A/N Thanks to all my reviewers. I so enjoy your input. Glad you like the premise. Is fun to write. I don't own these characters.
In the next few months, Sheldon and Leonard discovered that being a detective was not exactly what they had envisioned. Starting with a referral from a still grateful Hilda Hanson, they found work in the corporate world, looking for fraud and investigating finances.
As it turned out, they were eminently qualified to do so. With their computer skills and Sheldon's enjoyment in digging into people's facts and figures, they soon had as many clients as they wanted.
They also had people wanting another common task for detectives, getting the goods on cheating husbands and wives.
Although Sheldon felt it was beneath their dignity, Leonard decided they could at least try. After all, work was work.
To both of their surprises, he found he was pretty good at it. He came to enjoy following people both in a car and on foot. In both instances, he discovered people tended to not notice him or pay attention to him. For once it was of use to be somewhat nondescript.
He also really got into the photography part and became quite an expert at it. He did however draw the line at trying to look in windows. Sneaking around windows or climbing fire escapes, etc. was a bridge too far. He became a master at getting the pictures he needed from long range.
This particular night, he was following the husband of a new client. She was sure he was cheating on her. His was not to judge her, but what he had seen of her personality and hygiene, he could easily understand why her husband might wander.
He had followed his car for some time when the man pulled into a motel. Parking a safe distance away, he took pictures of him going into the motel office and then into a room. Assuming his 'date' would soon arrive, he sat back to wait.
Suddenly a car pulled up and parked near his quarry's car. He got his camera ready and looked through the view finder. To his shock, the woman was Penny!
He almost dropped his camera but he reflexively took several shots of her as she left her car and headed for the motel.
He heaved a sigh of relief when she went to the room next door and knocked. The door was opened by an older man and Leonard took no more pictures knowing what was happening was none of his business.
It wasn't long before they came back out and got into Penny's car and drove away.
Leonard smirked, whatever they were doing had not taken long. But then he chided himself. He was tempted to investigate further, like seeing if he could find out who had rented that room. But he firmly put that thought out of his mind. It would be like stalking her.
Besides, it was probably her father. Not sure if he really believed that, he saw another car drive up. He snapped her picture as she left the car and when she was admitted to the room.
Hoping they would come out together, he sat back and waited. He was rewarded when they did come out together and then let him get the money shot when they passionately kissed.
In the next couple weeks, Leonard found himself thinking about Penny. When they had gotten busy, he had just decided it had just been a foolish crush he had on her. But now he realized he wanted to see her again. After all, all she could do was reject him. Or maybe they could just be friends.
So, he found himself riding the elevator up to her apartment. When he arrived at her floor, he was about to step out of the elevator when out of the corner of his eye, he saw Penny embracing a tall, athletic man. When they engaged in a passionate kiss, he quickly stepped back into the elevator and hit a button.
When nothing happened, he realized he had hit the button for the floor he was on. Seeing them turn their heads, presumably wondering why the elevator door was open, he quickly hit several buttons and was relieved when it started moving.
It was his bad luck that someone got on at his first random stop. He got off at the next floor it stopped at but not before getting a dirty look from the other passenger who noticed all the buttons that were lit up.
He made his way down the stairs and escaped to his car, making a promise to himself to give up his quixotic dream of getting together with Penny.
A month or so later, he was again parked in a motel parking lot waiting for a man's girl to arrive. Suddenly, his door was pulled open and a man dragged him out of his car.
As he hit the concrete, he saw there were two of them. The one who had grabbed him snarled, "Looks like Bill was right. He said that bitch would probably hire someone to catch him in the act."
He turned to the other man, "Dan, get that camera."
As Leonard tried to get to his feet, Dan took his camera from the car and smashed it on the ground. Surreally, Leonard thought how mad Sheldon was going to be and wondered if their insurance covered this.
Those thoughts quickly disappeared though when the first man kicked him in his side. He decided Sheldon was right, this was beneath them. After a few more kicks he further decided detectives belonged on computers.
He was wondering how long he was going to be treated as a human pinata when he heard someone say, "Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"
Then a huge fist crashed into the jaw of his assailant who dropped to the ground unconscious.
Dan tried to run but a large shape passed Leonard and grabbing him, put him down with his partner.
Then the man was by his side, "Hey, are you all right?"
Leonard painfully opened his eyes and was stunned to see the concerned face of Kurt Adams.
Leonard grimaced and said, "My side hurts."
Kurt reached down and touched his side gently but Leonard gave a grunt of pain.
"Looks like you have at least a cracked rib. We need to get you to ER."
As Kurt helped him to his feet, Leonard asked what they should do about his attackers.
Kurt helped him into his car and said, "I can call the Police but I don't want to delay getting you to the hospital. "After thinking a moment, "I got an idea." He went to the two men and took their wallets, keys, and cell phones. He then took his phone and dialed 911.
"Yes, this is Kurt Adams. I am in the parking lot of the Grand Motel on forty-third. My friend has been assaulted. Both of the guys are out cold and I have taken their wallets, cell phones, and keys; but I need to get my friend to the ER. I am taking him to Pasadena General. You can find us there."
"My friend's name?" He looked at Leonard who whispered his name. "It's Leonard Hofstadter."
"How do you spell his last name? H O F statter."
