The Big Reversal Theory 12

Or the Vixen in 4B


I wanted to thank all my readers and followers. This is my highest followed story ever! Thank you so much.

Also a big thank you again to ShAmy4evr for the edits.

Sorry the chapters are so long. There is just so much to put in this story. Also, I am terrible at cutting stuff out.


Amy had some work to complete at her lab before she left for Saudi Arabia, but was having trouble in focusing on the simplest of tasks. She hit the record button on her work phone, and lowered her voice to business mode, "Hello. This is Dr Amy Farrah Fowler. I will be out of the office for approximately two weeks given I am able to convince people of the value of Neuroscience and my personal affairs… Don't... I mean... Leave a…"

"Damn it…" It was the fifth time that Amy had tried to make her voice mail message, and it was becoming ridiculous. The morning events were still running through her mind. She had been surprised when she opened her bedroom door and Sheldon was standing in front of it holding onto the frame like he needed strength. She had handed him his shoes, socks and belt with a forced smile, being careful not to look at his face, knowing that if she had seen see his eyes; she would fold.

Sheldon knew something was amiss, but he couldn't read her; she had a new face that seemed forced, and unhappy, yet hiding it all. He was feeling pangs of remorse biting at him, not only from the kiss itself, but also because he could not remember it. He wondered if the kiss was anything like the dream he had when she held the batman statue. He had finally left her apartment, and despite her objections, he had stated that he would be back in the evening to help her pack.

Just when she was about to try her message recording again, Leonard knocked on the door of her lab.

The lab was a decent size and on par with the square footage of Leonard's. The room was lined with a wide counter that housed a variety of equipment including sparkling clean beakers, microscopes and a centrifuge.

Amy looked up when she heard him clear his throat. "Leonard what a surprise."

"Wow, this is your lab? Nice."

Amy let out an exasperated snort, "Yes, well your lack of a biology background is glaring if you think this is nice. But alas, here I am with a microscope from the Clinton administration and a centrifuge that needs a kick to start. Anyway what can I do for you?" Amy swiveled her chair around to face him. She had never had a visitor to her lab before and had no chair to offer him.

Leonard came over to stand by Amy, "I spoke with Sheldon briefly this morning. He was in quite a state when he came back from your place. Are you two okay?" Leonard was still in shock over Sheldon's haggard appearance. If he didn't know better, he say Sheldon did the walk of shame after a one night stand, but Leonard knew his roommate.

"Never better. He had unknowingly imbibed alcohol and probably had a case of the brown bottle flu." She didn't however add that she was leaving for trip to get away from his haunting blue eyes. Never better huh? She chuckled to herself at the lie.

Leonard nodded his head, "Okay, that makes more sense. I was wondering why he was upset over Penny coming to your place. He kept calling her Calamity Jane and she was full of the frowns of fortune. I knew he didn't like her, but she almost made the mortal enemies list!"

"It must be the unknowing alcohol consumption, Leonard, no other reason for his distress." Amy was in no mood to discuss the kiss with Leonard, or anyone else for that matter. "Also, he is not used to sleeping in a different bed. It upset his routine."

"You didn't…" Leonard looked at her with a skeptical eye.

"Didn't what?" Amy had no idea what Leonard was talking about. He could see on her face she was just as clueless as Sheldon.

"Never mind, stupid question…" Leonard took a deep breath, "I just had to ask, how in the hell did you not strangle Sheldon over his behavior this weekend? Forget weekend, since you met him!? I really need to know, because some days….I'll tell ya… I might need a lawyer."

Amy let out a huge sigh, "Leonard, you've been friends with him for a long time. Tell me something that I already know the answer to... Does Sheldon love rules, lists, order? Does he have a rigid schedule and a preoccupation with productivity, an adherence to social conventions and insist there is a right way of doing things?"

Leonard's eyes were wide as saucers. "Woah, are you reading my mind now? This is freaky."

Amy continued, "Does he live a cautious life style and shun personal relationships in favor of adherence to his rules and order?"

Leonard was stunned, "Okay… Do you have a camera in our apartment or something, because that is uncanny? Yes to all. You just described everything about Sheldon. So how do I deal with it? I mean I want to kill him some days."

