A/N- I am happy you're enjoying the story. Thank you for sharing your thoughts in reviews.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of The Big Bang Theory. This is for entertainment purposes only. No copyright infringement intended.
~Chapter 7~
He is far gone, far gone: and truly in my youth I suffered much extremity for love; very near this.
William Shakespeare - Hamlet
Sheldon awoke the next morning restless, after a fitful night of tossing and turning. He opened his eyes slowly, hoping and praying last night had been a dream. That he hadn't made a fool out of himself by not only eavesdropping on Miss Fowler, but asking her all sorts of personal questions he had no business asking.
His bad luck seemed to be continuing, though, as reason came back to shake the cobwebs out of his foggy mind.
"What an idiot I was," He whispered to himself, running his hands over his face in an attempt to further awaken. He feared no amount of reasoning was going to erase the fact he was falling into something deeper than he ever imagined he could.
After leaving Miss Fowler in her room, he all but ran to his own before slamming the door with more force than necessary. He had to escape her penetrating eyes and her luscious scent. But what he mostly had to escape from were the strange, new feelings threatening to smother him.
He told her she was pretty. A truth he wouldn't deny if asked. She was pretty. More than pretty, if he were being honest. But to so suddenly voice the confession, wasn't something he had conscious control over. A week ago he was flinging insults at her. Now, he was complimenting her. The poor woman couldn't be blamed if she had psyche services out here to evaluate him.
Sheldon stood against his door last night for an eternity, trying to calm his breathing. Had he actually contemplated… kissing her? He barely knew her. Yet as she stood staring at him with soft eyes after his compliment, and he watched as her full lips parted slightly…
Oh, dear.
Never before had he the desire to do anything like that. He knew his family and friends wondered about his sexual proclivities. Some thought he was asexual. Other's thought he was gay. And there were those, like his sex-crazed co-worker Barry Kripke that thought he was just a clueless dork. The truth was, he simply was never interested before.
Sex and lust were things he didn't need to concern himself with. The body was simply an instrument that the owner controlled. No matter the myriad of chemicals swimming around inside; were we all just mindless robots, slaves to our endocrine systems? He reasoned.
There wasn't a time he could conjure up where he looked at a woman and felt the stirrings of interest. To him, women were scary, yet magical creatures. So complex, so strong. Every woman in the Cooper family was a force to be reckoned with. He couldn't imagine his Meemaw or Mary shying away from a conflict. If anything, they would jump in with both barrels blazing. He'd never before met a woman who shared those same traits; strong, yet vulnerable. Generous, yet reserved. Open, yet shy.
And on top of all of those marvelous traits, there was the fact of her beauty. She was demurely lovely, with soft hair and creamy skin. She didn't wear tons of makeup; she didn't need to. And she dressed like a lady. Soft flowing skirts, gauzy blouses, fitted cardigans. She had class. Grace. And something entirely old fashioned that captivated him. Living in California, the land of plastic, the marvel that was Amy Farrah Fowler was a scarce.
Certainly, being in such close quarters with her wasn't helping. She was attractive, she smelled lovely, she cooked divinely, she was charming, she enjoyed Sci-Fi, and she was obviously well read. But the icing on the cake, was how alike she was to him. It was no wonder that he was experiencing such an upheaval. But…a kiss? Really?
Good Lord…there was no way he was ready for such a thing. And even if he were, he knew for certain that Miss Fowler would be repulsed by it. Better yet, she would surely lay him out like a prizefighter delivering a TKO. She had warned him the other day after their truce that she knew self-defense. Certainly, his unwelcome advances would constitute the green light for her to 'Go Nebraska' on his ass, as Penny would say. There was no way on Earth he could allow himself to do such an impetuous thing. But since meeting Amy Farrah Fowler, it seemed an alien had taken up residence in his body, tempting him to do and say things he wouldn't have dreamt of before.
Never had he experienced what he could only describe as jealousy as he thought about this Andrew character. Nor the way his body reacted upon hearing her proclaim that she loved him; first on the phone to said person, and then later, when questioned. A knot arose in his stomach, a taut band appeared across the back of his neck, and a throbbing began flourishing behind his eyes. As he was lucky to have never suffered migraines before, tension was the only conclusion for his new ailment.
Who was this woman? He didn't even know what she did for a living. She could work in a bowling alley, for all he knew. That thought quickly came and went though, as he remembered she obviously earned enough money to build her own home. She went to Harvard, for God's sake. But something told Sheldon that it wouldn't matter what she did; if she were as intelligent as he thought, though…God help him.
