Author's Note: Thank you faithful readers for your loyalty to this story. Sorry for the delay on these remaining chapters. They will not come out one a day but we will work as quickly as we can to publish them. Thank you LJD, Alex, Country and guest for your kind reviews! You guys are the best!

The day that Randy Disher moved into Adrian Monk's apartment was not a good day – nor were the days that followed. Of course, this should have been predictable since Monk and Disher's personalities and interests were just so different. Randy enjoyed Rock and Rap Music, Action films, practicing his guitar at two-o'clock in the morning, watching sports, and generally doing anything that he wanted in order to relax and have fun. Adrian, on the other hand, was less conventional in what he considered fun. Reading a book on taxonomy or adding a new specimen to his rock and mineral collection were Monk's standbys for what he considered 'fun' when he was alone. Living with Natalie and Julie had caused him to branch out a bit, but he was still universes away from where Randy was and this was never more apparent than when the two began to live together under the same room . Still, Monk wanted to be a good host to the friend who had really stood up for Leland during his ordeal and who had been a good friend to him and Natalie; and so, he tried. He really did try.

Adrian tried to overlook the grape jelly and bread crumbs that coated the inside of his peanut butter jar when Randy used the same knife in both jars as he made himself a sandwich. He tried to ignore the sight of Randy first thing in the morning as he stood in nothing but sweat pants and exercised to reruns of The Richard Simmons Show on San Francisco's Channel 3. He tried not to complain when Randy didn't turn the television from Channel 3 back to Channel 10 where it belonged. He tried to adapt to having his cupboard filled with sugary cereal and his refrigerator overcrowded with Milk, Protein shakes, and beer. And he tried to skip passed the fact that he was always cleaning up behind Randy for some sort of spill, for clothes not hung up, for a bed not made, and for a bathroom that was left in shambles. And for the most part, he dealt with it as well as could be expected – taking time to talk to Randy about things that bugged him and asking patiently for him to do things better the next time. Randy was trying to and really meant to not be a burden to Monk, this Adrian knew. And so, he tried to exercise patience and give grace, knowing that he himself could be a bit particular and that he evidently needed a bit more growth, if only because Natalie had said he did. And, all-in-all, he did well. For the first week. But when one week turned into two, the anxiousness began.

It all started on a Friday night – Date Night with Natalie, to be precise. Randy was supposed to be visiting his mother and Julie was to be taking in a movie and having a sleepover with her friends leaving Monk and Natalie the evening free to enjoy one another's company, alone. Natalie had teased Adrian about it all week long and he was very excited about this date night, determined to lavish his future bride with positive attention and perhaps have some snuggling and snogging time towards the end of the evening.

He had even gone so far as to drive himself over to the Blue Lagoon Fish Market on Fisherman's Wharf, a place that patterned itself off of the famous Pike Place Fish Market of Seattle in both its customer service and the quality of its seafood, in order to purchase the finest and freshest of ingredients needed to surprise his girlfriend with a main course of his mother's famous Lobster and Mussel Cioppino. It was a quite expensive dish to make, but nothing was too good for his Natalie. And so, he had the whole night scoped out and couldn't wait to be alone with her.


Randy left the precinct at around five o'clock and swung by the apartment in order to pick up some casual clothing to wear for the evening. Monk bit his tongue when Disher rushed into the apartment, sloshed water on the bathroom mirror as he went for a quick shave and left the makeshift living room/bedroom a bit of a mess before rushing back out the door. Since Natalie was coming over around six, this situation understandably left Adrian beside himself as he wanted everything to be perfect for date night. He was still talking to himself about it at five 'til six when Natalie slipped through his front door.

Using her key to let herself in she was suddenly struck by a glorious aroma filling the air, coupled with another smell that seemed 'off'. Tilting her head, she heard the low growl of Monk's grumbling voice talking in the background.

"Hellloooo. Honey, I'm home." she joked, so as to not startle him as she took a few steps into the foyer. The grumbling stopped and she immediately heard a shuffling sound as Monk rushed across his living room floor and poked his head around the corner.

