Chapter 41 - Release
During the week that followed, Leonard was becoming more alert and staying awake a lot longer each time. The doctors gave him more tests and assured Penny and Meryl he was doing much better, but his memory was coming back slowly which was frustrating for him and Penny. Leonard knew who Penny was but he still thought of her as he did before they had dated three years ago. He was actually flirting with her now that he knew she was going to go out with him after he was better, which Penny decided was good because he seemed to want to heal quickly just to go out with her.
Penny still slept in a bed in Leonard's room, it was her place, because deep down inside she felt that home was were Leonard was, so her home was his room. Actually it was much better for her now, seeing him get better and knowing he was going to recover had taken a huge gray cloud from over her head, and she was starting to feel happiness again when she was with him. More and more each day he was with her and they talked, and she kissed him a lot, because it always brought a smile to his face, plus made her happy too. She was sleeping better now, not as good as when Leonard was close to her, but at least she was able to sleep soundly and as she hugged her mother that night, she felt tired and was welcoming that nights rest.
"Well Baby Girl, I'll be going for the night, you sleep well dear."
"Thanks Mom." Penny paused for a moment, "Mom do you think I'm doing the right thing, not telling Leonard I am his wife?"
"I don't know, the doctor says its up to you. It is sort of cute the way he flirts with you, was he like that before you dated?"
"He was more shy then. He has gotten more confidence the last year or two, and that seems to be who he is now." Penny then paused again. "Mom, I guess I don't want to tell him because I don't know how he will act."
"He loves you Sweetie, you can tell that even now, why are you worried?"
"I don't know why but I am." Penny thought for a moment, "I guess I don't want to know how he will react, will he be happy, surprised good or surprised bad and there is always the chance he will be just horribly shocked. I know I will always remember his reaction, so I don't want to take a chance, I just want him to remember and things go back to normal, like before the accident."
Meryl nodded, "Sweetie, it is your choice, but I think he loves you and you have nothing to worry about."
"Thanks Mom." Penny hugged her mom and Meryl left the room so Penny could go to sleep.
-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-
The next morning Penny woke up feeling somewhat rested, she quickly got up and got ready that morning, so she would be dressed before Leonard woke up and before anyone arrived to visit. Bernadette and Howard came in the night before, so they were going to visit Leonard that Saturday morning and Penny was looking forward to see them. She actually hoped that Leonard seeing them would help his memory recover even more.
Penny was sitting in a chair next to Leonard's bed, talking quietly to him, when Howard and Bernadette arrived in Leonard's room, Bernadette immediately going to hug Penny. Howard walked slowly to the bed, just looking at Leonard, the feeling of guilt now growing stronger in him as he faced the man he believed he let down. "I'm sorry Leonard."
Leonard looked at Howard, he knew this man, the face was so familiar. Then suddenly it was like the image just jumped into his mind, he saw this man standing below him, a laptop in his hand as he went over a checklist with him. He trusted this man, he was a friend and a excellent engineer and he knew his life depended on him, because without him the suit….the suit! Howard and him built a suit, the memories flooded into his mind and he suddenly smiled. "Howard, you're Howard."
Howard smiled and nodded, "Yeah, I'm Howard. How are you doing buddy?"
Leonard was really happy he was remembering and then he looked at Bernadette, there was something familiar about her too. "So who is this beautiful woman with you Howard." Then suddenly Leonard's smile dropped as he was concentrating again, a confused expression on his face now, as he turned back to look at Howard. "Your married aren't you, she is your wife?"
"Yes, that is Bernadette, my wife." Howard said with a smile. Bernadette and Penny smiled at him too, tears again in Penny's eyes.
However as Leonard looked at Bernadette and Penny standing together, his eyes got wide and he looked at Penny in shock. "You're my wife! Oh my God, we're married!" He looked at Howard in disbelief, "Penny and I are married?" Howard nodded, then Leonard looked back at Penny again to see her nodding, smiling with tears running down her cheeks. "You're my wife! You actually married me?" A big smile formed on Leonard's face as he shook his head is disbelief, "This is amazing. No wonder you agreed to go out with me, you're my wife." He was now looking at Penny again, smiling his goofy grin she loved so much.
It was the expression she had hoped to get from him, happiness and joy from finding out he was married to her, no regret or disappointment at all. She needed this, to know he loved her still, the last weeks took a toll on her and her mind just needed some reassurance that they were still both on the same page when it came to their future together. She felt terrible that she waited for him to discover it himself, she realized she was testing him, but she couldn't help herself, she had gotten that bad in her depression she needed something to make her feel better and his expression right now made her heart jump for joy.
