"The mouse hates garlic," Monk went on.

"So?" said Sharona. "Lot's of animals hate garlic."

"But none of them spring away so quickly. It's almost as if…" Monk paused. "The mouse knew the garlic would kill it."

"Monk, I'd like to say that's impossible, but you're never wrong," Stottlemeyer sighed. He checked his watch. "It's late. Nearly midnight. We'll sort this out in the morning, okay?"

"Okay," Monk agreed.

"Who's going to stay overnight? Someone should." Natalie looked at Stottlemeyer, then at Sharona, and then at Monk.

"Not it," Monk said, shaking his head. For extra measure, he placed a finger on his nose.

"What? Why?" Stottlemeyer turned his head toward him. "It would make the most sense."

"True," Monk said cautiously, "but I really can't… can't sleep anywhere but my own bed."

Stottlemeyer sighed exasperatedly. "Well I can't, I need to be at the station early tomorrow. Natalie?"

Natalie waved her hands. "Nope. I'm picking Julie up at five in the morning to get ready for her basketball game."

All eyes turned to Randy.

"What? Me?"

"Oh no, no way." Sharona began to walk toward the exit. "I'll just sleep in the lobby."

Stottlemeyer stepped in front of her and blocked her path. "Sharona, for your safety and wellbeing I am putting you under house arrest. Exiting your apartment is now a violation."

Sharona narrowed her eyes. "Fine." She turned to Randy. "Out," she demanded.

Stottlemeyer shook his head. "Lieutenant Disher stays. That's the rules."

Sharona groaned. "Fine, okay. But Natalie, get over here as early as possible. God knows if I'll even be alive by the time you reach me!"

Randy straightened his back. "Don't worry, I'll make sure no one gets in."

"I was talking about you driving me insane, stupid."

"Oh. Right."

-SF-

Half an hour later Sharona was dressed and ready for bed. She walked out of her bedroom in a nightgown that only reached her upper thighs. Randy was reading on the couch, and he looked up as she entered the living room. She pretended not to notice him ogling her.

"You can go use the bathroom now if you want," Sharona told him, sitting down in one of the armchairs.

"All– all right," he replied, but he didn't get up.

"I'll get the sheets for the sofa bed in a bit, I guess."

"Okay."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, neither of them knowing quite what to say. Eventually, Randy spoke up.

"I meant what I said last night."

"Hmm?" Sharona hummed in response.

"When I promise I'd find Benjy. I mean it."

Sharona looked at her hands, which were tightly laced together. "Thank you, Randy," she said quietly. "I just don't know what I'd do if… if…" And then suddenly she was sobbing, and Randy was racing to her side, gathering her up in his arms and rubbing her back.

"I want my baby back," she cried. Randy held her closer, feeling her body shake against him.

"You're safe, he'll be safe. I'm right here and I'm not leaving," he said calmly.

"Dammit," she whispered between sobs, making him laugh. She realized they were sitting on the carpet together, and that she was practically on his lap. She raised her head and met his eyes. He looked down at her.

"Randy."

"What?"

"Don't make this any weirder than it has to be."

He didn't even have time to ask her what she meant, before Sharona's lips were on his and she was kissing him, and he was kissing her back. They'd wanted this moment for so long without even knowing it, and they savored every minute.

Eventually they parted for air. Sharona looked at him breathlessly.

"Hey," he whispered.

"Hey," she whispered back.

"I think you need to sleep," he said softly.

"Okay," she said reluctantly, but before she could struggle to her feet Randy picked her up bridal style. She gazed at him suspiciously.

"Just rest, don't argue," he said to her. "It's better that way."

"Better if I rested or better if I didn't argue?"

"Um, either one works."

She laughed and leaned against him, letting him carry her to the bed, where he deposited her gently on the sheets. He tucked her in and cautiously kissed her forehead, before turning around.

"Where're you goin'?"

"I'm gonna go set up the sofa bed."

"No you're not. I want you next to me."

Randy nodded. "Oh, okay. Should I put a pillow and a blanket on the floor or…?"

Sharona sighed. "No you idiot, I want you in my bed."

His eyes widened. "Ohh."

He carefully climbed into bed next to her and she inched closer. He hesitated a moment before wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Goodnight Randy."

"Goodnight Sharona."

-SF-

Only an hour or so later, Sharona opened her eyes. Randy's arms were still around her. A tiny amount of daylight was slipping through the blinds, just enough light to brighten the room a bit. The clock read 4:56 AM. Sharona let out a muffled groan.

She gingerly slipped out from Randy's grasp and padded across the cold wooden floor to Benjy's room. Her feet were warmed by his carpet.

Everything was just how he left it. Nothing was disturbed by attackers of any sort, not even by the police or anyone else. It was almost like he'd never left.

Almost.

"Sharona?" Randy's voice came from behind her. "You okay?"

Sharona again recognized that somehow she'd ended up sitting on the floor. She closed her eyes. "Mm-hm. Just woke up and couldn't get back to sleep."

Randy knelt beside her. "We'll find him."

Sharona didn't respond. Her eyes wandered over to Benjy's desk, where the book he'd been reading lay untouched, still open to the page he'd left off at. A particular picture on it caught her eye.

Randy noticed what she was looking at and grabbed the book for her.

"It's a mouse," she said, tracing the drawing with her fingertip. She began to read. "Bats, wolves, and mice are often the most common form a vampire will take. Their animal forms, however, do not prevent them from garlic and sunlight as one might assume." Sharona inhaled sharply. "Oh my god."

"What? What is it?"

Sharona jumped to her feet. "We gotta call Adrian right now. I know who – or what – took Benjy."