Chapter 11

Author's Note: I'm back! Here's a little shoutout to Shamyfanatic314, abrht0907, MobyShamy4ever, and to the other guest readers who showed their support for the last chapter. Thank you so much! Enjoy Chapter 11.

As Sheldon left the office, he started feeling feverish. His hands were sweating, his mouth was dry, and he was slowly finding it difficult to breathe.

That's odd... Sheldon noticed that the strange feelings he had were back again to haunt him.

Sheldon was lost in thought as he came to the cafeteria and got his lunch. He didn't even realize he was there until Leonard called him over.

"Sheldon! Over here." Leonard waved his hand.

Sheldon snapped out of his trance and found himself holding nothing but a spoon. He noticed his situation was parallel to what Amy told him earlier. Then, he came to a realization so groundbreaking that he wanted to share it with the guys.

He sat at his spot on the table and started talking. "Gentlemen, the most interesting thing just happened with this spoon."

"Unless it was singing Be Our Guest, I doubt it," Howard quipped.

"Yeah, I picked it up without thinking about it. Which raises a neuroscientific question, when did I decide to pick it up?"

Raj interjected. "The bigger question is, what are you gonna eat with that spoon? You didn't get any food."

Leonard thought about what Sheldon said. "He does raise an interesting point." He also noticed something else with his friend. "Did you do something to your hair?"

Sheldon's cheeks turned red. "Never mind that. As I was saying, Amy is studying the time lag between intent and awareness, and I just realized that it can be applied to the measurement problem in quantum mechanics. Now, I recognize there will be a time lag between me saying that and you Googling what it means, so I'll wait."

Leonard rolled his eyes and replied. "I understand it, Sheldon,"

Raj added. "Yeah, me, too. It's nice to see you taking an interest in Amy's work."

"That's not all he's interested in." Howard looked at Sheldon suggestively. Leonard and Raj snickered at Howard's joke.

Sheldon was oblivious to Howard's comment. "Indeed. If successful, Amy would be able to disprove the role of consciousness in the Copenhagen Interpretation-"

Sheldon's eyes widened as he processed what he just said. He then proceeded to stand up. "Excuse me, I have to go and find Amy." He left the cafeteria in a hurry.

"Go get her, Sheldon!" Howard called out, the three of them sharing a knowing smirk.

After Sheldon left the office, Amy started feeling unusual. Her voice was hoarse so she started drinking her water, she wiped her moist palms on her skirt, and every time she exhaled she would utter the word hoo. She immediately removed her cardigan.

She heard the door open and thought Sheldon was back from lunch. She quickly tensed up. "Hoo! Sheldon, I'm so sorry about what happened-"

Amy turned to see someone else at the door. "Oh. You're not Sheldon."

"Hello, Dr. Fowler. Was I interrupting something?"

"No, no. I just thought you were someone else." Amy noticed he had a sort of lisp.

"Oh, right. You're sharing this office with Cooper... I'm Kripke by the way. I'm a physicist in this university as well."

Ooh, he's that other physicist who fought Sheldon for this office. "I've heard about you. I've been told you also wanted this office."

"I did. But seeing as how President Seibert gave the office to someone as lovely as you, I have no regrets. I'm sorry you have to put up with Cooper. I remember both of you arguing weeks ago. By the way, good job. You won that by a landslide." He smirked at her.

Amy was oblivious to all his flirting. All she wanted was to be alone at the moment.

I have got to tell President Seibert about the new thermostat in the office. It's blistering in here!

"Thank you. I apologize for my behavior during that time. Actually, Sheldon and I have already resolved our differences. We're well-acquainted now."

Kripke took note of her flushed face and how she didn't have her cardigan on. He immediately assumed something happened between the two of them.

Damn it, Cooper! How'd he get so lucky? "I can see that. Anyways, I hope you're enjoying your time here so far in Caltech. If you need anything, I'll be here." He winked at her. This was unnoticed by Amy whose mind was elsewhere.

