Sorry for the delay, folks. I had to take a break due to some health issues; I hope everyone is having an awesome summer so far. I'm working on some other IG stories as well, so hopefully those will be coming soon!

14. Confessions and Planning

Gadget woke to the sound of a heavy rainstorm outside. A cool breeze blew in through the partially open window and he felt Penny shiver next to him. "Go go Gadget arm," he mumbled without opening his eyes. The limb obligingly extended outwards, shutting the window and pulling the curtains closed before retracting again. Gadget opened his eyes, blinking as his vision automatically adjusted to the dim light before focusing on his niece. At some point in the night she had moved onto her back. Her face was turned towards Gadget, one arm resting across her middle and her other hand resting on the pillow next to her head. She looked peaceful despite the horrid shadows under her eyes and pale face.

He gazed for a long time at the beloved face, torn between never wanting to let Penny out of his sight again and running as far away as possible to keep her safe. To let her finally be free of him.

'Maybe the person she really needs protection from is you, Inspector…'

More awake now, Gadget sat up, rubbing at his eyes. Part of him knew Quimby was right, that he couldn't just leave Penny without talking to her, but the other side of Gadget couldn't shake the deep shame and sense of failure that had been haunting him for weeks. Penny stirred slightly next to him and he ran his fingers through her hair, smiling softly when she stilled again. He could never hurt this precious creature, not in a thousand years. Gadget would rather tear his own limbs off than cause his niece any further pain. He just wished he knew what the right choice was.

'I want to protect you, Penny, that's all I ever wanted, but I don't know how to anymore!'

"Oh Penny," he whispered. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"

A soft knock interrupted his thoughts and he immediately tensed. "Gadget, it's me," Quimby called softly through the door. "You still alive in there?"

Gadget eased himself out of the bed and went to the door, checking the keyhole to confirm it was Quimby before opening it slightly. "I'll be out in a minute," he mumbled. Quimby nodded and he closed the door and dressed quickly, careful not to wake Penny. He made sure the door to his room was locked before following Quimby towards the elevator. "So what next?" Quimby asked as they headed towards one of the large meeting rooms that they had reserved. Gadget shrugged. "I don't know, Quimby. I just don't know."

"How's Penny?"

"Asleep," replied Gadget, unwilling to say more due to his tumultuous emotions.

"INTERPOL wants to talk to her-"

"No." Gadget stopped short and turned to fix Quimby with a glare.

"Gadget-"

"No, Quimby. She needs rest. Tell your agents to stay away from my niece, do you hear me?"

Quimby sighed and shook his head but chose not to press the matter, at least for now. The meeting room was already filled with several agents, along with several pieces of strange equipment Gadget didn't recognize. Quimby gestured for the other agents to leave the room before turning to Gadget again. "I need to go talk to Campbell, see what our next steps are."

"He's not here, sir. He left yesterday," one of the agents replied on his way out.

Quimby frowned. "Without telling me?"

"Yes, sir. He asked me to tell you that he had to return to London immediately but he'll be in touch."

"Odd," muttered Quimby. The agent continued, "We've got some paperwork we've got to sort through, sir. As you're second in command…"

"It falls to me," sighed Quimby. "Fine. I need to regroup with MI6 anyway, and contact the Metro City PD." He shot Gadget a wry glance. "And deal with the reporters."

The agent nodded and gave Gadget an uncertain look on the way out. "Don't touch anything," he warned before following Quimby out.

After they had gone Gadget glanced over the technology laid out on the table, noting that most of it looked like communications systems. One small object in particular caught his eye and he bent down to read the description. Grining, Gadget grabbed the item and stuck it in his shirt pocket before going in search of some food.

He went back to the front desk where a friendly clerk assured him that she could have some food brought up shortly.

"Is that your dog, sir?" she asked, nodding behind him. Gadget turned to see Brain trotting up to him, tail wagging. "There you are," he said, smiling at the dog before turning back to the clerk. "Yes, he's mine. I'm sorry he got out - he's a guide dog and far smarter than me," Gadget added with a smile at Brain.

"No harm done. We'll have your meal delivered shortly."