Rising out of bed on shaky limbs, Sheldon grabbed his robe from the back of his door and quietly made his way to the bathroom next door. It was only 7 am, and he didn't want to wake Miss Fowler if she slept in. The cottage seemed to be quiet as he glanced downstairs, the entire ground floor visible from his vantage point in the loft. Heaving a sigh of relief, Sheldon showered quickly, haphazardly throwing on his robe once finished. Opening the door distractedly, he nearly jumped a mile when Amy Farrah Fowler stood before him, the steam from his shower billowing out into the hallway to rise above her head. They stared at each other in silence a moment, before Amy smiled shyly.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Cooper. I didn't mean to scare you. I was just about to knock on your door and ask if you'd like some waffles." She said kindly. Sheldon noticed she was fully dressed, whereas he was decidedly underdressed.
Amy's gaze drifted down to the open V at Sheldon's chest, mesmerized by the tiny droplets of water clinging to his bare skin. Since meeting him, she noticed he had always dressed with undershirts; either under his graphic tee's or his buttoned down shirts. He had a light smattering of peach fuzz covering his sternum, which Amy found fascinating. It looked so soft, and she found herself wanting to run her fingers through it. Catching herself from her very wayward thoughts, Amy took a step back and lowered her gaze.
Sheldon watched her curiously, the thought that she might be checking him out never occurring to him.
"Blueberry." She muttered quietly, blushing madly. Sheldon's brow arched in question.
"I'm sorry. What?" He questioned softly, urging her to look at him. She hesitantly did, but kept her eyes focused somewhere in the vicinity of his neck.
"Blueberry waffles. That's what I'm making." She stammered. "Would you like some?"
Sheldon wondered where her change of mood was coming from; last night, she had seemed so playful and confident. Now, she was acting guarded. Sheldon frowned. Like he thought…complex and magical.
"Um…that would be great. I love blueberry waffles. But today isn't waffle day. It's oatmeal day." He said quietly, averting his eyes. He was embarrassed to bring up his strange routines again. He was probably the only man she had ever met with such a rigid lifestyle. He was certain Andrew didn't suffer from OCD. He was certain Andrew didn't need a breakfast chart. A pajama rotation. In that moment, Sheldon felt inadequate. And as a genius with an IQ of 187, that was a phenomenon that rarely occurred.
Amy watched him with understanding, a soft smile crinkling the corners of her lips.
"Oh…it's that whole 'organized and structured' lifestyle you lead, right?" She inquired, her tone respectful.
Rather than mocking him for his eccentricities, she seemed to be honoring them. Sheldon felt his heart skip a beat. He nodded slowly.
"I see. Well…how about we compromise? Oatmeal with blueberries?" She asked shyly.
Sheldon's mouth dropped open at her kindness.
"Yes. That sounds nice. Actually…tomorrow is waffle day. Oh! But…don't think I'm saying that so you can make them. There are some frozen ones in the freezer. I would never assume-"
Amy waved her hand in the air to stop Sheldon's rambling, chuckling at him.
"Its fine, Dr. Cooper. If you'd like me to make them, I wouldn't mind. You actually have one of those wonderful Belgium waffle makers here. I'd love to give it a go."
Sheldon smiled softly at her enthusiasm.
"Very well. I can help you, though. In the kitchen. I can be you assistant," He stammered, and Amy narrowed her eyes, deliberating.
"Oh, really? And what experience do you have in the kitchen? I'll need to hear all of your credentials before I hand over the reins to you, you know." She said shrewdly.
Sheldon grinned at her sassiness.
"My credentials are simple. I like to eat." He answered, delighted when Amy laughed heartily. The sound was rich and flowing, like campfire smoke swirling up into the air.
"Fair enough. Sounds like a deal." She held out her hand for Sheldon to shake, and once again, Sheldon was stunned as he stared at her outstretched palm. He took it gently, barely touching her skin but it didn't matter. The same electric feeling as the last time swam through his arm and he dropped her hand after a few seconds.
Amy lowered her gaze to the floor.
"Well, I will start breakfast if you'd like to go dress. Meet you in the dining room in 45 minutes?"
Sheldon nodded, heading back into his room to change. All the way back, he flexed the hand she had held trying to displace the pins and needles sensation. Perhaps he was getting neuropathy. He'd have to see his Doctor once he returned home. A man his age couldn't be too careful.
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Sheldon stared at his spoon in wonder.
The oatmeal was the best he'd ever tasted. Each bite full was better than the last, as the porridge thickened upon sitting and the flavors meshed. Sheldon savored each spoonful, an involuntary sigh escaping his lips.
"How is it?" Amy asked him conversationally, blowing on her own spoonful. Sheldon's eyes met hers and he was at a loss for words. How did she manage to make a bowl of oatmeal so delectable?
