I do not own Monk, nor Natalie, nor the Captain.
Thank you for the reviews, and special thanks to Kathy, who's able to edit it among dozens of important things she's up to!!
MR MONK MEETS THE REDEEMER
CH 10
Natalie came back bringing Monk's suitcases. She left them near the bed. Monk remained immobile, seated on the sofa, looking at Natalie.
"Aren't you gonna unpack the bags?" asked Natalie in disbelief.
"No, no, I won't stay in the hotel long enough." Monk said, "Do you have the antiseptic spray with you?" he asked.
"Yes and no, Mr. Monk. I do have the antiseptic, but it's not a spray," answered Natalie.
Monk twisted his head to the left, and looked at Natalie with fear.
"And how do you plan to apply it?" he asked, pointing to the tube of antiseptic gel Natalie held.
Natalie raised her hands and agitated her fingers menacingly, while smiling at Monk.
"No, nah, no, no, no, no, no ... no," protested Monk, standing up and moving away from Natalie, while holding the collar of his bathrobe closed.
"Okay, no problem, I will call Bianca to apply the gel," Natalie said, teasing Monk. "Who knows? Maybe I'll go look for that charming man who brought me to the hotel, Gilbert wasn't it? I will see if he wouldn't like to keep me company while she "falls all over you," said Natalie with sarcasm.
"Natalie, please, cut it out! You know I have a thing about... people...touching..." Monk twisted his head to the other side, and grimaced.
"C'mon, give me the gel and I will apply it myself, thank you very much," he said, extending his hand to Natalie.
"Okay, go ahead, but if you cannot reach that spot in the middle of your back, just give me a call, you know how to reach me," said Natalie, delivering the tube to Monk. She couldn't waste the opportunity to tease him.
"Thank you, Natalie." Monk said turning to the bathroom ignoring the teasing, "And talking about that, hand me your phone, I must speak with the Captain."
"With the Captain? Mr. Monk, we are in Brazil! The Captain is in England! The call would cost a fortune! And you don't pay me enough to afford that call. Why not use the phone from the hotel?" questioned Natalie, stretching herself on the sofa and looking through the terrace's door.
"I just can't." Monk said from the bathroom. "There's something wrong with this place, Natalie."
Natalie rolled her eyes and breathed a deep silent sigh. She stood up and walked to the terrace. "There's always something wrong, Mr. Monk," Natalie said, and rested her elbows on the balcony.
She noted the enormous stage on the beach front for the concert on the following night. She saw people jogging, walking, riding their bikes, talking happily by the shore. The sun was setting, and the yellow-blue color of the sky combined with the warm breeze that came from the sea to paint a dazzling image on the horizon. Natalie passed her hands through her hair and stretched them up, breathing deeply. With eyes closed she felt the weakened heat of the sun at dusk kiss the palms of her hands.
Over 20 hours of overseas flight in less than two days, across so many time zones, had been an arduous task. Natalie lowered her arms and with eyes still closed, let the sea breeze sway her in a soft dance. She really needed a relaxing bath and a comfortable bed to sleep in. And this seemed to the perfect place for it.
Monk walked to the terrace's door and saw Natalie gently rocking by herself. She didn't notice him coming, and she started humming some ballad. The sky was all dark orange while Natalie embraced herself cozily. The beauty of the scene took Monk's breath away.
After an instant he softly said, "You were right, I missed a spot, Natalie."
Pleased, Natalie turned around and saw Monk standing there.
Disappointed, she saw that he was holding the tube in one hand and a pair of surgical gloves in another. She smiled weakly, approached him, took the gloves and the tube and walked to the sofa.
"Ok, Mr. Monk. Here, sit down and relax, I'll be gentle," she made the last words come out very clearly, while she was pulling a glove on with one hand and letting its end slap on her arm.
"Oh, God!" complained Monk, wincing.
"All right, Mr. Monk. If it will make you feel better, I'll keep my eyes closed during the whole process, okay?" Natalie, poured a bit of gel in one hand then rubbing her hands together.
"Your skin is very hot, Mr. Monk, so brace yourself for a temperature shock, okay?" warned Natalie as she placed her hands softly on Monk's shoulders.
Monk cringed at the touch, and demanded, "Easy, Natalie, it hurts!"
"C'mon, Mr. Monk, I am being careful. Just relax your shoulders. It doesn't hurt that much." Natalie said, spreading the gel evenly on the back of his neck.
"It doesn't hurt that much! Of course, it's not your skin that is burning!" said Monk, mimicking Natalie's voice.
"But how did you manage to get so badly burned, Mr. Monk? I can't believe you left the Hotel's room wearing only a Tee-shirt!"
"No, no. Bianca and I were kidnapped."
"Kidnapped? But how?" asked Natalie, closing the gel tube, and softly blowing over Monk's shoulder, to make the gel dry faster.
Monk felt a shiver start at his neck and run down his spine.
"Stop it, Natalie!" he said, standing up quickly and fixing his bathrobe.
"You are... blowing germs all over me!" he finished, looking at Natalie and cocking his head to the right side.
"Here, let me finish it. Your nose is red too." Natalie said, trying to reach Monk's face with her hand.
Monk escaped from her hand and went, "No, no, no, I'm fine, I can handle my face by myself."
He took the tube from Natalie's hand and walked gingerly to the bathroom.
Natalie took a deep breath, and said sarcastically, "You're welcome, Mr. Monk."
She yawned as she walked to the door of the bathroom. Monk was standing in front of the mirror, carefully spreading gel on his nose.
"So, what about the kidnapping thing? Did I miss some excitement around here?" asked Natalie, leaning against the door frame.
Monk began to tell her what had happened to him since his landing early in the morning in that strange city of Rio de Janeiro.