Amy smiled, though saddened that some of her observations were accurate. "Well your roommate seems to display some characteristics of an anankastic personality disorder. One conversation with him is not going to change him. I don't understand why you would want to anyway."

"How can you not understand?" Leonard glared at her from over his glasses, he was getting none of the sympathy he expected.

"But, he doesn't let me whistle, he has our cereal organized by fiber content and his bowel movement schedule is on our fridge. If I get the wrong mustard, I hear about it for weeks. I don't even want to imagine what hell I would go through if he ever found out I didn't return that movie." Leonard pulled out his inhaler and took a couple kush kush pumps before continuing, "We have a safety drill every month. I have to pass inspections! We have a flag for the apartment!"

"I'm not hearing anything unreasonable here, Leonard. I love flags by the way. It doesn't sound that bad."

"Well, it's bad." Leonard crossed his arms and pouted. "How is it you understand him so well?"

"I understand the brain, Leonard. It takes time to modify habits that he probably has ingrained since childhood. He just needs someone who can understand him and accept them for just another facet of an already fascinating man."

"Isn't having a disorder a bad thing, Amy? I mean. Shouldn't he change just because of that?" Leonard quickly added, "You know, for him... Not just me..."

Amy snickered at Leonard, "Ya sure! Listen Leonard, we ALL have disorders Leonard. Just because someone puts a label on ones quirks and puts it into ICD-10 doesn't mean he should have to change. The best part of friendship and love is accepting one completely, quirks and all." Amy looked past Leonard for a moment and thought back to Sheldon and all the little things he did that she thought were fascinating.

Leonard saw a look in Amy's eyes that he recognized as love, even if Amy didn't. He knew he had the same look when he thought of Penny.

He shot her a knowing smile, but she quickly dropped her starry eyed stare and answered briskly, "Either that or we strap him down on a table and flood his brain with serotonin. I've got a big needle. I can do it."

Amy reached for a drawer, but Leonard stopped her. "No better not. I hate needles even when they are used on someone else. So can you help me here, he still refuses to go to the presentation tomorrow night?"

Amy let out a sigh. She could probably get Sheldon to do the presentation, but that would mean she would have to see him. She wanted to avoid him till her trip, it had only been 4 hours since she saw him and she already missed him. Amy knew what Leonard would ask next, "Please, can you talk to him about this. It means a lot to me."

"Ok, I will speak to him but there will be no tricks. Just because I understand him, doesn't mean I will manipulate him. I have to warn you though that you might not like the results."

"Just talk, none of your witchcraft. Sheldon is a handful and you seem to be able to handle him without the use of firearms. I need to know your secret."

Amy let out a nervous laugh, "I don't have a secret. I only met him a few months ago! There are no secrets. You know he hates them."

"I know, but I have never seen him react to anyone like he does to you. It's almost as if you speak the same language."

Amy looked down for a moment and her tone changed. Her voice was dreamlike as if accessing a memory, "I just understand him for some reason. He and I share a lot of habits. He is remarkable and frankly, I would hate to see him change too much. He is very unique." Amy smiled in a nostalgic haze and looked up to see Leonard watching her.

She quickly donned a professional tone and answered flatly, "It's simple. Sheldon is probably lacking serotonin. Get him outside, exercising."

"Okay, thanks Amy. But you have no idea how hard your advice is for guy like him who thinks getting fresh air is going into the hall. I'll try." Leonard almost left, but he turned quickly to ask her, "So, you'll talk to him? About the conference?"

"Sure, Leonard I will do what I can. But I understand his fears. Even I am not the best at social gatherings."

"Really? I don't believe that?" Leonard clicked his tongue and smirked at Amy.

Amy glared at Leonard making him take a step back, "Unlike Sheldon I can recognize sarcasm. Now, get out of here before I find that big needle!"

" OK, I'm outta here, will we see you tonight?"

"I don't think so. I need to finish packing for Saudi Arabia. Arrangements have been made for me to meet with a Saudi Prince for funding. The last meeting fell through because he was too busy playing golf with Tiger Woods."

