For those of you who read my story, Her Demons, and requested it to become a multi chap fic. This chapter takes place in the last season, shortly after the episode Mr. Monk and the Badge. So, here we go. I don't own Monk; if I did we'd have an established M/N relationship. Any and all feedback and criticism would be greatly appreciated.
Adrian Monk had never been one to complain. Okay, he'd always complained, about everything, but this was different. He'd never ever had a thought like this. Today was Valentines Day. In his opinion, the worst day of the year after his and Trudy's anniversary, and her birthday; the thing that irked him most about Valentines Day was the couples. He hated the couples. The people in love, walking hand-in-hand, oblivious to the world, it disturbed him. It seemed every year the pain on this holiday got worse. Each year he spent parted from Trudy the pain was more, not less as some stated. And this year, for the first time wasn't because Trudy wasn't there with him.
It was all Natalie's fault, at least in his mind. If she hadn't asked to see his bellybutton and tried to pull up his shirt he wouldn't be in this mess. There was also the time that she planted kisses all over his face after they thought he was dead and she'd come to rescue him. Then her, arriving at his apartment and making him, well he chose, to let her stay with him. It wasn't that he hated these things at all. In fact it was the exact opposite. He couldn't forget the way they felt. He didn't want her to wipe the kisses away. He didn't want her to stop trying to see his bellybutton, or for her to leave the day after she'd spent the night. Monk couldn't believe himself. He'd told himself not to believe anything could come of it. No one could ever love him. At least that's what he thought. He had thought of Natalie in THAT way more than once, but it had never been like this. For some reason, after spending the week apart they had, he'd begun to miss her more.
He hated the thought of her on date with some other man, even if the "date" was only in his mind. The mere fact that she had a new boss who was going to take her to Denver on his private plane made him jealous. This was a new emotion for him. He'd never felt jealous of anyone who got to spend time with Natalie before. Now, it was Valentines Day. To be precise it was 12:00 am on Valentines Day.
The only reason he was awake was because of that awful dream he'd been having lately. Natalie left him. She'd got a new job and drifted away from him. This was his nightmare. No Natalie. Then, his dream would torment him even worse. He could see her, in the parking garage, turning the key in the ignition. A switch flipped, and then the car turned into a fireball. He could hear her anguished screams echoing across the empty garage. That's what was haunting him now. He was afraid he'd lose her or she'd die before hearing how he felt towards her. How he'd only felt once in life before this time.
Now, he had to think of a way to show her just how much she meant to him. Especially after telling her she got a pay cut when she returned to him after he quit the force again. Not another disaster like his Secretaries Day gift, but a real, honest present. Not only that, but he had to think of it before she arrived in 8 hours. Romance had never been his strong suit and it was worrying him now more than ever. Especially since today she was planning on going out with the new detective in homicide, Carlson.
Monk shook his head almost as if he was trying to rid it of any errant thoughts. Of course, he shook it an even ten times. It was time to formulate a plan.
Well, that's all for now. Reviews are greatly appriciated. The next chapter should be up on Sunday or Monday hopefully.