CHAPTER SEVEN
At two in the morning, Sharona was jolted out of a sound sleep. Someone was loudly and relentlessly pounding on her front door.
"What in the . . . .?" she grumbled, slowly opening her tired eyes. She clumsily reached over and turned on the bedside lamp, sweeping her romance novel to the floor in the process.
Crawling out of bed, the blonde stumbled down the hallway. As she entered the living room, she could faintly hear someone calling her name and imploring, "Please open up". She recognized the voice as belonging to Adrian.
Sharona's head was beginning to throb from all the clamoring, so she forced herself to move a little faster. "I'm coming, I'm coming!"
At last, she reached the door. "Hold on a second, Adrian!" she called as she fumbled with the chain. Finally managing to slide it off, she unlocked the entryway and pulled it open.
Before her stood a trembling, terrified man clad in his pajamas. He was breathing rather heavily. A worried expression came over Sharona's face. "Adrian! What happened to you? What's wrong?"
The man said nothing. Instead, his terrified expression transformed into a huge grin. "Sharona! I'm so glad you're all right!" he cried, flinging his arms around his assistant, nearly knocking her down. "Sharona, I'm so glad you're all right!" he repeated, seizing her more tightly.
Sharona gasped in pain as her splint dug into her leg. Her arms were pinned to her sides, robbing her of the ability to move them. In addition to that, she could barely breathe.
As if reading her mind, Adrian loosened his hold, though only slightly. Sharona's wrist still hurt, but it was bearable, and at least she could breathe without effort.
At this point, Adrian was muttering "I'm so glad you're all right" over and over again as he swayed from side to side.
Before long, the tension in his body began to melt away. Sharona could feel his heartbeat return to a steady pace as he grew more relaxed.
"I'm all right, Adrian," she soothed. "I'm all right." What's he so torn up about? "Why don't we sit on the couch, Adrian? Okay? And you can tell me what's wrong."
"O-Okay," he answered softly, putting an end to the repetitive utterance. Gradually, and with some reluctance, he released her.
Sharona smiled at him. "Come on," she said gently, sliding an arm around Monk's shoulders and guiding to the couch.
"I-It was horrible, Sharona, just horrible," Adrian murmured as he seated himself close to his friend.
"What was horrible?"
"The dream. The-The nightmare."
"What happened?" his companion inquired, placing a caring hand on his arm.
"Well, some-some raving lunatic was chasing you. Some murderer we were trying to catch," he began, his voice tremulous. "But he caught you first, and he-he hurt you. He . . . beat you up, and he strangled you, and then left you for . . . dead." Adrian could barely get that word out. He took a deep breath before continuing. "You were in the hospital fighting for your life. And-And nobody would tell me anything. I was waiting for hours. Just . . . pacing up and down and up and down . . . I didn't know what to do with myself. I was so . . . lost. And-And Stottlemeyer was there, and he kept telling me to calm down and relax and everything would be fine. And then, he-he touched me, Sharona." Adrian shuddered. "He didn't even touch my skin, just my jacket." Monk placed his hand on his shoulder to demonstrate. "But it was still so repulsive. I couldn't believe he did that! And I jerked away and gave him this-this angry, hateful look. A-And I shouted at him: 'What are you doing? Sharona can touch me! No one else!'" The distraught detective paused and looked down at the blonde's hand, which was now gliding up and down his forearm.
"Go on, Adrian," she urged.
Bringing his gaze back to her face, Monk cleared his throat. "Well, um, then he-then he left me alone. A-And I went back to pacing up and down and up and down and . . . and then finally the doctor came out and walked over to me, and . . ." His voice trailed off as tears began to form in his dark brown eyes.
"And what, Adrian?" Sharona probed, though she already knew what he was going to say.
The man beside her took another deep breath. "And he had this look on his face. I knew. I just knew," he went on, shaking his head sadly. "He told me that they did all they could, but they-they just couldn't save you. And . . . after the doctor told me that you . . . that you . . . were gone, I remember getting dizzy. My head was spinning. My-My knees buckled. I dropped to the floor and just . . . . just sobbed. It was . . . I-I can't even begin to describe how I felt, Sharona."
A tear trickled down his cheek. Instinctively, Sharona brought her hand to his face and caught the tear on her fingertip. She was about to apologize for touching him when she remembered his words. Sharona can touch me.
Adrian smiled and took the nurse's hand into his. This elicited a blush from his companion. Monk pressed her palm to his cheek, closing his eyes and reveling in the comforting warmth that her touch generated.
After a moment of silence, Adrian raised his lids and stared into Sharona's clouded blue eyes. "I'm sorry I made you sad, Sharona," he apologized, lowering his hand, still wrapped around hers, to his lap.
"No, it's fine. Go on."
The detective's eyes remained glued to the carpeting. "Well, um . . . the-the next thing I know, I'm awake a-and panting and sweating. I was so scared, I just . . . . jumped out of bed and ran all the way over here. I mean, part of me knew it was only a nightmare and that you were really okay, but I-I refused to believe it."
