Lessons of Love
Chapter 4 Expecting, and the Unexpected
Standard disclaimer: I don't own Monk.
Notes: Sorry for the delay, real life + writer's block= eek! (Did you notice I'm trying to keep the story solely in Adrian's POV? - So difficult!)-Anyway, I'm done fussing with this chapter! ;) ~~To recap, we're in Lake Tahoe, it's Sunday morning & Jonathan is going to take M, N & Julie to see an avalanche triggered.
Seated behind his desk in the Search and Rescue office, Mike Philips scowled as he sifted through a stack of papers. Between accident reports, payroll records and maintenance verifications, recordkeeping for SAR was the bane of his existence. When he heard approaching footsteps, he glanced at the clock before looking towards the men coming into the room. At a quarter to seven, they were a bit early, not that he minded getting away from the paperwork. Mike pushed his seat away from his desk, scrutinizing his employees, "Hi, Jonathan. Morning, Bill. Ready for go over today's assignment?"
"You know it." Jonathan Davenport unzipped his coat as he proceeded over to the time clock. Bill Martin, a long-time member of the Search and Rescue team, trailed a few steps behind. They each punched in and affixed a walkie-talkie to their belts, returning to stand before Mike's desk.
Bill grumbled, "Even though we've done this a dozen times, you still need to brief us?" Meeting Mike's impassive stare, Bill plastered a smile on his face and cheerfully added, "Brief away, sir."
As he stood, Mike's eyes narrowed, "I will, let's go to the map. And Bill? Maybe we'll have a talk later about why we follow procedure."
"Yes sir." Bill nodded, his smile twisting into a grimace. Mike and Jonathan crossed the room and Bill followed behind, his hands thrust in his pockets.
With the group assembled before the wall mounted topographic map, Mike verified that there would be three teams. He pointed to three separate points on the map, giving out their assignment.
"Teams one and two each consist of a snowplow operator and a member of the SAR team. You are tasked with halting traffic then making sure everything is safe before the plow starts clearing the roadway. Jonathan, you're team one so you're assigned the northern section of road. Bill, you'll cover the southern section with team two." Pointing to the top of North Mountain, Mike claimed the ridge as his responsibility, "I'll be up top, securing the access road."
Bill shook his head, "I just don't understand why SAR has to secure the ridge. Why can't we block that access road from the base of the mountain?"
Mike shrugged, "Because of the easement- the people who own property up past the ridge were there long before Sugar Pine set up the resort. Legally, we can't block their road, so we have to safeguard the ridge when we trigger avalanches. Anyway, I'll be covering it Bill, so don't' worry about it." Holding Bill's stare, Mike clicked the button on his walkie-talkie, testing its volume. "We're ready then? The trucks are all geared up and waiting in the maintenance parking lot."
Jonathan hesitated, "I just have to go get my sister and her family from the lodge. You did say I could bring them, right Mike?"
Mike nodded, handing out the vehicle keys. "Yeah, sure, just keep them behind the safety line." Herding his men towards the door, Mike laughed and clasped Jonathan on the shoulder, "Your family's going to be so impressed with what you do. Today they're going to see something they'll never forget."
~~~~~LOL~~~~~
After pulling the final loop of his boot laces taut, Adrian rose and approached the full-length mirror that beckoned from across his room. He perused his reflection, taking an impartial inventory. A black tee shirt layered under a black and brown flannel shirt that hinted at his sturdy shoulders and chest, a brown leather belt cinched along his defined waist, dark denim jeans that didn't hide his fit, muscular legs, and a pair of Vasque hiking boots. A flush of pride pulled Adrian's shoulders back, expanding his chest and straightening his posture. Not too bad for a man his age. The secret dread that lurked deep in his heart, his fear of being too old, too stuffy, for Natalie, miraculously disappeared.
The outdoorsy garb he wore today was new, and yet he felt at ease. He didn't feel like an imposter. He felt rugged and confident and … manly.
Curiously, he was glad to be rid of the triple-pleated brown pants and buttoned up shirt. For too long he had relied on that 'uniform', like a security blanket. Now, it was a crutch he no longer needed.