"I'll be sure to let you know. It was nice meeting you." Amy replied in haste.

Kripke left the office and Amy moved to check the thermostat which was still set at the right temperature. When her symptoms weren't going away, she decided to go to the women's bathroom and get herself together.

Her cheeks were heating up to a point where she felt that her hands would burn if she touched her face. She removed her glasses and started washing her face.

What the hell is happening to me?

Amy dried her face and went out of the restroom. As she tried to wear her glasses, she sensed that something was coming right at her. Before she could react, she felt a strong set of arms pull her forward.

"Oof-" Amy dropped her glasses and found her face pressed against someone's chest.

What just happened?... Wait. I know this scent. Her heart was beating rapidly.

Amy opened her eyes. She looked up and saw a blurred-out version of Sheldon in front of her. He moved away from her a little and bent down to pick something up.

"You have to be careful next time, Amy. If it weren't for me, you would've been hit by that janitor moving that cart full of garbage." Sheldon got Amy's glasses and gently placed them on her face.

When her vision cleared, she saw Sheldon up close, his ocean-colored eyes filled with worry. She suddenly remembered what happened earlier and her symptoms resurfaced.

She jumped up and put some distance between them. "Hoo!"

Sheldon was confused by her reaction. Who? Does she need new glasses?

"It's me. Sheldon."

Amy cleared her throat. "Yes, I'm aware... I was just startled, that's all."

"I see... I was hoping we could talk about-"

Amy interrupted him. "W-We don't need to talk about it. I apologize for everything that occurred a while ago." She looked down at her feet.

"Er... I was actually talking about the scientific discovery you made- your experiment on the neuroscience of decision making."

"Ah, how silly of me..." Amy gave a nervous smile. Why am I so stupid?

"You don't need to worry about what happened earlier. You were only trying to make me feel better." Sheldon started looking down at his feet as well.

"That's a relief. I thought our friendship would terminate immediately after I touched you so carelessly."

"Nonsense. You offered your services and helped check me for chair lice. You touched me for a good purpose, Dr. Fowler." Sheldon gave her a boyish smirk.

Amy swooned at the sight. "Uh, no problem! I'd touch you any time- I mean... help! I'd help you any time, that's what I meant, yes..." She let out a nervous laugh.

"S-So what did you want to talk to me about?" Amy wanted to change the subject. All this mention of touching was making her uncomfortable.

Sheldon and Amy were back in their office. Sheldon started showing Amy his idea with her experiment, explaining his math using the whiteboard.

"Wait, are you saying if we combine my experiment with your calculations, we can determine the precise moment in time when the wave function collapses?"

Sheldon nodded. "It could be the most inspired combination since I mixed red Icee into my blue Icee. It was like drinking two-sevenths of the rainbow."

Amy marveled at the equations on the board. "Sheldon, this is really interesting. You know, it's our first time collaborating professionally... Are you worried it might affect our friendship?"

"That is a valid point. Perhaps we should establish some ground rules."

"Well, that would make me feel better."

"All right, let's start right now." Sheldon flipped the board and started writing them.

1. In matters of Physics, S has the final say. In matters of neuroscience, A has the final S disagrees.

2. When we publish, The name of S goes first.

"Oh, subsequently, if we win any awards, I speak first. I don't want to be talking when the orchestra plays us off."

"Can I see that?" Amy asked for Sheldon's marker. "Of course."

Amy took the eraser with her other hand and started removing what Sheldon wrote. "Hey!"

"Sheldon, if we're gonna have ground rules, I'll tell you the first ground rule." She started writing it on the board.

1. A makes the ground rules.

Sheldon tried to fight back. However, he really didn't want to jeopardize the friendship he and Amy had established. "Fine. It was your idea anyway. What do you suggest?"

"How about this?" Amy continued writing the revised ground rules on the board.

