Chapter 46 - Penny's Healing
That Friday, was also the day Penny and Leonard got to take a weekend away from the hospital and Wyatt picked them up right after Leonard took his shower from afternoon physical therapy. They were in Penny's parent's living room two hours later, Leonard stretched out on the couch resting from his physical therapy workout and the trip. It actually felt good to be in a house instead of the hospital and he felt good watching Penny actually scampering around happily after she got there, putting things away and interfacing with her parents.
"Sweetie, are you comfortable? Here is the remote for the TV. If you don't mind, I'm going to help my mom with dinner, but all you have to do is shout and I'll be right back, Okay?" Penny told him while she pushed a pillow behind his back.
"Okay, I'll be fine. I really think, I'm just going to take a nap." Leonard assured her. The working out all day in Physical Therapy, the trip to the farm, plus all the walking around on crutches finally getting to Leonard.
"Honey, wouldn't you like to rest on the bed, it is so much more comfortable." Penny sat down next to him putting her arm around him.
"Maybe that is a good idea," Leonard got up with Penny's help and then went slowly went up the stairs and finally into her old room. Very happy that the first thing they taught him, with crutches, was how to go up and down stairs.
Penny smiled at the new bed in her room, one obviously made for two people, instead of her previous single, and she put a blanket over her husband as soon and he laid down. Penny then stood back up and looked down at him, seeing his eyelids droop and really realizing how tired he actually was. "Okay, Honey, you just rest, alright" Penny then leaned down and gave him a kiss that lasted probably longer than it should have, actually making Penny have to fight the urge to just crawl in bed with him.
Finally breaking the kiss, she softly sighed "Yell for me Sweetie, if you need anything." Leonard nodded and gave her a little smile, again making her want to climb in bed with him. Penny then went to the door, looking back to see his eyes closed, forcing herself to leave and head downstairs to her mom.
Penny entered the kitchen, "Hey Mom need some help?"
"That is okay Sweetie, you can stay with Leonard." Meryl responded.
Penny bit her lip. "Leonard is taking a little nap and….Um…..Mom can you teach me to cook?"
Meryl stopped to look at her daughter, suddenly Penny looked like an adult to her. "Sure Sweetie, let me show you what I am doing."
-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-
Penny opened the bedroom door, it had been almost an hour, and as the roast had another hour to cook she thought she would just lay with him. However, walking into the room, seeing him laying there, brought back memories she thought she had suppressed, since he had gotten better. She found herself looking at his chest, praying it was moving, checking color of his face and starting to walk up to touch him to make sure he was warm, like she had done when he was in his coma, to make sure he was alive. The relief of touching his warm hand, finally got to her, the tears now falling down her cheeks, she now understood how easily she could loose him and it terrified her.
From the day she had watched him walk off to danger, she knew he was part of her, and since that day, the thought of not having him, bringing up feelings in her that were both real and frightening. The months since then only proved to her how foolish she had been, thinking that everything would stay the same and she had plenty of time, while watching time slip out of her hands when she saw him in that hospital bed. Leonard was so much the one, he was part of her soul, she couldn't have a life without him, he had become her world but she could not forget she had almost lost him. She laid down next to him, putting her head against his, closing her eyes while trying to get closer to him.
Leonard had been laying with his eyes closed, he had not been really sleepy tired, but physically tired from the days activities, so he was only half asleep the whole time. Penny's quiet entry into the room didn't disturb him, but her body next to his made him come awake quickly. "Penny?"
Her eyes quickly opened to look at him through the tears in them, she had wanted this for so long, just them, no hospital, him there to comfort her, she had needed Leonard, but she had to take care of him, it was just now that she could go to him for the comfort she needed, again. "Honey, do you want to talk about it?" He really didn't want to force the issue, especially seeing her now, so obviously upset.
"I'm sorry." Penny barely got out.
"Penny I love you, you have nothing to be sorry about, I just want to help." Leonard gave her a kiss on the lips and started to rub her back.
Penny grasped Leonard just a little bit tighter, she didn't know if he even realized how just him holding her made her feel so much better, it was like something she had been waiting for, to be in his arms, him holding her, for months. She slowly relaxed into him, she couldn't move, she wanted to stay like that forever, he was all she needed in her life. "I'm just still scared, Leonard…that I could still loose you. I don't know what I would do without you anymore."
Leonard closed his eyes, he never imaged she could feel this way, he always thought he was the only one that felt like that. He knew she loved him, but needed him and had to have him in her life was something he never imaged any woman would feel about him, especially this wonderful woman who was in his arms right now. "You know I feel the same way about you."
"I guess I've known that for a while. Leonard, I'm so ashamed, I knew something was really different about you and my feelings towards you after we broke up, years ago. I couldn't get over you." sniff "Those feelings scared me so bad. I didn't understand them." sniff "But now, everything that has happened, I feel like such an idiot, what if I lost you?" She trembled at the thought that accompanied those words.
He didn't know how to really respond to her, so he gave her a comforting squeeze, to delay his response, finally telling her, "It is amazing, isn't it, how little things can become so important at times like this." a small smile on his face as he looked at her.
Penny wanted shake him, he was making a joke, trying to cheer her up, it was so something he would do and she loved him for it. "Sometimes little things can be the biggest things in someone's life." She gave him a little smile back.
