Amy didn't get much work done that day. Having taken Sheldon home, waited for him to shower and change, then drop him at work, she was already behind. But even with the work in front of her her mind kept drifting. Drifting to that morning. Sheldon's hand on her. The feelings he evoked, his touch; it was all overloading her mind leaving very little room to concentrate on the brain she was supposed to be dissecting on the bench in front of her. Sighing, she decided maybe she should take a break, get some lunch and try again later. Deciding maybe a change of scene would help Amy returned to her car and drove. Finding herself at the cheesecake factory she pulled out her phone and sent Penny a text. Relieved her friend replied quickly Amy breathed a sigh of relief, locked the car and entered the restaurant.
"Amy! This is an unexpected surprise! Is everything OK?" Penny knew Amy must need to talk if she was leaving work mid morning.
"Hey Penny. Yes things are fine, I just wasn't getting anything done at work and needed a change of scene."
"That's not like you." Penny said gently. She was guessing Sheldon was at the bottom of this somewhere, but knew Amy would tell her in her own time. "What can I get you to eat? I am due a break so if you order now we can eat together and you can tell me what's up."
Having ordered soup and a sandwich Amy watched Penny collect them both some drinks and returning smiled. "Thanks bestie." Amy said quietly. "I just needed to see a friendly face."
"What's he done Amy?"
"Who? What? Nothing,. No Sheldon hasn't done anything. Well..."
"Something's wrong."
"Not wrong exactly. Look things between us really are going well. In fact they have moved on considerably lately and I guess this morning it just kind of overwhelmed me."
"What did?"
"Penny Sheldon stayed last night. And he is staying again this weekend."
"You don't want him too? Tell him Amy I am sure he will understand."
"No, I do want him too. I invited him. That's half the problem. I suddenly want this so much and I am worried that I am making rash decisions in the spur of the moment."
Penny looked at Amy and said "So why did you come here. There was a reason?"
Amy nodded. "I have questions Penny and I thought you may be able to help me."
"OK, shoot."
"It is a bit personal." Amy blushed and glanced around.
"OK, then why don't you give me a vague idea what it is you need to know and if we cant talk about it here we have a girls night tonight. You me and a bottle of wine."
Amy considered the idea then nodded. "OK, well things have become more, intimate I guess, with Sheldon and I. But he touched me this morning Penny and it was almost too much. I had never felt like that before and I am not sure if it is normal."
Eyes wide at the confession Penny said "OK, well yes girls night is definitely needed but Amy," Penny grinned, "let me just say it is worth it! If he touches you like that and it feels good with his hands," Penny grinned "just imagine how much better it could be!" winking she stopped talking when she saw how red Amy had become.
"Oh god." Amy put her head in her hand "I cant do this."
"What? Of course you can!"
"Penny he touched my... breast." she whispered. "That's it. If I cant cope with that how will I cope with whatever it is you are referring too."
Penny blinked. "Amy you study biology. You know how this stuff goes right? I mean you told Sheldon and me when we first met you you had conducted studies and stuff."
"No Penny, I said I had had electrodes fitted to my brain! Very different as is looking at a picture in a book or reading what goes where in a manual."
"But you read all those romance novels you keep hidden under your bed. They don't usually leave much to the imagination."
"Yes well I discovered this morning that reading 'and he held her breast' is very different to actually have someone hold your breast!"
Trying not to laugh Penny said "Oh sweetie, it will be fine, look come to mine after work and I will help you I promise."
"Thanks Penny."
"Hey what else would I do for my bestie!" Penny grinned. "No go do some work before you get us both sacked!"
73
Sheldon had had a productive morning. Having showered and changed he felt refreshed and on arriving at work set about cataloguing his white boards, ensuring he had photos and written evidence to present to Gablehauser when he was ready. As he sat at lunch however events took over.
"Dr Cooper I would like to see you in my office please. Now!"
Looking at Sheldon across the table Raj said "What have you done?"
"I don't know." Sheldon frowned.
"Well he looked mad. You'd better go." Leonard said glancing at the doorway Gablehauser had stood in seconds before.