2. We're on the same team, we're not in competition.

3. Disagreements can happen politely. There's no need to call an idea stupid.

4. To avoid getting frustrated, we take built-in breaks and reward our successes with a small treat.

"Ooh, that sounds fun. Now, we're talking about real treats, right? Not Bible verses like my mother used to give me."

"Whatever you want. So, shall we get to work?"

"Biology and physics coming together, this is like the peanut butter cup of the mind. Oh, I know what I want my treat to be." Sheldon rubbed his hands together in delight.

Two hours later. (Author's Note: Cue in cute Sheldon and Amy inspired montage from The Collaboration Fluctuation)

At first, it seemed like Sheldon and Amy were enjoying working together. They never went against any of the ground rules and everything was going smoothly. The office was filled with several boards full of equations. Both of them were in awe of everything they've created.

Amy: Wow. Look at that.

Sheldon: Yes, this is remarkable.

Amy: So we're agreed, it's complete garbage.

Sheldon: By the way, your name can go first.

Amy furrowed her brows. "I don't know where we went wrong."

"Yeah, the math is so inelegant. I'm not even sure it makes sense."

I can't believe it. It's been hours and still- no progress. "Well, don't give up. Maybe we can fix it."

After a few minutes, Sheldon's stomach started to rumble.

"What was that?"

"My stomach. I forgot to eat lunch."

"Oh." Amy forgot to eat as well. "Same here... Maybe we should call it a day and continue tomorrow?"

"I guess that's reasonable. However, I don't think I could sleep soundly knowing that today was a complete waste of time."

"You do have a point. I could show you the rest of my research but I left my laptop at my apartment."

Sheldon had an idea. "Hey, how about I come along with you?"

"Where?"

"To your apartment."

Is he serious? "M-My apartment?

Sheldon in my apartment? Oh dear, I don't think I'm ready for this.

"Umm..." Amy's voice was higher than usual.

"Yes. I could tell Leonard to pick me up later. We can eat at your apartment and continue where we left off."

Amy was fidgeting with the marker she was holding. "But you've never been to my apartment..."

"So? I have no reason to doubt that you value cleanliness in your own home and you did tell me you could cook. Come on, Amy. You've been to my apartment countless times. Isn't it time I go to yours?" Sheldon pouted.

Amy couldn't resist him when he looked at her like that, so she relented. "Fine. We can go. Let me just get my things."

"Excellent." Sheldon smiled brightly at Amy.

Sheldon texted Leonard that he was going to be at Amy's for a while. Leonard texted him back telling him to "use protection". Sheldon rolled his eyes and messaged Leonard to come and pick him up in a few hours.

Once they got their things and left the office, they started walking to Amy's car.

Amy was looking for her car keys inside her purse. "So, what do you want to eat for dinner?"

Sheldon pondered for a bit. "Can you make spaghetti with little pieces of hotdog cut up in it?"

"Hmm... That's oddly specific. But yes, I do."

Sheldon's eyes lit up. "Oh boy! Why didn't we do this a long time ago?"

At Amy's apartment, Sheldon started looking around while waiting for Amy to finish making their food.

He noticed her shelf filled with books of Medieval Literature like Chaucer, as well as books about Neurobiology. She also had some monkey figurines and she had quilts on her couch.

Sheldon noticed her harp. "I didn't know you played the harp."

Amy turned to look at him. "Oh. I love the harp. Its vibrant tone and soothing sounds help me every time I feel stressed. Once I play the harp, all my worries just melt away."

Sheldon was going to tell her he disliked the sound of the harp but chose to keep quiet. She looked so radiant when she was talking about it. Seeing her so passionate about it made him question whether or not he should give listening to harp music a try.

"...Maybe you could play for me sometime. Or we could have sing-alongs if you'd prefer."

"Really? I didn't take you for a singing type."

"Growing up in Texas, I was subject to a lot of it. I was always forced by my mother to sing and dance during our annual hootenannies."

Every time Sheldon talked about his upbringing, Amy would always notice his Southern accent showing in the way he spoke. She found it charming.