Gadget thanked the clerk and gestured to Brain to follow him. Once they were back in his room Gadget knelt on the floor. "Brain, come here please."

Puzzled but obedient, Brain came and sat in front of Gadget, putting his head out in his way of asking his ears to be scratched. Gadget smiled and rubbed that spot Brain could never reach on his own. "I don't know how you were able to find Penny but I'm thankful you were with her, just like you have been all these years."

Brain gave a startled whuff and Gadget nodded. "Yes, I got my memories back, Brain - that's a long story - and I remember everything. And wowsers, I don't know how you put up with me all these years. You were a far better guardian to Penny than I ever was," he added. There was no resentment in his voice, only a deep and heavy sadness.

Gadget pulled back and drew the object he had taken earlier from his pocket and held it out to Brain. "It's a translation device," he explained as Brain sniffed it curiously. "It's not much but it was the least I could do. No more disguises, no more chasing after me, no more risking your life."

Gadget paused before slipping the translator on. "Brain, before I put this on, I just want you to know that...well, you're the best friend I could ever ask for. I still remember those days when it was just you who kept me company while I was stuck in that hospital. It helped me more than you'll ever know." He grimaced at the memory of his early days as a cyborg before continuing. "'Sorry' doesn't even begin to make up for everything you've put up with over the years, but I'm sorry all the same. You are a good dog, Brain. Thank you for everything you've done for Penny, and for me."

Gadget clipped the device onto Brain's collar and drew back, resting one arm on his knee. He gave Brain a small smile. "Alright, Brain. Let me have it."

Brain looked down at the collar and then up at Gadget. "Does this thing work?" he barked, or rather said, and he let out another excited bark. "Hey, this really does work! This is amazing - wait until I show Penny!"

Gadget smiled at the dog's excitement. "I'm glad you like it." He grew more serious again. "I really am sorry, Brain."

A bit calmer now, Brain gave him a familiar, exasperated look. "Well, I'll admit that I did get pretty frustrated at times, but I knew it wasn't your fault. Just one thing, okay?"

"What's that, boy?"

"Please don't ever try to kiss me again."

Gadget winced as he recalled at the times Brain's female disguises had fooled him. "Deal."

Brain jumped onto his hind legs and licked his face. Gadget laughed again and ruffled the dog's ears. "Where have you been all night, by the way?"

"With Quimby," explained Brain as they headed back towards Gadget's room. "We got some dinner and then I scoped out the hotel. It seems safe enough." He paused and looked up at Gadget. "Do you trust those agents?"

"Not a chance."

"Me neither," replied Brain. Gadget smiled.

The familiar sensation of long fingers stroking through her hair slowly woke Penny. She sighed and opened her eyes to see Gadget sitting on the bed next to her. He smiled down at her, still looking tired but not as haggard as the other day. "What time is it?" she mumbled, trying to see the digital clock on the other side of the room.

"About, uhm…" his neck extended outwards as Gadget looked over her shoulder at the clock on the nightstand. "Almost six o'clock. I ordered us some breakfast, or I guess I should say dinner," he added with a soft chuckle. "How'd you sleep?" he asked, brushing more hair out of face.

"Fine. You?"

"Better," Gadget replied quietly. Penny slowly sat up, frowning as she looked around the room. "Where's Brain?"

"I'm right here Penny," replied Brain from the side of the bed, raising his head.

Penny felt her mouth drop open. "Brain, did you just…you can talk! But how-"

"It's this translation device. Gadget found it - pretty neat, huh?"

"This is amazing!" Penny hugged Brain as he jumped on the bed and licked her face. "Where did you find this, Uncle Gadget?"

"I, er, borrowed it from INTERPOL," he explained. Penny's eyebrow rose and he added, "I consider it payment from INTERPOL to Brain for everything he's done for us over the years. It's long past due."

The bell rang and Gadget stood. "That must be our food. I'll be right back."

Penny nodded and watched him go. Despite his attempts to appear otherwise Gadget seemed troubled. She had the nagging suspicion that he wasn't telling her something but decided not to press him just yet, especially after seeing him so distraught yesterday. It was so strange, seeing this grave, serious man in place of the bumbling but always confident and determined inspector she had grown up with.

