Hello everyone! Ch. 3 is finally here! I'm so sorry for the delay - I freely admit to being a slow writer because I'm such a perfectionist at heart. I'm hoping this latest chapter was worth the wait and that I can get Ch. 4 knocked out later this week since it's Spring Break where I'm at. One reason this update took longer than normal was because I got stuck on the plot but now I have everything worked out and where to take it from here. One more chapter to go and then we'll be done.
Also, just a quick word of caution - there's a scene in here that involves discussion of menarche and all the awkwardness that entails. I was raised mainly by my dad and grew up with brothers and uncles all over the place, so I know it can be a bit awkward to live under the same roof when you're the only girl in a house full of males, lol.
3. Lies and Spies
Buffalo, New York, U.S.A.
22 February 1986
30 miles from the U.S./Canadian border...
Agent Donovan finished his call with Chief Quimby and tucked his phone back into his pocket. A cold wind picked up and he tugged the collar of his coat up further. It was a clear, sunny morning but the sunlight did nothing to abate the chill in his blood as he studied the crime scene in front of him.
The sun glinted off of scraps of metal and twisted pieces of steel, tires, and torn up asphalt that littered the field near the highway in a path of destruction for nearly half a mile. It was all that remained of the armored truck that had been transporting the lone prisoner from Boston to Toronto. The driver was dead, his neck snapped, and Donovan couldn't understand why one prisoner had been paired with only one guard. It didn't make any sense.
"Holy hell, it looks like a tornado blew through here," muttered his partner, Agent Angela Russo.
Donovan nodded as he watched the crime scene technicians comb out over the field. "You feel like there's more to this, Angie?" he asked.
"What do you mean, Mike?"
Donovan shrugged. "Call it a feeling, but none of this seems right. It's not SOP for there to be only one guard transporting a prisoner, especially a felon. How did he escape? What happened to the truck? And why weren't there more guards?"
Russo's sharp green eyes narrowed. "You thinking this was an inside job?" she asked. One of the technicians was waving to them and they started walking towards him.
Donovan nodded. "That's why I called Chief Quimby. There's too many 'what ifs' and I think Inspector Gadget needs to know about this, especially if the fugitive is after him."
"What would anyone, even a criminal, want with that idiot?" Russo said scornfully.
"Hey!" said Donovan, stopping up short and giving his partner a reproachful look. "That 'idiot' saved both our lives, and Agent Davis' too! Give the man some respect, Angie."
Russo sniffed but let the subject drop as a technician came up to them. He was holding a twisted piece of metal that looked like it had once been the truck door.
"It really does look like a tornado blew through here," said Donovan, shaking his head as he surveyed the destruction.
"There weren't any storms in this area the past week," said one of the Canadian border patrol agents.
"No wind did this," said the technician, gesturing towards the piece of metal he held.
Donovan blinked. "How d'you figure?"
"Look at this." The technician spread his hand and rested his fingers along several dents that ran parallel to each other. They lined up perfectly in the shape of a hand.
Donovan and Russo stared in shock. The border patrol agent's jaw dropped open.
"You're saying the prisoner did this?" said Donovan after a moment.
"Bull," snapped another border patrol agent who had joined them. "No man can do that."
"No normal man," said Donovan, suddenly remembering how easily Inspector Gadget had pushed aside a speeding truck during the raid in Boston, thus saving him, Russo, and Davis from being run over. Gadget had done so with almost no effort, the truck bouncing off of the inspector like a rubber ball.
Russo's eyes widened. "You're saying we got another cyborg out there on the run? Like Gadget?"
Cursing silently, Donovan hurried to his rental car and climbed inside so that he could call his supervisor. He quickly explained the situation and his suspicions.
"Pack your bags, Donovan," said his supervisor after a moment. "You've got a plane to catch."
Metro City
22 February 1986
Penny slept through the night and Gadget had finally fallen asleep himself, exhausted, until he was woken in the early predawn hours to his niece struggling weakly in his arms.
Jolted awake, Gadget blinked and craned his neck out to look at the kitchen clock - 4:32 a.m. - before looking down at his niece.
She was still asleep but shifting restlessly, her face bathed in sweat. Gadget realized she was having a nightmare and instinctively held her closer so she wouldn't hurt herself or fall off the sofa.
"Uncle...m'sorry...don't send me away…" she was mumbling, her face distressed.
It had been a long time since Gadget had comforted his niece after a nightmare - not since she was five - but he still reacted the same, pulling her close and whispering reassurances in her ear.
"Penny, sweetheart, wake up. You're dreaming…"
Her next words nearly made Gadget's heart stop.
"W-wanted to keep you safe...don't hate me...please…"
"Wha...Penny, no!" Shocked, Gadget held Penny close, rocking her. "Hush," he soothed, stroking her hair with a hand that shook. "I'm here. You're safe...just sleep," he repeated over and over again.
It seemed to help because gradually Penny calmed as grey light began to slowly filter through the window blinds.
Gadget continued to hold his niece long after her fever had broken and she had slipped into a deep sleep. Her shivering and sweat-soaked body felt incredibly fragile in his arms as he held her.
The things she had cried out in her dreams...Gadget felt more deeply unnerved than he ever had in his life, even more than when he had first seen his hands turn into deadly weapons.
He had the horrible sense that he was missing something important, something to do with his niece that Penny didn't want him to know about. But like with so many things in the years since becoming "Gadget" it was like trying to keep water from dripping through his cupped hands.
Why would Penny - even in her dreams - think that he could ever hate her, or send her away? It was ludicrous, absolutely absurd. Surely she knew how much he loved her?
