The Duality Synthesis, Chapter 7 by patricia51
(For I know I'll never find another you)
(Two weeks later)
(Geneva, Switzerland)
Leonard hadn't realized that he had been holding his breath until he let it out in a loud "Whoosh".
The two other physicists standing beside him laughed. But the laughter was friendly.
"Not to worry old man," Doctor Jeffries Smythe of Oxford clapped the American on the back. "We all have done that."
"In fact," added the third person, Doctor Shelia Carter of the Imperial College London, "I rather worry about any physicist who ISN'T awed by this incredible machine in operation. Such a person would have no imagination at all, no ability to comprehend what we are all searching for as physicists; the very origin and composition of the universe."
Leonard nodded in agreement although he personally was acquainted with a physicist whose only awe seemed to be directed at himself. Stop that, he told himself. In spite of all his faults Sheldon Cooper was still his best friend and a theoretical physicists of astounding, if extremely irritating and self-assured, ability.
"Weeks and weeks of preparation to design and test this experiment before we even gathered here," Shelia mused. "Theoretical testing of models and then the set-up, which by the way friend Leonard we could never have accomplished without you. Your knowledge and ability with lasers proved the linchpin to this and I tell you that the papers generated by this experiment will tell of that."
"Indeed old chap," chimed in Jeffries.
"Thanks," Leonard nearly blushed from the compliments from two well respected colleagues. "But you know I actually went down the wrong road when I started out. I was attempting to disprove dark matter rather than delving into its existence and how we can fit it into the non-supersymmetrical Standard Model."
"We all go down the wrong road occasionally," laughed Shelia. "That's why we're experimental physicists. The trick is to recognize when you are wrong and then to use that as a starting point to find the right direction. As I recall you did just that and here you are."
"Here I am."
"Cheer up. I know you miss your wife. Heaven knows you talk about her often enough that everyone on the team feels like we know her. And that's just fine."
"I know. And I feel a little torn. One side of me wants to be home now but the other side is already regretting we can't do more here."
"Well we have a week but that's going to barely be enough time to even start writing up our findings. We'll be spending a great deal of time video conferencing and shooting emails back and forth across the ocean I'm sure." Jeffries paused and went on thoughtfully. "I realize that there will be other pressing matters demanding your attention and interest but maybe when the dust settles and we get close to presentation you and the other Doctor Hofstadter could come to England. If this leads where we all hope it will we could be unveiling our findings before the Royal Academy."
"That would be great," Leonard responded. A little grin crossed his face as he recalled the previous visit to England by he and Alex.
"And since they will be shutting down the Collidor soon for the planned expansion and upgrade we wouldn't have time to do anything more. We're lucky we managed to get in at all."
"Maybe by the time we have worked through all the data from this experiment we have more questions to be answered and we can try to arrange to come back again. Regardless, it has been both exciting and a privilege to be here and work with you both."
"Well let's go get started," the female English scientist said cheerfully. "We've got a lot to process before we can even get started assembling that data much less start making theories."
(Pasadena)
A key rattled in the front door followed by the sound of the bolt retracting. Alex, from her position on the couch with her laptop precariously balance on her ever growing baby bump, looked over as the door opened and Penny stuck her head in.
"Hey you!" the waitress/actress smiled brightly. "Look who I found parking her car and when you see the amount of mail we picked up for you I'm darned glad I did."
Alex craned her neck and returned Penny's smile as the blonde came in followed by Mandy. And indeed both of the women held an assortment of packages, letters and document mailers.
"Thanks for getting the mail Penny. The route person left a notice saying it was being held as there was too much. I knew there would be a fair amount but I didn't think there would be that much."
"What in the world is all this?" inquired Penny as she and Mandy piled as much as they could on the end table nearest to Alex's head. With a grunt the very pregnant physicist sat up and started sorting through everything.
"The packages are mostly books I ordered for Leonard. Some he asked me to find; some I thought he would like on my own."
"This one is marked 'Book Rate' but it seems awfully slender," remarked Mandy. "Oh, I think the return address gives it away." Eyes twinkling the female soldier handed the item in question to Alex, who very carefully and gingerly opened it.
"Oh yesssssssssss," she breathed. "Perfect."
"Oh golly Alex," Penny exclaimed, looking over the other girl's shoulder, "Not another comic book!"
"Uh-huh. This one is special."
"Why?"
"Well," Alex stammered a bit and turned red.