She slowly got out of bed and pulled on one of the bathrobes provided by the hotel. Brain followed her into the suite's main room where Gadget had already set out a tray of food. To Penny's surprise, Gadget offered her the coffee pot first. He had never allowed her to drink coffee before, insisting it wasn't good for her. She took it with a small smile and poured a cup, sighing in relief at the warm drink.

They ate in silence for a while and both Penny and Brain could tell that Gadget was nervous about something. He kept fidgeting in his seat and when the food was almost gone Penny decided enough was enough.

"Uncle, that factory, we've got to-"

"We aren't doing anything," he interjected sharply. "You're going back to Metro City with Brain and Quimby."

Penny reeled back. "What do you mean? What about you?"

Gadget stood and walked away from the table, his back turned as he paced restlessly. "INTERPOL isn't just going to let me walk away and go back to my old life, Penny." He stopped pacing and looked at her, his face filled with exhaustion. "I think it's best if you stay with the Quimbys when you get back."

Shocked, Penny stood and walked towards him. "What are you talking about? For how long?"

"Permanently."

That one word stopped her cold in her tracks. He was actually sending her away? "What about you?"

"Don't worry about me, Penny." Gadget's voice was firm even though she could see pain in his platinum grey eyes. "This is for the best."

She could not believe what she was hearing. "You're letting them take you away? Just like that? Uncle Gadget, you can't!"

"Yes I can, Penny. I may not have had any say in what they - they did to me," he swallowed. "But I'm not letting them anywhere near you. If turning myself over to INTERPOL guarantees your safety then I'm happy to make the trade."

Penny wanted to shake him. "Well how noble of you!" she shot back. "What about how I feel? Did you think of that? You and Brain are the only family I have left! All I ever wanted was to keep you safe and you're just throwing it all away!"

"Penny, that's not-"

She ignored him, years of frustration finally pouring out. "It's easy for you to be the self-sacrificing hero, isn't it? What about the promise you made all those years ago that you'd never leave me? Didn't that mean anything to you?"

Gadget visibly flinched. "Penny, please calm down. You're going to hurt yourself…"

'Not as much as you just did,' she thought but didn't say the words out loud. Suddenly feeling drained, Penny staggered over to the bed and sat down on the edge, her back to her uncle. She tried to come up with some way to reason with him, to convince her uncle that this wasn't going to help but couldn't think of anything to say. Brain looked at them both, concerned but oddly silent. He seemed to be waiting for either one of them to say something.

It was Gadget who finally spoke and when he did his voice was hoarse and shaking with barely-controlled emotion. "That first night you stayed with me after losing your parents…you cried all night."

"I remember," Penny whispered, tears burning in her eyes but refusing to let them fall. Brain rested his head in her lap and she stroked the dog's ears as Gadget continued speaking. "That night I promised myself as I held you in my arms that nothing would hurt you again, that I'd keep you safe, make you happy as best I could. I never, ever thought that I'd end up being the one that hurt you the most," Gadget finished in an agonized whisper.

His voice shook and Penny turned around to face him. "It seems no matter what I do you end up in tears. I'm sorry, Penny. You deserved so much more than I've given you over the years."

Before he had finished speaking Penny was shaking her head in denial. "Uncle Gadget, you were - are - the best parent I could have ever asked for!"

Gadget smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. "I wish I felt the same, Penny. How many times did you sacrifice time with your friends to chase after me? Time away from your own schoolwork?"

Penny couldn't think of anything to say to that, knowing that she couldn't lie to him. "And what if I hadn't gotten my memories back? Or if, God forbid, I got worse - that I became even more bumbling and clueless than I already was? Would you have sacrificed your whole life just to keep me safe?"

Penny had thought about that, not often, but it had haunted her over the past year as the prospect of graduation and college had grown closer. "I…I would've figured something out. I would never abandon you, Uncle Gadget."

"I know, Penny," he soothed. "Believe me, your sincerity and devotion are the only things I do trust right now, along with Brain too of course."

"I'd do anything for you, Uncle."