But then, it was rapidly becoming clear to Gadget that perhaps Penny didn't know that.
'Is that why you've never held me?'
He remembered with a fresh surge of guilt his niece's words from last week. He had never meant to hurt her by keeping her at a distance. Maybe that CAS letter was right...maybe he wasn't a good enough guardian for Penny.
No, he told himself firmly. They were family - they stuck together through thick and thin. Gadget would never abandon Penny, not if he could help it.
Gadget pulled his niece closer, cradling her head against the crook of his neck.
"You mean the world to me," he murmured in the sleeping girl's ear, somehow finding the words easier to say in the peaceful darkness and safety of their home. He knew it was cowardly to say them when Penny couldn't hear them, but he hoped that by finally speaking them out loud he could at least start to make up for it.
Later that morning...
Penny slowly became aware of two things. The first was that she had the unpleasant sensation of damp, sweat-soaked clothes clinging to her skin. The second was of a firm, steady weight behind her, holding her…
"Uncle?" she murmured, blinking open her eyes and then wincing at the sunlight coming in through the blinds.
"Good morning," Gadget murmured. A gentle hand came up to stroke Penny's brow, brushing her damp hair out of her face. "How are you feeling?"
Her brow furrowed in thought. "Better," she said after a moment. "Tired, but better."
Gadget nodded, his expression relieved. Penny suddenly realized that they were in the same position as last night with her laying against Gadget's chest, his arms wrapped around her and legs tangled together.
"You were restless and wouldn't settle," he explained and Penny wondered what had happened to put such a haunted look on his face. There were dark shadows under his eyes and he looked haggard and worn. "I didn't want you to hurt yourself."
She nodded, resting her head against Gadget's shoulder while he took her temperature.
"Just a bit higher than normal," he said with a sigh of relief, setting the thermometer aside.
"Do you think you can eat something?" he asked, drawing back to study his niece's face. His fingers - still gloveless, Penny noted with some surprise - lingered against her jaw and cheek, tracing her skin with featherlight touches.
Penny nodded. "Yes, but I think I need a shower first. I feel gross," she added, wrinkling her nose at her sweat-damp clothes.
That finally got a smile out of her uncle, even if it was only a small one. "Alright then, up you get. Slowly," he added.
Penny nodded and Gadget sat up, carefully keeping his arms around her waist as he helped her stand. She wobbled a bit but steadied herself soon enough. She gave her uncle a reassuring smile before making her way slowly and carefully up the stairs. Brain followed close behind her to make sure she didn't stumble on the way up.
Gadget trailed after her, unwilling to let her out of his sight. "Are you sure you should be up, Penny?"
The girl nodded as she stepped into her room to grab her robe and some fresh clothes. "I'm fine Uncle Gadget, really," she reassured him. In truth the trip up the stairs had left her winded but she did her best to hide it. Penny hated to see the worry in his face and hoped he had gotten at least some sleep last night. She headed towards the hall bathroom and stopped in front of the door.
"I think I can take it from here, Uncle," she said, raising a brow as she gestured towards the bathroom.
She smiled gently as Gadget blinked and then blushed. "Oh! Er, right, of course, carry on," he said. "I'll go start breakfast," he said before heading quickly back downstairs.
Penny looked down at Brain who was still watching her with worried eyes.
"You too, Brain. Go help Uncle Gadget and make sure he doesn't set off the fire alarm again," she added, stroking the dog's head.
Brain sniffed and shook his head but obediently went back downstairs. Once the dog was gone Penny shut the door to the bathroom and set her things down. She blanched as she got a good look at her reflection in the mirror. No wonder her uncle had been so worried. She looked awful.
Her face was very pale and there were dark shadows under her eyes, emphasizing her cheekbones. She had always been slim but Penny was a bit alarmed to notice that the bones of her cheeks and collarbone were much more noticeable than they had been a few months ago.
She had grown taller over the past year but she was still rather small compared to some of the other girls at her school. Penny briefly wondered if her parents had been tall and angular like her uncle, or more like her - slender and petite. She didn't have any pictures of them and had never asked her uncle. He didn't like to talk about the past and Penny wondered if he even remembered her parents. All she knew was that he was her father's younger brother.
Deciding it was best not to dwell on the past, she stepped into the shower, relieved to finally get the feeling of sickness off of her skin. She stayed under the hot water for a long time before getting back out.
Penny shifted uncomfortably as she combed through her freshly washed hair. Her muscles still felt stiff and sore despite the hot shower and she felt a bit nauseous despite having eaten next to nothing the past week. But then again, she reasoned, those were common symptoms of the flu.
She reached for her bathrobe and pulled it on, wincing as her stomach cramped painfully. Perhaps she should have eaten something first, even if the thought of food made her nauseous.
Another cramp nearly made her drop the comb. Setting it down with suddenly clammy hands, Penny wrapped an arm around her waist, gripping the edge of the sink with her other hand. She had never felt anything like that before.
Grimacing, she bit her lip and then looked down as she felt suddenly something warm on the inside of her thigh.
Blood.
She stared, watching with numb shock as another bead of blood slipped down her other leg.
Of course she knew what was happening - between her own research and the lectures in her health class at school Penny had been calmly preparing herself for this for a while now. But actually having it happen was a different thing altogether.
But not now, when so many other things were going wrong!
"Oh no," she moaned, wincing as the cramping continued. She didn't think it would hurt this badly! She could feel a cold sweat breaking out along her forehead despite the warm steam that still lingered in the bathroom.
A sudden knock on the bathroom door made her jump.
"Penny, are you alright?" Gadget's voice came through the door.
