Hello everyone! I'm so sorry for the long wait - I'm trying not to be such a perfectionist when writing and hopefully this chapter was worth the wait. The truth finally comes out and the angst begins, and the action's going to start to pick up from here. Also, one thing I forgot to mention - there are some references to my other fic 'Through Thick and Thin' in this story, but you don't need to read that fic in order to understand what's going on here.

I'd also like to thank all the readers out there - you guys are amazing, lovely people. I'd also like to give a special "thank you" to HawksFan12, artgirl657, and asta-may for their encouragement. This chapter is for you guys.^^

4. Truths and Wounds

30 April, 1990

In a way, Penny was relieved that the truth finally came out in the manner it did. She knew Quimby was growing impatient and had even offered to talk with Gadget himself so as to spare Penny the difficult conversation. She had flatly refused, knowing that her uncle deserved to hear the truth from her.

It was Monday evening and they were in the kitchen cleaning up after supper. Penny could feel Gadget's eyes on her as she wiped down the glasses and put them back in the cupboard. She knew that her uncle was worried about her; while Gadget was normally blissfully unaware of most things around him, Penny had learned over the years that he could be uncannily perceptive when it came to her own wellbeing.

As she reached up to put a glass in the cupboard (she really wished she had inherited some of her uncle's height) her bruised left side twinged sharply. Penny gasped and quickly set the glass down before she dropped it, wincing and wrapping an arm around her side before she could stop herself.

"Penny?" Gadget's concerned voice came from behind her. "What is it? Are you alright?" Penny quickly turned around, forcing her arm down and taking a deep breath, trying to hide another wince. She was starting to wonder if maybe she had injured her ribs more than just some bruises.

"I'm fine, Uncle," she began, trying to step away but staggering a bit. Gadget's arms immediately went around her torso to steady her but he froze in shock when Penny gasped and tensed in his arms.

Gadget instantly released her, confused and now desperately worried. "What? What's wrong? Did I hurt you? Penny, I'm sorry…" The stricken expression on his face immediately made Penny forget about her own worries as she tried to reassure him. "No, it's fine...it wasn't you…"

She stopped when she noticed his stare. Penny followed his gaze and realized that there were a few blood drops against her white t-shirt. One of the scrapes must have reopened when she stretched to put the glass away, she realized with a sinking feeling.

Gadget stepped forward again, this time purposefully, and wrapped an arm around her waist as he gently pulled her back towards him. Penny halfheartedly tried to pull away but knew there was no way she could break his grip. His touch was careful despite the firmness with which he held her. He lifted up her t-shirt enough so that he could see her left rib cage. Penny closed her eyes as she heard him draw in a sharp breath as he took in the dark, ugly bruising and scraped skin.

"Penny, what happened?" The tone of his voice made her shiver. He didn't sound angry but there was a steely tone that she had heard only once before from him. And that time had been when another cyborg had nearly killed her in front of Gadget.

"I…I'm fine," she said, hating the worry and fear in his eyes. "Uncle, really, it's okay…"

He didn't answer, instead pulling out a chair and gently nudging Penny towards it. She sank down onto the chair, in some ways relieved that it had finally come out like this. No more hiding. Gadget knelt in front of her and placed a hand on her knee, the familiar feel of soft leather easing some of the tension she felt.

"What happened, Penny?" he repeated. "And don't tell me you fell off your bike." His expression was serious and Penny glanced away, struggling how to explain not just her injury, but the past seven years to him. She took a deep breath and finally met those intense platinum-grey eyes again.

"Uncle, do you remember that time when I was thirteen and…" she paused, flushing as the memory of that particular day flashed through her mind. "And I was...er, sick and you found me in the bathroom?"

Gadget's intense expression softened. "Yes," he said quietly. "You were in so much pain then. I was so worried," he added, reaching up to push a strand of hair behind her ear. His brow furrowed. "Is that why you've been so quiet these past few weeks? Do you need to see a doctor about...well…" he stopped and blushed a bit.

She shook her head. "No, Uncle." Oh, why was this so hard? "Do you remember what you asked me to promise you back then? That I wouldn't keep anything from you?"

Gadget nodded, confusion clouding his face. "Yes, but what does that have to do with…"

"I lied," Penny whispered.

"What are you talking about?"

"This," she said, gesturing to her side, "was from a fall, but not from my bike. I followed you on your latest mission, Uncle. On all of them."

Gadget's entire frame went rigid, his hand slipping away from her knee. "Excuse me?" he said, staring at Penny with a blank expression. Brain, who had been listening from the kitchen entryway the whole time, whined softly as he looked between his two humans anxiously.