Penny quickly moved to him and took his face into her hands, kissing him several times, then rubbing her nose on his cheek whispering 'I love you Honey' over and over to him. "I love you too Penny, God do I love you, I've loved you from the very beginning." Leonard lifted his hand to touch Penny's face, then brought his forehead to hers. "Wow what a great day." He whispered to her.
Penny smiled, "Honey, I promise you a lot more great days, I promise." making Leonard smile.
-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-
Later Penny went to dinner, in the hospital cafeteria with Howard, Bernadette and her mom, when Leonard took his nap, she actually felt safe being away from him for short periods now and her mom was leaving tomorrow so she wanted to spend some more time with her. They ate in silence for a couple of minutes, until Meryl couldn't stand the quiet anymore, she knew her friends were being considerate and waiting for her to start talking but Meryl was her mother so she just jumped right in. "Sweetie are you going to be okay after we all leave? I could call your father and arrange another week. I don't like leaving you alone."
Penny shook her head, and gave her mom a small smile. "I'm not alone anymore, mom, I have my husband back, I have Leonard."
-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-
Sunday Penny's mom left for home and Monday Howard and Bernadette left, but Penny was fine, the interaction with Howard was the stimulation that made things start to come back for Leonard and his memory got stronger everyday. Penny felt especially good that the things that came back the quickest and strongest where his memories of her and by the end of that week she really had him completely back and Penny started to really smile again. However, even though Leonard was now back mentally he still had physical injuries that needed to heal.
Penny took care of Leonard, she acted like his nurse, the actual nurses taking care of the pure medical parts of the his care, while she took care of everything else. Penny actually loved taking care of him, it made her feel so good inside being able to help him, and she really didn't want the other women touching him while she was there, she still had a little jealous streak in her when it came to him. However bath times were difficult for both of them, Penny was unable to give him a clinical sponge bath, she couldn't not caress him while she washed him and she couldn't help herself from kissing him from time to time during his bath. Leonard, on the other hand, was mesmerized by his wife, usually just staring at her the whole time, his memories of how it was to be with her, invading his mind as she would give him knowing smiles and then kiss him.
What really made the next few weeks go by quickly for Penny, was being able to talk and interact with Leonard. Leonard's memories came all back, except he would remain fuzzy about some of the little details, so he and Penny would talk and she would help him remember the fuzzy parts, which made them both feel better inside. Also, Leonard always made her laugh, but being bed ridden, seemed to really bring out the humor in him even more and he would get her laughing so hard sometimes she would have to go to the bathroom to change her underwear, because he made her pee herself from laughter. Penny was becoming Penny again, and as her soul filled with her love for her husband and their life together, she began for the first time since he was hurt to dream of a future of him and her together.
Leonard seemed to be healing quickly, his pelvis being the worse break in his body, but after nine weeks he was recovering from that injury too. Leonard's arm was now completely out of a cast and his leg was in a brace, he needed a lot of help to get out of bed, but at least now Penny could take him out of his room in a wheel chair, and she did, a lot. The first week, Leonard and Penny would spend the afternoons on the hospital patio, enjoying the fresh air and Leonard would even go down to the hospital cafeteria with Penny for a meal at least once every day. However, the second week, Penny took Leonard outside for walks around the Hospital and the nearby Post park, even having a picnic with him one afternoon near the end of the week.
That week something else happened, on one day Penny and Leonard had been out the whole day and by the time they got back, he was really tired and wanted to take a nap, Penny was even a little tired. Penny had helped Leonard get back into the bed and was just sitting on the edge tucking him in, smiling at him the whole time, finally leaning down to kiss him for his nap when Leonard put his arms around her, his strong right arm pulling her closer. It happened so fast, the next thing Penny knew they were really kissing, their tongues in each others mouths their breathing rapid and Penny had put her arms on both sides of Leonard as she got lost in the moment. This went on for a while until they both finally stopped to catch their breath, both noticing the dilated eyes of their mate. Penny just laying next to Leonard staring at him, surprised how amazing the last few minutes were.
Finally after a couple of minutes Penny found her voice. "Honey, you should sleep now."
"Lay with me. I just need you close right now." He gently pleaded.
There was no other place Penny wanted more to be. "Okay, but you have to rest." She then snuggled up to him unable to keep the sigh of contentment that came from her lips as she pressed herself close to him.
Leonard rubbed her back for a few seconds then put his hand down to give her butt a gentle squeeze, which made her jump, not from surprise, but for the electrical energy that shot through her body as his touch. "Sorry, didn't mean to surprise you."
"No, sweetie that wasn't it…" Penny then took his hand and slipped it down her pants until it was under her panties resting on her bare butt. Then as she cuddled close to him, she whispered, "It was just in the wrong spot Honey." Penny fell asleep a few moments later, being in Leonard's arms again, making her feel the most relaxed she had felt since this whole thing had happened.