Leonard was floored at the news. If Amy left, he would be left to care take after Sheldon by himself again. Amy living next door had been a welcome addition to Leonard's life, because it meant he could have some of his time back, "WHAT? No wonder Sheldon was in a mood! You can't leave! I need you!"

Just as Leonard made his declaration, Sheldon entered Amy's lab. Upon hearing Leonard's words, he shot Leonard a scowl and almost growled at Amy.

"First Raj, now Leonard? You are a vixen Amy! You are leaving a trail of broken hearts!" but Amy just laughed, and shook her head.

"No, Sheldon. Leonard wanted to talk to me about the conference, and I think I have a solution that you both find acceptable."

Sheldon's demeanor changed and he relaxed in an instant, "Color me intrigued."

True to her word, Amy had worked her magic and convinced Sheldon and the night before she left they presented their joint paper together at the Bose-Einstein condensates conference. Actually, Leonard had had to present the paper to the crowd. Sheldon just stood silently next to him as Leonard read verbatim the script that Sheldon had prepared. Leonard's only contribution was a joke that Sheldon found hilarious.

Amy helped Sheldon pick out his best suit, the plaid one. She thought he looked splendid in the suit, and tried to hold back her 'hoo's'. Sheldon knew he looked good, but catching Amy staring at his appealing posterior helped boost his already inflated ego.

The presentation was a big success, and convinced Sheldon that future collaborations between the two of them would not be, as Sheldon put it, "Unpleasant." Though Sheldon also added that as it would probably be 8 years before Leonard had another good idea, he had time to prepare.

Two weeks later

After two weeks, Leonard was missing Amy almost as much as Sheldon and though Sheldon had never admitted it, his actions indicated otherwise. He had been cranky the first week, caustic the next, and intolerable for the last three days. His frequent Skype calls with Amy did improve his mood a little; however, it didn't help his disposition that Penny had been spending a lot of time at 4A.

Since the girl's night, she and Leonard had formed a friendship. Penny seemed to have an uncanny ability to purchase electronics that needed constant repair. The Dell Corporation could not be faulted for their keys sticking since Penny's habit of eating yogurt and dropping splats on her keyboard caused many a malfunction. Penny also seemed to show up on Chinese, Thai and even pizza night. Sheldon was ready to include another person in his social circle least of one who could add nothing to the intellectual salon that was 4A.

Sheldon thought Leonard's unrequited love rants were tedious and he also found Penny as taxing as his twin sister, only half as bright. He couldn't say a disparaging word about her to Leonard without him changing the subject to Amy, which quickly lightened Sheldon's mood. At least Sheldon did not have to go to the musical 'Rent' which caterwauling Penny was in by chance. According to Leonard, Penny's "singing" made the only two people in the audience's ears bleed.

Though Sheldon had offered Leonard's serives to pick up Amy from LAX, the Saudi donor had already arranged for a car service. Leonard was less than thrilled to be volunteered for LAX pick up service, but anything to get Amy back was aces in his book. It had been a long two weeks.

Sheldon heard the rattle of keys and it could only mean one thing: Amy was home. He had been waiting all day for the distinctive ringing sounds of brass and as soon as heard them, he jumped off the couch and leaped to the door as his heart pounded in his chest.

Just before he opened it, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He had to slow his sudden rapid heart rate. Carefully, he opened the door just in time to see Amy Farrah Fowler standing in front of 4B. All he could see was her brown hair, the back of her purple striped cardigan and the gentle curve of her hips hugged by her tight beige skirt. He smiled as he watched her fumble with her lab keys and struggle to find her house keys.

"You left them with me, remember?"

Amy swiftly turned around and flashed a brilliant smile as her hair splayed out like sun burst. She had forgotten that Sheldon had told her to leave her keys with him so he could empty her mail box, check her plants and rotate the mattress. Amy knew that arguing with him was futile, just like convincing him that she was already packed. They had had a lengthy conversation before she left on her trip:

"Sheldon! That is a total waste of time. I don't need all that! I'm already packed anyway!"

