A/N: Set some time after the Season 7 finale.

Airport meals are as tasteless as the interior of the plane she flew into Boston. Amy felt like she's eating carton boxes and tried her best to keep the food down. This invitation to speak at a Symposium came at the last minute. She checked her phone for her itinerary, eyes moving over the name of her accommodation, and the schedule that she needed to keep up with. After committing them to memory, she gathered her things and prepared to walk out the airport when the volume of the news turned up.

Amy needed to take her seat again. She started breathing in and out. 'It's just paranoia' she told herself. He's fine. She's fine. They're fine. All the while, her thoughts flit in and out of the news broadcasted on one of the large monitors, "Train collision along Worcester Line… 2:30 this morning… No casualties…. several passengers got seriously injured."

Now the screen is filled with the picture of the on-site crash. It's a miracle no one died going by how the wreck looked like. It cut to a scene of rescuers going about, passengers being patched up for superficial wounds, and then someone telling the journalists what could've caused the accident.

Amy's still glued to her seat, eyes not leaving the monitor, hands gripping her phone tightly when it rang.

She could never forget the chill that ran along her spine. Her mind's still chanting, 'He's fine. I'm fine. We're fine.' Her voice sounded anything but when she finally answered, "Hello?"

A no nonsense voice came on the line, "I'm looking for Amy Farrah Fowler."

"Speaking."

The person on the other end didn't miss a beat, "I'm calling from Massachusetts General Hospital. You're listed as the emergency contact for a certain Sheldon Lee Cooper…"

He's sleeping when she arrived at his hospital room. He's got a bandage wrapped around his head and a few cuts on his body. His lower left arm shows a purple-yellow bruise.

She immediately rushed to his side. Oh, Sheldon.

"All his wounds are superficial and the bruise on his arm would soon heal. It's the concussion we're worried about. He's a bit confused the first time he woke up. But it could also be the pain," the doctor's still looking at Sheldon's chart even while she's speaking to Amy.

"We found your details in his wallet. We'd like to keep him here for a few days for observation."

Amy nods her head. "Thank you, Dr. Reed. How long has he been out?"

"Just a few hours. He's not going to wake up soon. It's good you arrived quickly. I see that you're both not anywhere from here."

"No…" she doesn't exactly know where to look. It's like being in a nightmare she wished would end real soon. She felt Dr. Reed's eyes on her, expecting more information. "Work," she said quietly. She hoped that explanation was enough.

Amy couldn't lose her head now. She started to ask about the tests they conducted, wanting to make sure they're enough. She's been assured he's getting the best care possible for which she's thankful.

The doctor soon left. She thought she'd breathe easy with one person less in the room but no. Amy's head started to spin.

It's been 21 days since the last time she'd seen him. Upset that CalTech won't let him change his field of research and overwhelmed with the possible changes in his living arrangements with his best friend, he stormed out of her apartment and into the night. The next day she found out he took off for the rails. He didn't even bother to say goodbye.

Amy looked back at his face, wondering how his five o'clock shadow could look both strange and natural on him. It's all that she can do to prevent herself from breaking down. She reached for his hand and was comforted by the warmth that was waiting there. His breath is slow and steady. The mantra in her head returns, "His fine. I'm fine. We're fine."

She squeezed his hand, willing him to know that she's there but none of Sheldon's fingers moved.

She had to make several phone calls that day. She called Mary, Leonard and Penny. All of them are so relieved that she's already there. They'll be flying in as soon as possible. Then she called up the Symposium's organizer. Her talk isn't scheduled until the next day. But she thought it's best to cancel. She also moved to a nearer accommodation. Sheldon's still sleeping when she went down to the cafeteria to get something to eat. She brought him green jello.

Amy felt a thousand anvils lift from her shoulders when she saw him already conscious and having a lively conversation with the doctor.

"I can remember as far back as my early childhood," Sheldon said smugly.

"Wow, that's amazing! I've never met someone with an eidetic memory before," exclaimed Dr. Reed.

Amy walked in and gave the doctor a nod in greeting, she placed the jello on the side table. "Hello, I'm glad to see you're awake."

He just looked at her, moved his head sideways and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Wha-? Well I'm supposed to speak at a Symposium at Harvard. I arrived the same day your train crashed."

He just kept staring at her until she felt uncomfortable so she finally had to ask, "Sheldon, what's wrong?"

"Who are you, how'd you know my name?"

Amy doesn't know how to dispel the awkward atmosphere in the room.

"You're Amy Farrah Fowler," Sheldon said.

"Yes."

"And you're my girlfriend?"

"Yes."

"But that's impossible," he insisted. "I remember everything. Except you. I need Leonard."

"Leonard's arriving tomorrow morning. He's coming with Penny. Your Mom's also coming tomorrow."