"Okay then. Just tell me what songs you like and I could learn them on the harp." Amy gave a small smile and proceeded to plate their food. "Dinner's ready. You can take a seat."

"Great!" Gee, the food smells so good. Sheldon took a seat at the dinner table.

Amy brought the food to the table. "What would you like to drink?"

"What do you have?"

"Well, I had to babysit my cousin's nephew a few weeks ago, so there's some soda, juice, and some Strawberry Quik..."

Sheldon stood up straighter. "Did you say, Strawberry Quik?"

"Yes, why?"

"I love Strawberry Quik! It's my favorite pink fluid, narrowly beating out Pepto-Bismol."

Suddenly, Amy's iPod started playing music. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I've been meaning to get that fixed. My cousin's nephew dropped it and it's been playing music at random times during the day."

Sheldon heard an all too familiar tune. "Super Mario Brother's Theme?"

"Yeah. He loves playing that game... I'm sorry you had to hear that. I'll turn it off."

"No, wait!" Sheldon stopped Amy who had a confused look on her face. "It's okay, you can leave it on. Playing Super Mario was admittedly the happiest 600 hours of my childhood..."

Amy bit her lip to stop herself from smiling. "Okay then. I'll get you that drink."

She sat at the table and poured Sheldon some Strawberry Quik. He started getting some spaghetti and immediately took a bite.

This is perfect! "Oh yummy, yummy! We should do this more often." Sheldon continued eating the food with a smile on his face. He was having the time of his life at Amy's apartment.

Why can't Leonard make dinner as enjoyable as this one? Uh-oh.

Sheldon was having an internal panic. I can't believe I just imagined Amy living with me in my apartment!

Sheldon took a huge gulp out of his drink. Amy observed the change in his expression.

"Are you okay, Sheldon? Don't you like it?" Amy frowned.

He cleared his throat. "Oh, I do. Uh, I just really love me some Strawberry Quik." Sheldon looked back at his food to avoid her eyes. He didn't want her to know what he was thinking.

"I'm having such a great time. You really are a good cook, Amy. One day, I'll let you try my sourdough bread."

"Sounds like a plan." Amy grinned.

Enjoying the experience, Sheldon asked Amy if they could work together again at her apartment the next day. She drove him again after getting off work.

Sheldon brought Amy's whiteboard, already filled with a few equations he placed yesterday and brought it near the couch.

Amy got her laptop and placed it on her coffee table. "By the way, do you mind if I take my temperature first before we start?"

"Are you monitoring your circadian rhythms in order to identify your periods of maximum mental acuity? I did that one summer. Ah, youth." Sheldon reminisced.

"No, I've been experiencing some distressing symptoms recently, so I'm starting to check my vital signs every hour."

"Oh, I'd be happy to create a chart and participate in a differential diagnosis."

"Sure. That sounds like fun."

"Alright. What were the symptoms?" Sheldon flipped the board and got a marker to write down her symptoms.

Amy: Elevated heart rate, moist palms, dry mouth, and localized vascular throbbing.

Sheldon: Localized to what region?

Amy: Ears and genitalia.

Sheldon: Interesting. Not body parts that usually team-up. What about environmental factors? Describe the scene for me.

Amy didn't understand why but she tried her best to be vague when answering Sheldon's queries. She purposely avoiding mentioning him in them as much as possible.

Amy: Yesterday, when you left the office for lunch, Barry Kripke came by and I said hoo.

She thought about telling Sheldon she said hoo because she thought it was him at the door, but decided not to mention it.

Sheldon: Who?

Amy: Kripke.

Sheldon: Then why did you ask?

Amy: Ask what?

Sheldon: Who.

Amy: Kripke.

Sheldon: Alright, let's start over. What did you say when Kripke walked in?

Amy: Hoo.

Sheldon: Kripke.

Amy: Why do you keep saying Kripke?

Sheldon: Because you keep saying who.

Amy: I'm not saying hoo now. I said hoo yesterday afternoon.

