The Big Reversal Theory 4

Or the Vixen in 4B

A/N: Thanks to ShAmy4evr for editing this chapter for me and giving me great advice. Also, a big shout out to MPHS95 for help as well.

The next morning around 6:30, a loud screech akin to a banshee was heard across the hall. Leonard was just waking up when he heard the sound of pounding on the door. Sheldon was the first to answer. He expected a smiling Amy to greet him with a thank you but what he got instead was the first burn from the fire breathing dragon that Amy Farrah Fowler could become.

Sheldon opened the door to discover Amy standing with a flush red face, and breathless. She was wearing a stripped flannel nightgown that covered her entire body and a robe cinched on her waist modestly. Her hair was loose, but Sheldon could tell she had just woken up because it was not brushed.

Sheldon's smile quickly disappeared when she said nothing to him and burst into his apartment. She waltzed over to the island and held onto the sides for strength. Amy didn't turn around to face him when she spoke, "Sheldon, I am going to ask this as calmly and rationally as I can… Why did you break into my apartment and unpack all my boxes?" Amy quickly turned before Sheldon could answer, "Never mind, I know why. New question. Why did you think it would be acceptable to do so? That's what I want to know."

Sheldon was wearing his Tuesday plaid pajamas and robe which no woman other than his mother had ever seen. He roughly shoved his hands in the pockets of his robe and answered calmly, "First off, come in…. Next, you're welcome and thirdly, to answer your question, because it was driving me crazy. Did you not see the note I left you including instructions on napkin folding techniques?"

Sheldon's calm reply made Amy lips grow white with anger. "Sheldon. This is the creepiest, arrogant.. most insane.."

Sheldon cut her off, "Is having your apartment unpacked insane? I think not."

"It is when it is done by a guy I have only just met. I am done with UCLA today! Do you think I liked living with all those boxes? NO! I was going to do it!"

Just then Leonard entered the living room, but seeing and hearing Amy he turned and tried to sneak away. However Amy caught sight of him and yelled, "Get back here you coward! Don't think I don't know your involvement in this Mr."

She turned her ire back towards Sheldon, "Are you guys nuts? You can't just break into people's places and unpack their belongings. How did you know where I wanted to put things? How could you think it would be okay for you touch my things without my permission? Good thing I had unpacked my clothes, or would you have found all my unmentionables and folded them with…" Amy pulled Sheldon's instruction for folding napkins out of her pocket and read, "Transverse line running along the vertical portion then take the sides and fold inward." Amy shook the paper at Leonard." I'll keep that in mind the next time I go to Victoria Secret!"

Leonard ignored the line about the lingerie and snapped at his roommate, "Sheldon! You left her a note on the napkin thing?"

Sheldon's voice rose an octave in defense, "It was the only thing I saw wrong! She had everything labeled, it was simple. Remarkable organization skills by the way. They rival my own." Sheldon thought a compliment would soften her but when he smiled, it met with a cold glare that could freeze a polar bear.

Sheldon feeling the chill tried to defend his actions. "I don't see why you are so upset. I have saved you hours of work and I don't get so much as a thank you. I'll tell ya, it's hard to get good neighbors these days." Sheldon moved toward the tea box to fix a hot beverage. He needed a little something after being yelled at so early.

Amy was enraged, "You don't understand? How could you possibly think I would succumb to you organizational paradigm?"

"Because it is superior to everyone's and because it is the right way. Given your kitchen's orientation, you need to put your glasses above the dishwasher or you will risk breakage carrying them across the counter." Sheldon opened his eyes wide and shook his head slightly in disbelief that his efforts were in vain.

"Sheldon! That's beside the point! You just assumed it was okay." Amy threw up her hands when she saw Sheldon's blank expression, "Okay, fine. If that's how it's done. Let's see how you stack up Mr… excuse me… DR…." Amy brushed past Sheldon and marched to his cabinets. She opened three doors before she found what she was looking for. "Oh just as I thought. You spice cabinet is a mess! Let me just work that out for you. You know… because I'm such a good neighbor!" Amy started to move Sheldon's spices around, arranging and rearranging. Leonard watched in awe as her hands moved like lightening.

