99 Memories (7.07)
(As Monk and Natalie were searching through the papers for a 102nd case)
Natalie put her stack of papers down on the kitchen counter. She had been browsing through them for an hour, and nothing really interesting caught her eye. Many of the newspaper listings were mundane items such as missing cats, or husbands suspecting their wives of cheating. She had enough encounters with the former and definitely enough with the latter. It was only at Adrian Monk's behest and discomfort at finishing at 101 cases that Natalie continued to comb through the papers. The search wasn't entirely wasteful as she digressed to read about latest celebrity gossip and fashion fads, all without Monk knowing of course.
Finally, Natalie had enough and placed the newspaper crumpled on the kitchen counter. She sauntered over to the couch and laid down for some rest. Monk started bleating for her to get back up and over to the counter. Whatever he was asking for – the crumbled papers (with mismatched pages) or the unfinished search for a new case – could wait. She was overdue for her coffee and a raise after the long hours with Novak's TV documentary.
Monk realized that Natalie wasn't getting up and abandoned his search as well. He admitted that nothing in the papers caught his eye. The major story was still Novak and his duplicitous plan to use the police documentary to commit murder. Other than that, everything else seemed quite banal. With little to worry about besides the crumpled papers and some newspaper sediment on the counter, Monk temporarily put them out of the mind and joined Natalie at the couch.
Natalie saw Monk preparing to sit down and scooted over to have him sit next to her. "So, Adrian, found anything interesting?"
Monk replied, "Well, the newspaper boy is delivering sedimentary rock grains in my paper. That's a big problem and I need to speak to him tomorrow. But other than that, nothing."
Natalie nodded and turned back to her coffee. It was time to take a break after the long TV documentary saga. She needed time to catch up with Julie and get household chores done. Monk probably needed to clean his house, although as Monk, he probably cleaned it already, twice. Natalie was enjoying her coffee when her eyes caught a journal on Monk's desk.
She walked over and looked at the journal. Its cover contained a light blue background with a pattern of lines around the frame. The shape and lines were perfectly square of course. In the center was a simple ingrained box with the title of the journal, Adrian Monk's Casebook. Now piqued with interest, Natalie took the journal and looked at Monk, asking permission to take a look. After receiving a tacit ok from him, Natalie turned open the cover. Behind the cover was a photo of Trudy smiling from a garden and seemingly mouthing 'Good Luck'. On the first page was written a date, July 12 2002, and the subtitle Case Number 1.
"Adrian, is this what I think it is?" Natalie asked Monk as she walked over with the journal.
Monk looked at her and the book before answering, "Yes, it's my casebook. It has all the cases that I have solved for the Police Department since you know, when I was discharged. I started when I helped save the mayoral candidate St. Clair. Sharona suggested that I keep a journal so I could remember what I had done and maybe get credit for them."
"What a great idea. I can't believe you kept record of all the cases. Does it have everything up to the one we just solved?"
"Well, I was about to update it until you told me I actually solved 101, instead of 100. So, I don't know. I don't think I can finish and add to it until I get to 200."
Natalie was curious about the 99 cases that were in the book. She thus opened the book and turned to the first page with the first case. Monk seemed ok with letting her read the book and look at the few pictures he kept inside. Natalie laid the book between them and started to browse.
Natalie stopped on page five and glanced at a picture of Monk with the former mayoral candidate, St. Clair, posing before photographers at a city block. St. Clair's arm was wrapped around Monk and surprisingly, Monk did not seem agitated. Natalie spoke up and asked Monk, "Was this the candidate you saved? I remembered hearing about it – it made big news."
Monk looked at the photo and recollected. It was a tough case, and very dangerous. He almost lost Sharona and his own life in a sewer. That memory gave Monk the creeps and he nodded his head quickly. "Too bad he didn't last long as mayor. I think his wife was found cheating on him and then a scandal in office left his political life in ruins. He did pay me for a whole year's worth of dry cleaning for my suit."
Natalie nodded and continued on. She saw meticulous notes written after every case. Monk hardly missed anything include the nature of the crimes, perpetrators, artifacts, court anecdotes, and yes, phobias and scary situations. But interspersed with some cases were lighthearted memorabilia. Natalie saw a picture of Monk, Sharona and Benjy on vacation, an autograph from Willie Nelson and a recognition of Trudy's high school achievements. Seeing those happy memories from Monk's crime-solving history brought small tears to Natalie's eyes. She wished she were there to share those happy memories with him.
Natalie saw a ticket stub stuck between pages 32 and 33. It was a raffle for the Tewksbury Community Festival 2003. "Adrian, isn't this where Ambrose lives?"
Monk answered with a slight smile in his face. He was definitely more used to having Ambrose as a real brother whom he can talk to again. "Yes, it was that cherry pie case. I told you about it three years ago, remember?"
Natalie nodded and held up the raffle stub. "Can we go back to the festival someday? Maybe we can bring Ambrose out of the house. I'm sure Julie would like to come too."
"Maybe. Though you know it'll take an army or a fire to get Ambrose out of the house."
Natalie held that thought in mind as she continued browsing. She saw some notes about clues to Trudy's case in some later pages. She knew in her mind that Trudy would continue to be the most important case for Adrian Monk. It had taken him more than ten years and he only seemed to get closer by the inch. Last year they got some breakthrough from apprehending Frank Nunn, but the case still was shrouded in mystery. Natalie vowed to stay with Monk until the very end and see that Trudy's death was solved.
