Monk answered his door. "Captain what are you doing here?" Monk asked.

"Natalie sent me to come pick you up."

"Why?"

"She said that she was probably going to be late. She has this meeting with Julie's teachers to explain what happened…and that's all I know" Leland then cocked his head backwards and said, "Come on my car's still running."

"Seatbelt check." Monk said as he sat down in the car and jiggled his friend's seatbelt buckle.

"Monk I don't need a 'seatbelt check' I'm a police officer of course I have my seatbelt on."

"Right sorry." Monk said.

The two of them rode silently until Stottlemeyer asked a very random question.

"Monk have you and Natalie got a thing goin on?"

"What?"

"Do you have a thing for Natalie?"

Monk thought about it then said. "Natalie's an extraordinary woman."

"That's true…she is…but that's not that I asked."

"I'm not sure I understand the question."

"Oh come off it Monk you understand fine. You just don't want to tell me that you do have a thing for Natalie."

"What kind of thing?"

"A romantic thing!"

Monk's eyes shot open at this and his face turned a light shade of pink.

Stottlemeyer glanced at his friend and when he saw the blush on his face he smiled. "we've all noticed it."

"Noticed what?" Monk asked.

"How you guys look at each other for one thing."

"You're mistaken. Natalie and I are friends…nothing more." Monk said shaking his head and looking out the window.

"Well I know that." Leland said and then cleared his throat because it cracked when he said the word 'I' "What I wanna know is if you ever wished it was more then a friendship."

Monk gulped. "No."

"Really?"

Monk nodded.

"Then how do you explain the blush all over your face?" Leland said with a smile.

"I'm not blushing." Monk insisted.

"Take a look in the mirror pal."

Monk looked in the mirror and saw that his face was indeed red.

"Look Adrian…you like her right?"

Monk nodded.

"And we just established that you want her to be more then just a friend with you, right?"

Monk gulped and nodded.

"Then you have to pursue her."

"Well how that heck am I supposed to do that?" Monk asked with a helpless look on his face.

"You have to learn how to be charming." Stottlemeyer said with a grin.

Monk sighed. "Oh boy……why do I think this is going to be a long and painful process?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Julie looked around her. Bob had been keeping her in the basement tied up to one of the small pillars that were supporting the floor above. 'You know for a kidnapper he really isn't that mean. He asks me where I wanna eat everyday and normally its either KFC or sonic cause they're the only things we can agree on. I'm so lonely. Bob only ever comes down here to give me food or to ask if I had to go to the bathroom and besides that I never get to see anyone. I wonder what mom is doing…I hope she's not scared. Its ok though…Mr. Monk can find anyone…of course he'll find me.'

Just then Julie heard the phone ring up stairs. She listened as she heard Bob pick up the phone.

"Hello?"

pause

"yeah I got the kid."

Pause

"look man……..I don't like this."

short pause

"because never in the deal was there any kidnapping. That's not what I do. I never agreed to this! I don't do kids!"

pause

"Well I know that! Look man when you came to me and said you had a job to be done I had no problem with that, I made a few calls and it got done! But you never said anything about kidnapping some girl!"

pause

"I don't wanna do this no more man! Hello? …………. Hello?"

Julie heard him cuss as he slammed the phone back on its hook. Then she heard foot steps come down the stairs.

"Here kid. Eat up." Bob said as he placed the food in front of Julie and walked behind her to untie her hands.

"Chicken again?" Julie wined. "It's getting old, Bob."

"Shut up Rachel! You eat what give you! ait? With that attitude your lucky if I give you any food!"

"Fine man chill out. I'm sorry ok?" Julie said tensing up.

Bob sighed. "Yeah whad'ever. Listen Rach I'm not in the greatest mood right now." He said as he brought his hands to his face.

For the first time in 4 days Julie finally got a good look at his hands and noticed something weird. "Hey Bob?" She asked

"What?"

"Why do you have six fingers on that hand?"

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BUM BUM BUMMMMMMMMM!

There it is folks the long chapter of your dreams. I hope you enjoyed.

I promise I will update soon. As long as you review soon.