Chapter 2
Amy was heading to Caltech, when on the road she stumbled across Sheldon´s favorite model train store. She checked her watch and realized that there were still 40 minutes left until 12:00 pm, so she decided to park the car and maybe, look for a present for her boyfriend.
Almost a week ago, on their date night, (i.e., on the second Thursday of every month or on the third Thursday in a month with 5 Thursdays, according to their Relationship Agreement); Sheldon had taken Amy to the model train shop. Sheldon showed great interest for a scale replica of the famous Jacobite Steam Train, a Scottish train that was used, in Harry Potter films, as the Hogwarts Express.
Sheldon had mentioned several interesting facts about the train, which Amy vaguely remembered. Honestly, she was focused on the shine in her boyfriend´s beautiful blue eyes. Unfortunately, Sheldon couldn´t buy the scale model, because they only had the display piece, but the store manager agreed to make a new order from his supplier.
Wasting no time, Amy walked to the shelf where the tiny, red and black locomotive was, mint in box, in perfect condition.
Amy looked at the toy for a few seconds, imagining how happy Sheldon would be with the surprise. She knew what to do to cheer him up; she loved his eccentricities and quirks. Making him happy was one of her favorite activities and now; his beloved Shelly Bean needed her. Hooo!
A tug at the hem of her skirt, followed by a childish voice, awoke her from this "trance". It was a little boy of about five years old, wearing a Batman costume.
"Mommy, I want the Harry Potter train!", said the little boy who had confused Amy with his mother.
"Hey little buddy, I think your mom is right over there, looking for you", Amy said while trying to locate that distracted lady.
Amy was as fond of children, as she was of little monkeys; they both had this certain kindness and sweetness. She couldn´t help smiling.
Once they were together again, mother and son walked to the door and out of the store. The boy dressed as Batman, said goodbye to Amy waving his little hand.
Amy paid for the model train and checking her watch again she left the shop, almost running. She couldn´t be late for lunch with Sheldon.
In his office, Sheldon was staring at the whiteboard trying to solve an equation, which throughout the morning had been so elusive. ─ "I can´t believe it, a simple equation, unworthy of the genius of Dr. Sheldon Cooper, is causing me a headache".
"What´s up Coopeg?, The unpleasant voice of Kripke was unmistakable.
"Kripke!", Sheldon said with a grimace of disgust.
"Pwoblems with that equation?, Let me help you!", Barry continued, approaching the board.
"No, it's fine, it's… it's too easy, so I'll erase it to start a new one, even more challenging".
"Whatevew, I thought you´d be in betteg mood after a night of passion with your girlfwiend", said Kripke, with a cheeky smile.
Sheldon bit his lower lip and looked away, nervously; as he always did when he was about to lie.
Although Sheldon and Amy had never exchanged more than a few chaste kisses with closed lips, and always initiated by Amy; the innocent theoretical physicist had been forced to lie when Kripke concluded that Sheldon´s poor results at work recently, were due to the distraction of a physical relationship with his girlfriend.
"I don´t mean to brag, but I had a great performance last night, Amy is insatiable", Sheldon said, while his right eyelid began to spasm nervously.
"A wild and insatiable woman, well done Coopeg!, High five!", said Barry Kripke, raising his hand up in the air.
"Yes, my woman is insatiable! With all the intercourse we are having, I hardly have time for anything else", Sheldon said proudly with a thick Texan accent.
Amy had wanted to surprise him with her gift, but when she heard voices coming from Sheldon´s office; she decided to wait outside the door. She couldn´t hear the whole conversation, but those last two sentences pierced her ears like a poisoned arrow.
She felt her own heart breaking into small pieces. With a salt and bitter taste in her mouth, tears welled up in her eyes. How could Amy possibly know that Sheldon was lying to Kripke?.
"Yes, my woman is insatiable! With all the intercourse we are having, I hardly have time for anything else". The phrase was repeated over and over in her head.
"How could he do this to me?. Who is that woman?", Amy ran away without looking back.
At the parking lot, the neurobiologist almost stumbled over Alex Jensen, Sheldon's assistant. Alex greeted her very politely.
"Dr. Fowler! I didn´t know you were coming today", said Alex. "Is there something wrong?, how can I help you?", she asked while noticing the tears streaming down Amy´s face.
"No, everything is fine, excellent indeed!. Please, give this to your boss!". Amy handed Alex the box with the model train". Hastily, she got in the car and left the parking lot.
