Disclaimer:

I do not own The Big Bang Theory.

Warning:

The next few chapters will revolve around abortion, so if it's a trigger to anyone who chooses to read this story, please read carefully.

In addition, I'm not going into politics or any other discussion for that matter regarding abortion, and it's not my intention of offending anyone's opinion, belief or anyone who experienced the events that are described in this story.

If somehow I offended anyone, I am truly sorry and once again, it was never my intention.

Chapter 8:

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Timmy yelled at Sheldon, but kept his creepy smile since he realized that Sheldon knew Amy. He was too shocked to hit Sheldon back. He didn't expect that this lanky, nerd man had so much strength in one fist.

Sheldon, who was never so furious in his life, looked at the man who wiped his nose from the blood and was getting closer to him ready to hit them again, when he felt a soft hand stopping him.

"Sheldon, no." Amy said earnestly and Sheldon came out of his haze and looked at Amy who looked at him with a mixture of shock and fear.

Sheldon then looked at Timmy who was looking at the exchange between the two and back at Amy and then he grabbed Amy's hand and just dragged her away from there, crackers forgotten.

All Sheldon could think of is getting Amy out of this store as quickly as possible before that man would do anything else to hurt her again. Or before Sheldon would beat the hell out of him.

Sheldon practically dragged Amy from the store to her car in tense silence. Once they got to Amy's car, they stood next to it, both of them breathing heavily.

Sheldon was with her back to Amy when she opened her mouth to start talking, but before she could say anything Sheldon turned around to her and wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug that she could barely breath, but she wrapped her arms around Sheldon in return.

She soon heard Sheldon sobbing into her shoulder and she couldn't do a thing but start crying as well.

They stood next to Amy's car in for a while, hugging and sobbing in each other arms; Sheldon whispering in Amy's ear his love for her and how much he's sorry for what happened and Amy caressing his back, trying to calm him down, but at the same time releasing her own pain over what happened, into Sheldon's arms, making Sheldon hug her even tighter making it looks like they merged into one being.

Amy wanted to get into the car and drive home, but Sheldon was practically clinging to her that she didn't know what to do.

"Sheldon…" she whispered brokenly but he didn't answer. He just kept on holding her tight and sobbed into her cardigan.

"We should drive home…" she whispered again and Sheldon nodded but didn't make a move to let Amy go.

After a few more moments they broke the hug and just as they turned to enter the car, they saw Timmy again, walking with his grocery bag and smiling his creepy smile at them. Sheldon saw red once again, but turned to face Amy who was once again pale as if she saw a ghost.

Once Timmy was out of sight Amy turned around to the nearest bush and let the content of her stomach go, and Sheldon, surprising both himself and Amy, rushed to her side and held her hair and rubbed her back gently.

Once Amy was done throwing up, Sheldon gently rubbed her shoulder.

"Are you alright?"

"I don't know." Amy answered honestly.

"Give me the keys. I'll drive." Sheldon said with more confidence in his voice then he felt.

"I can drive."

"I know you can, but I want you to relax."

"You don't have a license."

"I have my permit. Now give me the keys."

"Sheldon… it'll be much easier for me to drive then to monitor your driving." Amy tried and Sheldon thought about it, but then he looked at her and she looked so distraught that he preferred to drive and do his best so that Amy could actually relax and not be busy with his driving.

"Amy… please. I'll do my best so you will barely need to monitor my driving." Sheldon tried and Amy gave up.

"Fine. but don't drive lower than the speed limit… and stick to the right lane so that the other drivers can get around you." Amy said as she gave him the key and Sheldon nodded in understanding.

Lucky for Sheldon Amy parked her car in a way that all he had to do once he adjusted the mirrors and chair to his height, was to put the car into Drive and get out of the parking lot and drive the short route to Amy's building. Once they got into the parking of Amy's building, Sheldon was once again relieved that her parking space in a way that he can drive straight to the parking spot, and not try and park parallel to the sidewalk.

The short drive was pretty calm and Amy had only one comment during the entire ride.

