Bonus Chapter: The Adler Hypothesis pt.5

The gang was gathered in Sheldon and Leonard’s apartment around the coffee table, takeout boxes already spread across its surface.

Bernadette lifted her water glass. “Before we eat a toast. To Penny, for her successful start as a voice actor.”

“Hear, hear!” Raj chimed, clinking his glass.

Everyone followed suit, and then they all began opening cartons of Chinese takeout.

Sheldon plucked a fortune cookie from the bag, examined it, then set it aside. “I hope this new Star Trek show Wil Wheaton is making turns out decently. Frankly, I don’t know how he’s even able to do it…”

Howard smirked around a mouthful of noodles. “Uh, you do realize Daniel Adler is friends with Wil Wheaton, right? And the show’s for Netflix. Adler owns, like, a percentage of that company.”

Sheldon froze mid-chopstick. “Of course. Once again it’s him.”

Leonard sighed, already dreading where this was going. “Sheldon, you have to stop obsessing over this movie and Daniel Adler.”

Amy dabbed her mouth with a napkin. “So you’re back to this whole Flash issue with Mr. Adler again? I thought you were fine with him making the movie.”

Howard snorted. “Amy, come on. You’ve been dating him for almost a year now. You should know better.”

Sheldon jabbed his chopsticks in the air for emphasis. “I thought I knew what Adler was doing but as the devil is convincing, so too is Adler!”

Penny set down her lo mein and glared. “Okay, please don’t make this another big issue. That man just helped me break into Hollywood. Not the way I wanted, sure, but I like my new job. I thought I had no more chances left.”

Leonard pinched the bridge of his nose. “Just… take the video down, Sheldon.”

Sheldon folded his arms, defiant. “No. Why should I? Over a million people seem to like it.”

“Sheldon, you’re reading too many of these leaks. You’re just working yourself up over nothing.”

Sheldon straightened in his spot. “I have every reason to believe the leaks are legitimate—”

“No,” Leonard cut in, firm. “No, you don’t. This isn’t about the leaks, is it? This has to be something else. What is it, Sheldon?”

Sheldon’s lips pressed into a thin line. He didn’t answer.

Penny squinted, studying his face. “Oh my God. Look at him. There is something else.”

“No,” Sheldon said quickly, shaking his head.

Everyone leaned in, eyes on him. Amy tilted her head, Bernadette folded her arms, and even Raj paused mid-bite of a dumpling.

“Come on, Sheldon,” Howard prodded. “Spill.”

Finally, Sheldon threw up his hands. “Fine! You want the truth? I was offended when I wasn’t asked to join Leonard and Raj as consultants for that movie.”

Raj’s eyes widened. “Oooohhh… that’s it.”

Leonard groaned. “Come on, Sheldon. I barely contributed. I just went to see what it was. It was mostly Raj because, you know… he’s the astrophysicist.”

Sheldon huffed. “Well, you got to meet Kip Thorne and I didn’t! I could’ve provided so many meaningful advancements for this film whatever it’s about.”

Raj began, “I can’t tell much, but it’s a space movie, Sheldon. They want to know all about black holes…. They brought me in because they want the science to actually make sense. I’ve been working with Kip Thorne on what happens when you pass the singularity. I even got to advise on how gravitational lensing would distort the image of stars as you approach.”

Sheldon’s jaw slowly dropped. “You mean you… you’re simulating the optical warping caused by extreme curvature of spacetime?”

Raj smirked, pleased with himself. “Exactly. They’re even using supercomputers to render it based on the math we give them actual physics. They want to show what it really looks like if a spaceship got that close.”

Sheldon’s jaw practically hit the floor. “That sounds fantastic! I could’ve provided so many insightful notes on the quantum singularity implications alone!”

Leonard cut him off. “So you were upset because of this? That’s petty, Sheldon.”

“Yes, Sheldon, that’s… kind of petty,” Amy said.

Bernadette nodded firmly. “Agreed.”

Howard raised his hand. “Okay, but why didn’t I get an invite? I’m actually going to space.”

Raj smirked. “Probably because the last time you met Adler, you told him how much you loved his girlfriend’s nude scene from her last movie.”

Bernadette’s head snapped toward Howard. Her voice went cold. “What?”

Howard froze, eyes darting side to side. “…Yeah. Yeah, that’s probably it.”

Leonard was about to speak again when his phone buzzed on the table. He glanced down.

“Oh it’s Daniel.”

Sheldon’s eyes narrowed. “Speak of the devil.”

Amy smacked his arm. “Sheldon!”

Leonard answered, trying to sound casual. “Hey, Daniel.”

From the phone came Daniel’s cheerful voice. “Heeey, Leonard!”

“Hi, Daniel!” Penny and Raj said together.

“Oh, sounds like everyone’s there. Penny? Raj?” Daniel chuckled. “Great. Now, is Sheldon there?”

“Yes, hello, Mr. Adler,” Sheldon said proudly. “I assume you’ve seen my video critique.”

Daniel replied smoothly, “I was disappointed it wasn’t the usual episode of Fun with Flags I was looking forward to the Ethiopian one.”

