You guys are just the best! Now we get Amy's perspective. Don't forget what she did with the Handsy TSA agent!
Amy
Amy glared at Sheldon who was smugly standing in front of the door he had just locked. Though she had a few choice words for him bubbling in her head like heated magma, she kept her salty remarks to herself. His recent isolation had clearly affected him so she calmly stated, "Sheldon... I'm sure you've heard of Penal code 236 PC."
"Unlawful imprisonment is a California Penal code. Of course. I have the whole penal code memorized since I was arrested-"
"ARRESTED?" Forgetting the need for calmness Amy jumped off the couch clutching her purse that held a Taser. She wasn't going to be locked in a room during a pandemic with a known criminal. If he wanted to play the part of a kidnapper, she wouldn't fall victim to Stockholm syndrome no matter however pleasant he was to look at.
Sheldon gave a little huff, and said "I hardly think Jay Walking is going to be an issue during our quarantine." Then with a condescending look he added, "But back to your original point, under the Public Health Service Act 42, code of the Federal Regulations, one can enact a lawful order of quarantine."
Amy was tempted to forget the taser and just hit him with her purse. Did he not think that she wouldn't know the public health order by heart?
"So, you are taking it upon yourself to enact a private quarantine? In your apartment?"
It was obvious that her red uniform was making it difficult for Sheldon to argue, and she had every intention of using that to her advantage. She heaved a deep sigh, causing the top of the uniform to stretch across her chest and placed her hands on her hips. Sheldon bit his lip, unable to stop staring at her. But he would not be deterred as he begged her,
"Amy, you can't go out of this safe zone. Your suit has been compromised, mine will not fit you and we don't have any others. Imagine the pathogens you may encounter using the stairs of this cesspool of an apartment."
"I thought you liked it here?" Amy asked.
"I do. Here. In my safe apartment! The order states, "Based on these reasonable beliefs, I find that the subject person meets the standard for federal quarantine under 42 U.S.C. § 264 and 42 CFR §§ 70.14, 71.37. Given you no longer have a hazmat suit and we have NO idea what kinda of pathogen could be beyond that door, Federal Law states you must stay put."
Sheldon went to his computer and pulled up the order, placed the laptop on the coffee table and crossed his arms definitely, "Federal law supersedes State laws, thanks to the Supremacy Clause. So, your unlawful imprisonment means nothing. Unless you have a problem with the Constitution as well."
She could smell the lure of his talcum powder, and lost her temper. "Don't seduce me with federal regulations! You know I find loopholes sexy!"
"Noted." Sheldon returned to his spot on the couch and tapped the spot next to him.
She narrowed her eyes as she again fought the impulse to bash Sheldon over the face with her purse for his blatant assumption.
Amy had important projects at her home; knitting tea cozies for Penny's new kitchen even though Penny insisted she didn't drink tea. Also, Amy had managed to sneak home a half a cadaver brain which now rested frozen in her icebox and which she had planned on dissecting over the weekend for light relief. Though if Sheldon kept up his role as jailer, she might be tempted use his brain instead. Her plants needed watering, she wanted her favorite shampoo. Tomorrow was hose-washing night, and her comfy Sheldonesque pillow called to her.
With her back to the locked door, and clutching her purse, she was about to argue that his understanding of healthcare law was flawed, but he looked so hopeful, that she relented a little and returned to her spot on the couch to collect her thoughts.
He turned towards her with his hands on his knees and a smile as wide as Texas itself. Her heart softened and she decided she'd try it. After all, she persuaded herself, he had been right about the hazmat suit and at least she'd finally have a sleep over which she always dreamed she'd have, albeit not as romantic because of the contagion risk, but it could be fun.
"Okay, Sheldon. I agree to this limited quarantine, for now... I have a few issues, however."
Sheldon waved her off, "Already thought of everything."
"Oh really? For how long have you been planning this?" She returned her gaze at the door.