"This is the most amazing oatmeal I've ever had, Miss Fowler. What did you do to it? It's so creamy and flavorful. It's…perfect. " He said with awe, as though she was some magician. Amy smiled, shaking her head.
"Well, it's a special recipe. I use a mixture of evaporated milk and whole milk, and I use brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter. The trick with oats, is to slowly cook them. The outcome is the consistency of pudding." She said proudly.
Indeed, it was more like a dessert than a breakfast cereal. At home, on oatmeal day, it usually consisted of two packets of Quaker maple and brown sugar mixed with water. The blueberries that Miss Fowler threw on top of the delicious treat made it all the more better. Sheldon ate with gusto, unapologetic at the sounds of pleasure he was making.
All Amy could do was smile at his enthusiastic response. It was nice to know her cooking skills weren't wasted, and that someone was enjoying them. Finished with her own breakfast, she gathered up her bowl and brought it to the sink. Sheldon followed shortly after, having eaten two huge bowlfuls.
"Please, allow me to clean up. You cooked. It's only fair," He said kindly, urging Amy to scoot aside. She moved a few paces over, balancing her hip against the counter.
"I'm pleased that you enjoyed the food." She said, and Sheldon smiled widely.
"I did. Thank you. I never eat so well," He said softly.
Amy blushed, turning her head to the side. Sheldon caught it though, as the sunlight streaming through the kitchen window was hitting her just so. It fascinated him. He had never met a woman who blushed before.
Something was nagging at him, and had been since last evening. He didn't want to upset her, but he felt compelled to bring it up.
"Are you still planning on going out on the lake today?" He asked her suddenly. Amy nodded.
"Yes. I think I need a little exercise; I've been cooped up for too long. Do you mind if I use the boat?" She questioned, and Sheldon shook his head in the negative.
"No. Not at all. It's just…I'm worried. About you being on the lake alone. You don't know the area, and if you got lost or ran into trouble…" He trailed off, certain Amy would be mad at his meddling.
Amy watched Sheldon with guarded eyes. It was clear that he wanted to either stop her from going, or accompany her. She didn't know how she felt about either scenario.
She had spent the better part of last night sleepless and restless. After their discussion in her room, it was difficult for her to get the look in his eyes out of her mind. She was sure he wasn't even aware of it, but her body definitely was. It took her hours to calm her heartrate down. No man had ever looked at her like that before. It was unnerving, and she felt foolish for making such a big deal over something she was certain was a mistake.
Still, she felt odd asking him to go with her. She'd already bamboozled him into breakfast. She didn't want to come off as desperate. The solution came to her suddenly. Let him make the choice.
"So…what would you suggest?" She asked him, giving him her full attention.
Sheldon considered her question.
"Well, as you are excited about the prospect of rowing on the lake, I wouldn't want to ruin your fun. I could…accompany you, perhaps? But only if I won't be interrupting anything. You may have wanted to be alone and I would never want to ruin your day." He said sincerely.
Amy smiled, despite her own reservations about being alone with him again. It was clear he was trying to be a gentleman, and she wouldn't make him feel bad for that.
"You wouldn't ruin my day. I enjoy your company, Dr. Cooper. Yes. I would like very much if you joined me."
Sheldon didn't know if he was relieved or worried.
"I enjoy your company as well, Miss Fowler." He said faintly.
They stared at each other a moment, unsure of what to do next. Finally, Amy cleared her throat and headed upstairs.
"I was going to take Chaucer with me. I used to take him out on Boston Harbor all of the time. He loves the water. But if you'd rather I left him here, I'd understand."
Sheldon shrugged.
"No. I think it will fine. The boat is very sturdy. It can hold up to five people," He said with practicality.
Amy smiled at his no nonsense demeanor.
"Um…that's good to know. But that's not what I meant. I meant, if you felt uncomfortable being on the boat with Chaucer in such close proximity, then I'd leave him home." She reiterated softly.
Sheldon didn't know what threw him for a loop more – the fact that Miss Fowler was so considerate as to think of his comfort, or the fact that she had called the cottage 'home'. Either way, his heart jostled inside of his rib cage.
"Bring him." Sheldon stated, his voice barely audible.
Amy had no idea what Sheldon was thinking, but she was happy he seemed to be more at ease around Chaucer lately.
"Alright," She said, climbing the stairs to retrieve her pet.
Sheldon watched her go, bringing a hand to his heart.
This is no big deal. We're just going rowing. He told himself, trying to make himself believe it.
Amy returned briskly with Chaucer, the gentle giant obviously happy to get out of the house and get some fresh air.
"Shall we?" Sheldon offered, opening the door for his two guests.
Amy bowed her head, grabbing the picnic basket she had prepared earlier and her purse.
"Thank you," She murmured.
