************** CAPTAIN'S OFFICE-THAT AFTERNOON

"So give me the heads up" Capt. Stottlemeyer said to Sharona and Monk.

"Well the only thing that has occurred was the snake incident. I can't think of anyone with-a motive though. And he's only struck the one time." Monk said as he walked toward the Captain's desk straightening his paperwork.

"Monk?"

"Yes?"

"Stop straightening my desk, PLEASE."

"S-sorry. Habits, you know." Monk said sheepishly.

"Right, well I want you two to report back to me if you think of anything. ANYTHING." The Captain stressed.

"We surely will." Sharona said as she noticed Adrian dusting the blinds with a wet wipe. "C'MON Adrian, we've taken up enough of the CAPTAIN's time." She said as she dragged him away from his cleaning.

As they walked out into the hall Sharona said, "Let's go get some ice cream."

"Uh no-I don't think so" Monk shook his head. "Soo-sticky and messy."

"I don't care. I feel like some. Right now." Sharona replied and yanked him out of the station.

IN THE CAR

Monk grumbled about the ice cream outing the whole way there.

"What's with you Adrian?" Sharona asked, "You seem so irritated lately. Stuff is bothering you--way more than usual I mean," she said noticing his expression.

Monk looked at her for a second and then looked away, "It's nothing." He replied quietly.

Sharona glanced at him and then returned her eyes to the road. "You wanna talk about it?"

"Not right now" he said and looked out the passenger window.

Sharona nodded, "Ok then. Well here we are," she said as she pulled in.

A FEW MINUTES LATER

"Come on" Sharona enticed Adrian with a delicious-looking chocolate sprinkled cone. She waved it in front of his face.

"No no-I can't. It's just too sticky." Monk complained.

"Oh come on, I haven't even licked it yet. And look!" Sharona held up the cone, "I have a napkin around the cone so technically I haven't even touched it yet."

Monk hesitated, "Well-" he cocked his head to one side, "I could-I mean I sup-pose."

"Oh just take it!" Sharona shoved it into his hand. Sharona started licking her own cone and Monk, for several moments couldn't help but study the way her tongue moved over the ice cream.

"Adrian!" Sharona called to him snapping him out of his trance.

"What?! I wasn't staring at your tongue! Uh, I mean-what?" Monk stuttered babbling some more, "I wasn't doing anything!"

Sharona lifted an eyebrow, "-uh huh-well Adrian, I was just going to say go ahead and try your ice cream before it melts all over your shoes. But you seem to have OTHER things on your mind, so-"

Monk stared at the cone in his hand, "I-I can't eat this right now. I-" Monk began to say something and stopped. He handed the drippy cone back to Sharona as she gave him a look of disgust.

"Um, Adrian, what's wrong?" Sharona said as she threw the cone away, "You look like you need to tell me something." She stared concerned into his pained-looking face.

He looked into her eyes suddenly with such - truthfulness that Sharona was un-nerved. His deep brown eyes looked crystal clear and Sharona realized he was almost at the point of tears.

"Sharona-I can't. I-" He suddenly changed his mind and said, "I've uh been you know thinking about you." He said their eyes still interlocked.

"Oh, well I think about you too. Ya know, cause I see you everyday," Sharona replied matter of factly.

"I-I know. But I mean more than that." Monk finished with difficulty. Sharona stepped back from him, "Oh my-I . . ." she stopped utterly shocked and not knowing what to say.

"I . . . really can't stop thinking about you. I mean I know it's sudden to say this" he said.

"Adrian, we've known each other for four years, I hardly think that's sudden." Sharona said smartly.

" I-I know that Sharona. I mean to just come out of the blue and say it." He looked down at the ground, "Uh, I understand if you don't feel like I do. . . I mean how could anyone . . . I mean ME of all people and-"

"Hey, shhh." Sharona put up her hand. She set her own melting cone down on a table and gestured, "C'mere."

"Me?" he pointed at himself.

"Yes YOU, you dope! Who else am I talking to?"

Adrian walked towards her slowly, "Wha-what are you going to do?" he asked hesitantly.

"Well, first this" Sharona said and put her arms around his waist.

Monk swallowed.

"Is this ok?" she asked.

He nodded shakily, trying to push away his fears of being touched.

"And then. . . " Sharona pulled him in close to her and laid her head down on his shoulder.

"How we doin'?" she asked after a few moments.

"Ff-fine," Monk stuttered, his face flushed.

"And now. . . " Sharona lifted her head up and gently placed her hands behind Monk's head running her fingers through his hair.

Monk stiffened a little and Sharona pulled his head down until she could look him in the eyes. "Still okay?" she whispered huskily, looking into his eyes.

"Ooohh yeah. . . just fine" he gasped lying through his teeth.

She gently brought his head towards her until his lips met hers. Slowly, ever so slowly, Monk warmed to her touch and responded by kissing her back lightly and delicately. Sharona sighed, his lips felt so good. She suddenly felt lightheaded and almost started to tip backwards when Adrian's strong arms grasped her tightly and he began to deepen the kiss. She was pressed against him and they were soon kissing each other passionately. He had responded to her like a man on fire and tentatively put his hands through her silky hair and felt the love he had for Sharona poured into his kisses.

Gasping, Sharona pulled away after several long moments of kissing, unbelievably breathless.

"WOW. Who knew??" she exclaimed, "We should have tried this sooner!"

"I-I didn't expect that. 'Wow' is definitely the right word," he replied reaching into his suitpocket.

"Adrian, you pull out a wet wipe and I'm gonna kill ya," Sharona stated.

"Sorry" he replied and rubbed his hand over his mouth slightly.

Sharona glanced at him, "Whadda you say. . .you wanna come over for awhile?"

Monk gulped, "Um, maybe. But just for a bit." He said suddenly feeling very weak in the knees.