Oh no no no no, she thought, panicking. This was not happening!
"I'm f-fine, Uncle...oh, ow!" Penny gasped again, wincing as another cramp overcame her.
"Penny? Penny, I'm coming in," said Gadget, his voice tight with worry.
She hadn't locked the door, she realized with horror. As much as Penny loved and trusted her uncle, the thought of him seeing her like this was mortifying.
Another cramp had Penny gasping, her shaking legs folding under her as she bit her lip hard to keep from crying out. She curled into a ball into the corner, knees pulled up to her chest, glad that at least she was wearing her robe that was long enough to preserve any dignity she had left.
Gadget froze on his way past the hall bathroom as his sharp hearing - far stronger than any human or even a dog's - caught Penny's gasp of pain.
"Penny, are you alright?" he asked as he stepped in front of the door and knocked but didn't enter.
His niece's voice trembled as she called back through the door. "I'm f-fine, Uncle...oh, ow!"
Gadget could hear the pain in his niece's voice and he tried the knob, relieved that it wasn't locked.
"Penny? Penny, I'm coming in," he said. Worried that she had either slipped or was sick again, Gadget stepped inside the bathroom as his concern overrode propriety.
At first he didn't see anything amiss - nothing broken or knocked aside. And then he saw his niece curled in a ball on the floor by the sink. Her hair was still damp from the shower and she was wearing her robe, knees pulled up to her chest and her face buried in her knees.
Confused and rapidly fighting back his growing panic, Gadget stepped further into the bathroom and knelt next to his niece.
"Penny! What's wrong? Did you slip in the bath?"
The girl shook her head and to his shock pulled away when Gadget touched her shoulder. Penny had never recoiled from his touch before. Seeing her pull away from him hurt more than he was willing to admit.
"Uncle," she gasped, fighting back tears of humiliation. "P-please go away."
Gadget was utterly baffled. His niece didn't seem hurt but she was clearly distraught and even worse didn't seem to want him to touch her. But he couldn't just leave her like this, huddled on the cold floor, shivering and shaking.
"Penny, talk to me - what's the matter?" Gadget said firmly, his worry making his tone sharper than he meant it to be.
The rare sternness in his voice finally made Penny look up. Gadget was shocked to see how pale her face was.
"I…" Penny flushed and looked away again. Gadget suddenly noticed that she had her knees pressed tightly together, her arms wrapped under them to keep her robe tightly closed.
When he glanced at her feet to see if maybe she had stepped on something he froze when he saw bright scarlet drops splattered against her legs. There were only a few drops but the sight still made Gadget's heartbeat ramp up with alarm.
"Penny, you're bleeding!" he exclaimed. "What happened? Are you hurt? Where did that blood come...come from...oh."
Realization dawned and he leaned back, feeling completely floored. He desperately wanted to make sure Penny wasn't injured but another part of him was in complete shock at the physical evidence that his niece was growing up.
He watched as Penny curled into an even smaller ball. "U-Uncle, please just go." She sounded so wretched that Gadget forgot about his own embarrassment. His niece needed him and nothing would pull him from her side.
"Penny, can you look at me?" Gadget's voice was hesitant and filled with concern and it was enough to make Penny raise her head a bit.
She didn't see any signs of disgust in her uncle's gaze, only worry, and she felt a tiny bit less humiliated.
"Are you alright?" he asked and then immediately winced. "Sorry, that was a silly question."
He smiled gently at Penny but his niece had buried her face in her arms again, knees drawn up. She could feel more blood sliding against her skin and grimaced.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled. "Please, Uncle Gadget...just...go away. I'm sorry, I'll just…"
"Stop."
The word came out harsh and sharp. Penny flinched, startled, and looked up at Gadget with exhausted and pain-filled eyes. Her uncle never raised his voice to her; the only time he spoke sharply to her was when he was worried about her safety, like that time at the racecourse when he had barked at her to get off the track.
Gadget's heart lurched at the pitiful state his niece was in. He slowly reached out to touch her knee. This time Penny didn't pull away.
"I'm sorry, Penny. I'm not angry at you. I meant don't apologize for something that's natural. I should be apologizing," he added, surprising the girl. "I should have thought of this," he added gently, shifting his hand from her knee to her shoulder.
"It's okay, Uncle," she mumbled before another hot lance of pain made her wince. "Ow," she whimpered, biting her lip against another painful cramp.
Gadget winced in sympathy, his hand still resting lightly on her shoulder as he knelt next to her but otherwise not making any other motion to touch her.
He watched Penny helplessly for a moment before speaking. "Do you think you can stand?"
Penny shook her head. "I...I don't think I should," she admitted in a hoarse whisper, feeling her face burn.
A look of understanding came over Gadget's features and he nodded. "Alright, hang on," he said softly, leaning forward, arms outstretched. He put one hand under Penny's knees and the other around her back, pulling her into his arms and then standing in one smooth, powerful motion.
"Uncle, don't, I'm…"
Penny struggled but stopped when her aching muscles protested. Too exhausted and sick to care any more about feeling embarrassed, she went limp in Gadget's arms, clutching his shirt with white-knuckled fingers as she shook and shivered.
"I'm taking you back to the hospital," she heard him murmur against her ear. He squeezed her gently as he spoke, his arms a welcoming source of strength.
"No!"
"Penny…"
"Please, no, Uncle...I-I'm fine…" Penny swallowed and managed to meet her uncle's gaze. "I-I did some reading...it's supposed to hurt a bit...no, really...this, this is normal," she said, feeling a fresh rush of embarrassment heat her face.
Gadget didn't look reassured. "I can't just watch you like this, Penny. Tell me what I can do to help."
