Chapter 3
"My, it looks like I came at the wrong time. Am I interrupting something?" Seibert had no idea what was going on.
He'd assume the couple has done some questionable things the university wouldn't allow. However, he shook away the thought. Ha! This is Dr. Cooper we're talking about.
Amy had to think of an excuse to remedy the situation fast. She understood how anyone could misinterpret what happened between her and Dr. Cooper.
What have I gotten myself into? The moment I say I want to avoid any trouble, he comes carelessly knocking on my door and into my life. It's time I kick this man out.
Amy fixed herself and tried to regain her composure. Sheldon did the same. "Definitely not, President Seibert. He was just leaving. Right, Dr. Cooper?" Amy pleaded, hoping that Dr. Cooper would take the hint.
"Most definitely not. President Seibert, I told you a while ago that I was dead set against having to move my stuff. Like the charming delight I am, I tried to reason with Dr. Fowler but then she tackled me out of nowhere! Now, is this what our university wants as an employee? She is far from professional." Sheldon gestured at Amy.
Before Amy could protest, Seibert spoke up. "Dr. Fowler, a word." Amy gulped.
"Dr. Cooper I wish to speak with Dr. Fowler alone please." Seibert opened the door for Sheldon to exit.
"I guess someone's in trouble..." Sheldon said in a sing-song voice. He smirked at Amy. She glared at Sheldon and he rushed out the door.
Seibert closed the door. Unbeknownst to them, Sheldon was on the other side of the door trying to overhear their conversation. Vulcan hearing, don't fail me now.
"I see you've met Dr. Cooper." Seibert sighed.
"I... I didn't recognize him at first, but when his mouth started talking, I realized that maybe he was the one you warned me about." Amy tried to explain what happened earlier.
"I assure you that nothing funny happened. What Dr. Cooper failed to mention was that he barged into my office, claiming that the office was his, and proceeded to place all his belongings back inside. I admit, I did act rashly and tackled him, but only to prevent his childish behavior from continuing any further." Amy babbled on and on defensively.
"Calm down, Dr. Fowler. You are not in trouble. The truth is, I wanted to apologize on behalf of Dr. Cooper. Believe me, I've done and said things I'm not quite proud of because of how he always comes up with ways to be annoying, and I don't blame you for doing the same." Seibert did notice a change in Dr. Fowler's demeanor. She looked quite flustered.
Based on his previous interactions with the neurobiologist, he initially found her to be a serious and pragmatic person (even cold at times). Now, after encountering Caltech's whack-a-doodle of a physicist, she quickly became the opposite.
"Then why would Caltech want to keep a physicist like him around?"
"Hey, I heard that!" Sheldon shouted through the door." Seibert and Amy glared at the door. Seibert lowered his voice, hoping that Sheldon wouldn't hear what he was about to say. "While he is regarded a nuisance around the university, no one can question his brilliant mind and the valuable work he has contributed in the field of physics."
Huh... So everything in his introduction was true. Amy wanted to be annoyed yet all she could do was feel impressed.
"I see. Just to clarify, this is my office, right? I noticed that he was one of the physicists who wanted this space."
"It is yours. I personally met all your demands and resolved the issues in the office. Dr. Cooper seems to have misunderstood that I did all this for him. Looking back, his concerns were exactly the same as yours, Dr. Fowler, so I understand his confusion." Amy's eyes widened. So he did think this office was dreadful.
"I spoke to him about your arrival earlier today and told him to remove his belongings and stay in his old office." Seibert looked around and sighed. "He sadly didn't listen."
"You have nothing to worry about, Dr. Fowler. You can continue settling in your office. I'll deal with Dr. Cooper." With his hands clasped together, Seibert swiftly turned around and opened the door to find Sheldon stumbling a bit from sticking his head to the door.
"President Seibert." Sheldon looked down.
"It's time I had a word with you." Seibert closed the door. Unbeknownst to them, Amy did the same thing and was trying to hear their conversation on the other side of the door.
"I thought I told you to stay with Dr. Koothrappali momentarily. If you waited for Dr. Fowler's lab to be finished, then you could have the office for all I care. Now, look what you've done."
Amy overheard President Seibert's words. He sounded very angry. She couldn't help but feel bad for Dr. Cooper. I mean, it was a misunderstanding.
