* Second of my stories based on Monk and the blue flu

Adrian Monk was a man that was easily intimidated. He was intimidated by the officer that was writing up the bogus tickets to Natalie. That was what stopped him from stopping the officer.

"Natalie," he explained to her, "this is the same man that punched a hole in the wall because someone said something to tick him off. The best thing to do is to just go along with it"

"So I assume you'll take care of this?"

"I would if I could but I can't. I'm on a limited budget myself. Anyway all you have to do is go to traffic school and the tickets will be burned off and expunged"

"If I were someone you wouldn't let yourself be intimidated," Natalie mumbled glancing at the photo of Monk's wife that he was looking at.

She didn't think that he heard him but he did. A couple of months later they were both in traffic school. The instructor, Mr. Merriman was cruel. At one point Natalie answered a question wrong.

"Mrs. Teeger you didn't happen to be married to Captain Mitch Teeger did you?"

"Yes," Natalie replied pleased

"I was one of the men on his team and I was a friend of his. It's a good thing that he's dead because he would be ashamed of who you became."

Monk saw tears well up and spill from Natalie's eyes. He had enough of the man.

He walked up to the front of the classroom and slapped Merriman. Merriman recoiled from the shock of the blow.

"W-what the hell-"

"No," Monk shouted, "THE QUESTION IS HOW DARE YOU MAKE MY FRIEND CRY. I MAY HAVE MY WEAKNESSES AND MY FEARS BUT I WILL NOT PUT UP WITH ANYONE HURTING MY FRIENDS."

"Sit back down now!"

"OH AND I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE. THE ONLY ONE CAPTAIN TEEGER WOULD BE ASHAMED OF IS YOU! Come on Natalie," he said putting an arm around his friend, "we're out of here. By the way Mr. Merriman if cruelty was a crime you would get the death sentence."

"But what about-"

"I'll take care of it," Monk assured Natalie as they walked out. Once they got out he awkwardly hugged her and rubbed her back until she calmed down.

"I hate that man," Natalie sniffled, "do you think he's right that Mitch would be ashamed of whole I became"

"Never," Monk said, "and Natalie you are someone."

"What," she asked looking up at him, "I may not remember everything about my past but-"

"No I don't mean like that," he said, "what I mean is you are the purest soul that I've known since… well you know. You are my best friend and you are someone. I'm sorry I didn't see that before," he added

"Thank you Mr. - thank you Adrian," she said hugging him. He didn't even ask for a wipe when she finished hugging him.