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The lake was clear as glass, and Sheldon found he was enjoying himself. The air was crisp and cool, a rarity even at this time of year. Even Chaucer was enjoying himself, hanging his massive head over the side of the boat and watching the fish close to the surface with interest. Sheldon worried that he would try to jump out, but Amy assured him even if he did, the dog could swim and he'd be fine.
Sheldon watched in amusement as Chaucer whined at the fish, not sure what his intent was. Did he want to eat one? Play with one? Having never had a pet himself, Sheldon had no idea what made Chaucer so excited. His tail wouldn't stop wagging happily, and the view made Sheldon laugh.
For a few hours Amy rowed on and off, stopping periodically to rest. They enjoyed the silence of the day as they drifted, occasionally chatting about benign things. They nibbled on the sandwiches and fruit that Amy had packed. Amy threw bits of bread crust in the water for the fish to eat, and Sheldon smiled when Chaucer barked happily upon seeing them so close to the boat.
As Amy rowed, Sheldon stole glances at the strength of her arms and how fluidly she thrust the oars through the water. She was very petite, yet obviously held great strength. He found he admired that about her. He was beginning to admire entirely too much about her. That was the problem.
He felt strange for allowing a woman to do this strenuous work, but she had insisted. Still, he thought he'd try once more.
"Miss Fowler, are you certain you wouldn't like me to row? With the combined weight of two humans and a very large canine, I'm sure you are a bit uncomfortable." He said seriously.
Amy grinned impishly.
"Do I look strained, or seem winded to you, Dr. Cooper?" She asked him, a hint of humor in her voice.
Sheldon's eyes widened in fear of her thinking he was being sexist.
"No. Not at all. I was just trying to be a gentleman," He said contritely, lowering his gaze to Chaucer. The dog seemed to be laughing at his plight, if the 'smile' on his face was any indication. Sheldon was certain Chaucer gave that look to many people who dared to upset his mistress.
Amy giggled gently.
"I know, Dr. Cooper. I appreciate that. Tell you what? You can row us back. It won't be too strenuous; the current is doing most of the work anyway," She promised.
Sheldon smiled politely, his eyes scanning the lake. There were a few small crafts out today, but they were mostly alone.
"Did you enjoy dinner last night?" She asked conversationally, breaking him from this thoughts.
"Yes. Very much so. You are an excellent chef, Miss Fowler. Contrary to your earlier statement that you weren't. Between the lasagna and that delectable oatmeal, you are going to have me putting on weight."
The flattering remark had Amy blushing again.
"Wow. I've never heard anyone call my oatmeal delectable. That is indeed a compliment."
It was Sheldon's turn to blush now, and he bowed his head. The gesture was so adorable, that Amy bit her lip to stop the grin that threatening to surface.
Amy thought for a moment of something before she voiced it, not knowing if it was a good idea.
"Were you surprised that I am a Sci-Fi aficionado?" She asked suddenly.
Sheldon gaped at her wordlessly for a moment.
"Um…truthfully, yes. You don't seem the type," He admitted, his tone making Amy chuckle.
"Oh, really? And what type is that?" She asked cunningly, dying to hear this one.
Sheldon shrugged, feeling himself pulled into a trap.
"Well…you seem more like the classical type. I've noticed some of the book titles you've read. Homer, Shakespeare, Chaucer…"
A thought popped into Sheldon's head at that, and he turned an inquisitive gaze on Amy. She tilted her head, grinning sly.
"Is that why you named your dog Chaucer?" He asked in amazement.
Amy bumped her nose with her finger in a 'by George he's got it' motion, which made Sheldon laugh.
"The Canterbury Tales is probably my favorite novel of all time. I wish I had an eidetic memory, so I can remember each word." She admitted, smiling at her own fondness for the book.
Sheldon stared at her, unable to look away.
"I do enjoy the more classical pastimes, it's true. I sing, I play the harp, and the piano. Andrew taught me that one; I begged him for years and he finally relented," She said fondly.
Sheldon flinched as Andrew's name was mentioned. He swallowed as he watched Amy's face as she looked at the water, a serene look about her. For the hundredth time since last night, he wondered just how close she and her friend really were. Amy continued, oblivious to Sheldon's troubling thoughts.
"But I have a very fond place in my heart for Science Fiction. It started from adolescence. I watched Plan 9 From Outer Space with my Dad when I was seven on one of those midnight madness movie weekends they used to have. The ones where the late show was always some cheesy horror spoof. Mother was away visiting her sister out of town, and Father let me stay up to watch it. We had popcorn and milk duds, and I was so full that I went to bed with a tummy ache. But it didn't matter. It had a huge impact on me. Perhaps it was partly the film, and part the bonding experience with my father. But don't tell anyone that. If you repeat it, I'll have to kill you." She said seriously, and for a split second, Sheldon thought she was serious. Until she laughed, shaking her head.