Penny shook her head and leaned her forehead against her uncle's. "Just hold me," she managed to get out before another cramp had her gasping. She wrapped her arms around Gadget's neck and buried her face in his shoulder, determined not to cry. She was tired of tears.
She felt his weight shift as he sat on the closed toilet, holding her sideways in his lap. His large hands, heavy and warm, stroked up and down her back in slow sweeps. Despite her best efforts Penny couldn't stop a few tears of pain slipping down her face. She was suddenly desperately glad that he was holding her and gripped his broad shoulders tightly. Underneath her fingers she could feel the tenseness in the combined muscle and titanium that powered his limbs. The thought comforted Penny as she leaned on that incredible strength that held her with such gentleness.
"It's alright," Gadget murmured in her ear, feeling utterly helpless. "Shh...just relax...it's alright. I'm here."
He kept whispering reassurances in her ear and it seemed to help, because he gradually felt Penny relax in his hold. Her arms were still wrapped loosely around his neck, not that he minded in the slightest. Gadget pressed a kiss against her silky soft hair, breathing in the familiar scent of lavender from her shampoo, before glancing down at her ankles.
His stomach lurched at the sight of blood drops against her skin, not out of disgust, but out of sheer helplessness. Gadget had of course tended to scraped knees and paper cuts over the years, but seeing his niece's blood like this was jarring.
There really was nothing he could do for Penny right now except reassure her that there was no reason for her to be ashamed. He hated feeling helpless - he always had - and was determined to see his niece through this.
Gadget was starting to realize that Penny was taking on too much for her still very young age and he resolved that was going to stop right now. He wasn't sure why Penny felt the need to constantly care for him - he was a world-famous inspector after all! - but he resolved that he was going to make sure she started taking better care of herself.
He felt Penny stir in his arms and he rested his brow against her own, his nose brushing against her cheek. "I've got you," he said softly. Penny wouldn't meet his eyes and he held back a sigh.
Gadget certainly understood how awkward she must feel right now - being a cyborg came with its own set of embarrassing physical mishaps - but at that moment he was more concerned with her health. Penny was still shivering and he remembered that her fever had only broken less than twelve hours ago. She needed a warm bed, hot food, and rest.
Shifting his weight a bit, Gadget adjusted Penny's slight weight in his arms. He kept one arm wrapped securely around her back, using his other to tuck her robe more securely around her legs where it had shifted a bit. Penny let out a soft noise of distress and he kissed her sweat-dampened temple, wincing at how cold her skin felt. Just last night she had been burning up and now she was freezing.
"Let's get you into bed," he said. He looked up and eyed the linen closet that was directly across the bathroom in the hallway.
"Go go Gadget arm," he said, stretching out his arm to grab a blanket from the closet. He didn't want to move Penny without making sure she had an added layer to protect her modesty.
Nothing happened.
Frowning, Gadget silently cursed his circuitry - of all times for his gadgets not to work! - and was considering what to do next when he spotted Brain standing in the doorway.
"Brain..." he began but the loyal dog was already one step ahead of him.
He disappeared down the hall and was back in seconds, a thick blanket clasped in his jaws.
"Thanks, Brain."
The dog butted Gadget's knee in acknowledgement before giving Penny's arm a gentle nudge with his nose. Penny finally loosened her grip on Gadget's shirt to pat the dog with a shaking hand. "I'll be okay, Brain," she managed to smile down at the dog. Brain whined, sensing her embarrassment, and went back downstairs to wait for them.
Penny was still shivering and Gadget quickly wrapped the blanket around her, making sure her legs were completely covered.
"Hang on," he said quietly before standing and making his way out of the bathroom and down the hall.
Penny felt herself being lowered onto a bed and blinked open her eyes, surprised to see that she was in her uncle's bedroom. She suddenly remembered that her own bed sheets were in the wash and felt touched at his thoughtfulness.
Gadget grabbed the sheets and pulled them up to her shoulders which she was grateful for. She was shivering and felt cold and clammy.
Penny closed her eyes and heard his footsteps - heavier than that of a normal man's - go downstairs. She was just drifting off when she felt the bed dip next to her. She opened her eyes again to see Gadget holding something out to her.
"Here, try this."
It was a hot water bottle. She hesitated and then decided to swallow her pride and accepted it, quickly pulling it under the covers and pressing it against her abdomen.
Gadget shifted on the bed's edge, careful not to jostle her, and gently ran the back of his fingers down her cheek. "My poor girl," he murmured, his voice tight with worry.
Penny finally looked up at her uncle's distraught face and momentarily forgot about her embarrassment. She pulled one arm out from under the covers and squeezed his hand.
"I'm okay, Uncle," she said softly. When Gadget looked unconvinced she added, "well, not okay, but I will be. It...just caught me by surprise, that's all. Sorry I scared you," she mumbled, glancing down at the covers.
"Don't apologize," Gadget admonished softly. Slowly, carefully, he bent forward and pressed a kiss to her brow, keeping his weight braced on one arm.
He started to draw back but Penny reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, keeping him in place so she could kiss his cheek. "Thank you for taking care of me," she whispered, giving her uncle a smile that was brighter than any he had seen in days.
Gadget nodded and wrapped his free arm around Penny, returning the embrace while being mindful not to put any weight on her. Exhaustion was making his limbs feel even more heavy than they usually felt but he had one more thing he had to do.
Reluctantly pulling away from his niece's warm embrace, he straightened and then stood. "Will you be alright for yourself for a bit?"