"Hi, sweetheart." He said breathlessly, almost forgetting what he was going to say because Natalie looked so pretty that evening, standing there one of his favorite outfits. Her taking a few steps towards him reminded Monk immediately of where he was and he quickly asked her to go into the dining room and wait for him, he would be right there in few minutes.

Confused, Natalie did as she was instructed, pulling up a chair at his table and waiting for her boyfriend to appear. And she waited – and waited. For the next ten minutes she waited until finally she heard a crashing sound and muffled expletive that drew her out of her chair and sent her rushing into the living room. Entering the room, she immediately saw Adrian standing at the end of the room near his desk covered in ochre colored paint from the waist down looking as if he was about to have a meltdown right then and there.

"Oh, my goodness, Adrian!" she exclaimed, rushing over to him as quickly as she could, grabbing a random cleaning rag from the top of Monk's desk to help clean him up. "What on earth were you doing?"

Monk stood still with both of his hands extended in front of him as Natalie got down on her knees and wiped down his pant leg to make sure that the dripping paint would not carry throughout the house when he made his way to the bedroom for an obvious change of wardrobe.

"The wall was scuffed." was all that he could say at first while Natalie continued to work.

"Your wall? How did you do that?" she asked, deciding at that moment it wasn't important why he felt that now was the moment to fix the scuffed wall, since he was obviously frustrated and need to vent. She placed her hand on his back in order to turn him to get the back of him and Monk continued to stammer, the feeling of the soaking paint coming through the fabric onto his legs being enough in and of itself to cause him to cringe.

"N-n-n-no! N-not me!" he said, with a roll of the neck. "It was R-Randy!"

Just then, they heard the front door shut and Randy Disher came smiling around the corner.

"What about me?" he said, sipping on a giant cup of soda as he walked into Monk's living room. Monk stiffened at his voice and Natalie looked over at him while still down on the floor. Randy took a surprised breath, looking from one to the other and winced slightly. "Oh…sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt." He turned to walk away.

"No,no,no,no,no!" Natalie said, letting go of Monk's trouser leg and getting up off of her hands and knees to explain.

Randy walked back in. "Seriously. You owe me no explanation. What you guys do is…"

"Where is your guitar stand?!" Monk finally bellowed out, frustration etched on his face.

Randy looked in the corner near the window by the couch and pointed. "Over there. See it?"

"Then why, may I ask, was your guitar parked over here next to my desk. That's the completely opposite side of the room!" Monk noted.

Randy looked between the desk and his guitar stand and thought for a moment then smiled a relieved smile. This was one thing he had an answer for. "Oh, I was just restringing it over there in the light. Guess I forgot to put it back." He chuckled.

Monk was not amused. "Guess you did. And guess what I tripped over trying to adjust the blinds?"

Randy paused and thought for a moment then a panicked look came upon his face. "My guitar?!"

He rushed over to the instrument which was now laying across Monk's desk and picked it up as if it were a wounded child. "Are you okay, Savannah? Did he hurt you?" he said, examining the guitar for damage.

Monk and Natalie looked at one another and then back at Randy.

"You call your guitar, Savannah?" Natalie asked.

Randy looked indignant. "Yeah. What about it?"

"Oh…nothing." She replied. "Except maybe, it's a little weird."

"I could have broken my neck over that thing!" Monk continued. "Or some other bone. Instead, it caused a scratch in the paint on the wall, which I was trying to touch up so that it would look nice for when Natalie arrived. Just got that finished only to find myself plummeting again onto the floor after I tripped over a chair that someone else also left out of place. Look at me! I've got paint on myself, the floor, and all the way over there on the bookshelves. Some of my books even have yellow ochre on them! Now I'm going to have to throw them out!"

"Sounds like you need to be more cautious." Randy said, just before Adrian lunged at him. Natalie jumped in between the two men, grabbing Adrian around the chest to avoid getting paint on her pretty sweater.

