Chapter 75

That first day went by pretty quietly for the rest of the day, Penny got settled in Leonard's bedroom while her mother got a meal ready, with some help from Leonard, while Wyatt along with Leonard got pillows and other items to make Penny comfy in her new home for the next few weeks. Penny actually remained sort of excited the whole time, she enjoyed being in an actual room instead of the hospital and she liked the whole idea she was going to be sort of living with Leonard. Even when she was left alone in the room a couple times for several minutes, she was fascinated just looking around Leonard's bedroom, his new apartment and bedroom being different, yet the same, from the bedroom she remembered staying in a year ago. The bottom-line being that Penny was happier than she had been in a very long time, she had this feeling that in a way she was home and she hoped that Leonard was feeling the same way.

Penny's feelings had also changed since Leonard first walked into hospital room, after she got over the euphoria of him just being there the first couple of days, a sort of happy comfort now dominated her soul whenever he was around. This good feeling, she had when he was around doing a lot to dispel any worry, she had over the last year that her attraction to Leonard had been based on only the emotion of her circumstance, and that the mental picture she had of him might not have been real. Of course, part of that worry had been fueled by her doctor, Carol had actually raised doubts in Penny's mind, the first half year she was back home, because not only did she suggest her attraction was based on her emotional state then, but her explanation why it was that way actually made sense. So, for the last year part of the reason Penny wanted desperately to see Leonard again was prove Carol wrong, but deep down inside she was always very scared that seeing him would lead only to disappointment in the end.

However, Penny was now completely sure that Carol had been wrong, there was definitely something about Leonard because those feelings that she had felt a year ago were still very real and it made her happy to be just near him. She couldn't help the feeling that some way they were very much in-tune to each other, they could talk to each other for hours and even when they were quiet with each other it was a comfortable happy quiet that gave Penny a feeling of contentment that she never had with any other man. As a matter-of-fact, being with Leonard was totally different than any other man Penny had known, she felt safe with him, she trusted him and somehow she knew he would always be there for her, all these things made Penny wonder if this was what true love was supposed to be like, and so far a little voice inside her just kept saying "YES".

That evening Susan stayed with Penny, Leonard's queen-sized bed making it easy for Susan to lay on it with Penny until Penny fell asleep, Susan then falling asleep next to her. Wyatt and Leonard had been in and out all evening, but Susan never left Penny's side after they had dinner, making the guys clean up after dinner while she spent the evening with her daughter. It still bothered Leonard some that Penny's mother was still trying to monopolize her daughter's time, however it was not as bad as before, his sleeping in the same apartment just short distance away on the couch made it much better that having to leave the hospital each night.

Also, that night Leonard would have not been able to spend much time with Penny anyway, as him and Wyatt had to hurry and put up the rest of the Christmas decorations that night to surprise Penny. Christmas had passed and gone when Penny was in the hospital, add to that what happened with Kurt and there was no real reason to be festive for Penny, Leonard and her parents. That all changed after Penny was scheduled to be released and one thing Leonard, Wyatt and Susan all agreed on was that Penny needed to have her Christmas and she needed to enjoy the season, even if a little late. So, while Susan kept Penny busy, Leonard and Wyatt turned Leonard's apartment into a Christmas wonderland, putting up an artificial tree with presents under it and stringing lights all over the apartment.

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It was about 7AM the next morning that Penny woke up, her still being conditioned to the hospital schedule and the time the nurse would come in to take her vitals then ask her what her breakfast order would be. She was also conditioned to use the bathroom at that time so reluctantly she nudged her mother, knowing it would be safer right now to use her help until she got better moving herself to and from her wheelchair. It did surprise Penny though how quickly her mother woke up and how she woke up with a smile, something she was not use to seeing until her mother had a least one cup of coffee.

"Sorry to wake you mom, but nature calls." Penny said light-heartedly to cover her embarrassment of being an adult having to ask her mother to take he to the bathroom.

Susan just kept smiling, she knew what the guys had been doing the night before and she planned to make a quick check to see that they were ready before Penny left her room. "No problem Sweetie, let me just turn the coffee on and I'll be right back to help you." Susan getting out of bed and throwing her robe on as Penny sat herself up to move to the edge of the bed.

