Sheldon is having feelings. Feelings he can not control. He turns to his friend to help him and together Sheldon and Amy try to solve his problem. Will the solution be the one either of them expected?
73
"Oh dear lord not again!" Sheldon groaned as he awoke with a start, perspiration drying on his brow and his Friday night pyjamas sticky and tangled. In the bathroom he avoided his reflection in the mirror and stood under the cold spray. He needed this to stop. Maybe today he would be able to strike up conversation and that would put an end to this nonsense!.
73
"Have you spoken to him?" Penny asked Leonard as she watched the door slam behind Sheldon for the third time that week.
"No. He won't stay still long enough. For the past 2 weeks he has even taken to getting the bus to work to avoid me!" Leonard frowned; "It is since Pauline started at work."
"Who's Pauline?" Penny asked sensing this was definitely the reason behind Sheldon's recent odd behaviour.
"She is one of the new lab technicians. It's weird though because usually Sheldon spends most days locked in his office with his white boards; but since seeing Pauline in the canteen the first Monday she arrived he has moved heaven and earth to get time in the lab."
"Ahhhh, Shelly has a crush!" Penny grinned, "I didn't think he was interested in women, I mean, I know he is friends with Amy, but they are just friends aren't they?"
Leonard nodded. "I have never seen him like this before, and what's more worrying is I think he may really like this girl!"
"Why is that worrying? It's sweet. It may do him good. How old is she? Pauline is not exactly a young persons name is it."
"No. But she is only about 25 I would guess, and her name is something that initially attracted him I think. When they were introduced he kept muttering 'Pauline, Einstein mother was called Pauline!' For the past month he has been... well pleasant is the only word for it really." Leonard grinned, "not here at home, here he has been absent! And again I am not complaining but it is weird!"
"Has Amy mentioned anything? I haven't seen her here lately."
"I don't think she knows. At least she hasn't been here so I am assuming Sheldon is avoiding her too. But enough of Dr Whackadoodle. Lets make the most of the peace."
And pulling Penny onto his lap he said "It's Saturday, he will be at work all day, or until it is time for laundry, what say we shuffle over to his spot and have fun!"
Penny laughed and kissed Leonard quickly, "Sorry sweetie, I have work too. In fact that's why I came over, could you give me a lift. I cant start my car."
Disappointed Leonard stood and moved to get his keys and jacket. "So much for making the most of a Sheldon free zone!"
73
"Hi Ames." Penny grinned from behind the bar at work. "Its not like you to come here on a Saturday night. Is everything OK?"
"Hey Penny, yes everything is fine. I was passing on my way home from work and I wanted to ask you a question. I would very much appreciate total honesty in your reply."
"OK..." Penny said hesitantly. Amy made her a little nervous, her blunt manor and scientific approach to everything was only matched by Sheldon and Penny had enough trouble talking to him.
"I just wondered if you knew what Sheldon was up too? We had plans to go to the science museum today and he cancelled, said he had to go to work."
"Well, as I arrived at theirs this morning he was dashing off," Penny grinned "and Leonard said he was using the lab."
"Ah that's OK, I thought he may have been avoiding me, he was upset when I won the last game of name the element, but if he is working that is good." Amy smiled "Well seeing as I am here I'll have a lemonade please." And perching on the bar stool she continued. "So how are things with you Penny?"
"Oh you know same old, same old." Penny smiled. "No, the changes are across the hall. Leonard said Sheldon is acting weird."
Amy nodded "Well if he is in the lab he is probably working on a new theory, it could disrupt his routine until he gets some answers."
"Maybe," Penny nodded. "Perhaps you should ask him. He wouldn't tell me as he considers talking science with me a waste of time but he'd tell you."
"Well he said he would call tomorrow so I'll ask him then." Amy nodded.
73
Sheldon looked at the young woman working quietly at the computer. He had been here an hour now and other than nodding 'hello' he had not thought of one thing to say to her. It wasn't as if he even needed to be here. He was running tests that he had completed a year ago, and now as he jotted down notes he wondered if maybe he should swallow his pride and ask Leonard for advise. He had somehow managed to convince Penny to go out with him after all!
Deciding this was a wasted endeavour Sheldon began to pack up his bag. Looking at his watch he wondered if Amy would still be interested in that trip to the science museum. No, he would go home get a head start on his laundry and if Leonard was there, maybe broach the subject of the best way to ask a woman on a date.
"You're leaving already?" Pauline looked up surprised to see he was putting his coat on.
"Oh, yes, I...err... I have all the data I need thank you." Sheldon stammered and grabbing his bag made for the door. "Good bye." he muttered as the door shut behind him.
Shaking her head in a bemused fashion Pauline returned to her work.
As he slowly walked down the hall to the car park he sent Leonard a text.
I am leaving work now. Please collect me. S.C. MSc, PhD.
Toying with the idea of getting a drink in the canteen he decided maybe he would just wait in the car park, he couldn't risk bumping into Pauline more than once and having nothing to say.
Just as he was about to text Leonard again the door behind him opened and Pauline appeared.
"Dr Cooper! Your still here, can I give you a lift."
"Oh, I was... that is...I..." Sheldon blushed.
"My car is just over there," Pauline nodded to the staff car park. And Sheldon stood and was just about to follow her as Leonard drove up.
"Sheldon!" He called, "sorry I'm late. Raj called him and Howard are just off to fly kites, I grabbed yours come on jump in!"
"Kite flying! Wow, that's different!" Pauline grinned. "Well I'll see you next week Dr Cooper." and before he could respond she was gone.
