* This is based on the book Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu

Monk had been being a real jerk to Natalie after he had been made acting Captain of Homicide and his behavior with supporting the officer that wrote her 7 tickets for going 3 miles over the speed limit was the last straw. She was furious with him. He insulted her. He embarrassed her and he had no consideration for what she was dealing with in her life or the fact that it was the anniversary of Mitch's passing. She was determined to make him pay and she knew JUST how.

"Natalie," Monk asked when she walked into his house the next day with a big garbage bag, "are we going to clean up?"

He looked excited.

"Clean up? CLEAN UP! Just sit there and don't move," she said annoyed.

Now he was looking scared.

"N-Natalie why to you sound so angry"

"Yesterday was the last straw," she said, "you really hurt me by your behavior yesterday. You are supposed to be my friend."

"I am your friend," he said getting up.

"Does a friend act the way you did? Does a friend call a person a speed demon for going 3 miles above the speed limit and say-"

Monk held up a hand seeing as she was opening his closet.

"Natalie what are you doing?"

"I'm make you see," she said, "how some of the things you do can be hurtful."

She carefully took his Trudy pillow down from the closet and put it in the bag.

"What are you- Natalie you- I need that," he said tears pooling in his eyes, "that's one of the few things that I have left of her"

"Hurts huh? How did you think I felt when you treated me the way you did yesterday on the anniversary of Mitch's passing!"

Monk froze.

"That was the anniversary of Mitch's passing?"

"Yes it was," Natalie scowled opening his drawer, "and that's beside the point. The point is you were too busy trying to impress someone who doesn't matter that you didn't think of the people who do matter."

"I can take care of it," he said, "I will take care of it. Just… please I need-"

"And what about what I needed," she said, "what about the fact that I was having a day from HELL and you insulted me"

"I didn't realize what you were going through," he said, "and I know I can be insensitive at times but I love you. You're my best friend and I need you. I also need that pillow"

Natalie took a breath and then spoke.

"Sign this," she said taking something out of her bag, something she had written that morning before she came over.

"What is it?"

"It's a contract stating that you will take care of that idiotic fine and you will start treating me with respect and if you fail to meet up with your end of the bargain I get the pillow"

After reading it and agreeing it sounded fair and perhaps desperate to get the pillow back he signed the contract. She then gave the pillow and her friendship back to him.