"You got really good since the last time we drove together. Have you been practicing?" Amy wondered.

"No. I just wanted to get as fast and safe as possible." Sheldon said as he got out of the car, his nervousness is written all over his face.

"Maybe you should drive nervous more often." Amy caressed his cheek lovingly, trying to calm him down a little.

"I highly doubt it's safe." Sheldon said with a soft smile and turned to grab his bag from the backseat of Amy's car.

"So… what do you want to eat?" Sheldon asked when they were in the elevator, trying to stay away from what happened in the supermarket.

"I don't know… I want to take a shower first." Amy said in a small voice and Sheldon nodded, understanding her reasoning.

Once in Amy's apartment, Amy quickly went to take a shower and Sheldon put his bag next to him on the floor as he sat on Amy's couch, not knowing how to busy himself, for a reason he couldn't figure out.

He looked around him at Amy's apartment and eventually went to her kitchen and look through her cabinets and refrigerator and saw that Amy didn't have so much food in her apartment. At first, he wanted to make a run for the supermarket while Amy was still in the shower, but he decided against it; he wanted to be here for Amy once she's out of the shower.

Sheldon then decided to make a purchase of groceries for Amy online, so he logged on to the online store he ordered groceries in those rare occasions he decided to trust someone else to handle his groceries, and ordered a bunch of things for Amy including the crackers they ended up not buying. He maybe ordered more packages than necessary, but it didn't matter. He wanted Amy to have everything she could possibly need and want, right in her apartment.

He was just finishing paying for everything when Amy came out of the bathroom wearing a t-shirt that Sheldon never saw and sweatpants, another thing that Sheldon never saw on Amy.

Amy looked pretty shaken as she sat next to him, and Sheldon quickly put his phone away when he saw that his order will be there in 2 to 3 hours, and wrapped Amy in a tight hug and kissed her wet hair softly.

They sat there quietly for a few moments before Sheldon spoke.

"I… I ordered some groceries online for you… the delivery should be here in 2 to 3 hours." Sheldon said in a small voice.

"Thank you."

"I ordered you some crackers…"

Amy lifted her head and looked at Sheldon with shiny eyes.

"Thank you, Sheldon. for the groceries, but also for… earlier…" Amy whispered.

Sheldon only clenched his jaw and inhaled sharply in anger, a thing that Amy felt and put her hand gently on his chest.

"I should have beaten the hell out of him." Sheldon murmured more to himself than to Amy, but Amy heard it all the same and was shocked at the protectiveness Sheldon has shown in the last two months.

"I don't think you'd adapt to jail…" Amy chuckled and put her head on Sheldon's chest.

They sat on Amy's couch quietly, Sheldon caressing Amy's arm and back gently. He wanted to ask her how she's doing, if she thinks about pressing charges, but at the same time he didn't want to push her or rush her. It was a brand-new situation for him and even though he and Amy talked a lot in the past two months, he still didn't feel 100 percent comfortable asking Amy about those things. He felt like he invades Amy's privacy, but at the same time he wanted to be there for her and let her know that he will support her through everything, no matter what she will decide.

Sheldon sighed heavily and Amy looked at him with confused eyes.

"Is everything alright?" She asked softly.

"I should be asking you this question." Sheldon caressed her hair softly and Amy only smiled a soft, sad smile.

"It will be…" she simply said.

"Amy I know I wasn't the kind of person you came to talk to when you needed to, but I want to be that person for you now… now and always, so if there's anything on your mind or you are just having a bad day, please talk to me. I really want to be there for you, and I promise I will support you." Sheldon said with such earnest voice that Amy's heart skipped a bit.

"I will. I promise." Amy said as she looked deep into Sheldon's eyes.

"I love you." Sheldon said and kissed her forehead.

"I love you too." Amy said and laid her head back on Sheldon's chest.

Eventually, they fell asleep on the couch and were awaken by a knock on Amy's door, which Sheldon got up to answer. It was the delivery from the grocery store and Sheldon grabbed the box and Amy tipped the man who brought the delivery.