Adrian's thoughts quickly skipped back thirty years. Before he had married Trudy and long before his promotion to detective, Adrian had had the honor and privilege of serving as a uniformed police officer. Fresh from the academy, young and virile, the act of handling a sidearm, chasing perpetrators and kicking in doors had extinguished the timidity of his youth. And while his training had not exactly put a swagger in his step, that first job cultivated his confidence and self-possession.
Now, thanks to his brief reinstatement to the force, to having solved Trudy's case, and last but not least, to Natalie's unconditional love and support, that same confidence filled his heart again. He realized he had not changed in the past year but rather, had rediscovered the man he used to be.
The gentle whoosh of the door brought Adrian from his memories. He turned to greet Natalie, excitement jolting through his body. Although they had been apart only one night, to Adrian it seemed an eternity. In mere seconds he scrutinized her from head to toe, memorizing every detail: her bright eyes and wide smile, a soft blue oversized sweater, a brown parka draped over her arm, quilted snow-pants and heavy brown boots. Not a glamorous look, yet Adrian was awestruck, completely mesmerized by her beauty. He knew it clichéd, but the descriptives that leapt to mind were, luminous and glowing.
Unable to move his feet, he took a deep breath and managed a husky, "Natalie."
Natalie stopped short, dropped her coat on a chair, and then proceeded to look him up and down. A wolf-whistle of appreciation was her first comment. He sighed and rolled his eyes but she admonished, "Hush, you need to learn how to accept a compliment." She circled him, teasing him with light touches, "Wow Adrian, you are one sexy mountain man."
Adrian snickered in response, unable to come up with a witty retort. When she passed in front of him, Adrian caught her, pulling her flush against his body. Her smile, her soft curves, her warmth, her clean familiar scent, together with her little sigh of satisfaction while she ran her arms over his shoulders, Adrian's senses were assaulted in the most wondrous ways. Words were too small to capture his emotions. He leaned close, and when she closed her eyes, closer still.
His lips found hers. In mid-kiss, he murmured, "I missed you last night."
Purring in agreement, Natalie dragged her lips from his mouth, tucking her face into the crook of his neck. Against his racing pulse point, she murmured, "Just think, only a few more days apart. Last night was our very last Saturday night apart, sweetie."
Her words tingling along his skin, he slowly stroked her hair, wanting to think about their impending future. But he couldn't, he was completely and utterly distracted by his senses, lost in the moment.
Lurking beneath the tenderness of their embrace, desire flamed through his body and erased all rational thought. The urge to carry Natalie to his bed and rid her of her garments suddenly became his only want. His breath already shaky, his knees nearly buckled, shocked by having such an overpowering impulse. What was he thinking? Natalie was his love, his soon to be wife, his girl. His Natalie. She deserved gentleness and respect and reverence. Yet this morning, all he wanted was to claim her in the most primal way.
Adrian felt beyond himself, helplessly out of control and out of character. He was jarred by his longing, unhinged by his wanton hunger. His earlier swell of confidence, of manliness, now felt like a curse. He purposefully loosened his embrace of Natalie, shocked by his own desires.
Stirring in his arms, Natalie laughed, "Jeesh, I almost forgot! Julie's waiting for us down at the breakfast buffet, we need to get going."
"Let's go then," he reluctantly agreed, kissing her forehead. When she slipped from his grip, cheerful and guileless, Adrian averted his eyes. He wanted to protect her from the raw hunger that possessed his heart.
Natalie picked up her coat and casually chatted about today's scheduled events, stopping to rub his back, "You're so quiet this morning, Adrian. Don't worry about the avalanche, Jonathan promises we'll be perfectly safe."
"I'm not worried about the avalanche." Shifting his shoulder, Adrian briefly met Natalie's gaze. Her brow creased in doubt and he managed a weak smile, "Honestly, I'm not." He then motioned to the door and followed her across the room, afraid to tell her what did have him worried.
