I'm sorry I made most of you so unhappy with the last chapter! Luckily we have the Shamy wedding to swoon over and dissect all summer long! I'm working towards getting the Shamy to a place where they can be in the same room again without thoughts of pulling a Lorena Bobbit (wiki it) entering Amy's mind... but we're not there yet.
Dave and Amy spend the next few days carefully avoiding each other. She waits until she hears his door shut each morning before making her way to work, and she wanders along the streets of Paris after work, spending a great deal of time, not to mention an exorbitant amount of money, in the bookstore.
She's getting ready for work four days later, sitting at her table drinking tea and eating a bowl of cereal, when she hears Os pawing at her door, followed by Dave harshly calling, "Os, come!" as Os lets out a loud long, sad whine.
"I know, buddy. I miss her too," Dave consoles near the door, "but she doesn't want a relationship with me and I'm not going to watch as she takes a cheating arse back, just to have her heart broken again."
She should bite her tongue, she knows, but damn him, she thinks as she opens the door. He looks sheepish, she decides as she catches his eyes before he casts them to the floor.
"I didn't ever imagine being in this situation, where I'm in love with two men, but, here I am! Now, obviously, I can't have my cake and eat it too so, I have a choice to make, you, or Sheldon? Paris or Los Angeles? Excuse me for needing time to think about this!" she yells.
"I don't want to be your sloppy seconds," he firmly explains.
"You will always be my second choice, Dave!"
"That's nice. That's great. Way to kick me when I'm already down."
I didn't ask for this and I'm doing the best I can to work through some very complex emotions. You, of all people, should understand that!"
"What does that mean?" he asks, the venom in his voice warning Amy to tread lightly.
"You've also experienced the pain of infidelity. Why are you pressuring me?"
"I thought you were showing me you're ready for more."
"So you slept with your ex-wife?" She questions with a raised eyebrow.
"Momentary lapse of judgment," he explains, "not that it should matter since you've made your feelings very clear about the subject."
"You called her a good lay. Do you have any clue how... degrading that is?"
"Yes. Amy... I didn't mean it like that..." he mutters.
"Are you going to say the same about me if we ever break up? I was a good lay and nothing more?" she asks.
"I don't just want sex, Amy! God, is that what you really think of me?! If we're in a relationship, then, yes, I fully expect we'll have a physically intimate relationship as well... but I want, I need both the physical and the emotional intimacy. Why are we even arguing about this? You've made up your mind to take Sheldon back."
"No, I haven't! I don't know what I want!"
"Clearly. Os, come."
She shuts the door harder than necessary and lays her head back against it, taking deep breaths through her mouth to calm herself. It's midnight in Pasadena, so she's not able to call Penny or Bernadette to help calm her. If he wants to be with her, he's doing a damn good job at showing her otherwise. Did she really say she loves two men? Slip of the tongue. She just hopes Dave didn't pick up on that. Glancing at her watch, she realizes if she doesn't leave now, she's going to be late. She opens her door right as Dave opens his. Shit.
"Why are you mad at me for needing time to sort through everything?" Amy asks before she can stop herself.
"I'm not... mad at you, Amy. I just feel like I've been lead on," he softly explains.
"I've made it clear from the beginning that I'm not ready for another relationship right now. You were the one who said you'd wait until I was ready," she reminds him.
"I know," he sighs. "Maybe... there's a reason the timing never worked out for us. Maybe that's a big fucking neon sign saying, "nope, don't pursue this," Dave decides. "So um, since we've now officially crossed over into too awkward to be friends territory, I think it's best if I keep my distance."
"I want to be your friend, Dave, but I understand if you don't want to be around me," Amy softly replies. "I have to get going or I'm going to be late for my department meeting."
"I do have a car, you know," he replies, "I can give you a ride so you're not late."
"I'd appreciate that," she replies with a small smile.