Sheldon pondered thoughtfully her words. He himself had never had a bonding experience with his own father. George Sr. wasn't interested in Science Fiction. He wasn't interested in anything that didn't have an alcohol content, batter on it, or cheap makeup slathered all over it. He frowned as those memories he tried to bury came back to the surface.
Shaking his head clear, he pushed them back.
They were quiet again for a bit, the only sounds around them the call of crickets and the whistling of birds. An occasional airplane flew overhead but other than that, they were alone.
"May I ask you something?" Amy began hesitantly, worried that what she was about to ask was none of her business.
Sheldon met her gaze steadily.
"Yes," He said cautiously, wondering what had her taking on such a somber tone.
"Your mother and the Sheriff…how long have they been dating?"
That was certainly not what he was expecting her to ask. The question threw him for a moment.
"And you want to know because…" He trailed off, weary of her explanation.
Amy had interpreted Sheriff Watson and Sheldon's relationship as tepid. She wondered if there was a reason for the hostility. Knowing what she did about Sheldon, she also wondered if he were jealous of the fact his mother had a new man in her life, instead of Sheldon's father.
"I was simply curious. You didn't seem a fan of his on that day…you know. But I thought he was a very pleasant fellow. Then again, my mother isn't dating him." Amy said with understanding.
Sheldon bit his lip as he pondered Amy's statement, closing his eyes.
Sheriff Watson had never done anything to Sheldon per se. But he had his doubts whether or not a relationship with the man was in his mother's best interest. He tried to play it off that Watson wasn't good enough for his mother. But the truth was, he was afraid for his mother. The man had a dangerous job. He knew how devastated Mary would be if something were to happen to him. Sheldon worried that losing another man might push her into a depression from which she couldn't escape. Even though her marriage was a volatile one, Mary loved George fiercely. Evidenced by her staunch defense of him, even after he cheated on her.
Sheldon knew for a fact Sheriff Watson was a good man. Losing him in the line of duty would kill her.
Telling Mary that, though, was not an option. She seemed over the moon happy these days. Grandchildren, a new man in her life…the last thing Sheldon wanted to do was dredge up those sad memories for her of when George Sr. died. So he kept his mouth shut. The problem was, he didn't do a very good job at hiding his worries. Sheriff Watson thought Sheldon hated him. And Mary was annoyed at the prospect of having to play mediator for her son and her boyfriend.
Sheldon took a deep breath and opened his eyes.
"About two years now. They met at church. My mother is a big church goer." He said, a bite of dryness in his tone.
Amy thought being from the South, that most people were religious. Dr. Cooper included.
"I take it, you're not? A church goer." She clarified, and Sheldon pursed his lips.
"No." He said simply, not elaborating. Amy nodded. Yet the question prompted him to ask a question of his own.
"And you? Do you subscribe to any religious organization?" He asked her, his tone casual. But Amy could tell that for some reason, her answer really mattered to him. She shook her head.
"No. My family wasn't religious. And they never thrust any system of belief upon me. But I've studied comparative religions. It's one of my interests. I came to believe that although I don't necessarily believe in a deity, I can perfectly understand why 84% of people on the planet do."
Sheldon sat up straighter, wanting her to elaborate.
"Go on," He prompted, giving her the green light to explain. Amy lowered the oars, giving Sheldon her full attention.
"Well…as humans, we have trouble believing that this might be all there is. Especially if you have a less than stellar life. Be it from poverty, abuse, sickness, heartache, or the like. Our brains cannot comprehend that we are given just a handful of years to make a difference or to experience joy. We are selfish creatures. We always want more, more, more. So after living a full life, even one plagued with those aforementioned griefs, we still want to think there is something else out there to strive for. A reward, so to speak. And believing there is a God who offers those things, is very attractive to some. For some souls, that is all they have. I can't fault someone for wanting to achieve eternal bliss. When you think about it, it's what we want while we're alive. Why shouldn't it be so once we're gone? Would it be so bad, to wish for a little happiness in the afterlife? If there was one, of course." She added hastily.
Amy's words had left Sheldon speechless. As a Scientist, he knew the possibility of God was improbable. And because of that, he usually looked at people of faith as lemmings or weak minded. Truthfully, he looked down upon them, and always had. Even his beloved mother made him shudder when she spouted that 'Bible nonsense', as he called it. He never empathized with the human condition. He never found it necessary to have pity on those who took every setback in life literally. It never occurred to him how fortunate he was, to be so intelligent. His mind processed things differently. From a logical point of view.
