Ramona had been in her room for a few hours after seeing the news clip. She had searched online, hit every news channel she could find, yet everywhere she looked it said the same thing. Prize money gone, only medals and certificates now awarded. There had also been a worrying addendum on one article saying the application needed proof of work from applicant.
Surely she had not suffered months on the company of Sheldon Cooper for it all to fall through now. He hadn't flinched at the news, and from the sounds coming from his room now he intended to go about his routine as if this was just any other day. Hearing his bedroom door open she moved to meet him.
"What are you doing?" she asked as casually as she could.
"Its 6.30. I am going for my run."
"OK. I may be out when you return, I will leave some food in the fridge."
Watching Sheldon start his normal route Ramona went to his room. She was sure the other day he had been filling his notes, maybe if she could get her hands on those she could copy them and submit them to other science foundations, thereby discrediting Sheldon's Nobel claim. Maybe if she did it fast enough she would be able to submit them before the Nobel committee got round to reading the Caltech entry and they could claim albeit smaller prizes instead.
The problem, Ramona soon realised, was not racing Caltech to claim the work first but finding the proof. Surly Sheldon kept notes? She had seen him herself, filling paper so meticulously. But what had he done with them? Glancing at her watch she realised she had no choice but to wait for him to return and ask him directly. Looking at the room and seeing no evidence of her rummaging she return to the kitchen to make dinner.
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"How was your run?" Ramona smiled an hour later as Sheldon sat himself at the table. He had come in, showered, changed and spent the time in his room so she had been unable to broach the subject of notes until now.
"My run was fine." Sheldon replied shortly causing Ramona to look over at him
"Are you OK?"
"Not really. You have been in my room. My work on my desk has been touched, my clothes, my personal belongings."
"I was looking for something."
"Of mine? In my room? Why did you not just ask?"
"It occurred to me while you were running, I was thinking about the news and the Nobel changes, I just wanted to make sure that everything was in order. I was going to take your notes and have them locked in a safe place so we didn't have to worry about someone trying to claim the idea as their own."
"Oh you needn't worry I have that sorted." Sheldon smiled relaxing finally.
"You do?"
"I have an eidetic memory. I don't need notes it is all here." Taping the side of his head Sheldon began to eat the food Ramona had handed him.
"OK, well what would happen if you had an accident. Say you had a head injury and you have no notes then all your work, this amazing discovery is lost."
"If my head injury is so bad I forget science, then it is of no concern of mine what happens to my discovery." Sheldon stated bluntly. "The discovery is mine. I know it, you know it, and very soon the rest of the science world will know it. Until then, other than the work that is with the Nobel committee, I have no desire to have it in print anywhere else."
Ramona sat staring at Sheldon in stunned silence.
Since he had been here he had been so compliant. The arrogance he had displayed when she first met had been absent and his total focus on work had made the whole process easier than she had anticipated. Tonight though the arrogance in his manner, his total conviction he needed no written evidence, was in full force. How to persuade him that they needed the prize money as well as the surprise?
Taking a different approach Ramona tried again.
"Sheldon if they had not withdrawn the prize money how would you have spent it?"
Sheldon shrugged. "I hadn't given it much thought."
"You wouldn't need a room-mate, perhaps you would have had a big wedding? I am sure Amy would have liked that?"
"Oh I don't live with Leonard for purely financial reasons any more. And why buy a big house like this to live alone. No I would probably have some money sent home to mother and Meemaw. As to marrying Amy the chances are she wont be talking to me when I win anyway so..."
As he trailed off Ramona frowned, "Why do you think that?"
"We split up remember!" Then not wanting to talk about Amy any more Sheldon took his plate to the sink, cleaned it and said "I am going to my room to restore order."
Ramona didn't move. Things were going wrong. She needed to think.
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Another message. Amy contemplated deleting this one too but she needed to check he was OK.
littlemothssurprise: BiologyRocks I am not sure why you are ignoring me. Please talk to me.
biologyrocks: did you see the news?
littlemothssurprise: I did, I am not sure why everyone is so obsessed with money. Surely the discovery earning the award is the important thing.
biologyrocks: 'everyone'?
littlemothssurprise: Well Ramona. She seems angry at me too. She went through my stuff.
biologyrocks: So leave. Go home.
