A/N: Well, I'm just overwhelmed. I can't believe I have over 40 reviews already on this story! Who would have thought? My purpose why I did this is to channel my thoughts… Thank you, thank you! This is the longest story I've made so far, and according to my outline, we are halfway there.
Sometimes geniuses, apart from being well genius, they are the most clueless when it comes to illogical things… Yes, I'm talking about them channeling their feelings…
Warning: This chapter will jump days. It will be fast, and forward. Hence, the title: p
No copyright infringement intended.
Chapter 11: The Fast Forward
Sheldon's
Sheldon didn't know what to do, that's stupid, of course he does, and he needs to apologize. He needs to be honest with her, why do they always misunderstand each other?
Drats! It's my baser urges fault, why did I lose focus? I didn't know how to react to that feeling. The feeling of wanting to kiss her… This is all new to me, the feeling of wanting to see her… to talk to her…
I never wanted anyone before… well, when Pop Pop died, I wanted him to come back… But the feeling is nothing compared to this… It's warm and soft yet, painful…
This is dangerous… If, at early at this point I feel this much pain, I'm not sure I want to feel or know what more I could feel if I continue this.
I have to stop… I need to stop… I can't let myself fall for that vixen. Or it will be the end of me…
Am I being a coward? Of course not! Sheldon Cooper does not succumb to anything.
He then remembered how he succumbs for a cheap defeat pointed out by Amy…
Good God, what is becoming of me?
He was convinced that he is becoming a different person, and he doesn't like it. He doesn't like change, not at all. Never in his wildest dream have he thought he would ever change this much for a span of two weeks.
Maybe this trip was a mistake. No, this trip is definitely a mistake.
Amy's
Amy and Sheldon were not different from each other, on her side she was also thinking of the same thing. She's changing and she's not happy about it.
It's not like she hates change, unlike Sheldon, but she hates when she couldn't recognize herself anymore. She's turning into this hot-headed, easily judging, and hypnotized eye crazed person. If her past self would see her now, she would be giving herself a thumb down.
What happened to focusing on career? No silly, stupid emotions? No… pain, no anything, just the success and Nobel in mind. That's my kind of world…
I need to get myself together, and don't let this petty emotions get in the way… I know it makes me happy just by looking at him, but it's not worth it… It's painfully not worth it… Get it together Ms. Future Nobel Prize winner…
With that, she's convinced she doesn't want to be hurt anymore, and to be able to do that. She had to get rid of her feelings or whatever it is for Sheldon and what better way to do it than not seeing him for the rest of her life…
Am I being a coward? No… I'm just avoiding something that's avoidable and pointless…
Sheldon's
Sheldon delivered his talk as planned. He was back to the old Sheldon, if you asked his friends. He tried so hard to focus and not look for Amy but he did anyway. As he expected, she didn't come. That made it easier for Sheldon.
The Group's
Raj and Emily enjoyed the week; actually, they enjoyed it more because there was no group gathering. They were all on their own, which made them independent to plan on their own. They have discovered a lot of things about each other and this trip was the best thing that happened to them…
Howard and Bernadette spent the week smitten about the seminar, and felt great that they get to spend the day on their own and meet up during the night at their room. It gave them both control and space, which made them miss each other when the night comes. It was very effective since Howard wasn't being control, and Bernadette wasn't being manipulative. And they didn't have to deal with other's drama, especially Sheldon's. In other words, they hand fun.
Leonard and Penny compromised, Penny would like to stay in the beach, white and magnificent beach, and Leonard could go around to the seminar and watch everyone he likes. The compromise was, Leonard will sometimes join Penny and Penny will sometimes join Leonard. In general, they learned how to appreciate each other's company and try to appreciate the other's interest.
They all dreaded the day the seminar ends, not only that their getaway from reality would be over, but because they would have to deal with Sheldon again. As exciting it may be to the ears of people like Stephen, but to them, it never was fun.