Sheldon was already pulling out all of her clothes of her tightly packed suitcase, "Amy, by attaching RFID tags to your clothing, it will enable your laptop to read and identify the items with this wand. I will then cross-reference them against destination, anticipated activity spectrum, weather conditions, duration of trip, et cetera."

"Wait, I can track them too?"

"Yes."

"That's actually kinda cool."

"Of course it is. Simplifying the task of packing is the definition of cool. Speaking of weather conditions, it might be cold in the desert at night. Also, do you have extra scarfs, they will make you cover your hair over there. You have to be careful."

"I'll be fine, Sheldon. I went to the store in Tehrangeles and purchased a number of Hijabs. Don't worry."

Sheldon wasn't convinced, "And don't eat any lamb. Besides being disgusting and tasting like sweat, who knows where it came from. Also, eat with your right hand. Don't shake hands with men unless they offer."

"They're very welcoming people, Sheldon. I'll be fine."

"Amy…"

Amy looked up from her repacking to Sheldon. He was wringing his hands, "Are you sure you have to go?" He looked at her with desperate eyes. He couldn't avoid being needy, but he could mask it: "I mean, you know how Leonard is… He is lost without your explanations of his mother's research!"

"Leonard doesn't need to tell him what his mother thinks of him. The dust jacket of her book is explanation enough."

"True… But your insights to…" Amy just smiled and cut off his impeding rant.

"Sheldon, I know you are worried about me, but I'll be fine. I think this trip will be good for me, Sheldon. I need to think about things."

She took at glance at his eyes and looked away, "I've been… overwhelmed with something… at work, and this trip will help me clear my head. I need to regain focus and not pursue avenues of research that I know will lead nowhere."

Amy couldn't face him anymore, she had to turn away, but Sheldon didn't help the situation. He moved closer to her and took the head scarf she had folded three times out of her hands to finish the job.

Sheldon lowered his tone, "Sometimes, it does seem that we are wasting our time that we are focused on something that will not give us results. Truth be told, I wonder that about my own line of research and I get frustrated with String theory because I've get nothing back for years."

"I won't waste years Sheldon. "Amy bit her lip and faced her vanity which had a large mirror that reflected them both. Amy tried to look at herself, but could only concentrate on Sheldon who was folding her clothes. Even when she tried to focus on herself, she still saw him. She wondered if it would ever be true for him. She thought she knew the answer: No.

Sheldon continued to speak, but his tone was softer. "However, but if you are secure in fact that your original premise is correct, then the answers will come. And if not, you can find a new area. You just have to be patient."

Amy didn't know how to deal with these feelings bubbling within her like a pot on the stove. She had to find a lid for them somehow, or she feared that her friendship with Sheldon would be tainted. Sheldon smiled at her in the mirror with his huge innocent blue eyes that melted her heart.

The next words out of his mouth jarred her from her stupor. He had already started to catalog her clothes, "Okay, one leopard printed…"

"GIVE ME THAT!" Amy turned quickly to rip the bra out of his hands and roughly shut her suitcase.

At that moment, seeing him standing in his doorway made her heart jump and she couldn't remember why she left. Sheldon leaning against the door frame was now wearing the same intense look on his face as he had when he had convinced her to leave the keys with him. "Amy, I have them here. Those are your lab keys, remember?"

"Now I do. Good to see you in the flesh, so to speak." Their Skype calls were frequent while she was away. At first, it was just for the word of the day, or some question Sheldon had concerning her Sanserieria plant. She had had to listen to the history of the common name, "Mother in laws tongue" which then started a conversation about her mother, and Amy's dating habits. It was as if she had never left, and their original friendship was stronger than ever.

Sheldon also had to text, tweet and email Amy about the mail she had been receiving along with every little happening in the Middle East. The Iraq war had caused the price of oil to skyrocket and Sheldon was convinced Amy would be kidnapped by Al Qaeda and bargained in an arms deal. Amy thought a short conversation with Faisal would help ease Sheldon's mind, but the conversation with the Saudi prince only seemed to agitate him more. The prince's chiseled good looks and alluring accent was enough to make anyone swoon. Sheldon's snide comment on her Camel race photos with Faisal "I see the one that likes to spit, oh and the camel is nice too." almost caused Amy to take down the pictures.

