Cheers for reviews, they are all appreciated
This chapter will be a mixture again
Sheldon had a 9am meeting with President Siebert the day after returning to LA, Leonard drove him to Caltech but Sheldon barely said a word, he was feeling incredibly nervous about how it would go and how he would be received by Siebert especially having taken 10 weeks sabbatical, he waited outside the office until he was called in
"Welcome back Dr Cooper, please take a seat, I trust you are refreshed and ready to work? Asked Siebert
"Well I am refreshed yes but we do need to discuss my future here, I thought that was the point of the meeting? Replied Sheldon sitting down
"You will be staying here of course, you think we want to lose one of our most talented scientists? Siebert looked at him puzzled
"But how can I stay when I no longer want to do String Theory and you won't let me change? Asked Sheldon
"Well Dr Cooper you had a very fruitful trip to Saudi Arabia it seems"
"What does that mean? Asked Sheldon confused
"It means that Dr Fowler's benefactor has offered to fund you for your desire to study Inflationary Cosmology, there are some conditions which I have put in though"
"What are the conditions?
"That you spend at least two days a week on String Theory before anything else and I wish to see updates and reports of everything you do, Sheldon this is your last chance with the University, talented or not"
"Fine and the other?
"We will be holding another fund raising event in mid September and you will be required to attend as will your friends" replied Siebert
"Fine, I will let Faisal know" replied Sheldon
"No need you can do it now" replied Siebert turning his laptop around to reveal a grinning Faisal and Amy on Skype
"Amy" gasped Sheldon
"Hi Sheldon, are you going to accept Faisal's offer? Asked Amy as they continued to beam at each other
"Oh I think so, I realise it would be silly not to, thank you Faisal" replied Sheldon
"You are welcome, I believe in you, I will be attending the fund raiser also" replied Faisal
More chatting followed then the Skype call ended and Siebert spoke alone to Sheldon
"I expect to see you as normal on Monday morning Sheldon and don't let us down" said Siebert
"I will try not to, thank you" replied Sheldon offering his hand to shake
"Your welcome" replied Siebert shaking the offered hand
Sheldon left the office feeling happy and went to see Leonard in his lab and told him the news before he took the bus home
Meanwhile for Amy it was almost the end of the working day and she had just gone back to her office when there was a commotion in the lab next door, she and Faisal went through and found one of the monkeys leaping across the cages and refusing to let anybody near her, Amy tried to coax the monkey to her but with everybody else trying to catch it, it wasn't working, Faisal spoke in Arabic for a few moments to the staff who all left and Amy was left in the lab with the runaway monkey, she went to the fridge for some fruit supplies and sat on the floor as quietly as possible and starting spreading the fruit around her, the screeching monkey stopped jumping from cage to cage long enough to realise what was going on and curiously jumped to the floor and picked at the fruit and then took the fruit from Amy's hands when she held it to her
"You have a way with the monkeys Amy, I am impressed" said Faisal
"Well I have lots of experience and I took one home a few years ago for a little while as well" replied Amy as the monkey climbed onto Amy's legs and sat on them while she fed it
"Shall we put her away now? Asked Faisal
"No leave her for a moment while she's happy" replied Amy tickling the monkey's ears
After a few minutes of eating the fruit the monkey was happy for Amy to put her back in the cage, but the minute Amy locked the cage the monkey went crazy and started rattling the bars and screeching again
"Maybe we could take her back to the palace, she will disturb the other monkeys if she keeps this up" suggested Faisal
"Really, I could do that? Asked Amy in surprise
"Of course, we have a fully equipped lab that I sometimes use myself, but lets find a clean cage and you can have her in your apartment for the night" replied Faisal
"Will the children be allowed near her?
"No because of the alcohol she is taking, she could be unpredictable" replied Faisal as Amy found a clean cage to put the monkey in and they set about getting some more food for it
"Instead of test monkey number 7, for tonight I will call her Matilda, she probably won't have a clue what I am talking about though" commented Amy
They left the lab and the evening shift took over, Faisal explained what they were doing and they drove back to the Palace, where Matilda had the run of Amy's apartment for a few hours before Amy put her in the cage with plenty of fruit, she had a peaceful night despite the monkey chattering in the lounge and the next day the monkey was fine again
Back in LA, Leonard hadn't really moved out of 4A yet, some of his things had gone to Penny's and he was spending most of his nights there. but he still went to 4A for breakfast and to take Sheldon to work, Sheldon however had other ideas and decided to speak to Leonard about it, they were playing video games at the time
"I thought you were moving in with Penny, why the sudden hesitation?
"I just want to make sure you really will be ok on your own Sheldon"
"I will be, look I will never learn if you are here all the time, I appreciate that you are driving me to work but I still want my time to learn to do this, Amy will be home in a month and I want to show her how well I am doing"
"As long as you are sure, I will drive you anywhere you want remember that" replied Leonard
"Positive"
"Then this weekend, I will move the remainder of my stuff, what about living with Amy?
"Like I said I need to live on my own first, Amy understands"
"But why?
"Why what?
"Why do you need to live on your own when Amy who clearly loves you is willing to move in immediately?
"Because although we both know the destination of how our relationship will end up, we are currently in different places, despite Amy saying she is willing to wait, you know that yourself with Penny in the past" replied Sheldon
"I guess" replied Leonard as they went back to playing games
"I think tomorrow we can reinstall vintage video game and Chinese food night" suggested Sheldon
"That would be great except it's the Comic Book Store reopening, maybe we can have the guys round before you do your laundry on Saturday? Replied Leonard
"That's fine Leonard" replied Sheldon
"Do you think we could hold a party for Amy's return, we all miss her" suggested Leonard
"I think that would be a good idea, I can ask her about it when I speak to her tonight?
"No let it be a surprise" replied Leonard
"You know I don't like surprises"
"Yes I know but so much has changed recently, who would have thought Amy would get you to go camel racing and actually enjoy it" replied Leonard
"I can be flexible when I need to be"
Later that night, Sheldon and Amy were talking on Skype
"Sheldon did Siebert tell you that he agreed to let you come to Saudi for two months every summer" asked Amy
"No he didn't, I guess it never came up but two months is a long time to be away from Caltech especially as they are giving me another chance" replied Sheldon
"I know but it's a nice gesture on Faisal's part, I will be coming myself, I will make sure of that"
"Even if I don't go? Queried Sheldon
"Yes, we will Skype every night, so its not like we wont see each other, we don't need to live in each others pockets" replied Amy smiling at him
"You might be right, Leonard is finally moving out properly at the weekend"
"Good, will you be helping him?
"Perhaps"
"You should, after all he has done a lot for you over the years and you are rebuilding your friendship with him"
"Perhaps you are right" replied Sheldon as they shared a moment of eye coitus
"Well I have to go to sleep, its getting late" said Amy reluctantly
"Ok goodnight Amy Farrah Fowler" said Sheldon
"Goodnight to you Dr Cooper, talk tomorrow" replied Amy smiling at him and blowing a kiss at him, before she signed off
Next chapter up soon