Hello dear reader,

Below you'll find Brief encounter's final chapter. I enjoyed writing the story and I was pleasantly surprised by the number of RRFFs: what a nice fandom this is! (I hope you'll let me know what you think of this last chapter too.) In case you care for The Big Bang Theory crossovers in general: going from zombies to vampires a TBBT/True Blood story presented itself to me. Please give A bloody nuisance a try.

On 2 October 2019 I published the first chapter of my second TBBT/TWD crossover. For those who like to read more about Penny and her friends in zombieland: it's called Drottningville and it's set some four years after the present story.

Chapter 9 – Every time we say goodbye

Rick and T-Dog were too shocked by what Penny had told them to react as swiftly as Shane had. Penny, though she hadn't been able to prevent Shane from taking Rick's gun, didn't lose any more time: she ran after the enraged policeman and dived to his knees. He fell and lost grip of the pistol.

´Listen!´ Penny said as she fixed Shane's legs to the ground with her upper body. ´He asked me to kill them and I did.´

T-Dog and Rick had by now hurried toward them and a heartfelt ´Thank God!´ escaped the former's lips. Penny rose. She felt bruised. Rick, after picking up his gun, offered a hand to Shane, who ignored it and got to his feet cursing.

´Right under our bloody noses. Jesus! It's like living on a fucking mine field!´

´So they're gone?´ Rick asked Penny.

´Yes, there are no zombies left on the farm. They are all killed,´ Penny elaborated just in case Shane hadn't yet understood. ´But they got Jimmy.´

Rick's jaws clenched.

´Oh man, that poor kid,´ T-Dog said.

´Fuck!´

´He needs to be buried,´ Penny said, ´and so do the others. There's an empty ditch behind the barn. It's about thirty metres long but it's not yet deep enough. Can you please help us with that Shane?´

All men seemed surprised by Penny's choice.

´I'll drive the shovel over,´ Shane said.

´I think it's best if T-Dog continued to use that for the defence system. If you could bring your spade along, that would be great.´

´Sure sugar.´

Penny let it pass. If calling her by a pet name sweetened the fact that she'd just knocked him over in front of two other men: fine. Shane walked toward the wall to get his spade.

´Rick, I will tell Daryl; will you inform the others? There will be a funeral for Jimmy and the other dead in an hour and a half. Please ask them to come to the barn then.´

From Rick's nod she understood that he got her meaning. T-Dog put his hand on her shoulder in sympathy before returning to the shovel.

OoOoOoO

Daryl neither shouted nor cursed after Penny informed him about what had happened.

´Saw your nearly empty quiver,´ he said. ´Wondered what had happened.´

Shane kicked against a small stone but otherwise he didn't comment.

On their way to the ditch Penny gestured toward the house and told Shane that it would be a good place for Lori's baby to grow up. She wasn't surprised to see Shane's lips curve into a smile.

When the policeman saw that none other than Sheldon was digging he leapt into the ditch to best him.

OoOoOoO

In the barn Hershel held his youngest daughter. Maggie and Patricia stood hand in hand looking at Jimmy's body but when Maggie saw Penny get down the ladder, she walked toward her.

´Dad said there was nothing you could have done.´

´No there wasn't,´ Penny simply said.

´He said that even his mum attacked him?´

´They all did.´

Maggie stared from Jimmy to the remains of the boy's mother and swallowed hard. ´Dad mentioned a burial.´

´Sheldon and Shane are deepening the ditch behind the barn.´

´I'll help them.´

´It would be really helpful if you could take Patricia, your father and sister to the house. Rick is keeping everyone away from the barn and at the house the rest of the group can support you.´

Penny figured that both the scent in the barn and the appeal of Glenn's arms persuaded Maggie to do her bidding.

OoOoOoO

Keeping an eye on the surroundings as well as blocking the entrance to the attic Penny cleaned the arrows she'd retrieved. After some time Sheldon got out of the ditch. He and Shane talked and Penny couldn't hear what they said. Sheldon gestured for her to come and she did. Shane got out too.

´He said there are nineteen bodies to bury. We barely covered half the distance of what's needed,´ the policeman said.

´They'll lie side by side,´ Sheldon remarked.

Penny took a few steps closer to the ditch. ´Wow! You worked so hard!´

Shane proudly shrugged. ´Not tired yet. What's next?´

´Sheldon and I will handle it from here: I deprived everyone of your company long enough. Rick's at the house but I think they need you too.´

´Don't know 'bout that, but maybe you're right,´ Shane said trying hard not to look pleased.