Alex stared at the scene, totally confused for the recent events. "Dr. Copper might be a genius, but he has no idea how to treat a lady", she thought.
"Well, with your permission, it's time for me to leave this office and go to the cafeteria. According to my schedule, I eat my lunch every Friday at exactly 12h15 pm, and it´s already 12h20", Sheldon said, trying to get rid of his annoying colleague.
"Ok, Coopeg, I´m stawving, too". Kripke rubbed his belly as he said this.
Sheldon and Kripke walked to the cafeteria. Howard, Raj and Leonard were sitting at their usual table, and Sheldon noticed they had started eating, already.
"This beef lasagna is so delicious!", said Raj as he ate his lunch. "It´s simply divine!".
"And that´s a statement that comes from someone who has no reservations about eating the sacred animal of his religion", said Sheldon approaching the table.
"Sheldon, I've told you so many times not to lecture me about my own culture. Besides, you know that I don´t like Indian food", said Raj.
"Fellas, let´s try to eat in peace, for a change!", Leonard said soothingly.
"Okay, but Sheldon started it, by the way hello Kripke", said Howard.
Leonard discreetly checked his watch, it was 12:30, he was wondering why Amy wasn´t with Sheldon, as she had agreed to come to Caltech to have lunch with him at noon.
Leonard chose not to mention anything about Amy; otherwise Sheldon could think he was meddling in their relationship.
When the four friends and Kripke were all seated at the table, Alex Jensen, Sheldon's assistant entered the cafeteria with a paper bag in her hands.
"Dr. Cooper; your girlfriend, Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler handed me this package for you", Alex said as she gave the present to Sheldon.
"Was Amy here today?. She didn´t tell me she´d come. Why didn´t she give it to me, in person?", asked Sheldon.
Alex couldn´t answer those questions. She had seen Amy about to cry, just a few minutes ago and even though she didn´t know the reason, she suspected the brilliant theoretical physicist had much to do with it.
"Well, I certainly don´t know. By the way, she looked somewhat upset", said Alex.
"Why did she look upset?. Umm! It might be PMS. Let´s see, today is February the 8th", Sheldon said, pulling out his phone and checking the calendar.
"Sheldon!, that's a lot of information for us. You better open that bag, I want to know what´s inside", Howard said with curiosity.
"Amy knows I don´t like surprises or gifts, this behavior is unusual", Sheldon said as he opened the bag.
When Sheldon saw the model train he couldn´t help but smiling like a six years old child on Christmas Eve.
"Is that the Hogwarts Express?, I thought it was out of stock!", Raj shouted with excitement.
"Yes, it is the Jacobite Steam train, to be precise, and it must have cost a fortune", said Leonard.
"Lucky bastard, never let her go!", Howard said to Sheldon.
Sheldon stared at Howard with a look of disapproval, "There is no reason to use that kind of profanity, but I must say it is a superb gift".
"Did Amy tell you why is she giving me this gift?", Sheldon asked Alex Jensen
"Nope, she just handed me the box and left, that´s all!", replied his assistant.
"Curiouser and curiouser! Well, I'll ask her later", Sheldon merely shrugged his shoulders and took a sip of his diet coke.
Leonard could sense that something was not right; Amy never misses an opportunity to be with Sheldon. This was, to say the least, odd.
"Sheldon, I think you should call Amy now, and thank her for the gift", Leonard said.
"And… I think you're right, social convention states that I must thank her", replied the lanky physicist.
Sheldon pulled out his cell phone from his pocket, and called his girlfriend, felling instantly disappointed when all he could hear was:
"Hello, I'm Amy Farrah Fowler, leave your message after the beep, beep".
"It´s strange, it goes straight to voicemail", Sheldon said looking at the screen of his cell phone. He was a scientist, not an ignorant person prone to superstitions, but he certainly felt a tug on his heartstrings.
"Maybe, her cell phone´s battery died", said Leonard, giving Sheldon a reassuring smile.
"Yeah, that must be it", Sheldon lied. He knew, Amy always carries her cell phone charger in her purse.
Sheldon's expression suddenly darkened, although he looked away and continued eating his lunch, something had changed. His friends didn´t ask any more questions, they didn´t want to bother him with comments.
However, Kripke, as irritating as always said, "Coopeg, I think you have pwoblems with the lady, haha. Don´t you wanna sell me youg train?"
Sheldon got up from his chair, and left the cafeteria, without saying a word.
