Sheldon Swifties LIX: "X-Advisors…"

Summary: Like my Immortal Beloved bits in my Buffyverse stories, these are fragments and short bits, some longer…Just to fiddle with ideas, possibly forming longer tales later.

Disclaimer: All is Chuck's…

Part LXV…

"I came to in a field about thirty miles north of Austin…in 1962. Came to in a manner of speaking…" Bernadette eyed Leonard as they paused in the hallway tunnel. "I'd no idea who I was or where I was from except I remembered my babies…All three of them." Smile. "And never mention this, even in the afterlife, but I remembered Howie first."

"Bernie…" Leonard shook head. "Thirty-three years…"

"I realized quickly I must not be from around these parts or times. I didn't remember a thing about the geography, knew only vaguely what should have been current events but I remembered c learly bits about my home and surroundings, about events in our time. Just couldn't quite get a grip on my name or who that cute Beatles' member-haired little sweetie in my mind was. For a good while…" she sighed. "But I was saved, while I stumbling around, likely prey to any jerk who thought I looked vulnerable…"

Leonard eyed her…She smiled.

"Right, lets get real. I clobbered or terrorized any jerk who thought I looked vulnerable but it was a rough time. Fortunately, I met Max's mother, a pretty hard-pressed woman with three rambunctious kids and she took me in. Since I had no family, had grown to love my more or less foster sibs and foster mom of sorts, and she was concerned for me, after a year, she formally adopted me, so I'd have a name and a family and so she could leave me some money when she got older."

"But you never told them…?"

"It was four years before I even remembered my first name…I was Bea till then, just the fragment I could remember, Be…" shrug. "But I knew all along something terrible had brought me there. That I'd lost everyone I cared about. And that there was someone…Someone evil, terribly evil…Who'd caused it." Eyeing Leonard…

"I know what Howie would say…'Sheldon's not that bad'." Impish grin.

"Sheldon?" Leonard started.

"No, no…Damnit, Leonard. I'm kidding." Perching glasses higher. "I know who Susan Stein is, don't worry. She's lucky she never knew me. I've kept track of the little angel ever since I remembered her, even before I clearly remembered my own name. I've stood outside the Stein house, even peered in the window, God knows how many times. And yes, I nearly killed that little girl several times." Grim stare. "It's only the thought of what it would do to my family here…Max and my other adopted sibs, later my sweet Summer, Mari and Mark, her parents…And my mind's Howie noting he was kind of a creep when younger for a while…" grin. "That kept me from putting a claw hammer through her pretty little skull." Pause. "And of course the hope she'd lead me to her counterpart one day…And, lastly, that thought that you'd be disappointed in me, if it was true I'd ever see you again." Smile at his stricken face. "And I mean you, specifically, kiddo." warm smile.

"The kid isn't…"

"Neither was young Adolf…" Bernadette eyed him, sternly. "But we'd better keep this on the burner, the others are waiting and even a lady and a lactose-intolerent Leonard can't take forever on the toilet. Remember…Only Summer and my adoptive mother have ever heard the story." She eyed him carefully.

"Yeah…In part my way of keeping her from going too far with Howie on that train ride." Smile. "She's already far too interested in my lil' engineer/reluctant astronaut and there's only one girl for lil' Howard Wolowitz."

"That's why you were there...At White Sands." Leonard stared. "You remembered Howard telling us how he visited there this year with his mom."

"Would I pass on a chance like that?" she smiled.

Stein's office, Department of Physics, UAustin…

"Well, boys..." Margaret rose. "It's been fun but my granddaughter Amy is waiting for me to take her to lunch and I know you, Xavier, and Francis, want to jaw over theory and go ogle the younger female student population. Dr. Kripke..." She extended a hand to Barry who took it at her stare.

Wright...Play the scene out. Gotcha.

"A pleasure. I hope to see more of you but don't get sucked into the Hardy Boys here's crazed schemes and escapades. How about eight, Francis? You two pick the place and make it reasonably nice." smile. "Even an old biddy likes to be wooed."

"Maggie..." Xavier, reprovingly. "You know if you'd only say 'yes' you'd have either of us in a second. Or get to watch us fight it out." grin.

"I should hope so...It's truly good to see you again, Xavier. See you tonight. Francis." she nodded to Stein who smiled, nodding, just a bit absently, and then left.

"And I am not kidding on that proposal." Xavier smiled at Kripke. "There goes the finest woman in the world but one…Eh, Francis?"

"Indeed." Stein nodded.

Leonard and Bernadette/Zana strolling casually but carefully back through the little rest stop mall tunnel and hallway…

"You knew we'd show?"

"I hoped. I was sure at least Penny , you, and Raj had got through...As well as Susan and Xavier Francis. Did they?"

"Yeah as to Susan and Dr. Francis. Penny?" he eyed her. "You're sure?"

"She's not with you?" worried look, anxious clutching at chest.

"I know she went through but before we could...Her timing or position must have been closer to Susan's though. I'm sure she's in Austin...But...I don't know more."