With a kiss on his cheek Penny gave him leave to go. He walked away with a winner's smile on his face.

From Sheldon's expression Penny concluded that he didn't quite understand what he'd just witnessed. He didn't inquire after it though: he opened the impressive lock on the barn's small back door as if he were a seasoned burglar.

OoOoOoO

Penny had not wanted to confront Sophia's people with Hershel's mistake so when the mourners arrived they found the zombies buried already; small branches with strips of cloth carrying names stood on the lengthy mass grave. Hershel had a heartfelt word to say for every one of his family and friends and red-eyed Beth had picked flowers for them. With satisfaction Penny saw that most of Sophia's people were moved by the speech. If Andrea cried for her own loved ones, did it matter? If Carol's tears fell because she was grateful to have her daughter with her or even to be a widow, wasn't it a fitting sight? If Shane looked at Hershel as if he would kill him if he ever housed zombies again, he'd never have reason to do so.

Leonard, Raj and Sheldon had volunteered to stand guard. When Hershel, Patricia, Rick and T-Dog went to retrieve Jimmy's body, Howard tried to get near Penny but Sophia addressed him and by the time he'd answered her Jimmy's remains were slowly carried toward the ditch. Even without a coffin and with the bearers simply holding the body by its grey and white funeral cloth there was something dignified about it. Or perhaps, Penny said to herself, it only seems that way compared to how Sheldon and I got rid of the zombies.

Through Hershel and Patricia's farewells Jimmy became more alive than a year's acquaintance could have accomplished. T-Dog, who'd worked some shifts with the boy, said kind words and repeated one of Jimmy's gags. People smiled in his honour.

When at last the body was lowered in the earth, Hershel said a prayer and then the grave was closed and strewed with flowers. Sophia's people started returning to the house. Howard walked to Penny who stood aside. She braced herself.

´Why didn't you call us?´ Howard softly said as befitted both location and occasion. He sounded hurt.

´I figured that if you guys wanted to stay here it was best if you weren't part of it.´

Howard looked at Penny wide eyed.

´Hershel wanted them killed but later on he might regret it and blame you if you'd helped us,´ Penny explained.

´Penny,´ Howard started. He sighed. ´Why on earth do you think we want to stay here?´

Penny felt light-headed. ´Don't you?´

Howard gazed at her incredulously.

´You don't?´

´No!´

´But you like it here.´

´Want us to stay?´

Penny held him close.

´I guess that's a no,´ Howard concluded, ´There'll never be mutiny in our team Penny.´

In a dramatic low voice he said: ´For we are the P men!´

Howard smelled sourly and his beard chafed her skin but Penny wouldn't let go of him.

´And there I was thinking that naming a team after a group of alcoholics was silly,´ Howard whispered in mock surprise, ´Why didn't your parents name you Xenia or even Queenie?´

Penny, biting Howard's shoulder pad, hoped that the remaining mourners who saw her jolting shoulders would think that she was crying instead of giggling like a maniac. When she straightened up she had some tears to wipe away though.

´Crazy Penelope,´ Howard fondly said.

OoOoOoO

Their departure was delayed but now that she was sure they'd leave, Penny acknowledged that it had been nice to live in a community. She'd miss it; or at least she'd miss some people. From her guarding position she saw Hershel appear from behind the barn. He carried his forgotten tools and with his free hand he wiped his cheeks.

He sought her company but for a moment he simply stood next to her overlooking his fields. A bird flew onto the barn's roof and polished its feathers.

´I was a fool,´ Hershel said.

´You're a doctor. You want to cure. When you hear moaning you think someone's in pain.´

´You make it sound like something noble. I was naïve Penny.´

´Out of the goodness of your heart,´ Penny said and she hoped that no one was having a similar conversation with her father.

Hershel shook his head. ´I didn't accept what happened. I kept hoping.´

´Hope is a precious thing.´

´It is,´ Hershel said, nodding thoughtfully, ´It is. But it killed Jimmy.´

No words could be sufficient after that. After looking at Penny with mild and sad eyes, Hershel left.

OoOoOoO

The schedule Howard had made allowed for a ten minutes farewell to the Pasadena people. Before going to the house, Penny and her men went to say goodbye to Daryl, T-Dog and Andrea, who stood guard.

In the former dining room, now styled the meeting room, the five of them were awaited by the rest of the group. Penny liked the fake smile on Lori's face but Carol's moved expression as well as glasses filled with wine and the fact that Sophia held something behind her back made her feel uncomfortable. She had longed to leave almost from the moment the girl had run into her mother's arms and now the time had come, she felt guilty about that.

