Another one spun from the Prompt-fic

I really like this Universe, a lot. The idea wouldn't leave my head so here we go again. The events take place circa 2000.

As always, thank you for reading.

Sheldon always enjoyed driving at night. There were less cars around and he avoided most human interactions with lesser drivers. And there was something relaxing about the night scenery, the cold air, the stillness, it was Fascinating.

Timing his driving so he would arrive at the next rest stop or gas station just as the sun peeked over the horizon was but a child's game, one he had fun with admittedly but it wasn't terribly stimulating. But as he couldn't work on his notebook while driving it was the best game he had. He couldn't wait to arrive at the next rest stop, the last one still in Nebraska. His phone had pinged earlier and it had taken everything in him not to check it immediately.

Seeing the signs of the rest stop Sheldon started getting antsy. 'Flying J Travel Center' was a big sized rest stop, the attached Diner had a different name 'Max's Highway Diner' but both places looked clean and professional…or as professional as these places can be.

It was easy to find a place to rest the truck. Sheldon took a moment to calm himself before checking his phone 'Call me when you get the chance Shelly. - Georgie'

Hope blooms in his chest.

A deep breath and he's calling his brother. Georgie managed to escape his Father in more ways than one, he was a loving father to Ceecee and even though he and Mandy had a complicated relationship Sheldon knew that they loved each other.

"Hello, Georgie?"

"Oh…I see"

"No, no. No."

"Thank you for the update Georgie. I'll send you money so you can make the arrangements."

"Yes, same plan. So I'll send the money from Pasadena."

"Georgie…thank you for dealing with all of this."

"You too. Take care Georgie…send my regards to Missy as well."

Hanging up the phone feels like the first step in reaching his freedom. Sheldon allows his body to relax into the seat. He can't remember when was the last time he felt like this, he could finally move on with his life.

His brother had asked if he wanted to talk to their father but Sheldon refused. Georgie wouldn't understand how that man was no longer his father, his father had died the same day that his Mother and Meemaw died. And what was left was a stranger made of alcohol and rage.

And now, finally, 9 long years are finally coming to an end. Sheldon prided himself in not making any miscalculations but the one regarding his father had been the worst and the one that cost him the most. '2 years at most and I can go back to science…such naivety'

As Sheldon relaxed, he couldn't help but wonder if life would have been much easier if he could just break his promises. But no, that's not who he was.

Both his mother and Meemaw had been believers of Fate. To him it was hokum, but he found it harder to dismiss recently. His mother and Meemaw were just supposed to go grocery shopping, the same trip they had made countless times, only they never returned and Sheldon lost his family forever.

Sheldon to this day still tries to figure out why his mother had asked him to take care of his father before she left the house that day, she had never asked him that before. But she did this time. And a promise was born. And 9 years of his life belonged to his father just like that, Sheldon had to pause his Science pursuits. Until now.

And as much as he disliked the idea of Fate, maybe there was something to it. Was it just chance and probability that his last trip would be to-

The rumble of his stomach interrupts any further musing. Sheldon was really hungry and just as tired, but he had learned to not go to sleep on an empty stomach. And feeling much better than he had in years, Sheldon got out of the truck and walked to the Diner.

The place seemed clean which was enough for Sheldon, after 7 years on the road he had seen all kinds of places, he had to eat at some of them as well. At least here it looked like they killed the vermin and not made it part of the menu. It was still pretty early in the morning and as such there were only a couple of patrons inside. The smell of cheap coffee and eggs brought Sheldon comfort, all of these places, despite the distance, always seemed to smell the same.

Ordering some tea (it still drew funny looks) and a bacon sandwich Sheldon opened his notebooks and started working. He would be able to return to his own life, dedicate himself once more to science. Drinking the rather decent tea, his mind once again turned to the idea of Fate. Knowing that his sentence was almost over made him more philosophical than he wanted. Sheldon had dismissed the idea of Fate, but both his mom and his Meemaw had been believers. Maybe it truly was no coincidence that his last delivery would be to Sacramento, a stone throw away from Caltech.

Sheldon still didn't dare to pray to his mom or Meemaw or to their God, but he hoped that some of the energy that had composed them still lingered in this world in what other lesser minds would call 'Watching over him'. He missed hearing his mom's 'Snickerdoodle' and Meemaw's 'Moonpie'.

The sandwich was also decent, if he had the opportunity he'd like to eat here again.

After resting, he would have to stop and buy more food and snacks for the road. Walking by the store on his way to the Diner he had seen that they had a decent selection of snacks and made-to-order food. But that could wait. He now needed to sleep.

This truck cabin had been his home for the last 2 years, the company giving him the top of the line truck thanks to him never being late on deliveries and hauling more than regular truckers. A trifle use of physics to determine the maximum load that could be safely delivered. As much as he had made this cabin his 'home', it still felt too much like a prison. He couldn't wait to leave it behind. The only thing he would be taking with him would be the small Spock bobble head doll that sat behind the steering wheel.