Susan turned to smile at her daughter before she left the room, "I'll be back in a couple seconds."

"Okay." Penny responded as she slid herself to the bed edge.

Susan was out the door and to the kitchen, relieved to see Wyatt and Leonard sitting at the kitchen island, drinking coffee and softly talking. She quickly gave the living room a once over and smiled, "Good job." she whispered, then, "Turn the lights on, I'm taking her to the bathroom in a few seconds." Susan then went back to the bedroom, hearing the stools move in the kitchen as Leonard and Wyatt hurried to turn all the lights on.

Susan popped back in the bedroom, smiling again about the surprise they had planned for Penny. "Hope I didn't make you wait too long."

Penny smiled and shook her head, "No, I don't have to go that bad, but I'm sort of hospital conditioned to go now."

Susan nodded in understanding, "Okay Sweetie, let's get you in the chair and on your way." Susan then helped Penny into her wheel chair, and opened the bedroom door.

Penny's eyes went wide as soon as Susan opened the door, Susan had even missed that there were lights in the hallway, just outside the bedroom, when she went out to make sure the guys were ready, but now that they were lit up, they made the hallway seem like an enchanted tunnel. Penny just stared open mouthed in fascination for several seconds before finally looking up at her mother, "What is this?"

Susan just smiled and rolled Penny quickly into the living room so she could see it all before answering her daughter, "Merry Christmas, Honey." her words being quickly repeated by Wyatt and Leonard as soon as Penny was wheeled in.

Penny just looked on in surprise, the living room covered in Christmas decorations and lights, with a beautiful tree in the corner, just as brightly decorated. "Oh my God." Penny said softly as tears started to slide down her cheeks, her being so moved by everything, her being unable to keep the happy tears from flowing. "It is so beautiful." she added a moment later.

Leonard quickly went to Penny as soon as he saw the tears, Wyatt following him and Susan looking down at her daughter to see the reason for their concern. "Penny are you alright." Leonard asked as he knelt in front of the wheelchair his concern so evident by her crying.

Penny forced a smile and nodded. "It is so beautiful, that you all did this, I love you all so much." and with that, Penny leaned forward so Leonard could hug her.

Things settled down in Leonard's apartment over the next ten minutes, but Penny still couldn't help to look around the apartment every few minutes and tell her parents and Leonard how wonderful they had decorated everything and how much she appreciated it. It was another ten minutes before Penny remembered the reason, she left the bedroom in the first place, reluctantly leaving the living room for the bathroom to accomplish that task as quickly as possible so she could rejoin her family and Leonard again to celebrate their late Christmas together. Penny hadn't been this happy since she had spent Christmas back home in Nebraska, before she left for California with Kurt, which seemed now to be so many years ago.

They all had a large breakfast which included pancakes with whipped cream on them in the shape of Christmas Trees that Leonard had learned how to make while living with Sheldon, after Sheldon had insisted that they would be their regular Christmas breakfast. It was shortly after breakfast, as all of them sat around drinking coffee, that Penny actually moaned over after taking her first sip then embarrassing admitting that it tasted so much better than the hospital coffee that she couldn't help herself, that they brought out the gifts. Wyatt, Susan and Leonard quickly put Penny at ease that she didn't have any gifts for them, with assurances that she could make it up to them next year, Wyatt especially noticing the look between his daughter and Leonard when the reference to 'next year' was brought up. So, with that settled, Wyatt, Susan and Leonard brought out a gift each for Penny, each of them smiling happily as Penny, who always enjoyed getting presents. smiled happily back.

Susan's gift was first opened, it was obviously in a clothes box, but Penny was really surprised when she opened the box and took the items out. Susan knew it was impossible for Penny to wear pajama bottoms with the current cast on her leg and just wearing pajama tops was not the modesty she thought her daughter needed, it was bad enough that she was dressed in those revealing hospital gowns when she was staying there. So, Susan had gotten her long flannel nightshirts that went below her knees to not only keep her warm but provide the modesty she felt her daughter needed while staying in Leonard's home. It was also gratifying that Penny's happy expression on taking out each gown signified she had immediately understood the thought behind each design each gown wore.

Penny picked up the first gown and smiled. "This one with pigs is suppose to be Moondance, right?" her smiling even wider as her mother nodded and smiled.

