Randy had kept in touch with Sharona a bit through the years. When she'd moved back to Jersey he'd known and accepted (kind of) that she was back with Trevor. He'd given her a quick call when Monk had hired Natalie, and again when they'd cracked their first case together because, of course she'd want to know. Ever since then, he'd give her a ring every few months and fill her in with what was happening with Monk, the Captain, Natalie, and himself, of course.
They were, acquaintances, he'd reasoned. Long distance penpals with a phone. The only person he'd ever mentioned the quarterly calls to was his mother, and he'd stopped doing that when she'd called him a moron and stormed out of the room.
He'd try to act cool and suave when recounting his dates to she'd laugh at him and ask him what really happened. So through the years he'd told her about the fake girlfriend who'd worked for the Chinese mafia, the accountant who'd ended up breaking it off because he didn't have a firm financial plan. Then there was the fitness coach, whom he'd ended up dumping because she wouldn't let him have pizza and beer. And he'd stopped rolling his eyes whenever she'd 'wax on', as he liked to call it, about Trevor. He never pointed out how it seemed like each Trevor conversation started with her saying, 'So Trevor just started a new job...'.
Then, several months ago, after he'd recounted Monk's latest exploit and the Captain's relationship status, he'd asked how Trevor was doing. He'd been dating someone then and the question was always more natural when that was the case. Sharona had been uncharacteristically quiet for a moment before she blatantly changed the subject. He'd felt bad that Sharona's relationship woes seemed to rearing their ugly heads again. He'd also steadfastly ignored the stupid flip his heart gave at the time. It was an all too familiar sensation that he remembered from all those years ago whenever she'd dumped some loser.
When his relationship with what's-her-name had hit the skids, his mind automatically went back to Sharona, just like it always did. But this time, instead of shaking it off and moving on like always, he allowed himself the novelty of yearning a little. He knew that was why he hadn't dated anyone for a while. Not on purpose, he'd reasoned. After all, he hadn't actually known if she and Trevor had broken up.
But he knew what she sounded like when she was unhappy. And sad. And mad. The fact that she was across the country and out of his life didn't mean that he didn't want her to be happy. Right?
So he'd called her. Maybe a little sooner than he normally would have. He'd called her house phone instead of her cell, and if Trevor happened to pick up...well, he'd have his answer without having to actually bring it up.
Benji had answered, but he hadn't recognized him at first, his voice having moved firmly out of its adolescent squeakiness.
"Hey, Mr. Disher. Is Monk okay?" Benji asked.
"Uhh...yeah. Monk." He blanked for a moment as all of the carefully pre-constructed topics in his head readjusted to talk with Benji and not either of his parents. "Monk is fine, Benji. How are you? Wait, how did you know it was me?"
"Caller ID." Benji said simply. "But, I'm good. You?"
"Good. I'm good. Glad to hear you're also...good" He closed his eyes and winced at himself. God. Why hadn't he called her cell phone! "Anyway, is your mom...or dad around?" He asked casually.
Benji paused. "My mom is here, but my dad…," Randy found himself holding his breath. "Ah, my dad doesn't live here anymore. They've seperated," he finished with a sigh. He waited a moment, but there was no response. "Hello?"
Randy brought the phone back to his ear, lowering the arms he'd involuntarily punched over his head. "Yeah! I'm here," he cleared his suddenly dry throat. "I'm sorry to hear that, Benji."
"Thanks, Lieutenant. So...," the line was quiet for a moment as Benji waited for Randy to speak. "I'll go get my mom."
"Wait!" Randy yelled, causing Benji to yank the phone away from his ear. "Um, it sounds like a tough time right now. It wasn't important."
"You sure?"
"Yeah." Because right now he had absolutely no idea what he'd say to Sharona."I'm sure."
"Okay. Well, bye."
"Hey, Benji!" Randy called out hurriedly.
"Yeah?"
"Take care of your mom, okay?" Randy finished softly.
Randy could almost see the smile through the telephone lines. "Will do, Lieutenant Disher."
He hadn't spoken to her since that last phone call. He'd wanted to wait until he was firmly in a relationship, just so he wouldn't do or as anything stupid. But it hadn't happened. He,d gone on a couple of dates, sure, but nothing was sticking.
And now she was here.
"Excuse me. Sorry! Excuse me." Randy worked his way towards the Captain's office through a sudden, unnecessary mass of humanity. "Come on people! Important police business coming through!"
The sudden silence was deafening. He stopped for a moment and nervously adjusted his tie. "Not that all of you are not also doing, um, important...police...business." He gave up after a few eye rolls in his direction and kept pressing through the crowd, getting more nervous the closer he got.
He had no idea he'd been chanting, 'is she here?', until he was suddenly in the Captain's office.
"There she is. She is...here." He said dumbly as he came to a stop. stared. "Wow. You look great," he said sincerely. And she did.
She grinned at him. "Thank you, Randy."
They smiled at each other for a moment until Randy shook off his stupor and walked towards her, to envelop her in a tight hug.
Leland looked away with a smirk as Randy and Sharona drew apart, but held on to each other for a moment longer.
Randy couldn't take his eyes off of her. He didnt know how she did it, but she actually looked better!
"It's really good to see you, Randy," she said with a wobbly smile.
He stepped back beside the Captain and grinned at her. "And...?"
"And what?" She asked him in that accent he loved.
"I don't know," he shrugged. "Just waiting for the punch line. You always used to set me up and hit me with a zinger."
She had the nerve to look surprised. "What, I did that?"
"Only all the time." He looked at the Captain, who nodded, amused.
She winced apologetically. "Oh, my god, was I awful?"
"No! You were...," his grin faded as he looked in her eyes. "Truth is, I missed it." He swallowed and gave her a polite once over. "Excuse me for repeating myself," he said a bit huskily, "But you look great."
She gave him a sweet smile. "Thank you."
Natalie and Monk came into the office as the two stood looking at each other.
"Hey, Randy," Natalie greeted. "Did you pull that rap sheet?"
"Ah, no," he said absently, still staring at Sharona. "I didn't get a chance."
Natalie just looked at him for a second, then pointed. "Isn't it right there in your hand?"
Randy looked away from Sharona and to the folder in his hand. "Oh. Yeah," he smiled sheepishly. "There is it." And handed it over
Sharona gave him one of her teasing glanced before turning to Monk and Natalie.
Randy could barely follow the conversation as his eyes kept roving over Sharona and a new mantra started in his head; she's here, she's here.
He snapped back as the conversation about her uncle and their suspicions about his 'accidents' came out. He knew Sharona was going to have a hard time with this as Monk delved deeper and deeper. He'd just make sure to be there for her while she was here, he thought to himself and steadfastly ignored the secret hope that something was wrong so that she'd stay in San Francisco a little longer.
He took the file back as Captain Stottlemeyer tugged Monk out of the room to speak with him, then had to concentrate extra hard as Sharona came up beside him to look over his shoulder at the folder.
You can do this, he said to himself. But...god, she smelled and looked so good.
This was going to be tough.
More to come. Please review!