He was certain the woman next to him was just as evolved as he was, if not more. But she held a warmth in her voice when she talked about humanity that he never could possess. It was almost as if she were a student of the human thought process. Sheldon found he wanted to know more about her than ever before.
"Of course." Sheldon agreed, his voice faltering. He took up his pair of oars, urging her to let him begin the journey home. It was spent in silence, the pair risking glances now and then.
As they moored the boat, they stood on the dock facing one another again. It was late in the day, and Sheldon hadn't realized they'd been on the lake for hours. Chaucer made a whining noise which had both of them staring at the dog with amusement.
"I think Chaucer would like his nightly constitutional." She said, laughter in her voice.
"So it would seem," Sheldon said, smiling despite himself at the dog's obvious love for Amy. He was all paws and jowls, having not completely grown into his size yet. Sheldon found himself admiring how handsome he was. He had never been in such close quarters with such a beast before, and though he was at first terrified of the dog, he now felt something akin to security having him around.
Amy clipped the massive lock in place, standing back up and meeting Sheldon's gaze.
"Would you like to take a walk with us?" She asked him tentatively.
Sheldon gulped as his eyes scanned the tree line. It wasn't dark yet, the last rays of sunlight still filtering through the trees beyond the lake. He knew there was no safety issue if he let her walk alone. She was a grown woman, with a huge dog that would scare anyone away if they were up to no good. And they were in a protected part of Galveston. Most everyone was friendly, and she would have no chance of getting lost if she just followed the lake perimeter. Yet when he turned his eyes back to hers, and saw the earnestness in her gaze, he just knew he was going to accept her invitation.
"Alright," He murmured, falling back to that she could walk ahead with Chaucer. "After you."
As it turned out, their walk was pleasant. More than pleasant, actually. It was…quite enjoyable.
Sheldon had never walked a dog before. For his size, he was quite gentle and didn't even tug Amy along. She had trained him well, as she stated before.
"Would you like to hold the leash?" Amy asked him playfully, laughing when Sheldon's eyes widened to saucers.
"Um…no. Thank you," He said hastily, feeling foolish all of a sudden.
"Oh, come on Dr. Cooper. He won't bite. And he won't drag you, either. I really think he likes you," She said shyly, hiding her face and not seeing Sheldon's pleased reaction.
"Really? You really think so?" He questioned, annoyed at himself for sounding so happy about it.
Why did he care if this woman and her dog liked him? She was infringing on his quiet time and turning his hiatus upside down. He should be furious with her. Not…walking in the woods and admiring the way the twilight rays cast interesting patterns through her hair.
Amy smiled softly, shaking her head.
"Yes, I do. He likes most people, it's true. But he is very shy as well. He doesn't seek people out. Twice he's asked you to pet him. Having only known you a few days, that's a big deal."
Sheldon nodded, once again annoyed that her words pleased him.
"Well, that's…nice." He said, completely out of his depth.
They skirted the lakeshore, stopping to admire the houses sprinkled throughout.
"There's the cottage, across the lake." Sheldon pointed out, crooking his finger in the direction he wished her to follow.
"It looks beautiful from here. How long has your family owned it?" She asked, turning sideways to look at Sheldon. Once again, she admired his profile and how his blue eyes shown through the dark fringe surrounding them. Sheldon turned to her, and she blushed at having once again been caught out blatantly staring at him.
"Since before Missy and I were born." He answered vaguely, looking once again across the lake. Amy's brows drew together in thought.
"Missy and you?" She questioned. She stopped walking, confused.
Sheldon nodded slowly.
"Yes. Missy and I are twins. Fraternal, not identical." He said, looking at her a moment before beginning to walk again. Amy looked on in amusement as Chaucer followed him, walking a hairs breath away from Sheldon. Either Sheldon didn't notice, or it didn't faze him. Amy followed them both at a slow crawl.
"Oh…That's interesting. Is she a Dr. like you?" She asked conversationally. Sheldon snorted humorously.
"Ah…no. Not a Dr. She's…a housewife." He said, and Amy got the impression that he was being generous with his words.
"Well, that's a noble calling as well. Do they have children?" She asked, and Sheldon nodded without speaking.
Amy didn't understand his abrupt change in demeanor.
"That's nice. For them. She seemed very sweet when I met to her," Amy said respectfully.
"Oh, she is sweet. She's dumb as soup, but she's sweet." He said, but a hint of affection in his tone overrode the insult.
Amy smiled.
"Oh, I don't know. I think she was pretty smart." Amy said, hinting to something Sheldon didn't want to face. He simply nodded and kept walking.
"You know Dr. Cooper, we've known each other almost a week now. May I ask you…what is your field of specialty? Amy asked timidly.