Penny nodded. "I'm not planning on going anywhere," she said with a weak laugh. Gadget gave her ankle a gentle squeeze before calling to Brain, who was in the bedroom in seconds, tail wagging anxiously.
"Brain, here boy," he said, patting the bed. Brain needed no second bidding - he lightly jumped onto the bed, curling up by Penny's side, his head resting on her shoulder.
Smiling at the sight, knowing that his niece was safe with their loyal dog, Gadget headed downstairs.
Metro City Airport
22 February 1986
Agent Donovan grabbed his carry on bag and stepped out of the airport into the brisk but sunny afternoon. At least the weather in Toronto was better than Boston, he mused.
Next to him Russo grabbed her own bag. "Right, I'm going to check into the hotel and start making some calls - see if anyone's spotted our fugitive. If he's in the area we need to get the borders locked down and alert the highway patrol units."
Donovan nodded, slipping on his sunglasses. "Sounds good. I'll meet you back at the hotel after I've spoken with Quimby."
"Be careful, G-Man," quipped Russo.
"Always am, G-Woman," he shot back before hailing a cab.
Inspector Gadget was a man on a mission.
He stared down the aisle in front of him at the local grocery store. He had been pacing back and forth in front of the aisle for the better part of ten minutes, trying to work up the nerve to just grab what he needed and go.
Simplicity itself.
Only, he actually wasn't sure what exactly he, or rather Penny, needed.
One of the clerks was eyeing him warily (he had been banned from two other grocery stores for past damages to property, but it wasn't his fault the criminals had chosen to hide in there, he had tried to explain to an exasperated Quimby) and Gadget was just about to march down the aisle when a familiar voice called out to him.
"Inspector Gadget?"
He turned to see a dark-haired, elegant-looking middle-aged woman watching him curiously.
"Oh, hello Mrs. Quimby," he said. He had only met Quimby's wife a few times over the years but she had always treated him with kindness and respect.
"Hello," said Edith, smiling up at the inspector. "My husband mentioned that Penny was ill with the flu. How is she?" she asked gently, noticing the dark circles under Gadget's eyes and his rumpled clothes.
"Her fever broke this morning and she seemed better, and then…" Gadget trailed off, his face flushing. Seeing Edith's confused look he startled to ramble a bit self-consciously. "I didn't realize...but I really should have thought about it. After all, she's at that age now...I really had no idea...I thought she was hurt and now she's embarrassed on top of being in pain and I don't know what to do…"
"Gadget." Edith's calm voice cut through his rising panic. Several customers were eyeing Gadget warily and gave the pair a wide berth.
The inspector stopped his rambling and blushed, rubbing a hand down his face. "My apologies, Mrs. Quimby," he said. "I just…"
Edith had a good idea of what was going on; she was a mother, after all. "How old is Penny now, Gadget?" she asked gently.
"Thirteen - she'll be fourteen in June."
"Ah, I see." Her brown eyes glanced at the aisle Gadget had been dithering by and her gaze softened in understanding.
"Why don't you sit down and get some coffee, Inspector?" she suggested, giving the baffled cyborg a gentle nudge towards the dining area. "Forgive me, but you look like you could use some," she added.
"I can't, I need to-"
"Don't you worry. I'll take care of it."
Puzzled but also grateful, Gadget did as she suggested, sinking into the small plastic chair with a weary sigh.
Fifteen minutes later Edith returned just as Gadget was finishing the last of his coffee. Edith held a bag out to him.
"This should help for now," she said. "No, no," she said with a shake of her head and smile when Gadget insisted on paying her back for the items. "Consider it a helping hand from one parent to another."
"Thank you," was all Gadget could think to say, and the utter relief in the poor man's face made Edith's heart ache with compassion.
She leaned closer and Gadget bent down a bit so she wouldn't have to stand on tip-toe. "I also wrote down a list of some foods that might help," she added gently. "Make sure she eats lots of dark leafy greens. And there's some tea in there that might also help," she added, gesturing towards the bag.
He nodded and Edith patted his arm before leaving to finish her own shopping.
"Wowsers, this is more complicated than I thought," sighed Gadget, browsing the list before heading to pick up the food items.
Quimby Residence
22 February 1986
"George, I want a word with you."
Quimby recognized that tone. Gulping, he lowered his paper enough to eye his wife cautiously over the top of it. Edith was a tiny woman - shorter than even her husband - but she was also intimidating when she was riled up. It was one of the things he loved about her, even if she was terrifying at times.
"Yes, dear?"
"When was the last time you checked on Gadget and Penny?"
"Yesterday, when I drove Gadget to the hospital," he said, confused. "Why?"
"What about before that?"
"What are you on about, Edie?" said Quimby a bit impatiently, setting aside his paper as he reached for his pipe.
"I mean any time before this week. When was the last time you, or anyone from the force, asked how Gadget was fairing as a single parent?"
Quimby gaped at his wife, floored at the question. "Wha-what do you mean? Penny's a smart girl...and Gadget...well, he's Gadget."
"No," said Edith firmly. "He's also John Brown and a member of your force, even if he is affiliated with Interpol now as 'Gadget'. Have you all forgotten that he's one of your own? Has anyone asked Gadget lately how he's coping with all of this? And what about Penny? I've never met her but she's still a child, no matter how smart and mature she may be for her age. This whole business with the child welfare investigation can't be easy on either of them."
Quimby stared at his wife. It had been a long time since he had seen her this upset.
"What brought this on, Edie?"
"I ran into Gadget at the market earlier today - he looked exhausted, George," said Edith. She took a seat next to her husband on the sofa and clasped his hands in her own.