Sheldon was fascinated by her speed, but confused by the result. He came behind Amy and studied her actions like an apprentice watching a master. Amy was almost 6 inches shorter than Sheldon, but when she yelled at him, she seemed 50 feet tall.

Sheldon easily reached over her head and placed the turmeric back where he had it. Amy moved it again. Sheldon moved the little jars back like they were playing chess. Each time, Sheldon's body moved closer to Amy's. The seductive dance of dueling spices became feverous and heated. Before long, the two were almost fused together like a tango.

"Amy in what world does Turmeric go before nutmeg! The only one you haven't moved is cinnamon! I mean it has to be alphabetical! You must know that!"

"Of course. Who doesn't have their spices alphabetical? This system is alphabetical as well. It's just by Latin name. Turmeric is Curcuma longa, which goes before Myristirca. What's the matter Sheldon, you MUST know this is the right way. I mean doesn't everyone use the Latin names for spices?"

Sheldon was still very close to her and their bodies were almost touching. He could feel the warmth of her body on his chest and legs. He placed both hands on the counter on either side of her body. Amy flipped around and tilted her head back so she could look Sheldon in the eyes, "Or are you against adopting a new organizational paradigm."

Sheldon had her trapped by his arms. He was frozen as he studied her face for emotional clues. He could feel his pulse rise and adrenaline pump through his veins like a fire hose. Amy's eyes were dilated and her breath heavy, which Sheldon could feel on his neck. He could see a blush forming on the exposed part of her neck as her blazing green eyes tore into him. Anyone watching the display would have mistaken their fight for foreplay. Sheldon could only glare at Amy who stood silent for a minute as he tried to find words for what he was feeling. Quickly, he realized their proximity and jumped back and crossed his arms over his chest and glared at her defiantly.

"Fine! I see your point. Happy?"

Amy answered flatly, "Ecstatic." She brushed past him and rushed to the door. "Now, I don't know much about having friends seeing as I've never had them. However, I do know this was inappropriate no matter what the intention. I will leave you now. Bene vale. Fortunam cum aromatibus!"

Sheldon groused, "Clever Minx."

"My Latin is a little rusty, what did she say?" Leonard asked, till then he had been stunned into silence as he had watched the interchange and Sheldon's reactions.

"Good bye and good luck with my spices." Sheldon let out a grumble, "I can't even complain about her pronunciation because it was perfect. That infernal woman!" Sheldon placed his hand on his cheek briefly and mumbled, "Not even a thank you."

In a frenzy Sheldon put all his spices back in alphabetical order by their common name.

Leonard shook his head in disbelief, "Sheldon! You do get that it was wrong to break into her apartment, right? I mean she did make that pretty clear."

Sheldon breathed through his nose as his lips pursed up. "Abundantly clear. You know, if she was just messy, I could see her getting her knickers in a bunch if I had cleaned her apartment. But I just helped her put things away where she would have put them anyway, if she hadn't been working 80 hours a week. I saved her time!"

Sheldon finished with the spices and slumped on his spot as Leonard put the kettle on to boil.

Leonard shook his head and snapped at Sheldon, "You overstepped the mark and you know it. Amy just had the guts to tell you. Please tell me you know what you did was wrong?"

Sheldon almost yelled, "Well I do now! Thanks to Miss smarty pants across the hall! Too bad we didn't get a stupid girl next door. Our problems would be minimal."

"You probably would have cleaned her apartment too." Leonard fixed Sheldon a mug of tea hoping to calm his nerves. He had never seen his friend so unnerved by a person taking him to task on his actions. "Here drink this tea."

Sheldon took a long sip, but it wasn't helping his mood.