Looking at him now, she forgot all the little aggravations that had plagued her during her travels. She also forgot the initial reason for the trip when she saw Sheldon cross the 8 feet like they were inches. His blue eyes morphed from light Cerulean to deep Navy the closer he moved toward her. By the time he was unlocking her door, Amy's sealed up heart was already freed from the black bag she had wrapped it in. 7500 miles wasn't nearly far enough.

"How was the trip? No problems getting through security?" Sheldon held open her door, placed her keys in the bowl next to it and picked up her case. Her apartment had none of the smell of vacancy. The aroma of fresh laundry fabric, hints of bleach and a delicate bouquet of talc hit Amy's senses. It was intoxicating.

"Well, this one TSA agent got a little handsy. I might not be able to go to the Middle East for while."

"Oh geez, that's… delightful!"

Amy smiled, she knew he hated her going, "Yes, you got your wish. Besides the groping, it was wonderful. I convinced Faisal to fund the addiction study! He is rolling in cash since oil is like 100 a barrel. He was so pleased with the idea of my expanded addiction study and the practice application of dopamine inhibitors that he proposed to me." Amy stopped dead in her tracks. She hadn't intended to let out the late night proposal from Faisal, because it was a meaningless flirt from a donor, nothing she wasn't used to before, she knew it was bluster. But her loose tongue got the better of her. However, her own curiosity over Sheldon's reaction was something she didn't expect. She held her breath and watched Sheldon's body language.

Sheldon dead dropped her suitcase and turned around like someone had walked on his grave, "I'm sorry, what?"

Amy tried to laugh it off, "Oh, he was just being silly. You know how donors are…I try to stay like a proton! You know…"

"Positive?"

"Yes! Ha ha… Anyway… Speaking of which, any reaction from your Bose-Einstein condensate presentation." Amy's quick subject change was almost successful.

"Yes, as you say, like a proton. Quite positive actually. But I don't have any marriage proposals from it. Just offers of research money, no vows or honeymoon nights." Sheldon snapped.

Amy sat down on the couch and ignored his snide comments, "I am glad. I told you that playing ventriloquist with Leonard would be a good way for you to convey your talents without dealing with public speaking."

"Do you know, I am getting worried how easily the words, "you're right" flow off my tongue with you." Sheldon gave her a sweet smile, which Amy returned happily.

Sheldon could feel his heart rate rise again and his palms were sweaty. He wiped them on his pants legs and continued his query. "So, other than requests for your hand in marriage, any other news from the desert since we spoke last?"

"Oh yes! I almost forgot!" Amy rushed to her suitcase, and pulled out a neatly wrapped box, "I got you a present!"

Sheldon slumped, "Oh no! Why on earth would you do that?" Sheldon held the box like it was filled with camel feces. "Now I am obligated to get you something! How can I top whatever you brought me from a foreign land? I have no plans to travel abroad! I don't know who your favorite superhero is… I can't even figure out what kind of perfume you wear no matter how much I smell your pillows!"

"What?"

"Um.." Sheldon ignored her question, "The foundation of gift-giving is reciprocity. You haven't given me a gift, you've given me an obligation."

Amy smiled, "Ah! But it is I who is relieving an obligation. Think of this not at as gift, but as a thank you for watching my apartment for me!"

"I like your other customary thank you's better…" muttered Sheldon touching his cheek as he picked up the light weight box off his lap and shook it trying to figure out what was inside.

"Well, you don't even know what it is yet. Open it."

Sheldon pulled the ribbon off the box, and lifted the lid. His eyes met a field of Pantone 349 C, a distinctive green, and he knew in an instant what it was. "Amy! You got the Saudi Flag!"

"Yes! I thought we could do a whole episode on the proper word order and rules associated with it."

"That's a brilliant idea! You know you can't fly this half-mast?"

"Yes I do. I also know that it's not allowed to be hoisted vertically."