"Sheldon, how do you do?" A smitten Raj asked Sheldon while they are boarding their plane.
"I had an awful mistake of ever agreeing to this trip." He said bitterly. All of them were smiling to their ears but him…
"How bitter! I had a great time. We had a great time!"
"I was supposed to be the only person who would be delighted by this trip!"
"Hey"
"I was supposed to be treated like a king. And see all the trains I want."
"And you did!"
"I did. But I hate this trip."
"You don't make sense man."
"He never makes sense, Raj." Whispered Howard to Raj as if he was saying, let him be.
They noticed Sheldon's bitter self, a much worse version of him and couldn't put the pieces together.
Raj regretted why he even asked Sheldon. But he was so sure that he had all he wanted, he should have been in a good mood.
Amy's
Amy didn't go to Sheldon's talk but instead she watched him on the TV, she was staring at him like he's a candy but at least she thought it's less intense than it was in person.
A text from Stephen did not help; he was having such a good day and told Amy that Dr. Cooper was looking amazing today.
A knocked startled her, she felt guilty for staring at Sheldon where she told herself that she would forget about him.
"Who is it?"
"None other than" A voice that's familiar to her, it was Dr. G. She eagerly opened her door to see him.
"Doctor?"
"Are you packed? We need to go."
"Yes I was, but, why so early?"
"We have to prepare, we are going to present our whole study to the scientist that could nominate us on our future Nobel."
"When would that be?"
"Next week."
"You are kidding right? I haven't done preparing the …."
She was cuts off by Dr. G
"Exactly, that's why we need to go right away. I have the chopper ready."
"Okay, I'll be right down in 30 minutes."
"Okay little lady."
3 hours later, they are back in the lab. She thought she missed this place but it looks like her heart misses something else, or someone else. She shrugs it off and made her way to start preparing, there are more things that are important than missing Sheldon.
Fast Forward
A month after the seminar, Sheldon didn't get out of his room. He didn't bought 25 cats, but he shut himself inside his room. He only gets out when he does laundry, and bathroom breaks. He even eats inside his room now. It was too much for Sheldon to see how beautiful the world is, which reminds him of Amy. Whenever he sees things that are beautiful for him, he screams and freak out. He tried getting rid of all he could possibly think of that could remind him of her. He was definitely, what his friends call, out of his mind.
Even Mary Cooper tried to talk some sense to him but he refused to even see her, every time she visit, he would get out of the apartment and don't come home until she's gone. But he did tell her mom that she has nothing to worry about and he needs time to sort things out. Which to Mary's, she felt like an adult Sheldon was talking to her. So, she left him alone.
Amy's career and study was going as they planned. After the presentation, they got scientist all over the place who confirmed that they are going to nominate them. She's overwhelm but not happy. She doesn't know why she's not happy. She have everything she could dream of, but why does she feel empty?
Dr. G notices this and decided to make a move, he was right. Amy should be out in the world. But he couldn't convince her, she was too stubborn to even listen to him about going out of the lab. He had to approach the subject in a different way, so he did. "Hello. Yes, I called for the job."
Amy's
"What is it now?" She said while looking at her microscope when Dr. G. arrived all jumpy.
"I got you a job!"
"I already have one."
"No, a real job, this is finish Amy. You need to move on."
"We could research other things Doctor."
"I am getting old, and frankly, I would like to travel and enjoy the world."
"But, who needs that? When we can have fun with this!" She pointed out her slides.
"Amy, I'm shutting the lab no matter what, and donate the equipment to geologist's if you don't take the job."
"Not the dirt people!"
"The job is from one of the best universities in the world."
"Not interested."
"They would love to have you on board."
"Nope"
"Your position would be the head of the neuroscience department."
"Keep talking, doctor."
"I will transfer the entire lab's equipment in your new lab."
"You have really thought this through."
"Yes. And, you don't need to teach anyone, unless you wanted to."
