CHAPTER 14
Despite the fact that it was 7 a.m. in Stockholm, the sky was still a little dark. The weather was quite cold outside. Amy looked at the temperature showed on a sign at the parking lot and it was -7 º C (19 º F). Sheldon was right as usual.
Mattias was wearing blue jeans, a plain white T-shirt and a gray hoodie. "It's a little cold, isn't it?", Mattias admitted when he saw Amy rubbing her hands together. "It's been a long winter, but you will soon see that Stockholm in spring is wonderful".
"Of course, it must be nice", Amy commented.
Mattias, politely opened the car's door for Amy, he put the luggage in the trunk, and then he drove her to her temporary home at Stockholm
Amy was feeling a little restless, watching the screen of her phone darkened when the battery died. "If I hadn't spent hours showing Emma (the girl who was sitting next to her at the plane) the pictures of Sheldon, I could call him now". That call to Sheldon will have to wait until she gets to her accommodation.
Dr. Janet Cox had made arrangements for Amy to stay at an apartment building that was very close to the university. It would be a small apartment with a single room, kitchen and private bathroom. Since this was at walking distance from campus, the place was extremely convenient for her.
Amy was exhausted because of the flight. She just wanted to sleep and talk to Sheldon as soon as possible, of course. She wondered what was he doing, it was almost 11 p.m. in Pasadena. She looked out the car's window, lost in the landscape: small houses of different colors, covered with a thin layer of snow on the roof, pines and birches with winter foliage. She couldn't really pay attention; her mind was far away, with Sheldon.
"Well, you've just arrived and you already miss home. Don't you?, Mattias asked her, always smiling.
At these words, Amy suddenly woke up from her daydream. She had almost forgotten that she was accompanied by the kind professor. "No, I'm tired from the travel, that's all.
"Well ... in about 40 minutes we'll get to your new home. You can take the day off to rest, and tomorrow I'll show you the facilities of the Institute of Neuroscience and then we'll start working", Mattias told Amy. "Have you ever been to Sweden before?" he asked trying to start a conversation.
"No, I've been to Norway before, but this is the first time I'm in Sweden", Amy admitted.
"In that case, you're so lucky; I'm the best tour guide you could imagine. How about a good breakfast to start your day?", Mattias invited her.
"No, thank you, I had breakfast at the plane. I just want to take a nap", said Amy.
"I understand, I understand", Mattias nodded his head. "Maybe you'll feel better later. We could have lunch together. My treat!"
Amy didn't want to be rude with her host. "Yes, I'm sure I'll feel better by lunchtime. Thank you!", she replied.
Mattias could tell Amy was feeling sad, even though he just met her an hour ago. It was obvious. Her mind seemed to be elsewhere. Perhaps, thinking of her family, her loved ones. Mattias didn't ask more questions.
When they finally arrived to the building, Mattias gave Amy the keys to her new apartment, it was on the third floor; number 3A. Amy and Mattias Johansson entered the elevator and he helped her with the luggage. The first thing Amy did at the apartment was charging the battery of her phone and her iPad. She hoped Sheldon was still awake. It was almost midnight at Pasadena.
"Well, I'll come to see you at 1 o'clock, and then we can go out for lunch. Is that okay?, ", Mattias was the perfect host.
"Yes, it's so kind of you! Thank you" Amy replied.
"If you need anything, you can call me", Mattias handed her a card with his phone number. "I'll be home; by the way, we're neighbors. I live at apartment # 5C, that's just two floors upstairs", Mattias said goodbye and climbed up the stairs to his apartment.
"Thanks for everything. I really appreciate it.", Amy said goodbye to Mattias, from the doorway of her new apartment.
Amy thought it was convenient that Mattias and her lived in the same building. The apartment was quite simple but cozy, furnished just as she needed it. It had a nice view of a park and a little further she could see the university campus. Amy turned on her iPad immediately trying to communicate with Sheldon via Skype.
Sheldon's heart was pounding in his chest when he heard the incoming call ringtone. He'd been waiting so long for that call. When his girlfriend's face appeared on the screen it was as if his soul came back to his body.
"Amy, you had me worried. Are you okay?, How was your trip?", Sheldon was excited to see her.
"Hi Sheldon, the trip was fine, I'm so happy I could finally see you. The apartment they assigned to me is comfortable and very close to the university; Professor Johansson's been very kind to me".
"That's great Amy, I'm glad you're fine, but… I have to admit that… today I've missed you very much. I had a horrible day without you. Howard is insufferable. He can't stop making jokes about us", Sheldon admitted.
"Aw, I miss you too. I can't wait to give you a hug", Amy told Sheldon, looking at him, with eyes full of nostalgia.
"I feel the same way. You don't know how much I'd like to be with you now", Sheldon looked away, so Amy couldn't look at him.
"I know, I'm dying to give you a kiss, and then another one, and then a thousand more", Amy whispered.
"Well, I'm going to count every kiss you owe me and you can be sure that I'll charge you for each one of them when you get back Amy! Ha!" Sheldon couldn't believe that he just said such a corny phrase. Is this what falling in love does to the brain?
"And I'll be happy to pay my debt", Amy smiled mischievously.