"I didn't know that, but it makes sense!" Sheldon looked over at her with beaming admiration, "I must say, Amy Farrah Fowler, I know I have said this before, but it does bear repeating – I have never met anyone as well versed in flags as myself. You are remarkable." Sheldon watched as Amy blushed at his compliment. He almost reached out and touched her hand, but then he remembered: he hadn't said thank you. He placed his hand on the back of the couch and leaned over to kiss her cheek. It was quick kiss, but he then moved to her ear allowing his lips to keep contact with her skin as he whispered with a warm breath, "Thank you Amy."

He slowly sat back up straight and shyly moved his eyes away from her as he looked over the new flag. He held up the flag to inspect it, but also to hide his face from Amy. He suddenly felt very flush. He wondered if he had contracted some virus.

Amy jumped off the couch to escape his haunting talc scent and warmth, "I should make some tea. They have lovely tea in Saudi Arabia." Amy spoke with such haste; her voice broke speed records as she babbled on about the tea, the camel races and the study she was working on. All the while, she kept in the kitchen, waiting for the kettle to boil. Until one part of her rapid fire conversation hit Sheldon like a sledge hammer.

"What do you mean Faisal's wives were sick?"

"Yes all three of them. Funny, he didn't seem to mind." Amy set his tea on the counter, but Sheldon did not come to retrieve it.

Sheldon was off the couch and standing at the door "What kind of sick? Sneezing, coughing? Flu symptoms? Coccidioidomycosis?"

"Sheldon! There is no way they had San Joaquin Valley fever, they live in Saudi Arabia, not Fresno!"

"You don't know their life!" Sheldon pulled up his shirt to cover his mouth. "You might have brought back some desert flu! Were any birds there?"

"I don't have avian flu Sheldon! You are being ridiculous. Come have your tea!" Amy set out his mug, but Sheldon back into the door to escape.

"Not from your hand, typhoid Amy! Who knows what that Prince gave you when he proposed to you! Amy did he touch you?" Sheldon almost forgot his panic as he took a step closer to Amy, and pulled down his shirt. His eyes were wide waiting for an answer he was afraid to hear.

"NO!"

Sheldon let out a huge sigh, but tensed up again when she continued with an orotund response, "I am NOT showing symptoms of anything and the only time I really saw Faisal's wives was on the trip back to airport."

"Oh sweet lord, they trapped you in a tin can of death! You're a carrier! I've got to go!" Sheldon dashed to leave the apartment, but Amy called him back.

"Sheldon! Wait!" Amy walked over to the couch, but not so close as to upset Sheldon. He had his hand on his mouth to cover any germs. "I just wanted to say… Thank you for taking care of my apartment."

Sheldon watched her emerald eyes sparkle in the light, and his chest constricted, "Hold that thought for 5 to 7 days. Now I must go. I have to find my urine collection measuring cup. Good bye!" With a swift slam, he was out the door.

24 hours later, Amy hadn't heard from Sheldon other than a text to ask if she had any apricot yogurt or more green jello. Amy was groggy from her trip and had just sent a quick reply, 'NO', turned off her phone, and fell back to asleep. Sunday morning, around 6:30 AM, she thought she heard noises outside her apartment swiftly followed by footsteps running down the stairs.

2 hours later refreshed after a good night's sleep, she left to go to grocery store and stock up her cabinets. Just as she was leaving, she ran into Sheldon coming out his apartment. He was wearing more layers than a toddler on a snowy day. His head was covered in a knitted cap with yarn balls hanging on either side of his gaunt face. His nose was red as if had spent all day in the snow.

"Sheldon! Are you alright?"

With a congested nasally shrill, he answered coldly, "No, Amy. I am not alright. Thanks to you and your fiancé's wives, that statement itself is ridiculous, I am sick, just as predicted." Sheldon let out a few coughs for added effect.

"You are sick because you let your immune system go down with worry and stress and flooded your system with corisol. Now, if you are truly ill, you need to rest. Where are you going?" Amy put the back of her hand on Sheldon's forehead. He was warm, but not burning up. Sheldon's mouth felt dry as soon as she touched him.