Picking up his lunch tray Sheldon said "I had things to do this afternoon. I haven't got time for this." But storing his tray he made his way out of the canteen toward Gablehauser's office.
Knocking and hearing the sharp "Enter." Sheldon took a deep breath and opened the door. Gablehauser was behind his desk hands folded looking at the door.
"Dr Cooper come in, sit down. It seems you have been keeping things from me. Now tell me Dr Cooper when you and Dr Hofstadter where in here not so long ago requesting the use of the lab did I not say I wanted to be kept fully informed on developments."
"Yes." Sheldon nodded cautiously
"So why is it I receive a phone call this morning from the education department confirming the acceptance of you as a tutor to a student of just 15? Followed, I may add, by a call from the young girls father informing me he will be here first thing tomorrow to ensure the programme you have set up for his daughter is suitable. What exactly is going on?"
"Uummmm." Sheldon hesitated. "Well..."
"Spit it out Dr Cooper."
"OK, well one of the students who came to see Caltech has decided she wants to study physics. Her father had evidently not been encouraging this move, but on hearing of her visit has granted her permission. It seems he had heard of me and wants to check things are OK before letting her pursue the idea."
"How exactly had he heard of you?" Gablehauser asked nervously. He had heard rumours of you-tube clips and knew for a fact the radio broadcasts Sheldon had done had not been successful.
"Professor Hawking mentioned me." Sheldon said quietly.
"Pardon?" Eyes wide he didn't wait for Sheldon to answer but said "Who exactly are this father and daughter combination?"
"Well... I don't know his name but he works at CERN. His daughter appears to be bright and while a little wilful she is keen." Seeing the shock on Gablehauser's face Sheldon continued hastily "There is something else you should probably know. My tests with the lasers were not helpful."
"Your theory was wrong?"
"Oh no, I am pretty certain it is right and Emilie agrees but,"
"Emilie?"
"The student concerned. You see she saw my notes and she was quick to point out that to prove the theory I needed to go to CERN. It was then I believe she got her father involved."
"So he knows about this? In fact everyone it seems knows except me!"
"No, I don't think he knows. As I said Emilie is wilful, but I think she wants to help me. I think by getting her father to agree to my tutoring her she will get him to agree to testing the theory in CERN thus enabling her to go too. That is her dream you see."
Gablehauser looked at Sheldon. "Well Dr Cooper it would appear not only have you made quite a name for yourself; but that you may be on the brink of a major discovery. When exactly were you planning to fill me in?"
"Well I had hoped to talk to Emilie first. I need her to agree to my terms before I agree to tutor her."
"What? You cant turn this down! Sheldon think about it."
"Yes I know, and I have thought about it; but I need Emilie to agree to a few rules first. Once that had been finalised I was going tot let you know. It would seem however the reason I have been unable to contact her is she is one step ahead of me."
"Yes well I will be interested to meet this young lady. OK Dr Cooper. I will expect you here at 9am. Try to look smart and please, try not to upset anyone."
Realising he had been dismissed Sheldon returned to his office. Looking at the notes on his desk he smiled, now all he had to do was formulate some sort of education plan.
It was 3 hours later Sheldon threw down his pen. This was not going to work. How could he come up with any sort of plan having no idea as to the knowledge Emilie already had. Turning on his computer Sheldon began to type, if this did not meet the approval of the faculty or Emilie and her father he would suggest they looked for someone else to tutor her. Looking up at the knock on the door Sheldon was relieved to see Leonard.
"Hey buddy you ready to go play halo?"
"Yes!" Sheldon turned off his computer and grabbed his jacket and bag. "We are going to the comic book store first aren't we?" Sheldon asked.
"Yeah. Howard and Raj are going to meet us there."
"Excellent!"
"Is everything OK?" Leonard asked slightly concerned by the enthusiasm Sheldon was showing
"Yes Leonard everything is fine. Comic books and halo just as it should be."
73
"Sheldon, is Amy coming for dinner?" Leonard asked later as they sat down to eat.
"No, why do you ask?"
"Because I am sure Penny said she was coming over and I just heard Amy knocking on Pennys door."
Sheldon frowned. "She didn't mention it."