Ah…there it was. Sheldon wondered when she was going to broach that subject. He didn't spare her a glance as they continued to walk. They walked at least a quarter of a mile in silence before he turned to her abruptly.
"Physics. I am a Sr. Theoretical Physicist. I have 2 PhD's." He said matter-of-factly. He left it at that, but even he knew that wasn't the end of it.
Amy's eyes widened in fascination. She knew he was intelligent, but two PhD's? Wow.
"Two? When did you begin your studies, age 10?" She laughed.
Sheldon looked away from her.
"Close. I received my first doctorate at the age of 14, and my second by 16."
Impressed, Amy smiled. That explained the nuclear reactor incident, then.
"Wow. I had no idea, but…I can understand it. You are very intelligent; anyone could see that. I knew it the moment I met you," She said quietly, her voice clearly showing admiration.
Sheldon felt the wind knocked out of him at her compliment.
"Thank you," He whispered.
"You're welcome." She answered softly.
They walked in silence for a few moments, occasionally turning to steal looks at each other. Amy felt a wave of shyness overwhelm her all of a sudden. Dr. Sheldon Cooper was extremely intimidating. Why she felt compelled to let him know she was no slouch either, she didn't know. She knew to her core that he was dying to ask her what she did for a living, but after their origins, he would never pry. It was up to her to break the ice, she realized. Gathering up her courage, she managed a smile and cleared her throat.
"Actually Dr. Cooper…I am a Dr. myself." She volunteered, happy that she said it with such a steady voice.
Sheldon's eyes shot to hers as he came up so short that Chaucer knocked into the back of his knees. He must have been shocked because he didn't even flinch as the dog sniffed his legs.
"Oh? A Dr. of what, exactly?" He asked her, trying to keep his voice even.
Say you're a Chiropractor. Or a Holistic Medicine Practitioner. Or a massage therapist…Sheldon hoped. Anything that was hokey or that he could dismiss her on. He didn't know how he would take it if she was as intelligent as she seemed. He was already having a hard time refraining from wanting to get to know her better before he knew her profession.
Sheldon gave Amy his full attention, his breath suspended as he waited for her to elaborate.
"I'm a Neurobiologist." Amy said proudly. She had the good fortune to see Sheldon's mouth drop open.
"Y-you're…" He stuttered, unable to form words. Amy smiled at the way she seemed to shock him.
"A Neurobiologist. I'm one of only five Neuroscientist's working on a study to prove the effects of addiction on the brain. That's why I'm moving to Pasadena. Caltech has offered me a grant for my work, in exchange for teaching three days a week at the University."
Amy offered Sheldon a proud smile, expecting him to be pleased that she was a Scientist as well. But Sheldon merely gaped at her blankly. It felt like the earth had opened beneath him, and he felt himself falling down quickly. A wave of dizziness overwhelmed him at her words and he dug his shoes into the earth so he wouldn't topple over.
"Where?" He asked, his voice sounding haunted. Surely he had heard her incorrectly.
"Caltech University. I'm sure you've heard of it, being a Physicist and all," She said in jest, winking at him. Sheldon tried to catch his breath at her flirtatious quip.
What?
"Caltech. In Pasadena, California?" He questioned. If Amy hadn't known better, she would have sworn he sounded fearful. She nodded, confused at his question. Sheldon maintained a poker face, yet Amy could tell something was definitely wrong.
"Yes. I told you that I was on my way to Pasadena. Where did you think I meant?" She asked softly, noticing the way Sheldon's face drained of blood.
"I…I thought you meant Pasadena, Texas. Here, in Houston. I thought that was why you were staying so close here in Galveston," He said numbly. "It never occurred to me that you would be moving across the country…but renting a cottage here in Texas," He trailed off, the reality of what this meant sinking in.
Oh, God…he thought frantically.
Amy sighed at their obvious misunderstanding.
"Well, I wanted to take some time before I arrived in Pasadena to rest. Besides, as I said, my new home is still being built and at the moment I'm homeless. I came across your sister's ad for the cottage, and having never been to the Gulf coast before, thought I'd give it a try since I was driving. I'm starting at Caltech January 5th for the new semester," She said, not understanding why he cared where she was moving to.
Suddenly, Sheldon wondered how blind he could have been. Of course, she had meant Pasadena, California. Of course she did. He had been so preoccupied with first her appearance and then later, his interest in her. He never put the two together. Who moves from Boston to Pasadena, Texas?
She's coming to work at the same University as me. She'll be living in the same city as me. Dear Lord…
Sheldon felt the air leave him in a whoosh, and taking a deep breath was too difficult to do. What the hell was happening here? He rocked back on his heels, trying to gather momentum to begin walking again. He had to move.
Had to move.
Move!
"Are you alright, Dr. Cooper?" She asked, concern etched in her voice.
