A/N: I have to thank hazelra7 for her input with this chapter as she helped me flesh it out when I was writing this half asleep. She's the best beta!

Disclaimer: I don't own BBT, but I like to take them out to play sometimes

Sheldon came downstairs after leaving Amy to settle in a Face Time session with Penny. When he got into the living room, his peaceful day segued into a stressful afternoon as he saw his brother sitting on the couch. Before he could move, Junior jumped off the couch and got him in a vice grip. As he was getting a particularly painful noogie, the familiar smell of Pabst Blue Ribbon filled his senses and made him think of memories of old. Suddenly, the tight grip on him ceased before he watched his brother stumble and fall on his butt.

"Get the hell off your brother, you drunken idiot. Ya'all are too old for that kinda horse play, now."

Sheldon knew that voice and his suspicions were confirmed when he saw Ron standing over them.

"Jesus Christ, I'm not drunk, Ron" Junior whines

"Well then, you're just being an ass. Treat your brother with some respect and watch your mouth."

He turned to Sheldon and was about to extend a hand out but held back when he sensed it would not be appreciated. "How are you, Sheldon? I'm sorry about not being by sooner, but I pulled reserve duty this weekend because we have officers out sick"

The physicist felt relaxed for a fleeting moment before he remembered his father. Shutting his feelings down, he hardened himself. "Fine, thank you"

Ron just nodded to him. He knew Mary's younger son was going to be a tough nut to crack, but Ron's career field taught him that patience eventually pays off. "So I hear your girl's here, too?"

"She's my GIRLFRIEND and her name is Doctor Amy Farrah Fowler. She's upstairs talking to our friend Penny on Face Time" Sheldon replied as he pushed himself off the floor and dusted off his pants.

Ron could hear the haughtiness in Sheldon's voice, but ignored it to the younger man's annoyance. "Well, still, can't wait to meet her. I sure enjoy talking shop and I don't get many chances in these parts."

'Shop? Why would I or Amy want to talk about buying things with him?' Sheldon thought to himself.

Before he could reply, Mary came out of the kitchen and saw her eldest lying on the floor like a bump on a log. "Junior, get up off the floor! We have company."

When she saw Ron, she came over and gave him a kiss. "Hi Honey. Your funny science magazine came today. I left it by the couch."

Sheldon shuddered at the contact and looked away in disgust. Ron ignored his reaction and turned to Mary. "Thanks, Honey. Can I help you at all in the kitchen?"

"No, you just go relax" She looked around as if she was searching for something. Getting an annoyed face, she went back into the kitchen.

Sheldon watched the older man start to walk in the living room before doubling back towards the kitchen. "You boys want anything while I'm in there?"

"I need a beer for the game." Junior said from the couch.

"No surprise there." Ron muttered to Sheldon's surprise. After shaking his head in the negative, the physicist got into the recliner and opened his IPad. He barely plugged in his ear buds before Junior's tired taunts began again.

"Sooooo, Shelly has a girl. Where did you get her, Toys R Us?" Junior said before laughing at his own joke. "Or did you just pick her up at that fancy university of yours?"

'Why would I find Amy at a toy store?' Sheldon thought. He turned to his brother and spoke with confidence that belied his nerves. "Amy is a neurobiologist, or in layman terms to troglodytes like yourself, means she studies the biological processes of the brain and the central nervous system."

"What did you call me?" Junior said in a tone that reminded Sheldon of their father. As he instinctively began to pull back in protection, his brother suddenly retreated and abruptly turned on the television. "Hey, the 40 Year Old Virgin is on. Should be your favorite movie, Shelly!"

Sheldon questioned his brother's change in demeanor before he noticed his mother's boyfriend come into view. 'Did he leave me alone because of Ron?'

Before he could ponder more, the man in question tossed a beer at Junior and it landed square on his genitals. "Damn Ron! That's cold"

Sheldon snickered at his brother's reaction and even had to laugh when the older man turned to the almost forty year old and replied "Beer in a fridge tends to do that Smarty Pants. Now turn it on the Rangers game."

Ron set a Yoo Hoo on the end table to Sheldon's surprise before sitting on the other side of the couch. He set his can of Vernors down and picked up his magazine. Seeing it was a commercial, he turned to read.