Sheldon wanted to go to sleep immediately, but before moving to the back of the cabin he placed one important call. He had to announce that this would be his last delivery and he'd be leaving the truck in the company's headquarters in Sacramento. 'That's Fate Shelly.' His mother's voice would never fade from his mind.

Of course they tried to get him to stay, but nothing could move him now to do that.

Some of the old arrogance is back. A truck driver with a PhD? No, he needed to go back to being Dr. Sheldon Cooper, even if killed him

Hanging up the phone and another weight had been lifted off of him. Almost free, he just needed that message from Georgie.

Setting up his alarm for 9 hours Sheldon moved into the back of the cabin and basically threw himself on the bed. 'Soon.'

Maybe even while he slept that message would arrive, that would be nice.

Sheldon's alarm was welcome, his chest was filled with hope. Checking his phone showed no messages. 'Drat'

Of course. It could never be that easy.

It was almost six in the evening and Sheldon sighed heavily. He really didn't want to do the next part of his rest-stop routine. But no message from Georgie means that his promise is still valid. He can see other truck drivers already leaving their cabins and moving towards the store, the diner…and the rooms in the back.

He could pretend, no one would know. But no, He had given his word.

Walking out of the truck cabin and shouldering his bag, Sheldon walked towards the 'sleeping rooms' . He was glad that this would be the last time. At least he could use the time to work on formulas and his theory.

Already knowing what he was looking for, Sheldon was pleased to see that the person in charge was an older woman. He preferred to deal with madams than pimps. Asking for a room and companionship he was quickly given a key and directed to room 4.

Sheldon was glad to have picked up the habit of wearing leather gloves. He didn't want to touch anything directly in rest-stops, especially here. Opening the door, the room was standard fare, with poor lighting as these rooms were prone to have. 'To hide the poor hygienic conditions no doubt'.

Pulling a plastic bag from his bag Sheldon unfurled the splash blanket and put it on top of the only chair in the room. This had been a tip from a rather understanding woman in Arkansas, this way he could sit in peace and not worry about what might have been on the surface of these places. He would usually do laundry after his visit to the sleeping rooms but this time he preferred to be out of here immediately after buying food and water for the road. Laundry could wait until Pasadena.

Sheldon was already deep in his notes when a knock announced his 'companion' had arrived.

"It's open." Sheldon didn't even look up from his notebook as the other person entered the room, he could hear the rather decrepit bed creak as she took a seat and it made him cringe internally. 'That bed could not offer anyone proper lumbar support.'

"Hi Sweetie, I'm Jewel, and you are?" Sheldon found her voice appealing but still did not look up.

"Sheldon." Page turn. "Please don't mind me, this is something that I promised my father I would always do at rest-stops. I will pay for your time all the same so you don't have to worry about that. You can simply use this time to rest or read or watch TV. As soon as the 2 hours are up, you can leave. Nothing more and nothing less." He made a dismissive hand motion.

"Wow, aren't you a romantic one?" The teasing on her voice makes him look up.

The woman, or perhaps girl was more accurate. She couldn't be a day over 20, blond, green eyed, fit and aesthetically pleasing. She possessed a fierceness in her expression that made her look like a warrior. She did not belong here.

Sheldon tilted his head.

"Excuse me?"

She had a pleasant laugh "Nothing. You don't look like the usual kind of truck driver that we get around here."

"I should hope not. I have a PhD."

Once again that pleasant laugh "Oh! Wait, you're serious?"

"Of course."

"…So you're like one of those 'beautiful mind' guys?"

"I suppose." Sheldon looks away shily, he can feel his face grow warm and he can't make eye contact, the comment made him feel warm inside.

Jewel sat against the headboard and watched him. It looked like he would not be able to get back to his work. Sheldon was used to this as well, companions that preferred to chat to pass the time. He didn't mind.

"So, why are you working as a truck driver then?" Her green eyes alight with curiosity.

"I suppose it could be called 'bad timing'." Sheldon had told this story exactly 24 times, tonight would mark the 25th time and the last one, at least the last one told in a cheap room in the back of a rest-stop.

"By the age of 16 I had already obtained my first Doctorate and was preparing to move to California in order to attend Caltech and obtain my second one. However, my mother and Meemaw were involved in a fatal accident during a regular grocery trip. Leaving only my father, my brother and my twin sister…and me" Talking about his mother and Meemaw always brought out the pain in him, the best and worst part of having an eidetic memory, he could remember the pain in detail.

"My father was already a…well, an alcoholic. Losing my mother simply made it worse, my brother already had his own family to worry about and my sister eloped with her high school boyfriend at the first chance she had. Leaving me as the sole caretaker of my father."

Jewel looked at him with such intensity that he couldn't look away from her.

"I take my promises very seriously. And I promised my mother to take care of him. And then my father made me promise that I would listen to him, he somehow got it into his head that he needed to make a proper man out of me. He had already taught me to shoot, but now he also included hunting lessons, skinning and dressing the kill. How to drink. How to properly play football, how to punch and how to fight. All the while drinking like there was no tomorrow." Sheldon looks away from Jewel to take a look at his gloved hands, he doesn't need to remove the gloves to know what he'll find underneath. His knuckles have changed, he knows they're no longer the knuckles of a man of science. Sheldon abhorred violence, not out of any moral grandstanding, but because it made him think of his father.

