A sequel to "The Biophysical Relationship Evolution." The story continues 4 years on from Sheldon and Bernardette's wedding. Everything belongs to Chuck Lorre and friends. Part 9 - Bernadette's Caltech maternity cover job approaches its end.

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There was only one month to go before Dr. Parker was due back at work, she had been coming in every other Friday afternoon for the last 2 months to prepare to return to work. Bernadette did her best to keep her up to date how things were in the lab.

Bernadette was no closer to getting a new job, there was nothing academic suitable for her in Southern California. 4 months earlier her old Zangen boss started calling her out of the blue. At first Bernadette would politely say that she didn't work for him any more, didn't he remember the day he fired her? This kept happening so she wouldn't answer any more calls from him, she got Caltech to block any calls to her from Zangen. She knew that if she were to apply for any pharmaceutical industry jobs she would need a reference from Zangen and that wasn't likely to be a good one. As much as she had enjoyed working at Caltech she was getting worried that this would be a dead end.

Bernadette was starting to get nightmares about ending up back at the Cheesecake Factory and having to serve food to her old Zangen boss every day. Sheldon did his best to comfort his wife, reminding her that they wouldn't starve even if Bernadette wasn't working.

With two weeks to go Bernadette was starting to dread going to work as the end approached. On Monday morning she got a message asking her to meet with Professor Kariuki that afternoon. When she got there she was surprised to see Janine Davis with him.

Kariuki "Good afternoon Bernadette, thanks for coming. As you know your maternity cover contract at Caltech is coming to an end in 2 weeks when Dr. Jane Parker returns from maternity leave. We have all been very impressed with your work in the microbiology lab this last year, you have run a tight ship. Even those two students of mine who you kicked out of the lab last year say they will be sad when you stop working as an experimental officer. Caltech cannot continue your current contract as experimental officer after Jane returns. I am sure you are aware of that."

Bernadette "Yes, I have been aware of this for a year."

Kariuki "However, it has just been confirmed that next year I am going to be promoted to Assistant Dean of Biological Science here at Caltech, this will mean almost all of my time will be spent in administration. I will have to live your life at Zangen of endless meetings and not going near the lab. I am not going to have much time to spend running my research group."

Janine "So Caltech would like to offer you a new post of Senior Research Assistant, this would initially be a 5 year post but if you do a good job I would expect this would turn into an Assistant Professorship in due course. You would basically run Professor Kariuki's research group for him whilst he is otherwise occupied as Assistant Dean. You would get a pay rise compared to your current experimental officer salary although you would undoubtedly get more money back in the pharmaceutical industry."

Bernadette "So where do I sign?"

Janine handed over a big envelope full of papers "Have a look at these and get them back to me by the end of the day if you are happy. Knowing your husband he would probably want to see all this before you sign. If you want this job you would start the day Jane comes back."

Bernadette "I don't know what to say other than thank you."

Kariuki "Thank you Dr. Rostenkowski-Cooper, welcome aboard and keep doing some science for me."

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Ten minutes later Bernadette burst into Sheldon's office, Sheldon was talking to Leonard.

Sheldon "Bernardette, it is always good to see you at work but as you can see I am in discussion with Dr. Hofstadter."

Bernardette "I could hear you from outside, you were talking about Batman. Look at this!"

Bernadette showed her Janine's big envelope

Sheldon "What is this?"

Bernadette "Our chance to live happily ever after..."