"About 5 minutes. The planning part of my brain was in overdrive while the memory side of my brain recited the regulations."
Amy sensed a familiar twinge in her body, like a hum hitting her nerves in all the right places. She felt an urge to release an unintelligible sound, but held her hand to mouth to stifle it.
Sheldon pointed down his hall toward his bedroom. He said with a subtle grin, "I calculated that you might have needs. Needs that only I can provide."
She couldn't hold it anymore. "HOO!"
Sheldon smiled, "Yes, I have left-over supplies for your feminine needs. Penny needed more storage when she followed my advice to purchase tampons in bulk-"
"No, Sheldon! I won't be here long enough for that to be an issue!" She started to wonder how long he thought she would be staying.
Sheldon then picked up his laptop and she could see him starting to type.
After a few minutes he turned the laptop around so that she could see the results of his actions, "Amy, you need to stay until we can order a new hazmat suit. I have just logged on to Amazon, and given the upsurge in demand, it will take over 3 weeks."
"3 WEEKS!" She needed to get out before things got out of hand. "I need to make sure my house is safe, get a few things, like my clothes, a nightgown."
"Already considered. You can wear my extra pajamas top, I have extra shirts, and we will order you clothes."
"Sheldon that's a waste of money as I have plenty of clothes at home."
"I'll pay for it." He typed a few more times on the laptop and showed her the exact same flowered dress she had worn on the circuit dating night. She had to smile at his memory for such a small thing.
She let out a sigh, and then begrudgingly said, "OK, I agree to this quarantine, but just until I get a hazmat suit." Who needed Amazon, she was a scientist, she knew scientists, she could call a work colleague, or even Bernadette to get her a hazmat suit. By tomorrow, she could be back at home.
Now that the decision had been made, she thought that staying overnight would be a good experiment. They could get used to being together. But Amy had to set some boundaries. She couldn't give in any time that Blue-eyed Texan quoted regulations. She had to stand her ground. Only one-night Amy. Don't get tempted. Don't look at his eyes again. Damn that talc smell.
They cleaned away the remnants of Sheldon's terrible smoothie dinner and then he gave her a tour of the apartment. She couldn't see much out of the visqueened windows, but at least she'd have her own room for the evening. The whole apartment smelled of Lysol and disinfectant, with an undercurrent smell of his pureed dinner attempt. Sheldon's immaculate bathroom was decorated with a nice periodic table curtain, and after the lecture on not putting their toothbrushes in the same holder, she was ready for bed.
Not having a nightgown, she stood outside Sheldon's room as he pulled out a blue-plaid flannel pajama top; which though long enough to cover her thighs, she knew would still leave her feeling exposed.
"These are my Sunday pajamas, I get cold on Sundays."
"Why do you get cold on Sundays?" Amy smiled when she realized and said, "Oh, I get it! You have a sundae on Sunday."
"Bingo!" Sheldon winked at her and she had to grab hold of the door frame to prevent her from falling to her knees.
Sheldon then pointed to the adjacent door, "This was Leonard's room."
He opened the door and she saw a room that was filled with enough toys to make a nursery school happy. The shelves had little figures of muscle-bound men in tights, a glass display case with more figurines, all in the original packaging, and another wall was filled with trains complete with a working train set. At least the room had a bed.
She stood in the doorway and watched as Sheldon moved the bed so that its side was up against a specific wall, made it up with fresh sheets and fluffed the pillows.
"Leonard originally slept with his head against this wall, completely ignoring the Feng Shui of the room. I have now rearranged it and moved it against this wall, so I can hear if you need me. I know the walls are thick but with my Vulcan hearing, I will be able to hear you. So just tap once for a glass of water, two for more blankets, three fo-"
"Why don't we use Morse code." Amy entered the room and tapped out on the wall in code. "I'll Be fine. Quit worrying."
Sheldon watched wide-eyed as she tapped out the message, looking as if her action was the most intoxicating thing she'd ever done. "That's brilliant."
"Thank you, Sheldon."