Sheldon and Amy spoke for over an hour, telling each other every detail of their day. Amy told him the story of the baby girl on the plane with an earache; Sheldon thought it was amusing, although he didn't like children at all.
Amy couldn't stop yawning, she was very tired. It was past Sheldon's bedtime, too. They affectionately said goodbye to each other, there would be time to talk later.
At one o'clock, Mattias Johansson knocked on Amy's door, like he promised before. She was feeling better after a nap and a shower.
Mattias was pleased to see that Amy was in a better mood after some rest. Amy's work in the field of neuroscience was familiar to Mattias, who had previously read several of her articles. To be honest he didn't know that Amy was so young and... so interesting.
"What would you like for lunch?", Mattias asked Amy, while sitting in his car.
"Well, you know, you're the host, so I think whatever you choose will be fine. Maybe something traditional of Sweden", Amy replied.
"Do you like salmon?, I guess that's traditional. Although I'm a vegetarian, I know a nice place with the best food", Mattias affirmed.
"That sounds great", Amy liked the idea.
Björken restaurant was a charming place in Downtown Stockholm, the atmosphere was enjoyable and the food was delicious. Amy and Mattias chatted enthusiastically about their project. For the next six months they will work together on the Study of Neuronal Biochemistry of addiction. They agreed it was an exciting topic with practical benefits.
"This smoked salmon with dill sauce is exquisite, quite a big difference with the food they served on the plane", Amy enjoyed her meal.
"Of course!, My risotto's excellent as well", said Mattias with that smile of perfect white teeth.
"Thank you for everything you've done for me", Amy said.
"It's my pleasure to help you feel welcome, as director of this research project, I mean. I hope that the members of my team are in the best conditions to commit themselves with the study. Also, I've found myself alone, away from my country in many occasions and I know how difficult it is to establish yourself when you don't know anyone", Mattias admitted.
"Yes, you're right, and how convenient it is that you live just two floors above my apartment", Amy smiled.
"That's… recent, I moved a month ago. I used to live with my girlfriend but once we broke up, I had to find another place and they had that vacancy", Mattias lost a bit of that sparkle in his eyes as he remembered his former girlfriend.
"And how did you decide to become a neurobiologist? Just like your father?", asked Amy trying to change the subject.
"Well, I'm a medical doctor, specifically a pediatrician. I have also a subspecialty in neurology; the study of the functions of the nervous system has always fascinated me. As you already know my father has dedicated his life to the study of neuroscience and I have actively collaborated with him. When he retired a year ago, I decided that someone had to carry on his legacy. So here I am now, engaged in this project.
"Don't you miss your patients, the hospitals? I mean, our research takes place mostly at the laboratory" Amy was eager to know more about the remarkable story of Mattias.
"Yes, of course I do. For that reason, when I can, I work for Doctors without Borders, as a pediatrician. I like to help children in need and I can travel around the world and see different places. A week ago I was in Indonesia, it was an unforgettable experience". Mattias told Amy as they had a cup of coffee.
"That explains his tan", Amy thought. Mattias actually was an interesting character, so charismatic, noble and quite attractive. But she only had eyes for Sheldon.
The afternoon passed quickly, as it happens when the company is so nice. Mattias and Amy went to a grocery store where she bought everything she needed.
Around 6 p.m. Amy and Mattias came back to the apartment building. They were patiently waiting for the elevator. It seemed to take forever to come. Amy's cell phone rang, and her face lit up when she saw it was Sheldon calling.
"Hi Sheldon, I wasn't expecting your call at this time" Amy was pleasantly surprised to see her beloved physicist on that video call.
"Hi Amy, I needed to see you, I couldn't wait any longer", Sheldon confessed, his cheeks were red.
When the elevator finally arrived, Mattias and Amy reached the third floor. Sheldon was talking to Amy all the way up to her apartment. Mattias placed the shopping bags on the kitchen table.
"Sheldon, I want you to meet Dr. Mattias Johansson, head of the Department of Neurosciences at Stockholm University", Amy interrupted him and suddenly the Swedish doctor appeared on Sheldon's phone screen. "Mattias, he's my boyfriend, Sheldon Cooper".
"Dr. Sheldon Cooper", the theoretical physicist shouted,
"Nice to meet you, Sheldon. Are you a neurobiologist, also?".
Sheldon took a few seconds to answer; he was surprised to find out that Mattias wasn't the old man that he had seen on Amy's book. "No, I'm a theoretical physicist", he answered callously.
"Dr. Mattias Johansson is actually the son of Dr. Johansson. That's funny, isn't it? . I thought I was going to work with his father", Amy laughed.
"Yes, it is hilarious", Sheldon replied. His upper lip was trembling involuntarily.
Mattias said goodbye and left the apartment, he didn't want to interrupt the conversation between Amy and her boyfriend.
"You don't know how friendly and kind Mattias has been with me", Amy told Sheldon. Her beautiful lips curved into a smile.
"I'm glad you are having such a good time", Sheldon said. "Just don't forget about me". He was blushing.
"How can I forget about you? Don't be silly" Amy giggled.
"Damn you Viking!", Sheldon thought as he tried to smile and hide his revulsion after meeting Mattias. That day Sheldon added one more name to the list of his enemies.