A/N Thank you so much to SRAM and Warriorcreed for their reviews. As is often the case, their ideas may be better than mine. I do so appreciate it and also want to thank those of you that are following my story.
These characters still do not belong to me.
After Penny and Leonard had checked in, Penny told him she was going to her room to rest. They agreed Leonard would stop by her room at five o'clock and they would go down to the buffet.
As soon as he left Penny called Tort and he agreed to meet in her room. When he arrived and they each were fortified with water, Tort began, "It is good to see you again. Let me bring you up to date."
After he discussed what he had found out, he turned to her, "So, tell me about this man you have brought with you." He smiled, "Frankly, your reason for doing it was not that compelling."
Penny smiled back, "He and his roommate Sheldon are very special to me. Let's just say we grew close during my first mission."
Tort smiled, "I see. I assume I should not ask too many questions."
He sat back, "Now we need to decide how to proceed. How I will be explained to your friend."
He smiled ruefully, "The irony is that the best and easiest would be to introduce myself as a Private Investigator looking for information on Randall Smith. It would be logical that I would wish to talk to you."
"Unfortunately, we could not explain how I would know about you or that you would be in Las Vegas."
Penny pondered what he was saying. She tried to think of a way it could be explained. They could tell Leonard that Tort had been to Pasadena and discovered her connection to Smith. That he had also talked to someone that knew she went to Las Vegas.
The problem was that Leonard would find out they had lied when he returned to Pasadena. For a moment, she smiled to herself; she could always seduce him…
Tort spoke up, "Do you have any other ideas? I suppose I could also just be an old friend. Perhaps of your father?"
Penny nodded, "That could work. I have already told them that Randall Smith was a friend of my father. It would make sense you would be interested in him."
Tort considered what she was saying, "Okay. But wouldn't it be quite a coincidence that I am in Las Vegas?"
"I suppose. But not that strange. I don't think Leonard would question it."
She went on, "Assuming that we do use that, what is it that we want to accomplish?"
That question seemed to throw Tort off. He sat back, obviously thinking about something.
Finally, he leaned forward, "Penny, what are we doing?"
Penny looked at him, "What do you mean?"
"Listen to us. We are bending ourselves into a pretzel trying to explain me meeting you." He paused, "And what about our original plan, me moving into your apartment building? What would be the odds of that after you meeting me here?"
She realized what he was saying, "I see what you are saying, but it's too late now, we are here."
He thought for a moment and then sighed, "It was a mistake for me to ask you to come." He smiled ruefully, "I really don't know what I was thinking, I don't even know what we could accomplish."
Then he shocked her by saying, "I think I just wanted to see you."
Penny thought about what he was saying. She realized she had wondered why she needed to come to Vegas. She also realized she had accepted because she wanted to see him too.
She looked up, "I wanted to see you too."
He sighed, "You are a beautiful woman, Penny. I didn't want to admit it, but I am afraid that is why I wanted you to come."
Penny smiled, "I didn't want to admit that I felt the same." She hesitated, "Maybe that's why I brought Leonard."
He nodded. "So, what do we do now?"
Penny suddenly realized something, "We can return to our original plan."
When he looked quizzically at her, she continued, "Since Leonard hasn't met you yet, we can just abandon the whole idea."
Tort caught up, "I can leave for Pasadena and work to get a room at the apartment. We can then arrange to 'meet' when you get back."
He smirked, "That means you will still have to spend some time here with Leonard."
Penny was surprised when she blushed a little, "I think I can handle that."
They talked a little more and then Tort left, saying he would see her in Pasadena. They agreed he would not let anyone know he was looking for Randall Smith. It would again be too much of a coincidence he would move into the very apartment Smith had lived in.
After Tort left, Penny took a shower and got ready for Leonard to pick her up. She sat on the couch, think over all that had just happened.
What was going on with her? Ever since Kurt she had really not been interested in anyone. Now, ever since she had arrived on Earth, she had developed feelings for Leonard and Sheldon. She remembered how she had felt when she and Leonard had sex.
And now this with Tort… She smirked, maybe it was something in the air. She grew more serious when she realized how she was looking forward to spending the next couple of days with Leonard.
For the umpteenth time, Leonard looked at himself in the mirror. He sighed, no matter how long he looked, he wasn't going to grow taller or more muscular, his clothes weren't going to get more stylish, his vision wasn't going to improve so he didn't need glasses.
What was he doing? Nothing was going to happen. They were just two friends spending a couple of days in Las Vegas. They would gamble, maybe go see a show. They weren't a couple. She wasn't going to have sex with him.
He looked at the clock and took a deep breath, it was time to go.
After they finished at the buffet, they decided to check on shows that were available. After getting tickets they decided to try out slots while they were waiting.