"Leonard knows you?"

"Yes."

"My mother knows you?"

"Yes."

"Huh… But I don't."

She can really see him trying.

"Please rest. You might strain yourself from trying to remember. You'll remember eventually, so no need to rush."

He leaned back on his pillows, closing his eyes firmly, "Maybe you're right."

He already feels a headache coming on.

"Are you going to stay with me here in my room?"

Amy knows he's uncomfortable with strangers. She thought about what the doctor said. He's going to be fine. Maybe she'll be one too many for visitors tomorrow.

"No, I got my own accommodation."

She doesn't know but that relieved look on his face made her feel so miserable.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay on your own?" she asked while moving closer to his bed. The way he tried to scoot back made her feel so unwanted.

"Yes."

"Alright," she said, swallowing a chock full of disappointment, "I'll leave you be."

"Amy?" somehow hearing her name on his lips felt like a soothing salve but her heart plummeted once again when he said, "You don't have to come see me anymore."

All she could manage was a mechanical nod before she stepped out of the room. She then went to the nurse's station, asking them to call her up for anything, anything at all.

Amy barely slept. Her phone remained silent through the night.

Penny met her at the hospital's lobby the next morning, "I'm so sorry, Amy."

"Doctors have ruled out any permanent injury, I wouldn't worry much about it," Amy tried to sound as assuring as she could. But even as she's saying it, Amy's carefully treading through her doubts. Dissociative memory loss can be tricky.

Penny went on updating her about Sheldon's condition. They may be flying back to California in a week's time.

"That's good," she said. "But I may be staying out here for a while."

"What do you mean, aren't you working at the University?"

"They offered me a fellowship here. They've been trying to get me out here since last year. I'll just be checking some details for a few weeks. I'll fly back and then move here a bit permanently this time."

Penny couldn't believe her ears, "Your life is in California with us."

Amy thought her bestie's really sweet.

"I'll come and visit you as often as I can, don't worry. We're always going to be best friends."

Penny couldn't help but feel guilty. She felt encouraging Sheldon's decision to take off that night lead to this. She took Amy's hands and asked, "Amy, are you really letting him go?"

"He's walked on ahead of me, Penny. What else can I do?"

Amy only ever visits when he's sleeping or it's late into the night. She couldn't bear a repeat of Sheldon's reaction to her that first day.

She's thankful visits to Harvard occupy most of her time. And she's preparing for a lot. Still, she makes sure to visit him every day.

"Hello, Amy."

"Oh, hello Mrs. Cooper. Sorry for visiting here so late. I must have disrupted your sleep. I'd really wanted to see him. I'll be stepping out soon," she was stumbling with her words, all the while pulling at her purse, getting ready to leave.

"It's alright dear," Mary said, offering her to take a seat. "Maybe I should be the one saying sorry here."

Amy just smiled, "You don't have anything to be sorry about… So you'll all be leaving the day after tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"That's good."

"Yes, it's good."

The two women just looked at each other, willing to fill the empty space between. Mary finally decided to break the silence, "It'll not be the same without you."

Amy shook her head, "He'll barely notice."

"I doubt that."

"You're kind, Mrs. Cooper. I hope you don't forget me."

"Oh, Amy," Mary said as she moved to wrap her arms around her.

"Hey, Amy! Glad to know you're back!"

Amy's never used to people calling out for her attention. But Sam Arnold's voice is just hard to ignore. Also she doesn't appreciate being called out on a hospital's hallway. "Hi Dr. Arnolds. And that's Dr. Fowler to you! And no, I'm not officially moved back in 'til next month."

He moved into her personal space and she's forced to take a step back. She wished she'd grew a little taller given how he's towering above her now.

"Well, it'll be nice to work with someone familiar. I look forward to it," he smiled so that the dimple on his left cheek shows. She remembers how that smile disarms most women during their college years.

"I wish I could say the same thing," Amy responded dryly.

Dr Arnolds just laughed. She moved back further when he tried to touch her face.

"See you around, Amy," he said before turning around to leave.

"Well for a lady claiming to be someone's girlfriend, you sure act so familiar with other guys."

She'd know that voice anywhere. She turned around and sure enough, Sheldon was there.

She gulped, "Hello, Sheldon."

"Hello, Amy."

"Uhm… What are you doing here?"

"Just walking around, doctor's order," he said nonchalantly.

Amy thought it odd, because this section is hardly accessible to patients. But she's just so happy to see him able to walk around on his own that she just pushed the doubt away.

"You look good," Amy said, looking him up and down, checking him for any pains. His bandage has come loose on one end. "Let me fix that for you," she offered, gesturing at the bandage on his head.

She moved closer to him and reached for the loose end. She expected him to lean in so she could reach, but he didn't. She had to stand on tiptoes in the end.

