Chapter 15

or Up against a wall!

This is dedicated to Such a Hag and Monique on the Forums. This is tame compared what I have planned ladies!

Thanks again to ShAmy4evr for Beta Reading. Also a belated Shout out to Nibbler747 and DrWackadoodle for reading the last chapter...oh about 4 months ago! I know... It takes a while for me to publish!

Around Six AM, Sheldon woke up with a start. His chest was suddenly cold, and it was an uncomfortable feeling after having had a warm Amy blanket all night long. He had hoped he would wake before her, and so have a few moments alone to savor the view of Amy snuggled on his chest. However, Amy had just carefully risen off his torso hoping to be able to rush to the restroom before he would notice her absence. She failed.

"Amy, where ya goin'?" He sat up and stretched out his long arms in a V and twisted his neck around to loosen it. Amy whimpered, seeing him look so adorable, sleepy yet virile and tempting at the same time.

Instead, she quickly said she would be right back and rushed off. She had woken earlier and had spent the time watching him sleep. He had had a slight smile on his face and she could feel his breath on her cheek, warming her. Riding the amatory waves of his chest as it rose and fell with each breath was a completely intimate and novel experience for her, and all she had wanted to do was to wake him with a kiss.

She had wanted to pinch herself or him to prove that the whole situation was real and she was not in some hypnagogic state. But first she needed to find some kind of mouth wash so that she could kiss him again without the embarrassment of morning breath.

Sheldon rose off the couch and repositioned the pillows with a satisfied grin. It was not how he had envisioned breaking in the couch with Amy, but it was damn close, he thought happily. He hadn't been lying, he chuckled to himself, it had been the best sleep he had had in years. However the thought of the word lying made him remember their fight and how he had screwed up again.

If he had listened more carefully to the congress of Sheldons, he would have realized that lying to Amy was never warranted, and he vowed that he would never do it again. She would understand anything he told her; save one thing.

Sheldon was now fully convinced that he had been in a room full of Sheldons from alternate universes, and he knew he should tell her. He knew that she would be able to help him decipher most of what those skinny spoiled brats had been saying. However he feared now, that telling her would be akin to telling a person about a strange narcissistic dream and she'd think he was nuts, leave him and never look back. It was the only thing he felt that he could never reveal to her.

Amy emerged from the bathroom to find Sheldon on the exercise bar. He had stripped off his shirts so as not to get them too sweaty. His was facing away from her so she felt free to ogle his bare back and shapely lateral muscles without his gaze boring into her. He had dimples of Venus that begged to be touched and strong deltoid muscles bulging and straining with each pull on the bar. Soon, the huffs and grunts and flexing of muscles became too much for Amy who was already in a euphoric haze from swimming in his pheromones all night.

Oh dear lord, am I in trouble, she thought to herself.

She released a slight whimper, and then quickly cleared her throat to get his attention. Sheldon popped off the bar and turned to face her. As he bent down to pick up a small towel he never took his eyes off her.

Amy sucked her lip as she enjoyed in the view. She felt like a voyeur at a peep show. She could finally see his bare strapping chest with the perfect curves around his pectoral muscles. He was not ribbed like a body builder with a six pack. What he had was a toned flat stomach that was showcased by loose trousers hugging his hips and v dip shape disappearing below the belt. His small patch of chest hair in the middle of his chest was begging to have someone comb their fingers through it. He had beads of sweat on his brow and a crimson blush. Amy beamed a smile at him, and spluttered, "I um… need to go… get ready…at home…"

Sheldon walked toward her like a puma using the towel to wipe away the sweat. He stepped closer to his willing prey as Amy continued to fumble for words. He dropped the towel at her feet when he was inches from her body with a determined stare.

"May I kiss you goodbye?" Sheldon smiled as he placed his palm against the wall behind her.

"That would be great! Fine. I'm sure…I Um… oh my, you are really warm." Sheldon pressed up against her, trapping her against the wall. Amy placed her hands on his chest, not to push him away but to feel the muscles without the thin shield of cotton.

"I should… just get my clothes off. I mean new clothes…on… right…" Amy's stammering didn't hinder Sheldon hands, and her hooded eyes watching his every move, only seemed to pull him in closer.

