friendship with the costume designer.
“What’s going on with you?” She sipped her cocoa. “How are the guys?”
“Leonard is still derivative. Howard is still horny and Raj is still mute.” Sheldon ticked each name off on his hand. Penny’s eyes fixated on each finger. What was wrong with her this morning?
He suddenly reached down. “I neglected to give you this at the start of our conversation Sheldon held a small cut-glass vase with a large white Gebera daisy in it.
“For you.”
“Aww, Sheldon. Thank you . How sweet.”
“I would have presented you with a rose but, seeing as this is breakfast, a daisy seemed more fitting. I have emailed you a picture of it as well.
“It won’t stay alive until I come back.” Penny said through a mouthful of her pastry.
Sheldon snorted, “If Leonard can preserve a snowflake, I can certainly fossilize a flower.”
Penny stopped chewing. “This isn’t a competition , Sheldon. You don’t have to try to out do Leonard. Just be yourself.”
Sheldon drew his eyebrows together then shook his head. “I believe we’ve had a classic misunderstanding, common on second dates when familiarity begins to set in yet both partners are still trying to present their best sides.”
“Huh?”
“Penny, I do not have to try to out do Leonard.” Sheldon let the statement hang there. “As for being myself, why would I ever want to be someone else?”
Penny decide it was time to steer the conversation back to more traditional topics.
“Sheldon why did you want to become a scientist?”
“I need answers.” He sat up straight, more comfortable with the topic. “There is so much to know and understand and why things work as they do. So much to conquer.”
Penny swallowed. He gestured as he spoke. His right hand flowing elegantly in the air. She pictured standing near him as he spoke and his ring finger looping into her hair. “Is that why you keep to your schedule? To show what you have conquered?”
Sheldon tilted his head at her question. He then rested his head on his hand. His fingers tapped on his cheekbone unconsciously as he stared at her. His chin cradled in his palm, thumb moving back and forth in thought. The heat warming her stomach at the sight of that deliberate movement surprised her.
“I suppose. I never can predict what I will discover in the course of my research. I make hypotheses and test them, usually with favorable results, but there is always the element of the unexpected. So it helps to keep order in other areas of my life. Control the variables if you will.”
She had never heard him speak so plainly and was stunned by his insight into himself. She leaned toward the screen, realizing that her tall neighbor was an extremely complex man. A Japanese puzzle box that she couldn’t just step on to open. She’d have to unlock it herself. His thumb rasped against the stubble on his chin catching her attention.
“Sheldon, “ Her voice was breathy. “Is that the thumb with the callus on it?”
Sheldon looked at his hand, “Yes. Why?”
Penny closed her eyes, imagining his rough against her smooth. The heat flickered to a blaze and her cheeks reddened.
“You like control, don’t you?” The question was not intended to be asked out loud. Sheldon’s eyes widened a bit. The blue intensified by the plaid of his robe. The silence grew and their stare locked into place. Sheldon gave a very tiny nod. Penny rubbed her moist thighs together. A voice called that she was needed in hair and makeup.
“Sheldon, “ The roughness of her voice seemed to break the spell. “I’m being called.”
“Of course.” He leaned back in his chair. “I enjoyed our “date” He made air quotes and Penny’s knees weakened at the curling of his fingers.
“Me, too. We’ll talk later?”
“Yes.” Sheldon held his palm to the screen. She pressed her palm to it.
Chapter Five
Sheldon: Penny? Are you busy?
Penny: No. In trailer waiting
Penny: For lighting to be finished on set
Sheldon: I too am waiting, for Leonard to drive me home.
Sheldon: What are you filming tonight?
Penny: Ballroom dance scene
Sheldon: You have to dance?
Penny: I can dance
Sheldon: Yes, to music you play on your iPod.
Sheldon: This scene will require strict choreography.
Penny: What do you know about it?
Penny: You don’t dance
Sheldon: No I don’t but I know how to.
Sheldon: In Texas we are taught to square dance and two-step as children.