They're silent as they make the short drive to the university and Amy opens the door as soon as Dave parks, muttering a quick thanks as she rushes to her meeting. She left her cell phone in the middle console, Dave notices as it lights up, reminding her of her department meeting in 15 minutes. He silences the reminder which brings him to a photo of Penny, Bernadette, and Amy making goofy faces for the camera. Sheldon's in the background, he notices, rolling his eyes at the girls' antics. Wondering what's so special about this photo, Dave sticks the phone in his pants pocket, deciding he'll give it to her this afternoon after her meeting.
"Dr. Fowler," she's greeted with a nod of acknowledgment by her department head as Amy enters the large conference room.
"Dr. Smith," she greets in return as she locates her name tag in the middle of the table.
"Charles, please," he requests. "I have a rather urgent matter which we need to discuss," he begins as he pulls Amy's chair out for her before taking his own seat next to her. "I've been asked to send my best and brightest to a conference to promote international partnerships between great universities. You're at the top of my list."
"I'm honored," Amy replies. "I assume the conference is here in Paris?" she questions.
"Los Angeles, actually. At UCLA. I understand you did your undergrad at UCLA?" he confirms.
"Yes. Is the conference focusing on neuroscience?" she wonders.
"No, no. A multitude of disciplines. Your friend Dr. Gibbs is being asked to attend for our maths department."
"Great," Amy says with a forced smile. "When is this?"
"Next month 14th September through the 18th. We'll cover all expenses, of course. We'd also like for you to give prepared remarks in the hopes of recruiting your successors."
"Of course," Amy agrees.
"No, absolutely not," Sheldon protests later that day in his office as Dr. Gabelhauser crosses his arms across his chest.
"It's not optional, Dr. Cooper. You have not brought in any charitable contributions in three years. Either you give the speech, or I will consider disciplinary action," Gabelhauser warns.
"Do your worst," Sheldon challenges while rising to his full height behind his desk.
Shutting the door for privacy, Dr. Gabelhauser crosses the office and takes the seat in front of Sheldon's desk. Sheldon looks like hell, he notices, the large bags under his eyes dead giveaway that the younger man is not sleeping. Sheldon also needs a haircut and a good shave. Erik decides to recommend his barber before he leaves.
"I've heard rumors of an office romance between you and Dr. Nowitzski," Erik quietly informs him. "Now, I'm not one for watercooler gossip, but there were certain... noises... heard from your office."
"I see. So, if I agree to give the speech, my... indiscretions... will be overlooked?" Sheldon questions.
"Correct," Erik replies.
"You drive a hard bargain, Dr. Gabelhauser. I'll do it... under protest."
"Noted. I hear your girlfriend will be in attendance," Gabelhauser shares as he rises from the chair.
"Girlfriend?" Sheldon questions. "Amy?"
"Yes, Dr. Fowler. Are you two..."
"We're no longer in a relationship," Sheldon confirms.
"I see. Well, it's none of my concern, but you downgraded in this situation."
"I agree, however, I'm no longer involved with Dr. Nowitzki."
"I have the... misfortune... of falling to her charms as well."
"You'd be doing both of us a huge favor if you could make her stay here a short one," Sheldon suggests as Dr. Gabelhauser nods in agreement.
"Land me a money shark and we'll talk," Gabelhauser promises as he exits.
Sheldon doesn't know where to begin with this; he needs to make a doctor's appointment he decides as he pulls out his cell phone and schedules a physical. He should also get back into Dr. Cohen's office to help him prepare for both the stage fright and the sheer terror of knowing Amy is going to be at the conference. He knows she's going to want to spend time with Penny and Bernadette, which means there's a very high probability that he's going to have to spend time in her presence, the first since their kiss goodbye at the airport.
On the plus side, if there is one, their talk on the phone was pleasant, Sheldon decides, up until the moment Amy said she loves him. He needs help deciding just what Amy meant by that, which is why he's employed Dr. Cohen's services. He quickly schedules an appointment for later that afternoon and sits at his desk working on the military project.