Sheldon adjusted his posture. “Well, that episode is coming tomorrow.”

Daniel laughed lightly. “All right, I’ll get to the point. I’ve arranged for all of you to have an early screening of The Flash.”

Sheldon’s jaw dropped. “Really?”

“Yep,” Daniel confirmed. “A whole month before release.”

Leonard frowned. “Daniel, you don’t have to do this—”

“Shut up, Leonard!” Sheldon snapped, at the exact same moment Howard and Raj hissed a quieter, “Shut up!”

Daniel’s tone shifted. “But there’s one condition, Sheldon.”

Sheldon narrowed his eyes. “And what, pray tell, would that be?”

“If you like the movie,” Daniel said, “you have to make another video saying you were wrong.”

“Oooooh!” the entire gang chimed in.

“What? No!” Sheldon protested.

“Well,” Daniel said slyly, “then I guess you don’t want to see it tomorrow…”

Howard leaned in urgently. “What are you doing, Sheldon? Say yes! We get to watch The Flash tomorrow!”

Sheldon squirmed, then finally muttered, “Fine. But only if it’s good.”

Daniel chuckled. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. All right, see you all tomorrow. I’ll send Leonard the details. And Penny everyone was impressed. Keep working with that coach I mentioned, and you’ll go places.”

Penny smiled. “Thanks, Daniel.”

“Bye, everyone.”

The room went quiet for a beat. Leonard looked around the table.

“Well…” he said, grinning, “we’re going to see The Flash tomorrow.”

“Woooo!” Howard, Raj, and Sheldon all cheered—Sheldon louder than the rest.

Raj leaned over to Sheldon. “I’m so glad you made that video, man.”

Sheldon folded his arms, smug. “As am I. You’re welcome.”

=====

The gang arrived at Midas Headquarters, Daniel’s production company. They walked in and saw a woman heading toward them.

“Hi, Daniel’s expecting us,” Leonard said politely.

The woman glanced at her phone. “You must be Dr. Leonard Hofstadter.”

Leonard nodded. “That’s me.”

“Please follow me,” she said, leading the group inside.

Leonard, Sheldon, Raj, and Howard were all proudly sporting Flash T-shirts. The women Penny, Amy, and Bernadette trailed behind, exchanging amused looks.

They were led to the second floor, where Daniel stood talking to another man. As soon as he saw them, he broke into a wide smile.

“Welcome, welcome!” Daniel said warmly, shaking Leonard’s hand.

“You really didn’t have to do this,” Leonard said.

Daniel waved it off. “It’s nothing. If anything, you make a perfect test audience.” Then he turned, his eyes landing on Sheldon. “Dr. Cooper.”

“Mr. Adler,” Sheldon replied stiffly.

Daniel smirked. “I trust you’ll keep your end of the bargain.”

Sheldon straightened his shirt. “Of course. And I hope I can… since I want this movie to be good.”

“Oh, it’s good, all right,” Daniel said, confident.

He glanced at the group again and spotted Amy and Bernadette. “Now, you two I don’t think we’ve met.”

Amy stepped forward with a polite smile. “Amy Farrah Fowler…. Sheldon’s girlfriend.”

Daniel’s eyes widened in surprise, and he glanced back at the rest of the group.

A chorus of overlapping confirmations followed—“Yes,” “Yeah,” “That’s his girlfriend”—from everyone except Sheldon.

Sheldon blinked, offended. “What?!”

Daniel looked back to Amy. “Really?”

Amy nodded firmly. “Yes. For about a year now.”

Daniel chuckled. “Huh. Wonders never cease.”

Then Bernadette introduced herself, her high-pitched voice cutting through. “Bernadette Rostenkowski.”

Howard puffed up beside her and pulled her close. “And my girlfriend.”

Daniel stared at him for a long moment, expression blank. Then he clapped his hands. “All right. Time for the movie.”

The boys erupted into cheers, practically jogging toward the theater room. Daniel shook his head with a smile, left standing with the women.

Penny folded her arms. “Well, let’s see this movie. For some reason… even I’m excited to see it, too.”

It was a large room the screen filled nearly the entire wall. Not as massive as a cinema, but big enough to feel impressive.

“So you have a private movie theater?” Bernadette asked, settling into one of the plush seats.

Daniel smiled. “Well, technically my company has it. But when I build my own house, you can bet I’m putting one in there, too.”

Sheldon adjusted his Flash T-shirt. “All right, let’s do this.”

Daniel clapped his hands once. The lights dimmed, the projector turned on, and the opening titles began to roll.

The bold DC logo filled the screen.

The boys Sheldon, Leonard, Howard, and Raj let out a high-pitched squeal, somewhere between excitement and pure nerd ecstasy.

“Sorry,” Penny muttered, embarrassed.

Daniel looked confused. “Why are you sorry?” He shook his head with a laugh. “You know what… I kind of miss being that excited for movies. Honestly, next year, when the next Avengers comes out? That’s gonna be me.” He pointed at them cheerfully.

Penny smirked. “Oh, right. I forgot. I’m talking to the king of nerds himself.”

Daniel grinned. “I like that title.”