Sheldon: My Meemaw made me learn how to ballroom dance.
Penny: I call dibs on third date activities
Sheldon: No.
Penny: Yes Sheldon. You are taking me dancing.
Penny: My call came and I gotta go
Penny: Miss you
Penny: Will think of you while I’m dancing
XXXXX
A week later though not the exact same day or time, Penny and Sheldon had their third date. Penny had texted Sheldon that she would be in charge of the activities and he should be prepared for anything. When he appeared on her screen Penny could see he had his Apocalypse bag on the couch behind him. The smile broke across her face the moment she saw him.
“Good evening, Penny.” Sheldon sat in his chair. “What are the evening’s festivities?”
“We’re going to play a game.” Penny announced.
“Oh I love games!” Sheldon enthused. “Which one?”
“Twenty questions.” She waggled her eyebrows at him.
“A personal favorite of mine.” Sheldon’s eyebrow gave- could it be- a flirtatious lift.
Penny leaned back in her chair. She had to take this slowly. The had been communicating back and forth and she definitely felt that they had grown closer through their exchanges but she felt, even after four years and countless hours spent with him, Sheldon was still a mystery.
“Me first.” Penny informed him. Sheldon nodded. She took a deep breath overwhelmed by butterflies.
“Why did it take you so long to ask me out?”
“That’s not how you play!” Sheldon exclaimed. “It starts - animal vegetable , mineral.”
“My game, my rules.” Penny snapped. Sheldon visibly pouted. “Unless you want to end the date now?”
Sheldon’s eyes widened in alarm, “No. I’ll answer. You just caught me off guard.”
“I always do.” Penny flashed a wicked grin.
“I never had any interest in romantic entanglements,” Sheldon began. “They were complicated, everything couched in double talk and suggestive phrases not to mention the mess- both emotional and physical.” He shuddered. “But then I met you.” He sat back and crossed his arms.
“That’s it?” Penny looked down her nose at him.
“What more do you need?”
Penny pursed her lips. What more did she need? That was a pretty high compliment. On second thought, she did need more.
“Yeah, that answer isn’t going to cut it , Sweetie.”
“Perhaps you should be more specific then.” Sheldon snapped.
“Fine!” Penny bridled. “What’s your favorite part of a woman?”
“Nothing.” Sheldon said calmly. Penny stared at him open-mouthed. “However,“ He went on to say, “if you would care to know what my favorite part of you is, that I can answer.”
Penny nodded. Her heart thudded as Sheldon leaned toward the screen. His eyes were Superman blue contrasting with the lilac shirt he wore over green and grey stripe.
“You have a freckle behind your right ear, shaped like a crescent. It’s also where you tend to dab your perfume when you wear it. That is my favorite part of you since I can only see it when you are in your spot next to mine.”
She honestly didn’t know what to say. She didn’t even know about the freckle but he did. He did.
“My turn now.” Sheldon chimed. “Why don’t you ever fix your ‘check engine ‘light?”
Penny guffawed. Leave it to Sheldon.
“I suppose to prove a point.” She answered truthfully.
‘Which is?”
“That I’m not going to let anything hold me back. The light had been on since I bought the car but it made it all the way to California and I’ve driven you all over the damn place in it and we’re still alive. Heck, it even survived your driving it! I want to be like my car- even with the most dire warnings- it still survives.”
Sheldon nodded, “Perhaps you should have picked a less terminal metaphor with which to align yourself.”
“Next question!” Penny barked.
“Alright, “ Sheldon cleared his throat. “Why did you react the way you did when I put on that suit?”
Penny chewed on her bottom lip- this was do or die time. They couldn’t be physically together but she had to know if red-blooded male lurked under C-3PO somewhere. She pulled her shoulders back. Full disclosure still she blushed as she answered.
“You turned a plain black suit into the sexiest thing I'd ever seen. I was stunned because what I really wanted to do was,” she dropped her voice and ran her tongue over her bottom lip, “was peel it off you. Bit by bit.”