"And Susan the adult and Dr. Francis are there as well…" she eyed him.

"Almost certainly..." he sighed. OW! As she hit his arm.

"What?!"

"Leonard?!" urgent hiss, lowering voice quickly. "Penny's in Austin? With those two maniacs? She could be their prisoner or worse. What the heck are you doing here?!" glare...

"We wound up over a thousand miles away...With no money till Raj remembered his bank accounts in Boston two days ago when we ran into you two... I couldn't even use my cell to look up Stein's address on the Net. All we could do was come as fast as possible...As it was, we nearly died of thirst on the way, hitching through the desert."

"Well...I'm sorry. But how will you find her when you get to Austin?"

"I'll find Stein and explain everything..."

"Really?" she paused. "And you think you can make him believe it?" a very Bernie-frown.

"I know enough of his wormhole theory to intrigue him. Then maybe he can help me find Penny or adult Susan. I don't know what else to do. And Penny may already have contacted him."

"And told him what? 'I'm an actress/waitress/drug salesgirl from the future who used your, like, theory...Sorry...To get here after your insane future daughter blew up my universe? For that cute little student of yours, Sheldon Cooper.'?" she eyed him.

"Yeah..." she sighed. "I considered the 'I'm a microbiologist from the future turned spinster schoolteacher who used your theory, yadda, yadda, yadda...' It sounded too insane to even consider, I had no proof of any kind. But I have done what I could to keep tabs on him and his angelic little freak, future tense. And look for Francis and Susan as well as you guys. I've found excuses to go to Austin as often as I could. In fact, I actually ran into younger Francis one day going to Stein's on a visit. I nearly assaulted him, I imagine he still remembers the wild-eyed middle-aged lady prowling about on the sidewalk, staring crazily at him. Just lucky he still has some hair right now, so I knew it wasn't our Dr. Francis and backed off."

"Well, we have some proof now...Theoretical, at least." he noted. "Plus I have this..." he pulled out his cell phone. "Thank God, I had it in my pocket. It's the practical proof...Nothing like exists yet outside the mind of Steve Jobs."

She eyed the phone… "Yeah...If only it worked now...But yeah, it should be a convincer..." she nodded, sighing. "If only I'd had mine or something tech from our time. Better put it back." she urged as they neared a few groups window-shopping and caught sight of the Cracker Barrel, he nodding and pocketing the phone.

"What about Summer? Ms. Glau? Your sorta niece? You tole her?"

"I had to tell someone, first my foster mom, then her." shrug.

"And she believed you?"

"I knew enough history to make them wonder...I don't know if Mother ever really believed me fully, but at least she was willing to indulge me. Summer does believe, especially now."

"Isn't that dangerous? To have her know the future?"

"I've only told her a little, apart from some things about us, and what I've told her and Mom of history I told them only near the event. Nothing's been affected. Though frankly...I did think of phoning Dr. King and Senator Kennedy in '68." sigh. "But...I didn't. I was afraid it might make things different and even worse. You know, Butterfly Effect and all that."

"It's a huge thing...To carry all that, and for so long..." he regarded her sympathetically.

"You bet it was, bucko." wan smile.

"Now I hear Bernie...Over that Texas accent." he smiled. "So, schoolteacher? You?"

"Not much chance of proving I held a PhD, though I've taken some classes when I could. It was the most sensible job I could take, the smaller towns don't require too much in credentials and I was able to do enough to meet them in a few years." she pouted at him. "It wasn't that I hated kids you know...And after being a mom, I kinda was grateful..." shrug… "Being around a few."

"I'm sure you're great..."

"Retired now."

He regarded her. "You've lived a whole life here...Waiting…?"

"I really didn't have an alternative except walk in front of a truck, Leonard. And yeah, once or twice..." pause. "But I found a nice new family, it wasn't awful. They're wonderful people really, my adoptive family. And Summer is a joy to me...And a good friend. And I knew Howie was gone, I haven't spent my life hoping to find him...Now, in a way, I'm glad not to find him with..." tears running suddenly.

"Ah, damn..." She pulled a napkin out of her purse. "I promised myself I wouldn't do this."

"He wouldn't care, you should know that." Leonard, sympathetically.

"Oh..." Slight giggle through tears as she dabbed her eyes. "Don't say that, I know it but it creeps me out to think of it, that he might have no problem with being with me now." grin. He chuckling back...

"You know I can still do a great Howard's mom...I've done it for Summer a few times. Leonard, how's Raj? I know Lucy didn't make it." she eyed him sadly.

"He's tried to conceal it and just be 'Raj' but it's hard. And losing you and Howard...It means a lot to him, to find you. As hard as it is to know Howard's..." he closed eyes. "Really..."

"I know...Well, I'll talk to him, soon as I can. We'd best get to lunch and then get you to Austin."

"Will you be able to stay with us?"

"I don't know. Maybe not right now but I'll try. Max has left us in Austin for weekends before. But in any case I'll get back there as soon as I can, after we get you settled. You said Raj has some money available...He was spending like an Indian playboy last night." fond frown.