He brought his hand up to her neck, and curled his fingers round to her hair line. The other hand encircled her waist as he leaned his head into her neck to whisper. "I will be waiting. Thank you for staying, Amy."

His lips lingered around her lobe before he moved his mouth to hers. Amy slowly turned her head to meet him. Her hands moved up his sleek chest to his neck and around his broad shoulders. She could barely get out the words, "you're welcome," before their lips collided together.

It was supposed to be a goodbye kiss, a hint of affection he would give her before she returned to pick up him for work, but it became so much more. His initial chaste kiss changed when he felt her hands pulling him closer, and he shifted his lips to engulf her minty mouth.

As soon as Amy felt his soft tongue gently suck on her bottom lip, the scintilla of passion she had felt during the morning ignited into a storm. Her hand roamed over his back so she could feel every muscle group, every arc of his sleek body. Her wandering hands and hushed moans created a barter of desire between them.

Sheldon pushed her up against the wall shocking her mouth open. His tongue dove into her colliding, tasting grasping. It was all Sheldon could stand. He pulled away suddenly, stunned by his own actions, "Oh boy, Amy… I'm sor…"

Amy cut off his apology with a wicked smirk and a devilish twinkle in her eye, "Don't you start with that again."

She pushed him against the opposing wall of the hallway, pinning him with her mouth as she felt every square inch of his tempting chest and torso. She forcefully kissed him again, and wrapped her hands around his broad shoulders.

Her action fueled Sheldon's longing and he pushed her back against the other wall, like a game of kissing pinball. He kept his mouth connected to hers, never letting her taste go.

Amy was so close to ripping off her clothes and having her way with him on the floor of the hall, but she had to regain some control. She moved her mouth to steal a breath and whispered into Sheldon's ear as he sucked on her neck. "I will be back. VERY soon."

Sheldon released her, breathless and aroused but fighting for his composure. "Good." Was all he could eek out.

Amy left the apartment with tussled hair, swollen lips and an insuppressible grin. As she entered the elevator she encountered Alicia who couldn't help staring at her with a catty scowl. Amy stood up straight, combed back her hair, and said flatly. "Yeah… that's right. I'm just leaving his place now!"

Alicia stormed off the elevator, but not before Amy could hear her say under her breath, "Lucky bitch."

About an hour later, Amy returned composed, coiffed and ready to head off to work. Their stolen glances at each said more with a look than any words. It was going to be a long week till the next date night.

Sheldon walked Amy to her lab, but this time, she checked for her nosey interns before she said good bye to Sheldon.

"I wanted to say goodbye without the audience Sheldon." Amy reached up and gave Sheldon a lingering kiss on his cheek. But he was consumed by her scent and bent his head into her neck drawing in a deep breath through his nose. He could smell that same sweet concoction that had been driving him wild for weeks.

"Before I leave, first tell me, Amy. What is that?" Sheldon wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. Amy was taken aback, but was flooded with his scent as well. Her hands moved up his chest to feel him.

"What is what, Sheldon?" She arched her neck so she could feel his breath on her again.

"That scent!" Sheldon took a large whiff of her hair, "Please tell me, is it pineapple... No.." He sniffed her again. "Apples, nah it can't be. Maybe… No not peach." Each time Sheldon moved closer to her. He was dying to know, but Amy just had to chuckle.

She gently pushed him back, but kept her hand on his chest, "You're silly. It's passion fruit dandruff shampoo!"

"PASSION FRUIT! I never woulda guessed!" Sheldon pulled back with a satisfied grin and said with a husky growl, "I shoulda known though.. The passion part that is..."

Amy was about to reach up and kiss him when an annoying insipid voice broke her concentration.

"Told you she smelled good." Kripke was leaning against the door frame with a satisfied grin.

Sheldon snapped away from Amy, and pulled her behind him. "What in the hell are you doing here Kripke?"

"Looking for you but I see you're too busy smelling the Flowers, huh?" Barry leered at Amy peeking around Sheldon's arm. Amy had had enough of his lecherous looks and she could tell by the heat rising off Sheldon that it was just a matter of moments before she would be breaking out the hazmat suits to clean Barry's blood off the floor.

Amy stepped around Sheldon, and marched over to Kripke, "Barry, you are not welcome here. If you have business with Dr. Cooper, you can make an appointment in an email, which I know you can use given your recent history! Now, unless you want me to start a dissection of a monkey's brain, I suggest you leave. I won't say where I would get the brain, but from the looks of you, it will be a short operation. NOW LEAVE!"

