Chapter 22
Leonard sat there for a moment, trying to piece together all that was said the last few minutes. He was not going to be given to the police, but the Military was not letting him go either, however not for killing someone, because he used the suit to help? In a way it made no sense to him, and prison was prison, so it really didn't matter, he was still going to jail like he knew all along. He looked back at Turner, "So what is happening to us?"
"Well you and Mr. Wolowitz do present a little bit of a problem to the US Government, we can't have you just running around on the loose, with no supervision or worse building some kind of death ray."
"If we promise that we won't do that, would that help?" Leonard offered quickly, he was having trouble believing what he was hearing, Turner seemed to be joking around with him. It was actually making Leonard a little mad, that Turner would think it was funny talking about his and his friends lives.
Turner chuckled, "That's really not good enough Dr Hofstadter, your life is going to change, I'm afraid, the Government needs to control you both, and I've been ordered to make you an offer I want you to really think about hard, because we don't have an option at this point."
Leonard was not in a good mood right now, but Turner's offer raised a little hope in his mind. "Okay, what is your offer."
"You and Mr. Wolowitz are going to join the US Army."
Leonard looked at Turner in shock, if Turner had given him a million chances to guess what the Army wanted of him, he would never had picked that one. "Um…..Your kidding…. right?"
Turner shook his head and his expression turned to one of all business. "No Dr Hofstadter, I am very serious."
All Leonard thought was 'this is unbelievable'. He still had trouble believing Turner had just offered this option. "I find that a little hard to believe, Colonel. Howard and I aren't really Army material and we aren't in that great physical shape. I don't think we would make it through boot camp. There is no other option?"
"I'm sorry Dr Hofstadter, there is no other option, but it is not what you think. I've read both your files, this is like when Wolowitz went to space, he would have never made it through astronaut training, if he just applied, but they needed his mind and skills up there, so even though he had some problems, NASA was happy with what he did in space for them, he performed perfectly. So like NASA, we don't need or care for you to be soldiers, we want you as scientists, and we believe you will both fit perfectly in this role for the Army. You will be brought in under the medical commissioning program and go through a two week orientation course, before you are commissioned as Lieutenant Colonels in the Army medical system. You will not be line officers and you will not be ordering anyone around, but you will belong to the US Army and you will continue your research for us."
"Two weeks huh." Leonard had not expected that, now he had more questions. "Where would we have to go to do our research?"
"No where, you can do it at Cal Tech, the Army will fund it, we will just have to set up a secure area for you to work. I however, don't think the university will object to a lot of Government money to fund your research." Leonard nodded, he knew President Siebert would be thrilled.
"Will you be the person we answer too?"
"Probably at first. You will be reservists, so when you pull your duty weekend each month, you will brief us on your progress. During the summer you will have two weeks duty where you can demonstrate your accomplishments."
Leonard nodded, then it finally dawned on him as he looked at Turner wide eyed, "So I sort of have my life back?"
"Sort of, but make no mistake you and Wolowitz, will belong to the Army. That means you will tell us everything that we want to know and will help us with this project to the best of your capabilities. Also, if you screw any of this up, you have to answer to us." Leonard slowly nodded.
Leonard then got worried, "What happens to Penny? I'm not doing this if Penny is still in trouble."
"Penny is being debriefed right now. We will tell her she can't talk about this or she will get in trouble. You two seem pretty close, I would like to tell her that her secrecy will keep you out of jail, if you think that will help her keep quiet and motivate her to stay quiet."
Leonard again slowly nodded, "She said she wants to marry me." he said quietly, then with a little more conviction, "I'll talk to her."
"Good, I hope you said yes. Her as your wife, would make security on this matter a lot better."
Leonard sat and thought about it, "I never gave her an answer."
Turner saw the look on Leonard's face and decided not to say anything more about marriage to Leonard. "Okay, I'll tell Major Gray about what we talked about. Now I would like you to talk to Major Lee, he is a lead engineer, in the Army's scientific research branch. He has spent all morning looking at the suit you wore and he has some technical questions for you that we would like you to answer. If you can get everything answered, we can see that you have dinner with your Penny at the base dining hall later."
Leonard nodded and Major Lee started to ask questions from list he had on a pad in front of him. Leonard actually like Lee, he was definitely an engineer of the same caliber as Howard, so they got into a very relaxed question and answer session before long. Leonard answering all the questions he had the answer for and then advising Lee on the questions Howard knew the answers.
-TIN MAN-
Howard joined Leonard at about 8 PM and they were left alone for about 15 minutes. "Leonard, did they tell you we had to join the Army?"
"Yeah, what do you think."
"This is freaking amazing. We are not going to jail."
Leonard smiled, "Yeah your are right we are not going to jail. The girls aren't going to be punished either."
"Yeah, that is even better. I'd have gone crazy if they locked Bernadette up."
"I know exactly what you mean, buddy." Leonard nodded to his friend.
"It won't be so bad, we don't have to go through boot camp, well two weeks only, and we are going to be Lieutenant Colonels, with uniforms and everything. Sort of pretty cool."
"Uniforms huh, I never thought about that." Leonard shook his head at his friends excitement. "You know when you wear the uniform, you are going to have to get a hair cut." Leonard reminded him.
"Aw Crap! I didn't think about that, oh well it is still cool." They talked for the rest of time and both were convinced it was the only option and they didn't mind if it was going to keep them out of jail.
"I wonder when we will have to do all this?"
"Leonard, they are not letting us go till this is all done. They told me if we agree, we are going to be flown to an Army training Post Monday morning and we will stay there until done. After we are officially in the Army and trained, they will let us go home."