Penny was surprised to find how much she was enjoying herself. She even couldn't help giving out an exclamation when she actually won a small amount. She attributed most of her pleasure that she was doing it with Leonard. They had come to Vegas for the wrong reason but she was glad they had.
She also enjoyed the show, comparing it to comparable forms of entertainment on her home planet. Again, she was struck by how she enjoyed sharing it with Leonard.
When they stopped by her room, agreeing to meet for breakfast at nine the next morning, she found herself considering kissing him. She was stunned to realize she even had thoughts of inviting him in.
In the end, she was able to put the idea behind her, but knew she was going to have to face her feelings at some point.
As Leonard walked down the hall toward his room, he thought about the day. Spending time alone with her was as enjoyable as he had thought. Though he knew he was probably indulging in wistful thinking; when he dropped her off, he sensed she was thinking of wanting to do something.
Telling himself he was imagining things, he got ready for bed.
Both of them spent the time before they fell asleep thinking about the day and what it could mean.
The next day Leonard suggested they try the Crap Tables. As they headed toward them, he discussed how the various odds worked. Penny knew he was probably thinking she would not understand all of it, but she of course quickly caught on.
When they reached the table, Penny remembered what Tort had told her about Randall Smith winning big. Deciding she should try to live up to her persona, she made a lot of bad odd bids, thinking that's what her Penny would do. Again she was surprised how much she enjoyed being with Leonard. She was more surprised at how much she enjoyed it when Leonard was throwing the dice. When he went on a small hot streak, she impulsively kissed him on the cheek.
She also enjoyed it when she rolled the dice, having to smile at the attention she got from the other men at the table. She was again puzzled when they appeared to be surprised that she was with Leonard.
After a time, they moved to the Blackjack Tables where Leonard again explained the correct way to play. Penny had to smile when she again went against the conventional wisdom and won more than Leonard.
As darkness was falling, they decided to walk along the Strip. Knowing she was treading on dangerous grounds, Penny reached out and took his hand.
This time, when they reached her room, the urge to kiss Leonard was even stronger. Somehow Penny was able to resist.
When she entered her room, she knew she needed to have that long delayed talk with Leonard. She knew she was messing with feelings that she could not afford, but decided she was no longer going to pretend they didn't exist. She sighed when she thought about what had occurred with Tort.
When Leonard returned to his room, he could not avoid the feeling that something was happening between Penny and him.
He could not avoid thinking it would be something special. There was just something about her. She was unlike any woman he had ever met.
Then there was that strange feeling that there was already something between them, something he couldn't pin down. A feeling that something had happened between them.
But as always when he thought that way, he knew nothing had happened, that it must just be part of his attraction to her.
At the same time, Tort was checking into a motel, having spent the day purchasing the furniture, silverware, etc. he needed to set up housekeeping in Apartment 2B. As he fell asleep, he wondered how Penny and Leonard were doing.
It had been two weeks since Penny and Leonard had returned from Vegas. Tort was installed in his apartment. He and Penny had been in contact via phone, deciding how the "meeting" with Sheldon and Leonard would take place.
Penny was still contemplating how to handle her feelings about Leonard and how Tort would react to that information.
When Leonard had returned, he found himself deeply involved in his work and was spending long hours at the University. With him seeing the others only occasionally, they had not brought up the man they had seen outside Penny's apartment.
The day before Penny and Tort planned to have Tort run into the others, they both went for their monthly check of their communicators.
When Tort had moved to Pasadena, he had put his communicator with Penny's in a gym locker.
Both were stunned when they discovered a message had been left a week before by Captain Ortag.
This is Captain Ortag.
Soon after you left the ship and we were continuing our mission, we were hailed by a ship sent from the Council.
Apparently, because of an immense Ion Storm, the Council had been unable to contact us.
For the second time in its history, the Republic faces a threat to its existence. A huge Alien fleet has entered Section 7 of the Republic. Two planets of the Republic, Kadar and Moravia, have been attacked. Reports indicate that the Invaders bombard the planets before sending an invasion force. Later communiques talk of torture and rape.
All ships in that and surrounding sectors have been ordered to fall back to rendezvous with the rest of the Fleet in Sector 5. I am on my way there now.
Since there are only currently five agents on planets, it has been decided they will remain there rather than use ships to pick them up.
It is likely this is the last communique you will receive for some time.
We can only hope that Fate and Providence will look favorably upon us.
Long live Freedom, Long live the Republic.
Tort and Penny looked at each other in shock and horror. Then both had the same thought. While Doria was in a different part of the Republic, Celara was one of two other Republic planets in Section 7.
Penny was almost overwhelmed with the emotions bombarding her.. Tomas, Mary…