“Shhh!” Sheldon hissed, his eyes glued to the screen.

He sat perfectly upright, laser-focused. His eyes barely blinked as the movie unfolded.

The tragic moment of Barry’s mother being killed played out. Sheldon shook his head. “Mmm, I would have preferred Barry not be home for this. Canonically, it weakens the emotional resonance. Still… acceptable.”

Then came adult Barry and Iris’s first appearance. Sheldon’s expression softened into something almost childlike. “This is perfect. Their introduction is exactly like the comics.”

The movie continued.

The camera panned across Barry’s messy workspace papers, equipment, scattered evidence bags. Then the faded Justice Society of America poster came into frame.

Howard nearly choked. “Oh my God!”

Raj leaned forward. “Wait Hawkman? Alan Scott? Sandman?!”

Sheldon’s jaw dropped. “Hmph. And here I thought Batman was supposed to be the first hero in this universe. Another plot hole…”

On screen, a newspaper clipping appeared: “A New Age of Heroes?”

Sheldon froze, then relaxed back into his seat. “Ah… plot hole closed.”

Barry was struck by lightning. Sheldon clutched the arms of his chair.

“Magnificent. Just like the comics. Although—” his tone sharpened, “—having this new Harrison Wells and Silas Stone drag him into S.T.A.R. Labs? Unnecessary deviation.”

But as Barry’s powers took hold, Sheldon’s objections began to quiet. His lips curved ever so slightly into a smile. The Rogues appeared. Barry stumbled through learning to be a hero. His bond with Iris deepened. Even Harrison Wells, suspicious as he was, fit neatly into the story.

For once, Sheldon Cooper stopped nitpicking. He leaned forward, utterly captivated. Sure, his mind occasionally muttered about “pacing issues” or “unnecessary subplots.” But Sheldon was enjoying it.

As Barry clashed with Thawne in the climactic showdown, Sheldon’s face lit up. For a moment he felt like a boy again—the boy who once sat in his bedroom, flipping through comic-book pages for comfort.

It was like he had imagined it in his head.

When Barry’s final line rang out “I am Barry Allen, the fastest man alive.” It overlapped with Sheldon’s, who said it at the same time.

The credits rolled.

The room erupted in applause Leonard, Howard, Raj, Penny, Bernadette, Amy, all clapping.

And Sheldon… could only sit there, misty-eyed, and whisper with absolute sincerity:

“I loved it.”

====

They walked out of the screening room.

Daniel clapped his hands together. “Well… how was it? Love it, hate it?”

“We loved it!” Leonard, Howard, and Raj blurted at the same time, practically bouncing in place.

They immediately began bombarding Daniel with questions.

“What’s with the JSA?” Leonard asked.

“So Reverse-Flash is coming back, right? Of course he is…he was in the end-credits scene!” Raj said, pointing for emphasis.

“And what about the Justice League? We saw Superman, but no other clues to it,” Howard piled on.

Daniel held up both hands, laughing. “Oh, oh no questions. Remember, you’re going to sign NDAs, so don’t go spoiling this.”

The boys groaned in frustration, but Penny, Bernadette, and Amy tugged them back into line. Daniel turned his eyes to Sheldon.

“So, Sheldon… how was it?”

Sheldon adjusted his posture, cleared his throat, and looked directly at Daniel. “I liked it. I liked it a lot.” His lips stretched into a small but genuine smile. “Thank you.”

Daniel smiled back. “I’m glad.”

Then, to everyone’s shock, Sheldon stepped forward and hugged Daniel Adler.

The entire group gasped audibly. Penny froze mid-step, Bernadette’s jaw dropped, Leonard blinked like he’d seen a glitch in reality, and Howard always ready snapped a quick picture on his phone.

“Okay… that just happened,” Penny muttered.

Daniel looked over the group’s stunned expressions. “What? Why do you all look so surprised?”

Amy raised her hand as if she were in class. “I’m his girlfriend. And even I haven’t gotten that yet.”

“Oh…” Daniel blinked, genuinely surprised.

Sheldon released him, adjusting his shirt as if nothing had happened. “Well, I will now keep my end of the bargain. Time to go.” He marched out.

The group followed more slowly. Leonard glanced back at Daniel. “This was really nice.”

Daniel smirked. “Yes, though… I won’t lie. I had ulterior motives.”

Penny narrowed her eyes. “What kind of motives?”

Daniel shrugged, perfectly casual. “Well, Sheldon’s video went viral. So when he posts the second one saying how much he loved the movie and mentions he got an early screening thanks to me… that’s free publicity for the film and for me. The confident head of DC Studios who boldly let a critic see the movie early.”

Amy actually chuckled. “I can’t even be mad at that. That’s… smart.”

Daniel paused, then added with a sly grin, “Also, I just really like getting one over on that guy.”

Howard laughed. “Well, more than anyone else has been able to.”

“Ha, yes winning. I love it,” Daniel said with a grin.

He then opened his arms toward the hallway. “So… I’m free. You guys want to get some food?”

“Yeah, yeah!” everyone agreed at once, their voices overlapping as they headed out together.