Sheldon noticed Barry's face freeze as Amy poked him sharply in the chest to reinforce the last two words she yelled at him. He blinked a few more times and scuttled off down the hall. Sheldon had to laugh as he remembered number Two's warning: Amy's angry face can freeze a man!" He grabbed Amy by the waist and spun her around to hold her.

"Oh my lord, woman, you are just too perfect, ya know that? I just can't believe you're my girlfriend!" Sheldon didn't care who saw or what anyone would say. He placed his hand behind her head, and tipped her down to kiss her. Amy was almost knocked off her feet, but Sheldon held her steady. As Sheldon ran his tongue over her bottom lip, Amy let out a whimper but it was drowned out by another annoying voice breaking up the couple's amorous activities.

"So, Dr. Fowler. I take it we are exploring the emotional reaction of that genius tongue now…" Eddy was leaning against the doorway with the same stance as Kripke, only this time, the leer was aimed at Sheldon.

Sheldon pulled Amy up with a swift motion that knocked the wind out of her. She was still recovering when Sheldon stated irritably, "Oh dear lord woman! Your lab is as busy as a bee hive!" Sheldon gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, a smile and rushed to his office before she could grab the counter for support. Her grin didn't fade, even as Eddy purred at her.

"Dr. Fowler, I do believe your Ventral Tegmental Area is on fire! I don't even need the electrodes to see that, honey. Guess that Peach lip gloss caught you a boyfriend after all! Remind me to get some!" Eddy's good natured smirk and wink was lost on Amy.

Amy just continued to grin with a faraway look that could not be abated by her nosey intern, "Good, Eddy. Right…" Amy wandered to the back of the lab with Eddy giggling after her.

Sheldon's morning did not improve much after he had left Amy's lab, thanks to another altercation with Kripke before lunch. This time, the result quickly escalated as Amy was not there to pour her calming influence on Sheldon's anger.

Kripke had finally turned up at Sheldon's office to discuss the matter he had wanted to talk to him about earlier when he had seen him with Amy. However before he broached the subject, he wanted to raise the issue of the Stephen Hawking e-mail that had been sent to all at Caltech. He was convinced that Sheldon had been the one who had sent out the email, and he intended to challenge him about it. Sheldon just smugly smiled, and crossed his arms over his chest as he let Barry drone on about his suspicions.

"Well, Barry, once again, you're all hat and no cattle. I don't have any idea what you're talkin' about but I do know this…" Sheldon stood up and crossed the room while keeping his glare on Kripke, like a laser sight. "You speak once more, just once to Amy Farrah Fowler with disrespect, I will smack the taste out your mouth, ya got me?"

Barry just laughed and shook his head, "Oh Cwooper, you really are a piece of work. You can't touch me! You'd be fired so fast your head would spin and besides, whaddya care what I say about ol' Flowers. Not like you're gonna get to that shrew. She just needs a good fuc…" Before Barry could finish his sentence, Sheldon grabbed him by the collar with both fists and slammed him against the wall pinning him a foot off the ground. Sheldon was shaking, grinding his teeth, and ready for a fight.

Barry jutted out his jaw and closed his eyes wincing at the anticipated pain. That was when Sheldon saw it, the familiar look of fear over Barry's face that Sheldon had known all too well when he was young, when he knew what was coming and could do nothing to stop it. Sheldon looked at his hands, still raw from the fight with Kurt, and saw his father's hands. He released Barry and backed away in shock.

Barry was shaking as he screamed at Sheldon, "I'm not afraid of you! Come on, Cwooper, finish what you started! Come on!"

Sheldon just shook his head, "No Barry. No." Sheldon turned his back to Barry and spoke quietly, "I don't need to hit you to get my point across." Sheldon spun around and stared at Barry, "You seem too used to it." He was looking past Barry, focused on a point in space beyond the current conversation.

Barry saw an expression on Sheldon's face that he hadn't seen before. It was just a flash, a bare hint, but Barry could swear he saw a look of empathy. Immediately, Sheldon stiffened up and glared at Barry. "Amy Farrah Fowler is a lady, a gifted scientist and now, my girlfriend."

