Chapter 8

Amy looked around her lab and smiled. She felt at home here…this was her safe place. This was where she felt in control and where she felt in a position of authority. She was Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler, respected, published neurobiologist. She really enjoyed working at CalTech, her colleagues were amazing, and the labs were state of the art. Amy opened up the desk, and started taking her files out. She would be sad to leave the lab and her addiction study, but she was thinking all morning of new possibilities for research. CalTech had worked hard to lure her from UCLA, so she knew that they weren't going to let her go back so easily. She wanted to stay also, and not just because Sheldon worked just across campus. It was simply an amazing place to work.

Amy glanced at her phone, and thought about how she hadn't written Sheldon back. She wanted to talk to him, so see him, but she needed time to sort things out in her head. She pulled out her laptop, and decided to write him an email instead.

Dear Sheldon,

Thank-you for your texts this morning, they made me smile. On my way to work this morning, I stopped at the walk-in clinic and got my leg checked out. The doctor said the burn in not too bad, and just to keep it clean and dry. Thanks for checking up on me, it means a lot.

I have been thinking about how we should communicate while we take some time apart. I think if we are constantly texting and skyping it will take away some of what I am trying to get out of this break. I do not want to cut out all communication with you though, because I think we need to talk and sort through a number of things. I know that I often find it easier to collect my thoughts in written word than speaking sometimes. So I propose that we each send each other one email a day. This way we can start to talk about some issues that are perhaps not the easiest to talk about.

I am currently packing up my lab, but I have some new ideas for some studies here at CalTech. I am in the process of writing up a few proposals, and will present it to the department head. Hopefully it will be enough get some research started here again, and I will not have to go back to UCLA.

I got a text from Bernadette and from Penny. Bernadette seemed very apologetic in her text. Penny was very flippant in her text and didn't really apologize. I am not sure how to process all of this, I am still quite upset with both of them. Penny more so at the moment, because she doesn't seem to really care. I haven't written either of them back.

I am going to do a lot of thinking about our relationship during the next two weeks. I need to figure out what I need out of this relationship, and if it is possible. I promise to let you know what I am thinking about, so you don't feel out of the loop.

I miss you very much.

Love,

Amy.

She hit send and closed her laptop. She picked up a framed picture of her and Sheldon and gazed at it. If they could only get on the same page on what they want, then they could have an amazing relationship. There was so much unresolved hurt there though. Was it possible?

"Amy?"

Amy glanced up and saw Howard standing at her lab door.

"Howard? What are you doing here?" Amy looked up at him surprised.

"I just wanted to see how you were doing? I heard from Leonard about what happened with your addiction study." He cleared his throat, and looked at her nervously "I also wanted to see how you were doing after the fight you had with Penny and Bernie"

"Did Bernie send you?"

"No! No…she doesn't even know I am here right now. Amy, Bernie feels so terribly about what she said to you, she spent most of the night crying. I also felt really bad about what was said to you, and I wanted to check in on you and see if you were ok."

Amy looked at Howard. He was really quite a sweet man, she felt much closer to him after their scavenger hunt in the "Neilmobile". She gave him a soft smile.

"Amy, you know what they said to you isn't true right?" Howard said softly.

"What part? The part where about how Sheldon and I have a screwed up relationship, or the part where I am sexually unattractive and will never turn a man on?" Amy replied. She looked down at her desk.

"Amy, when I first met you, I thought you were quite strange, a bit abrupt and sometimes a bit condescending." Howard saw Amy frowning at him, but continued on. "But, Sheldon was also arrogant, cold and extremely condescending."

"Wow we make quite the match" Amy said quietly.

"Do you know how much you two have changed each other? You went from a woman who gave short one word answers to one of the warmest people in our group of friends. You plan parties, you are the life of the party, with the gang or just with the girls. And Sheldon's changed in ways we thought were impossible. You made him a more caring open person. I never thought I would see the day where Sheldon Cooper was excited to go to a "prom", but there he was, having a great time, and it was obvious to everyone in the room that he is completely in love with you."

Howard continued on "Sheldon and I have never have had the best relationship. He was constantly putting me down, making fun of engineers and my lack of a doctorate. But, we became a lot closer after we went to Houston together. I think we started to see each other more as friends after that. I think that has a lot to do with your influence. You both bring the best out of each other….that's what good couples do."

Amy smiled at Howard. "Thanks Howard, that was very sweet of you to say that."

"And as for the other stuff, are you going to trust a girls opinion or a guys?" Howard asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you are a very pretty girl, you sometimes keep it a bit under wraps literally with all your cardigans, but we all can see that you are. That is a guys' opinion." He gave her a little wink and a smile. Howard walked up to Amy and gave her a hug. "Please give Bernie a call. She really wants to talk to you."

Amy looked up at Howard, "Thanks for coming to see me. It really meant a lot. I think I will call Bernie. You know, she really is a lucky girl to have you."

Howard gave a smile, and quietly walked out the door.

Amy sat at her desk smiling. Howard was such a sweet guy, it was so nice of him to come check on her. She was starting to feel a bit better. Maybe she could have it all…it was starting to feel like a real possibility. He was right, she shouldn't worry about what the girls thought of her, she needed to feel good and confident in herself. This wasn't about Sheldon, Penny or Bernadette…this was about her…and Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler was a winner.

A/N: Just a short sweet chapter this time. I thought a happier chapter was in order after the last chapter was a pit of negativity! Thank-you for all your reviews!