Chapter 12

Leonard was sitting up in bed and conversing with his brother Michael, who sat in a chair beside him. "... and that is the story to date" Leonard said.

"It sounds like they are tilting at windmills," Michael said. "On the level, Leonard; they are tilting at windmills?"

"Yes, Larry was alive when he left my lab; confused but alive." Leonard leaned forward, "They said they found his body, but they wouldn't tell me where. The University's insurance company refused to pay out on his life insurance policy; saying that he was missing, not deceased. Even after the seven-year time period to declare him officially dead, the FBI claimed that the case was still open and they have yet to pay out on the policy."

"I have a thought about that, but I'll need you to play along." Michael was about to continue his thought when the door opened and Agent McQuirk entered.

"Mr. Hofstader," he started and then saw Michael and stopped speaking.

"That is Dr. Hofstader when you address my client," Michael said in a flat tone.

"And you are?" the agent asked.

"I am Dr. Hofstader's council," he stated succinctly.

"For someone who protests so vehemently that he is innocent, it is interesting that you have retained council."

"He's my brother, asshole," Leonard spat at the agent.

"His brother and legal council; but on to business, Dr. Hofstader informs me that you blurted out in front of the victim's daughter that Dr. Dereveaux's body had been found. We would like disclosure on the circumstances of the discovery and access to the body for an independent autopsy."

"That is out of the question," McQuirk rebutted. "There is no cause for discovery; your client has not been charged.

"So, if I have this straight; the Federal Bureau of Investigation bugged his office, lab, home and girlfriend's home without obtaining warrants, then shoots him and instead of taking him to the hospital abducts him and his friends. Then you drop the bombshell of the discovery of Dr. Devereaux's body in front of his daughter with such delicacy," Michael said with sarcasm. "Do you deny any of these facts?"

"My agents were not acting on behalf of the agency; they are being dealt with decisively."

"Do you deny the facts?" Michael reiterated.

"No, I don't deny the facts." McQuirk bristled.

"Mr. McQuirk, is my brother under arrest for the murder of Larry Devereaux?" Michael asked. He looked over and saw Leonard blanch.

"No; not at this time. We are still collecting evidence." McQuirk replied.

"Then I will ask that you leave. My brother needs his rest. He is still recuperating from the attempted murder, torture and beating by your agents." McQuirk just blinked at him and backed out of the room.

As soon as the door had closed behind McQuirk, Leonard burst into laughter. "Did you see the look on his face?"

"He is a typical bureaucrat. He's lost touch with fieldwork and has no control over the agents under his command. He's just as lost as the agents. I am going to leave you for a while." He removed a device from his jacket pocket and pressed a button. "I am going to the office of a friend and ask his staff to transcribe this," indicating the device, "and then I'll deliver a copy of the transcript to the insurance company. If they refuse to release the funds to Eva based on this evidence, I will have my friend file documents with the court in an effort to have them release the funds."

"Thank you, Michael, Eva really could use that money for her and Anthony." Leonard said.

"And maybe you can finally quit supporting her financially," Michael said with a smirk.

"How did you..." Leonard said meekly.

"I know you; and Mother mentioned that you were living in squalor..." he saw a cloud pass over Leonard's face, "...her words; not mine."

"I am doing fine," Leonard protested.

"But not as well as you should be with Aunt Thelma Joyce's bequest."

"I've put that aside for the future; I am happy with my life as it is. That money is for my family."

"And Eva and Isybol; they are family?" Michael asked.

"Yes; they are family." His face became somber. "I love them, Michael. They are the world to me."

Michael sat back down in the chair beside Leonard's bed. "I am so proud of you Leonard; and jealous." Leonard stared at him. "Beverly was not a good mother," he stated as fact. "I can't tell you how many times I have wished that we had been raised by someone..." he trailed off.

"Hey," Leonard soothed, "Mother loved us in her own unique kind of way."

"I wouldn't like to try and prove that in a court of law…," Michael smirked, "But I know what you are saying. The rest of her family; Aunt Thelma and Uncle Robert; they were so kind and loving. I don't know what could have happened to her?"

"That's the age-old question; nature versus nurture. We may never know. But it looks like your fiancé has finally broken Beverly's spell over you." Leonard gave him an encouraging smile.

"She's working at it; I'm afraid she has a lot of work left ahead of her," Michael returned the smile. "One day at a time."

Michael had left to take care of the insurance problem and Leonard had just settled back to rest his eyes when the door flew open. Sheldon came barging into the room.

"So it's true," Sheldon said without preface. "Amy said you had been hurt on your little romantic getaway with Penny. What did she do; ride you in coitus until she broke you?"

Leonard was stunned. Evidently Amy had brokered some lie upon Sheldon to explain his hospitalization; should he play along? Amy was not the person that he had been led to believe, but did that necessitate his destroying the only happiness that his friend seemed to count upon? No, he would perpetuate the lie also.

"No, she didn't break me during coitus. It happened when we stopped on the way back. We had pulled over on the side of the road… to rest for a while and I ended up accidentally breaking a rib and getting a few contusions. They brought me here just as a precaution." Leonard tried to stay as vague as possible. "You didn't need to come down; I know you hate hospitals."

"Well, I wish you would tell Amy that; she insisted I come here with her. Penny called her to tell her you were here." Sheldon explained.

'Like hell she did' Leonard thought. "Well you can tell Amy that you came. You have my blessing to leave." Leonard closed his eyes and wished him to leave.

"Where is Penny?" Sheldon asked. "Do you not have it in your relationship agreement that she has to take care of you when you are sick and/or injured?"