Barry straightened out his shirt and scurried away from Sheldon, "How in the hell did you get her to be your girlfriend? You've only known her for two weeks! I've been working on her for years!"

"She's got good taste." Sheldon's smug smile dropped in an instant and he pointed at Kripke, "Now, you better learn to respect women, and quick, or I will make your life a living fucking hell."

Barry growled at Sheldon, "You already do! Now that you are Mr. Big man on campus, I have to work with you! YOU! Some washed out has-been who doesn't even believe in the many worlds interpretation of quantum physics."

Sheldon leaned back on his desk and grinned slyly, "Actually I do, Barry. I have had it proven to me by the only person I trust to be right: Myself. I even believe there is a universe where you are not a complete douche bag, although I'll need to use the Cray computer to calculate it. Now, what is this rubbish about us working together?"

Barry straightened his shirt and glared at Sheldon, "It's true, Gablehauser wants us to combine forces on the latest MacArthur grant proposal. I told him it was a waste of time."

Sheldon snorted a laugh, "Finally, you're right about something. It is a waste of time, because I've already done it." Sheldon walked over to his desk, and pulled out a file. Barry went over to read it, but Sheldon snatched it away, "Ah ah ah. Not till I see yours. I haven't submitted it yet. Let's see what you come up with, Barry. Now slither on back to your cave…" Sheldon shooed him off with a wave, and Kripke growled at him. Sheldon added quickly, "And Barry?"

"What?"

"Do try and keep up." Sheldon put his file back in his desk and sat back in his chair clasping his hands behind his head with a smug smile.

Barry stormed out of Sheldon's office almost running into Amy who had come to speak to Sheldon before going to lunch. Barry backed away from Amy, looking at the floor as he trotted off down the hall. Amy came into to Sheldon's office with her arms crossed and a discerning scowl.

"Okay, Mr. Show me your knuckles!"

Sheldon stood up straight and held out his hands, palms down, like a soldier waiting for inspection, "Amy! I didn't hit him! Come on and have a look!" Sheldon was very proud of himself for holding back his aggression. Since meeting Amy, he seemed to be more in control of his anger issues, though other emotions appeared to have a mind of their own.

"How could you not? I've wanted to punch Kripke for years now, ever since he sent me that naked picture of himself!" Amy came across the room and held onto Sheldon's outreached hands, which by the time she reached him had already formed a fist. The control he had seconds before evaporated.

"HE DID WHAT?" Sheldon was flaming red, ready to throttle Barry in an instant.

Amy sniggered, "Yeah. He thought it was 'flirting', but Mrs. Davis in HR disagreed as did the rest of the staff when his candid picture miraculously appeared in the monthly department memo." Amy bit her lip to hide her giggle.

Sheldon leaned against the wall and shook his head with a smile, "Oh lordy, woman…You didn't!"

Amy shrugged her shoulders, "Hey… I can't help that I had my phone out… and Howard saw it… and it wasn't password protected… These things happen!"

Sheldon clicked his cheek and let out a laugh, "Boy, I am really liking Howard now. Speaking of Howard, how's about we invite your friend Bernadette to dinner tonight at the apartment? Thai food, yeah?"

"Thai again? That's every Monday for 3 weeks in a row!"

Sheldon shrugged, "Hey… I like a routine."

"I hope I am not routine!"

"I wish!" Sheldon smirked, but Amy snapped back:

"WHAT?"

Sheldon stammered, "I mean. I like having you in my life, knowin' I can count on ya." His eyes twinkled as he smiled slightly melting her completely.

"Oh… okay. I hope I can surprise you one day, though, but I do like routine as well." Amy was still in shock over both his suggestion and the guest list, "However, do you really think that Bernadette would like Howard? I mean… he is extremely Howard!"

"I know… but stranger things have happened. Look at Leonard and Penny! They're gettin' along like peanut butter and jelly." Sheldon gave a smug smile, "I am a genius!"

Amy rolled her eyes, but had to admit, "You are the first person to say that to me and it's actually true."

Sheldon winked at her, "Of course it is." Sheldon had a brilliant plan and it was time to put it in action. "Now, I'll make sure the guys come and you roust the gals at your lunch today."

Amy had arranged to meet Penny and Bernadette for lunch that day which had displeased Sheldon no end, however he knew that she was just as much in need of friends as he was. "I will miss you though. Are you sure you can't have your hen party here at work… near me?"