"It's okay, honey." She told the enraged Monk. "I'm sure he was just in a hurry and forgot. Go on back to your bedroom and get changed out of those yucky clothes."

Monk continued to glare at Randy who appeared a little embarrassed and uncomfortable.

"Honey, go." She said once again, caressing his side ever so softly. Monk looked down at her pleading eyes and nodded once before sulking towards his bedroom door.

Randy took a step forward. "I'll clean up the paint mess, Monk. Don't worry about it." He said, just before the door slammed. He looked at Natalie. "Wow, someone's in a bad mood. Wonder what set him off?"


Forty-minutes later, Adrian's bathroom door opened and a rush of steam came pouring out of the room as a newly showered and changed Monk came out into the hallway, adjusting his shirt collar and running a hand down the front of his shirt to make sure everything was straight. Hearing talking and laughter, he walked into the dining room where Randy had already dipped out portions of Adrian's dinner for Natalie and himself and was soaking up the broth with the crusty bread that Monk had bought for the occasion. Monk stopped in the doorway, dispirited by what he was seeing.

"Oh, hey Monk!" Randy said, quickly, wiping his mouth as Natalie stood up from her seat. "Hope it was okay that we started without you. My mom makes this stuff and there's nothing worse than overcooked seafood."

Adrian didn't say anything, but just watched as Randy got up from the table to take his dishes to the kitchen sink.

"You did really good!" he continued.

Adrian continued to observe his guest with a disappointed expression on his face, even as Natalie walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his abdomen, kissing him on the cheek.

"Sorry we didn't wait for you." She whispered. "But he already was dipping it out before I could say anything. You made this for me?" She asked, looking up at him warmly.

Monk softened, looking away from Randy long enough to answer. "It was supposed to be a surprise. My mother's recipe." He stated. "Now, it's all ruined."

Natalie lifted her fingers to the side of his face, pulling him down for a long, tender kiss. As their lips parted, she smiled. "Nothing is ruined. The fact you made this for me, it makes me love you all the more."

Monk searched her eyes and then a soft smile appeared on his lips. "Well, I guess I am glad you got to have it while it was fresh and I'm glad you liked it." He said by way of concession, pulling her to him and kissing her forehead. He rested his cheek on her head and closed his eyes.

"Hey guys!" Randy said from the other room. "Do you two mind if I watch wrestling?"

Immediately, Monk stepped back, raising his hand up to tell Randy no, but Natalie put her hand on Monk's mouth and pulled him aside towards his room, even as she told Randy that she was sure it would be fine and that they'd be right back.

Drawing him into the bedroom, she partially shut the door behind them for privacy so that she could explain.

"What'd you tell him it was okay for? Why is he even here?" Monk complained.

Natalie patted Adrian on the chest. "He's lonely and needs a friend. He said he was on his way to his Mom's house and called to see if she wanted him to pick up anything and she told him that she'd forgotten and made other plans for tonight. He said it was the story of his life, first Sharona and now his Mom. Nobody wants to be with him. So, he came back home."

"Home? This is not his home! His home is with his wife!"

"I know that and you know that, but Randy said he's tried calling her several times this week and she won't return his call. Said Benjy finally answered the call and told him that his mother doesn't want to talk to him and not to call back. He's really trying to put up a brave front right now, but I really think it hurt him." She explained. "You remember what it was like for people to turn their backs on you – what that felt like?"

Monk grew quiet as such had been his lot in life for much of his life and he knew the feeling quite well. Finally, he nodded.

"Now is our opportunity to make sure Randy doesn't feel that way." She explained. "To let him know he's loved."

Monk looked down, shuffling his feet. "But, Natalie…tonight was supposed to be our night. We never get time alone any more. Can't we show him we love him later?"

Natalie grinned, "Soon, my love, you and I will be spending all the alone time together that we want to and we'll be each other's forever. But for tonight…what do you say we be alone together with a friend whose heart is hurting? Would you do it for me?"

Monk twisted his mouth to the side. "You know that's not fair."

"I know." She nodded. "But, will you?"

