I don't own Monk
Some days for Natalie were easier then others. She was going through a bit of a tough time now. Monk, who was a good friend of hers was acting like a jerk. She knew he had his quirks but it was hard to be patient with him when he acted that way.
"Why do you act the way you're acting right now," Natalie asked
He didn't answer right away.
"I care about you," he finally said, "and I know that you can be better then you are acting"
"You know," Natalie said warmed by his admission but still fairly annoyed, "I know perfectly well who I'm not and I don't expect to be who I'm not, but I do know that the person who I'm not went through this same thing and you acted in a totally different way."
"That was a completely different situation," he said, "and she didn't do it"
"AND NEITHER DID I," Natalie said, "I'm not saying that you should act the same way you did but you could at least have a little bit of confidence in me."
"How am I supposed to do that," Monk asked, "You had a glass of wine the other day at dinner. You left crumbs on the floor and you say things when you're frustrated or nervous or emotional. Lets not forget that you went 3 MPH over the speed limit"
"Uh-huh so that means what. Are you telling me she never had a glass of wine"
"Don't compare yourself to her. You're not her. Nobody will ever be her except for her. Stop comparing yourself to her. Do I make myself clear?"
"No because I wasn't comparing myself to her," Natalie said
"Yeah you did"
"Did I say you should do the same thing? NO. Did I say that you should love me-"
"Who says I don't love you?"
"What?"
"Natalie I've loved you for year. You're my best friend. Of course I love you. I don't love you like I love her. I'll never love anyone like I love her but I love you"
"You don't really show it when you criticize me or when you supported the JERK that was mean to me"
"I was afraid of that guy," Monk said, "I just wanted to have it done with and move on."
"Then why did you find it okay when Merrimen said Mitch would be ashamed of who I was today"
"OKAY WITH IT? YOU THINK I WAS OKAY WITH IT? I WAS FUMMING INSIDE. Merrimen is a stupid worthless piece of GARBAGE who could ROT for all I care. But I wasn't going to argue about it with him at that point because he's not worth it. You are worth it. I'm not the same person I used to be Natalie. I can't do the same things I used to but that doesn't make my feeling any less real"
Natalie felt another wave rush through her but this wave was one of relief.