"I'll go check, if she is we may have to order more food." Leonard muttered knowing Sheldon would not be up for sharing.
Knocking on the door across the hall Leonard smiled when he saw Penny dressed in sweats and her favourite hello kitty top.
"Hey sweetie," Penny kissed her boyfriend "What's up?"
"Oh I just wondered if you were joining us tonight?"
"Oh, no. Amy has stopped by so we are having a girls night."
"Hey Amy," Leonard waved "OK, well I'll talk to you later." And returning across the hall he said "no need to panic they are having girls night."
"Who was panicking?" Sheldon asked confused. Then focusing in on what Leonard had said he asked "So Amy was there?"
"Yes I didn't see Bernadette though, is she not going?" He looked at Howard.
"No she is working, again!" He muttered and seeing the raised eyebrows of his friends he said. "She is always at work. She leaves before I do and is never home at night, I have taken to going to my mothers for dinner and she hasn't even noticed."
"Come stay with me!" Raj offered. "I hate to think of you on your own."
"Yeah well she says she is doing it for us, she wants to save for a holiday..."
"Anyway!" Sheldon interrupted "It is halo night and we are going to fall behind schedule."
Sheldon was surprised at how quickly everyone jumped into action, soon the room was filled with shouting and game play and the events of everyone's week forgotten.
73
"OK now before you judge me I want you to listen." Penny said firmly, opening the laptop on the coffee table in front of them. "I thought about what you said lunchtime and it occurred to me some of the problem maybe that you don't know what is coming next. What Sheldon may be about to do or want to do." Seeing Amy consider this and nod Penny continued encouraged. "Well I thought if I showed you what may happen then you would at least be prepared."
"Showed me?" Amy asked eyes wide at what Penny was suggesting.
"On the computer Amy!" Penny laughed "OK, now you don't have to tell me if you don't want too, but if I know what you guys have done maybe I can show you what comes next."
Amy thought about Pennys suggestion. "You wont tell Sheldon?"
"No Amy, just between us girls. Promise."
"OK. Well the first time Sheldon let me touch him, showed me what to do. It was fascinating." Amy smiled remembering Sheldon's face as the feelings overtook him. "Then we had a shower and -"
"Wait, what? You have showered together. Wow go Sheldon! Sorry go on."
"Well it was more so I could get used to him touching me a bit. He washed my hair then me, he kissed my stomach." Seeing Penny smile she said "What? It was nice."
"It sounds nice. Romantic even, just not what I expected from my Whackadoodle neighbour at all!
OK continue."
"Well then last night he stayed and we kissed and slept and then well we only had underwear on and he touched my breasts."
"Through your clothes?"
"Just my bra. Yes." Amy blushed.
"Well OK. And you say it was overpowering? How?" Penny frowned.
"Well I felt things. Everywhere. It was odd. Like I wasn't in control."
"Oh sweetie that's not odd. Look I am guessing you have never really been turned on before, and it seems Sheldon is being patient and getting results by the sound of it. OK look I am guessing based on all male behaviour Sheldon will want to kiss your breasts too."
"He may have mentioned something like that." Amy blushed causing Penny to grin.
"Yes well its nice, so let him! And tell him how you feel Amy. If you like it tell him that's as important as if you don't like it. And lets face it, Sheldon is a genius so he will catch on quick!"
Turning the laptop towards Amy she said "Look watch this while I go get some more wine."
Hitting play Penny left the sofa and moved to the kitchen. Hearing 'oh my!' several times before she returned she saying "Well?"
Amy just shook her head unable to speak.
"Too much?" Penny frowned. She looked at the frozen screen and smiled. She had chosen a few clips of gentle foreplay to give Amy an idea of where things were heading, but seeing Amy's stunned expression and the fact she had not watched it all Penny said "surely you know about this stuff?"
Amy said "Knowing about it and seeing it are two different things. And to think Sheldon may want to kiss me well... there..." Amy looked at her hands knotted on her lap. "Its so personal."
"OK, well at least you know what may be ahead. Don't forget this isn't just anyone Amy its Sheldon. there is a good chance he wont want to do some of that stuff anyway you know how he is with germs but if he does it is better you know than freak out!"
