Disclaimer:Monk belongs to the USA Network

Author's Note: After hearing that the writers are writing off Sharona by saying that she remarried her loser ex-husband and moved to New Jersey, I felt like writing a proper send-off for her. This is something that I would have liked to have seen on the show (but the writers of MONK could have come up with something a hundred times better than this). Anyway, I hope you like it. It's a bit Monk/Sharona shippy.

"Adrian, I have something to tell you…you better sit down," said a nervous Sharona Fleming.

"No, I'd rather stand, thank you."

"Adrian, would you just sit down?"

"No," he said, shaking his head.

"Why?"

"Because, if I sit down then you'll tell me you have bad news."

"I can tell you that while you're standing up too," she said.

Monk paused in thought, then said, "You have a point. I think I'll sit down."

"Good," Sharona said, half smiling as she watched him take a seat. She took a deep breath. "Adrian…I have some bad news."

"I knew it!" Monk cried as he jumped out of his seat. "I knew you'd say that if I sat down!"

Sharona grabbed his arm and said, "Adrian, calm down! Would you just listen to me?"

Monk looked into her blue eyes, and saw the tears that were slowly starting to form. This can't be good, he thought to himself. He pulled his arm away from Sharona's grip and took a seat on the leather couch once again.

With a shaky voice Sharona said, "Adrian, I can't take care of you anymore."

"What? Why not?" Monk said with worry. His breathing began to get heavy.

"Because my mother's sick. I have to take care of her now."

"Oh…well, she'll get better, right? Then you can come back. I'll…I'll be all right until then," Monk said with a weak smile.

"No, Adrian, you don't understand. She had a stroke. She's paralyzed on the right side of her body. It'll be a long time before she recuperates, and even then she'll still need me close to her. She's gonna need someone there all the time, and who better than her own daughter who just happens to be a nurse, right?"

Monk looked down at his hands to hide the tears that were forming in his eyes and whispered, "When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow."

"So soon?" he said angrily, looking up at Sharona and momentarily forgetting about the tears that were threatening to run down his face.

"I—I'm sorry, I wish it could have been different."

"Me too," Monk replied with a sniffle. "What am I supposed to do? I…I can't survive without you."

Sharona smiled sweetly and said, "How do you know? You haven't tried it yet."

He looked her in the eyes and said, "You know I hate trying new things."

Sharona giggled and felt the tears pouring out of her eyes. She walked over to Monk and grabbed his hand to pull him up off the couch. Hesitantly, she reached up to his face and wiped his tears away. She brought her other hand up and ran it through his luscious curls. Their eyes locked, and she bit back a sob and quietly said, "I'll miss you…Adrian Monk." She then lightly pulled his face towards hers, and tasted his lips very gently.

He responded to her kiss after a few seconds' hesitation. He felt himself wrap his arms around her waist and pull her closer to him, deepening the kiss. He couldn't believe what he was doing! The sensation of her fingers running through his hair sent tingles down his spine. Then her hands left his head and went to his back, rubbing it gently. From there they went to his shoulders, and he felt her pull away. They locked eyes once again, and Monk dropped his hands from her waist.

Sharona slowly backed away from Monk and headed towards the door. She grabbed the knob with one hand, but looked back at him before she opened the door. "I can't survive without you either," she whispered. She wiped her eyes and said, "Goodbye, Adrian." She turned back to the door and walked out of Monk's life forever.

Monk stared at the closed door and whispered, "Farewell, Sharona."