"Don't tell me," Mandy laughed. She turned to Penny. "Penny didn't you once tell me that Leonard had Star Trek uniforms in his closet and a Battlestar Galactica flight suit?"
"The flight suit is from the original series of course," Now Penny's eyes were twinkling.
"Of course." Mandy pretended to study the colorful cover. "I wonder. Do you suppose there might be TWO costumes from this group somewhere in the bedroom closet? After all, as I recall, mostly from the movies, the lead male and female enentually WERE married."
"I'll never tell," replied Alex who joined in her friends' laughter. "But, could be!"
"You seem to have a number of envelopes from the American Institute of Physics. Care to elaborate?"
"I might," Alex acknowledged. "But I also can tell that the two of you are bursting with news yourself. So enough about me. Give it up you two!"
"Or what? Are you going to go all Sue Storm on us?"
"Well," Alex sighed. "I don t think I could fit in that costume now. Assuming such a thing DID hang in the closet."
"Next to one for Mister Fantastic?"
"Could be. Dish!"
The trio was still in deep conversation nearly an hour later when a now familiar series of raps came on the door."
"Alex. Alex. Alex."
"Come in Sheldon."
The physicist entered, accompanied by Amy.
"Hi bestie," the neurobiologist greeted Penny. "Hello Alex, hello Mandy. What are you doing this afternoon?"
"We're celebrating." Penny announced while holding up a partially eaten chocolate cupcake smothered in pink icing. The chunk missing from the cupcake served to explain the icing covering the blonde's upper lip. "We can't use champagne for obvious reasons so we're having cupcakes which by the way are a very satisfying alternative."
"What are you celebrating?" asked Amy.
"Wait a minute," Sheldon objected. "If everyone talks about themselves then they won't be listening to me."
"Exactly," nodded Penny.
"What's your news bestie?" Amy asked anxiously.
"Well, it seems that Mandy has been assigned 'in addition to other duties' to be a technical advisor on an upcoming Steven Spielberg movie. When she went to her first meeting she took me along and to make a long story short I got to meet him AND was given a chance to audition for one of the supporting roles. They just called and I got the part!"
"Speaking of Mandy," Penny went on, "Guess who has just been selected for promotion to Major and before you object Sheldon I was being rhetorical and not really looking to get guesses."
"Then why did you ask?" fretted Sheldon.
"I just said it was rhetorical. Mandy is now Major Amanda MacKenzie. I understand that she was selected from 'below the zone'. I don't know exactly what that means but my boyfriend Mike tells me it's quite an honor."
"Well yes," Sheldon attempted to interject himself back into the conversation, "I will have seniority as I was promoted first."
"Sheldon you promoted yourself to Major of your paintball team. No one cares and no one considers you a Major except occasionally a major pain in the butt."
"Congratulations to you both," said Amy. "And Alex? Are you part of this celebration?"
"Indeed she is," Mandy took over. She sorted through a pile of magazines and picked up two. "These are advance copies of 'Physics Today' and the 'Applied Physics Reviews'. The first one has an article in it by Doctor Leonard Hofstadter. The second has an article by Doctor Alex Hofstadter plus one written jointly by Doctor Leonard Hofstadter AND Doctor Alex Hofstadter."
"Well done," said Amy approvingly.
"I get papers published all the time," sniffed Sheldon. "On important topics, not what you two speculate about."
"Poor Sheldon, jealous?"
"Of course not. I'm just very unhappy because good things are happening to all of you and not happening for me in spite of the fact that they SHOULD be happening to me."
"Why is that?"
"Because of who I am," he replied in surprise. "A once or perhaps twice in a lifetime mind!"
"A legend in his own mind," noted Mandy.
"Well Sheldon I hope you won't become even more unhappy but I suspect you will." Alex held up an envelope. "This notified Leonard that he has been chosen to receive the Arthur L. Schawlow Prize in Laser Science. That's a large stepping stone towards other prizes."
"Humphhh," observed Sheldon.
"So that's why you got this?" Penny held up the comic book.
"What is that?" Sheldon asked, his curiosity getting the better of his egotism for a change. Penny handed it to him.
"Goodness. 'Fantastic Four Number 1' published November 1961. I just don't understand," he complained plaintively. "Why do these things never happen for me?"
No one dared to suggest an answer aloud although the combined thoughts of the four women, including Amy might have knocked him unconscious.
(To be continued)
(I know we just had the jealousy thing in "The Bon Voyage Reaction" but it fit too well to pass up.)