The Impalpable Chemistry
Summary: In a world where Sheldon and Amy never met through an online dating site, fate brings them together at Caltech. Off to a rocky start, will their professional proximity lead to friendship or more? Shamy AU
Author's Note: Hi! I'm Raissa and I'm new to writing fanfiction. Doing this story was a spur-of-the-moment decision. After reading so many Shamy fanfics, I have yet to come across one wherein they start as enemies (similar to Sheldon's antagonistic relationship with Kripke or Leslie Winkle). It would be interesting to explore their relationship if they started on the wrong foot and see their relationship progress from there. Bear with me since this is my first time writing anything at all. My vocabulary is somewhat limited. However, I would appreciate any review and do my best to improve if I continue writing this story.
Chapter 1
"This is preposterous. I'm writing a strongly worded letter regarding the complete and utter madness I experienced in Professor Rothman's office! It took me hours to get my head out of that hole, and Leonard even humiliated me with his new Twitter status update!" Sheldon waved his phone at President Seibert, who did not look at all amused.
President Seibert looked up from his laptop and removed his glasses, "Now, now, Dr. Cooper. I believe it was you who was adamant about Rothman's office, so I don't understand the issue here."
Sheldon was turning red in the face with anger, "While I do enjoy the fact that I won the office against Kripke fair and square; through a test of physical strength I might add, I've changed my mind and would like to request a new one. Aren't there any more washed-up scientists with offices they no longer need?" Sheldon went closer, placed his hand on Seibert's desk, and looked at him with a crazed look on his face. He seemed to be under a lot of stress.
President Seibert sighed, closed his laptop, and stood from his desk, "As much as I would like to help you with your childish antics, Dr. Cooper, I have some other important matters to attend to. If finding a new office is the solution to your problem, then I suggest you do it yourself."
Shaking his head with a disinterested expression, President Seibert left the room. Sheldon let out a huge breath and decided on staying in his old office.
As much as he didn't want to, tolerating Koothrappali is better than the current circumstances of staying in Rothman's office. "No wonder he went crazy," Sheldon mumbled to himself as he remembered seeing the retired physicist in nothing but his underwear earlier that day.
A month later.
After lunch, Sheldon and Raj were on the way back to their office when both of them come across Rothman's office once again.
Raj looked curious, "Wasn't this going to be your new office, Sheldon? We all remember you getting bat crap crazy over it but didn't you raise those concerns with President Seibert?"
"I did. However, to quote President Seibert's words, he did not give a rat's ass about what I felt and told me I had to search for a new office myself if I wasn't satisfied with this one. It turned out to be a Herculean task and I couldn't manage to find a new one. So, I told President Seibert that I decided to continue sharing an office with you. You should be grateful that I chose to continue gracing you with my presence." Sheldon smirked while Raj shook his head.
Raj opened the door to Rothman's office and started to look around. "I wonder if Kripke got this office instead…"
"Well, if he isn't bothered with the temperature, holes, the geology lab, windchimes, and those annoying tone-deaf birds, then I say good for him." Sheldon follows Raj inside and is surprised to find that everything he mentioned no longer existed.
"You were saying?" Raj looked as confused.
"That's odd. The hole's fixed, and it isn't as cold as I remember it to be." Sheldon looked around the surprisingly quiet office. It seemed as though everything he complained about was merely a pipe dream.
The office looked different. There were no tables or whiteboards seen so no one might have been assigned to it yet. Both men paused for a few seconds, processing what it all meant.
Sheldon reached for the door and checked if there was a nameplate attached to it, "Look, Raj. No one owns this office yet, and it's already been a month."
"Well, if Kripke didn't take Rothman's office, then I guess President Seibert listened to your concerns and offered to help you?" Raj was confused with this turn of events.
It's impossible to believe that President Seibert would take an interest in his employees' affairs especially when money wasn't involved. However, Sheldon found that Raj's reasoning was sound. He was elated that he could finally solve the mysteries of the universe alone in his new and improved office. No offense to Koothrappali.
"I guess to surprise me, he made me search for a new office to take my mind off this one so that a genius such as myself wouldn't find out. It's long overdue, but I'll take it. Oh boy! I better get ready and pack my stuff."
"Congrats, Sheldon. Again, as much as I'm happy that you're actually leaving this time, I'll still miss sharing an office with you."
Raj and Sheldon leave and return to their shared office where they both get ready to move Sheldon's belongings. Hours later, several boxes are present, and Sheldon's whiteboards and supplies were packed.
"Now, Raj, I know this must be devastating for you since you'll no longer be working for me. But like I said, you can drop by anytime as long as you call first."