Adrian paused and took a deep breath and then nodded and the two walked back out into Monk's living room where Randy was already sitting in the middle of Monk's couch gleefully watching two burly wrestlers' sweaty bodies slamming into one another in the ring. Monk saw what was on and made a disgusted face, rolling his shoulders then looking towards the remote to change the channel. Natalie read his mind and took him by the arm, pulled him over to his chair and sat him down. She pulled up a straight back chair and sat it next to him, and they spent the next hour and a half that way, watching Randy's wrestling match or whatever else the captain wanted, while Natalie held Adrian's hand, resting her head on his shoulder.


By eleven o'clock Randy was sound asleep on the couch and Natalie, who had by then squeezed herself next to Adrian in his chair, had dozed off as well, so Monk simply sighed and leaned the recliner back, lamenting the ruin of all of his plans for the evening as he fell asleep. He and Natalie were awakened several hours later as Richard Simmons voice rang through the living room and Disher mimicked faithfully what he was seeing the fitness coach do on the screen.

Monk turned to Natalie and looked her in the eyes. "I get extra Karma chips for this." He stated, and she smiled, taking his hand and measuring out imaginary chips into his hand even as she kissed him good morning.

For the next week, the situation got no better. Sharona was still not communicating which made Randy increasingly lonely and needy. Monk, never the best empathizer, did not do well with other people's 'needy.' It all finally culminated on the following Saturday when Monk opened his refrigerator to take out a carton of eggs to make breakfast and inadvertently dropped the eggs on the floor because not only was the carton left open but Randy had grabbed the eggs from the right side of the carton leaving the left side heavier than the right. As he stood there watching egg white drip down the side of the refrigerator, it was all Adrian could do to restrain himself from making a bigger mess. But he remembered Natalie's words and instead silently threw the empty carton away, wiped up the most apparent of the egg white and then walked to and out his front apartment door and up the stairs to the Teegers. It was time for a talk.


Early that afternoon, Natalie drove Adrian to the Stottlemeyer house after hours of him whining and telling her that he didn't care if Leland knew he was coming or not. Monk was fed up with Randy doing all sorts of unclean things in his house and needed some peace and quiet. He'd even suggested that she and T.K. could use that time to go visit Sharona and convince her to take Randy back. "You and T.K. are women." he told her matter-of-factly and Natalie had to bite back the retort that she was so glad he noticed that before they got married. Natalie protested that what was going on between the Dishers was their business, but Monk kept insisting that it was her job to talk to Sharona and even went as far as to frame it in the guise of being one of her investigative assignments. As she had done so many times over the last eight years of working for him, she ended up giving in.

Natalie hadn't talked to T.K. for a few days and figured it would be nice to catch up, if nothing else. So, she called ahead to warn them that they were coming over. She wasn't sure if she and T.K. could convince Sharona to take Randy back - three weeks of complete radio silence between the Dishers and Benjy's talk with Randy to tell him to stop harassing his mom made them wary - but Natalie and T.K. were built from the same stock of stubborn as the former Sharona Fleming and agreed to try.

The Stottlemeyers must have been waiting for them because Leland opened the front door to his house mere seconds after Natalie pulled into his driveway. Natalie watched from the driver's seat as T.K. stood up on her tiptoes to kiss her husband goodbye and likewise Natalie did the same with Adrian before he unlocked his seatbelt and exited the car to make room for Leland's wife. T.K. slid into the passenger seat of Natalie's car and with a little wave from both of them to their significant others, Natalie put the car into reverse and left the house.

The drive to Randy and Sharona's house was mostly quiet, T.K moving to turn on the radio after five minutes. Natalie turned it down and offered an apology for her and Adrian showing up that day without much warning. "Adrian just needed some time away from Randy," she said. "He was driving him crazy."

"Is the roommate situation going that badly?" T.K. asked.

"Let me put it to you this way." Natalie smirked. "Adrian tells me every day that he would much rather have Leland as a roommate than Randy and…"

T.K. laughed out loud. "Oh, yes, Leland told me the story about when he and Monk tried to live together and how well that worked out for them."

