Pasadena.
Outside the Cheesecake Factory.
Seeing Sheldon so pitiful yet still so obnoxious, Penny felt utterly helpless.
She wanted to leave him alone, but when she met those big, timid eyes pleading for help, her heart softened.
"Want me to drive you home?"
"No!"
Sheldon shook his head. "I forgot you were a virus carrier before, but I haven't been delirious enough to forget it now."
"Fine. Then wait here until you pass out, get your organs harvested and sold, and die."
Penny gritted her teeth. "They'd better cut out your heart, you heartless bastard!"
As she spoke, she turned to leave.
"Wait."
Sheldon called after her. "Penny, I've forgotten everything. I just want to go home now."
"Come here."
Penny turned back to look at Sheldon as he started toward her and beckoned with an amused smile.
When he was still several steps away from Penny, Sheldon stopped on his own. The cautious way he did it made it obvious that he was still guarding against something.
Penny darkened her face and glared at him with her big eyes.
After struggling for a moment, Sheldon took another step forward. His face clearly said, This is the limit. I can't go any farther, before he gave her a placating smile.
Penny said nothing more and led him to the parking lot, one walking ahead and the other following behind.
After getting into the car, she found that Sheldon had uncharacteristically taken the back seat. Her heart sank, and she did not want to say a word.
TBBT 4A Apartment.
"Thank you for taking me home."
Sheldon at least knew enough to thank her.
"It's fine. It's not like I desperately needed to work today. It's not like I have car and mortgage payments to make."
Penny mocked herself.
"Good, good."