"I know you often lose patience with Gadget. I wish I had known him before...well, before," she said. "But from what you've told me over the years, it seems that his niece is the only one who still treats him like a man and not a machine."
Stung, Quimby glanced away from his wife even as he knew the words were true.
"He's not the same man, Edie. You don't understand," growled Quimby. "John Brown was the best man I knew, and that...that thing he is now…"
Edith watched his face before saying in a very gentle voice, "It wasn't your fault, George."
Quimby let out a harsh laugh and released his wife's hands to pace across the room. "Wasn't it? I was the senior officer in charge that night. I made the call to enter the building...Gadget was the first one inside. We didn't know the building was rigged to blow."
"Gadget knew the risk, George," said Edie. "Every officer who joins the force knows the risk they take every day." She stood from the sofa and joined her husband, placing a hand on his arm.
"It was his choice to do the surgery, wasn't it?" she continued softly. "George, you can't keep carrying this guilt with you. At some point you're going to have to deal with this."
"I don't know how," Quimby growled, biting down hard on his empty pipe.
Edith smiled. "Well, you could start by checking in more often on Gadget and Penny, and not just for work. I'm sure Gadget could use a friend or two."
Quimby was silent for a long moment before sighing. "Have I ever told you how brilliant you are?" he said gruffly.
His wife laughed softly and kissed his cheek. "Many times, dear. Many times."
Somewhere in downtown Metro City
23 February 1986
Dave Bernardino closed the file to his latest case. Smirking, the lawyer decided that his side job was paying even more than his regular high-profile cases. It had been child's play to manipulate that idiotic woman into giving some very helpful details into Inspector Gadget's private life...
"Well, is everything ready?"
He jumped clear out of his seat and fell flat on his backside when the cold voice spoke directly in his ear.
"Jesus! How'd you get in?" the lawyer demanded, scrambling to his feet and gripping the edge of his desk as a shadowy figure emerged. It was dark in his office and he suddenly remembered that at this time of night he was completely alone. The lone security officer was clear on the other side of the tall building where his office was located. Bernardino swallowed hard.
"Call it a magic trick," the shadowy figure said with a laugh. A pair of glowing red eyes gleamed at Bernardino.
'Holy shit,' the lawyer thought, trying to keep his legs from shaking. 'He really is the real deal.'
Hoping to hide just how terrified he was, Bernardino straightened and glared at his visitor. "Yeah, it's all taken care of," he said. "I've done my part - now where's my payment?"
The red-eyed man (if he could even be called a man anymore) stepped further into the dim light cast by the small lamp on Bernardino's desk. "Oh, don't worry, you're getting your dues. In fact, I'm here to deliver them personally."
26 February 1986
To Penny's immense relief her uncle didn't mention the bathroom incident again, or even touch upon the subject during the days that followed. He still fussed over her, making sure she was eating properly and getting enough rest, but otherwise Gadget continued on with his normally cheerful demeanor.
In truth Penny was deeply touched at his consideration towards her (as well as the fact that he had gone shopping for her when she had been too ill to do so herself). She knew her uncle loved and cared for her, but the past few weeks had revealed a side to him that she hadn't even realized had existed before. Over the past few days she had caught him gazing at her with a thoughtful, wistful expression and she did her best to put his worries at ease by letting him fuss over her.
And yet, part of Penny worried that Gadget was stepping out of his comfort zone only for her benefit. She never wanted her uncle to feel embarrassed or do anything he wasn't comfortable with, even if it meant keeping her at a distance.
But what worried Penny even more was the fact that, for some inexplicable reason, her uncle's gadgets had suddenly stopped working altogether. They didn't misfire - they just wouldn't work. At all. Gadget legs, arms, hat, hands, scissors, water gun...none of it seemed to work.
Gadget had called Von Slickstein again at Penny's urging and he did so, quickly explaining the situation to his old friend.
"It could be from the electric shock," the professor said slowly, "but then, you've experienced far worse, isn't that so?"
"Yes, and nothing like this has ever happened before," said Gadget.
"Hmm," said Von Slickstein. He stared at Gadget for a long moment, his expression unreadable.
"Tell me, Gadget, have you been under any stress lately? I mean more so than what is normal for your line of work?"
Gadget shifted a bit uncomfortably. "A bit," he admitted.
"I suspect that's why," said Von Slickstein. "Your electronic components are voice-activated, but they can also respond - or not respond - to your brain's signals without you being aware of them."
When both Gadget and Penny gave the professor a puzzled look the elderly gentleman continued. "Stress is a powerful stimulant - it can have a profound impact on the body's mental and physical wellbeing. I suspect that's why your gadgets are malfunctioning."
"What can we do, Professor?" said Penny.
"I'm not certain, my dear," said Von Slickstein, surprising both her and Gadget. "The human mind is a vastly complex thing...science has only begun to touch upon its secrets. And when you add in the very new field of human bionics...well, there are no easy answers."
Von Slickstein gave his two friends a wise look. "Gadget, my best advice is to try to let these things come back naturally to you. Remember, you have all the tools you need but your human instincts are just as important. Trust them, and trust yourself."
With that the professor ended the call, leaving a very baffled inspector to wonder what on earth his old friend had meant.
27 February 1986
"This just in - one of Metro City's most prominent private attorneys, Dave Bernardino, was found dead in the early hours of the morning. While police are still investigating the crime scene, early reports are coming in that the cause of death was suicide. However, there is also speculation that Bernardino was actually murdered…he was initially reported missing on February 23…"
"Should you be watching that, Penny?" said Gadget with a frown, his eyes on the T.V. as he put on his tie.
Quimby had called him into the office, saying it was urgent, and yes, that was an order, Gadget, get down here now, before hanging up.