They organized the groceries and decided to join the group for dinner in 4A.

When they arrived to 4A everyone was already there, taking their respective meals from the delivery box.

"Hey guys. How are you?" Penny asked them.

"Fine." Sheldon answered shortly and went to his spot and grabbed his order from the box and handed Amy her meal.

"You think you'll be okay with this or do you want something else?" Sheldon whispered to her.

"I think it'll be okay." She whispered back.

While Sheldon and Amy whispered between themselves, the group sneaked glances at them. they never saw them so close to each other and they were still amazed at how caring Sheldon was acting towards Amy in the last two months.

Sheldon reached the table to grab his bottle when suddenly Emily noticed a bruise on his knuckles on his right hand.

"Sheldon what happened to you?" She asked him, trying to get a closer look. The dermatologist in her awoken.

Sheldon saw that she is looking at his knuckles and he grabbed the bottle quickly, before anyone else noticed, but it was in vain.

"What did you see?" Raj asked intrigued.

"Some bruises on his knuckles." Emily said and she looked back at Sheldon with questioning eyes.

"How did it happen?" Emily asked him.

"Uhm… umm…" Sheldon started to stammer and Amy jumped in to help him out.

"He bumped his hand in my door when he helped me carry some groceries." Amy quickly said and Penny looked at them suspiciously from the corner of her eye. She had a feeling that there was more to the story and was confirmed a few moment later when she saw how Sheldon sneaked his hand between him and Amy on the couch to grab Amy's hand.

"From the quick look I got it kind of look like the bruise you get from punching someone." Emily added.

"Right… Sheldon punching someone… that only happens in video games." Howard chuckled and Raj chuckled as well.

"How would you know? you're only a dermatologist." Sheldon added with fire in his tone, still holding Amy's hand, who was now caressing his hand with her thumb.

"For your information I've had countless of patients that came to me after being involved in fights asking for creams to help the skin heal better." Emily said with a huff and Sheldon only glared at her with fire in his eyes.

The room became quiet while Sheldon and Emily stared at each other, trying to see who will drop the topic of Sheldon's bruised knuckles first. Eventually what made them stop the staring contest was Leonard clearing his throat.

"So, Amy how are you feeling? Any better?" Leonard asked, trying to change the subject.

"Umm… yeah… thanks." Amy half lied and kept eating her meal, that for now didn't make her feel nauseated.

They ate in tense silence before they all gradually started talking about their day and their plans for the weekend, conversations that neither Amy nor Sheldon took part it and just kept eating quietly and looking at each other from time to time.

"Sheldon? Sheldon?" Howard tried to get Sheldon's attention.

"What?" he asked him with an annoyed tone.

"Why do I even bother?" Howard huffed.

"Would you join us to D&D night on Monday?" Howard added.

"Oh… um… no I can't." Sheldon said as he remembered that Amy's curettage is going to be on Monday.

"You can't?" Howard was confused.

"Yes. I can't."

"Why?" he pressured.

"This is none of your business." Sheldon fired at Howard's direction and felt his blood boiling.

"I think we will go now." Amy finally said and grabbed Sheldon by the arm and practically dragged him out of the apartment.

"What's with them?" Howard asked once they were out.

"Look… just be patient with them." Penny said with a sigh.

"Penny, I've been patient with him… we all have been and it's not getting any better and he is making it much harder in the last two months. I don't know what's with him, but he has got to get a grip." Howard said seriously and everyone nodded. everyone but her and Leonard.

"I know… I know… but…" Penny faltered. She knew she couldn't tell them what's really going on with Sheldon on Amy.

"Look… please, just trust me on this one. You know I'm the first person to call Sheldon on his crap, but just… trust me." Penny begged them and they all sighed heavily.

"He better has a good reason…" Raj said and kept eating.

Penny only sighed and kept on eating.

"Sheldon… are you alright?" Amy asked him as they walked down the stairs.

"Yes…" Sheldon sighed.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry I acted like that… I'm trying to keep it together Amy. I really do." Sheldon said as he grabbed her hand gently.