Stomping to Leonard's car and slamming the door more than was strictly necessary Sheldon said bluntly. "I don't want to fly kites. Take me home."
"Sheldon! Come on this will make up for you missing the museum."
Sheldon spun in his seat to glare at Leonard. "Who told you that?"
"Well Amy told Penny, who told me."
"Well I will thank you to not gossip about my private life with your girlfriend. Now I have things to do at home!"
And crossing his arms across his chest defiantly Sheldon was silent for the rest of the journey.
So much for asking Leonard for advise he thought.
73
Sunday morning Sheldon woke once more covered in sweat and tangled in his sheets again. This had happened so frequently lately he had had to purchase several new sets of bed linen to allow for extra washing. This morning though the dream wouldn't leave him. He kept seeing Pauline, smiling, offering him a lift; then him accepting gratefully, inviting her out for dinner and a romantic evening back at 4A.
It was ridiculous he acknowledged as he disentangled himself from the bed, stripped the bedding and his pyjamas off then grabbing a towel and fresh clothes before heading to the shower. He wouldn't know how to prepare a romantic evening if he tried. The dream at this point usually took the form of some silly romantic film Penny had forced him and Leonard to watch, only for him to wake up just as Pauline's lips were about to touch his.
As he stepped into the shower and turned the water to cold Sheldon pondered on the sudden appearance of the libido he thought he had escaped. If he was honest, Pauline was neither prettier than Penny, nor cleverer than Amy; so why was he suddenly consumed by thoughts of her? Was it merely the fact she had no preconceived notions to him as a person. That she looked at his not as Sheldon the room mate or Sheldon the friend or son. She saw Dr Sheldon Cooper the physicist and nothing more.
Maybe he would ask the one person he knew whose understanding of how the human brain worked was greater than his own.
"Amy? Its Sheldon, Sheldon Cooper."
"Sheldon I know who you are! You really don't need to formally introduce yourself each time we talk you know."
"Oh, OK. I am sorry I had to cancel yesterday I had to go into work. Are you free today? Maybe we could visit the museum?"
"Sure, I need to visit the market but I can do that on the way home. I can be with you in 30 minutes is that agreeable."
"Most agreeable Amy, I shall see you shortly." Feeling satisfied he may be able to get a scientific opinion on his problem Sheldon gathered his bag and jacket and made his way downstairs to wait for Amy.
73
"Sheldon this was your suggestion yet you do not seem to be enjoying yourself." Amy noted. Sheldon had hardly made any comment when she had found 3 quite obvious errors in the new exhibit, his normal need to find more than her quite clearly absent. When she had suggested stopping for a hot beverage he had nodded absently and proceeded to walk in the opposite direction. As Amy watched him now, staring vacantly at the tea he was nursing, she said "what's wrong? something is clearly troubling you, is it work? Leonard mentioned you were in the lab yesterday."
"What? You spoke to Leonard, he told me he hadn't spoken to you. Why is everyone suddenly so interested in my research."
"Calm down," Amy said soothingly now more than a little concerned at his behaviour. "Sheldon we haven't been discussing you, and Penny was the one who actually mentioned the lab as she received the information from Leonard. I quoted him as he provided the information initially. But that is irrelevant. My concern is you are obviously upset or disturbed by something as you are quite clearly not yourself."
"Well yes, and that is the main reason I wanted to talk to you actually." Sheldon admitted. "Amy I have been having dreams. Unusual dreams. I have also been having thoughts, all consuming thoughts. I am worried."
"Why are you worried?" Amy asked gently seeing this was obviously upsetting Sheldon and a little flattered he considered sharing the problem with her as he quite clearly had not done so with his friends.
"Amy your are a neuro biologist and my problem seems to stem from my loosing control of my mind! I need your scientific knowledge to help me either find a solution or a cure."
"Sheldon you are not making sense. What kind of solution? What exactly is the problem?"
Sheldon refocused his attention on the mug in his hands. "I have been having thoughts, improper thoughts, about a woman. This has never happened to me before. I don't know what to do."
Amy, stunned by the confession took several seconds before she answered. "Are you asking me to help you block the thoughts?"
Sheldon shrugged but didn't meet her gaze.
"You want me to help you make the thoughts come to fruition?"
"Maybe." Sheldon answered quietly. "Maybe if I could do something about it they would stop. But I cant talk to her. I don't know what to say. I don't want to propose marriage I just want to do something that will enable me to achieve a full rem cycle again!"
Amy grinned. "You want me to guide you, help you woo this woman? Well Dr Cooper, for someone who was mighty relieved when I expressed my disdain at romantic love you seem mighty keen to pursue it now!"
"Amy I don't need mocking. If I wanted mocking I could go to Penny or Leonard, Howard or Raj. I came to you because I thought with your neuro biological knowledge you would be able to help me tune in to the part of my brain that I need to use to make this work. 'Wooing', if an absolute necessity, is the cross I may have to bear to make this whole sorry situation go away. I need science and your brain nothing more."
"An experiment! Excellent. OK Sheldon I suggest we go home and draw up a timetable. The timetable will consist of us meeting regularly to plan each stage of your, for want of a better word, courtship. By the end you will make Mr Darcy jealous."
Not entirely sure Amy was thinking with a scientific mind, but having no other options at this point Sheldon nodded. Standing he followed Amy to her car. He just hoped he wasn't making a huge mistake.
73
A/N: Well? Hope the fact Sheldon and Amy are not romantically involved - yet ;-) does not put too many people off... let me know what you think.
I am a few chapters ahead with this story and will try to post every couple of days at a regular interval. Would welcome all reviews ;-)
Ax