Pausing to get his jacket, Adrian consciously looked at himself in the mirror one last time. A sharpness glinting in his dark eyes confirmed that something unexpected and wild had taken hold of him. Dropping his eyes, he cautiously followed Natalie out the door, afraid he might be an imposter after all.
~~~~~LOL~~~~~
Atop North Mountain, Mike Philips pulled off the access road and parked his truck alongside the stone shelter. Hopping from the 4x4, he noticed the shelter's open door and fresh footprints in the snow. Though the shelter had been constructed by the Search and Rescue team as a rest area for skiers and hikers, it had also become a hangout for local teenagers. "Damn kids," he muttered as he kicked an empty beer can, shaking his head in annoyance.
Making a mental note to inspect the inside the shelter before he left, Mike lifted a stack of orange road cones from the truck's storage area and carried them over to the road. He methodically placed them across the lane then returned to stand near the ridge.
Mike checked his watch; it was only 7:25. He would radio Jonathan Davenport in five minutes. Until then, he looked down the slope, admiring the perfection of the unbroken snow. It was eerily quiet, the only sound was his shallow breathing. In half an hour, everything would be different.
~~~~~LOL~~~~~
The road to North Mountain was long and winding, rife with twists and turns, switchbacks and serpentines. For those who loved to ski, like Jonathan Davenport, the chauffeur for this morning's outing, the zigs and zags made it the perfect road.
Adrian Monk, however, found it quite the opposite.
With his left arm held across his chest, his fingers still gripping the shoulder restraint, Adrian silently gave thanks when Jonathan finally brought the truck to a halt behind a snowplow. Eyes sliding to his left, he queasily asked, "Practicing for the Grand Prix?"
"Sorry, I should have warned you," Jonathan laughed, "I'm not a pokey driver like Natalie." Unbuckling his safety belt, he turned in is seat and became serious. "Okay guys, let me go over everything one more time. First and foremost, the three of you need to stay right by the truck- you need to be close enough to touch it. I'll warn you before I launch a small explosive at the mountain, which will start the avalanche. It'll look scary and will be incredibly loud, but we are not in its path and are completely safe-" Jonathan's eyes strayed to Adrian, "so don't panic. Then, when it's settled, the snowplows will red up the road. Any questions?"
"'Red up' the road?" Adrian cocked his head, puzzled by the phrase.
"Sorry- I mean clean up the road. Mike's stepmother Tiffany uses that expression all the time, it's some regional saying." Jonathan shrugged, "I must have picked up using it."
"How long does it take?" Julie leaned forward, craning her neck to see the slope.
"The avalanche itself will take maybe a minute. It'll take more time to set up and then to clear the roadway. But we should be done with everything within an hour. Anything else?"
"Um, and then we're going skiing?" Julie grinned expectantly.
"Yes Julie, then we are going to ski." Pushing open his door, Jonathan added, "Remember, stay by the truck. I need to set up then I'll warn you before I start the slide." Sliding out of his seat, Jonathan went to the tailgate and began organizing the equipment.
As Julie scrambled from the backseat, Natalie reached over and unhooked Adrian's hand from his shoulder restraint, chuckling, "Bet you'll never complain about my driving again." He sighed in agreement and she rubbed his shoulder, "Let's get out Sweetie, the fresh air will do you good."
Stepping onto the solid ground, Adrian focused on the pavement and took a deep breath. Closing his door behind him, Natalie ran her hand up his arm, "Better, right?"
"Yes, better. You're right as usual, Nat-" Raising his gaze, Adrian suddenly realized the drive couldn't have been too pleasant for her either. He took a small sidestep to shield Natalie from prying eyes and then slipped his hand into her unbuttoned coat. Touching her barely-noticeable bump, he whispered, "But what about you? How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine," Standing on her tiptoes, she slipped her arms over his shoulders and whispered in his ear, "We're fine-" Slipping back down to her normal height, she added, "I know you worry, but don't."