"He does, until his counterpart catches us draining his accounts..." Leonard noted. "I've spoken to him though...He'll be careful."

"You'd best have him take money out outside Austin and then stop. You don't need current Raj sending the police or his father's lawyers and anyone else after you."

"We'll try."

"It was great...Back there at White Sands." she noted. "Seeing Howie with Mom Wolowitz." she beamed. "And him standing up for her and threatening to bust Raj's balls. God, what a sweet kid he was, in his way." tears running now. "Oh, grab me a napkin from the counter there, I'm out..." she pointed to a Mc Donald's condiment counter.

"Bernie..." he offered said retrieved napkins. "I'm so sorry."

"I know..." she sighed. "But if there's a God in Heaven, I'll see he meets me, my counterpart, just as he did...And I'll see our kids born, from a distance, of course...And I'll see, if we can't restore our world, Susan Stein and Xavier Francis kept from ever harming anyone or changing anything here. If that's all I can have, I'll have that...I'll see Howie and younger me, the kids, all of your counterparts safe and happy. That's enough. Though I don't mean to say I'm not grateful for my new family...And the friends I've made, here."

"We intend the same." Leonard nodded. "Though..."

"Yeah. It's ok, Leonard. You have Penny, waiting. I'm ok with that. I want you two to find each other." she nodded firmly.

"Bernie...I honestly don't know if I can help you but anything I can do I will." he took her hand.

"Get back with Penny and live some kind of happy life, maybe with me in it as a sort of elder auntie." she smiled at him. "That'll be something. After we deal with Susan and her partner, natch. And Leonard? You're a good man and I love you, but we are gonna deal with her and your old adviser, whatever it takes to stop them when we catch up with them. I won't allow them to harm anyone else...And you know they will, if left alone." stern look, then smile. "But..." twinkle in her eye… "Camon, Leonard..." in Howard's mom's voice… "I'm starvin' here."

Penny's hospital room...UAustin Medical…

"So wonderful to see you again...You bitch...Sis." Penny practiced. Sheldon having persuaded her after a quick intro lesson, that she ought to consider rehearsing for meeting with Susan while they awaited Margaret's return.

"Not quite that note of sisterly concern?" she eyed Sheldon and young Amy.

"Better than your 'die bitch die' version." Sheldon noted.

Naturally I'm far too good a friend to note that my performance as 'George' was…

The phone ringing suddenly… Young Amy taking it.

"Gran? What? No, Amy and Sheldon haven't called us or come yet. Where are you? Sheldon and I are waiting."

"These conversations involving our counterparts are getting quite confusing..." Sheldon noted to Penny.

"What? He what? With both of you? Gran...Are you ok?" young Amy, anxiously.

"What? Dr. Francis?" Penny, sitting upright. "What about young Sheldon and Amy?! Amy?!"

Sheldon nervously staring...As young Amy put up a hand. People, please…

"You're sure he was the younger Dr. Francis? Hair, eh?"

"Toupee!" Penny cried.

"Penny, please!" Amy, putting up hand. "Ok, Gran. You and Dr. Stein know him. But what about Amy and my Sheldon?!" urgently. "Are you sure they're ok? Gran? Yes, but Gran…!"

Penny eyeing Sheldon…

No way in hell, with all apologies to Gran Mag's and Dr. Stein's genius, are we puttin' all our trust in those two old...

"Sorry, Gran..." young Amy sighed. "But I have to know Sheldon is all right. I'm coming. No, I can't wait!"

"Whoa, whoa..." Penny waving frantically. "Listen to Gran, Amy! She knows best! Sheldon, tell her Meemaw Fowler knows best!"

"Well, technically, Penny..." he began… "Meemaw is a term reserved for..."

"Sheldon!"

"Gran!" Amy glared over at her two companions. "Yes, Penny and Sheldon say to wait, but this isn't the love of their lives in potential danger. What? Well...All right. Fifteen minutes to check for them. No more. What? Well, right, your bunion. Twenty then. No more, Gran. Nonsense." impatient shake of the head.

Whoa...Penny blinked at her.

Don't know if even I could manage a "nonsense" to Gran Mag Fowler…

"All right. Twenty minutes, then I'm coming. Synchronizing watches." Amy glanced at hers. "Go. Sorry I lost my temper, Gran, I'm a Fowler." she hung up.

"She's checking about for Sheldon and Amy..." young Amy shook head. "I shouldn't've promised to wait. What, Sheldon?" eyeing his stare.

"You told Gran Mag Fowler-Horowitz she was talking nonsense?" he eyed her.

"Well, only in that the idea you and Penny there could keep me here was absolute nonsense." she noted. "Still, she could be right and they may just have withdrawn to avoid arousing younger Dr. Francis' suspicions."

"If it's not our Dr. Francis...In a toupee." Penny, arch look.

Phone ring...Amy anxiously picking up.

"Gran?" sudden tensing…

Penny and Sheldon anxiously staring…

"Yes, hello, Dr. Francis. This is young Ms. Fowler. You have the right number, this is Mrs. Hofstadter's room." calm tone.