A/N: Sorry it took so long for an update. I've been busy with getting started in a new school, my twelfth in eleven years so it's been a bit hectic. Hope this will satisfy.
Exhausted, Natalie led the way into her house. She looked like she had been to hell and back, which, in a way she had. She'd found out her boss, her best friend and even more had been shot by his best friend and was dead. Later that week she discovered he was actually alive and she'd driven to Nevada to find him. Earlier today he almost died again, this time in an exploding car. Basically she'd been an emotional wreck for the past week. In front of Adrian, however, she was trying to be strong. What she didn't know, however was that he saw right through it.
She watched as Monk walked into her living and stopped short.
'It feels so nice to have him home again.'
"Natalie," he called, his voice cutting into the silence, "Why are there all these flowers here?"
Natalie shook her head, clearing her thoughts and walked into the living room.
"Because," she said, her voice croaking, "We all though, we thought you were dead Mr. Monk."
Monk looked confused, almost puzzled, so Natalie continued.
"You were dead! I believed you were dead! I-I, I thought you'd left me! I thought you'd left Julie and I alone I-I I couldn't, I can't handle it again!" by now Natalie was sobbing, curled on her couch.
He was confused. 'Handle what again?' he mouthed. A voice in his head replied, 'Losing the man she loves again.' Finally, it clicked inside his brilliant mind. 'She really does love me, doesn't she? For-Forgive me Trudy, but I do- I do, I think I, I think I might, I think I could love her. I do love her.' Adrian slowly approached her, scared by the current amount of emotions she was displaying. But Adrian knew he had to make her feel better. It's what she would do, had done numerous times for him. No mater how uncomfortable he was, he had to do it for her, the woman he thinks he loves.
Adrian hesitantly reached towards Natalie, lightly touching her shoulder. To his great surprise, he didn't feel an overwhelming need to remove his hand because of the germs. He found it pleasant, relaxing almost to be touching her.
When Natalie felt his hand touch her shoulder she, if possible began to cry more. Only now, these were tears of happiness. Happiness because he was there, touching her. For a while, she thought she'd never be able to feel that again. Natalie turned, perhaps to ask him what he was doing, but she never got a chance. As soon as she had moved, Natalie found herself in his arms. Adrian Monk was holding her close, rubbing her back and whispering words of comfort in her ear. Another thing Natalie thought she would never ever see.
"Shhh. Shh. Shh. I promise. I won't leave you again. Hey, shh." Adrian kept repeating this until he felt her relax completely. As he watched her he felt himself succumb to the world of sleep.
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Adrian awoke an hour later with a sharp pain in his neck. 'Ugh. Where am I?' he thought as he blinked and looked around. His eyes fell to Natalie who was awkwardly twisted, hugging him. He quickly decided he didn't want her to wake up feeling sore, so he picked her up gently and took her to her bedroom. Monk drew the covers around her whispering good night as he closed the bedroom door.
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Adrian walked down the hall to the guest bedroom, his home away from home, grabbed a pair of pajamas that smelled oddly like Natalie, and proceeded to take a shower. The hot water soothed his aching muscles and soon he closed his eyes and relaxed.
Meanwhile, Natalie was tossing and turning in bed. She kept seeing Stottlemeyer shoot Monk and watched as his lifeless body slammed into the bay. Then, all she saw was his two dead, lifeless, eyes looking up at her.
"Nooo!" Natalie's scream pierced the veil of silence surrounding the house.
"No! No! No! No! You aren't dead! I just saw you No!" She broke into sobs again.
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Adrian was just slipping into his pajama top when he heard her first scream.
'Natalie!' was his only thought as he raced towards her bedroom, water dripping from his hair.
He wasn't prepared for what he saw. Natalie was madly thrashing in bed, calling his name and repeating the word 'No!'. Upon hearing this for several minutes he realized she'd had a nightmare about him dying.
Adrian slowly approached the bed and hesitantly put his hand on Natalie's arm. She quickly snapped around and was tense until she saw his face, filled with love and concern gazing down at her. She wrapped her arms around him and let her tears fall onto his bare chest, causing him to stiffen momentarily. As soon as he sensed her calming he tried to get up, but Natalie stopped him.
"Don't leave me. Don't. I just, I can't. I need to make sure you're really here. Please Mr. Monk. Please Adrian. Please stay."
Adrian inwardly froze when she asked him to stay. He had never even considered sharing a bed with someone else besides Trudy. Still, a part of him knew he had to be strong for Natalie tonight as she so often was for him. He knew it was a step he eventually wanted to take. But, he didn't think he was ready just yet. Give it a year, or two, or ten. He wanted, he longed to lay with her in bed. He just didn't know if he could. But for Natalie he would try. He had to try.
Adrian took a deep gulp of air and a labored breath, then spoke.
"Na-Natalie," he spoke, his voice full of unexpected love and concern as well as fear, "I'll be here. I promised you I wouldn't leave you and I meant it."
Natalie turned to him, her eyes shining.
"Are you sure Mr. Monk? I mean I don't want you to be uncomfortable or anything."
Adrian looked directly into her eyes.
"I'm sure. I'll have to get over my fears someday. Why not start now?"
Natalie was again in amazement looking at the wonderful man before her. Sometimes he could be so childlike and stubborn, but others, like these more than made up for it.
"Thank you." she whispered as she fell asleep in his arms.