Unfortunately he had to use his father's lessons more than once in this job. Other drivers are not always reasonable, especially not when drunk. Every fight fills him with shame that never truly leaves. Every fight brings him closer to becoming his father.

"When I turned 18 he made me promise that as long as he lived I would have a 'true man's job', after some short deliberation I decided that truck driver would be the ideal solution. It would limit the amount of time spent needing to be social, pay relatively well as well as allow me enough time to work." He shows her his notebook.

This is usually where he ends the story. But, it's the last time, and Jewel has such an open and honest face that he shares more than he expected.

"I never expected my father to live for so long. I took this job expecting the cirrhosis to take my father in 2 years…He managed to hold on for 7." Sheldon shakes his head in amazement. He loves his father, but the stranger that took his place after his mother's death was just alcohol and rage.

"I was naive. This job was supposed to be enough to please him and yet here I am at 25 still doing it. Perhaps if my mother or Meemaw had lived I would have been able to go to Caltech at 16 and continue with my life, but now at 25 it doesn't sound so bad. My brother called me yesterday, and my father is in hospice care. He will not make it to the end of the week. As such, this is my last job." There's something liberating in being able to vocalize his thoughts.

Sheldon had refused to talk to his father after leaving Galveston, at some point he had become a ghost, someone Sheldon had already mourned, his body was just waiting to catch up.

"I'll drive down to Sacramento, buy a decent car and then drive down to Pasadena and continue with my life." Sheldon noticed how Jewel's eyes were bright with unshed tears and he thanked her in his head. It felt good to be able to say all of this, maybe his mother and Meemaw had been right about how talking things out helped you work through your feelings.

Saying all of this out loud made it all the more real and Sheldon could feel a smile on his face.

"You're my last too, you know?" Jewel speaks up in a watery voice. The tears have not left her eyes but Sheldon thinks that she's used to crying. 'How unusual.'

"My ex-boyfriend, Kurt. He took out debt on my name and then bailed town literally the next day. My parents are farmers, they don't have money. I couldn't do that to them." Sheldon doesn't think that she belongs in this room, she's too bright to be here.

"I was only 18 at the time, and very stupid and naive. A friend recommended this job, her mom is the lady out front so I got lucky…or maybe I didn't. At this point I don't think it matters." Shaking her head she composes herself more. "Anyway, I've been doing this for 2 years and I was able to make the final payment on the debt last week." Jewel looks determined and even in this cheap room she has a regal look.

"But this place doesn't feel like home anymore. I've been saving money so I can go to California. I want to be an actress." She laughs but it's not a pleasant sound, it has too much pain. "Stupid right?"

"I think you'd make a fantastic actress." And he meant it, there was something about her that captured his attention.

"Aw, thank you."

Sheldon tilts his head and considers it, she was going to California as well. She was saving money. 'Perhaps…'

Once again he thinks about his mother and Meemaw, they believed in Fate.

"Would you like to come with me?" Sheldon is not really sure why he made the offer, but he doesn't regret it once the words leave his mouth.

Jewel is looking at him intently, as if she can't believe he had made the offer. "Is tha-I mean…why?"

Sheldon considers her question seriously before answering. "I do not believe in Fate. I believe in probability." A pause "But my mother and Meemaw believed in Fate, I think that instead of believing in Fate, I rather believe in them. And that they would have wanted me to make the offer."

Sheldon doesn't have to lie, so he doesn't.

Jewel is still looking at him intensely, looking for something in his face. He doesn't flinch at her stare, if she doesn't accept then that's that. He refuses to acknowledge the hope inside of him that wants her to accept.

"Okay." She finally nods after a long while "My parents and sister don't want me here anyway, everything I own is in a duffel bag and California is waiting."

Sheldon nods, feeling oddly satisfied. He pays her for her time and tells her which truck is his and that he'll meet her outside of it after buying some things from the store. Jewel stands up to leave the room but stops with her hand on the doorknob.

"Penny. My name is Penny." And she's out of the room before he can respond. Sheldon thinks Penny fits her much better.

Before going back to the truck Sheldon makes a stop by the store. Water, snacks, antibacterial gel, alcohol wipes, red vines, mountain dew and a brisket sandwich, before thinking it through and picking up a second one. Money truly was not an issue for him, everything he had earned he had kept.

As much as he wanted to keep comics or memorabilia in the truck, it would make it feel cluttered and dirty. He hoped that soon he would be able to start collecting things again, he wanted a Flash figurine.

Before leaving he sees the shoe cleaning and shining machine, he pays to use it. Little things that make him happy.

By the time he makes it to the truck Penny is there waiting for him, she looked anxious until she caught sight of him. He hands her one of the sandwiches because he doesn't know what else to say other than asking her to get on the truck.

Sheldon thinks that things are looking up and enters the truck. Caltech was waiting for him and he was on his way.

He'd like to think that his mother and Meemaw would be proud of him.