"Do you think he did it with Pauline?"
"Oh Amy you cant ask that! Although I am pretty sure the answer is no."
"Why?"
"Because they were not exactly together long, because I think he would have told you, he has been pretty honest after all, and just well its Sheldon."
"Yet you think it is different with me."
"I know he is different with you! Amy he is so different. Look I will send you the link for this and if you feel the need you can look again and decided if you don't want to do it. If you don't, tell him."
Nodding Amy said "I think I may need another drink."
Grinning Penny filled her glass and said "I am actually kind of jealous."
"You are? why?" Amy asked confused.
"Because it is all so new. I guess because Sheldon is not some teenage jerk just wanting to get off without any consideration for you. It can be so good Amy. Just give yourself a chance. And what you said before about how it felt when Sheldon held your breasts, well if Sheldon does some of that other stuff too, your mind will be blown!"
Amy didn't answer. Looking towards the laptop she frowned and sipped her wine. Penny seemed to have faith in her, Sheldon too. Closing her eyes she sighed. "I'm going to be a wreck" she whispered.
"Pardon?"
"This weekend. I will be a wreck wondering what he is going to do."
"Would you have preferred to not know?" Penny sounded more than a little worried. If Amy was freaking out seeing a guy kiss a woman then there could be a problem.
"No, it is best I know but I am not sure I will be able to cope."
"Look I am sorry Amy. I was trying to help. I wont send this to you just forget it."
Amy snorted. "That's likely. No I am grateful I really am. And I will maybe just buy some wine to calm me before he gets there."
"No! Amy please don't do that." Penny groaned. "This is silly. Look if you are that nervous tell him, but I don't see why you should be. Think about this morning. I know you enjoyed that."
Amy shrugged.
"So just do that Amy. But please don't run away from this."
Looking at her now empty glass Amy said "I had better get a cab."
"I'll get Leonard to drive you, or you could stay here?"
"No, I need to go home Penny."
"OK stay there." Going across the hall Penny asked Leonard if he could give Amy a ride.
"Why? What's wrong with her car?" Sheldon asked.
"Nothing Sheldon, we have just had a glass of wine and she doesn't want to drive."
"Amy is drinking? Mid week? That's not like her?"
"No well sometimes we all do weird things mid week." She raised her eyebrow knowing he knew exactly what she meant. "Look she is fine."
Nodding Sheldon said "I will just go check."
Watching him cross the hall Penny sighed and sat in his spot.
"Penny!" Leonard hissed.
"Oh he'll be a while don't stress. Look will you take her? I kind of freaked her out and she has had more than 1 glass."
"Yeah no problem, come on."
And crossing to the door they were almost bowled over by Sheldon storming in.
"Unacceptable!" he hissed at Penny who rushed across to find Amy head in her hands sat on the sofa.
"Amy?" She asked gently.
"Oh Penny!" Amy half sobbed
"What happened?"
"He came in and I was watching..." Amy nodded at the screen.
"He saw?"
"No, at least I don't think so. I jumped up trying to shut it down before he could but I knocked over the wine, smashed the glass and he just shook his head and left."
"Come on. Leonard is going to take you home. I'll talk to Sheldon, you go get some sleep."
73
"Sheldon open the door!"
"No. Go away."
Ignoring him and opening the door she found him pacing the room. "What exactly is wrong?" She asked.
"Why did you get Amy drunk?"
"I didn't get her drunk, she had a drink. She is allowed Sheldon."
"Yes but it is not like her, she was all over the place, jumping about, breaking glasses."
"Sheldon! She accidentally knocked a glass over. Come on what's wrong?"
"What was she watching Penny? On your computer."
Penny looked at him closely trying to decide if he already knew.
"Why?"
"Because she looked guilty, because she obviously didn't want me to see. We have never had secrets." Sheldon sounded hurt.
"OK sweetie sit down. Look I am not going to tell you what Amy and I discussed because it was private. Just as I am not going to tell her about this conversation. Look I know things are going OK for you two, she just needed a night to talk to her girlfriend about it. We do that Sheldon. She didn't want you to know because it was girl stuff. Listen she is happy Sheldon. You are making her happy. Just give her time to adjust OK."
