Leland shook his head. "Randy, that's the most ridiculous theory you've come up with yet."

"What's so ridiculous about it?" Randy asked, obviously surprised at the question.

"There's no way that divine intervention had anything to do with Noel agreeing to go out with you tonight."

"Well she does go to church. Her father is the pastor at St Luke's on 45th, and, in case you didn't catch it, there's her name."
"Excuse me, I'm not following." Leland said. "Her name?"

"Yeah, it makes perfect sense!" Randy said.

"To a chimpanzee maybe, but you'll have to explain it to me." Leland said, wondering why he cared all of a sudden.

"Her name is Noel!" Randy said.

"And?"

"Noel! Like the song, The First Noel. It's a sign!" Randy's expression was that of a teenage boy in love.

"Oh right..." Leland said. "It still doesn't prove anything. You called her up and asked her out and she said yes."

"Well, not exactly." Randy said.

"What do you mean, not exactly?"
"It was more like a psychic thing. We both just knew it."
"Psychotic is more like it." Turning to Adrian he said "Do you believe this?"

Adrian glanced at Randy and back at Leland, shrugging. "I guess it's possible."

Leland smiled. "Of course you do. Why did I even bother? Look, Adrian since you're here, I need to talk to you about this case. The Stonewald murder. It took place on-"

"Natalie, Thank God!" Adrian said, interrupting Leland when Natalie entered the office. "Where have you been? I've been calling all day!"

Natalie sighed. She really wasn't in the mood for this.

"What's wrong Mr. Monk? I told you I was taking part of the day off. I remember it very distinctly because you actually told me that you were docking me fifteen dollars."

Adrian put a finger to his lips, gesturing toward Leland.

"Oh, he can hear this too." Natalie said. "About what a cheapskate you are!"

Leland and Randy snickered at Adrian's frustrated sigh. "Fine, you can have your fifteen dollars back."
Leland put his arm around Adrian. "Well that's very generous of you, Monk."

Adrian blushed. "Yeah, well..."
"How's it going, Natalie?" Randy asked.

Natalie did her best to avoid Randy's smile. "Oh it's..."

"Natalie!" Adrian whined. "I really need to talk to you. There's a crisis brewing."

"A crisis? What's wrong?"
"Oh, it's terrible." Adrian said, his voice almost breaking.

"Mr. Monk, I'm sorry." Natalie said, rushing to his side. "I must have forgotten to check my phone messages."

"Well when you do, there are 39 of them."
Natalie, Leland and Randy looked at Adrian in shock.
"Mr Monk, you left me 39 messages? What's wrong?"
"Hey, you know that 39 is an uneven number, right?" Randy pointed out.

"I tried to leave another one and got a message saying that the mailbox was full." Adrian admitted.
"Imagine that." Leland said with a smile.

"Okay, Mr. Monk. What's the crisis?" Natalie asked.

"I can hardly say the words." Adrian said.

"Mr. Monk you'll be fine. Just take it nice and slow." Natalie said, putting her arm around his shoulder. "Now what happened?"
"I'm down to 10 boxes of wipes."

Angrily, Natalie pulled away from him. "That's what the big emergency was? Mr. Monk, I told you we'd go grocery shopping next week! Oh God, I can't believe you!" Her voice rose with every sentence. "Damn you, Mr. Monk! All you ever think about is yourself!" Horrified, her voice quivered than broke unexpectedly.

Adrian looked at her in shock, the words cutting him to the bone. She'd never sworn at him before.

Natalie turned around and faced the office window, sobbing quietly.

Leland and Randy exchanged concerned glances. "Um, look Monk..." Leland said. "Why don't you take this file and see what you can come up with on this guy? Get Detective Briggs to help you."

"But he hates me!" Adrian said worriedly.
"He'll get over it." Leland said. "Tell him it's an order."
Adrian took the file and left the room.

Leland turned to find Natalie still facing the window, sobbing into her hands. He went to her, and the instant he touched her back, she fell into his arms.

Leland glanced awkwardly at Randy, who could only shrug. It was so unlike Natalie to lose her composure like this. He let her cry for a few minutes, and then gently pulled her away from him. "What's this all about?"
Randy moved a chair toward the window and Natalie sat down, giving him a grateful smile.

"Whatever you say won't leave this room. I swear it." Randy said.

"He's right." Leland said, handing Natalie a tissue. "So what's wrong?"

Natalie blotted her puffy, tear streaked face. "It's Julie."
"I see." Leland said. "I told you, Natalie. Her grades will come up. You just have to give it time. I'm sure she'll get into a great college."
"I don't care about that." Natalie said. "I can't lose my little girl."
"Wait, what do you mean, lose? She'll only be an airplane ride away." Leland said.

Natalie took a deep breath. "Julie has HES."
"What's that?" Randy asked.
"It's a rare blood disease. She needs a blood transfusion right away."

Leland lowered himself into his chair. "Dear God."

"Man..." Randy said.

"How did Julie take the news?" Leland asked.

"Not good. She thinks she's going to die, but I'm not going to let her."
"So when is the transfusion?" Randy asked.

"Well, there's a problem with that." Natalie said. "Apparently Julie's blood type is really rare and the only person who would be a match is Mitch. All the blood banks are depleted."

"Natalie..." Leland said, trying desperately to think of the right words. "I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do?"

"I don't know what anyone can do." Natalie said.

Seconds later, Adrian reappeared. "Here's the file Captain." He said, handing Leland the folder.

"Thanks, Monk." Leland said, skimming the file.

Meanwhile, Natalie continued to cry.

"It'll be okay. I promise." Randy said, rubbing her back.

"What's going on?" Adrian asked, noticing the sudden sympathy.

"Monk, you'd better have a seat." Leland said, gesturing to the chair.

Adrian sat down.

"What's wrong?" Adrian asked again.

Leland rubbed his hands together nervously. "It's Julie. She needs our help."