Penny pressed on, the words suddenly tumbling out like a stream now that the truth was finally out. "I've always been there, Uncle. All those cases...I only wanted to help…"

Gadget's face was now white as he stood. "What?" he said hoarsely. Penny also stood, holding onto the back of the chair for support. Her side still twinged but Penny hardly noticed; her uncle was still staring at her and his lack of emotion was starting to deeply unnerve her.

"Your cases, Uncle Gadget...it was me and Brain. I, we...we were the ones who…" she fumbled, unwillingly to say the words out loud.

"Who solved them?" he finished for her. She nodded and watched as a devastated expression came over his face. "Uncle Gadget, I only wanted to keep you safe. I never cared about the credit. Please believe that," she implored.

He was still staring at her. "Uncle? Uncle, please say something."

Gadget stared at his niece for a moment longer before swallowing hard and running a hand down his face. "Does Chief Quimby know?"

"He's had suspicions for a while now, but I promise you, Uncle, he didn't know for certain until a few weeks ago."

Gadget nodded slowly. "How…" He drew in a deep breath as though he were trying to force the words out. "How long have you been…"

Penny knew this was the worst part but it was too late to turn back now. No more lies and secrets between them. "Since I was ten," she said as gently as she could.

Gadget made a strangled noise and quickly turned around, gripping the counter tightly. His entire frame was coiled with tension and there was a moment of heavy silence before Gadget spoke again.

"Were you ever going to tell me?" he asked, his voice still carrying that flat tone that made Penny's gut clench with worry.

"I…" she hesitated, unsure how to answer that question. "I don't know, Uncle," she whispered.

"And what if you got hurt again?" Gadget turned around, fixing her with an uncharacteristically sharp look. "Would you rather I found out when you were in a hospital bed, or worse?" he bit out.

Penny winced. She had never thought of that particular scenario. "Uncle, please don't be embarrassed! We only wanted to help!"

"I don't need help from a child!" he snapped.

Penny frowned, bristling at his tone. "I'm not a little girl anymore, Uncle! And yes, you did need help!"

"Well perhaps I don't want help, especially not from you!"

If Gadget had struck her he couldn't have hurt his niece more. Penny's eyes widened and she took a step back, stunned at the harshness in his voice. Gadget seemed just as shocked by his outburst. They stood staring at each other, both shaken. They had never argued before, not like this. Penny felt her eyes burn and she quickly turned around before any tears could escape. Her breath hitched despite her best efforts to remain calm.

"Penny…" Gadget's voice came from behind her, the harsh tone gone. She felt his gloved hand on her trembling shoulder. "Sweetheart…" his voice sounded unsteady.

The familiar endearment only made her eyes blur more. Swallowing hard, Penny turned around, shying away from his touch. She didn't miss the hurt that flickered in Gadget's eyes when she moved away from him but couldn't focus on that. Penny didn't believe in throwing words around just to hurt others - that wasn't how she had been raised and she was afraid of what she might say next if she stayed any longer.

"I'm going for a walk," she said shortly, hating that she couldn't stop her voice from trembling. "Come on, Brain." Brain obediently stood and followed Penny towards the front door.

"Penny, wait!" Gadget's voice sounded desperate and she stopped and looked over her shoulder at him. They stared at each other, a distance between them that had never been there before.

"I don't want to fight, Uncle. I...I just need to be alone right now. I'm only going around the block."

She made sure she had her house key before opening the door. Penny paused on the threshold as she suddenly remembered something her uncle had once told her when she had been small and frightened of being left alone. She had been about five and had begged her uncle not to go to work, not to leave her alone.

"I'll always come back to you, Penny!" he had said with his usual cheerful confidence. "You'll never be alone so long as Inspector Gadget is around!"

That memory seemed so long ago, back when things were simple and happy. As upset and shaken as she was, Penny didn't want to leave with this ugly thing hanging over them.

"I'll come back to you, I promise," she said softly, hoping her meaning was clear. Gadget's panicked expression eased somewhat. He looked as though he wanted to say something more but just nodded his head.

Penny closed the door softly behind her, leaving Gadget alone with his thoughts.

After Penny and Brain had gone Gadget fumbled for a chair and nearly fell into it. The chair wobbled under his weight but he ignored it. Shock was thrumming through his entire body, making his hands shake. All this time, all these years…and he hadn't known. Would never have known at all if he hadn't spotted Penny's injury.