"That's a terrifying thing to hear, Penny." Seeing her confused expression Gadget quickly walked over to the bed and knelt in front of her. "I'm not questioning your sincerity, Penny. You've got so much to live for. I couldn't bear the thought of you sacrificing your future for my sake, or of you growing to resent me for it. I know you don't feel that way," he added quickly when Penny began to argue, "but Penny, you're still so young. You can't tell me that you didn't feel slighted at times. Please don't try to spare my feelings, Penny. That case with Lana Lamour? My behavior was appalling," he added with a grimace.

Penny was silent, knowing she needed to choose her words carefully so that they didn't end up in a similar situation to their last argument. "I did get frustrated at times," she admitted quietly. "But it was more because I knew your memories weren't your fault and you couldn't control a lot of your actions. I hated it when people made fun of you. I never cared about the credit, Uncle Gadget. Just you."

She held his gaze as she spoke and Gadget nodded after a moment. He sighed heavily and moved to sit on the bed next to her. "You're right, you know, about what you said back home."

Penny raised a brow. "Which part?"

"You said before that you weren't a child, and you're right. I just…don't know what to do anymore."

Penny reached forward and rested her hand on top of his own. "Sending me away won't help things, Uncle Gadget. You can't just give up and let M.A.D. win. That's not who you are."

"I don't know who I am anymore, Penny. John Brown died years ago, and 'Inspector Gadget' is just a fraud," he added, shaking his head when Penny started to protest. "It's true," he continued. "You know it is."

"The only thing I don't regret is being 'Uncle Gadget'. If you believe nothing else about me, Penny, believe that. I've no right to ask that of you, I know, but it's true."

Gadget leaned forward and pressed his lips against Penny's brow. "I know I've already said this, but I am so very sorry, my dearest," he whispered against her skin. "Sorry you had to put up with me and my idiotic ways," he said, his voice and body trembling with the strength of his feelings as he kissed across Penny's suddenly damp cheeks. "Sorry that I wasn't a better parent to you…" - more kisses down her chin and back up the slender bridge of her nose - "sorry you wasted your childhood chasing after me…"

Penny's heart broke as she listened to her uncle's litany of apologies. Apologies that had never been needed, but what he said next nearly made Penny gasp.

"Sorry I'm here when your parents aren't…"

"Stop."

Penny couldn't bear it anymore. Gadget tensed and started to pull away, thinking he had upset his niece, but she held fast to him, refusing to let him go.

"Uncle Gadget, you said that I'm an adult now. Well, will you listen to me, one adult to another?"

Gadget nodded.

"Losing my parents was horrible, yes, but I don't regret one moment of my life with you." Penny's voice dropped to a whisper as she reached up to hold her uncle's face, her hands stroking through his hair that had more grey streaks than she remembered.

"Don't you know how much I love you?" she continued, smiling when Gadget placed a hand over her own, kissing her fingertips. "I think you're more human, and have more honor and integrity, than any person I've ever met. To survive what you went through…Uncle Gadget, you're so much stronger and braver than you know.

"You said you don't know who you are anymore. Well, I do. You're my Uncle Gadget, and a good man." Still holding his face in her hands Penny leaned forward and rested her brow against his own. "Please don't give up, Uncle Gadget. Not now."

Gadget swallowed and took a moment to find his voice. "You're right," he finally managed with a nod. "I shouldn't have made that decision for you." He took Penny's hands in his, stroking his thumbs in soothing circles over the back of her hands. "So I'm asking you now - what do you want, Penny? You're old enough to start making decisions about your own future. Please, don't think about what I might want, or Quimby, or anyone else. Just put yourself first."

"I-I'm not sure, Uncle." She paused and, trying to buy some time to sort out her thoughts, turned the question around. "What about you?"

"Me? Well, I think I'll retire. Maybe I could take up golfing." Penny had a sudden image flash in her mind of her uncle in one of those old-fashioned golf outfits and let out a soft laugh.

"Just like that? But you could…I don't know…Uncle Gadget, you're not yet forty. You're still young. You could get married, have your own children…" she trailed off, horrified by what she had just said.

Gadget's eyes were sad and tired. "I can't have children, Penny. But I think you already knew that."