"I need soup. Leonard had to go to work. Wolowitz's mother hung up on me after telling me to call my mother. Mom said she was sorry I was sick, but she wouldn't fly out from Texas to take care of me. Raj won't answer the phone, and you only answered one of my texts." Sheldon sniffed again, "I need soup. I am going to a restaurant."

Amy was flooded with waves of guilt regretting that she had turned off her phone, though he was a grown man, and should be able to take care of himself. "Why didn't you just order soup to be delivered?"

Sheldon hesitated "I didn't think of that. Clearly, my cognitive reasoning skills are diminishing and febrile delirium is next. I expect full kidney shut down by the end of the week. I need soup." He sniffed again and looked at Amy with a pitiful stare.

"Okay, Sheldon. I will take care of you. Come on." Amy shepherded Sheldon back into his apartment and closed the door. "What can I do for you?

"Well, my mother used to make me split pea soup with little frankfurter slices and homemade croutons." As almost a quick after thought he added, "Oh and she would give me sponge baths too."

Amy's eyes widened on hearing the word: Bath. "Okay mister. I will make your soup, but I don't know about the sponge bath…" Amy eyed Sheldon suspiciously trying to see if there was any indication of ulterior motive. Instead Sheldon looked at Amy with blameless eyes as he related the story of his illness in Germany when he was a visiting professor at the age of 14. After some discussion of his symptoms, his house keeper said.

"Möchtest Du eine Darmspülung?"

Amy knew a little German, "She asked you if you would like an enema?"

"Yes unfortunately I did not understand German and nodded. I still tighten up every time I hear Edelweiss play."

"Don't worry, I am not messing with your Darms, spülung or otherwise! Soup, maybe a bath! That's it! Deal?"

"Agreed." Sheldon hobbled back to his room with Amy close behind. She got him out of his traveling coats and scarfs which he was wearing over his pajamas, put his hat away, and tucked him in bed.

"I'm going to make the soup now, you rest."

"WAIT! You need to put vapor rub on my chest." He gave her a few coy bats of eyes for added affect.

"Can't you do that? That soup takes forever to make, and I don't even know if you have little frankfurter slices."

"Please?" Sheldon's piteous voice through his clogged nasal passages was hard for Amy to resist.

"Okay, but just a little bit." Amy sat on the edge of his bed and took the jar in her hand as Sheldon lifted his shirt to reveal his bare chest. Her initial reaction to his bare chest was one of awe. He was so thin she could see each of his ribs, and the little patch of chest hair was adorable. With a soupçon of vapo rub, she started making clockwise circles on his chest using only two fingers at first. He drew in a sharp breath when her fingers first touched his skin. Then he relaxed into her touch "Is that better?"

"Yes and you are doing it the right way so my chest hair doesn't get matted."

Amy had started in small circles, but now her hand seemed to have a will of its own and was expanding the circumference to include past his nipples and toward his neck. She had never touched a man like this before and she memorized every curve of his torso. His skin was taut, but she could feel the hints of muscles beneath especially his pectoral muscles. Her movements slowed down as her eyes roved over his chest like she would be quizzed on every sensation. Sheldon's eyes never left her face as she concentrated on her task.

"Amy, will you sing to me?"

Amy needed to break the tension. Without a word she started to sing,

"Mahna Mahna
Do doo be-do-do
Mahna Mahna
Do do-do do
Mahna Mahna
Do doo be-do-do be-do-do be-do-do be-do-do-doodle do do do-doo do!"

"NO no Amy! Although that Muppet song is hilarious. No, will you sing Soft Kitty to me?"

"I don't know it, Sheldon." She put more vapor rub on her fingers and scooted closer to Sheldon. Her thighs were touching his hip and the warm feeling of her proximity distracted him.

"Um, well. It goes... Um ... Soft kitty, warm kitty... little ball of fur."

Amy repeated the words without ridicule and tried to match his every tone. He thought that her husky voice was the perfect instrument for the song.

"Happy Kitty, sleepy kitty.. purr purr purr…" Sheldon waited for Amy to finish the song, but she was lost watching his thin lips. Amy blinked a few times and repeated it perfectly.