Sheldon: And the answer was Kripke, correct?

Amy: There was no question. I simply said hoo.

Sheldon: All right, I think I have enough to go on. Possible explanations for your symptoms are, in descending order of likelihood, hyperthyroidism, premature menopause, hosting an alien parasite, or, and I only include it for the sake of covering absolutely all bases, sexual arousal.

When Amy heard the last explanation, everything started to make sense.

That's it! I was sexually aroused by-

Amy realized what she was about to say in her mind. Her breath caught in her throat.

Amy wasn't responding to him so Sheldon asked her if there was something wrong. "Amy, are you alright?"

"Excuse me for a moment." Amy rushed to her bedroom leaving Sheldon perplexed.

Amy's actions reminded him of the night she kissed him. Interesting. That's exactly what she said when- Sheldon stopped himself and shook away the reminder. He didn't want his night with Amy to be ruined.

Panicking in her bathroom, Amy replayed all Sheldon and her's exchanges in her head. She felt her heart explode and her face warmer than ever.

When she first met him, his condescending personality instantly turned her off. It didn't help that he seemed to belittle her and her work. However, she always figured that his attitude was caused by some deep emotional turmoil he's experienced through the years, and she couldn't help but feel sympathy towards him.

After opening up to her, she saw a whole new side of Sheldon Cooper. He may seem cold and distant, but he's actually afraid of being alone. She felt that he just needed people who could understand and accept him.

He's lucky he has such good friends… They may tease him a bit, but that's just because they really care about him.

As a neurobiologist, Amy has always been perceptive when it came to these things. So, of course, she understood the concept of love and friendship. It was just difficult for her to welcome the idea of them after all the hurt she's gone through.

Sheldon was unlike anyone she's ever met. First of all, he's incredibly intelligent. He can constantly keep up with her in an argument. Boy, he really could. He's surprisingly thoughtful when he needs to be. He understands her more than anyone else, and aside from his brilliant mind, his physical features keep her up at night.

His blue eyes that tear right through her soul, his impressive height, his cute smile, the sound of his voice, and his intoxicating scent. She's become so enamored with him that all his personality quirks that others found abhorrent or rage-inducing, she found cute as a button. He's the reason why she looked forward to going to work every day and the reason why her life's not as bleak as she thought it was.

All these thoughts were too overwhelming for Amy. It was scary. After all, he's her first friend.

Why ruin a good friendship with something as complicated as… See? I can't even say it.

Amy decided to push her growing attraction to Sheldon down the drain. She promised herself that she would be more than content being his friend and that desiring more would prove to be too troublesome.

Amy had to come up with an excuse. After carefully analyzing the situation, she took a deep breath and went out of the washroom.

It would be difficult for her. But knowing that she'll always be in close proximity with the object of her affections wherever she went, she had to set things straight and convince him and herself that these feelings for him meant nothing.

Amy returned to the living room and saw Sheldon analyzing his findings on the board.

"Is everything alright?"

"Yes, it is. After thinking about it, I realized that I may have been experiencing sexual arousal." Amy looked away from him.

Sheldon did a double-take. "Wait, are you sure about that? We haven't even checked your thyroid function and cortisol levels yet..."

"I already got that covered. I checked them days ago and both were normal."

"Maybe you should get them checked again tomorrow... How about your follicle-stimulating hormone levels?"

"Sheldon, I am not going through menopause." Amy rolled her eyes.

"Are you sure? You said that with the testy bark of an old biddy."

Amy thought that she was going to regret saying this but she found that it was the only way.

"I think we need to face the cold, hard truth. I was sexually aroused by your friend Kripke."

Sheldon dropped his marker. "W-Wait a minute! Kripke? Friend? Those two words can never be in the same sentence." Sheldon scoffed.

Sheldon couldn't believe what he was hearing. In what world is Amy Farrah Fowler sexually aroused by Barry Kripke, his sworn enemy? He is beneath her in every way.