Penny slowly woke up hearing the beating of Leonard's heart as she laid on his chest, she made a content sigh as she remembered why she was laying there with him. So she was surprised when Leonard started to talk. "Did you sleep well."
Penny moved slightly to look at him, "You should have woke me. How long have you been awake?"
"Not long, besides I couldn't wake you, you look so adorable sleeping, so I just watched you."
"Sweetie, you are the one healing, not me. I'm suppose to take care of you."
"You're my wife. I'm allowed to take care of you too." Leonard countered.
Penny gave in. "Okay, but I get to take care of you more." She leaned up to kiss him and immediately noticed that his hand was still in her pants on her bare butt, which made her giggle. "Still copping a feel Dr Hofstadter."
Leonard chuckled then started to rub her butt cheek, making Penny bite her lip, it actually felt really good and it sent a warm feeling through her. She now noticed everything about how they were touching, she was tucked into his arm, pressed against him, his hand rubbing her butt and her breasts were gently pressed against him too, she was having feelings she hadn't had for a long time. "Sweetie, please don't." she whispered to him, it was really starting to get to her.
Leonard immediately stopped, pulling his hand out to put his arm around her. "Sorry, I just…..Sorry."
"No Honey, don't be sorry…..It is just, I've missed you so much and it feels too good. I'll end up wanting to do more, but you know we can't, so…" Penny now had tears in her eyes. "Leonard I miss you holding me like this, I miss us sleeping together, I miss you touching me and I miss making love to you." She started to cry more and put her head back on his chest.
"Oh." Leonard rubbed her back as she quietly whimpered on his chest. "Penny the doctor said I will fully recover, we will do all those things again."
"I know." Leonard barely heard her muffled response.
"Penny, I promise I won't do this again. I will never put that thing on again, even if it seems safe, I won't do it. I won't take those things, you miss, away from you again." Leonard leaned forward and kissed the top of her head.
Penny pulled herself up so they were face to face, "I love you Leonard." She then kissed him, then they kissed and looked into each others eyes. Penny didn't sleep in the bed, that was in the room for her that night, she slept all night next to Leonard curled up along side him, no one made her move. Penny slept soundly that night, better than she had in a long time.
-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-
It was also Friday of that week when the doctor came into the room to talk to them about Leonard's future treatment. Leonard was sort of a miracle for everyone that was involved in his treatment and care, so he was special to everyone in the hospital who interfaced with him and so was Penny. He had beat the odds, and since the military was one big family, it was like one of their own family had survived something horrible, so they all wanted only the best for him. The main doctor treating him was therefore there that morning to try and made things better for both Leonard and Penny, he wanted to help them recover from all the pain they both went through.
"Dr Hofstadter, Mrs. Hofstadter." The doctor smiled at them both. "Dr Hofstadter, you are recovering better than we ever hoped and I have already told you that you will fully recover, in due time. The next step is physical therapy and that will probably take a month, but here is the thing, you can go through physical therapy at any major military hospital, so if you want you can go closer to home now."
Leonard nodded and smiled, then squeezed Penny's hand. "Is there a military hospital in Omaha?"
"Yes, Offutt Air Force Base is there and they have a big enough hospital."
"So can I go there?" Leonard looked at Penny who had been staring at him in surprise ever since he said Omaha.
"You sure Honey?" Penny looked at him with concern.
"Yeah, I would like to spend some time there. I need to meet my in-laws anyway." He gave her a smile.
"That should be fine." The doctor confirmed. "The MedEvac aircraft comes through once a week, so we could fly you there by Monday."
Leonard smiled, "Then Omaha it is."
"Great, I'll start the paperwork." The doctor got up and started to walk out, then stopped, "Lieutenant Colonel Hofstadter, I like to speak for everyone here to tell you it was a pleasure serving you. It may be hard for you to understand, but your recovery meant a lot to us too."
Leonard nodded, "Thank You."
Penny stood up and walked to the doctor, taking him in a quick hug, and telling him 'Thank you, too." The doctor was a little shaken up with emotion and just nodded then quickly left the room, leaving Penny and Leonard alone.
"You really want to go to Omaha, Honey?"
"Yeah, I would like to see your family and I want you around them for a while."
"Leonard, we are suppose to be getting you well, I can see them anytime."
"I know, but it would be nice to be around family, don't you think?" He looked at her as she thought. "I think this will be good for both of us." Again he looked at her, watching her think.
Finally Penny nodded. "Okay, Honey, anything you want. I just hope you don't want a divorce after spending the next month around my family." Penny leaned down and kissed him.