Sheldon was breathing heavily and watching her every move with an intensity he had rarely felt before. Amy couldn't take much more of his tempting chest. She decided to change to a safer nursing duty. She pulled down his shirt and lightly padded his chest. "There you go."

"Why don't I read to you? I think you would like that. Hold on, I will get a book I think you will enjoy." Amy found a physics book by George Zweig, 1964.

With a husky low voice, Amy read the passage. Sheldon enjoyed her voice reading his favorite subject almost as much as the feeling of her hands on his chest. Amy finished off the paragraph, "Both mesons and baryons are constructed from a set of three fundamental particles called aces. The aces break up into an isospin doublet and singlet. Each ace carries baryon number ⅓ and is fractionally charged. And the mesons and baryons lived happily ever after."

Sheldon smiled contently, "That was great… Rub my chest again."

"No… I need to get you down for a nap, and that vapor rub seems to get you all riled up" not to mention what it was doing to her she thought, "Also, I need to start that soup." Amy reached behind his neck and took the pillows from his head and fluffed them up. When she did so she did not notice how near her chest was to his face. However Sheldon certainly did and it gave him a funny feeling in his pants region.

"Maybe I should rest for a while." Sheldon settled down, then shot up again, "Wait, you won't leave, will you?"

Amy was at the door with her hand on the light switch, "No Sheldon, try as I do, you just can't get rid of me. Now sleep." She turned off the light, closed the door and spent the next hour cooking Sheldon's soup, which once he awoke he thought was the best soup he had ever had in California.

After the soup, Sheldon slept again for some of the day and Amy stayed in case he woke up and needed anything. Dozing on the couch she was startled awake around 8 pm by Leonard trying to sneak into his bedroom unnoticed.

"And just where have you been? Trying to avoid Sheldon because he is sick I bet?" Amy was none too pleased with sneaky Leonard shirking his obligation to Sheldon. Additionally, she needed a break from rubbing his chest, which Sheldon had insisted she do at least 3 more times during the course of the day.

"I was at work… There was a laser emergency thing"

"Horse hockey! You were at the movies! I can smell the popcorn on your breath. Now, before you get comfy, go to the store and get me everything on this list."

Leonard looked over the list. Everything looked normal for a Sheldon's sick in, except: "Lavender bath salts? Really?"

"Or you can stay here, and I will go to the store?" Just as word finished on her tongue, Sheldon called out to Amy:

"Amy, my pillows feel weird, can you fluff them again?"

Amy crossed her arms and glared at Leonard.

"No.. No no …I'll go. I'll go right now." Leonard rushed out of the apartment and Amy heard the familiar pitter patter of his feet down the stairwell. So that's who ran down the stairs at 6:00 AM! Amy had a renewed anger aimed at Leonard, but Sheldon called to her again.

Amy went into the room to check on Sheldon who was adorably tucked in his bed. She placed her hand on his forehead and he moved his head toward her soft touch. He was still warm, but not as bad as earlier. She reached behind him and fluffed up his pillows for the fourth time of the day. Every time she pulled away, he had a strange smile on his face.

He was starting to sweat out his fever and would need a bath, but Amy worried how she would keep her raging endocrine system under control if he needed her help. She had to have clinical detachment. She was his nursemaid, nothing more.

"You're breaking your fever. You are going to sweat this out."

"Amy, I don't like to be sweaty. It's yucky." Sheldon wiped the sweat from his forehead with his pajama sleeve. He was dripping for some reason, but his pillows felt fantastic.

"I know its yucky." Amy drew in a long breath and finally said, "I will run a bath for you, or can you shower?"

Sheldon didn't wait a second to answer, "I need a bath. I think I will pass out if I have to stand in the hot shower."

"Would you be strong enough to bathe yourself, or do you need my help?" Waiting for his answer, Amy's heart pounded in her chest like a bass drum.


A/N: Hope you liked the chapter. Next up, bath or no bath?

If you are reading the story, and haven't reviewed yet, please do so I can thank you! I can only see those who review the story. I want to thank each of you personally for reading it.

We are about half way done here, I hope that is okay and not too long. Again, I am trying to stick to my Sunday and Wednesday upload schedule. I wont leave you hanging, folks!