Sorry for the cliff hanger! Thought I posted this too! I am a huge Impact Wrestling fan and tonight was the pay-per-view! So, I got caught up in watching that. I like you all, but my boy Austin Aries comes first! :D

He opened his eyes carefully. He quickly assessed that only seconds had passed. Leonard was still standing there, looking surprised. His legs felt heavy, was that where he was shot? He looked down and saw Penny laying across him. A trail of blood ran across her cheek. The blond hair at her temple was turning red. Her eyes were opened but unfocused. Sheldon wiggled his hands around trying to find the small knife he had dropped. He needed his hands free to check Penny.

"Stupid bitch," Leonard muttered. "Who did she think she was saving? I still have the gun, and neither one of you can run." He walked closer and pointed the gun down at her chest.

Unexpectedly, Penny's eyes snapped to Leonard. Her unbound hands braced her body and her legs shot up. Leonard flew backwards and the gun was lost in a pile of pine needles and leaves. Penny rolled and scrambled to her feet. She jumped onto Leonard's back and grabbed his head. She slammed him into the ground a couple of times before he managed to buck her off.

Sheldon lurched over onto his stomach and spotted the knife beside him. He wrapped his hand around it and tried to cut his bonds. He felt blood trickle down his wrists as he jabbed himself a couple of times.

Leonard spun around searching for his gun, but Penny threw her arms out and grabbed his ankle. He kicked her with his other leg just before she managed to pull him off balance. Sheldon watched helplessly as Leonard punched her twice in the ribs. Penny rolled out of reach and grabbed a handful of pine needles. She threw them at Leonard who clawed the debris from his eyes quickly. Penny lunged forward and wrapped herself around Leonard's body from behind. He gave a guttural scream as she slammed her elbow into the side of his neck several times. She used her legs to clamp onto him as she wrapped her arm around his neck. She pressed her left arm into his jugular and wrapped that hand around her right wrist. She leaned her body backwards to increase the pressure.

Sheldon felt the rope around his wrists start to give some, and he searched the ground for the lost gun. In the distance he could here the sound of running feet. He prayed to the god he didn't believe in that it was Raj. With a gurgled scream Leonard threw his body backwards, knocking Penny loose. He scuttled forward and grabbed the gun he had spotted nearby. Sheldon felt a scream welling up his throat as Leonard turned and pulled the trigger.

Everything slowed down for him. He barely noticed Raj and the twins who burst from the trees. He didn't see the shot that killed Leonard. He didn't even notice when Raj began to check him over for injuries. All he saw was Penny lying on the forest floor. Her blue shirt was changing color. A dark purple stain was spreading over her right breast. Her eyes were closed. She almost looked peaceful, as if she was sleeping. Sheldon stood and started to move over to her. Raj grabbed his arms and tried to talk to him, but Sheldon didn't hear a word of it. He saw the twins kneel by her, and he shouted for them to leave her alone. He almost shook free of Raj's grip when he saw one of the men shake his head sadly to the other one. Then for the second time in 20 minutes he blacked out.

Two Months Later

He poured himself some tea and moved out onto the porch. The sun was just coming up and the sky was a kaleidoscope of reds, purples and blues. Today would be a hard one. He was to go before a committee and tell his story. The company had rounded up Leonard's cohorts and they were being charged in a secret trial. He would have to look Winkle, Wolowitz, Gabelhauser, and any others in the eye today.

The twins were picking him up at 7am. They had visited him while he was in the hospital being checked out. Bart and Bruce. He had almost smiled at the names. Penny had chosen them, of course. His heart clenched at her name. He tried hard to never think of her. It hurt too much. He heard the door creak open. Missy sat down in the chair beside him.

"Today's the day, huh?" She reached over and took his hand in hers. "Want me to come with?" Sheldon shook his head.

"No. That was my deal. I would testify willingly if they kept the rest of you out of it." He shrugged. "It won't be that hard."

Missy looked at him sadly. "Not even the part about Penny?"

Sheldon sipped his tea. "No. I'm not sure I can do justice to what she did for me, for all of us. But I will try."

They watched as a car drew closer down the dirt road to his Meemaw's home. Sheldon stood and smoothed his slacks and dress shirt. All too soon the car pulled up to the house. The twins nodded to Missy and waited until Sheldon was safely buckled in the back before pulling away.

An hour later they pulled into a parking facility. Sheldon looked around cautiously. They drove to the top level, into the bright sunshine. There was only one other car there. The twins parked near it and got out. Sheldon followed suit and looked around him. Something strange was going on.

The driver's side door on the other vehicle opened and Raj stepped out. Sheldon smiled at him and stepped forward. "It's good to see you again, Raj. I haven't seen you since the hospital. I wasn't sure I'd ever see you again."

Raj grinned. "I'm still at Cal-Tech. You should come back. Seibert would love to have you back." Sheldon shrugged. He hadn't been able to muster up the urge to work lately.

"So, why am I here, and not at the court house?" he asked.

"We no longer need your testimony. Someone else has stepped forward to give an account of that night." Raj watched Sheldon's confusion deepen.

"How is that possible? There was only the three of us there. Me, Leonard an….."

The passenger door opened and she stepped out slowly. Sheldon felt as if someone had punched him. She walked around the car slowly and approached. His eyes roamed over her carefully. She was thinner, more pale. He could see she was exhausted. The edge of her blouse revealed a pink scar over her chest.

"Hello, Sheldon," Penny said softly. She bit her bottom lip and stepped closer. Sheldon reached out and gently touched her cheek.

"I thought you were.." his voice broke off.

She nodded. "I know. I did die on the operating table once. But I had excellent doctors who didn't give up."

She shuddered softly as his hand traveled down to touch the edge of the scar.

He looked up into her eyes and saw the same hope he felt in him reflected in her gaze. "Why am I here?" He had to know. Had to hear it from her own lips.

"I'm out. Retired from the company. I can't pass a physical…not that I tried too hard. I'm done with that life. I want a different one, now. I want to be Penny." Her voice held a gentle plea. "I want you, Sheldon. Is there room in your life for an out of work spy?"

He smiled widely and pulled her into his arms. He felt her tears soak into his shirt. "I love you, Penny. You're never going to get away again."

She molded her body to his. "I have nowhere else I want to be, Sheldon. No one else I want to be. You are my life."

His lips captured hers, oblivious to the three men watching them with large smiles. Maybe they would go back to Pasadena. Or maybe they would stay in Galveston. Either way, they were together. And they would stay that way. They would turn a beautiful lie into a glorious truth.