"All done," Amy said, smiling up at him.

Sheldon just looks at him, that same look he's given her that first day in this hospital when he said he doesn't know her at all. She tried to swallow the bitterness away.

"Well, I must be on my way now. It's nice to see you," Amy said as she tried to walked past him but he blocked the way.

"The doctor said if I want my memories back, I should just go on as I normally would."

"Yes, that's right," she agreed.

"So?" he asked, expecting an answer.

Amy didn't know what to say, "Wha-"

"So, why are you moving out here where I can't be with you?"

Amy's starting to feel a headache coming on. Sheldon has never asked for her all the time he's been in this hospital. He's never asked anyone about her. Penny said she tried to make him remember. Leonard did, too. But she never heard from him.

"Sheldon, all your important memories are intact. You remember your family, your work, your friends. You even remember all the events that happened moments before the accident. You're such a great help to the investigators. I don't understand what this has to do with me?"

"Yes, I remember all those things, but I can't remember you… Why can't I remember you?"

Drive the knife deeper, why don't you? Amy thought. This is just so exhausting.

"I don't know Sheldon. And if you can remember everything else but me, doesn't it tell you something about the kind of relationship we had?"

"Have."

"What?"

"The relationship we have. Leonard and Penny weren't sure if we'd broken up. That means you're still my girlfriend."

"How can you be sure you didn't break up with me before all this happened?"

He's taken aback.

Amy realized this must all be about his need for closure. She took a deep breath.

"Sheldon, we're broken up."

"B-but-"

"Look, it's alright that you don't remember," Amy's eyes softened. Everything is hard enough as it is. She thinks it'll take a weight off his shoulder.

She tried to sound as soothing as possible, "You're fine. I'm fine. We're fine."

"Did our relationship mean so little to you that you'll just let it go so easily?"

Amy wanted to slap his face then and there. She took a moment and stepped back. That question... his tone... She won't stand for it.

"You're the one who walked out. You're the one who left, Sheldon! I didn't know where you're going. I only learned from Leonard and Penny the day after that you took off for the rails."

It crossed Amy's mind that having this conversation in a hallway may not be a good idea. But she's had it up to here. "You said you needed to be alone. I respected that. We may not be broken up when you left, but it seems even then your mind's made up."

He suddenly reached for his head as if he'd been struck by a sharp pain.

She hurried to his side, "Sheldon, are you okay? Does your head hurt?"

He just groaned in response.

Amy cried for help.

"It's just the pain meds losing their effects. He'll be okay soon enough. Also that section's a long way off from this wing, he must be tired," Dr. Reed said as she tried to assure Mary about Sheldon's episode.

"I just took a nap and when I woke up, he wasn't here. The nurses on duty can't tell me where he went," Mary's worried voice carried over the entire room. Amy couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. At the same time, she wondered how Sheldon found her.

But then what are the odds that she'd just flew in on the day of the accident?

Leonard and Penny are going back to California the next morning. Mary will stay behind. Sheldon's discharge got delayed. It'll be a couple more days before he could get the doctor's all clear.

Amy visited him again late that night. She stepped into his room and sure enough he's sleeping soundly. He's actually dreaming, talking in his sleep, like he's wont to do. His brows furrowed and his face scrunched up. Amy tries to smoothen his face with her fingers and only then did he relax into sleep.

This happens everytime she comes to visit. Leonard saw them once and asked "How could you not smother that face in sleep?"

"Stop it Leonard. He's in pain," Amy dismissed him quickly.

The bespectacled physicist just chuckled, "You know what I mean…"

"Well… he's always been so easy for me."

It's been some time since Sheldon got discharged from the hospital. A new semester has started. Penny told her he got his job back, and even got promoted as Jr. Professor. Amy's happy for him. She herself went back to California just a few weeks ago to prepare for her move. She's decided to take the job in the East Coast for a while and then maybe apply for an international fellowship. That'll be for the best.

She's just waiting for her clearance papers from CalTech so she could start on her new post soon. Most times she's just in her apartment since Penny and Bernadette are also busy with stuff of their own.

This afternoon, she's thinking about taking down the model train display on her wall. It's one of the recent gifts Sheldon gave her. She got to tidy the place up for the new tenant. She's now making a list of all the things that need to be done when her thoughts got interrupted by a knock on her door.

"My, you're persistent!" Amy couldn't believe her eyes.

"Well, hello to you, too Amy!" Dr. Arnolds is unfazed.

"Please stop calling me Amy," she demanded.

"Do you prefer Darlin'?"

"Oh please…"

"You can call me Sam, then."

"Why should I do that?"

"I think the academe and industry's collaboration would benefit the field of neuroscience greatly. We may win a Nobel for our next breakthrough. Working together as friends can be an advantage."

