Amy was woken by the radio the next morning.
"That's odd." she frowned. "I set it to 'alarm', not 'radio'." Yet she made no effort to turn it off.
She heard a small woof, and looked over the side of the bed, where Scooby sat, wagging his tail.
"Did you do this?" She chuckled.
Scooby hung his tongue out and stood up, trotting into the kitchen.
Amy got to her feet and went to feed Scooby before heading into the bathroom, where she bumped into Sheldon who was just leaving the room.
"All ready for you." He smiled, kissing her before she closed the door.
Once Amy was done, she returned to the bedroom, where Sheldon was lying back down, listening to the radio.
"I never made much time to listen to music." He commented. "It's not so bad."
Amy smiled and started to get changed, dancing along to the pop song that was playing.
Sheldon propped himself up on his elbows and watched her.
As Amy spun around to see her husband watching her, she narrowed her eyes. "What are you doing?"
"Watching you."
"I'm dancing, Sheldon. Want to join me?"
He shook his head. "I have a better idea!" He took her hand and pulled her on top of him, kissing her passionately.
The kiss grew heated and they began to remove each other's clothing, pawing at each other like animals in heat.
The radio started playing Jump for my Love, which they both found ironic.
Their eyes met as they stopped for breath and rolled over so that Sheldon was on top, only to be flipped over by Amy again!
As Sheldon entered her, Amy sat upright, pulling him with her and kissing him feverishly as they rocked together.
Scooby trotted into the room, to find his 'parents' were otherwise engaged.
He cocked his head and then fled from the room as if embarrassed.
Amy and Sheldon didn't notice as they both neared orgasm and climaxed loudly together.
"Oh wow…Three and a half minutes. That's beyond terrible!" Sheldon shook his head. "We're better than that!"
Amy grinned. "There's nothing wrong with a quickie, Sheldon. Besides, we were kind of racing against the song!"
He nodded in reply. "The song was scarily appropriate!"
Amy smiled again, feeling giddy as she kissed him and stood up.
"Are you okay?" Sheldon asked, noticing that Amy almost fell over.
"I think I stood up too fast!" She replied. "I'm okay." She pulled her work clothes on and brushed her hair, before applying some light make-up.
"I wish you didn't have to work today." Sheldon pouted.
"Me too, but I have to." Amy replied apologetically. "Since when were you so needy and dependent on human company?"
"Since I met you." He replied, without skipping a beat.
"That's very sweet." She smiled, gathering up her things into her bag. "I fed Scooby, so he will just need his lunch at his scheduled time."
"Alright." Sheldon nodded, pulling on a long-sleeved undershirt and one of his usual printed shirts over the top.
Rolling up the long sleeves, he started on his pants, selecting his burgundy pair.
Amy raised an eyebrow. "Um…That shirt with those pants?"
Sheldon looked at her carefully. "You've been hanging out with Penny too much." He said, "Okay then, Mrs Smartypants, what would you suggest?"
"Well, Mr Moody, I would wear black or white with those pants." She replied, opening Sheldon's side of the walk-in closet.
"So…not green?" He asked.
"Oh dear God no!" Amy wrinkled her nose up, as she peered in the closet and pulled out a couple of shirts.
"I think this for underneath, and this on top." She said, holding up the shirts.
"Fair enough. But do you know what I think should go on top?" He asked, smiling coyly.
"I'm guessing me?" Amy grinned.
"No…Me!" Sheldon replied, "I guarantee this time we will last longer if we turn that infernal radio off!"
"I don't have time, but I promise to give it to you good when I get home!" Amy answered as Sheldon pulled on the shirts that Amy had provided.
"I will hold you to that." Sheldon smiled, as he looked down at his appearance, and then looked in the mirror. "Oh…Yes, this looks much better! Thank you Amy." He kissed her lovingly. "Hurry back later."
"I will." Amy promised, grabbing her key and phone off its charger. "I love you."
"I love you too." Sheldon replied as they kissed one last time, closing the door.
..
"Dr Cooper. Have you finished your report on Soleil and her social phobia?"
Amy looked up at Professor Roberts, who had approached her desk.
"Yes sir." She nodded, reaching into her drawer to retrieve it, and handing it over.
"Thank you," Professor Roberts smiled. "I'll look over it, and we have a new subject in today that I'd like you to take a look at."
Amy grinned. "Sure, but I bet they'll be nothing like Soleil!"
"You really bonded with that gorgeous bottlenose, didn't you?" Professor Roberts said softly. "She is a very special dolphin, but she was ready to be freed again after the treatment."
"I know." Amy nodded sadly. "I've been working in neurobiology for almost fifteen years; I should know better than to become attached to subjects. It happened with a Capuchin monkey once back home…He eventually died from lung cancer."
"Oh no," Professor Roberts frowned. "I'm sorry…How did he contract that?"
"He was one of our nicotine addiction study subjects."
Professor Roberts' eyes flew wide. "UCLA use animal testing?!"
Amy shifted uncomfortably. "Well…Yes. We do use humans too, but we use monkeys and rats mostly. If it helps, I'm not really comfortable with it myself. And…No offence sir, but you have dolphins here."
"Yes, but we never use drugs unless completely necessary, and we never test new drugs on our subjects." He replied softly, "We treat them humanely and using dolphin-friendly techniques, as you have seen and been a part of. It's been successful every time."
Amy frowned.
Now that she thought of it, Soleil's problems had been cured by using natural therapies as opposed to drugs.
A horrible thought occurred to her; she didn't like the way her university back home tested on animals, and she felt a lot more comfortable here at the Fitzpatrick Marine Biology Facility.
"I…I need to make a call." Amy said, her voice breaking as she made her way to the phone in the hall.