Sheldon turned to take his drink when he saw what Ron was perusing and his eyes bugged out in surprise. Reading material in this house usually varied from sports magazines to his mother's Bible. What he saw his mother's coitus partner reading was the last thing he expected.

He went back to reading his IPad, but his curiosity finally overtook him as he turned to the older man. "Ron, why do you read…" he looked on the front cover. "…Journal of Forensic Sciences?"

Ron turned in surprise. Sheldon usually barely acknowledges his presence and he wasn't expecting a conversation. 'Still, the boy asked a question and deserves an answer' Ron thought before he responded. "Well, as a member of the Academy of Forensic Sciences, I have to keep up in my field and I get this every month."

Sheldon was dumbfounded as his mother never gave him any idea of what Ron did besides working in law enforcement. "B-but you're a police officer"

"No, I am a reserve officer for the DPS, but my main employment is as a forensic chemist with the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences."

The physicist was stunned again. "You are a scientist?"

The older man couldn't help but enjoy the shock on Sheldon's face, but kept it to himself. "For the Department of Public Safety, yes"

Sheldon got over his surprise as he considered what he just learned. 'Probably went to school in Guatemala or the Bahamas for a Bachelor's degree'. Determined to be proven right, he decided to probe further.

"Where did you go to school?" He said before leaning closer. 'Here is my jaw, science man. Drop it'

The older man knew a challenge when he heard one. He liked this young man more and more as Sheldon reminded him of himself when younger.

"I got my Bachelor's at A & M before transferring to Lake Superior State in Michigan for the snow. Not for the faint of heart" Ron said with a laugh. "I got my masters at Michigan State. By that time, the novelty of snow wore off so I got my doctorate at the University of Florida in Gainesville before coming home to Texas"

Sheldon stopped breathing for a moment as he felt his jaw open. After a moment, he closed his mouth and recovered his faculties. "Y-y-you're a doctor?"

"Yeah, but it's a title that I only use when I go to court."

With that comment, Ron turned to watch the game with the journal in his lap. Sheldon watched the man, conflicted and confused.

'He has a doctorate'

'He fornicates with my mom on the couch'

'He defended me against Junior'

'He fornicates with my mom on the couch'

'He's drinking that soda Amy had in Michigan instead of alcohol'

'He fornicates with my mom on the couch'

'He likes sports but doesn't curse the television like my father did'

'He fornicates with my mom on the couch'

'HE FORNICATES WITH MY MOM ON THE COUCH!'

Suddenly Mary came back into the living room. "Shelly, get that girlfriend of yours out here with the family. Hiding upstairs is just disrespectful."

Sheldon turned to his mother. "She's not hiding, but talking to our friend Penny, Mom, as I was for a few minutes before coming down. She went upstairs to not disturb anyone who may have been doing other activities down here. In my mind, that would have been ruder."

Annoyed at her son's retort, Mary turned to the others in the living room for who would defend her position. The only response she got was Ron and Junior engrossed in the game. Seeing she was getting ignored, she returned to the kitchen.

His last thoughts kept playing through his mind like a broken record. Knowing he needed to get them out, he plugged his ear buds in to watch an episode of Star Trek on his IPad. After that didn't work, he decided to find Amy.

Upstairs, Amy lay on the bed and watched as Penny finished her story.

"And that's it, Ames. I could so kill Raj right now."

"Well, have you tried to talk to Emily?"

"Well, the three of us are supposed to meet, but I've done nothing to show I'm after Raj. I mean, I get that he wanted to be honest, but he totally exaggerated what happened with us. I just….." Penny croaked before wiping a tear from her face.

Amy saw that Penny was really upset. She was also because Emily was becoming a part of their unit. She felt for Emily's insecurity, but Penny and Raj had been friends longer and nothing would ever change that. She hoped that the redhead didn't push an ultimatum because if it came down to Raj choosing her or their group, the dermatologist would be on the losing end.

It was then that she realized it was the first time in several hours that she didn't think of her father. She knew it was no one's fault in the Cooper house, but old emotions she thought buried were wreaking havoc on her. She was knocked out of her thoughts when she realized Penny was talking to her.

"Sweetie, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, Bestie. Just thinking about you and Emily."

Penny forgot all about her troubles. "No, you're not. You were far away. Sweetie, what's wrong? Is it Sheldon? Is something wrong with Mee Maw?"