"So she wasn't drunk because of me?"
"She wasn't drunk Sheldon, she just had a drink. Look call her tomorrow morning she will tell you the same."
"I cant call her tomorrow I have meetings." He muttered remembering once again what he had been trying to ignore all evening.
"Tomorrow evening then. After your meetings, she will want to talk to you I'm sure."
Nodding Sheldon said "OK. Now get out!"
Smiling Penny said "See you tomorrow Sheldon."
73
Amy closed her eyes. She really hadn't had that much to drink. Now laying on top of her bed she wished she had explained that to Sheldon. She had panicked though. As she thought of the video clip Penny had shown her Amy wondered if that really was what Sheldon hoped to do. The very thought of him kissing her, well everywhere, was beyond her comprehension. Yet remembering how she had felt this morning though, at his touch, she had to admit he had been gentle and caring and if he was like that then maybe Penny was right maybe it would be nice.
Thinking about this morning Amy realised now that she hadn't really touched Sheldon at all this time. She had wanted too but the minute he touched her all those thoughts left her head. As the thought occurred to her she realised that before, when she had been touching him, she hadn't really considered how it affected him other than he was OK with what she was doing. She had wanted to touch and kiss.
She had wanted to do that to him, for him. So the video had been a shock; but maybe it wasn't as far out of her reach as she had first thought.
Perhaps at the weekend she might suggest they tried again, but together. It was Thursday tomorrow, she had a few days to consider what she what she would do.
That night Amy dreamt vividly.
73
"Dr Cooper." The large tall grey haired man held out his hand. "I am Emilie's father Simon Green."
"Pleased to meet you sir." Sheldon said politely.
Looking at Gablehauser Sheldon was surprised to see a huge grin on his face.
"Now my daughter has told me a great deal about you and Caltech but I needed to see for myself. Emilie has a tendency to expect things to always go her own way and I need to make sure whoever is in charge of her education is strong enough to stand up to her."
"She is only 15." Sheldon dismissed causing her father to roll his eyes.
"Yes and that is the mistake most people make. Now I am here today to see what you think she needs to get her up to scratch to do whatever it is she has her heart set on. She is my daughter Dr Cooper, and I will accept only the best."
Sheldon looked at the man opposite him and nodded. "OK, well I was going to draw up a plan but I have been given no information. I have my own work I need to complete so I can only offer limited time. Emilie has not actually told me herself of these plans she appears to have made, so I have no idea what it may be she wishes to do. As a result I propose I test her. I have compiled a test which I intend administering at the first opportunity; this will then show areas of concern and from that I can formulate a plan."
Dr Green nodded and said "Well good luck with that. Emilie tends to avoid any formal education."
Sheldon frowned! Then how has she got the knowledge she has?"
"Oh she goes to school, has tutors, but as I am abroad so much she does things her way."
"Yes well if she wants me to tutor her that ends." Sheldon stated. "I will have a schedule drawn up and an agreement for her to sign once I am satisfied it is worth my while. Where is she anyway? I had assumed she would be here."
Dr green rolled his eyes. "She is here. On the way in though she met someone from your engineering department."
"Oh dear lord, Howard."
"Yes quite." Gablehauser confirmed.
"She seemed more excited about that than I have seen her in a while."
"Hhmmm." Sheldon pondered. "Maybe we should go get her and get this test done now."
By the time they reached the engineering department a crowd had gathered. Pushing his way to the front Sheldon laughed. Emilie it appeared had challenged Howard to another robot building contest. this time though she had built a much more complicated model which was now chasing Howard around the room firing rubber balls at him.
"Emilie Green!" She stopped laughing and turned
"Hey daddy!" she grinned. Then to Howard "OK parties over. See you later." High fiving him she walked across and kissed her fathers cheek.
"Follow me." was all Sheldon said and leading them to his room he drew out the test paper and pencil placed it next to the timer and said "You have 1 hour."
"Outside the room Dr Green said how hard is the test?"
"It starts at high school level and goes up to doctorate level. Now while I don't expect her to finish it it should give us a basic idea of where she is at."