The second gown had dogs on it which made Penny smile wider as Penny thought about her pet Labrador Retriever. "This is to remind me of Bell." again, getting another smile and nod from her mother.

The third gown made Penny's smile turn to a frown as she looked at her father after holding up the gown covered in horses. "Daddy is Buttercup okay."

Wyatt just smiled, "I checked with the Rodeo after we got settled in and knew you were going to be okay. Your friend and the Rodeo are watching over Buttercup and the Rodeo will be near our farm in about a week and I will pick Buttercup up and bring her home."

Penny's frown turned back into a smile, "Thanks Daddy." then she looked at her mom, "Thanks mom, these are wonderful." both women immediately sharing a hug.

Wyatt gave Penny a large wrapped cardboard box, which made Penny smile as she started to remove the many things inside. The first items being a Nebraska Cornhuskers jersey and a tape of the playoff game for that season, which Penny had missed while being in the hospital. Penny gave her father a look, "Did they win?"

Wyatt just shrugged, "I haven't seen it either and didn't check, so it will be a surprise for both of us."

Penny's smile got larger, "That will be great, thanks Daddy."

Leonard was watching this exchange between father and daughter with some confusion, finally unable to contain his curiosity any longer, "The Cornhusker are a sports team, right?"

Wyatt, Susan and Penny looked at him in surprise before they all chuckled, finally Penny giving him a warm smile, "Yes Sweetie, they are a football team." She then leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, "You can watch the game with us if you want."

It only took a second for Leonard to know he wanted to watch the game, not so much that he in anyway enjoyed football, but because he would be spending time with Penny, "Sure that sounds okay."

Penny smiled back at him, obviously pleased with his answer, before looking back into the box her father gave her, "What else is in here." Penny then removed some paper and exposed the rest of the contents. "Oh my God, Daddy what did you buy."

Wyatt chuckled, "Every snack you like, of course. You can't watch football without snacks."

"There are enough snacks here for ten football games." Penny exclaimed as she started to remove some of the packages, stopping to hold up big bag of chocolate bars.

Susan chuckled, "Or for a couple days this month."

"MOM!" Penny quickly responded while turning a shade of red.

Leonard wasn't actually sure what Penny's mother meant, but it was obviously very embarrassing to Penny, so he figured it was something private or a girl thing. So, he just joked, "That is a lot of chocolate."

Penny now looked at him in shock, thinking he was making reference to her monthly period, "LEONARD!"

Leonard's eyes went wide in surprise, "What? Did I saw something wrong?"

Penny now suspected that Leonard didn't have an idea what they were talking about, which made her start laughing, which then made her parents started laughing. Leonard in the mean time looked bewildered and confused. "You said nothing wrong, Sweetie." Penny finally told him while kissing his cheek again for assurance.

Penny finally took Leonard's gift; it was smaller than her parents but it was heavy for its size. "I hope this will give you something to do over the next month when you get bored." Leonard told her while handing it to her.

Penny's mind had no reason to go there but she had been thinking about sex some ever since she got comfortable in Leonard's bed, so now she looked at Leonard with a little surprise and fear as she thought batteries are heavy. "Leonard?" she asked with concern.

Leonard had no idea what Penny was thinking as he continued on, "It really didn't cost too much because I got it on an after Christmas sale and I really thing you will like it and get a lot of use out of it. Plus, once you turn it on it will be hard to turn off because you will get so much enjoyment out of it, you may even replace me with it." Leonard said the last part with a chuckle before adding. "The batteries also last a long time."

Penny just stared at him in silence, before she finally asked, "You want me to open this now?"

Leonard just nodded, a little confused expression on his face, "Yeah, sure."

Penny again stared at him, then looked at her parents, before slowly looking at the nicely wrapped package. She swallowed hard, then slowly started to very carefully tear the wrapping paper off the package, which seemed weird since she had quickly torn the paper off the previous two packages in her excitement. It was when she got the paper off the top of the package that she could finally see by the box cover what her gift was and she just sat there staring at it quietly for several seconds.

Susan had noticed Penny's slowness in opening the package and now her quietness concerned her, "Penny, Honey, is something wrong."