Sheldon nodded and moved towards the door, but hesitated and turning he smiled at her from the doorway. "Good night, Amy."
"Good night, Sheldon."
Amy changed into Sheldon's pajama top, climbed into the bed and quickly covered her exposed legs. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep trying not to pay attention to the smell of the laundry soap that wafted off Sheldon's pajamas or the strange sounds from the room next door as she imagined Sheldon getting ready for bed. This wasn't the perfect way she'd ever thought she'd have her first sleepover, but it was pretty great since she'd be sleeping only ten feet away from her boyfriend.
After a few minutes, she heard a tapping: .- . / ..-. - .-. -. - - / ... - - . - ... .. -. -. -..- / - . . - / - . / .. -. / - ... . / ... .- .-.. .-..
Rising off the bed, she opened her bedroom door. Sheldon was standing at his bedroom door, his face flushed and licking his lips as if he wanted to taste the words before he said them.
"What did we forget, Sheldon? Why did I have to meet you in the hallway?"
Sheldon didn't say a word as he stepped towards her his eyes locked onto hers. He placed his hands on her waist and his minty breath wafted between them. He leaned in, and softly kissed her lips. At first just a hint of pressure, but then the kiss deepened. His arms moved from her waist up the side of her body and relaxed on her face. Her shaking knees was about to give out, but he caught her, not letting her fall, wrapping his arms around her whole body as his tender lips finished the kiss. He pulled away from her, but kept his hands wrapped around her. With a soft voice, low and husky, "We forgot our date night kiss."
"I see... Hoo... I'm glad you remembered." Amy put her hands to her chest to make sure her heart was still beating.
The hallway night light illuminated his eyes with a cool glow, brilliant and blue and Amy was lost in them. Perhaps she'd give Sheldon's quarantine suggestion a try. Maybe just a week. She smiled as she decided. Just a week.
Sheldon
After their date night kiss, Sheldon went back to his bedroom and quietly shut the door. As he lay in bed he felt a familiar feeling flow over his body that he hadn't sensed for some time. It was the same feeling one gets when an equation balances or you have exact change at the counter. It was as if he had enough buns for a package of hot dogs, or he had the perfect ratio of milk to cereal. Everything seemed to work out. Even during a pandemic and the world on the edge of chaos, Sheldon felt calm. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep to the comforting hum of Amy snoring through the wall.
The next morning, even before he had a chance to eat his cereal, Amy, still in his PJ top from the night before, made him order clothes to be delivered that day.
"All I have to wear is this skimpy top or that little costume. I could kick myself for being so damn whimsical, in wearing it last night!" Amy groused as she pulled again at the bottom of the nightshirt. Sheldon was about to offer her one of his t-shirts for the day, but then he had a better idea.
"At least it has tights..." He said with a smile as he looked at her bare legs, Amy did not look amused.
"I don't want to wear a costume all day! It will feel like Halloween without the candy, and what fun is that?"
"I'll put on my uniform too. It'll be fun."
Begrudgingly she acknowledged that he was correct about the leg coverings and returned to her room to put the uniform on. Sheldon quickly ran to his, donned his Spock costume from Comic Con and met in her in the hallway. She didn't have her hair up, like she had before, and her smile wasn't as wide, but still he had to catch his breath from how perfect she looked. Though he was a Vulcan, and should control his emotions, he couldn't help but feel elated and overwhelmed. His Kolinahr training helped, as did Amy's refusal to stay in character.
"I never thought I would be one of a couple who had matching costumes." Amy finally said, after Sheldon had told her for the third time she was perfect. "I guess we really are boyfriend and girlfriend."
"Of course we are. There is little doubt. Now..." He raised his eyes suggestively and asked, hoping she'd say yes, "Would you like me to show the dials on the tricorder?"
Though it wasn't as good as his Thursday scheduled session, he still enjoyed educating her on the technology.