Leonard then turned serious, "I guess we just need to enjoy all the moments together and just hope for the best. We can't do anything about yesterday, we just can plan on tomorrow and the only thing I can promise you is that I plan on being very careful now and I won't put that thing on again."
"Well when I get you home, I'm never letting you go. We'll have to probably live in bed." Penny softly giggled.
Leonard chuckled, "You would get so bored with me, in a very short time."
Penny pushed herself closer until she was nose to nose with him. "Is this the face of a woman who looks like she will ever get bored of you." Leonard looked into her eyes and gave her a little shake of his head. Penny then closed the distance and kissed him.
-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-
Penny and Leonard were quiet at dinner, which at first made Penny's parents wonder what was happening. However, they both seemed hungry, and would look at each other and smile, while they ate. Meryl also noticed that they both ate one handed, never letting go of each others hand the whole time. She knew whatever had happened upstairs, had not effected their feelings for each other, so it would probably be okay.
That evening, after dinner, the family sat around the living room to watch TV, Penny tucked very close into Leonard, nuzzling him every so often, with a smile on her face. She couldn't believe how good it felt to just sit with him on an actual couch and be with her family watching TV. They ate some apple pie, Meryl found a dairy free recipe for, and some dairy free ice cream washed down with coffee while they sat, Meryl having made it all just for Leonard. The night turning out comfortable and relaxing for Leonard and Penny, which made Penny's parents feel good seeing the young couple seem to take pleasure in the whole evening.
After they finished eating desert, Leonard gave Penny a little kiss on her head, which was tucked below his chin, while he looked at her parents. "That was so good, thank you…" Leonard hesitated.
"Sweetie, call me mom or Meryl, we're family now." Meryl told Leonard and Penny nodded.
"I won't make you call me dad, just call me Wyatt Son." Wyatt added.
Leonard nodded, "That was so good, Meryl….mom." Meryl smiled.
"Sweetie are you tired?" Penny sat up now and had her arm around Leonard rubbing his back. It was strange to be in her home, so intimate with a guy, and her parents not giving her looks and her dad not giving the guy the evil eye. Being married with her husband at her parents house was sure different than when she remembered before with boyfriends, she really liked the change.
"I'm such a party pooper, now." Leonard teased.
"No sweetie, it is past nine-thirty already and we use to go to bed about ten at the hospital all the time. Plus this is a farm remember, my mom and dad usually go to bed around ten anyway." Penny assured him.
"She is right Son, we have to get up a dawn around here, so we go to bed early, too." Wyatt backed up his daughter.
"Well in that case, I am tired and want to go to bed." Leonard chuckled and he started to get up from the chair with Penny's help.
"Penny, are you guys okay upstairs, or do you want to use our bed, it is on the first floor." Meryl asked her daughter.
"No that is okay, they taught me to go up and down steps with crutches, and when I went up there earlier it wasn't that bad, so I should be okay as long as Penny follows me up."
Penny nodded, "He is really pretty good. So we'll just sleep in my old room."
"Okay dear, you two be careful and sleep well." Meryl and Wyatt left the living room and Penny and Leonard went to the stairs.
It took them almost an hour to finally get to bed, Leonard taking a shower, with Penny's help and getting ready for bed. The new queen size bed was so much more comfortable, compared to Penny's old bed and Penny immediately snuggled close to Leonard as they laid down together. Penny kissed Leonard pulling herself closer to him as she held him tight, it felt so good being in a real bed with him for the night, they both fell asleep almost immediately.
-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-TIN MAN-
In the hospital there was always someone coming to take vitals during the night, so actually sleeping all night without a single disruption was a new experience for Leonard and Penny. It was a little past 9 AM when they both were finally awake, after sleeping deeply for almost ten hours. They both used the bathroom then got back in bed again to just cuddle, Penny's mom having told her, the night before, to sleep as long as then wanted, just rest and relax that weekend. Penny felt like her battery had been replaced and she started to nuzzle Leonard, giving him little kisses, she was feeling so much better than the night before. When they finally came down about 11 AM, Penny's mom made them breakfast and they sat in the kitchen eating and talking until her dad came in at noon for lunch, which then became a nice little family meal with lots of discussion.
"This is great, I really appreciate all you have been doing for us." Leonard smiled at Meryl and Wyatt, who both smiled back.
"Sweetie, like I said last night, you're family now, so you don't have to thank us all the time." Meryl responded, Wyatt nodding with her.
"I understand, but at least I can complement you on that great meal last night, the food was so good, I don't know how long it has been since I ate like that." Leonard complemented.
"Penny made several of the dishes." Meryl told him, looking at her daughter, who blushed a little.
Leonard smiled at Penny, "Honey the food is delicious, you did a great job." He leaned over and gave her a kiss, which made her blush even more.
"So Son, it is good to see you moving around better. Did they say how long you would need to recover." Wyatt now joined the conversation.
"They said another three to four weeks. I have to be off crutches before I can leave." Leonard explained.
"What then?" Wyatt asked.
Leonard looked at Penny, "Daddy, Leonard is going to have convalescent leave, after they release him, for one to two months and they will pay him while he is on it. So we would like to stay a few of weeks here, if that is okay, because he will have to see the doctor every couple of weeks."
Wyatt got a big smile on his face. "That sounds great, it will give Leonard time to see the family and the family a chance to meet him."
Penny put her face in her hands. "Oh no." Leonard just chuckled.