Amy just smirked, "No! You wouldn't like our hen parties. We just talk about the roosters! But speaking of cackling fowl… really, in what universe would Howard and Bernadette be together." Amy couldn't comprehend anyone finding Howard attractive.

Sheldon donned a slight smile and hand in hand walked with her to door to say goodbye, "In all of them, Amy. In all of them."

Sheldon gave Amy a short kiss good bye, and went to the lunch room to find his new friends already sitting at a table. He still could not get over the fact that only a few weeks ago, the idea of walking into the crowded room had frightened him so much, and now he was strolling around like he owned the place. He grabbed a quick lunch and made his way to the table to the guys.

"Gentlemen, forgive my tardiness. I was late talking to my girlfriend." Sheldon sat down and grinned at his lunch plate, unable to take the smile off his face. "By the way, my girlfriend will not be joining us for lunch today. She is out with her new friends, but I will see my girlfriend later…"

"Yes… yes, Sheldon. We all know you have a girlfriend from your text, your blog post and your Facebook status!" Leonard leaned over and whispered to him, "I am very happy for you." Leonard was genuinely happy for Sheldon and hoped that soon he would have that same satisfied look on his face.

Howard was not so impressed, "Geez, way to rub it in Sheldon! You barely meet a girl, and in two weeks you are practically shacking up together!"

Leonard's smile dropped like a lead balloon, "Woah… wait a minute! I am supposed to be shacking up with Sheldon this weekend!" He looked over to Sheldon with pleading eyes.

"But we have paint ball practice on Saturday and the battle Sunday. It's just not enough time, Leonard! We need more time to prepare!"

"There's nothing to prepare! I thought we were going to do it after the practice. I know that we still haven't signed the agreement, but I pack light! I just need my Star Wars shampoo and my clothes. I can sleep on the floor!" Leonard was getting desperate.

Sheldon had to admit the truth. "Well… to be honest. I wanted to know if we could put it off till the following weekend." He took a deep swallow and didn't look at Leonard, "I wanted to take my girlfriend out this weekend, and I was… well…"

"Maybe Sunday afternoon?" Leonard puppy dog eyes were working.

Sheldon slumped, "Maybe… But Amy might stay the night. She said she might. I don't know…"

Howard raised his eye brows and sat back in his seat with a sly smirk, "Oh I see what's gonna on here! You want have a rendezvous with your girlfriend and not be caught in flagrante delicto, so to speak."

Raj blurted out, "DUDE! Are you already doing that Latin stuff and you've only been a couple for a day?! Damn Sheldon, you work fast, you sly dawg!" Raj was impressed, but unaware that in flagrante delicto just meant caught in the act.

Sheldon blushed up, "No! No Latin stuff… not yet. I mean…" Sheldon sucked in his bottom lip to try and stop his mouth. "Just, I need more time before Leonard moves in, that's all."

Leonard's shoulders slumped, "Okay… I understand…"

Sheldon hated to disappoint his new friend. He felt terrible, but he really wasn't ready to give up his personal space yet. But Sheldon had an ace up his sleeve that he hoped would make Leonard stop Hofstadering at least for a while. Sheldon sat up and announced proudly, "HOWEVER, I would like it if ya'll came to my house for dinner tonight. My girlfriend and I are getting Thai food!"

Leonard sat up, and smiled slightly, "Yeah?"

Sheldon smiled back, "Yep. Penny will be there…as will my girlfriend…"

Leonard blurted out before Sheldon was done talking, "Done."

"Oh man… I don't want to spend the evening with the happy couples… Howard, let's go roller skating again or something…"

Sheldon chimed in, "Now, speaking of Howard… I think he will find the other female guest this evening…intriguing"

Howard sat up to attention, "Is she hot? Like Katie Sackoff Hot, or just like the girl from Alphas hot. Oh, it doesn't matter… Is she Jewish? Forget that, I'm okay with it even if it turns out she is Catholic. Does she have three heads? I think I'm okay with that too."

Raj slumped back and crossed his arms, "Oh man! Even Howard gets a girl…"

Later that evening, Amy was amazed from the moment the group gathered at Sheldon's apartment, till the last one left for the evening. Not only was Sheldon a generous host, but he was gracious as well. He even offered to collect the dinner, with Amy's help of course. Though if asked he would have had to admit that it was partly so he could be a good host, but mostly so the dinner order would be right.

