I know I'm terrible with updates but I'm super busy. Anyway this chapter is short just to warn you. So sorry. Please review when you finish reading. I'd love to hear from you guys!

Natalie's ivory white sedan pulled up on the curb and came to a complete stop in front of her home. Inside the car, Julie hugged her mom.

"Thanks for dropping me off." Julie said releasing her hold and unbuckling her seat belt.

"No problem kiddo." Natalie replied brushing a fallen stray hair from her daughter's face.

Julie smiled brightly in return."Oh and tell Mr. Monk I said I'm sorry for taking a rain check to go see him. Julie finished biting her lip at the thought of disappointing Mr. Monk.

He was like a father to her after all.

Natalie, however, waved it off, "He'll understand...today wouldn't be a good day anyway." She explained sharing a knowing look with her daughter.

"Okay, Julie breathed out and grabbed her purse from the car floor," Then I'll see you later. Julie said getting out of the car and closed the door shut.

"I love you sweetheart." Natalie voiced through the closed door watching her daughter mouthing the words back to her and then headed to the house.

Natalie beamed with happiness radiating off of her as her eyes followed her daughters retreating form.

Now for the first time in weeks she felt the fears of her daughter's growing up subside for a moment. With all the excitement and planning Natalie had been in constant reminder that this was a happy occasion and that she should just enjoy her moments with her daughter instead of trying to keep a distance.

And with Mr. Monk. She realized, coming to the fact that she had directed all of her frustrations toward him this morning.

Mr. Monk! She suddenly remembered and looked at her wristwatch. She flinched at the late hour and inaudibly cursed.

I better get back! She thought urgently turning her car key accelerating the gas. With the screeching tires, the car took off speed down the road almost missing a stop sign.

Natalie finally came up to her boss's building after making two other stops before coming there. This was the first time since she's worked for him that she had wished he had a cell phone. It would be worth it getting calls all the time if only to ease her worry on his whereabouts and if he was safe.

She had stopped at the major's neighborhood first, neither the captain or Monk was there so she had asked Randy.

He wasn't much help he said that Mike had left five hours ago on foot refusing to ride with the lieutenant in his car. When she asked where he had gone, he had shrugged and told her that he had work to do.

So then the next obvious choice was to go to the police station which was closer from there. She had figured Mr. Monk wouldn't walk twelve blocks. He would have asked the captain for a ride home or waited for her there. Surprisingly though he did go home according to the captain who was more helpful.

"He did ask me at the scene but insisted on going home before I was finished with the press so I told him to ask Randy. I didn't think he'd walk home...You better go there and make sure he's alight, he didn't look good.

So here she was heading up at staircase since the elevator was broken wondering why someone up there had it out for her.

Yup, that bad mood seemed to be coming back.

Finally making it to the floor, she huffed sourly and reached her boss's apartment door. She pulled out her keys in a frustrating motion but before she put the spare key in the keyhole she froze at a sound.

Laughter. She recognized bewildered as she pressed her head against the door to listen some more.

It wasn't Mr. Monk's voice.

I'm rotten I know, this storyline will speed up I promise.

I won't lie though, I'm slightly discouraged by the lack of reviews, so plz review!.