Quantum Darkness

Standard disclaimer: I own nothing associated with The Big Bang Theory. Characters are borrowed with loving respect.

This is a story that explores why Leonard moved from New Jersey to California and what demons he faced upon arrival.

Chapter 1

Valentine's Day – 11:35 P.M.

Penny snuggled in close to Leonard and relished in the warmth of his body. She tilted her head up to him and smiled as she asked him, "Will you tell me about the reason you were in the University's childcare facility the other day?" She felt him tense up but slowly his body relaxed under her and he began to lightly scratch her back. Just the week before, she had dropped by his office to ask if she could join him for lunch but he had not been there. When she had gone to the cafeteria to see if he was there, she did not find him but a friend of Alex's; Sheldon's assistant; had suggested she look in the daycare. Sure enough, she had found him and he had been engrossed in reading a story to the children. She had left without saying anything, but he later admitted that he knew she had been there watching him. He had assured her there was nothing untoward about him being there and she wanted to believe him; but there was a story behind his actions and she needed to know.

"That's a long and sordid story; are you sure you want to know?" he asked.

She nuzzled her head back down and purred as his fingers raked over her back; she was in a state of extreme relaxation. "I know that it probably has something to do with Clara…" she started. Over the past few months, Penny had come to learn of the girl, Clara, that had been the one to initiate Leonard into the ranks of adulthood; she had been both his first serious relationship and the girl that had taken his virginity. "…and if it's too uncomfortable to talk about…"

"No. It's not that," he interrupted, "It's just that… Penny, there are some things about me that may shock you; even make you reconsider the way you feel about me." She felt his body quiver and she wrapped her arm around his mid-section in an attempt to pull him closer and calm him down.

"There is nothing," she assured him, "that could change the way I feel about you." She chuckled, "Unless you tell me that you're a mass-murderer," she joked. She did not hear him laugh and she looked up at this face. It had a solemn expression on it. "Leonard."

"Not mass. I'm not a mass murderer." He closed his eyes and steadied himself to tell the story.

****** Just a short introduction to bridge from my "M" rated story The Square Root of Christmas to more un-adult back story.