"Yes. I'm fine. We'd better get back before the sun is down. It gets pitch black out here," He said woodenly.
Amy followed him back dutifully, Chaucer walking between them. He didn't speak another word to her as they circled back, and she had no idea what she'd said to upset him so. Why would he care if she were moving to Pasadena, California?
If she were being honest, Amy had to admit she was a bit hurt by his indifference. Okay, so her profession wasn't that important to him. Why would it be? But he himself was a Scientist. He didn't even seem to care that she was, too. It was another thing they had in common, but he acted like it was nothing. Was he threatened in some way to know that she was intelligent as well? He didn't strike her as the misogynistic type, but then again, she didn't know him very well.
As they approached the long gravel driveway, Sheldon seemed to pick up his pace. Amy tried to keep up with him, but it was impossible with her shorter legs. When he reached the porch, he trotted up the steps before turning to her slowly.
"Good night, Dr. Fowler," He said hastily, looking at a point beyond her shoulder. Chaucer whined quietly for Sheldon to notice him, but he ignored the dog and turned to go inside.
"I had a good time today," Amy called out softly, but her words were lost in the sound of the door clicking shut behind him. Amy stared down at her pet, not sure what just happened.
"Well…are we back to square one, or what?" She asked Chaucer. As usual, her companion had no answer for her.
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Sheldon stared at the computer monitor for at least thirty minutes. The information wasn't changing, no matter how hard he willed it to. Groaning, he threw his head back against the headboard and was oblivious to the pain as his head struck the wood.
After racing back from their walk he ran up the stairs to get to his room, before slamming the door shut. Sitting on the bed, he tried to take deep and steadying breaths.
He logged onto the Caltech University website, not even bothering to check his email when he noticed he had sixty-seven of them. His main focus right now was to find the faculty roster for the upcoming semester. He searched fields of study, pulling up Neuroscience. Waiting impatiently for the screen to load, he bit his lip harshly. Slowly the page loaded, giving a list in alphabetical order. Sheldon scrolled downward slowly, holding his breath.
Dr. Adams, Hilary
Dr. Benson, Mike
Dr. Carter, John
Dr. Davenport, Helen
Dr. Edwards, Lewis
Dr. Fowler, Amy Farrah…
Sheldon's eyes slid shut as a feeling of fear overwhelmed him. There she was. Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler.
It was obviously an older picture of her as her hair was much shorter, but it was her. Sheldon stared at it blankly, a myriad of strange thoughts bombarding him: seeing her in the halls. Seeing her at faculty meetings. Seeing her in the cafeteria.
Seeing her. Everyday.
Sheldon began to panic, and he clutched his chest tightly. It was one thing sharing this cottage with her for a few weeks. He could manage that. But seeing her on a daily basis. Having to pretend he never met her, never shared space with her…he was terrible at lying and even worse at secret keeping. What if it got out that they had lived together for three weeks? The gossip would be out of control. He shuddered to think what that knowledge would do in the hands of Kripke.
He recalled Missy's words to him earlier in the week. About Miss Fowler being alone, in a strange city, and needing a friend. She had urged him to step up and be that friend. Sheldon's eyes narrowed to slits as he allowed a dark thought to take root in his mind. Had Melissa known Dr. Fowler's destination? She and Amy had spoken four times on the phone, and in person here. Did it never come up that Amy was on her way to live in Pasadena? More than that, did she know Amy was going to work at Caltech?
Sheldon began to hyperventilate, sitting forward and bending his head between his knees. Would his sister really do something so sneaky and underhanded? She must have. The coincidence was too strong. Dr. Fowler just happened to answer an ad for a cottage that they owned before moving to his exact city and University? Melissa was probably rubbing her hands together like a smug villain at how providence dropped this onto her lap. Another way to make him look like a fool and trick him.
An even darker thought began to blossom which was even more sinister than the first: Did Dr. Fowler herself know the truth? Is that why she winked at him when she stated he should know where Caltech was? Had she known all week that they were going to be colleagues?
A feeling of betrayal the likes of which he'd never known burst inside of him. He was beginning to trust her. He was beginning to feel things for her. He was beginning to care. Was she just another conniving, insensitive liar who thought he was just a ridiculous nerd? Was she playing some game with him that she could snicker about once she arrived at Caltech? Was she laughing at him behind his back, like everyone in school used to do?
White hot anger flooded his body, and he found himself rising and going downstairs to find Dr. Fowler. He'd get to the bottom of this post haste.
No one made a fool out of Dr. Sheldon Cooper. Especially not some hotsy-totsy from Boston.
A/N- Thank you for reading. Do not worry…there will be no glass throwing in the next chapter. Only a heart to heart talk. X