´I'd like to propose two toasts,´ Hershel said. ´Here's a toast to loved ones we lost.´

His toast was repeated and everyone took a sip, though Howard, Raj and Leonard, who'd be driving, only did so after being told that the wine had been mixed with water.

´My second toast is to our new friends who are leaving us. They were here but for a few days but they changed our lives.´

Penny stared ahead. Dale pressed her free hand.

´Sheldon, doctor Cooper,´ Hershel said, ´your friend Howard told me that you are brilliant. Today I learned that you have a considerate heart.´

Before Sheldon could reply the farmer moved on.

´Rajesh, you travelled through a country plagued by the undead. It is admirable that you have the positive attitude you have.´

Calling them zombies is a bridge too far, Penny mused, but a least he leaves no doubt that they are a plague.

Raj inclined his head and thanked Hershel.

´Leonard, you told me that when you started your journey, you needed to adjust to this changed world. You succeeded and your example is worth to strive after for an old man like myself.´

Leonard bit his lip. Penny was getting nervous as to what Hershel would bestow on her.

´Howard, at first I dismissed your plan to alter my farm. You made an additional plan to enclose the barn. It will be executed too. Your kindness and excellent ideas will not be forgotten.´

Hershel shifted his gaze from Howard to Penny.

´Penny. You approached my farm, our farm, with an enchanting smile on your face. You proved to be a wise leader. A toast to Sheldon, Rajesh, Leonard, Howard and Penny. May they reach their destination!´

Penny drank before the party had finished applauding and hear hear-ing.

´He is right you know,´ Dale whispered.

´Everyone!´ Carol said through the general chatting. With Dale and Rick's help she got everyone's attention.

´Howard, Penny, Leonard, Raj, Sheldon. I long for the day when we receive a message on the walkie-talkie saying that you safely made it to Penny's farm. You brought me my girl. I can never...´

Carol blinked a few times and swallowed hard.

´Mum and I made you a present. From all of us,´ Sophia came to her mother's aid. She offered Howard a paper bag with a chain of white and yellow flowers around it.

´You can wear that round your neck later on,´ the girl shyly suggested. ´The real present is inside. For all of you.´

It was a loaf of bread. To Penny it was incense, myrrh and gold combined and she was glad that she had agreed to Howard's suggestion.

´This is a true treat,´ Howard said through Raj's Yummy! He looked at Carol and Sophia before eyeing the others as well. ´From all of us: thank you. We would like to hand you a present as well. It is a present for the group but I have a little something for Sophia also and with that I'll start.´

The girl blushed. Howard handed her a tiny booklet. It was one of two personal items he'd been allowed to take with him from Pasadena.

´Your magic tricks...´ Sophia said in awe. ´Thank you!´

Penny loved the girl for valuing Howard's treasured manual for its worth.

When the booklet had been shown to Sophia's mother and others who stood nearby, Howard cleared his throat and from his back-pack he got the group's present. First he placed a head support on the table. While eagerly being watched he attached something to it. With enthusiasm people guessed that it was a hands-free pair of binoculars.

Howard grinned. ´Almost. This is a night vision device running on solar cells.´

Disbelieving as well as excited cries followed his words.

´Are you serious?,´ Glenn asked, ´Don't you need it yourselves?´

Howard shrugged. ´It's our spare one.´

´The walking guard going from Newton's wall to Elrond's to Sagan's to Wolverine's should use it, for that way the device will be most beneficial,´ Sheldon said. ´Names for future walls may be Nightcrawler, Eta Carinae, Spock and WaQ. That's Klingon for obstruct which is what a wall does. I noted down the names in appendix eight of the construction plan.´

Rick, dragging his eyes away from the gift he held in his hands, looked at Hershel, who nodded.

´On behalf of all of us: thank you,´ Rick said.

´You're welcome. Oh, you are referring to the device. You're welcome.´

Laughter, sincere as well as scornful, filled the room and died away.

´When we first got here,´ Penny heard herself say, ´I thought of some of you as Sophia's people while others were farm people. From now on you'll be the Greeneville people to me.´

´Greeneville,´ Sheldon repeated. ´I like the sound of that. It's not Sheldonopolis, but I like it still.´

They drank to Greeneville and chatted a bit. When Howard picked up his back-pack and hung it over his shoulder everyone turned quiet.

´It is time for us to leave,´ Howard said. ´But I see that we all have some wine left...´

OoOoOoO

The gusto with which Howard's final toast had been repeated never failed to make Penny smile, even when she was a wrinkled grey-haired woman.

´L'chaim!´