Natalie merely raised an eyebrow at her friend and T.K. laughed again. "Leland says that he tried."

Natalie nodded. She was sure that the commander had tried in the same way Randy, for the most part, was trying to be a good roommate. But the two of them, while fine professionally, were like oil and water living together. "I know that Randy is doing the best he can and you can almost see the wheels turning in his head where he's trying to be considerate of Adrian's rules, and…I love him, heaven knows I do, T.K. But take it from me, that Adrian Monk is not always an easy person to live with."

The police commander's wife was quiet for awhile, knowing that although Monk had a heart of gold, it took Natalie's unique personality to be able to put up with some of his moods from time to time and she could only imagine what living in that apartment was like, but she kept that to herself. After a few minutes, she looked over at Natalie. "Want to hear some gossip?"

Natalie immediately grinned. "Always. And if you're going to tell me what I think you're going to tell me, then I definitely want to know about it." She waited a moment and then sighed and prompted her friend. "My daughter and your stepson?"

T.K. shrugged and made a big show of looking innocent. "I was helping Max with his homework one night and he just so happened to mention that Jared and Julie are texting every day and 'hanging out' this weekend, whatever 'hanging out' means these days."

Natalie narrowed her eyes. "It better not mean anything, if Julie knows what's good for her." Then she smiled. "Not that Jared's a bad guy. She just hasn't said so much as a word to me about it and I'm not getting in the middle of anything because it's so wonderful to see Julie happy after everything she's been through." She glanced sideways at her friend. "You aren't, uh, opposed to them…'hanging out,' are you?"

"Until I know that there's something to talk about, I'm staying out of it too." was T.K.'s answer.

"Good move! We will cross that bridge with Leland and Adrian when we come to it, you and I."

"Good enough for me!" T.K. smiled then watched quietly as Natalie made the turn to lead them to the street where the Disher house was.

"Do you think this will work, Natalie?" the other woman asked, quietly. "Sharona kicked him out three weeks ago and they've barely talked since. Leland and I -"

"You and Leland kept your problems to yourselves and didn't let it affect the rest of us," Natalie interrupted. "Randy moved himself into my fiancé's apartment. At first, Adrian dealt with it by actually braving the fire escape to come sleep in my room so that he didn't have to hear Randy's motivational tapes droning on all night. But, about two weeks in, Julie caught him, so now he's miserable in his own apartment and miserable around me. Maybe this is me being selfish but I need that to stop and Randy to go home. Randy can't go home unless Sharona takes him back, so here we are." Left unsaid was T.K.'s response that she didn't want Randy moving in with her and Leland, either.


Back at the Stottlemeyer's, Monk was venting to Leland about the same things he had spent hours complaining to Natalie about, but without the added attempt to coerce Stottlemeyer to have a 'talk' with Sharona or Randy. For the longest time, Leland was quiet, patiently allowing Adrian to have his say until finally he could take it no more and began to laugh.

Monk stopped midsentence and stared at his longtime friend. "And exactly what is so funny?" he asked, with more than a hint of perturbation.

"Monk." Leland laughed. "For the first time in thirty years you're finally getting to understand what it's like to walk in my shoes!" he replied.

Monk tilted his head. "You're shoes? What do you mean, walk in your shoes? We don't even wear the same shoe size."

Leland grinned and shook his head. "Nope. We don't. And don't get me wrong here, Monk. You're a brilliant detective, second to none, the best friend a man could ever ask for and your character is unimpeachable."

"But?"

"But, you're not the easiest guy to be around sometimes."

Monk shifted and raised his hands in front of him, fingertips touching. "Is this about the time that you moved into my apartment after Karen? Because if it is, I want you to know right now that I'd take living with you more than living with Randy a million times over."

Leland laughed. "No, Monk. It has nothing to do with my brief sojourn in your apartment." He paused to take a drink of the near-beer that he was trying to get used to in order to cut down on his drinking for T.K.'s sake. Setting down the glass, he continued. "You and Randy, you've worked together for what? A decade?"