"I know."

"I'm trying to be stronger for you… I am… I'm sorry if I'm failing at it." Sheldon sighed as they got out of the building and approached Amy's car.

"You're not."

"I'm not? how is it possible? I punched someone today and I yelled at Emily and nearly punched Howard." Sheldon recaptured the events of the day.

"You did do all those things, but I know they are coming from a place of anger and the fact that you want to protect me, and I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate it, Sheldon." Amy said as they settled in her car.

"I do, Amy. I really do want to protect you. with every fiber of my being." Sheldon said with emotion.

"I know. Eventually, we will get pass this." Amy said with a soft smile.

"We will." Sheldon smiled back and they drove back to Amy's place.

Once they got to Amy's place, Sheldon and Amy took turns in getting ready for bed and eventually fell asleep quickly for a much-needed sleep after an eventful day.

The days went by quickly, and without even realize it, it was Sunday night and the group were just about to say goodbye after dinner in 4A when Penny finally got Sheldon and Amy alone.

"Are you alright? Do you need me to come tomorrow?" Penny asked Sheldon and Amy once they were alone in the kitchen. Sheldon looked at Amy, insinuating that it was her decision.

"I… um… I don't know… I want to say yes in case Sheldon would have to wait outside but I also don't want to raise anymore suspicion…" Amy whispered and Penny nodded.

"I'll tell you what we're going to do. I won't come, but I'll be in touch with Sheldon the entire time and he'll le me know if he needs me to come, alright?" Penny suggested.

"Okay." both Sheldon and Amy said.

"Okay… I think we're going to go now." Amy said and they said goodbye to everyone as they were all starting to get ready to leave.

"What was that all about?" Leonard asked Penny once everyone gone.

"What was what?" Penny asked him innocently.

"You, Amy and Sheldon whispering alone in the kitchen. What was that about?" Leonard asked again.

"Nothing." Penny tried to make Leonard drop the subject.

"Come on, Penny. You three are acting in such a secretive way recently… you are protecting Sheldon's crappy behavior… something is going on here, and it seems serious. I know you said you can't say anything, but I think we have the right to know why Sheldon is acting like an even bigger ass than usual…" Leonard vented.

"Look, I said I can't tell you so just accept it."

"But why?"

"Because it's not my place to tell." Penny practically screamed.

"Then, whose is it?"

"I know what you are trying to do Leonard. Just drop it."

"Penny they are our friends. If there's something wrong we need to know."

"Leonard, I said drop it."

"Fine." Leonard pressed the bridge of his nose and went to take a shower while Penny cleaned the living room.

She wanted to tell Leonard, but she couldn't. she promised Amy she wouldn't tell and she knows that it's Amy's decision who would know about what happened to her.

Once they entered the bed Penny turned to face Leonard.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you, but I really can't tell you. it's not my place." Penny repeated.

"I understand. I'm sorry I pressured you. It's just annoying that Sheldon gets to act like an ass and we have to sit quietly."

"He toned down a little."

"But still…"

"I know… I hope that at some point he'll grow out of it."

Back at Amy's apartment, Sheldon and Amy were lying in Amy's bed hugging each other tightly and having trouble falling asleep.

"I'm scared." Amy said in a small voice and Sheldon tightened his hold on her.

"Me too." He confessed and kissed the top of head.

"I won't leave your side." Sheldon promised.

"Thank you." Amy said.

They laid in Amy's bed hugging each other a while longer before they fell asleep in each other's arms, afraid of letting go… of the next day, and at the same time waiting for the next day to be over.

A/N:

Once again, thank you all so much for keeping up with my story. I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate your reviews and the fact you are following my stories.

I want to give you a heads up – the next chapter will be about the curettage, so if it's a trigger to anyone who choses to read this story, please do so carefully.

I'm still figuring out how to write about it and when/if Amy will tell the rest of the group about what happened or maybe just Leonard. I'm still thinking about it.

I hope you enjoyed it and your reviews are always welcome.