CH. 2

A Chance To Bond

Adrian Monk was buzzing around his apartment busily, waiting for Natalie and Julie to return from his needed grocery excursion. He stopped in his room and pulled a small box from a jewelry store out of one of his dresser drawers. He slowly opened it and admired the small but beautiful diamond engagement ring. He had asked the Captain to take him to the jeweler's after Trudy's parents had left from their visit the week before. He snapped the box shut and quickly put it back in the drawer when he heard Natalie and Julie enter the apartment. He began whistling a tune he'd heard himself sing before.

"Adrian, we're back!" Natalie announced, as the two women carried in two bags each. He came out of his room to greet 'his girls,' as he had fondly begun to refer to them and surprised them when he took a bag from each of them.

"What took you so long?" he asked, heading for the kitchen, whistling his tune. Natalie and Julie looked at each other with questioning amusement. Then they followed him into the kitchen.

"What's that song?" Natalie inquired.

Adrian stopped whistling for a moment. "Just a little ditty," he shrugged, then started up again.

"Sing it," she requested.

Julie chimed in her agreement. "Yeah, Mr. Monk, sing it," she smiled with enthusiasm. Adrian stopped unloading the bag he was on for a moment and smiled sheepishly. Mother and daughter stood looking at him smiling prettily, with expectancy.

Then Natalie winked at Adrian. "C'mon, sing it," she insisted.

He finally complied. "Okay, Okay," he said, clearing his throat. "There's some girls, just right for some kissin' . . ." he walked over to Julie, who backed against the wall uncertainly. "and I'm gonna kiss me a few." He finished and planted a kiss on Julie's forehead. Then he walked over to Natalie. "Excuse us Julie," he said, turning to Natalie, he dipped her to his left quickly. Natalie let out a squeal of surprise, as he bent her down. He gave her a soft kiss and then swung her back up to a standing position. Natalie's eyes were as wide as her smile.

"Whew hew! Way to go Mr. Monk. Yeah Mom!" Julie hooted and cheered. Adrian and Natalie turned three shades of red.

"Out!" Natalie commanded with slight amusement.

"Maybe I shouldn't leave you two alone," she said sarcastically.

"Just go watch some T.V. We're just going to put the groceries away," Natalie assured. Adrian held out his hands with a shrug and nodded in agreement. He had a look on his face that said, 'I cannot tell a lie.'

"Are you sure I shouldn't stay and help?" Julie teased as they began to unpack the bags.

"Julie!" both Adrian and Natalie piped together.

"I'm going!" she giggled, waving he hands in surrender. As Julie left the room, Adrian and Natalie waited for a moment, then peeked around the door jamb of the kitchen to make sure she was in the living room, then they ducked back in.

"Now, what was th . . ." Natalie began, but before she could finish, Adrian dipped her down again and kissed her deeply. She put her hands around his neck and back enjoying the passion of the moment.

"It's too quiet in there!" came a shout from the living room, followed by a cackle. Adrian broke the kiss and stood Natalie upright again, both breathless. Adrian had missed such affection, and he hadn't expected to hold her for so long or kiss her as hungrily as he had. It had been their first deep kiss since he'd had his arm in a sling a few months back. He cleared his throat with a smile and Natalie held her fingers to her lips as if trying to seal his touch.

"Sorry," he said quietly, with a smile.

Natalie knew he wasn't. "Don't be," she smiled, then giggled. Adrian couldn't help but grin with amusement at her response. They finished putting the groceries away, then joined Julie in the living room.

Julie grinned at the two adults before her, vying for a place on the couch. "How'd everything go in there?" she smirked.

"Fine," Natalie smiled.

"Fine, everything, went . . . fine," Adrian confirmed, innocently, smiling at Julie then, sneaking a look at Natalie. Julie rolled her eyes.

Adrian sat between his two girls; arms draped over both of them. He really felt like a husband and dad already, and the thought of having his very own family again made him fidget excitedly. It wasn't terribly noticeable, but it made Julie and Natalie exchange glances, knowing something was stirring in his brain. They decided not to pursue questioning him and opted rather to discuss it later at home where they could freely express their opinions about what he was possibly thinking. Julie had to keep her mom from guessing anything close to marriage as Adrian had asked her permission as well, so she planned to throw her off when necessary.

It was Nine pm when Natalie and Julie left Adrian's apartment. He was too excited to sleep and yet he knew his excitement was a little premature. He wasn't sure he was ready to ask Natalie. All his ducks were in a row, but now he had to build up his courage. Adrian got ready for bed and slipped under the covers with the engagement ring box in his hands. As he laid there, he opened the box and stared at the ring. That one symbol before him spoke volumes of meaning.

"It's beautiful, Adrian."

Adrian lowered the box and saw Trudy sitting at the foot of the bed. "Trudy?" he smiled.

"Hello Adrian."

"I've missed you," he said.

"I know. But I also know how much you love Natalie. That's good, I'm so proud of you Adrian."

"You are? Really?" he asked uncertainly.

"I just wanted to say goodbye, Adrian."

"What?"