This time, a tear rolled down Sharona's cheek. Discreetly, she brushed it away.
Adrian raised his eyes to hers again. "But when I saw you, when you opened the door, I was-I was so happy, Sharona, so happy that you were all right." Releasing her hand, Monk wrapped his arms around her once more.
Sharona couldn't hold back the tears any longer. Returning the embrace, she rested her chin on his shoulder and allowed the droplets of water to cascade freely down her cheeks. She wasn't sure exactly why she was crying, but it felt good nonetheless. Gently, the duo rocked back and forth.
Adrian tightened his hold as he placed his own chin on the blonde's shoulder. He felt so content in her arms, so at peace. His eyes were getting misty again, but with tears of joy, not of sadness. Adrian smiled. He never wanted to let go, and, by the way her left hand was clutching his shoulder, he sensed that she didn't, either.
After ten minutes, however, she did let go, pulling away from him slowly. "Um, why don't you stay here for the night, huh? You can sleep in my bed," Sharona offered, finally removing her hands from his body completely.
Monk appreciated the invitation. "Thank you, Sharona," he accepted.
Sharona pushed herself off the couch and started for her bedroom. Adrian was right behind her.
"I'm just gonna grab a pillow and a blanket," she said when they were inside.
The detective looked perplexed. "What for?"
"For the couch. I'm sleeping on the couch," she told him, confused herself as to why he needed an explanation.
"Oh," her friend replied dejectedly.
"What's wrong?"
"Uh, well . . . can we sleep together?" Adrian requested with genuine innocence. Nevertheless, Sharona couldn't stifle the giggle. "What? I-I didn't mean it that way," he said sheepishly.
"Oh, I know. I know."
Should I let him sleep with me? she considered. I mean, it's no big deal, right? After deliberating for a short while longer, the nurse arrived at a decision. "All right, Adrian. We can sleep together." A large grin materialized on Adrian's face. "And, um, the sheets are clean, so don't worry," she assured him.
"I know. I, uh, I changed them before I put you to bed."
Another giggle escaped, accompanied by an eye roll. "I should've known."
Adrian pulled back the covers, his smile fading as he examined the sheets.
"What's wrong?" his companion inquired, climbing into bed.
So, the sheets are wrinkled, Monk, what's the big deal? he chastised himself. Just get in bed. "Nothing's wrong. I'm-I'm good."
Sharona gave him a small smile and then stretched out on the soft mattress.
Adrian, instead of remaining on one side of the bed, slid his pillow and himself over to hers, decreasing the distance between them. Sharona's brows furrowed in suspicion. When he finally settled down, he was so close to her that their shoulders, arms, and hips were in contact.
The nurse was incredulous. Oh, my God! Adrian just snuggled up to me!
"I'm trying to get comfortable," he stated matter-of-factly in response to her facial expression.
Before shutting his eyes, Monk once again reached for Sharona's hand. He pressed their palms together and tenderly slipped his fingers in between hers. "Good night, Sharona," he murmured as he drifted off to sleep.
The baffled look remained on Sharona's face. What is with Adrian lately? Why is he seem to have this uncontrollable urge touch me? Carrying me, hugging me, holding my hand . . . snuggling up to me? She remembered the photograph tucked safely beneath her pillow. The strangely pleasing chill the blonde had experienced last night returned twofold.
Sharona's eyes traveled down to their joined hands, and she saw that she was stroking the side of his with her thumb. How long have I been doing that? she wondered while continuing the motion.
The detective's hand was warm and sweaty, but still . . . it felt good. Really good.
Suddenly, she realized something. Adrian wasn't the only one who enjoyed their close physical contact. She did, too, especially when they were holding hands like this, or hugging.
Closing her eyes, the nurse pictured the detective holding her just like he had been not ten minutes ago. He had such nice, strong arms . . . And maybe it wasn't the tightness of his grasp that had made her breath catch. Maybe it was just the feel of his chest pressed firmly against hers . . . This last thought made her body tingle all over.
Sharona's eyes flew open. Paranoia set in. What is wrong with me! He's my boss, for heaven's sake! Well, sure, we're also friends, but our relationship is strictly platonic. Although . . . Okay, hold on a second here, Sharona. Although what? Although you wouldn't mind if you and Adrian were more than friends? No, that's not what I was thinking. Oh, come off it, Sharona. That's exactly what you were thinking. Just admit it already! No! Because there's nothing to admit! I don't like him that way! Yes, you do! No, I don't! Fine, then. Keep denying it. I'm not denying anything! I like him as a friend, and that's it! Nothing more!
Sharona had given herself a headache. She didn't want to think about him any longer. She didn't want to think about anything.
Glancing over at the man beside her, the blonde saw that Monk was out like a light. She half -smiled. "You drive me crazy, you know that?"
Sighing, Sharona closed her eyes again, knowing full well that she would get little, if any sleep that night.
No big deal, right? Wrong.