Leonard was worried this fight would make living with Sheldon even more unbearable. He had to get him to fix the situation, but it seemed the only person who could get Sheldon Cooper to do anything was the woman who just had her home invaded by the OCD squad, "Sheldon, you had better go apologize and quick."

"Sheldon Cooper does not apologize for things he didn't do wrong." He looked toward the door and snorted in disgust.

Leonard had enough, "Do you want me to bring Amy back over here and let her loose on your bookshelves?"

Sheldon swallowed hard, and looked toward his books in horror, "Okay, I'll go apologize. After breakfast. I think I need high fiber cereal today."

"Good thing you put them in fiber content order, huh Sheldon?" Leonard thought it was silly, but anything to improve his friend's mood was warranted or he could look forward to a terrible day dealing with grumpy Sheldon; never a good way to start the day.

"At least someone appreciates my efforts. Thank you Leonard."

After breakfast, Sheldon made his way across the hall and timidly knocked on her door. Leonard watched from the doorway of 4A, not knowing yet if he should call the cops or an ambulance.

Knock knock knock, "Amy"

Knock knock knock, "Amy"

Knock knock knock, "Amy"

Amy threw the door open. She was dressed and ready for work. Though she seemed slightly softer to Sheldon he could tell she was still upset. "You know your repetitive knocking is symptomatic of obsessive compulsive disorder, as is you compulsive need for order?"

"Is not… Is not… is not.." Sheldon looked away from her angry glare and played with the numbers on her door to distract himself.

"Denial, denial… denial… Now what do you want? I don't have the time to hear how I am being ridiculous over you breaking into my apartment. I have to go to work."

Sheldon took a deep breath and with a heavy sigh, he breathed out a barely audible sentence, "I'm sorry."

"I couldn't hear that…" Amy leaned in and held a hand to her ear. She needed him to suffer a little.

Sheldon spoke louder, "I'm… sorry. I shouldn't have come into your apartment without your permission."

"And?"

Sheldon rolled his eyes and seethed out, "I'm sorry you are opposed to a superior organizational scheme."

Amy crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at Sheldon, "I'm not opposed to it. I just want to do it myself." She had a glint in her eyes as a thought occurred to her. She opened her arms, and gave him a crooked smile, "Or else I will never learn, correct?"

"Well, that's true…" Sheldon uncrossed his arms.

"What's that adage, you can give a man a fish, and he eats for a day… If you teach a man to fish…" Amy smiled and gave a slight head tilt to Sheldon. His mood lifted immediately.

"He can eat for a life time! My daddy used to say that to me every time he dragged me fishing. I remember the phrase almost as much as the fish gut stains on my prized Thunder Cat's t-shirt."

Sheldon felt a wave of relief but he knew he was still in the dog house. "Well, I can show you what I did. But I think the diagram I left you should be sufficient. But you are right I should have let you do it or asked you if you needed help." He thought for a moment and then lit up, "Then we could have done it together."

Amy tried to hold in her smile, but failed as she beamed up at him, "Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. Your organizational diagram was very thorough. Especially the book arrangement. I am just surprised you didn't wake me up putting everything away."

"Well, though you seem to be a heavy sleeper, I still made sure your door was closed. Also, I move like a cat, so that helps." Sheldon was standing a few inches taller.

"Right." Amy' voice lowered to a consolatory tone, "I'll be honest Sheldon. It's not what you did, but that you didn't ask me. You need to understand that. You cannot break into a person's apartment and organize their stuff. It is presumptuous, illegal and frankly, a little scary."

Though Sheldon was still dejected, he was in a slightly happier state of mind then he was in the beginning of the conversation, "Yes, okay, you were right. I should have asked... I get that… I will say again…." Sheldon had a hard enough time saying sorry the first time.

Amy just gave him a slight smile. "I know…You're sorry."