"No, no, she's fine. I just have a lot on my plate, that's all"

Penny didn't believe her for a second, but thought it would be better to change the subject. "Tell me, how is the Shamy? Did you two have that overdue talk?"

"Well…"

"Ames, you two have a lot of crap to get through. Why do you think I told each of you what was up with the other when you were 1500 miles apart?"

"I know, but things have been good, Penny." She hesitated for a moment, but she couldn't hold it in. "He said he loved me."

The blonde was stunned silent as her mouth dropped. After a moment, she could only respond with "Wow" A few seconds later, she regained her faculties. "I'm so happy for you!"

"Yeah, me, too" Amy smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes, something that the blonde didn't miss.

"Seriously, Ames, what's wrong? There's something you're not telling me"

Amy knew she couldn't hide it much longer. "Mary is giving us a rough time, or me I should say."

Penny was confused. "But she brought you two together when Sheldon has his cat meltdown after you two had that fight way back."

"I know. I am not sure I'm ready to confront his mother just yet. Besides, I'm going back to Michigan Tuesday since Steve's still gone. Maybe things will be okay by then or soon after that."

The blonde watched her friend and knew she was troubled. "There's something else. Honey, what is it?"

Amy felt her emotions in a whirlwind. She didn't know how to describe what she was feeling, but knew that she wasn't ready to talk about it. "Really, I'm fine. Listen, I need to go. I'll talk to you in a couple of days, okay?"

Penny knew when she was being dismissed. "Okay, but you call me if you need me, understand. We're besties" Wanting to cheer Amy up, Penny knew what to say. "Besides….I need details on the Shamy 'I love you'! I mean did you just kiss? Get to second base? Or even…sexy times?!"

Amy laughed at her friend's nosiness and felt a little bit better. She had a lot she wanted to dish, but for now, her moments with Sheldon would remain private. "I promise when I get back there will be a girls' night. Talk to you later."

The girls ended the call and Amy sat on the bed as old feelings were fighting their way to the surface. "What the hell. What do I have to lose?"

Amy dipped into Sheldon's Kolinahr and after a few tense moments, she felt herself okay enough to venture to the rest of the family. As she was getting up, she accidentally knocked her purse off the bed.

Quickly, she picked up the wallet that fell. When she put the wallet back in, she didn't see the yellow case that was usually prominent in her bag. Looking around, she couldn't find it and had a small panic as she needed to take it at nine o'clock tonight.

She looked all over the room and scooted to the bathroom but didn't see it. Sheldon understood about them and the reason for it. He and her girlfriends were the only other ones who knew. The last thing she wanted was for his mother to find out and get the wrong idea.

Quickly, she got her phone and opened an app. When she finished, she closed it and planned how she would be able to pick it up. The best time would be to make a stop on the way when she and Sheldon brought Mee Maw back later for supper from her house where she was spending the day.

When all was situated, she walked out to join the family and almost bumped into Junior. "Excuse me"

Instantly, her guard was up as she could smell a bouquet of beer and cheap cologne on him. 'Other people are here. I'll be fine. Just be nice and he'll let me pass.'

"So, you're Shelly's girlfriend?" He said before he smacked her on the rear, causing her to gasp. "Yep, you're real"

Steeling herself, Amy made herself smile to hide the anxiety bubbling inside her. "It's nice to finally meet you George Cooper, Junior. Now, two things about myself you need to know…"

She took one step forward. "One, I'm a scientist with three degrees, not a fake bosom bimbo who you can trick into believing you're somewhat charming when in truth you're probably small on the genital side."

Junior's face turned from smiling to anger at his manhood being insulted "Why you little—"

Ignoring her increasing fear, she continued. "Two, Touch me again like that and you'll see why the TSA gives me special attention every time I fly."

She turned to walk away from Junior, who had steam coming out of his ears. When she rounded the banister for the stairs, Sheldon suddenly turned up. "Amy, did you finish your hen time with Penny?"

She just wanted to get back downstairs with people. "Y-yes I did. How about we go downstairs with your family? Missy and her family will be here in a while."

Sheldon saw something in his girlfriend's eyes. "Amy, are you okay?"

The neuroscientist didn't want to get Sheldon upset. "I'm fine. Now, let's get downstairs."

The couple left an angry Junior who was still standing on the landing.

"By the way, Sheldon, we need to make a stop before we pick up Mee Maw later."