Later that evening, after watching the Zackary Quinto's Star Trek, a wonderful meal of Spaghetti that he called Klingon 'Gak' and a bottle of blue Kool-Aid in the shade of Romulan Ale, Sheldon and Amy retired for the night. He tapped out the following message to her on the wall:.. / ... .- -.. / ..-. ..- -. / - - -.. .- -.-
Amy called out, "You're welcome. I have to admit... I had fun today too."
He was just about to plan the next day for them to wear another costume, but she tapped out: - - - - .-. .-. - .- / .- . / .- . .- .-. / -. - .-. - .- .-.. / -.-. .-.. - - ... . ... .-.-.-
Sheldon didn't want to wear normal clothes, but she was right. One can have too much whimsy.
Much to Sheldon's disappointment, her clothing order came the next day, including comfortable tights. They placed every delivered box in a homemade sanitizer chamber and blasted the box with Lysol. She didn't notice that in amongst all the boxes, he had also ordered her a Princess Leia outfit complete with hair rolls.
Over the next week, Amy and Sheldon worked out a routine that suited both of them. Amy called her neighbor to water her plants, and Sheldon moved his "little toys" as she called them into the apartment's storage closet. He set up a work station near the window overlooking the Pasadena dome, even though the Visqueen obstructed the view.
As it turned out, Amy proved to be a marvelous cook and he not only had healthier options, but also saved money on take-outs. She also had a method for washing clothes in the bath which saved him donning his hazmat suit for trips to the building's dirty laundry room on Saturday night.
However, by Sunday her choice in media entertainment had led to their first fight. She had wanted to watch a show about a doctor in the woods, called Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, but Sheldon had had enough medical based drama with the pandemic.
"You know...if you want to watch a real adventure, we could watch Dr. Indiana Jones." And without waiting for her reply he jumped off the couch to get the laser disk. After the movie, he eagerly awaited Amy's comments and was devastated by her scathing review.
In an effort to make up for ruining his favorite movie series, she agreed he could choose what to watch next.
"This is terrible." She blurted when the program was finished.
Sheldon smiled, and took another bite of popcorn, "I know. Babylon 5 is the worst science fiction show ever made. I forbade Leonard from ever watching it. There's five seasons."
"We aren't watching all Five are we?" Amy eked out in horror.
"Well, it's not called Babylon 2.8, Amy. This is punishment." He smirked to himself. He hated watching the show, but not as much as he enjoyed seeing how much Amy hated it.
Thursday morning came, and as Sheldon brought in the fresh towels for her morning shower, he noticed that Amy had started to pack up her belongings.
"What's going on here? Our hot date for deep cleaning is tomorrow."
Amy laughed but continued to carefully fold her clothes before placing them in a bag. "It's been a week Sheldon and as much I am looking forward to our cleaning date, I have to get home."
Sheldon sat on the edge of Amy's bed. He didn't understand. "What do you mean?"
She repeated the words, as if he didn't have a perfect memory. "It's been a week. I spoke to Bernadette. She can get a hazmat suit sent over and I can go home."
"Oh, Amy. You must be confused. When I said we had to shelter in place, I meant this place. Not your place. That won't do. I remember the story of the burnt popcorn your neighbor made. Obviously, your apartment's ventilation system couldn't handle-"
"But the suit! Bernadette can-"
"I don't trust her safety procedures any more than I do Howard with a space toilet."
Amy rolled her eyes at Sheldon. "She is a microbiologist. Out of all of us, she is the most knowledgeable about infectious diseases."
"Exactly. She's knowledgeable because she is exposed all the time. They are pushing too fast for a vaccine, taking all kinds of risk. Bernadette could send god knows what to our safe zone... No.. I won't allow it. I have already taken precautions for the next week. Our new grocery delivery service will start tomorrow and I prepared a menu. The bathroom schedule needs more work, but you will be regular once the high fiber cerea-"
"Sheldon..." She snapped, and said decisively, "I am not going to have a bathroom schedule."