Gadget's head throbbed with the now-familiar signs of an impending headache. Wincing, he leaned forward and rested his face in his hands, rubbing at his temples. Thoughts and memories - blurred images and voices - were crowding in his mind, setting off clamors of noise and increasing the tension pounding in his skull.

The pain made him restless and he stood and paced frantically, suddenly feeling like his very skin was crawling (which was odd given that his skin was mostly synthetic). He needed to do something. He needed answers.

Gadget grabbed his coat and hat and rushed towards the garage but stopped when he realized that Penny wouldn't know where he had gone. He went into the kitchen and snatched up a pen to write a note on the pad that hung on the refrigerator. He stared at the paper for a moment, wanting to say so many things to his niece, and finally scrawled a few words down before darting towards the garage.

It was late by the time he pulled into the station. Only a few officers were still in the office at this hour and they shot Gadget uneasy glances as he rushed past them and downstairs towards the records room. The bored young patrolman that was on desk duty straightened as Gadget strode past him and towards the door.

"Sir? Sir! Sir, you can't go in there...those are classified…" the young man began, standing to block Gadget's path.

"Step aside, Constable," Gadget snapped impatiently.

"With all due respect, sir, Chief Quimby said-"

Gadget stopped and drew himself up to his full, impressive height. "I said, step aside, Constable. That's an order," Gadget said in a low, dangerous tone, his platinum-grey eyes flashing.

The younger man gulped. "Yes, sir," he muttered, quickly stepping aside and unlocking the door before returning to his desk.

Gadget opened the door and closed it again, scouring the shelves as he searched for his case files. He craned his neck up to reach the highest shelf and spotted what he needed. He snatched the box and set it on one of the tables, yanking out the first folder he saw. He flipped through it, the receptors in his bionic eyes reading at three times the speed a normal human could.

Images and words flashed in front of his eyes. Fighting back a feeling of nausea, Gadget grabbed another file, and then another, and then more. As he read the reports panic like he had never felt before rose up in his chest, threatening to rob him of breath.

No, he thought in growing horror. No no no!

All this time, for years, his niece had been putting herself in danger for him, just to protect him…

Gadget's mind raced and he suddenly recalled with vivid detail the bruised injury Penny sported on her rib cage. What other injuries had she suffered over the years thanks to M.A.D. and had never told him? His head throbbed again, this time with a pain so sharp that his vision blurred. He stood up, rushing out of the room and towards the nearest bathroom. Thankfully it was empty due to the late hour. He barely made it in time before he was violently sick in one of the toilets. Gadget gripped the porcelain so tightly that cracks appeared but he didn't notice. All he could think about was the awful truth he had just learned.

'I'm sorry, Penny! I was supposed to protect you, not the other way around!'

Dimly he was aware of the bathroom door opening and then closing again. "Gadget? Are you in there?" Quimby's voice echoed through the bathroom as his footsteps approached the stall Gadget was kneeling at.

"Gadget? You alright?"

"Headache," he mumbled, finally managing to raise his head and flush the toilet. He blinked blearily up at Quimby.

"Must be one hell of a headache," the older man grunted, chewing on his pipe. Quimby's worn blue eyes studied Gadget, taking in his disheveled appearance and mussed hair. "Penny told you, didn't she?

Gadget nodded and stood, staggering over to the sink to wash his face and hands. He stared at the running water as he leaned against the counter. "Did you know?" he asked in a hoarse voice. He believed Penny (how could he not, Gadget thought with another lance of pain through his heart, when he had been so blind for so long?) but needed to hear the truth from the chief. He saw Quimby's reflection shake his head.

"No. I've had my suspicions for a few years now, but I didn't have any solid proof until a few weeks ago."

Gadget nodded, swallowing as he shut off the water and dried his face. Quimby sighed heavily before speaking again. "You know what has to happen next. I'm sorry, Gadget."

Retirement. Gadget wasn't surprised and he didn't blame Quimby. Trust between police officers was crucial - if you couldn't trust the men and women you worked with you were as good as dead. He nodded again, pinching the bridge of his nose. His head was still pounding.

Quimby watched him for another moment before gesturing to the younger man. "Come on, let's go to my office and talk. You look like you could use some coffee."

Gadget wordlessly followed the chief back upstairs and into his office. Quimby shut and locked the door and gave Gadget a light push towards the nearest chair before sitting behind his desk.

"Gadget, I know this is a lot to take in, but try not to worry," said Quimby. He paused and then added, "I know you're worried about your reputation-"

To his shock Gadget suddenly stood up so quickly that he knocked his chair over. "To hell with my reputation!" Gadget slammed his fist on Quimby's desk as he spoke, causing the oak wood to crack and splinter like kindling. "Do you think I care about that?"