"I fail to understand your anger, President Seibert. She tackled me. She had a fight. I was being perfectly reasonable."
"That is not the point, Dr. Cooper. If you simply followed what I told you, there wouldn't be an issue. Do you realize that your actions could potentially bring harm to the university? What if she decided to quit and switch to another university? Rumors would circulate and it would seem as though Caltech can't handle their employees." Seibert felt a headache coming on.
"I acknowledge that you have a special mind, Dr. Cooper; yet when it comes to social situations, you aren't as sharp as they say."
There was a brief silence. Amy could feel the awkward tension through the door. Now that's a little mean.
"I can't stay with Koothrappali, he kicked me out. I have nowhere else to go." Sheldon said in a quiet voice. He sounded wounded.
"Then to repeat my words, Dr. Cooper, I suggest you find a solution yourself-" President Seibert felt the doorknob behind him poke at his back.
"Excuse me, gentlemen. Not that I overheard your whole conversation, which I didn't. (She obviously did.) But I would like to offer a simple solution to our current situation." Both men leaned in to listen to what Amy had to say.
"I could share this office with Dr. Cooper." As much as Amy didn't want to, she was at fault for tackling him. In some way, she identified with him when it came to dealing with social situations and wanted to understand him a bit more. Also, being in his good graces would help her avoid further drama in Caltech. Boy, is this only my first day?
"Are you sure about this, Dr. Fowler?" Seibert sounded surprised. Sheldon couldn't believe what he heard as well.
"Well, it would only be temporary. I could share the office with him until my laboratory is finished. I'd eventually move out and then Dr. Cooper could claim the office. Also, I have no intention to quit or anything, President Seibert, if that's what you're worried about. I'd actually prefer that all of this never happened at all." Amy gave a reassuring smile. Seibert felt relief while Sheldon felt funny.
"Then, I guess it's best that I leave you two to get settled in. Thank you, Dr. Fowler, and welcome to Caltech. If Dr. Cooper tries anything stupid again, don't hesitate to come to me." Seibert glared at Sheldon and left the two of them outside the office.
There was an awkward silence again until Amy spoke. "I'm sorry for tackling you earlier, Dr. Cooper. To make amends, I hope sharing the office could excuse my behavior."
"I'd like to apologize as well, Dr. Fowler. It was wrong of me to suddenly change my mind about the office when I already declined."
Amy accepted his apology, and both of them exchanged shy smiles. She helped him carry his boxes inside their office. Sheldon had a lot on his mind as he followed her inside. "Question. Why are you helping me out? Everybody finds me a nuisance, and I could assume you feel the same way too. We're merely strangers, are we not?"
It was painful for Amy to see Sheldon look so confused. He reminded him of herself. The feeling of never being able to understand or be understood.
"I don't see you as a nuisance, Dr. Cooper. This was all just a huge misunderstanding. Additionally, we aren't strangers. We're colleagues. There's no reason for me to do this except to bury the hatchet between us. Plus, I sincerely wouldn't want to roam around the university halls, seeing you office-less and asking for spare change." She humored. Sheldon got the joke and smiled while biting his lip.
Is this office getting warmer or what? Amy cleared her throat. "Well, Dr. Cooper. I don't know where we go from here."
"I suggest we treat our initial encounter as if it were a crashed computer and restore it to the last point where we both agree it would work." Sheldon placed the last box of his belongings on the floor and stepped closer to Amy.
Amy struggled to hold her breath. It was talc! I knew he smelled like baby powder. It's an unusual scent from a grown man, but Amy thought it was pleasant and that she could get used to it for a few weeks.
"Hi, I'm Dr. Sheldon Cooper. And you are?" Sheldon held out his hand. Even he felt that his actions were weird, but he had to set things right.
"Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler. It's a pleasure sharing an office with you." Amy shook his hand, smiled, then turned to help and clean up.
Sheldon felt his hands tingling again. Fascinating.
"Speaking of sharing the office, we have to discuss our set-up, Dr. Fowler."
"Well, this office is spacious enough for the two of us. As long as you stay on your side and I stay on mine, we'll be fine."