While the group was discussing the new Jurassic Park movie coming out that summer, Amy snuck over to Sheldon to whisper her approval, "Sheldon! I am so proud of you! Inviting people to your house, of your own volition! And the best part, your idea about Bernie and Howard was spot on! How did you know?"

Amy looked over at Howard and Bernadette kibitzing about whose mother was the more controlling. Howard had seemed smitten with the little blond microbiologist from the moment he saw her standing in the door way. Unfortunately, so was Raj, however, Sheldon squashed his hopes right away by shaking his head and mouthing, "not for you." Raj spent the rest of the evening "Hofstadering" bemoaning that he didn't have girlfriend, till Leonard insisted it now be called, "Koothrabawling".

Sheldon was thrilled at his inter-dimensional match making skills. Now if only he could find a nice girl for Raj, the group would be complete, but a Zombie loving girl seemed out of reach.

Sheldon pulled in his bottom lip with a knowing smirk and just shrugged his shoulder, "I guess I can tell love from miles away, even when they are covered in coffee on the floor." Sheldon nudged Amy with a hip and her face warmed with a blush. Sheldon whispered to her, "Now, let's talk this rowdy crowd into some trivial pursuit so we can wipe the floor with them! Dibs on the green pieces!" Sheldon bounced back to the couch with a skip and sat in his spot with a grin wide enough to split his face.

After the crowd of new and old friends left, Sheldon walked Amy down to her car. He had had a wonderful evening and was practically glowing under the street lamp on Los Robles Avenue. Amy was feeling warm, and it wasn't only because of the summer night's temperature but her own body heat. Every time she was near Sheldon, it felt at least 10 degrees hotter.

Sheldon smiled as he traced his fingers down the side of Amy's cheek, savoring her delicate skin. "Amy, I really enjoyed this evening. Thank you for helping set it up. You were amazing tonight at that game. Just another thing I love about ya." Sheldon put his other hand on her face and gently kissed her forehead. He pulled back to see Amy's expression, her lip was quivering with uncertainty and her eyes were glossy. Sheldon knew in an instant what the matter was.

He held her face and gave her a smile, "Oh Amy, Doncha worry, now. I don't want ya to say it because I did or for some fool social convention. I just know how I feel, that's all. Also… I'm trying to be honest for ya. Okay?"

"Okay." Amy said meekly, and pressed an urgent kiss to Sheldon before she started her long lonely ride back to Glendale. Her mind continued to race for the rest of the night as she tried to quantify her feelings in some way she could comprehend. Love? He had said it again, and had not taken it back or qualified it. His confidence was unwavering and that fact alone shook Amy. How could he be so sure? The need to say I love you back was overshadowed by the fear of what the words contained.

The following morning, Sheldon was just as chipper as the night before and showed Amy as much affection with his greeting as he had done with his goodbye last night. As usual, he walked Amy to her lab and gave her another sweet kiss that liquefied her. But as soon as he had left the lab, Amy turned on a dime and went over to her computer. She gathered a set of images and loaded them to the program she had used for her study. She had nearly completed the set and was about to put the electrodes on her head, when Gladys came into the lab. Amy looked up at Gladys staring at her with pursed lips and furrowed brow.

"I have to know, Gladys. I need to be sure…" Amy swallowed the lump in her throat and gave Gladys a desperate gaze. She saw Gladys release a large sigh and walk over to her. She grabbed the electrodes and placed the cap on Amy's head.

"I know you do, honey. Let me help you." Gladys helped Amy with the same electrodes she had placed on Sheldon's head the week before. Gladys went back in the booth, and ran the images. On Amy's screen flashed pictures of dancing couples, Carthaginian war heroes on elephants, flags and cups of tea. Pictures of monkeys at the zoo, motorcycles and bread pans zoomed over her eyes. 45 minutes later, Amy removed the electrodes and went to the booth. Gladys was waiting for her with a worried frown. She drew in a breath, and handed Amy a piece of paper with the results.

"I'm so sorry, Dr. Fowler. I really am." Gladys looked down as Amy read the results.

Dun DUN dun! Angst? Not from this author! Well... Not like you think... Stay tuned!