"Yeah, something like that." Monk replied.

"Professionally speaking, you get along pretty well, right?"

"Yeah, I guess so." Adrian responded, unsure of where this was going.

"You want to know why that is?" Leland asked. Monk was silent, so Stottlemeyer continued. "It's because of me."

"You?"

"Yes, me." He replied, shifting in his seat to face Adrian more. "Now, I am not saying this to brag, but I know I've been the stabilizing factor that makes our team work and you probably do too. If I weren't there, you'd either not be working together or one would have surely killed the other because of your different styles and outlooks. You both have your own strengths and you can be yourself and not have to change and Randy can do the same."

"Are you saying you want to move into my apartment to bring stability? Because if you are, forget it. There isn't enough space."

"No, Monk. I'm not saying I'm moving into your apartment- again (heaven help me, I'll never repeat that mistake). What I'm saying is…"

Monk sighed audibly, showing his impatience with Leland's explanation, so Stottlemeyer decided to cut to the chase.

"Listen. You and Natalie, you're getting married soon, right."

Monk lowered his arms and his expression softened. "Yes. You know we are in five months."

"And I suppose you two are thinking about having kids?"

Monk looked down and a slight smile came on his face. "If we are so blessed, I hope so."

"That's great. That's wonderful." Stottlemeyer replied, leaning back in his seat and placing his hand on his legs as he thought through what he wanted to say.

"What does that…have to do with me and Randy?"

Leland paused for a moment then looked up at his friend. "Everything. Monk, you're looking at this all wrong. If you and Natalie have children, you're going to have to be a father."

"Um…yeah…that's usually how that works." Monk replied sarcastically.

"That's something you have no experience with – fatherhood. I mean other than a short time with Tommy Grainger, you've never been a dad - and being a father is going to stretch you beyond where you have been so far in life. You're going to have to more patient and learn to let go of things more…"

"Okay. So?"

"Well, think of Randy living with you like this. It's practice." Leland said, triumphantly.

Monk gave Leland an irritated scowl. "Practice? What kind of practice?"

"Parenting practice." Adrian made a face but Stottlemeyer ignored it and continued. "Monk, you and Randy are both adults, but there is a part of Randy that is still like a kid and always will be. The things that Disher enjoys, how he deals with life is very much like a teenager on occasion. He has that child-like excitement at times and while it can be trying, it's also not something you want to squash. In fact, we can all stand to have a bit more of it in our own lives."

"Are you saying I act like an old man?" Monk responded, offended.

"Yes." Leland replied, matter-of-factly. "And you probably have acted that way since you were eight. That's not to say there is anything wrong with you. That's just who you are. And Randy is who he is.

But, as you move into this new phase, you're going to need to loosen up a bit or your future kids will be miserable. Trust me, for the years I was married to Karen it was always a struggle. I had my career and a house of four to feed and always took things very seriously. But my kids were much happier when I was taking time to go to their ball games or sitting with them playing video games than they were when I was 'adulting.'"

Monk sat down next to Leland and listened quietly.

"And you know, I'm sure there were many times when the house was not straight or they did something that absolutely got on my nerves or messed something of mine up – but at this point in time, very few of those moments are things that I can recall the specifics on. It's those other times that I remember with joy and so do they – the times where they were just allowed to be who they were and I relaxed enough to enjoy it and enjoy the love we share. It'll be the same for you." He smiled as he mentally took stock of some of those moments.

"And Randy is my practice?" Adrian asked.

"Exactly!" Leland smiled, pleased that Monk was getting it.

Monk looked at Leland thoughtfully then frowned. "Is God mad at me?"

Leland laughed and patted Monk on the leg. "Not at all, buddy. Not at all. It'll be okay, Monk. You'll see."


Natalie parked her car next to the curb as not to block Sharona's vehicle in the driveway and the two women silently got out and walked the steps to the front door of the Disher house. It was only a few seconds before Sharona answered the doorbell and the first word out of her mouth was a harsh "No."