Sheldon smiled, "Yes, I am…"

Amy let out a huge sigh and looked at his blue eyes looking at her, silently pleading. "Well, let's just call this a learning experience. Do it again though and I will not be so forgiving."

Sheldon blew out a relieved rush of air and grinned, "Okay. I understand. Thank you Amy."

Amy grabbed her purse and threw it over her shoulder as a thought crossed her mind. She called back to Sheldon, "You aren't going to break in and put together my bookcase are you?"

Sheldon stopped in his tracks and turned around quickly, "Well, I'm not now!"

Amy let out a small chuckle, "Okay. Though I could use some help with it. Could you come by later this afternoon? I am finally done with UCLA tonight and could use some expertise or tools. Maybe both." Amy flashed him a wide grin that Sheldon immediately returned.

"Sure. I'll get the guys to help." Sheldon almost turned to leave when a thought occurred to him. He turned back to find Amy locking her door. She flipped her hair off her face when she turned to him. He tried to ignore the slight jump in heart rate and the beads of sweat that had formed on his palms. He took a deep swallow and asked timidly, "Um, Amy… We had planned to go to the Cheesecake Factory again tonight. For some reason, Leonard loves that place now and insists we go again. He says "I owe him" though I don't see how he can say that when we used your gift card. Well, regardless, after we help with your bookcase would you like to join us?" Sheldon was unconsciously biting his lip as he waited for a reply.

"I would." Amy was thrilled to be able to get away from the lab. A dinner out would be the first decent meal she had eaten, other than a greasy takeaway, for a week. It also wasn't lost on her that a man had asked her to go to dinner. She knew not to get her hopes up however. She was all too aware of her dinner companion's motivations and none of them were romantic.

"Well, it is not as efficient, but they have a very tasty burger. It is the perfect ratio of meat to bun to condiment."

Amy smiled, "I look forward to it. Thank you for the invitation. Now I must dash." Amy hustled down the stairs as Sheldon watched her.

He turned to Leonard with a huge smile and almost a jump, "Yes! I was right! She loved it!" Sheldon almost skipped his desk to grab his messenger bag.

"Oh buddy, if you think for a moment that you won that argument, we really need to talk…" Leonard was amazed by the whole conversation including someone getting Sheldon Cooper to say sorry twice. He really must learn how she did it.

Leonard was remembering the awkward conversation on the first night when Amy had moved in and they had gone to the sushi/Karaoke bar. At first Amy had seemed to insult Howard, dismiss Leonard's attempt at small talk as "hum drum chit chat" and almost scared Raj into a corner. After a few Neil Diamond songs however, the group had warmed to her and the evening went smoothly. What had most impressed Leonard was her ability to talk to Sheldon. During that night, she hadn't once criticized his tendency to relay unsolicited facts. Amy and Sheldon had spent most of that evening discussing one topic after another like long lost friends reconnecting after year's absence. It was as if Leonard's friend had found a kinsman. Sheldon had been almost tolerable ever since.

Leonard smiled at his giddy friend as they made their way down the stairwell. Sheldon bounced off the steps like a rubber ball while his conversation topics inevitably flowed toward Amy. He told Leonard everything she was working on, her likes and dislikes all of which Leonard heard at the sushi dinner. Leonard didn't interrupt him as he relayed her curriculum vitae, he just smirked at this smitten friend. As long as Amy was in Sheldon's world, life in the apartment would be almost bearable.

A/N: Next up: Will we meet Penny, or Leslie. Oh, and will Sheldon get fired or not? All these questions will be answered! Those fish don't glow on their own, ya know…. Who wants some Mary Cooper? I know I do...

As always, if you see a mistake, please tell me. I will fix it right away. I corrected the French thanks to Shamour and Chrystalie. Merci!

I'd love to know what you think of story so far. Things will be going faster as the story evolves. You know reviews are always welcome. I have to say, more than welcome. I am on shaky ground confidence wise with this story. I love to know what you think, both good and bad.