Penny looked at her mother with a blank expression on her face before seeming to shake her head clear and smiling. "No nothing is wrong." Penny then held up Leonard's gift to show everyone, "Its an iPad, Leonard got me an iPad."

Penny then turned to Leonard and reached out for a hug, telling him immediately after being in his arms, "Thank you Sweetie." while scolding herself that she ever thought that Leonard had bought her a vibrator.

The rest of the evening was very pleasant, they had a nice turkey dinner and then watched the football game, it being a real close game with the Cornhuskers finally making the winning touchdown in the last two minutes of the game. Penny and Wyatt being completely worn out by time the game was over, Leonard finding Penny's enthusiasm extremely cute the whole game. They all rounded out the night with a Christmas movie and hot chocolate, the movie allowing both Penny and Wyatt to wind down after the game and allowing Penny to snuggle into Leonard on the couch while she mindlessly enjoyed being close to him before going to bed that night, again with her mother by her side.

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The next day Leonard drove Wyatt to the airport, he had not wanted to really leave Penny, but it was decided that he would do it because he was the most familiar with traveling to the airport and Susan preferred to be the one to stay with Penny. Leonard had made no objections since he actually liked Wyatt a lot and felt Penny's father and him had an understanding about Leonard's relationship with his daughter, an understanding that also included Wyatt's blessing for Leonard being her boyfriend. That understanding between him and Wyatt had been causing Leonard a lot of guilt since the incident with Kurt in the elevator, he had never told Penny or her parents what happened and with each passing day he felt that he was deceiving them.

Wyatt had asked Leonard to take him to the airport early, inferring he didn't want to take a chance on missing his plane, but really wanting to get there early enough to sit with Leonard for a short while and discuss a few things with him. The biggest item Wyatt needed to discuss with Leonard was also the most touchiest, his wife Susan, although talking about his wife to a non-family member was weird, he thought he owed it to Leonard to help him survive his wife since he would be living with her and Penny for the next month. So when they arrived at the airport, almost three hours early, Wyatt suggested Leonard and him sit for some coffee as soon as he checked in his luggage and got his boarding pass, and it was when they were both settled at a table, each with the hot liquid in a cup in front of them that Wyatt began to talk.

"Leonard, have you heard of the saying 'A son is a son until he takes a wife. A daughter is daughter all of her life.'?" Wyatt began.

Leonard just nodded while looking at Wyatt.

"Well son, that expression was invented specifically for my wife Susan." Wyatt explained. "Penny will always be her daughter and she will always do what she thinks is good for her, no matter what anyone says, even her husband."

Leonard looked at Wyatt confused, "Do you mean you or Penny's future husband?"

Wyatt just nodded, "Exactly."

"Oh" Leonard replied.

"So, I guess what I'm leading to is that you have to give her time to get used to what is happening otherwise she is going to fight you all the way. My wife is a good woman son, she just takes some time to get used to, so again just give her time, she will come around." Wyatt picked up his coffee and took a drink, the whole-time watching Leonard digest what he just told him.

Leonard thought for a few seconds, then nodded, "Okay."

Wyatt smiled and nodded, "Okay."

Wyatt talking to him so honestly made Leonard feel guilty at what he was hiding from him, Penny and even Susan. He hadn't been able to shut out the guilt he had about what happened to Kurt, even though the man had tried to kill him, he couldn't help thinking that he had caused the whole problem and his actions caused Kurt's death. Even though it protected Penny once and for all from Kurt and Kurt did bring the situation on himself, Leonard's guilt about how it was him that may have set everything in motion, was eating on him and made the need for him to confess to everyone it impacted. Therefore, being alone now with Wyatt seemed like it was meant for him to finally confess.

"Umm...Wyatt can I tell you something?" Leonard softly asked.

Wyatt was a little confused at Leonard's sudden change and he was wondering if Leonard was going to tell him something that was going to make it difficult for him, Penny and Susan over the next month. "Yes, go ahead son."

Leonard looked around to make sure no one was really paying attention to them, then opened his jacket and hoody before lifting up his T-shirt just enough that Wyatt could see the bandages on his side and on the inside of his arm. Leonard then silently watched as surprise, confusion and then curiosity about what was going on all crossed Wyatt's face. Leonard then pulled his shirt back down and took his coffee up and took a drink to buy him a little time before looking back up to Wyatt to start to explain. "Kurt shot me."