"And still no morning sickness?" He murmured hopefully as his fingers traced light circles on her belly. After nearly a month of queasiness, she had unexpectedly been symptom free the past two days. He had read that nausea usually stops at around the third month so, even though she was only at ten weeks, he hoped it was over. For the past month his own stomach had tortured him, suffering from bouts of sympathetic morning sickness. Which, by the way, didn't strictly adhere to just mornings. Honestly, he didn't know how she had managed; he himself was admittedly weary of it all.
"Nope. Third day in a row, you know what that means?" Natalie placed her hand upon his, lacing their fingers together. Before he could answer, she smirked, raising her eyebrow, "Looks like our honeymoon will be vomit free."
"God, Natalie!" Adrian squirmed, delighted but also dismayed. "Did you have to say that, that word?"
"No, but I'd rather say it-" Natalie laughed, squeezing his hand, "then do it!"
"Hey guys, don't forget why we're here," Julie loudly teased, looking over the hood of the truck at the couple.
"Yes ma'am, we're coming," Natalie retorted as she took Adrian's arm. Leading him over to stand with Julie near the front of the 4x4, she asked, "So what's happening?"
Julie pointed at Jonathan, "Looks like they're almost ready." She leaned against the front grill of the truck and added, "It's too bad Benji and Sharona, I mean Ms. Fleming, are gonna miss this. They're flying in tomorrow, right? Lieutenant, I mean, Police Chief Disher is coming later?"
"Yep, Randy is coming Thursday, but Sharona and Benji are flying in tomorrow morning," Natalie replied. With her eyes trained on her brother, she slyly asked, "So, have you spoken to Benji lately?"
"Mother, shhh, they're about to begin," Julie admonished, her cheeks suddenly one shade redder.
~~~~~LOL~~~~~
"Ten four, Patrol One out." Eyes scanning down the slope, Mike Phillips released the talk button on his radio. Even though it was against protocol, he stood near the edge, appreciating the complete stillness, awed by how things would change in a scant minute.
Ready to return to the safety of the stone shelter, he turned, startled. He had not expected a visitor. Nor had he expected his visitor's purpose.
Mike's radio landed in a snow drift, silent and useless.
~~~~~LOL~~~~~
Putting his walkie-talkie back on his belt, Jonathan turned to the group and called to the snowplow driver, "Is everyone clear?" Getting an affirmative from each person at the scene, he shouted, "Okay- fire in the hole!" He then proceeded to set off an explosive that, for a second, appeared to be ineffective. Jonathan quickly trotted over to stand with the group and pointed up the slope, "Just watch- it takes a few seconds for the avalanche to start."
Adrian looked up at the vast unbroken sheet of snow that climbed the mountainside, his eyes squinting against the dazzling whiteness. A small crack appeared, snaking across the snow then a low rumble broke the silence. Natalie unconsciously grabbed Julie's hand while Adrian stepped behind Natalie, his hands finding her hips.
Jonathan raised his voice, "Hold on, here it comes."
The snow began to shift and a threatening groan joined the low rumble. With his eyes glued to the mountainside, Adrian automatically wrapped his arms around Natalie waist, drawing her back tight up against his chest. His heart began to beat madly and he forced himself to keep breathing. Natalie turned her head to say something but was immediately drowned out by the avalanche.
The entire cliff seemed to tumble, the roar suddenly deafening. All eyes were trained on the hillside. Adrian's heart skipped when he spotted something near the top of the slope. A red jacket, a, oh God, a man was caught in the vortex of snow. Pointing, he shouted to Jonathan, "There's someone caught in the slide!"
Jonathan immediately got on his radio, shouting, trying to reach his co-worker stationed atop the ridge. Mike Philips didn't respond. His hand pressed against his ear, Jonathan tried again.
As the snow hurled downward, Jonathan tried again and again, his alarm growing with each unanswered call. Jonathan immediately radioed the home base for search and rescue dogs and then gathered everyone on site, explaining that Mike should be wearing a transceiver and that they should be able to hone in on his beacon. As soon as it was safe, the group began their search and continued even when the dogs arrived.
The dogs were the ones to find Mike. Although the SAR crew began to dig frantically, the plaintive barking sounded ominous to Adrian. Jonathan and Bill Martin shoveled deeper into the snow while Adrian stayed with the girls, dread already filling his lungs. The poor soul must have fallen five hundred feet.
