A/N: Here's the pentultimate chapter. I must give thanks for hazelra7 for her awesome dialogue suggestions. Now off to beta read for someone and prepare the final chapter to this. Happy New Years!
Disclaimer: I don't own BBT, but take them out to play sometimes.
Bernadette got out of the limo, followed by a disheveled Howard. "Talk about what, Mr. Robot? The fact that you have a sexless relationship with one of my friends?"
Sheldon's back was up, but he was determined to have his say. "No, Bernadette, but for the record, my relationship with Amy is none of your business. Yes, I have difficulties, but I'm working on them and Amy knows this"
"Whatever, Sheldon" Howard and Bernadette said together
"I am. But that's not the point. The point is you said something very cruel to Amy. I know I'm not the best boyfriend and I may sometimes be oblivious, but what you told her was totally uncalled for, especially since it was because you were mad you couldn't flash your boobies!"
"WHAT!" Howard said before turning to his wife. "Bernie, what's he talking about?"
Sheldon turned to his friend. "Oh, you don't know Howard? Let me enlighten you."
"Sheldon, shut up!" Bernadette said suddenly very embarrassed.
"Your wife was offered to be part of an article of female scientists in various states of undress in a renowned journal"
"Yeah, Sheldon, I know that, but they canceled it, which is their loss because my wife's tits are awesome!"
"Howie!" She said before hitting his arm.
"Sorry, Bernie, it's true. If we ever have a son, he could breast feed on those until grad school—OW!" Howard rubbed his arm from where his wife sucker punched him again.
Ignoring the couple, Sheldon continued. "As I was saying…..Amy disagreed with the purpose of this and let the magazine know her opinion. When she told Bernadette about what she said to the editors, your wife copped an attitude and told her the only reason Amy stated her peace about it was because no one wanted to see her express her…..s-s-sexuality"
"Bernie!" Howard didn't mind picking on Sheldon, but he always left Amy alone because she was his friend. He also felt that if a Jew could worship anyone as a saint, it would be Amy Fowler for putting up with Sheldon Cooper.
Sensing the tide turning against her, Bernadette turned to her husband. "Howie, we made up. Hell we even went dress shopping"
"Still, that was a pretty lousy thing to say to your friend, especially since she deals with his neurosis on a daily basis" Howard said
"You give Sheldon shit about his weirdness about sex all the time"
"Yeah, but we're guys."
Sheldon spoke up in an attempt to hide his nervousness. "Howard, you may think you are an expert in sex through your awkward coitus with your cousin as a teenager and through happenstance you were able to use that rudimentary knowledge to bewitch Bernadette here. However, not everyone feels the need to lay on top of another person and grunt here and there in a need to relieve biological stress and call it 'making love'"
He turned to Bernadette and his momentary inadequacy turned back to anger. "You just said that stuff because we all know that while Amy is internationally renowned in the science world, won awards, and is respected by her peers in academia, you sold out to the highest bidder when you got your doctorate and went to work at that pharmaceuticals company. Of course the one chance to even come close to the respect and visibility Amy Farrah Fowler has in the science community is when you were offered a chance to pose in a sexual manner. When it got taken away, you took it out on your girlfriend….the woman I love!"
Bernadette and Howard's mouths dropped and simultaneously spoke. "The woman you love?"
Sheldon froze as he realized what he said. 'That was only for my Amy's ears!' He hesitated for a moment, but threw caution to the wind, ignoring the nausea that built up in his stomach.
"Yes, the woman I love. I've never seen another woman who even compares to Amy Farrah Fowler in attractiveness and beauty. Now that I know what you said to her, I need to make her more aware of my feelings. Your commentary on her sexuality is not welcome and will not be spoken of again"
Sheldon stood up ram rod straight with a look in his eyes that made the couple shudder before he directed his gaze to the woman. "You Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowicz are not allowed back into my apartment until you make things right with my cute little lump on wool. Now, leave my residence. I have a girlfriend to find"
"A girlfriend to find?" Bernadette said. "What did you do now, Sheldon Cooper?"
"Never you mind. Now go fornicate at home. We have neighbors you know. Maybe you can get the dogs howling with her excited voice again"
As she watched Sheldon walk back into Los Robles with purpose, Bernadette felt incredible guilt as she remembered the night of their fight.
*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
She attempted to apologize to Amy at Los Robles, but it was pushed aside when the neurobiologist told her about their significant others and Raj locked into a room at a doctor's house who had a crush on Penny.
The four separated with the doctor going to his BMW and the three girls heading to Penny's car. Bernadette headed towards her usual front passenger side before she was forcefully shoved away, giving Amy time to get to the front seat. When the microbiologist turned to her right, she saw Penny pointing to the back seat on the driver's side. Penny's face told Bernadette that Amy somehow informed her about the fight at the bar before she got there.
The tension was thick in the car as Penny followed Doctor Lorvis back to his home in Sherman Oaks. Any questions Bernadette asked about the situation was answered tersely by one of the women before the women continued their conversation with each other up front.
About two hours later, Leonard had finally finished his Donkey Kong game. As they were leaving the doctor's home, Penny told the guys they would catch up with them in a moment. When the guys were out of earshot, the blonde once again pushed her petite friend, this time forcefully forward to Amy.
"Bernadette, I think you have something to say to Amy. We'll be waiting in the cars for you"
When Penny walked away, Bernadette turned to her friend. "Amy I shouldn't have said what I did. It wasn't nice"
Amy waited for a second, but no other words were spoken. She had hoped for more, but didn't want to rock the boat. "Of course"
Bernadette didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, so she gave Amy a hug, ignoring the halfhearted response she got in return. She looked over and saw the cars idling in the driveway. "Come on Amy, let's go. This place gives me the creeps."
The girls walked to the cars, Bernadette in Howard's with her husband and Raj, and Amy in Penny's with Leonard and Sheldon.
*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
The neurobiologist had accepted her apology, but except for the time the two scientists were with Penny, her friend was reserved and quiet unless Bernadette spoke to her, even when decorating the roof for the prom.
To the microbiologist's surprise, all but one of fellow female scientists at work agreed with Amy, including one who was also offered a place in the centerfold. The day after her fight with Amy, most of those ladies, including the one asked to pose, stated to her they also wrote emails protesting the sexism of the proposed article. Bernadette had to admit it was doubtful is was Amy's word alone that led the cancelation, no matter what the neurobiologist told her.
That's when she realized it. She gave her regrets for her remarks, but never said the words 'I'm sorry'
As much as she hated to admit it, Sheldon was right. She was jealous of her friend. No one ever asked her to publish in journals and nominated her for awards in her field of microbiology. What she said was uncalled for. She wanted to talk to Amy right away, but she got the sense her presence would not be welcomed and it looked like Sheldon had some making up of his own to do.
Bernadette decided she would track down Amy first thing tomorrow and they would really talk instead of her taking things at face value because it was easier.
"Come on Howie. Let's go home"
The two got into the limo[R8] with the driver reading his phone until he got into the front. As the car's engine turned over, a voice came out of the vehicle.
"HOWIE, WHAT DID SHELDON MEAN BY MY VOICE MAKING THE DOGS HOWL AGAIN?!"