"I need to get going." Hanging up the phone he took Leonard's keys. But before he could get in the car, Leonard remembered his camera. Kurt quickly picked up the bigger pieces and threw them in the back seat. He then got in the driver's seat and headed for the hospital.
As they drove, he turned to Leonard, "Well, what was that all about?" He smirked, "What were you trying to get from them?"
Leonard grimaced and said, "I was working."
"What do you do for a living anyway? Whatever it is, I think you should think of another profession."
"I am a private detective."
Kurt couldn't hide his shock, "You. You're a detective?"
A little defensively, "Why not?"
Kurt shrugged, "Yeah, why not?"
"What were you doing that got them so worked up?"
"I was trying to catch a guy cheating on his wife. Evidently, he told these guys to look out for me."
He looked up, "I don't know what got you there, but you saved my neck. Thanks."
"No problem. I work at the bar down the street. My car is in the shop so I have been taking the bus home. I was on my way to the bus stop when I saw what was happening."
He went on, "I was really surprised when I saw it was you."
Suddenly he said, "Wait a minute. Were you working for Penny when you came after her TV?"
He went on, "Hell, if she was paying you, I should have asked for more money."
Leonard managed a smile, "Actually, you got everything she paid us."
"I didn't know you guys worked so cheap."
"Normally we don't but she was our first client and she…"
Kurt laughed, "And it was Penny." He looked at Leonard who was not looking at him, "Damn it, you got the hots for her don't you? Hey, I can't blame you."
Leonard found himself getting a little angry, "I know you helped me but I can't believe that you cheated on her."
"Yeah, that was kind of dumb but I was drunk and we were kind of on the outs already."
As they pulled into the parking lot, Kurt smiled at him, "Don't sell yourself short, maybe you should give her a try." Then he snickered, "But on the other hand, you are short."
He helped Leonard into the emergency room and after they got him checked in, Kurt sat down to wait for the Police.
The Police soon arrived and told him they had found the two guys wandering around the parking lot. They had both quickly blamed what had happened on the guy that Leonard had been watching and all three were under arrest. They laughed and told him when they went to get the guy in the room, the girl with him went ballistic. They had to save him from her. "Man, she was pissed."
Kurt laughed with them and gave them all the stuff he had taken from the two guys.
One of them went into where Leonard was and got his name and address. They told both of them they would need to come to the station the next day and give a statement.
After they left, Kurt checked on Leonard and was told he had a couple cracked ribs but nothing was broken. Told he would soon be released, Kurt decided to wait, thinking Leonard could give him a ride home.
He had only been waiting a short time when he was stunned to see Penny come through the door, accompanied by an older woman obviously in pain with a cloth wrapped around her hand.
He watched them go up to the desk and heard Penny tell the nurse that her neighbor had burned herself and needed help. They quickly took the woman into the ER and Penny turned and saw Kurt.
It looked as though she was just going to leave but then realized she had promised to wait until Mrs. Jones's husband arrived.
She headed for a seat when Kurt spoke up, "It's good to see you again, Penny. You're as beautiful as ever."
Penny scowled and said, "Thanks, Kurt, but let's just both just stay quiet. Okay?"
Kurt nodded, but then couldn't resist, "Aren't you wondering what I am doing here?"
She looked like she wasn't going to answer but then said, "Did you catch something from one of those sluts you cheated on me with?"
Kurt laughed which teed her off more. But then he stunned her by saying, "Actually, I am waiting for an old friend of yours."
She tried to hide her curiosity but finally said, "What friend of mine would you know?"
"Your private investigator, Leonard Hofstadter."
Penny sat up, "Leonard's here? What happened? Is he okay?"
Kurt smiled to himself, she really did seem worried about him, "A couple guys tried to mess him up a little. He has a couple cracked ribs, but he'll be okay."
"Why would someone want to hurt him?" She stared at him, "You didn't have anything to do with this, did you?"
"No, in fact I kind of like the guy. It took some balls to keep at me about that damn TV."
"Actually, he was working, trying to catch someone cheating on his wife." He smiled, "If I hadn't been walking by, he might have really been hurt."
Penny stared at him, "You helped him?"
Kurt was about to continue when Leonard came out and saw them, "Penny, what are you doing here?"
"I brought my neighbor down." She went over to him and touched his shoulder, "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. Doctor says I'll be sore for a while though."
He turned to Kurt, "They gave me some pain killers and said I couldn't drive. Can you drive me home? I'll pay for you to get a cab."
Before Kurt could answer, Penny interrupted, "Why don't I give you both a ride home? You can leave your car and pick it up tomorrow. I have to wait for Mrs. Jones's husband to get here, but he should be arriving any minute."
Both Kurt and Leonard were surprised but for his part Leonard wasn't going to pass up a chance to spend time with Penny.
Kurt smiled to himself, there seemed to be something going on between these two. "I got a better idea. Lenny's car needs to be moved. Why don't I drive it home and I can deliver it to him tomorrow?"
He turned to Leonard, "If you trust me with it."
Leonard started to say he didn't really go by Lenny but then realized he would be alone with Penny and quickly said yes. Kurt still had his keys and telling them goodnight after getting another set of thanks from Leonard, headed out.
Mr. Jones arrived soon after and Penny and Leonard went out to Penny's car and with each of them lost in their own thoughts, drove off together.