Gadget had briefly considered ignoring the chief's directive (much to Penny's shock) and had only reconsidered after Penny had reassured him she would be fine by herself.
"Besides, I won't be alone. I'll have Brain here," she said, gesturing towards the dog, who immediately sat up straighter.
"I know, Penny, I just…"
The doorbell suddenly rang, making all three turn towards the door. Gadget opened the door, surprised to see Edith Quimby standing outside.
"Good morning, Gadget," said the woman, giving the cyborg a gentle smile. "Might I come in?" she said, gesturing towards the rain outside.
"Oh, of course!" said Gadget, opening the door wider to let her in.
Penny poked her head around the corner and Edith smiled at the girl. "Hello, Penny. We haven't met," she added, seeing Penny's surprise that she knew her name. "I'm Edith Quimby, Chief Quimby's wife."
"Gosh, it's nice to meet you, Mrs. Quimby," said Penny, shaking the woman's hand. She knew Chief Quimby was married but she had never met his wife until today. "This is Brain," she added, gesturing towards the dog. "He's super friendly."
"I can tell," laughed Edith, patting Brain's head gently. Brain barked happily, clearly enjoying the attention.
"Inspector, I apologize for dropping by unannounced but my husband suspected that you'd need some...ah, convincing to go down to the station. He asked if I might stay with Penny, if that's alright with you," she said, turning to the girl and winking.
Penny nodded, deciding that she liked Mrs. Quimby a lot. She had an easy, calm demeanor about her that instantly put her at ease.
"Gee, that's awfully nice of you, Mrs. Quimby," said Gadget. He put on his coat and grabbed his hat but lingered near the door.
"You'll call if you need anything?" he asked, his gaze shifting to Penny for a moment. He knew Penny was nearly back to full health but he hated the thought of leaving her, even if she was with someone he trusted.
Penny nodded. "We'll be fine, Uncle," she said softly.
"And you won't go out in this rain either…"
"No, Uncle," said Penny. "I promise. Have a good day and I'll see you later."
Gadget nodded, tugged his hat on over his head, and stepped out into the rainy, blustery day.
A bit unsure of what to do (they rarely had guests over), Penny led Edith into the living room and offered her a seat before clicking on the TV. After settling on an old episode of The Twilight Zone she glanced at Mrs. Quimby.
"Can I get you anything, ma'am?"
Edith gave Penny a gentle smile. "No thank you, my dear," she said. Somehow when she said "my dear" it didn't sound condescending to Penny like when Mrs. Johnson had said it.
"In fact," the older woman continued, "I should ask you that question. Is there anything you need?"
The girl sighed. "You know about the CAS investigation, don't you?"
"Yes, Penny," said Edith calmly, surprising the girl with her honesty. "I am sorry - I hope you don't think me a horrid gossip or a busybody, it's only that being the wife of a police chief….well, you learn to share burdens over the years."
Penny nodded. "I understand," she said softly. They sat in silence for a while and Penny finally mustered up the courage to ask a question that had been on her mind for some time now.
"Mrs. Quimby?"
"Yes?"
"Can...can I ask you a question? It's…" Penny shifted uncomfortably. "It's a bit personal."
"Well, you may certainly ask," said Edith calmly.
"What you said about sharing burdens…"
Edith nodded, her dark eyes steady and calm as she patiently waited for Penny to gather her thoughts.
"What if...what if you wanted to protect somebody you cared about? And the only way to do that was to keep a secret from them? A really, really big secret. Is…" Penny swallowed and had to pause for a moment before she could continue. "Is that wrong?"
"Well, that would depend, Penny. I was brought up to believe that a lie - even if given with good intentions - is always wrong."
"Oh," said Penny, her heart sinking as she stared down at her hands. Her eyes blurred with tears again and why could she not stop crying? It seemed that every little thing over the past few months set off tears and she hastily wiped at her face.
"But what if telling the truth would hurt the person you're trying to protect? What if he-they got mad if they found out the truth, or…" she swallowed again. "Or they hated you for trying to protect them?"
Edith was quiet for a long moment before speaking. "You sound very certain about this person's reaction, Penny."
She felt the sofa dip as Edith came to sit next to her.
"Penny, perhaps this is too forward of me to ask, but I know how much my husband cares about both you and your uncle...are you in any trouble?"
"No, Mrs. Quimby," said Penny, looking up and meeting the older woman's gaze squarely. "I promise I'm not in any sort of trouble. Well, there's the investigation...but nothing else."
"I believe you," said Edith, once again surprising Penny. Mrs. Quimby was actually talking with her, she realized, not to her. She was treating Penny like a young adult.
"I won't ask for any details, Penny. I'll only repeat what I said before - burdens are much easier to bear when they're shared. My husband and I had to learn that the hard way. I'm sure whatever is troubling you, your uncle would want to know."
"Oh, but I wasn't...I didn't mean…" Penny stammered.
"I know, Penny," said Edith. "You don't have to say it. But if you ever do wish to talk, you may always call me, or stop by for a visit. Your uncle has more friends that he perhaps realizes and that's our fault."
Penny nodded. "Thank you, Mrs. Quimby," she said.
"You're welcome, Penny."
When Gadget returned home later that afternoon he was pleasantly surprised to find Edith and Penny seated at the kitchen table, talking and laughing like old friends. He paused for a moment in the kitchen entryway, leaning against the wall as he took in the scene, his eyes focused on Penny's glowing face.
He wondered if every father felt like this, proud and terrified that their beautiful, brilliant daughter (or niece, in his case) was growing up.