Leonard was sort of surprised but then not surprised, because Turner did make it sound that it all was going to happen quickly. He just had to make Penny understand that he was only going away for a couple of weeks then could come home to her. After the 15 minutes were up, Major Gray came to get them and provide them their schedule for the rest of the weekend. First would be dinner, then they would sign their enlistment paperwork, having the rest of the evening at the visiting officers quarters, under guard, Sunday they would take their enlistment oath and then they would be flown to the training post Monday morning. Leonard asked if Penny could stay the night with him and Howard wanted the same question answered about Bernadette, Gray said she would ask, then Gray took them both to the dinning hall to meet Penny and Bernadette.
-TIN MAN-
When they both entered the dinning hall, Howard grabbed a table with Bernadette while Leonard walked over to Penny's table. No sooner that he walked up to her, Penny jumped up and put him in another straggle hug, making him flinch in pain, but he really didn't care, feeling her against him was so comforting, so he could deal with a little pain.
Penny also felt him flinch and loosened her hold on him a little. "Sweetie, I missed you so much, are you alright?"
"Yeah, really not bad, I found out I'm not going to jail."
Penny smile even got larger, "That is so wonderful" then she kissed him. They both then sat down next to each other, Penny holding his hand, as she sat there staring at him for a moment.
Leonard knew what she wanted to ask him something and he thought he knew what she wanted to ask. "Yes"
Penny's smile now got so much larger, seeming to spread, even went to her eyes, then she leaned over and kissed him, very passionately, "I love you Leonard, even though things are better now, I still want you in my life forever. I really want to be your wife."
Major Gray suddenly appeared and looked at Leonard and Penny, feeling a little bit embarrassed because she could see they were having a serious moment. "Dr Hofstadter tonight has been approved." She then turned and quickly left, leaving Penny to look at Leonard confused.
"Howard and I have to go to training Monday, in another state, until we leave we cannot leave the base. Part of our release contract is that we join the Army, so they sort of control us, so I am spending the next two nights here. The good news is though, that after we are done with training, they said we can come home and work here. We are going to stay in some kind of officers quarters tonight and they said you can stay with me tonight, if you want."
Penny nodded quickly, "Yes I do, definitely. How long will you be gone?"
"They told us a couple of weeks only, so it won't be too long."
"Maybe for you, but it is going to be much too long for me." Penny nervously giggled, then got real quiet.
Leonard immediately noticed the change, "Penny, what's wrong."
"I just went through something that made me realize how short life was, so just humor me for a minute, okay?" She was looking directly into Leonard's eyes, he just nodded.
"Honey, Bernadette had to marry Howard before he left for space, well I really understand why now, I am feeling sort of the same thing." Penny looked at him very seriously.
Leonard was stunned, "Penny a lot has happened, don't you want to think about this after everything is back to normal?"
"Honey, I have been thinking about it since a week ago, when I realized how unhappy I was without you. These last two days, have just confirmed what I was thinking, I know I want to marry you, that I am sure."
Leonard nodded, he couldn't describe how he felt, yesterday she swore she loved him and now she wanted to marry him. "I'm just a little surprised you want to get married so soon."
"Leonard, I don't know to explain it, but I want it so bad, it hurts. Can you just accept that?" Loenard just nodded.
Leonard looked around for Major Gray and when he caught her eye, she came over to their table. "Do you need something Dr Hofstadter?"
"Yes, I have another request."
-TIN MAN-
Leonard and Penny finally started eating and just talked while they ate, enjoying each others company. Major Gray came back to the table, with Howard and Bernadette, and with a Sergeant Wilson, after about an hour, to take Leonard and Howard to get their paperwork done, Sergeant Wilson took Penny and Bernadette directly to the officers quarters. It was only another hour later when Howard and Leonard joined their wife and girlfriend.
It had been only an hour since Penny and Bernadette had seen their men, but considering their situation, every separation was hard on them. Both girls grabbed their men in passionate embraces, however that is where the similarities ended. Bernadette and Howard's passion escalating with each touch and kiss, while Penny, being careful not to cause Leonard any more pain, than he was already experiencing from his ordeal. Both couples did find themselves in their beds soon after the men arrived, both for different reasons though.
Bernadette's worry about being separated from Howard, had been forcing her emotions into overdrive all day and finding out he was not going to be taken from her, except for training, had just added to that emotion. That morning, while still dark, she had loved him because she was terrified it might be her last chance, now she was so happy that she would still have him, she just wanted to love him till they both collapsed from exhaustion. He hadn't been in the room more than 10 minutes, before Bernadette had him completely naked, in her bed, the only thought in her head that she was definitely going to rock his world.
Penny held Leonard in her arms, never wanting to let him go again, his body next to her the only thing she desired or wanted ever again in this world. She had also know Leonard for five years and she could feel how worn out he was, so knowing that was the only thing that made her let him go from her embrace. She had prayed for this moment, when he would be with her again, and she could take care of him, so she gently lead him over to the bathroom so she could help him wash and get ready for bed, she knew he needed rest. It was almost an hour later when she had him clean and in fresh hospital scrubs laying in bed next to her.
"Thank you, Penny."
Penny smiled as she cuddled a little closer to his side. "Sweetie, That was more for me than you will ever understand, but you are welcome. I love you Leonard and I know it took me a long time to say it, but I have for a long while and I promise to never let you forget it."
"I love you too. This is nice, isn't it." Leonard moved his arm so it was around Penny's head, inviting her to put her head on his shoulder.
It was never about sex between them, it was always about being together, talking and cuddling, even though the sex was great, Leonard gave her something other men never did, true companionship, and she never doubted that he loved her. She moved her head so it was partly on his shoulder and partly on the pillow, and it brought her face so close to his face she couldn't help kissing his cheek. He adjusted his arm to pull her a little closer, which she gladly did, putting her hand gently on his chest, being so close to him again finally relaxing her. They both of them fell asleep moments later.