Logging back off the computer quickly before she got sucked in any deeper to a full on conversation with him Amy realised she was shaking. At least now she knew the news they had planted had had the desired affect. The big question was what would Ramona do and would Sheldon still stay there to find out.
Sending Penny a text letting her know what Sheldon had told her Amy decided she needed to forget about the whole thing for a while.
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"Meemaw?"
"Moonpie! I am so happy to hear your voice. Tell me everything is OK, I have been so worried."
"Yes Meemaw. I am OK. A little confused but OK."
"Why are you confused, sugar?"
"Meemaw Amy seems distant, I have not been able to talk to my friends and Ramona is suddenly obsessed with money. The other day she ransacked my room. She keeps asking why I don't mind not winning money. Nobody seems to understand this is not about the money."
"Now you listen to me Sheldon Lee Cooper, your friends are not interested in your money, Amy is not interested in your money. They are worried about you though and have been making sure they have kept us informed when they have seen or heard from you. It is not enough! That is your doing. And if you are half the man I think you are I suggest you look seriously at who cares for you and is important in your life."
"Meemaw!"Sheldon was shocked, Meemaw very rarely shouted at him and only if she was more than a little angry.
"No. It needed to be said. But I have said it now so I am moving on and offering you another solution. I received your package, I am not sure why it didn't include a note! It is safe and you could be too. Come home here Moonpie. Take some time away from everyone and come let your Meemaw spoil you."
Sheldon didn't reply immediately.
"Just think about it Moonpie. It may be just what you need."
"OK I will think about it."
"Good boy. Now I have to go, Missy is coming for dinner and I promised to bake her a pie. I love you Sheldon."
"I love you too Meemaw." Sheldon said softly.
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"Where is he!" Penny stepped back in shock as an irate Ramona pushed past her into 4A.
"Listen lady I don't know who you think you are but you cant come bursting in here..."
Ramona ignored Penny as if she hadn't spoken and went down the hall to Sheldon's room, throwing the door open, surveying the room, then storming back out. "Where is he?"
"Sheldon? What makes you think he is here? Have you lost him?" Penny sniggered.
Turing suddenly Ramona was suddenly in Penny face "Tell me now! I will have no problems hurting you, so tell me."
"I don't know where he is, you don't scare me, I am just glad you are finally showing your true colours." Penny moved forward a little and Ramona backed off. "So tell me Ramona when did the act wear thin, when the money disappeared? Let me guess Sheldon didn't care?" Laughing Penny inched forward more forcing Ramona backwards. "The thing is Ramona you don't really know the Sheldon you decided to take on. He is different now. He has friends and family and a girlfriend who have faith in him. Caltech value him so much they were never going to let someone like you walk in and take over. You underestimated him."
"If that is in fact true why did he not come back here? Why has he not been in contact? No, Sheldon is not different he wants that prize as much as I do."
"So where is he?" Penny arched an eyebrow and waited. She could almost see the cogs turning.
Without another word Ramona turned and left the apartment.
Slumping onto the chair next to the sofa. Penny realised she was shaking. The look in Ramona's eye was not that of a sane person, maybe Sheldon was in danger. Reaching for the phone Penny dialled Leonard's number and told him what had happened.
Sitting back after finishing the call she had only one question on her mind. Where was Sheldon?
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"Mrs cooper? Hi its Leonard. I was just wondering if you had heard from Sheldon?" Leonard tried to keep his voice neutral as he made the enquiry. The others watched nervously waiting for the reply. Shaking his head to indicate the negative response he said, "No, no, there is no problem, it is just we haven't heard from him in a few days; but knowing Shelly he is busy working on some new discovery. Yes, if I here anything I will let you know."
Slumping down he relayed the conversation to the others, Meemaw heard from him a few days ago, told him to go home but they haven't heard anything.
"This doesn't make sense," Raj said, "he doesn't know anyone else."
"Amy are you sure he hasn't tweeted?" Penny asked gently. Amy was very quiet. She had in fact said nothing since arriving.
"No Penny I have heard nothing."
"Where else could he be?" Howard asked, "It is not as if he has a set of friends we don't know about."
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He wanted to call them. His friends would be worried, his family would be worried. But he had promised. Now he had to stay here and hope Ramona did what everyone was expecting of her. Sheldon just hoped she did it soon.
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