"You know full well that we don't have a relationship agreement; but for your information I sent her home to get some sleep and shower. She should be back this afternoon to give me a ride home; when I am released," Leonard explained. The door opened. Eva and Isybol walked in and Sheldon turned to see them before they could back out into the hall. "Sheldon, you may remember…"

"Eva Devereaux," Sheldon said with surprise.

"Hello Sheldon," Eva said, "Long time; no see."

"Eight years three months and 4 days," Sheldon specified. "What are you doing here?"

"Eva is a friend," Leonard jumped in, "I met her when she was visiting her mother at work one day. Samantha and her husband were friends of mine; before I met you, Howard and Raj. Eva and I have kept in touch over the years."

"Eva," Sheldon said quietly, "I was sorry about your mother… she was… she was a good physicist. I miss working with her."

Leonard was taken aback. Eva was stunned into silence for a moment but quickly recovered. "You never told her that. You didn't come to her funeral. How can you say something like that?" Eva burst out.

"I don't go to funerals and she knew that I…" Sheldon started.

"She thought you hated her. I would hear her in her study at night when she thought I was asleep. She would cry and ask herself over and over where my dad might be or pray aloud that God would change you and make her work environment better so she wouldn't hate going to work. When it got too much to handle; she would call Leonard and talk to him for hours."

Sheldon turned his head to stare at Leonard. "You were close friends with Samantha?"

"Yes," Leonard said succinctly. "We were close friends."

"Were you having coitus?"

"No," Leonard said sternly and looked to Eva, whose face had turned a bright shade of red. Eva lunged forward and pushed Sheldon so hard that he staggered and landed hard on top of Leonard. Leonard screamed in pain and Sheldon struggled to his feet.

"It was her fault," he said pointing toward Eva.

"Bastard, how can you talk about my mother like that?" Eva hissed.

"Eva, please; he doesn't know any better." Leonard tried to calm her as Sheldon stood up.

"I apologize," Sheldon said as everyone in the room looked on in shock, "Your mother was a brilliant physicist. I miss her at work every day."

"Thank you," Eva said in a shell-shocked manner and then continued a bit more composed, "She always said you were brilliant, if a bit eccentric." She stepped forward and hugged Sheldon. He stood there frozen in place but slowly raised his arms to embrace her.

"There, there," he said and paused. "I have…" he stopped and stood away from her.

"You have what?" she asked.

"A work journal that your mother was keeping at the time of her passing; it is just theoretical notes on some projects we were working on together but if you want to…" he fell silent.

"I would love to see them. I might not understand them; but I would love to see them." She lowered her eyes and Leonard could see tears starting to fall down her cheeks.

A week had passed since Leonard had been released from the hospital and things had returned to normal in apartment 4A. The guys had gotten back in to their routines and Penny was perpetuating the façade that nothing had changed. Amy was 'at a neuroscience conference' in Washington, D.C. and Isybol was staying with Eva and her son while she looked for a more permanent place to live.

"I heard from Amy today," Sheldon said. "She said that the conference was getting boring and that she may leave a few days early to come home." Penny and Leonard looked at each other with a knowing smile.

"That's great," Leonard said. "I know you'll be happy to see her."

Leonard pondered the events of the last week. His brother Michael had been in Washington to keep tabs on what was being done to rectify the situation. He had reported that both Agent Hale and Agent Fowler had been terminated from the employ of the Bureau and sanctioned. Hale had been charged formally with 'Use of Excessive Force' and 'Unlawful Detention of an American Citizen'. Amy had not been formally charged with any crimes and had been released to return to California. Michael had made it very clear that if it ever came to his attention that she had returned to work for the Bureau or any other agency for the Federal government that he would pursue civil action against her and the Bureau. Michael had negotiated a financial deal with the Bureau for a vast amount of money and Leonard had instructed him to divide it between a College fund for Eva's son and a retirement account for Isybol. Michael had tried to convince him to put some of it in for his savings but Leonard had persisted and Penny had agreed with him.

For Penny's part, Leonard had brought her up to speed on what had transpired with Larry and Samantha all those years ago.

~ Flashback ~

Penny helped Leonard out of the wheelchair and into her car. The doctor had finally agreed to allow him to be discharged from the hospital whit explicit demands that he not return to work or do anything at all but sleep and rest for the next three days.

Leonard grunted as he slid into the passenger's seat and Penny grimaced at his discomfort. "Are you okay sweetie?" she asked as she placed the back of her hand on his forehead. Leonard chuckled. "I know; stop laughing. I know your pain has nothing to do with a temperature, but it's the only thing I could think of to do."

"You are doing everything perfectly. Thank you…" A tear slid down his cheek. "… for taking care of me." She quickly turned her head so he didn't see her mist up and quickly darted to the driver's side and got behind the wheel. She pulled out of the loading zone and merged with traffic. "Let's not go straight home," Leonard said as he took out his cell phone. "Turn right on Clairmont; let's go to the food court at the mall."

"Okay" Penny replied as she maneuvered into the right lane. "Can I ask why?"

"Hold that thought" Leonard said as he turned his attention to the phone. "Eva, is Izzie there with you?" He paused. "Good, can y'all meet me and Penny at the mall food court as soon as you can… yeah bring him, he'll be fine… see you there." He hung up the phone and turned his attention back to Penny. Eva and Izzie will meet us there." She just gave him a quick quizzical look. "I want to finish the story I've been telling you and it would be best if all the parties involved are there. And there needs to be somewhere that I can be relatively sure we are not being eavesdropped on."

She reached over and placed her hand on his thigh. She knew this was going to be difficult for him, but she also knew that he needed to tell them so that he was not bearing the load all on his own. She smiled to herself as she said "I love you, Leonard" because she knew without a doubt that it was not just three little words but a truth that she knew penetrated to the very core of her soul.