"That's coming out of your next paycheck," snapped Quimby, not backing down. He eyed Gadget appraisingly. "You really mean it," he said slowly, surprised and even a bit stunned.

"Do you think I give a damn about my reputation?" said Gadget, his voice shaking. "Quimby, ever since I found out about Penny solving my cases all these years all I've been able to think about is the danger she was in…every worst scenario that could have happened to a young girl."

Gadget stopped, swallowing hard against a fresh wave of nausea. He straightened the chair and fell back into it, running a shaking hand over his face.

Quimby stared at Gadget, trying to think of something, anything, to say, but knew there was absolutely nothing he could do to make this better.

Penny sat on a swing in the empty park that was close to her home. She swayed slowly back and forth, staring down at her hands in her lap. Brain watched his mistress, wishing he could make his girl smile again. But as brilliant as Brain was, he was still a dog and this was something that his two humans needed to sort out.

He whined softly when Penny slowed to a stop and the girl managed to give Brain a shaky smile. "I'm okay, Brain. Just thinking," she said softly before returning her gaze to her hands. Brain walked over and dropped his head in her lap and Penny stroked his head.

She was glad that her secret was finally out, but what would happen now? How would her uncle react when Quimby informed him of his upcoming retirement?

Just a few weeks ago they had been so happy, so carefree as they had played baseball in the park. And now everything was so wrong and uncertain.

Penny thought back to just three days ago when they had returned home from the gala. It had been a wonderful night despite her fears and worries...

Last week….

It was just after midnight when Gadget, Penny, and Brain returned home. Penny's ankles and calves were starting to ache but she refused to show the slightest hint of discomfort. "I don't know how some women can wear heels all day!" exclaimed Penny as she flopped down on the couch. Brain jumped up next to her and yawned before dropping his head into her lap.

Gadget chuckled softly as he undid the high, stiff collar of his jacket before slipping it off with a relieved sigh. "I don't either, Penny," he said, hanging up his jacket before returning to the sofa. Seeing that Penny was close to nodding off he knelt in front of her and carefully slipped off her heels and set them aside.

"Are you alright?" he asked, frowning in concern as he gently massaged her slightly swollen ankles. Penny blinked open her eyes in surprise but quickly relaxed at the feeling of Gadget's long, strong fingers digging into her ankles. "Yes, just a bit sore," she murmured. "I didn't realize dancing was so popular," she said with a laugh and then winced as Gadget found a particularly sore spot.

"You could have said 'no'," Gadget replied softly, still massaging her ankles.

"That would have been rude," she mumbled, hiding a yawn behind her hand.

"Penny."

Something in her uncle's voice made her open her eyes again. Gadget was looking up at her with a serious expression on his face. She sat up straighter. "Uncle Gadget?"

"You have the right to say 'no' to a man. That is always your choice. Do you understand?"

Penny stared at him for a moment, confused, and then comprehension dawned and she felt her face burn.

She nodded and quickly averted her gaze to her hands in her lap. While she had never thought of her uncle as anything other than human, she sometimes forgot that as a man certain things would be more noticeable to him, especially when it came to other men paying attention to her. And that had been happening more frequently in the past few years even though Penny didn't think she was particularly striking compared to some of the other girls in her school.

Gadget sighed and glanced down at her feet again, his fingers never ceasing their gentle ministrations. "I know we should have had this, er...conversation years ago, but...I just didn't know how to. I was hoping Mrs. Quimby would be of help in that area," he added with a smile.

"I...we talked about...you know...some things, but…" Penny took a deep breath. "Mrs. Quimby thought I should also come to you," she added, darting a quick look at him again. She was certain her face was as red as his.

"A smart woman, Mrs. Quimby."

Penny nodded. Gadget sighed before continuing. "Penny, I...I know I'm not...not like other men, but I know how men think. Please promise me that you'll never let anyone make you do something you're uncomfortable with just because you're worried about being rude or disagreeable."

"I promise, Uncle Gadget," she said softly, finally able to meet his gaze again. She paused and added, "There's...that is...I haven't had to say 'no' to anyone yet," she mumbled.

"Right, yes, well...good. That's good," said Gadget, patting her ankle one last time before standing to sit next to her on the sofa. Both of their faces were flaming red by this point. To distract herself Penny set about trying to undo her hair. It proved difficult as her arms were tired and the pins holding her hair up were firmly in place.

"Need a hand?" Penny saw a Gadget hand waving to her out of the corner of her eyes and she laughed. "Yes, please," she said, turning around so that Gadget could better reach her hair.

