Disclaimer: Do I own Monk? Is Trudy still alive? No to both questions

Leland looked at his friend who hadn't been shocked so badly in 3 ½ years. He had a hard call to make. The department had just found out that Adrian Monk's wife, Trudy was still alive. They also just learned that she had accidentally killed a man. It had been a true accident but now Leland had to decide how to handle the situation.

"You know what I think," Natalie said.

"Um… that Julie shouldn't have died her hair pink," Leland guessed.

"No… well yes but that has nothing to do with what I'm thinking in this particular case."

"Okay Natalie," Leland said, "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking that what happened… happened."

Leland rolled his eyes.

"Well that's a monumental conclusion," he said sarcastically, "Got any other helpful insight"

"Listen," Natalie said, "It was an accident. I mean you heard Mr. Monk. It wasn't premeditated"

"You've got to be joking."

"When I'm joking," Natalie said, "I'm a lot funnier then this"

"Natalie a man is dead," Leland pointed out.

"I know," Natalie said, "and another man will also be dead if he loses her again. I don't mean physically but Mr. Monk would fall apart."

"He wouldn't lose her exactly," Leland said, "I mean she's still alive and it's not like he couldn't see her-"

"That's freaken amazing," Natalie said sarcastically, "He hasn't hugged her in years. He hasn't kissed her in forever. They haven't… been together in what must seem to him like forever. A long distance relationship is going to KILL him.

Leland sighed. This was very hard for him.

"Look, captain, don't think like a captain. Think like a friend and think like a father. You know what you would say if it were Jennifer or Jared or Max in Mr. Monk's shoes.

That did it. Leland made his way up to Monk who had been holding her hand for a few minutes now trying to make his mouth obey his brain. It was apparently choosing to obey his heart instead.

"Monk," he said, "You know what I think?"

"Um… that your wife drives you crazy when she argues with you," Monk guessed causing Leland to chuckle.

"I think sometimes things just happen," he said.

Monk looked at Leland a tear working it's way down his face.

"You know what I think?"

"What?"

"I think you're the best friend anyone could EVER have"