Author's Note:

Hey, guys! After debating with myself for several days on whether or not I should start posting this, I finally decided I'm overthinking things and should just do it. So here we are!

I'm going to be real here, I don't have the best track record with chaptered fics, but I'm excited about this one and I want it to work. A big part of why I did decide to start posting now is so you guys can hold me accountable and keep me focused and motivated. All the wonderful reviews on my Shamy ficlet collection have brightened up my days, and I hope you'll like this story too. A special thank you goes out to my friends on discord who've listened to me agonize over this, your support is much appreciated.

Enjoy!

Chapter One

"Okay, I'm heading out."

Sheldon looked up from his whiteboard to see Amy exiting their bedroom, grabbing her purse on the way towards the door.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" he asked.

"Sheldon, for the last time, it's a feature on women scientists for a women's magazine. They're not going to want to talk to you."

"Well, I could still be there for moral support," he offered. In truth, this was the first time either of them accepted a solo interview since before their Nobel Prize win, and Sheldon was feeling anxious about it. It reminded him too much of that period of time after they published and President Siebert wasn't allowing him to do interviews. None of that had gone well for them. As if Amy sensed this, she put her bag down and stepped towards him, giving him a quick peck on the lips.

"Thank you, but I'll be fine," she said. "Stay here, keep working towards Nobel Number Two."

"I suppose." Sheldon looked back towards his board with a frown.

"Or go bother Leonard," Amy suggested, starting towards the door again.

"Wait, aren't you forgetting something?" He pulled up the medal around his neck and cut his eyes over to the display case on the wall where hers was hanging.

"They already know I won the Nobel, Sheldon, I don't need to wear the medal. And you probably shouldn't wear yours so much, what if something happens to it?"

"I just thought it would complete your ensemble, but fine," he pouted. Amy considered him for a second before smiling, shaking her head.

"Alright, if it means so much to you." She opened the case and slipped the Nobel medal around her neck. "How is this?"

"Perfect." Sheldon grinned, a small thrill going through him at the sight of his wife wearing their prize. The memory of that first night in Sweden, when he got to see her wearing that medal and nothing else, flashed in his mind. Her voice broke him out of the brief reverie.

"I'll be back in a couple hours. Love you."

"Love you too," he replied, forcing himself to go back to the whiteboard as the door closed behind her.

Knock knock knock "Leonard."

Knock knock knock "Leonard."

Knock knock knock "Leonard."

"Come in," Leonard called out from inside the apartment, and Sheldon let himself in. "What's up?"

"I was just wondering what you and Penny planned on doing for dinner," Sheldon said.

"We haven't decided yet," Leonard answered, looking up from his desk. "Where's Amy?"

"She's still not back from her interview with the magazine, which is weird because it was at 3:30 this afternoon. What could she possibly have to talk about for this long?"

Leonard stood up and moved to the fridge, grabbing a couple water bottles. Sheldon joined him at the kitchen island, accepting the drink. "Maybe the reporter was running late?"

"Hmm, maybe. But that doesn't explain why she's not answering my texts. I asked her if she was going to pick something up to eat or if she wanted me to start cooking." Sheldon held up his phone for proof. "Nothing."

"Oh hey, Sheldon." Penny emerged from the hallway and joined them. "What's going on?"

"Amy's not back yet and Sheldon's worried."

"I am not worried," he protested, then nearly jumped out of his skin as the phone in his hand started ringing.

"Amy?" he answered after seeing her name light up the screen.

"Is this Dr. Sheldon Cooper?" someone who was most definitely not Amy asked from the other end.

"Yes. Who is this?" Sheldon, Leonard, and Penny all exchanged confused looks.

"Dr. Cooper, this is Officer Hackett. I'm afraid Amy was in a very serious car accident-"

The rest of the sentence was lost as he dropped his phone, gripping the counter instead to keep from swaying over. Penny was at his side in an instant, helping him to sit down at one of the bar stools. Meanwhile Leonard picked up the phone, continuing the conversation for him.

"This is Dr. Leonard Hofstadter, I'm Sheldon and Amy's neighbor . . ."

Sheldon didn't hear the rest of it, aware only of his own heartbeat in his ears. He didn't even notice Penny rubbing his back in soothing circles. An accident? Amy was in an accident? A police officer was calling him because Amy was in an accident? How could that have happened? She'd just had her car serviced last week. She was an excellent driver. She won a Nobel Prize. She was wearing the same medal he was. She couldn't have been in an accident, he needed her. An accident?

"Come on, we have to go to the hospital," Leonard's voice broke through his spiraling thoughts. His hand was outstretched, offering back his phone, but Sheldon just stared at it like he'd never seen it before. The hospital? Amy was at the hospital with all those germs? Because she was in an accident? The hospital?

"Let's go, sweetie." Penny nudged him until he stood up, and the next thing he knew his friends were leading him out the door, into the elevator, through the lobby, and into Leonard's car.

"It's going to be okay," Penny told him once they were on the road. For the first time since the call, he looked up and focused on her face. Analyzing facial expressions was never Sheldon's strong suit, but even he could tell she was worried. It was the opposite of reassuring. When he didn't respond, she turned to Leonard. "Did the police say what happened?"

"The officer said a truck lost control and hit her." He took his eyes off the road to glance over at Sheldon, checking his reaction. Sheldon just stared back at him. "He found her phone in her purse in the car and called the last contact in her history. The car is totaled. He didn't know anything else."

No one said anything for a few beats.

"It's going to be okay," Penny repeated. It was even less reassuring than the first time.