Amy really wanted to close the door.

"What are you doing out here?"

"I'm also from around here, in case you forgot. I'm visiting Mom," he made a move to step into her apartment when she blocked the doorway. "Seriously, you're not going to let me in?"

"I'm tired."

"Take the pizza at least, you must eat," he said, shoving the box in her hand. And just like that, fond memories of their childhood come rushing back.

"Thank you, Sam," she said gratefully.

"That's better."

They exchanged smiles. It's been a while since she wore one of those.

Amy ate the pizza and drank her tea. She fell asleep on the couch. She woke to the feeling that someone's watching over her. And true enough, Sheldon's there.

She'd scream, only this isn't the first time he broke into her apartment.

Maybe he got her address from Penny.

"What are you doing here?"

"You smiled at him."

She got a feeling they're having two conversations at the same time, "Wha-?"

"Well, at least you didn't let him in."

"Are you talking about Sam?"

"So you're on a first name basis now?"

"Sheldon, what do you want?" she asked, exasperated.

He took his iPad from his messenger bag and handed it to her.

She couldn't shake the feeling that this has happened before. Oh right, that night when Leonard bought a table.

"Alright, where do I sign? Oh, no worries I see it."

Amy feels so tired she just wants to get this over with. She moved her finger over the device and sure enough, a survey form pops up.

"Sorry I don't feel like taking a survey right now," she told him, giving his iPad back. "Please show yourself the door."

Amy went to bed. She closed her eyes when she heard her door locked. She fell into a dreamless sleep.

"Good morning, Amy."

That voice and the smell of talc everywhere made her feel like she's still in a dream.

Amy opened her eyes and came face to face with Sheldon. It's not the first time she wanted to scream, but all the voice left when he leaned in and kissed her nose, then her eyes and her forehead.

Amy stiffened, "What're you doing?"

"The same thing you did to me when I was still at the hospital."

Amy couldn't wrap her head around the implications of that statement. She couldn't even form a response.

"I waited for you. Every night."

Now he's tracing her face with his fingers. She's liking how the warmth spread through her face. She wanted him to stop but she didn't want the feeling to end. Amy can no longer understand herself. She forced herself to speak.

"I thought you went home last night."

"Can't... Relationship Agreement states that…"

That made her shoot right up from the bed, "What relationship agreement are you talking about? Didn't I sign the termination last night?"

"My, who'd have thought you're such a grouch in the morning?" he asked, getting up from the bed as well. "Well, do you prefer coffee or tea?"

"Sheldon! Just answer me please."

"So we're just going to ignore the fact that we're both half naked right now?"

And he was right. He's standing there only in his pyjama bottoms while she's on her summer camisole and nothing else.

"Oh for Chrissake, Sheldon!" She finally screamed leaving him in her bedroom... only to scream one more time when she saw Leonard and Penny in her living room.

She tried to run back in when Sheldon met her with a robe.

She's still so mad at him but she woke up to a lot of crazy things this morning, she didn't care anymore.

Amy took a deep breath before she spoke, "Alright, you crazy people. What're you all doing in my apartment? How'd you even get in?"

"You gave me your key, remember?" Penny said matter of factly.

"Alright," she nodded. "But why are you here?"

"Sheldon didn't come home last night, we're worried about him."

Said man promptly interrupted, "And I told you I'm just fine."

Amy could have kicked herself for not noticing the signs early on. Maybe Sheldon has symptoms of personality disorder?

"Is this the first time he did this? Any other signs that he may have changed suddenly?" she asked, concerned.

Leonard tried a placating move with his hands, "Whoah, no Amy. He's gone to every doctor's appointment required. Every test results are good. He's recovered nicely."

"Well, alright," Amy was finally able to breathe easy.

"Now that's all clear, why don't you and Penny go now?" Sheldon pointedly said to Leonard.

"Wha- not even a thank you?" the smaller man sounded offended.

"You just interrupted, so no," the taller man dismissed.

"Amy was screaming at you, we're not interrupting anything!" Penny butt in.

"Just go," Sheldon insisted. He even escorted them out the door.

He faces her again when he's sure their early morning visitors are gone.

"Amy-" he started. But she's quick to cut him off.

"Just stop, Sheldon. I need time to think."

"Well, how long do you need?"

"You know I'll still be moving to Boston right?"

"Yes."

"So, I don't see the point in all this."

"I'll move with you."

"You barely even know me!"

She saw Sheldon's Adam's apple bob up and down. But then he's got that resolute look in his eyes. "That's why I want to know you… again."

AN: I hope this story's not so silly. I've picked this up again from a plot bunny I had last year. There'll be two more Acts after this one, if you'll have that. Tell me what you think please. xoxo