The following morning, Sheldon nearly managed to get away with leaving for his first driving lesson without being caught, but he hadn't accounted for Penny out unexpectedly early on her way to an audition.

'Hey Sheldon!' she called, just as he was about to get in Mike's car. 'Don't tell me you're learning how to drive!'

Sheldon fixed her with his best look of haughty derision in an attempt to cover any embarrassment. 'Penny, even with your limited mental capacity, I would have thought that was obvious,' he replied, indicating the driving school logo emblazoned across the side of the car.

'Ooh, just wait until I tell Leonard!' she giggled. 'You realise you owe all of us like a million lifts!'

Sheldon glared at her, as Mike poked his head out. 'Hi Penny! Congratulations! You got a date set?'

'Hi, Mr Rostenkowski!' she called back. 'No, not yet, but we're going up to Nebraska next month to talk to my family about it!'

'OK, well, we sure wish you the best of luck,' the older man replied, and then turned to Sheldon. 'So you getting in or what?'

They didn't go very far, in his first lesson, but it was surprising just how much there was to think about. Generally speaking, Sheldon was comfortable with his thought processes – they were controlled, linear, with defined outcomes (not including Amy), but this was so much harder. By the end of the lesson, he was exhausted.

'So how'd I do?' he asked Mike afterwards.

Mike paused for a while. 'Well, you got a lot to learn, but it's your first time. Course you got a lot to learn.'

'Learning's usually easy.'

'Yeah well, usually you don't have other things to think about, right?' He paused again, and then asked 'If you don't mind me asking, why'd you leave it so long?'

Sheldon looked away briefly. Memories of arguments with various redneck cretins who thought they knew better came to mind, the same arguments that got him banned from every driving school in Galveston. 'Well, I…' he began, and faltered under Mike's stern gaze.

'You know, I haven't been doing this very long, but I seen a few cocky 17 year olds who think they know better already. I'm guessing that was you.'

'Maybe…'

'Right. Well, you may be a smart guy, but right now, I know more than you, OK?'

'OK.' Sheldon had to agree.

Mike nodded. 'So, you want another lesson?' Again, Sheldon agreed. This was a challenge, and Sheldon Lee Cooper did not back down from a challenge. Which brought his career conundrum to mind…

'Mr Rostenkowski – Mike – did you ever…want to change your career?'

'Funny you should say that,' the older man replied. 'This one time, I was in the hospital, after a good friend of mine, someone I'd served with on the force for ten years, was shot. I lay there thinking that could have been me, thinking about my wife and the kids. In the end, I got to thinking the best way to move on was to get back out there and bring 'em down. I'm guessing your problem didn't leave anyone dead,' he finished bluntly. 'If no-one's dead, it's not such a problem.'

For the rest of the day, Sheldon mulled over Mike's words. Could it really be resolved more easily than he thought?

Later that week, Dr Gablehouser hoisted his zip, and made his way over to the basins, on his way back to the office. Once there, he sat down comfortably at his desk, and began work on drafting a new grant proposal. Before he did though, he sighed with satisfaction. It had been nearly three months since Dr Cooper had gone on his sabbatical. Three months with nothing in the suggestion box and no follow up emails clogging up his inbox. Three months without being obliged to intervene in spats between Dr Cooper and certain members of the faculty, and, most importantly, three months of being able to use the bathroom in peace. Life was good – was it really just over a month until he was due back?

Gablehouser decided to ignore that thought, and opened the new message showing on his screen from Professor Siebert. To say he was surprised at its content would be an understatement. Apparently, Stephen Hawking had contacted Siebert earlier that day, saying that he'd received an email concerning Dr Cooper's possible future in Cosmology, and was prepared to fund him should he decide to pursue it. As Gablehouser was all too aware, the university could never have enough sponsors, and was curious as to what Cooper would say…

At the same time, Professor Feinman, Neuroscience Faculty Head, was facing Amy. The older woman appeared somewhat concerned, and Amy wondered what the problem was.

'Dr Fowler, I wanted to speak with you about your current REM study,' she began. She paused for a moment then continued.

'From the results you and your colleagues have been collecting, and the conclusions you've drawn, it looks to be a very promising study. It's even been picked up by the American Journal of Neuroscience, and they'd like you and your team to present your preliminary findings at their annual symposium in Santa Monica in September.'

'That's great,' Amy replied, still wondering why this would be a concern. 'Is there something wrong?'

'Well, yes, but it's my responsibility really, not yours. You recall the conversation we had before the study began on the particular conditions needed by this particular subject?' she asked, indicating Sheldon's graph.

'Yes, but I outlined the reasons why and was sure to obtain all necessary permissions at the time,' Amy replied.

'Yes, and I signed you off to continue, but on reflection, I don't think this particular data can be used as part of the study. It's a shame, because it's very interesting, but I think is too compromised.'

'Oh.' Amy answered, disappointed. 'So you want it destroyed?'

'I'm afraid so,' Professor Feinman said, sitting back. 'It's for you and your subject to decide how you wish to dispose of it.'

'OK,' Amy said. She'd hoped to find some answers soon. She'd just have to present the results she had so far to Sheldon, and go over the evidence with him before getting rid of it.

'I'm sorry, Dr Fowler,' Professor Feinman finished, 'but we just can't use it. You will be able to speak at the Symposium though, I hope?'

'When is it?'

'September 16th and 17th. You'd be staying over at the hotel on the 16th. I'll email you the itinerary.'

'OK, thank you, Professor Feinman. I look forward to it.' Amy got up to leave.

'Thank you Dr Fowler. I look forward to hearing you and your team present your results.'