Sheldon started imagining Barry beneath her in a literal sense and it made his blood boil. His jaw clenched.

"Hang on. I don't know that we've given the alien parasite hypothesis a fair shake."

"Let's look at this logically. I have a stomach, I get hungry. I have genitals, I have the potential for sexual arousal."

Is she out of her mind? I guess she isn't above such human emotions after all. I knew Penny was a bad influence! "...I guess it's a cross we all must bear."

Sheldon tried to think of a way to save his friend from succumbing to her physical desires. There's still hope! Amy shouldn't give in to such feelings.

"You know, in difficult moments like this, I often turn to a force greater than myself."

"Religion?" Amy asked.

Not a chance. "Star Trek. Did you see Star Trek: The Motion Picture?" Amy shook her head. "No."

"Don't. It's terrible. However, in it, we learn that when Spock finds himself drawn off the path of logic by feelings bubbling up from his human half, he suppresses them using the Vulcan mental discipline of Kolinahr."

Amy was having a hard time listening to him. "Are you suggesting we live our lives guided by the philosophies found in cheap science fiction?"

Sheldon gasped. "Cheap science fiction?" He turned away from her and closed his eyes.

"What are you doing?" Amy furrowed her eyebrows.

"Using Kolinahr to suppress my anger at that last comment."

Amy had enough of his antics. "Is it possible that your concern for me at this moment is motivated by nothing more than simple jealousy?"

Sheldon opened his eyes in shock. "I hadn't considered that. Give me a moment."

Amy waited for his answer. Come on, Sheldon. Just tell me you're jealous. Let me know that all of these confusing feelings are reciprocated in some way...

After a few seconds, he came to a conclusion. "Alright, I've considered it."

"And?" Amy raised her eyebrows.

"I reject it."

His statement extinguished the twinge of hope Amy still had.

"You reject it because you don't feel jealousy, or because you are suppressing jealousy?"

There was a brief pause. Before Sheldon could answer, his phone rang. It was Leonard. Thank goodness he called!

Leonard told Sheldon that he was already outside Amy's building waiting for him. Sheldon hung up.

"Well, that's my ride. It's best I go home. See you tomorrow."

"You didn't answer my question, Sheldon."

Why is she making things so difficult? Sheldon crossed his arms. "I'm Dr. Sheldon Lee Cooper. A man like myself would never be jealous of anyone, let alone Kripke. End of discussion."

Amy's lips were shaking. She hated his response. "F-Fine."

"Fine," Sheldon answered back.

If that's how he feels, then so be it! "Good!"

"Great!" Sheldon huffed and went to get his windbreaker.

"That's not your jacket, Sheldon. That's my cardigan you're holding."

"Oh. Good night then. I'm off." Sheldon gave Amy her cardigan back, got his actual windbreaker, and rushed out of the apartment.

Amy needed to wash her face again. It was her first time crying this much over a man. One who she knew could never seek anything beyond friendship.

What if I told him that I was attracted to him instead? How would he have reacted? It's better this way, Fowler. Things won't be complicated anymore.

So, why am I still crying?

End of Chapter 11.

Author's Note: Hello, Shamy fans! Sorry for the long wait. By the way, I aced my theoretical driving exam and applied for a student permit. We also just got home from our out-of-town trip. Glad to be back writing this story.

I'm so sorry for ending this chapter on a sad note. They will have their happy ending, I promise all of you! They're both just in denial. (At least, Amy has already acknowledged her feelings...) It's frustrating to know that Sheldon thinks Amy's not attracted to him and vice versa. How will Kripke play a role in their eventual romance? In the next chapters, Sheldon and Amy will continue working together and continue dancing around their feelings.

Notable episodes I used: The Collaboration Fluctuation, The Alien Parasite Hypothesis, The Launch Acceleration

Stay tuned for the next updates. Any favs/follows/reviews will deeply be appreciated. I hope none of you will abandon this story. I'll finish it, don't worry... Until next time!