"Sit down." Pointing at a chair the director took his own seat behind his desk and looked at Amy expectantly. "So would you care to explain what happened today?"
"I attended a lecture as you invited me too." Amy replied innocently.
"And supplied my students with questions in a bid to make a fellow scientist look bad. I am not stupid Dr fowler. I know you were behind whatever that was. I need to know what you know."
Nodding Amy said "Ramona made herself look bad! But OK, first though I need you to promise not to tell anyone what I am about to tell you. At least not until I have warned Sheldon."
"Who is Sheldon?"
"Dr Sheldon Cooper. He is the person behind the theory Ramona is passing off as her own. In fact it is easy to check. Phone the Nobel committee. They will confirm the theory has been submitted to them for consideration."
"So how exactly has Dr Nowitzki got hold of it?"
"She isn't a Dr! Her name is Ramona Nowitzki, she was a student of Sheldon's at Caltech some years ago, she developed a kind of crush I guess.. she reappeared recently and Sheldon stayed with her as he worked on this theory. I had assumed she had been stopped. That she is here, so brazenly, well I am astounded. But my primary concern is to protect Sheldon from her, and his theory."
The director looked at Amy, seeing the sincerity in her face. "So what happened in that lecture hall today, who were the students asking the questions? You were behind that I assume?"
"Yes, well the first student anyway. He was the one who alerted me to Ramona's existence. At a lecture he went too he was disappointed she could not substantiate the theory in any way, I met up with him and proposed he asked a few questions. He appears to have got some friends to help him." Amy couldn't disguise the laughter in her voice.
"All I wanted to do was satisfy myself it was first and foremost the Ramona I met in LA; then to make 100% sure she was no more capable of claiming the theory as her own. I think I proved that."
Sensing the director was not terribly impressed she had done all this without his knowledge Amy sat quietly watching him.
"You say you want to protect this Dr Cooper. May I ask why."
"Well he is my friend and I do not like to see people hurt my friends. Amy admitted quietly. But also it is the principle of the matter. The work is Sheldon's. What you saw today any student in that hall could have done."
"And what do you propose to do now, now you have the information you sought?"
Amy looked thoughtful. "I not really come to any conclusions as to how, I just know I need too stop her."
"You should have come to me with your concerns." The directors voice was stern but as he continued Amy could tell the anger was not aimed at her personally. "I will not have the reputation of this university degraded and I want no part in any fraudulent activity. You say this theory is with the Nobel committee. Amy nodded. And Caltech know about it. Another nod. OK then I will contact them if what you say is true and she has left the states to pass this off as her own; we need to ensure it does not happen again. I suggest Dr Fowler you spend the next few days sight seeing far away from here if possible because if Ramona sees you we may very well loose her again."
Nodding Amy said "I take it you no longer need my participation in the debate."
"Lets just leave that open shall we."
As Amy left the office she did not feel quite as euphoric as she had leaving the lecture hall. She just hoped this time they could stop Ramona for good.
73
"Sheldon I really don't see why I have to come, you have the keys because you don't trust me to do it, I have no desire to do it so why are you insisting I go with you."
"Because I need a ride." Sheldon stated bluntly. "Also I am not entirely comfortable with what Amy has requested of me and I feel you are far more suitable for the job. By going together I can unsure the plant ifs fed you can do all the talking nonsense and we can both be home in time to enjoy our normal evening activities."
"Sheldon I am working tonight."
"And you will have plenty of time to do this too." Sheldon nodded.
Knowing there was no point arguing Penny walked with Sheldon towards her car. "So have you spoken to Amy? Is she having fun?"
"Of course I have spoken to her. She has expressed enjoyment in her time spent there so far yes."
Glancing at his stiff poise Penny sense he was being guarded in his response but remembering her promise to not get involved Penny changed the subject. "Leonard tells me you should hear soon, from the Nobel committee."
Sheldon nodded. "Yes next month. Sheldon bit his lip and Penny sensed the very thought made him nervous. But it will only be notification I am being considered. The announcement of the award is December 10th."
"So how will you celebrate when you win?" Penny asked causing Sheldon to smile. "What? Why are you smiling."
"Because you just assume I will win. Penny the Nobel is all I have wanted since a small boy and to be considered is a huge achievement. The standard will be incredibly high."
"But Sheldon you must know you stand a chance."
Sheldon shrugged.
"I don't get it," Penny parked the car outside Amy's and turned to look at her neighbour. "All the years I have known you your certainty that you will win this prize is something I have admired. Shear determination and conviction. Why the sudden modesty it is not like you Sheldon?"
"Maybe lately I have seen there are things as important as a medal. Maybe I can see that I have been a success in the field of physics but not so in other areas."
"Is this about Amy?" Penny questioned.
"Yes, she had a similar experience to me growing up, no friends socially misunderstood and her love of science was her comfort shall we say. But Amy has friends and is able to see more than just a prize."
"You have friends Sheldon!"
"Yes but at the first sign that the prize was within reach I left my friends and gave them no further consideration. Amy wouldn't do that."
"And is that what you want to be more like that? Leave the prize?"
"Well no, obviously I still want to win." Sheldon snorted "but Amy said something to me last night that made me think I need to do more things for her."
"OK," Penny realised Sheldon despite his telling her he wanted to keep their relationship private was asking for advise. "Did you have something in mind?"