Another interesting note popped up. That one was a letter from a woman named Michelle Rivas. It resembled a simple love letter, although written conservatively so not to scare off Monk. Natalie reread it and smirked. So Adrian Monk was not so shy after all – he even took Ms. Rivas on a date to a restaurant on the 52nd floor. A slight pang of jealousy emerged in Natalie, which she suppressed off hand. Sure, there was nothing wrong with Adrian Monk being interested in other women. She just hoped one day she would be the one.
"Adrian, do you still remember Michelle Rivas?" Natalie asked.
Monk thought for a moment and replied, "Yes, she's the PR person at the San Francisco Power Company. I remember her and haven't talked to her in so long. How is she doing?"
"I don't know. Well, I believe."
"Good."
"Did you try to get back in touch with her?"
"No, Natalie. Why would I do that? My electricity circuits are perfect. I reset the voltages every morning and as far as I know, the electric grid and magnetic field here in San Francisco are perfectly aligned, as much as the earth may allow."
"No, I mean, socially. Didn't you two go out once?"
Monk answered shyly, "It was once and she had cooties. But no, I'm not interested in her. Remember, I'm a married man and I already have you."
"But I have cooties. You can handle my cooties?"
Monk eyed Natalie before giving an answer. He wasn't sure what she was driving at but he decided to be honest. "Yes, Natalie, I've been with you so long. I'm used to your cooties."
Natalie smiled in triumph. Their relationship was really moving along. Putting Michelle Rivas behind for good, Natalie continued on. Turning page 45, she finally came to the time when she and Julie met Monk. Natalie closed her eyes and remembered that case. It still resonated in her mind and heart, especially seeing Monk choose to save Mr. Henry over a million-dollar moon rock. That moment symbolized the qualities that endeared Monk in her: courage, judiciousness and heart.
Monk broke her reverie, "What are you smiling about, Natalie? I swear I saw a smirk."
Natalie opened her eyes and turned to Monk. He was staring at her with a childlike expression of wonder and curiosity. To her, he looked quite adorable and very much huggable. Monk, on the other hand, was fascinated with Natalie's smile and tried to look over her shoulder at the case that was mesmerizing her. He was a bit surprised, since his casebook had few happy notes or memories. From her point of progression, Monk surmised that she was at the stage when she just had started working for him.
Natalie finally answered him, "It was the first time we met. Remember that case about the moon rock and Julie's fish?"
Monk's face broke into a small smile. He too remembered that moment when he rescued Julie's fish and stopped the museum worker from stealing the moon rock. He never admitted to anyone, even Dr. Kroger, that it was a turning point in his life. It wasn't just because he finally found an assistant to replace Sharona and thus could work again. Rather, it was finding a family whom he could love and who could love him back. When Sharona left, Monk truly felt alone for a long time. But Natalie and Julie soon eased the pain and enabled him to grow again.
"It's like our anniversary," Monk stated absentmindedly.
Natalie looked at him curiously. She thought he had misspoken, since anniversaries had such romantic connotations. For Monk, perhaps the only anniversaries that mattered were those with his late wife. She hadn't expected him to memorialize when he met her and Julie.
"Adrian, do you consider it an anniversary? When you met me?" Natalie asked with a bit of wistfulness.
Monk looked at her and thought a bit. Why was she mentioning anniversary and placing so much importance on it? Then, the idea and its ramifications came to him. He indeed had never remembered any other anniversaries besides Trudy's. Even his parents' anniversary was rarely, if ever, celebrated or remembered. But meeting Natalie was something new altogether. He found a kindred spirit and someone who shared his life ever since. In Natalie, he saw warmth and beauty that complemented yet remained distinct from Trudy's. For Monk, remembering when he met Natalie was definitely worth a thousand gold pieces.
He placed his hands on top of Natalie's and mouthed a simple "Yes".
Natalie's heart jumped with glee. "So Adrian, will we be celebrating with champagne the next time it rolls around? Or, will I be getting a ring?" Natalie wanted to tease Monk for a bit.
Monk thought for a moment. The champagne was not tantalizing – he did not drink and most champagne, so he heard, were made in French vineyards with dubious sanitary inspections. Plus, he didn't trust most things French anyway. As for a ring, that might be harder to get. The one jeweler who could make the perfect ring – and Monk required nothing less than perfect – moved some years ago, right after when Monk got engaged to Trudy. He never figured out why the jeweler left since he had visited the jeweler so many times before. Natalie was offering him frustrating and difficult decisions in the circumstances.
Natalie chuckled a bit at seeing Monk think. He hadn't realized that she was merely teasing with him. But it was heartening to see him thinking about it. One day, she hoped both dreams would come true and they would be celebrating an anniversary of a different kind.
"Adrian, it's ok. I'm just teasing you. Though, you should still think about it later."
Monk's eyes blinked and relief came upon his face, "Oh, of course. I knew that but yes, it'll be in my log. I promise."
Seeing that his promise was good enough for the moment, Natalie brought the casebook back to where she had left off. She was curious about the rest of the cases, each of them having her at Monk's side. She placed the book between her and Monk, and they resumed recollecting.
