A/N: Another resumption as we pick things up with Sarada and Sheldon's budding friendship. Along with one unexpected moment. Enjoy.


8: The Cohesion Acceleration.

"Sarada, I know it's only been 5 days since we got brought together, but now that I noticed. There's Something a bit different about you."

The Innocent Smile of my assistant showing off some random outfit Penny had picked out for her complimented by Bernadette's extra frames brought out something I hadn't seen of her yet.

"Sir, what do you mean…"

"I mean, if my love of comic books tell me anything, its that the major fish out of water character who gets a makeover usually finds an interest at this point.

Sarada looked over some notes I had on the whiteboard while pondering my words.

"Like that would happen Dr. Cooper, I mean sure I've had the best few days getting to know your circle of friends and Mike and his wife, but I've seen everyone in your life but this one girl Leonard keeps mentioning."

Without realizing it my mood went south at her mention of the one he brought up.

"Oh Dr. Cooper I'm so sorry."

I sunk to the floor while Sarada grabbed the sandwich she had brought with her to perk herself up.

"Eat this…"

The first couple of bites allowed me to taste something completely different. Not something I'd be remotely used to in a biteable triangle shape.

"What is this, sandwiches aren't supposed to be this crunchy."

"It's my specialty sir. Soba noodles and cucumbers. I always had these with my Mom and she taught me to make them. My 4 closest friends back home can't get enough of them."

"Well your friends have very weird tastes, not to mention your mo…" In a rare move for me I stop myself in my tracks before finishing that statement, but the damage already hit Sarada like a ton of bricks and now she sunk down to the ground in despair.

"Oh crap." I swing around to the floor to the whimpering Sarada and catch her before she faceplants on the ground. Tears have already formed in Sarada's eyes as she sniffles while looking at me.

"What if they don't find me."

I don't know whether it was my time with Amy, and that I knew ended badly but as I looked at the girl, I did my rare hug with more emphasis then ever.

"You can't give up hope Sarada."

"Dr. coo…"

"You can call me Sheldon…Not Shelly, only family calls me that. Just Sheldon."

"They don't even know where I am, we were on vacation and somehow I blacked out waking up in Griffith Park. I go into the foster system in 3 ½ weeks, if things don't change, and I know Mike wont permanently take in a 13-year-old girl from another…"

My hug grows as well as my rub of her head.

"I'm going to go see President Seibert now and let him know I'm borrowing you for the rest of the day. You need some cheering up."

Sarada looked at me sniffling.

"Sheldon I'm not sure you…"

But my feet already raced out of the office heading his way. I kept at a brisk pace until I noticed Amy at the drinking fountain. I was all set to speed up when she noticed me.

"Hi…"

"Hey…"

"Is everything going ok…"

"As ok as it can be…"

"That's good. Well…"

She booked it out of there quick, and I returned to my goal.

17 Minutes Later.

Sarada had been jotting notes down as I know reentered the room.

"How'd it go…"

"Lets say…I just have to get you back by 8…" My tone for obvious reasons said this isn't a date and as a jingled car keys in front of her she didn't care.

"So, Doctor Cooper, Where to?"

We got up and headed out, for a day that would cheer anyone up no matter what their circumstances.


8 Hours Later

"Hey what's up…"

I looked at Naruto with a mixed gaze of fear and palpable wonder. "I don't know, but something tells me Sarada's enjoying herself.

"How…"

"Lets just keep going…"

"Pick up the pace you slowpokes…" The words of my wife echoed hard as we continued our jump along the treelines.


A/N: Time passes and we see what comes of Sheldon and Sarada in Chapter 9: The Legality Conundrum. As Always Subscribe for more.