"I could focus on my lab all I want? I could… Alright, I'm doing it."
"Good, you start next month. I already arranged your house there."
"Arrange what are who and what?"
"Oh, yes, I had fun doing that. And, it's Caltech. So, you'd be staying in Glendale again."
"Don't tell me…"
"Yes, in your old apartment."
At first, she doesn't know if she wanted to get back to her apartment but a part of her wanted to. To all those people who bullied her, who doubted her, oh the look on their faces when the committee announced her win of a Nobel. She secretly liked what Dr. G. did for her, it's like she's going back in the U.S., fiercer, bolder, smarter, and stronger.
Little did she know that's where Sheldon's work place. Sure, he hadn't showed himself up to the university for three years, but he was still employed. He really had no reason to even bother himself to go there, President Siebert granted him the opportunity to do his work home but provided he would still be under Caltech.
Dave failed to mention this part to Amy because Sheldon don't even come to the university, he himself, wasn't sure if he was still employed in Caltech. Rather than telling Amy something he wasn't sure, he decided to leave out that part. And Amy just assumed that Sheldon didn't even need employment.
Fast Forward
After a month of moving and familiarizing herself to the surroundings again, and to Caltech, her first day finally came…
It was all good, she was delighted that her lab was bigger than she would have expected, everything were running smoothly. She even met her old colleagues from 10 years ago and they couldn't even look at her. Their researched came out and she's famous for that, she thought "I bet you all regret what you did, yes keep looking." But even with that surefire victory slash revenge, she still felt empty. She then realized she was thinking about him again, she knows she had to stop or she would have another episode of him… To prevent herself from getting lost about him, she shoved herself to her work and before she knew it. It was lunch time.
Amy's
She headed to the cafeteria and there was a familiar face… It was Dr. Hofstadter. She doesn't know if she should approach him or not… Good thing Leonard notices her to make the first move…
"DR. FOWLER? I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!" He said excited screaming, and everyone turned their attention to Amy.
"Please come join us here!" He offered and insisted.
"No… I"
"Dr. Fowler, I read your paper, I'm a fan." Raj forwarded to shake her hands.
"Wow, look at Raj, last year he couldn't even talk to a girl."
"Really? Selective mutuism, how did you get over that?" It intrigued Amy and before she knows it, she was seating in there and talking to them.
"I got my heart broken. I guess there's a something good comes out from something bad" he said not bitter anymore because he has a girlfriend now that he loves and who loves him too.
"I agree." She said hopeful.
"Dr. Fowler, I'd like to you to meet my friends, Raj and Howard."
"Who's your best friend among them?"
"Oh how did she know about him?" Howard asked curiously.
"I told her about him."
"Dr. He is stuck in his room for 2 months now." Howard told Amy like it was a joke but Amy didn't find it funny.
"That's weird. I would understand a week, or maybe a month. But, 2 months?"
"Yes. I know, Dr. Maybe you could help us? Study his brain or at least see his behavior. I'm really worried about him… he's never been like that before…"
"Okay. I am curious as to why he's acting that way. Especially since he enjoyed my paper, he must be at least above average, correct?"
"He is more than above average."
"That makes it more fun. Bring him in my lab tomorrow at around 9am."
"We will."
With that, Amy exited with a smile. I can finally have something to look forward… She said…
"Are you out of your mind? How are we supposed to bring him out of his room?"
"I don't know, let's blackmail him."
"I like the sound of that." Howard said as if he was an evil villain in a Disney movie.
Sheldon's
Sheldon went to his scheduled bathroom breaks. He thought this day would be any other day, unsuspecting of what to come.
Little did he know, his friends went inside his room and was totally shocked what they saw? Almost everything was covered with a white sheet as if he was trying to hide things or prevent looking at it.
"He is definitely a psycho." Said Raj.
"Yes, I know, good thing Dr. Fowler is around to help him."