It was like Leonard just slapped him across the face, the shock was just as extreme, "Kurt shot you!"

Leonard nodded, then began his story about his idea to confront Kurt, the elevator, Kurt's gun and the Police. Wyatt never said a thing so Leonard just continued until he was done, explaining finally how he go treated and then came back to the room after the Police had taken his statement. He then sat silently, taking another drink of coffee as he waited to find out how Penny's father thought about him now and if he made the biggest mistake of his life.

Wyatt tried to take in and understand what Leonard had just told him and as he did, he knew he needed to ask Leonard one question. "Why did you do that son?"

Leonard put his coffee down and took in a breath, "I thought if I could get Kurt to hit me, the police would arrest him for assault and then at least he would go to jail, no matter what happened that day."

Wyatt now understood, "Because that Police Officer told us he wasn't positive Kurt would go to jail for blackmailing Penny."

Leonard nodded, "I just never thought he would have a gun."

Wyatt shook his head, "Leonard he could have still killed you without the gun."

Leonard nodded, "I knew things could have been bad even if when I though he was going to just hit me, I knew it was a risk, but I thought it was worth it for Penny. I just never thought about a gun."

Wyatt looked at him and wondered if Leonard knew there was a chance for a gun, would he have really not done anything, he wasn't sure. Wyatt sighed, "Leonard, you are a smart man, much smarter and much more honest than any other man I have seen Penny with before and I like that about you, but if you do something like that again I'm going to have to ask you not to see my daughter anymore."

Leonard sadly nodded, "I'm sorry."

Wyatt nodded, "We understand each other then."

Leonard nodded again, "Yes sir."

"Okay, now I want you to listen closely." Wyatt watched as Leonard gave him his full attention and nodded. "Son, never tell my wife what you just told me, I will tell her if I think it is the right time, only me, understand." Wyatt watched until Leonard nodded before he continued. "Also, don't tell Penny until much later, if ever. It is something she doesn't need to know now, maybe later, but not now. She has gone through a lot over the last year and she doesn't need to know that you almost got yourself killed to try to help her, understand."

Leonard nodded saying again, "I'm sorry."

Wyatt nodded, "Well there is nothing that can be changed now, just do what I said about Susan and Penny and it will probably pass, but remember if you do anything like that again we will be having a serious talk about you and my daughter."

Leonard nodded, "I understand."

Wyatt looked at his watch, "Well it has been over an hour and the security lines are long so I better get going before I'm late for my plane." Wyatt then drank down the rest of his coffee and stood up, offering Leonard his hand.

Leonard shook Wyatt's hand, "I could..."

Wyatt shook his head, "I'm fine to find my plane. You get back to my daughter and take care of her for me. Also, take care of my wife, just try to see her side of it and understand, she will come around."

Leonard nodded, "Thanks Wyatt."

Wyatt nodded, "Tell Susan I'll call after I get home. Good-bye Leonard."

"Good-bye Wyatt." Leonard then walked a short distance with Wyatt towards security before shaking his hand again then watching as Wyatt disappeared in the crowd heading to the gates.

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The drive home for Leonard went by in a blur, it was like the car knew the way home because Leonard's mind was not on the drive but what had happened over the last week. He felt better that he had told Wyatt what had happened but he also felt bad because he now knew he had done something very stupid, Wyatt making it finally clear to him that he had made the wrong choice in what he did. He had been so concerned about protecting Penny that he never thought what Penny would feel if something really bad happened to him or he even died, he could have hurt her worse then Kurt ever would and it made him realize how really stupid he really had been.

Leonard was still thinking about his conversation with Wyatt when he put the key in his apartment door to open it up and he was through the subject door before he actually could get his mind back to noticing things around him. He actually forced himself out of his thoughts so that he could interface with Susan and then go back and see Penny but instead was surprised to see two people on his couch that he never expected to see.

"Raj, Tina, what are you doing here?"

Raj, who had a bottle of beer in his hand, jumped up from the couch, "Leonard, dude, who would have thought you had dated Shirley's roommate." Tina just sat quietly on the couch looking at Leonard with the curiosity of somebody watching a condemned man.