Making her way back to the lab, Amy thought some more about the symposium Professor Feinman had mentioned. It was to be held exactly four months after Sheldon's return, and he'd want to know if he'd 'passed' as her boyfriend going forward. To be honest, she was pretty sure he had, and it had been very hard trying to keep up the cool, detached demeanour around him that once came so naturally. She felt closer to him than she had in quite some time, which was strange considering she'd taken them back to the beginning, in a sense, and had the feeling he was finding it just as difficult to resist her. That was a strange and enticing thought – who could have imagined that the frumpy teenager called 'Fat Ass Fowler' could have such power over such an attractive man?

Sitting down at her workbench, Amy opened her emails, and sure enough, Professor Feinman had sent her the itinerary. Glancing through it, Amy was interested to read about the hotel and its facilities, as the note on the email that said UCLA had booked rooms for all its delegates. Maybe, just maybe, Sheldon would come to see her? After all, it looked likely that his 'probation' would be up by then…she really hoped she was right. Her mind started wandering, and she had to stop herself before her imagination turned far too dirty for work. She'd just about settled down enough to concentrate on the graphs in front of her, when she noticed her phone light up.

'Hi Sheldon!' she said, smiling. If only he knew what she was hoping for just a few moments ago…

'Amy!' he exclaimed, sounding ecstatic. 'You'll never guess what just happened!'

'No, what happened?'

'I just got this email…'

'Wow, it wasn't the Nobel Committee, was it?'

'Not yet, but it could be a step on the way!' he replied, excitedly. 'Siebert got an email from Stephen Hawking about me! He said Hawking would fund me if I switch to Cosmology!'

'Really, that's great Sheldon!' she replied warmly. 'Hey, I've got something to tell you too.'

'What?'

'I've been asked to speak at the national symposium for the Journal of Neuroscience!' she announced proudly.

'Really?' She blushed as he sounded as proud as she had just now, and he was. Only recently he'd been thinking about how proud he was of Amy, and knew he hadn't told her anything like enough. 'That's great!'

'I know, right? So it's being held at the Four Seasons Santa Monica in September – you want to come?'

Sheldon took a quick breath and felt his pulse kick up a gear. Watching smart Amy in front of the leading academics in her profession talking Science… It was weird how that was hot, but it was. Combine that with recognition from Stephen Hawking – could this day get any better?

'Oh yeah, when is it?'

'September 16th and 17th. The delegates are staying there too, like at Big Sur?' she added, wondering if he'd pick up the tentative suggestion.

'Right – hey, I'll look it up for you. It always pays to check the reviews first, you know?' She got the impression he was trying to keep his mind on normal concerns, and she was right. Hawking's email was amazing news, but somehow, this was bigger. This was the end of the probation period, and he was surprised at the sudden fantasy of congratulating smart Amy and proving his worth right there in her room.

'Thank you Sheldon,' Amy answered, trying to keep calm herself. 'So, what are you going do about Hawking?'

'Oh…um…' Why was it an effort to focus? 'Well, I don't know yet, but it's great to know I've got the option!'

'Yeah! Hey, have you told the guys?'

'No, not yet! I'm going to email Leonard now!' he finished with renewed excitement.

'OK, great! Speak to you soon!' She loved how enthusiastic he got sometimes, and having secured funding made his situation so much better.

As he hung up, Sheldon fell back on to his spot, hot and excited. He told himself it was the chance to work with Hawking, but he knew that wasn't the only reason. He was going to see Amy speak. She'd asked him to come away with her, and right now, there was nothing he'd rather do. That wasn't to say he wouldn't get nervous, nearer the time, that things might not go well, or (rather more so) that they'd go very well indeed, but for now, his initial response was developing into a fantasy it was very hard to resist.

Maybe…he didn't have to email Leonard just now…He thought of how proud he was of Amy, and how pleased she'd been when he'd told her about his first lesson with Mike. He thought of his genius being recognised by possibly his only intellectual equal. Pride in her and renewed confidence in himself was a powerful combination. It made him want her – now.

Without realising it, his breathing had turned shallow, and his pulse still raced. The ache that had been growing further down as soon as he'd started speaking to her was burning, harder now, the tight, strained fabric over his lap undeniable. He was quite alone in the apartment this afternoon. Even if he did come back, Leonard wouldn't be home for hours.

Sheldon thought some more. He thought of how Amy had looked when she went bowling, and when she'd come to set her experiments up at night, and the curves that haunted his dreams. He couldn't believe what he was contemplating, or how much he needed it. Feeling slightly guilty still, he gently ran one finger down the length of his zip, and then just off to the side. It was only the lightest of touches, but it sent a shiver through him. He'd kept so much hidden, so much denied when it came to Amy, almost since the day they'd met. The stroke of one finger became that of his palm, over, up and down. The shiver grew, becoming more like a jolt, as the fabric beneath his hand grew tighter. Even through the material, it felt good. He leaned back. Somewhere, deep in his mind was the familiar voice of reason, telling him this was wrong, dirty…messy…After a while, he couldn't hear it. She'd done this…she'd made him want her…taken him to the point of no return where logic and reason had no bearing. With the last bit of coherent thought Sheldon possessed, he knew it would be messy. Not here. It couldn't be here.

Once in the bathroom, it was easy, far too easy, to let the water cascade over him under the shower and touch it, for the first time in…oh, too long…It was warm, wet, smooth and begged to be held, stroked, rubbed, harder, always harder. His breath was ragged now, and as he remembered his dream, of Vulcan Amy's regulation uniform and black boots, he couldn't stop it. The release felt so good, so much better than he remembered, and for a moment, he just stood, leaning against the tiles, panting. In just over a month, she'd make her decision. In just over a month, at that hotel, Sheldon knew he'd be ready...