Their set-up was similar to the one he had with Koothrappali. Amy's desk was closest to the window, while his desk was closest to the door. Sheldon was relieved to find that Amy chose an appropriate desk as he vividly remembered the Brobdingnagian monstrosity he had to put up with.
"That's perfectly reasonable." Sheldon unboxed all of his things and started to place his whiteboards full of equations. Displaying them confidently, he hoped Amy would notice and take an interest. Thankfully, she did.
"Are you a theoretical physicist like Professor Rothman?" Amy asked.
Sheldon smirked at Amy. "Yes, I am." Sheldon then started to explain and show Amy his genius through his work. After minutes of his ramblings, he expected a response from the neurobiologist. "So, what do you think? Groundbreaking isn't it?"
What Sheldon failed to realize was that Amy wasn't interested in his field at all. When he affirmed her suspicions of being a Theoretical Physicist, she couldn't help but feel pity for him again.
Poor, Dr. Cooper. Dedicating his whole life to solving a theory that can never be proven. I should continue listening to whatever he's saying. Besides, it would be rude of me to just ignore how passionate he's explaining right now. Crap, he expects me to say something.
"It's very impressive, for theoretical work," Amy stated her opinion while Sheldon was taken aback.
Leonard found out about the recent rift between Sheldon and Raj. He went looking for Sheldon because it was time to go home. Raj told him that he's probably outside Rothman's office with his things.
Leonard sighed. His buddy had nowhere to go, and he'd never hear the end of it. I doubt that all his boxes could fit in my car... What if he asks me to share my office!? As Leonard worried about his future turning bleak, he heard two people arguing.
Sheldon: Excuse me, Do I detect a hint of condescension?
Amy: I'm sorry, was I being too subtle? I meant compared to the real-world applications of neurobiology, theoretical physics is - what's the word I'm looking for? Hmm, cute.
"Oooh..." Leonard felt that he needed to get Sheldon out of there and stop them from fighting. But listening to them argue was much more fun. He took note of the nameplate at the door. Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler huh?
Sheldon: Are you suggesting the work of a neurobiologist like Babinski could ever rise to the significance of a physicist like Clerk Maxwell or Dirac?
Amy: I'm stating it outright. Babinski eats Dirac for breakfast and defecates Clerk Maxwell.
Sheldon: You take that back.
Amy: Absolutely not. My colleagues and I are mapping the neurological substrates that subserve global information processing, which is required for all cognitive reasoning, including scientific inquiry, making my research ipso facto prior in the ordo cognoscenti. That means it's better than his research, and by extension, of course, yours.
Leonard couldn't believe his ears. Damn. Defecating Clerk Maxwell?
Sheldon: Excuse me, but a grand unified theory, insofar as it explains everything, will ipso facto explain neurobiology.
Amy: Yes, but if I'm successful, I will be able to map and reproduce your thought processes in deriving a grand unified theory, and therefore, subsume your conclusions under my paradigm.
Sheldon: That's the rankest psychologism, and was conclusively revealed as hogwash by Gottlob Frege in the 1890s!
Amy: We appear to have reached an impasse.
Sheldon: I agree. It'd be best to treat each other like strangers.
Amy: Seconded.
Sheldon: Good day, Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler.
Amy: Good day, Dr. Sheldon Cooper.
Sheldon went outside and found Leonard listening to their conversation. "Oh good, you're here. Take me home." Leonard nodded, and they went on their way to the car.
"Women, huh? Can't live with them, can't successfully refute their hypotheses."
"Amen to that." Sheldon nodded.
As Leonard drove home, he noticed that Sheldon was particularly quiet. He tried to make conversation.
"So... Who's Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler, and why were you two arguing?" Leonard was very curious to see who Sheldon was so bothered about.
"Oh, her?" Sheldon paused for a moment. "Just someone who's earned her spot on my enemies list."
Leonard looked at Sheldon with his furrowed brows. Wow, she really struck a nerve on him.
End of Chapter 3.
Author's Note: Oh no, Amy's made Sheldon's enemies list! I wonder how they'll manage to work alongside each other for the next few weeks. Again, thank you for all your favs, follows, and reviews. I really do appreciate them. Tell me what you think of this chapter, and stay tuned for my future updates! Until next time, Shamy Fans.