This is a double shift day. There will be one more upload today: Sharing the Light.

"The Fair Collaboration"

2. The Distance Resolution

Pasadena - The next afternoon

They had been at it for nearly two hours. So far all they had managed to achieve was to determine what she didn't want to do, which basically involved eliminating Sheldon's topic suggestions one by one until there were none left. Had it been anyone else he probably would have terminated the video call ages ago, but it was Brittany, and somehow she wasn't making him crazy enough to give up on the endeavor. It would have been like saying no to a kitty, and Sheldon couldn't do that.

"I've got these," she held up the list with the subjects from her teacher.

"Yes, you've shown me those already," he reminded her, and she put the sheet down. "If you won't use any of mine, then you might as well come up with your own, find something that interests you." She opened her mouth to speak, and he cut her off. "Have to be able to take a scientific approach," he reminded her, and as expected this forced her to stop and think again.

"Music?" she finally spoke, with enough uncertainty he could feel it. But then he had the opposite reaction.

"I guess we can start from there," he told her, and she regained some optimism.

He had made the decision sort of suddenly. He was contemplating what the next few days might be like, with him trying to help her with her project over the computer, and it seemed like a hastle he could prevent himself from having to go through by doing one simple thing.

"Brittany, you know when you made me promise to come and visit you someday?"

"Well, I don't know if I actually said promise..." she shrugged.

"Regardless, I think the best option right now would be for me to come and assist you in person." She sat up, waved for some reason.

"You mean..."

"I'll start looking into flights, and I should be there in a day or two. Oh, it's a real shame, I've always wanted to take the train cross country..." he spoke to himself but then he shook his head. "I'll let you know when I'm on my way, in the meantime try and find your music subject."

"I can do that," she nodded.

"Alright then, bye Brittany."

"Bye Sheldon."

"You're going to Ohio?" He jumped, turning to find Leonard standing in the kitchen.

"How long have you been there?"

"Like a minute. Didn't you see Brittany wave at me when I went b... Never mind. So, Ohio?"

"Yes, I've decided that the best way for me to help her get ready for the science fair would be in person."

"I miss the science fair," Leonard smirked to himself.

"Yes, don't we all," he picked up his papers and his laptop and moved to his room. Sitting on his bed, he started researching flights to Lima.

"Maybe I should go with you." Sheldon looked up when he realized Leonard had followed him.

"That won't be necessary, I'm sure your... work needs you," it looked like he didn't believe a word out of his own mouth.

"I can take a couple days off," Leonard frowned defensively.

"Yes, I'm sure you can, that does sound more likely," Sheldon sounded back at ease. Leonard stared at him for a while before nodding.

"Book me a ticket," he declared.

"Book your own ticket," Sheldon wasn't distracted. He had continued making his arrangements and was about to call the airline to ask after some specifics when he picked up on the sound of voices somewhere off in the apartment. He got up and walked out of his room, being guided to find that there were now others in the living room along with Leonard, namely Penny, Raj, and Howard. Leonard was sitting with his computer, Raj standing at his shoulder, while both Penny and Howard were on their phones, to Amy and Bernadette respectively from what he picked up. It didn't take him long to catch key words that told him just what they were doing, and still… "Excuse me!" he called out, and no one looked to him. "I'm talking, hello?" he walked up, and Penny sighed.

"Amy, hang on. What?" she turned to him.

"What are you doing?"

"Leonard and Raj are looking for flights, I'm checking with Amy if she can and wants to come, and Howard is doing the same with Bernadette."

"What for?" he turned to Howard.

"What do you think, we're going with you to Ohio," he shrugged. "Raj wants to see the science fair, Penny wants to see Brittany, and I want… Well, your face right now is reason enough," he finished with a smile, suddenly turning back to talk with Bernadette. "Yeah? You're good for it? Great." Sheldon wanted so much to say something and make this insanity stop…

"Amy says if you can't get her a seat next to yours she'll sit next to me, but if you could get one with yours that would be super," Penny came back to him and he frowned, returning to his room. Howard looked back to her.

"That was perfect, thanks," he tapped her on the shoulder, and she gave something between a smile and a shudder.

"You know we're going to have to cave in for the cross country train on the way back to get him to cooperate with us again, right?" she told him.

"Way ahead of you," Howard promised, just as Sheldon reappeared.

"Tell Amy I'll get her a seat next to mine."

"Like I said," Howard turned back to Penny, who let out a breath before turning to Leonard and Raj.

"One-way plane tickets, guys."

TO BE CONTINUED (NEXT FRIDAY)