Natalie and T.K. merely looked at each other and Sharona sighed, motioning with her hand for them to come in. Boxes lined the hallways and walkways and Natalie and T.K. looked at each other with worry in their eyes when they noticed most if not all of the boxes were labeled with Randy's name. Sharona sheepishly apologized for the mess and T.K. assured her that after living with two boys for three years, this was what her house looked like on a good day. The hostess actually smiled and led them to the living room.

Sharona didn't sit down or waste time with basic pleasantries like offering a drink or snacks. She knew what they were there for. "Randy and I aren't getting back together so if that's what you came here for you can forget it."

Natalie and T.K. glanced at each other and the younger woman opened her mouth. "Randy loves you," Natalie said softly. "And, I believe you love him."

Natalie didn't notice but T.K. saw that Sharona discreetly and roughly wiped the back of her hand across her eyes when she thought no one could see her. "If Randy loved me, he wouldn't be having an affair with Jessica," she said strongly enough that neither of them heard her voice falter. "He promised me that he wasn't like Trevor and then – well… never mind."

T.K. tried to say something this time. "Sharona, it's my fault that Jessica even got Randy's phone number in the first place. I told you that when we all went to therapy that day, so if you want to be mad at someone you can be mad at me. I don't mind, but…Randy didn't do anything wrong."

Sharona's eyes blazed with righteous anger. "What would you do if Leland was getting phone calls at all hours of the night and meeting up with some woman that you knew was making a play for him and he wasn't doing anything to stop it?! You'd be furious, right?!"

"Sharona!" Natalie cried in protest. "Randy wasn't…"

Sharona held up her hand. "You, Natalie, can save yourself the protest right there. Randy told me about how you were all over Adrian and fighting with him from the time you got to the station when Adrian got a phone call from Jessica."

"Yes. That's right. But eventually, I calmed down and trusted him," Natalie said quietly. "Adrian had no reason to lie to me or cheat on me and I knew that. It just took me a little bit of time to realize that. Randy has no reason to lie to you or cheat on you, Sharona."

Sharona crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Natalie. "I believe you when you say that Adrian had no reason to lie to you about Jessica because he'd never met her before. But Randy has met Jessica before. Randy might be a dope, but he's mine and Jessica knows that. She knew full well what she was doing with a married man and Randy never did a damn thing to tell her to back off. I've seen them together three times at the hospital and she's always pushing herself into him like an inch of space would be a national tragedy."

"You work in the hospital. Maybe he was just being friendly." Natalie suggested.

"That's not all. Three and a half weeks ago, he was supposed to go with me to Gail's birthday party…"

"Gail?" T.K. asked.

"Sharona's sister." Natalie explained.

"Yeah, it was Thursday night and we had dinner reservations at El Coranado, but he told me he had to work." She replied.

"Okay…so Randy has been working very hard recently." Natalie said.

"Yeah…right. The restaurant is just a few blocks away from the precinct so I, being a caring wife, ordered him some dinner while the others were eating dessert and took it to him at the office...He wasn't there. He wasn't there then and he wasn't there an hour later. I called. Then he comes home and says he was at work the whole time. Liar!"

T.K. was quiet and when she finally spoke her voice was thick and rough with emotion. "Sharona. I'm sure there is some explanation that is different than what you're thinking. If Leland was getting calls and texts from a number that I didn't recognize in the middle of the night from a woman that wasn't Karen, or even if it was Karen, I'd like to think I would trust my husband enough and respect him enough to talk to him about it - not shout or accuse him of anything, and not immediately jump to a conclusion and think the worst of him." She looked directly at Sharona. "I know that you and I haven't really been friends for a long time, Sharona, but I've always liked you and I think you're a good person. But, you're making a mistake."

Sharona crossed her arms and turned her head, but T.K. would not be dissuaded. "There is no mistake."

"Well, won't you at least talk to him? He's miserable without you and he's making Adrian miserable and that's making Natalie miserable. Don't you think that you at least owe him that much respect and not have Benjy do it for you?"

