"It stinks doesn't it? It stinks horribly." Adrian said to Natalie as he placed real China and Silverware on the tablecloth in front of her. He continued to speak, unwrapping a chicken salad sandwich on a croissant and placing it on her plate.
"Nobody really understands. And yet everyone wants to give advice. It's okay. I get it. I know where you're at... I understand."
He stopped, looked into her eyes and placed his hand on her arm and then spoke in slow, measured tones, "And I want you to know... you are not alone. I am here for you. I will take care of you as you once did me. I am not going anywhere. Because... well... you're my best friend and I love you."
Adrian drew out a wipe from it's Container and gently washed her hands and then drew her right hand to his lips and kissed it, patted it, and then set it down on her lap.
He then drew out another wipe, washed his own hands and began feeding her the sandwich by hand. As she ate she looked him square in his eyes and longed to speak to him, but she couldn't. She wanted to tell him about all of her pain and let him comfort her, but she couldn't. She wanted to scream, but she sat in silence, eating a sandwich fed to her by this quirky man who knew her better than anyone else and with whom she felt safe and loved. Adrian Monk and Julie were now the two closest people in her world. If anything were to happen to either one of them she'd die. Suddenly Natalie dropped her head as a tear rolled down her cheek at the very thought.
Adrian looked at her, set down the sandwich and picked up a napkin and began to dab her face. "I know. It hurts. It hurts bad. Cry all you need to." He said as he put his arm around her and her tears began to flow. Oblivious to time, they sat together for the longest time, his arms enveloping her and she laid her head on his chest and the cool spring breeze caressed their faces and the warm rays of the sun provided a comforting blanket for them both.
Meanwhile, not far away sat a shadowy figure on a cell phone.
"Yeah. I've got my eyes on both of them. It's definitely her. And from what I can see, it would be as easy as could be to just walk up and put the two of them out of their misery."
"No you fool! I do not want them dead." said the voice on the phone. "I want to watch them suffer. The way to get to Adrian Monk is to get to Natalie Albright. The way to get to Natalie is to get to Adrian. They are two peas from the same pod. Monk may think that he has recovered his sanity but let's just see how strong he really is when we take his girl. And that Natalie ... her bats have already left the belfry. I wonder how long it will take to turn her into a blithering idiot in some mental ward forever. Go! Get that girl. I want her alive. I have no intention of killing either one... at least not just yet. But, I will make them wish they were dead." the sinister voice said with a maniacal laugh as he hung up the phone.