This is a finished story but I have to break the story into brief chapters that accommodate my reader available time.
This is Sheldon/OC story that has been running around in my head for a while with no way to put it to paper. That problem has been solved.
Nothing here is the property of me except for unnamed characters and Sara. Everyone else belongs to the BBT production company.
Please enjoy.
SARA ~ Chapter One
Prototype
The techs finished their final tests and then left for the day, leaving the test subject on the worktable. The plan called for a controlled introduction of the test subject to humans to measure the effectiveness of its programming as well as to measure the responses of the humans with whom it interacted. Project Duck derived its name from an old saying. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and looks like a duck, it's probably a duck.
Sheldon Cooper, PhD, sat alone in his office staring at his white boards but seeing nothing. His eyes were red-rimmed denoting both stress and fatigue. The algorithm refused to yield the results he demanded and he was stuck. He rubbed the two-day stubble on his chin and realized he was both hungry and very much in need of the toilet facilities.
Just as he stepped into the hallway the lights went out. The storm had knocked out the power. It was pitch black and he made his way to the cafeteria, fingertips caressing the wall in a way to provide a location. He knew the way by heart but he didn't like the dark and…Eeeeeek!
His was a girly scream and he jerked back his fingers as if burned. His fingers had brushed the lips of another and he was without his Purell and oh God the microbes were already infesting his pores and Lord knew what pathogens he might have been exposed to.
A soft voice said, 'It's okay, no damage done. You can't see in the dark. I should have made my presence known.'
Still shaking from his encounter with what he now knew were a woman's lips, he barked back, "Yes, you should have. I'm sure you heard me shuffling along. It was really – "
Soft warm fingers pressed against his lips and the soft voice continued, 'I hadn't anticipated making contact so soon. I am Sara. And you are?' The fingers were gone and Sheldon inhaled deeply, preparing to rend and tear more from embarrassment than honest anger but then she said, 'Please, don't be angry. I don't like being yelled at. In fact I hate conflict of any kind. I am sorry.'
Those words resonated with Sheldon. He hated angry words and confrontations and her apology was truly unnecessary but it both calmed and shamed him for his initial response.
"It is I who should be apologizing. You were standing there, wisely choosing not to move about in near darkness when I dragged my fingers along the wall and then onto your face and lips and – Oh, God – my fingers are probably filthy from the wall and I violated – "
She giggled in that soft way of hers. "I doubt any pathogens or organisms gained entry. Is it not customary to respond to an introduction?"
"Yes, it is. I am Dr. Sheldon Cooper and I am a theoretical particle physicist here at the University. My office is – "
Just then the lights came back on and he saw her for the first time. She was of average height and build, with shoulder length wavy brown hair. But what caught his attention were her shockingly green eyes that seemed to glow in the fluorescent lighting of the corridor. His jaw dropped because…
"Sheldon Cooper, youngest man to be awarded the Stephenson Prize for Physics, a native of Texas judging by your accent, and a true Southern gentleman. It is an honor to meet you, Dr. Cooper."
She was naked.
He whirled around and nearly fell, stunned and shocked but her arm shot out and steadied him even as he squawked "Good Lord, woman, have you no decency?" He practically ran back to his office to retrieve a lab coat for her to cover herself but when he returned, he was alone. He briefly searched for the woman but there was no sign of her.
I must have imagined it all. I'm tired having gone two straight days without any REM sleep at all. Yes, that's it, I must have – Eureka!
He was unstuck! He hurried back to his office and began writing long and complex equations. He stood back from his white board, capped his marker, sat down at his desk and promptly fell asleep.
Thank you for getting this far.
Reparata