"With you. But thank you, Sheldon. Without you, I would've lost everything years ago. I hope you're happy with your new office." Raj closed one box and gave it to Sheldon.
"No problem. If it ever happens to you again, please approach Leonard or Wolowitz." Sheldon left the room and closed the door. He shuddered at the thought of sharing an office with Koothrappali yet again and started carrying his things to his new office one by one.
As Sheldon finished moving his things to his new office, he decided to visit President Seibert's office to express his gratitude.
"Knock knock knock, President Seibert. Knock knock knock, President Seibert. Knock knock knock, President Seibert."
"Come in."
Sheldon opened the door with a smile on his face. "Hello, President Seibert. I'm here to express my gratitude for what you did with Rothman's office."
"Oh, I guess you found out. I didn't think you would respond to it quite well." Seibert looked disinterested yet again but looked at Sheldon quizzically.
"Nonsense. I'm surprised to see you finally acknowledging my contributions to this university by catering to all my past concerns. Suffice it to say that I won't let you down as I discover the inner workings of our universe and promise not to go insane as Rothman did. He doesn't still go here all willy-nilly does he?"
"No. And who said I fixed the office for you? I assigned Rothman's office to someone else."
Sheldon glanced at President Seibert, then did a double-take. He continued sputtering a series of whats, whys, and whos.
"Are you meaning to say that you assigned Kripke to Rothman's office? Then need I remind you that the victor gets to reap the spoils. Even though I rejected it firsthand, surely you can't possibly tell me it's his now." Sheldon looked red in the face once again.
"I assure you, Dr. Cooper, Kripke shared the same sentiments with you a month ago and declined the office. I gave the office to a new employee here in Caltech. Her recent paper on how cooperative long-term potentiation can map memory sequences in dendritic branches made the cover of Neuron. A distinguished neurobiologist like herself is a good addition to our university."
"Oh God, a neurobiologist. President Seibert, don't brain monkeys such as herself have labs for offices? Why would a scientist in her field be assigned to an office previously occupied by a retired theoretical physicist?"
"The university is undergoing some vacancy issues right now. We are doing our best to provide more equipment and facilities to all of you. However, Dr. Fowler's contract ended with UCLA weeks ago, and she was okay with moving in a temporary office first before her actual lab is finished."
"This is absurd! I already moved all my stuff in Rothman's office, and I am dead set against having to share an office with Koothrappali again. His desk is ginormous, his contributions are minimal, and I have to say hearing him complain about being lonely all day is hindering my work." Sheldon looked frustrated with closed fists and downcast eyes.
"My sympathies, Dr. Cooper. I don't want to say this, but you have to stay with Dr. Koothrappali momentarily because Dr. Fowler will be moving to that office today. I'm surprised you have yet to see her since she was just here a moment ago. I have nothing to discuss any further with you, and unless you have the patience to wait for Dr. Fowler's lab to be finished, then please see yourself out." Seibert looked at his laptop and pretended to be busy so that he wouldn't have to continue reasoning with Sheldon.
Sheldon glared at him and quickly left the room to go to his new office. Seibert's door was already half-open, and there stood Raj carrying a box Sheldon forgot to bring. Raj looked upset. He overheard Sheldon's whole rant.
"That was some weak tea, dude. I'm glad that I don't have to share an office with an egotistical jerk like you anymore. Here's the rest of your things. Don't think about staying in my office and find somewhere else to stay." Raj was pissed and shoved the box he carried in Sheldon's arms. He left without another word.
Sheldon brushed off his encounter with Koothrappali and went to his new office only to find that his desk his boxes were placed outside. The door was closed, and his eyes went wide as he saw a new nameplate attached to it.
It read: Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler, Ph.D. Neurobiology
His worst fears have now been realized. All his stuff was outside, and he had nowhere else to go. He was livid. Who was this Dr. Fowler anyway, and how was she more important than the Dr. Sheldon Lee Cooper himself? He had a bone to pick with her and decided to confront the said scientist.
"Hmph. A distinguished scientist, he says? Let's see what's so great about this, Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler." Sheldon placed his box down and prepared to knock on the door.
"Knock knock knock, Dr. Fowler. Knock knock knock, Dr. Fowler. Knock knock knock, Dr. Fowler."
"Come in."
End of Chapter 1.
Author's Note: And that marks the end of the first chapter. Of course, all the original characters will be here. I do not own any of these characters. I hope I did my best and that Sheldon wasn't too OOC. I would appreciate any note, PM, or review to feel motivated enough to improve my writing and continue this story. I'm looking forward to seeing this story pan out. Until next time, fellow Shamy fans!