He carefully removed the pins from her hair and lingered once the last pin was removed. Gadget ran his fingers through the glossy strands as they tumbled down around his fingers, carefully detangling any knots as he found them.

Penny's last memory of that night had been of all three of them curled up on the sofa together, watching TV before falling asleep in a contented huddle.

Penny sighed as she returned to the present and looked down at Brain. Despite her hurt feelings Penny knew her uncle was a good man. And he was the only family she had, along with Brain, of course.

"Oh Brain," she whispered, stroking the dog's head. "When did things become so complicated?"

Brain whined and nosed at her fingers before sitting up and whuffing. He pointed his nose back in the direction of the house.

Penny nodded and stood. "You're right, Brain. I need to talk to him again. He's had a bad shock, but I'm sure he'll understand eventually." At least, I hope he will, she thought silently.

She came home to find the house empty and quiet. She shared a worried look with Brain.

"Uncle? Uncle Gadget, are you home?"

There was no answer.

Biting her lip in worry, Penny went into the kitchen and found a note written on the fridge.

'Went to the station for a bit.'

That was all. The brevity and lack of warmth in the note was so unlike her uncle. She shared a worried look with Brain. "I'm going to the station to check on him. No, Brain, stay here in case he comes back early, okay?"

Brain whined and Penny stroked his head. "I'll be alright, boy. I need to talk to him alone for a bit. I'll be back soon, hopefully with Uncle Gadget in tow," she added. The dog didn't look reassured but nodded. Penny smiled and kissed his head. She made sure her key was still in her pocket before leaving the house and heading towards the bus stop.

Gadget was pacing again, running his hands through his hair. Quimby was seriously considering calling Von Slickstein - he had never seen Gadget in such a panicked state before - but what Gadget said next nearly made Quimby swallow his pipe.

"I shouldn't be anywhere near Penny," Gadget said. "I don't...I can't…I should have known! How could I not have known, Quimby? How the hell could I have been so clueless for so long?"

In his distress Gadget missed the guilty wince that flashed briefly across Quimby's face.

"Gadget, look…"

Ignoring Quimby, Gadget turned in a circle before finally stopping to face the chief. "I should leave, send her away," he said, the previous panic in his voice gone, his entire frame sagging in despair.

"So you're just going to abandon Penny?" exclaimed Quimby, stunned.

"No! I'd never leave her, but her safety comes first!"

"And she's safest with you, Gadget!"

"No, she's not! I don't want her anywhere near me!"

Penny thanked the old guard that was monitoring the front desk and went upstairs to Quimby's office. She had visited the station so often over the years that she could pretty much come and go as she pleased. She reached up to knock on Quimby's closed door but froze when she heard her uncle's raised voice.

"…I don't want her anywhere near me!"

She gasped, throwing a hand to cover her mouth to stifle a sob. Numb with shock, Penny quickly staggered away from the door and darted down an empty hallway until she reached the restroom. She flung open the door and darted inside, quickly locking it. Knowing there were no cameras here, Penny leaned against the wall, fighting back tears.

Her uncle didn't want to be anywhere near her. Those had been his exact words. She knew he was upset at having found out that she had solved his cases, but Penny never imagined that he would be so angry that he didn't want to be near her.

Not wanted…being left alone…those had always been her worst fears. Didn't her uncle know how much she loved him? She had never cared about the credit, only keeping her uncle safe.

Suddenly feeling very alone and very young and foolish, Penny covered her face with her hands and slid down the wall until she was sitting, her knees drawn up to her chest, unable to hide her tears any longer.

"How many times was she in danger over the years and I didn't know, Quimby?"

Gadget was rambling now and Quimby tried to keep him calm while he reached for the phone. He was pretty certain Gadget was seconds away from a full blown panic attack but before he could do anything else Gadget groaned and bent over, holding his head in his hands.

Cursing, Quimby grabbed Gadget's shoulder and shook him. "Gadget? Gadget! Calm down, man!"

The younger man didn't answer. Gadget's vision was going from grey to black. More images and noises were pushing into his mind...he couldn't remember….

"Too much…" he grit out between clenched teeth, the pain in his skull excruciating.

"What? Too much what? What are you talking about…"

"Bad dreams...nightmares...can't remember...t-there was an explosion…"

Voices were speaking but they sounded as though they were coming from a great distance, echoing in his skull.

'Have no choice...extremely dangerous…'

'Chances of survival are less than ten percent…'

'I'm sorry, John…'

'Never been done before…'

'Am I still a man?'

Gadget gave in to the pain and crashed to the floor as darkness pulled him under.