"No. Well, maybe. She had the chance to go to CERN penny and she said no. When I questioned her sanity she said she wanted her first time to be with me. I would have gone. I would not have thought about others, I want to be ale to do something to show Amy I still care."
Penny grinned. "Well maybe then you should go up there and talk to her plant! She asked you too yet you have dragged me here."
"I meant something else."
"I know you did, but its a start. Go read Cosmo to her plant, I will even take a picture to prove it!"
Knowing he had dropped himself into this Sheldon climbed out of the car and prepared to have his humiliation captured on film.
"Where have you been?" Leonard asked as Sheldon and Penny returned to 4a 2 hours later, "I thought you were working tonight."
"I was but Dr Cooper here got so involved in Cosmo I had to call in and say I'd do the late shift."
"Cosmo? Sheldon? Are you sure?"
"Yes in have a photo to probe it!" Penny grinned.
"Penny really! We said that picture was for Amy's eyes only and I could hardly leave an article half way through."
"So what did you learn?" Leonard grinned.
"I learnt that the plant in Amy's apartment looks absolutely no different than the one we passed in her hallway proving talking to plants is nonsense!"
"So have you uploaded the picture onto facebook? Leonard grinned as he watched Sheldon stomp towards his room.
"No I did promise I would only send it to Amy and he did really try so I figured id let him off this one. He seems genuinely keen to impress Amy though."
Leonard grinned "Lucky Amy!"
"I had better go." Penny gave her boyfriend a kiss. "Go easy on him!"
By the time Sheldon returned the pizza had arrived along with Howard and Raj. Soon a lively debate over the best episode of firefly had all thoughts of impressing Amy banished. It was only as he was getting ready for bed did Sheldon let his mind stray back to the feelings he had had earlier.. seeing Amy had sent him a text he opened it and saw a picture of a small plant cutting in a pot next to a large plant.
This was my apartment plant to the one in the hall 2 months ago. Thank you for helping her flourish!
73
"Dr Fowler, please, come in." Waiting for Amy to sit herself down the director said "OK. I have spoken to several people at Caltech. It would seem Ramona was arrested for breaking and entering, theft and fraud. She was then bailed. It would seem a police mistake meant her passport was not confiscated and she was able to leave the county. Hence her turning up here. I spoke to an Eric Gablehauser as well as professor Seibert and they were both extremely concerned that Sheldon's work was been passed of as Ramona's but grateful you were able to stop the deception.
They have asked for us to pass on certain details to our police as well as the Nobel committee and together a plan will be made to ensure not only is she arrested but hat she is immediately jailed. As she has now committed the crime both in America and Europe the penalty will be more severe."
"And Sheldon? Has he been told?"
"Not yet. Prof Seibert said they would liaise with the police first then inform Dr Cooper once the agreed plan had been finalised."
"Do they have a time frame in mind?"
"Yes indeed. And that is why I have asked to see you again. Your little scheming the other day, well it worked quite well. So I was thinking to finally expose Dr Nowitzki we would use the public function of the debate."
"She is not a Dr.!" Amy muttered. "And surely if I am sat on the panel Ramona will not even take her seat."
"Yes indeed. No the plan we have come up with is to have you exactly as you are, a visiting lecturer. We will let the debate progress and then open it up to show who each field has had visit in the past year, this is a debate to entice students in after all."
"So when I am announced as a visiting biology specialist the police will be ready to arrest her."
"Well yes, but Caltech were under the impression she may try to bluff her way past your presence no there idea is after announcing you as the main biology visitor the physics depart announce their visitor for the coming year."
"Their visitor?"
"Yes as we speak professor Gablehauser is booking a flight for Dr. cooper. He will be here tomorrow!"
73
Amy didn't remember returning to the hotel or her room. Sheldon was coming! He would know she was aware of Ramona's presence and hadn't informed him. Would he be angry? Nervously pacing Amy cursed the director for banning her from calling Sheldon. Caltech had wanted the time to prepare Sheldon and had said they would inform Amy if they needed her help persuading him to come. Once he knew that Ramona was here he might just refuse completely Amy realised.
Deciding to wait until she was scheduled to call him Amy decided to go for a walk. On her return she saw he cell had 6 missed messages. 2 from Leonard 3 from Penny and the 1 five minutes ago from Sheldon himself.
Taking a deep breath Amy hit Sheldon's number.
"Amy? Where were you. We have been trying to call you."
"I'm sorry Sheldon I was out and I left my phone in my room."
"What is the point of having a cell if you do not carry it with you?"
"Sheldon! Was there a reason I have 6 missed calls?"
"Oh... yes... Amy I am coming to Switzerland! I will be there tomorrow morning your time."
"And you are excited?" Amy was more than a little surprised by this reaction.
"Of course I am. Amy we can go to CERN now together!"
Amy gasped clamping a hand over her mouth a little too late. "Yes, I guess we can she said trying to sound calm. I thought you may be mad."
"Mad? Why?"
"Because I didn't tell you Ramona was here."
"Oh … no... from what I have been told if it wasn't for you my theory would be being touted round Europe for the highest price. No thanks to you not only has she be stopped but we will get to see her arrested and then we can go to CERN!"
Amy laughed. "Yes Sheldon we can. In fact I will go book the tickets now!"
73
A/N: So I was blown away by the many lovely reviews and messages after the last chapter then I had a bit of a melt down and got scared, hence the wait. So I apologise and hope this does not disappoint. Ali x