He must have made some noise because Penny looked up and noticed him.
"Uncle Gadget, you're back!" she exclaimed happily, standing to give him a quick hug. Gadget returned the embrace, glancing over Penny's head to look questioningly at Edith.
The woman smiled and winked at Gadget, her dark eyes warm and reassuring. Relieved, Gadget smiled down at his niece.
"I see you two had fun," he said, ruffling his niece's hair.
"We did," said Penny, smiling up at Gadget.
"Thank you again for talking with me, Mrs. Quimby," she said, turning back towards Edith. The older woman gave Penny a gentle smile. "You're very welcome, Penny. I hope to see you again soon. Gadget, a word before I go?"
Gadget nodded and followed Edith outside onto the front porch, closing the door behind him. Edith beamed up at him, the lines around her eyes doing nothing to diminish the warmth in them.
"Oh Gadget, she's a lovely child! And she'll be quite a fine young lady someday soon. You must be very proud of her."
"Thank you," said Gadget. "And I am proud of her. Most days I'm amazed that we're even related," he added with a soft laugh but Edith could see the doubt in his eyes.
"You don't give yourself enough credit, Gadget," she said gently, putting a reassuring hand on his arm. "Penny told me you've raised her since she was barely three years old - all she could talk about was you."
"Is…" Gadget paused and shifted a bit awkwardly. "Is she alright?"
Edith smiled at the inspector. "Yes, I think so. She's growing up, that's all."
"Too fast," Gadget sighed.
Edith patted Gadget's arm. "Well, I think you're doing a splendid job with her. She really is a lovely young girl. But…" she paused, uncertain of whether to continue but decided that the poor man could use some helpful tips, given Penny's age. "If I might offer some advice, from a woman's perspective?"
Gadget nodded, looking relieved at the suggestion.
"Don't worry about being perfect, Gadget. Children don't want perfection in their parents - they want someone they can talk to."
Gadget studied his gloved hands. "I...I don't really remember...that is, I'm not…"
"Just be yourself. Penny loves you dearly and she'll need you more than ever these next few years. Can you do that?"
"I'd do anything for her," the inspector said, his grey eyes glinting with rare clarity. Edith suddenly wondered what this man must have been like in his previous state before becoming a cyborg. She could see glimmers of the man her husband had held in such high esteem in Gadget's steel grey eyes.
"I've no doubts about that." Edith glanced down at her watch, her eyes widening slightly. "I must be off - I need to run by the grocery store before the evening traffic hits. Goodbye, Gadget. I hope I see you and Penny again soon. And goodbye to you too, Brain," she added, smiling down at the dog who had followed them outside.
After Edith had gone Gadget sighed again and looked down at Brain.
"Women sure are confusing sometimes," he told his dog.
Brain whuffed in agreement.
That evening...
Gadget and Penny had finished dinner and were settling down to watch the evening news when there was a sharp knock at the door.
"Gadget, it's Quimby," said a familiar gruff voice. Penny exchanged a concerned glance with Brain as Gadget opened the door to let his boss in. Her uncle had refused to discuss why Quimby wanted to see him earlier today but she could tell by the look on Quimby's face that something serious had happened.
"The FBI has taken over everything," growled Quimby without preamble. He looked furious - far angrier than Penny had ever seen him. "They're letting me stay on to help - probably your friend Donovan's doing," he added, shooting Gadget a look. "But we need to move fast before they freeze us out completely."
"Uncle Gadget, what's going on?" said Penny. Quimby blinked and finally seemed to notice the girl who was watching both men anxiously.
"Hello, Penny," he said shortly. "You're looking better. And I'm sorry, but I'm not able to discuss this with you." He turned back to Gadget. "Well, are you still in?"
"Yes. I'm seeing this through to the end, Chief," said Gadget, a familiar look of stubborn determination coming over his face.
Quimby stared up at Gadget for a moment, seeming to make a silent decision before nodding.
"You'll need this then," he said, tossing something heavy and wrapped in leather to Gadget.
He caught the object and unwrapped it and then froze in surprise. It was his old service revolver and shoulder holster.
Penny stared.
Gadget looked from the holster to Quimby. "I don't carry a gun anymore, Chief."
"I know," growled Quimby. "But the FBI is taking the lead on this. I have no say. The only way they'll let you come along without your gadgets working is if you're armed and follow their orders to the letter. It's your call, Gadget. I'll be waiting in the car. Hurry up!" he added before leaving.
There was a heavy silence after the door had closed. Gadget looked back down the holster, surprised at how good condition the leather was in. He had no idea Quimby had kept it all these years. He hesitated for another moment before pulling the revolver out, making sure it was unloaded. He opened the chamber and spun it - the gun was clean and in pristine condition.
Penny watched as Gadget handled the gun with the easy skill of a seasoned police officer. She had never seen him even touch a gun before.
Gadget snapped the chamber closed and placed it back in the holster before pulling the straps over his shoulders.
"Wowsers, this is a bit tighter than I remember," he said, frowning as he twisted to attach the harness to his belt.
"I've never seen you use a gun, Uncle Gadget," said Penny quietly. Seeing it made the situation almost surreal.
Gadget looked up from the strap he had been trying to loosen - his torso was wider now with added muscle and steel mass - to look at his niece.
"I've no intention of using it, Penny," said Gadget, a rare look of utter seriousness coming across his face.
"I know, Uncle," said Penny. She stepped forward and fixed the strap he had been struggling with, careful not to jostle the holster. "Be careful," she said, holding onto the leather for a moment as she looked up at her uncle.
Gadget nodded and Penny stepped back. "Good luck, Uncle Gadget."