Nodding Dr Green said "Your work, will it enable you to tutor her?"
"I suspect she is above the level I teach here normally so I am hoping she will be able to join a program that can challenge her while at the same time meet her interests."
"Her interests appear to be downstairs."
Sheldon nodded frowning. "Yes she has a gift it seems."
"Not one I had hoped to encourage but if it is a gift..."
"Lets see how she does here first." Sheldon cut in hastily.
When the door opened 45 minutes later and Emilie slapped the paper against Sheldon's chest saying "I'll be downstairs." Both her father and Sheldon frowned. Had she rushed on purpose? She didn't appear to be taking any of this seriously.
Moving into his room Sheldon opened the paper and skimmed the questions. Without a word he handed the paper over.
She has answered them all. Her father said quietly. Turning to the back pages he smiled. "She really has a gift."
"Quite."
"So? how about it Dr Cooper?"
"Maybe we should ask Emilie if it is what she wants." Sheldon said quietly.
"You don't want to do it?"
"Oh I do! But if Emilie is not keen it wont work."
"Emilie wants to come work with me. If she is serious about that then she needs to prove it."
"What does she want to do there?" Sheldon asked
Dr Green shrugged. "To work at CERN is enough surely!"
"Maybe. But I suspect she knows how you feel about engineering. I feel the same. But you saw her she is good."
"She is good at this too."
"Yes but did she look as happy?" Sheldon could not believe he was saying this. "Look Dr Green when I was young I felt about physics how Emilie appears to feel about engineering. I would have done anything to get where I wanted. I suspect Emilie is doing this, he pointed at the paper, for the same reasons. How about myself and Howard tutor her?"
"To what end?"
Sheldon hesitated. "I have a theory that Emilie has seen. She was going to tell you. It needs testing somewhere like CERN. If she works with me and Howard maybe she can help."
"What sort of theory?"
Sheldon opened his desk drawer and handed his notes over.
"OK, I will look at these while you go retrieve my daughter. We will all talk when you get back."
73
"You're late." Leonard said that night as Sheldon entered 4A
"It's been a long day.
"Everything OK."
"Yes. I need to go shower."
"Amy called."
"OK thanks." Sheldon walked wearily to his room and grabbed his wash stuff and pyjamas. He was too tired even to eat.
Showering he put on the under-shirt and pants, then rubbing his hair dry returned to his room.
Sitting on his bed he reached for his laptop which was ringing telling him Amy was calling to Skype.
"Hey." He smiled tiredly.
"Sheldon are you OK?"
"Yes. I have only just got in, it has been a long day."
"Why what happened?"
"Emilie is what happened. She arrived with her father. He came to check out Caltech."
"And?" Amy asked eagerly.
"Oh he approved. Emilie is so bright Amy. But she wants to do engineering."
"But she said..."
"Oh she is not saying that, I can just tell. So I have come up with a proposal which I finally got her father to agree too."
"What is it?"
"Well I will tutor her alongside Howard."
"Really? Howard?"
"Yes. She will work here with us for the rest of the semester, there are only a few weeks left, then we will travel to CERN and begin the first stage of tests."
"Sheldon! That's amazing."
"Yes quite. Bernadette was not quite so enthusiastic when Howard told her she would be alone with his mother for a month but..."
"Howard's going too?"
"Yes. Evidently we are now a team!" Sheldon shuddered.
"And Emilie?"
"Oh she is on her best behaviour." Sheldon smirked. "I told her if she did not comply I would make sure she never saw so much as screw driver again."
Amy grinned "What did her father say?"
"I think he was just relieved. She is quite a handful."
"Well I'm pleased. For all of you. You look tired so I will let you go get your pizza."
"I'm too tired to eat." Sheldon yawned.
"Then perhaps we can have pizza Saturday?" Amy suggested hesitantly.
"I'd like that. Good night Amy."
"Night Sheldon."
73
A/N: Once again thanks for all the lovely reviews! My nerves after posting each chapter really are soothed by the kind words and messages. Hope this chapter doesn't disappoint, ch 27 in process and hopefully up at the weekend some time. Ax