It was empty in the hallway as Amy dialled the number and waited.
"Hello? This is Dr Amy Cooper…Yes, Amy Farrah Fowler then…It's wonderful, thank you. Actually I called to see if there is a chance that you could use humans as test subjects as opposed to animals?...Yes, well you see, I've become comfortable with the animal-friendly techniques that they use here, and I am uncomfortable with the animal testing we practise at UCLA... I understand that, of course, but…"
Her heart sank as she listened to the reply.
Swallowing, she bit her lip. "I'm sorry, but that doesn't work for me. I'm going to hand in my resignation upon my return. I can't keep doing something I don't believe in. I quit."
She hung up the phone, and took a deep breath, covering her face with her hands.
Feeling an overwhelming surge of guilt and hurt for the animals that old job were refusing to stop testing on, Amy began to cry.
She felt an arm on her shoulder, and looked round to find David comforting her.
"I hope you don't mind…I heard your conversation when I came out of the restroom. I think you did the right thing." He comforted.
"Thank you David." She sniffed. "I feel so stupid. My contract here is only five months, and I only have three left. I need to find a new job in LA for when I return."
"Come on, let's grab a coffee." David said, as he led Amy to the cafeteria.
They got their drinks and sat at a table by the window, staring out at the ocean and the release tank gates, where dolphins were taken to be released back into the wild.
"What made you come to this decision?" David asked.
"Oh, it's stupid…" Amy made a face.
"I'm sure it isn't. You can tell me, and I will listen."
"Okay…I just form such a strong bond with animals, and when they die from the effects of the testing, it kills me a little more inside. Not only that but I formed a really strong bond with Soleil, and now I have a pet of my own…I hate to see any harm come to an animal unnecessarily. I can't work around that any more. Especially if I'm going to have a baby."
David's eyes widened. "You're pregnant? Congratulations!"
"Oh, no I'm not! Not yet…I don't even know if I can get pregnant." Amy replied. "I have…Well I have a problem. It's not totally impossible for me, but there's a high chance it might not happen."
"I'm sorry." David replied gently. "You know, Emily had the same news, and then lo and behold, we conceived Alicia! By some miracle! Maybe it will happen for you and Sheldon…Are you trying?"
"Yeah," Amy nodded, "And don't get me started on miracles! Sheldon doesn't believe in them…Or anything that sounds remotely religious."
"I used to be like that." David nodded, "And then Emily changed me, and Alicia too. I think you and Sheldon are perfect for each other. I've never met someone so much like me in my life; it's clear as day that he used to be as uptight as I did and that you've changed him for the better. It has to happen for you. He'll have to believe in miracles if you do get pregnant!" David grinned, draining the rest of his coffee.
"Oh I don't think so." Amy laughed, "He's made so many changes, but I don't think his views will be one of them!"
"We'll see." David smiled. "But seriously Amy, that phonecall took guts! If you're planning to have a child, of course you don't want to work somewhere that tests on animals. It really does damage a lot. I used to work in the same job as you; I was a biologist and our place tested on animals, but when Emily fell pregnant, I realized I couldn't do it anymore. I had to go somewhere a little more humane. Otherwise Alicia might grow up to think that animal testing is 'normal' or 'right', or she will get disturbed and upset by it. You never know…It's damaging. I watched two of my colleagues' kids break down over it."
Amy smiled. "I need to think long-term now. I didn't like it either; I much prefer being here. I wish I could stay,"
"There's actually a dolphin research facility over in Los Angeles; we are partnered with them actually; they do exactly the same work as us under the same name. Why don't you and Sheldon join me, Emily and Professor Roberts and his wife for dinner to discuss it one day this week?" David offered. "He could set you up with a permanent job there."
Amy blinked. "Really?"
"That's what friends are for." David smiled. "Emily loved meeting you too, you two got on like a house on fire!"
"Okay, well if we can get that organized, that'd be great. Thank you David!" Amy smiled, giving him a swift, friendly hug as they stood up.
"No problem. It's like you and Sheldon are our long lost brother and sister!" David grinned. "And as that saying goes; friends are the family we choose for ourselves. Family help each other out!"
"Thanks." Amy smiled. "Now, I have a new dolphin to meet!"
..
Returning home to the suite hat afternoon, Amy sighed as she kicked off her shoes and put her slippers on, flopping on the couch with Scooby joining her.
Sheldon was in the kitchen and noticed that Amy had returned.
"Is everything okay?" He asked.
"I quit my job back home." She replied. "I hated that they tested on animals…I've been working humanely with the dolphins and using natural remedies and therapies. If we do have a child, the fact that her mother works in an animal testing lab could be very damaging! I need a job where I can believe in what I do, not something I hate doing and feel guilty about. Testing on animals is not something I ever enjoyed, but I stuck with it because it was my job. Now…"
Sheldon blinked. "I see."
"You think I'm crazy don't you?" Amy grimaced.
"Not at all." Sheldon replied, sitting the other side of Amy. "On the contrary; I think that was a wise decision."
"David spoke to me though, and he wants me and you to meet him and Emily for dinner, but with my boss and maybe his wife too, so that we can discuss me taking up the same post in the LA facility of the Fitzpatrick Facility."
"That's fantastic!"
Amy smiled softly. "Do you mind if we don't have sex tonight? I know I promised, but I just have a lot to think about. I'm stressed and cuddling would be perfect."
"Of course." Sheldon replied, shifting into position so that Amy could lean against him as they cuddled.
He rested his chin on her head as he held her and closed his eyes. "I'll make you dinner tonight if you want? I can do spaghetti and hot dogs?"
Amy smiled. "That's very thoughtful Sheldon, but…"
"Say no more. Take out it is." Sheldon said, "And for the record, I think you did the right thing."
..