Sheldon’s gulp was audible, “I don’t suppose you are putting some of your acting skills into practice now?”
She shook her head vigorously.
“Well, if we’re being truthful, “ He raised his chin. “I found your reaction to be flattering as well as stimulating.”
Bingo! Ladies and gentlemen, we have a pulse!
“Maybe you can wear it again for me sometime?” Penny winked.
“Maybe.” Sheldon was non-committal. “Next question- why do you pretend to be dumb especially when you were with Leonard? You never do that with me.”
“That’s because you won’t let me get away with it.” Penny ‘s bluntness caused Sheldon’s eyebrows to climb up his forehead. “Why do you bully the rest of the guys?”
“I prefer to call it “leadership.” Still, his lips twitched
Penny laughed. She hadn’t enjoyed herself like this in quite some time. “I’m having fun.” She admitted softly.
“As am I.” Sheldon whispered. “Shall we continue? Let me make some tea first.”
Penny waited. listening to the sounds of Sheldon bustling in his kitchen. She missed 4A like a limb. The disinfectant smell that was ever present laced with whiteboard marker. The sounds of Battlestar Galactia in the background or Raj and Howard giggling like school girls. Most of all, she missed sitting next to Sheldon. Scooting over into his spot just to feel his leg quiver against hers. He never did push her over, though.
“Did I tell you about the costumes?” Penny asked when he sat down.
‘Are we done playing?” Sheldon frowned. “Who won?”
“We’ll call it a draw.” Penny told him
“These costumes,” She complained. “take hours to get into and hours to get out of them and they are so uncomfortable. No wonder women fainted half the time.”
“That would be from the corset,” Sheldon informed her. “It compressed all the internal organs and limited lung capacity, Not to mention the marks it left upon removal and sometimes, permanent deformity.” He raised eyebrow knowingly.
“I know,” Penny shifted in her chair. “ I have a giant red welt on my left side from the damn thing.”
Sheldon’s had gripped the mouse as he pictured an angry red curve climbing the indent of Penny’s body. He had an excellent cream that he could smooth on it…
“Sheldon, why are you blushing?”
“Blushing?” He blurted. “My tea just caused a rise in body temperature. I believe I may have overheated the water.”
Penny raised an eyebrow but continued complaining, ”So now I am sitting here waiting for the costume assistant to get me out of these shoes.”
“Why do you need help getting out of your shoes?”
Penny’s answer was to push back from the screen. In a few minutes, her legs appeared on the screen. Her calves taut and smooth and angled from the shoes on her feet. They were white kid that climbed halfway up her shins. The bottom part of the shoe was shiny black patent leather and there was a three inch heel. The shoe facing the screen revealed a row of tiny pearl buttons- there were at least twelve.
Sheldon spat out his tea.
“Oh dear Lord!”
“Tell me about it!” Penny went on , completely oblivious to the physicist’s reaction.
“And you say someone is coming in to get you out of those? Sheldon was mopping up tea frantically.
‘Yeah. What are you doing? They have to get this little hook- like a crochet needle..”
“I am familiar,” Sheldon cut her off. He couldn’t stop picturing kneeling at Penny’s feet, button hook in hand, slowly easing each pearl out of it’s groove until the shoe peeled away to expose Penny’s slender ankle. He placed his hand to his forehead. She was there on the screen -blond curls in disarray. Her lips were still crimson from the lipstick used. If he were there, he would hear the sigh of relief coming from her reddened lips as he eased the shoe open and then rubbed her ankle to get the blood flowing through her leg again. The he would open the other shoe, letting his hands drift up her legs…
Penny was still chatting. Sheldon sat down at his computer. Her robe had fallen to expose the expanse of her leg from delectable shoe to themed-section of her thigh. He squirmed in his desk chair.
“As uncomfortable as these shoes are” Her legs were still on the screen, “ There is something kinda sexy about them. Don’t you agree, Sheldon?”
Her question was so unexpected that the normally graceful Dr. Cooper knocked over the pencil holder and his tea in his efforts to stop the pens from rolling off the table.