"Go Raj, hid the dirty sock under his bed and there too just in case." Said Howard pointing our three different locations.
"What in the heaven's name are you three doing here?"
"We are here to tell you that you need to come with us to Caltech tomorrow at exactly 8:45, we will leave this apartment and we are going to see a specialist." Leonard bravely said to him. This needed to be done.
"No!"
"I have hid three different dirty socks in your room, if you don't come with us tomorrow; I am never going to tell you where they are located." Said Raj in his demanding tone.
"You're bluffing."
"Are you willing to risk it?" said Howard in a happy and grinning tone.
Sheldon had no choice but to come with them, at first he refused but then he couldn't possibly sleep knowing there might be dirty socks in his room and he could be inhaling its contaminated germs.
"Which line do you guys prefer, I told you so? You are all stupid for doing this? Or this is none sense and I'm totally fine."
"No Sheldon, you are not fine!"
"I am!"
"Are you taking me to the psychology department? Oh God, I don't even need to tell you guys those things. You should all be ashamed."
"We are not taking you to psychology department!" Leonard pissed voiced pierced through the car.
Sheldon was more fixated on the fact that he would get to tell them they are all wrong and prove to this specialist that he is fine. Although, he didn't paid much attention to where they are going because he was busy mocking his friends.
"We are here Sheldon."
"Neuroscience department? Hmmm… I didn't think you guys would be wiser, but… I will prove to you that I am fine and you are all fools for doing this."
"Just go in there, and if this fails, I will take full responsibility." Leonard said, but in his mind he was thinking, "at least I tried…"
"Alright. See you very shortly everyone. Oh look at all of you, hoping for the impossible."
He got in and a girl who's blond and wearing a lab coat was there.
"Excuse me; I am supposed to be here according to my best friend."
"Oh yes, we were expecting you. Dr. would be with you shortly."
As Sheldon wait for the "so called specialist", he observed the lab. He was quite taken aback when he realized how beautiful this lab is, the owner must be very intelligent to organize and have all of this equipment. He was not happy; the lab reminds him of Amy. It's like Amy's name is written all over this lab. But what does he know? He hates everything beautiful and even if this wasn't his field, he still appreciated all the equipment inside.
Amy's
"Dr. you're subject is here." Said Alaina, her assistant. Alaina have great credentials; she was more than thrilled when the university opened a screening to find Dr. Fowler an assistant. She still thinks she got lucky that she was chosen out of 145 people that applied. Dr. Fowler did not disappoint her expectations, it could have even exceeded, and this was only her second day.
Amy on the other hand was more thrilled about her new subject, a genius in a scenario like this; there must be something that caused him not to go out. Something about the world that represents a certain thing that keeps him not wanting any of it. Whatever it could be, it must have broken his heart, or scarred him for life. She was curious.
She headed towards her lab and before she knows it, she found herself staring at a back of a man. He was tall, brown hair, a good biceps and… NO IT COULDN'T BE? She stops… She froze, her heart felt like it was hit by an arrow, she… NO, it couldn't be him! That's impossible! I'm hallucinating… My god, this is the 5th time I've hallucinated about him this week… I'm seeing him in my new lab now?
She was convinced that she's hallucinating, it has been happening to her a lot, and sometimes the hallucination was too strong that she thought it was real. But, she had to stop herself, and the only way to do that is, if she calls him. If she utters his name, the hallucination always stops… It always ends… She gulped and decided to say his name…
"Sheldon?"
The man turned around and said…
"Amy?"
Why is he still here? Why haven't my hallucination stopped yet?
Sheldon's
"Sheldon?"
He heard a voice that he only hears in his dreams, as soft as it could be. As warm as it is, it filled his heart in an instance. He turned around hoping it was really Amy but that's impossible, it could have only been a voice inside his head.
"Amy?"
To his surprised… It really was Amy…
A/N: Well... It was kinda predictable? I hope you still enjoyed it.