"I'm so sorry, Uncle Gadget. They showed me your medical file. I told them I didn't want to read it, but…"

"Shh. I know, Penny," he reassured her, taking a deep breath before continuing. "When I had recovered enough from the…the surgeries," Gadget paused and grimaced, "Professor Von Slickstein told me that I wouldn't be able to have children of my own. At the time I wasn't really aware of things and it really didn't hit me until a few years later. Now that I think about it, it was probably my mind trying to keep whatever sanity I had left intact," he added with a humorless smile.

"I'm so sorry," Penny whispered.

"I'm not. If I had the choice of being a man again but without you, I'd choose this."

Penny smiled, hating that tears were slipping out of her eyes again. Gadget leaned forward and affectionately brushed his nose against her own before kissing her damp cheek. "No question at all, Penny," he murmured in her ear. "Life as a man would mean nothing to me if I didn't have you in it."

He drew back and tenderly brushed her hair behind her ear. "You don't have to decide anything right now, Penny. But if you want to spend some time with the Quimbys when we get back…well, I'd completely understand."

Penny felt a sliver of her earlier uncertainty return. "You want me to go?"

"No." Gadget brought her hand up and gently kissed her knuckles. "But I want you to put yourself first. Just promise me you'll think about it, that's all I ask."

Penny nodded and leaned forward until her brow touched Gadget's. "Okay," she whispered. "But only if you promise me something too. Well, actually two things."

A small but sincere smile tugged at Gadget's mouth. "What's that?" he asked, running his fingers through her hair.

"Promise me that you'll treat yourself with the same fairness you do everyone else. You're a man, not a machine, Uncle Gadget. Please don't ever forget that." She stroked the sharp angle of his cheek, the slight hint of stubble warm and reassuring. Gadget nodded and leaned into her touch, feathering her fingers with light kisses as she stroked his cheek, the soft touch making her giggle. Gadget smiled and leaned back so he could see her face, still gently teasing her hair.

"I promise. And the second?"

"Please stop making decisions for me - I know you mean well - but you don't have to keep punishing yourself, okay? We'll figure this out together, as a team - you, me and Brain. I'm not leaving you."

"I don't think there's anything you can't do, Penny."

"I'm sorry too, you know."

"For what?"

"For lying to you, for not keeping the promise I made to you about not keeping things from you. I never meant for things to go on for so long, Uncle. It's just…"

"Shh," he gently shushed her, taking her shoulders again, his thumbs rubbing soothing circles against her skin. "I know, Penny."

"Okay," she giggled. "How about we both stop apologizing?"

"Deal," Gadget smiled before growing somber again. "But we still need to decide what to do about INTERPOL."

"Do you trust them?"

"Not as far as I can throw them. Which is, er…actually quite a bit, probably. But you know what I mean."

Penny nodded. "Dee and Zeta helped me escape, Uncle Gadget. I'm not going to just abandon them."

"Who?"

"I'll explain everything, but I think we need Chief Quimby to hear this too." Gadget nodded and Brain hopped to his paws. "I'll go get him," he said. Gadget followed Brain and opened the door for him, who returned a few minutes later with Quimby in tow. The chief gave Gadget an exasperated look. "Gadget, I'm not even going to ask how Brain got hold of that translation device."

Penny giggled and to her surprise Quimby suddenly pulled her into a one-armed embrace. "Thank God you're alright," he said gruffly before releasing her. Penny smiled at Quimby. "I'm okay."

"So what's up?" he asked as he joined Gadget, Penny, and Brain at the table. Penny pushed the coffee pot towards him and waited until Quimby had poured himself a cup before speaking.

"Uncle Gadget and I talked, and I'm not going anywhere," said Penny firmly. Brain nodded. "Me neither."

"Thought so," chuckled Quimby. "Good girl, Penny. I tried to tell Gadget as much but he's as stubborn as you," he added, smiling as Gadget coughed and sputtered a bit before growing serious again. "But we've still got a big mess to clean up, and we've no idea where Claw is right now. I don't know how I'm going to convince INTERPOL to leave you alone, Gadget."

"Well, I might be able to help with that," said Penny, a familiar, determined spark coming back to her eyes. "Listen…"