Lactaphobia 10 Disclaimer: The other chapters all belonged to USA, but I'm sick of it, you hear me, sick of it. This chapter is MINE, all mine! Muahahahaha!!!!! A/N: Sorry about that - The villain got a hold of the disclaimer. Also sorry about the misspellings in the last chapter. (Big fat 'duh' on my part!). And again, I'm really sorry about the format. I recommend transferring it to a word document. That should restore it to the way it looks on my computer, which is fine, honest! Try to read it anyway. Love you~ LMR *************************************************************** Monk did not think twice. He remembered from a conversation they'd had a few months ago that Sharona couldn't swim. The vat was about twenty feet deep. He jumped in. (EEEEEWWWWW!) By the time he had gotten to her, she'd fallen below the surface. He reached for her, but she was far below his grasp. With a groan, he dived down into the water, and floundered around, almost reaching the bottom. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he felt an arm. It seemed lifeless, deadweight. He pulled, and after several failed attempts, managed to reach the surface. His lungs were burning, and he didn't know how much longer he could remain conscious. Muscles he didn't know he had were aching. He knew Sharona wasn't very heavy, but she felt like a lead weight trying to drag her to the top of the tank. They broke the white surface, Adrian gasping for air, and Sharona. . . Sharona not breathing. The realization hit Adrian in an instant, and his heart stopped with fear. He pulled her to the edge of the tank and laid her on the floor of Milkman's lair. Monk, with his all but infinite knowledge, knew how to give artificial respiration. The thought of it, however, made him want to be sick. All those germs. Fortunately, he had never had to. But there was no one here. He was the only one who could save Sharona. But the milk! So strong was Adrian's phobia that the milk actually felt like fire as he sealed his lips around hers tentatively and started rescue breathing. He had given her three breaths when she started coughing. He took Sharona's cell phone from her side and called Stottlemyer, telling him which way the Milkman had gone. He took a wet - nap out of Sharon's purse, and started to wipe his face, covered with disgusting milk. Fortunately, he had his toothpaste and toothbrush (and backup toothbrushes, and backup bristles for the backup toothbrushes) with him. He brushed furiously, keeping an eye on Sharona. She was conscious, but not really "all there." When he was finished (exactly three minutes later), he went to her with another wet - nap and cleaned off her face and lips. "Mmmmmffff." She said Her eyes were still closed. "I was going to ask what hero saved my life, but seeing as I smell antiseptic, I don't think I need to." She smiled. "What happened, anyway? It's a little blurry." She paused. "Hey, do you have one of your backup toothbrushes." She took it gratefully, the taste of bad milk nearly making her sick. Adrian shrugged. "He tried to drown you." He brushed it off as if it were no big deal. "I pulled you up." Sharona was fully awake now. "Out of the milk? That milk?" She could barely believe it. "I had to. You might have. . ." He drifted off, not wanting to say it. "I don't remember that." Adrian twitched. "You were blacked out. You weren't breathing." Sharona was dumbfounded. "I was. . . you mean YOU. . ." A broad grin spread across her face. "I'm so proud of you, Boss!" Before she could stop herself, she grabbed his face and kissed him lightly on the lips. (A/N: Take that, Monica!) "Oh, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that!" She fumbled for a wet - nap. He made a dismissive motion with his hand. "It's alright. I have come to the conclusion that you are cootie - free. Big, bad sarcasm came out to play. "Gee, thanks, Boss." Adrian spread his arms wide. "That was a compliment!" "For a five - year - old, maybe!" She retorted. "Benjy is past the cooties phase!" Monk held his chin up. "Well, I'm not." Sharona rolled her eyes. "Whatever." She looped her hand in his arm, delicately, so as not to actually touch him. "Let's go tell Stottlemyer about the heroic deeds of Monk." Adrian laughed. "I wouldn't say heroic." Sharona turned to face him, a look of utter solemnity on her face. "I would." ***************************************************************** So there it is! Please R&R! I love you guys! By the way, in the unbelievably wonderful film The Silence of the Lambs (Skip the sequel), Ted Levine plays Jame Gumb, the serial killer Buffalo Bill. He is amazing in such a challenging and just plain disturbing role. He is almost unrecognizable. I highly reccomend that all Monk fnas go see this movie!