"I know you're a free spirit, but there's a limit. I ordered the Red zinger tea!"
Amy stopped packing and put her hands on her hips. She was wearing her angry face. He hated that face. He had already seen it at the circuit dating, then again when he locked the door, and that was 2 times too many.
Amy snapped at him, "Sheldon, there is also a limit to my patience. I need my things."
"But you have everything you need here..."
"Sheldon... YOU have everything you need here."
"Not if you leave." He dropped onto the bed, and looked up at her with a heavy pain growing in his chest.
Amy sat next to him on the bed, and her angry face melted as it softened to the kind face he loved. "Sheldon, I need you too, but I think we should shelter in place, but separately. After all we've been apart for most of our relationship. Don't you think we can survive a little while longer?"
The problem was that Sheldon found that he enjoyed having Amy around, even when she did not agree with him. At first, her strange hair in his shower annoyed him, but having Penney stay on occasions had trained him to tolerate virtually any inconvenience. Life was comfortable with Amy. She never played his Xbox and saved over his games. She cleaned dishes better than anyone, possibly even Sheldon himself, and her sing-a-long night was even better in person.
Their relationship had started virtually. They fell in love over text, not needing physical contact, but now he found that he had enjoyed the little bits of touch during the past week. Once she had backed into him in the hallway as she was sweeping. For a moment, he had felt her whole body against him, and hadn't been repulsed. Then during a filming of their new Flag Show, she had raised her hand to show off the Fun with Flag sign. Their hands had touched and it had not been an unpleasant sensation. She'd tap his shoulder to tell him dinner was ready if he was working, and he didn't recoil. Just little things, just her presence, even there on the edge of her bed, their knees almost touching he could feel her presence through her heat.
"There are things we can't do if we are apart and we don't know how long this will last."
"What things?" Amy asked and inched closer to him.
"This." Sheldon reached out for her hand and she gasped. "We can't do this."
Amy's hand clutched his as if she worried he would take it away. He loved that he could surprise her. He leaned over, just before his lips touched her cheek, he said softly, "Or this."
When he pulled back and saw Amy's flushed face, the tightness in his chest relaxed as she stumbled with her softly spoken words, "So um... another week?"
"A month? Or even better...till the pandemic is over." Then he added when he saw her eyes widen. "The pandemic can't last forever. We have been on lockdown since March, it's almost June. I'm sure we will be fine before July."
"I'm sure too. No way this lasts the whole summer."
"It's our duty, Amy. We must survive this else the world be deprived of our genius. We will be last couple standing as the world culls the herd of morons who can't take health orders seriously and wear masks."
"I concur." Her eyes sparkled, and her smile told him he had done something right. For a moment, just a brief second, Sheldon thought about how they would go about repopulating the earth with their genius spawn. He shook his head of the notion since in vitro fertilization would mean a trip to a lab. "I want some of my things."
However, Sheldon prided himself on his ability to compromise. "We can order a harp delivered and I have enough yarn for your knitting from when I weaved serapes for cats."
"Cats?"
"Long story." He squeezed her hand, and said, "So... ready to start Babylon 5?"
Amy rolled her eyes and nodded to the door, "I'm going to jump out the visqueened window and risk exposure if you make me watch another episode."
"Proposal. You admit that Raiders of the Lost Ark was a great movie regardless of plot holes and I will pick another show."
"Alternative proposal. We watch one episode of my favorite show and one of yours."
"Counter-proposal. We watch three episodes of my favorite show and watch yours when I have to do laundry in the tub."
"Can we hold hands during your show?" Amy weaved her fingers into his. Her wide smile showed off her perfect teeth, but her eyebrows bobbing up and down sealed his fate.
"Fine." He rose off the bed, and led her to the couch. He mumbled under his breath, "Vixen."
Well, folks our couple is heating up! Thanks again so much for reviews! You guys are amazing!
PS... Yes... Yes I did look up California Penal codes and regulations along with Morse Code for this fan fic. I'm that much of a nerd.