"Benjy?!" Sharona said in confusion, looking between the two women. "What does Benjy have to do with anything?"

Natalie immediately nodded in agreement. "Adrian told me that Randy got a phone call from Benjy telling him to back off."

Sharona had the good sense to look ashamed. "I - I didn't know that Benjy did that," she muttered under her breath. "I'll, um, I'll talk to Benjy. Maybe I'll text Randy and tell him that Benjy did that on his own and I didn't tell him to."

Natalie held Sharona's gaze. "Don't text him. Call him. Talk to him, Sharona. The two of you need to work this out."

Sharona stood silently for a minute, thinking. Then began to shake her head. "No. It's too late. That ship's already sailed." She nodded towards the hallway. "I appreciate what you two are trying to do, but I'm moving on. I can't go through this again."

"But, Sharona!" T.K. said.

"No buts. It's over." Sharona walked over to the counter and picked up a note pad and the two women waited as she scribbled something down, folded the paper and sealed it in an envelope. Walking over to Natalie, she handed her the envelope then looked at both women and apologized. "Listen, I know what you were trying to do and I appreciate it. You are just intervening because you care. But, it's too late. Sorry you wasted your time."

"Sharona…"

"Nothing more you can say." The nurse continued. "However… since you're here, will you take those boxes with you when you leave? They belong to Randy. I have a lot of work to do around here to get everything packed up and ready to go."

"Go?" Natalie asked with surprise.

"Yeah. Goin' back to Jersey. Jersey's always been home. San Francisco's home too, but not now. Not with everything that's gone down. I just need to leave." She said, walking towards her kitchen. "If you don't mind. I really don't want to talk about this anymore. It's giving me a headache. Please forgive me for not seeing you out and thank you for understanding." She said before quietly disappearing into her back bedroom and shutting the door.


That evening, Natalie and Adrian pulled up to Monk's apartment and Natalie parked the car. The women had filled Leland and Adrian in on what had transpired and it was agreed that the younger couple would be the one that would break the news to Randy. More specifically, it was agreed Natalie would do so since her relationship with Randy went back for almost as long as Monk's and she had a more empathetic way of saying things than either one of the men.

Parking the car, Adrian drug a wheeled dolly out of Natalie's back seat and began stacking boxes of Disher's stuff on top. It took a few extra minutes for him to get them aligned just right and then belted in so that they would not go anywhere and then they were again delayed when he couldn't get the wheel to go over the curb. After a few minutes of watching her fiancé struggle, Natalie decided to come to the rescue and pushed him aside, easily maneuvering the dolly into place and up and over the impediment. Monk sighed with embarrassment but followed her inside the building and onto the elevator without so much as a complaint after that since his mind was busy thinking about how Randy would be impacted by Sharona's decision.

Natalie used her key to open the front door and an excited Randy came to greet them with a smile on his face.

"Did you see her?" he asked, his smile instantly fading when he saw the boxes. Monk simply looked at him sadly and passed on through. "Wh-what is all this?" Disher asked.

Natalie took Randy by the arm and led him back into Adrian's living room bidding him to sit down and both Adrian and Natalie stood as she broke the news.

"T.K. and I saw her, yes." She began, reaching into her purse and retrieving the note for him. He took it from her hand and began to read, then folded it up without a sound. Standing up, he walked over to the boxes and opened the top one up.

"Randy Disher Project." He said sadly before shutting it again. He looked up at Natalie. "Did she say when she's leaving?"

Natalie shook her head. "I'm sorry. She didn't. But, judging from the state of her apartment, I imagine it'll be in the next couple of weeks."

Randy ducked his chin and shook his head. "I should have known a loser like me couldn't hold on to someone like Sharona."

"Randy, I'm…I'm sorry." Natalie said and Monk finally spoke up.

"Yes, Randy. We are both very sorry."

Randy nodded. "Yeah. Well, thanks. Guess I know now how the commander felt when Karen divorced him. I…I think I need to take a walk. Be alone for a while. Don't wait up." He stated as Natalie and Adrian watched him walk out the door.