Six feet down they uncovered Mike Philips, now a twisted lifeless body. The next hours were a blur of slow-moving EMTs, sheriff's officers and finally the local coroner. The ambulance left the scene, the snow was eventually plowed from the road and the group returned to Sugar Pine Resort, dazed. And while Jonathan was called away to speak to the family and fill out accident reports, Adrian spent the rest of the day huddled together with his girls in quiet contemplation.
A wisp of an idea materialized in Adrian's mind- this wasn't just a horrible accident.
~~~~~LOL~~~~~
It was near midnight. He knew he should let her sleep. However, the compulsion to talk, and to hear her voice, won out. Pushing his pillow against the headboard, Adrian scooted up and reached for the phone. Letting out a sigh of relief, he dialed room 411.
After the fourth ring he marveled at her ability to sleep so deeply, by the sixth ring he wondered if she was in the bathroom. And by the tenth ring, he was worried. His feet slid to the floor, ready to go to her room. He returned the phone to its cradle and reached to turn on the light, only to stop when the door whooshed open. Natalie appeared, silhouetted by the hall light. He stood, the darkness hiding the worry that played across his face.
"Natalie?" He remained standing near the bed, a tremble running through his body, "Are you alright?"
"I couldn't sleep. I hope you don't mind I came over, but when the phone rang-" Her voice trailed off as she secured the door's deadbolt. Natalie's slim figure slipped across the dark room, falling into his waiting arms, "Every time I close my eyes, I see, you know."
"I know," Adrian murmured against her temple, his hand stroking her hair. He had been replaying the same images in his mind, and suspicions about the avalanche had grown stronger. He would definitely look into it tomorrow.
But right now, he was glad she was in his arms. And so very glad he could comfort her. Their bodies shifted together in a familiar choreography, of faces nuzzling against collarbones and hands granting light caresses. Lost in her warmth, Adrian became distracted from his nagging doubts. Instead, desire took control, raging through his veins. Whispering "I love you," Adrian cupped her face and kissed her with an open, hungry mouth, crushing his body against hers. Gradually, he realized her hand was pushing against his shoulder. Drawing back, he searched her face, "Nat, what's the matter?"
An apologetic grimace contorted her face, "Adrian, remember we agreed. This week we wouldn't-"
"I remember," His voice tinted with frustrated resignation, he loosened his embrace. He did agree, really he did. And yet, at this moment…
She fingered his t–shirt, "'I'm sorry, I just didn't want to be alone tonight."
Seeing her pained expression, Adrian suddenly offered, "You want to stay with me?"
"If it's not too much temptation?" Her voice was both hopeful and unsure.
"Stay, please. I-" Adrian faltered, knowing he was crossing into dangerous territory. It would be a lie to disavow his desire, and yet he couldn't let her spend the night alone. Holding back a groan of frustration, he sat down on the bed. Looking up at her, he took her hand, kissing her palm. "You need to stay, Nat."
Sliding into bed beside him, she settled against his side, tucked safely under his arm. Her head on his chest, she closed her eyes and sighed, "I love you honey. Thank you."
Mindful to keep in control, he softly kissed the top of her head, "I love you too Nat. Now get some sleep." Staring at the ceiling, he began counting their heartbeats, their breaths, his blinking; anything to distract his thoughts away. Soon she was asleep, her breathing slow and steady. He relaxed a bit, only to gasp when her hand heedlessly burrowed under his shirt. With her fingers carelessly tracing across his chest, Adrian realized it was going to be a long and sleepless night.
Accepting his alertness not as curse but as a blessing, he again began to focus in on Mike Philips' death in the avalanche. How could a trained professional make such a tragic mistake? Something had happened on that mountaintop, and he needed to make it right. Although Adrian didn't like the thought of disturbing this very special trip with an investigation, he knew Natalie would understand.
Eventually his eyelids grew heavy and sleep threatened, his last thought not on the avalanche but rather, on Natalie. Whatever this week would bring, he knew he could always depend on her understanding.