"Remember our conversation in the church? Remember what you told mom and dad. It won't be forever. We'll see each other again one day."

"How long?"

"Not too long, but Natalie is yours now. You hold onto her. I love you, Adrian," Trudy announced, then disappeared.

"I love you, too," he answered quietly, staring at the foot of the bed.

He opened the box again, sighed, closed it gently and put it beside his bed on the nightstand. He turned out his light and went to sleep. That night he dreamed of the Indian Elder again.

The next morning, Adrian called Captain Stottlemeyer to discuss the dream. Since Randy's dream, he didn't want to take any chances. He read the book the Ellison's had brought him, now he needed to do more research on the Navajo people.

"Captain, I need to talk to you."

"Okay, shoot." Stottlemeyer invited.

"I've had this dream two nights in a row and there's something about it I can't ignore."

"Oh no. Not another dream," Stottlemeyer whined.

"Listen, I need you and Randy to go with me."

"And just where might that be?"

"To Arizona."

"Where? Are you kidding? Look Monk, I don't know about this."

"Captain, please, I just have a gut feeling about this. I can't ignore it. I know I'm right," Adrian urged. He spotted a speck of dust on the end table and swiped at it.

Stottlemeyer knew the sound in his friend's voice, and it made him flinch. When he was right about something, he was right. Even if he didn't know exactly what he was right about. Stottlemeyer looked at his calendar. "Okay, look, there's a four-day weekend coming up, both Randy and I can take it."

"Thanks. I'll explain when I see you." They made arrangements to leave that Friday morning.

Natalie was with Adrian when he researched at the library and Julie had even helped him on the internet, so she was excited about the excursion. However, Adrian had told them both, gently but in no uncertain terms, they were not to come along. Stottlemeyer and Randy were to accompany him. He made up an excuse about a chance for some male bonding.

Natalie wasn't sure she bought that from him. She knew he was going to investigate something, but she didn't know what. All she knew was that he'd researched the Navajo Nation and that he said he wanted to "check it out." Adrian never told her the dream.

After much protest, she finally relented. He rewarded her by letting her buy him some clothes for the trip. This prospect was almost as exciting for her and appeased her for the moment. She bought him several more pairs of Jeans and some climate appropriate shirts. She bought him a pair of modest, working, brown "Ariat" cowboy boots and a jacket for the cold desert evenings. She hoped he'd be wearing these clothes beyond the desert excursion. She would have to do a lot of encouraging for that. This was all part of making changes. Which he was doing at a rapid rate. Deep down, she hoped she wasn't pushing him too hard. When she brought the clothes home to him, he reluctantly approved and agreed to wear the clothes on the weekends.

Friday came and Natalie dropped Adrian off at Stottlemeyer's condo. "Adrian, I'm so proud of you."

"Why?" he asked with astonishment.

"Because, you're going on a trip with two other guys and you'll be out in Nature. I think you'll have fun!" She was quite animated as she spoke.

"We're not going for fun," he answered stepping out of her car.

As he closed the door, Natalie continued. "What about that male bonding thing?"

"Oh. Yeah," he remembered his lame excuse. He slapped the door frame and turned.

"Hey, maybe you'll get to go in a sweat lodge! You, Captain and Randy all sweaty," she teased, a mischievous look on her face.

Adrian stopped short. He turned back to Natalie and looked at her through the open window. "Sweat? Did you say sweat?" he asked stammering and quickly got back into the passenger seat. He didn't remember reading about that.

"Yeah, it's really cleansing! It'll be great," she said, enjoying the fun she was having with him. After all, if she couldn't go, she would at least have fun with it.

"Okay. Le, let's go," he stammered again.

Just then Stottlemeyer and Randy came outside. They noticed that their friend had gotten back in the car. "Is he coming?" Stottlemeyer shouted from the steps.

Natalie leaned across Adrian to call back out the window. "Just a minute!" Then she looked at Adrian, who was focused straight ahead. "C'mon, they're counting on you."

Adrian slowly turned his head and regarded his beautiful, soon to be fiancé. Did she know something? Did she mean Stottlemeyer and Disher? A chill ran up his spine. He smiled slightly. "You're right."

"Of course I am," she said rubbing his arm. Adrian started to get out again, but she stopped him. She looked to see if Randy and Stottlemeyer were looking their way. They weren't. She looked back at Adrian. "Wait," she told him as she unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and gave him a quick kiss. She whispered in his ear. "That turns me on." Adrian looked at her with surprise and hurried out of the car. "Be safe," she called after him. She watched, seeing his hands move to his neck. She knew he was re-buttoning the shirt, not because of her comment but because it was simply an irresistible habit.

"I saw that," Stottlemeyer informed him.

"Saw what?" Adrian feigned innocence. Randy had a big grin on his face.

Stottlemeyer then slapped Adrian's hand from his shirt. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"She said something about a turn on," he answered vaguely.

"Exactly. When a woman, especially Natalie, says that to you," he informed him, unbuttoning the top button of Adrian's shirt for him again, in a big brother gesture of advice. "You listen," he finished, slapping his chest hard, causing Adrian to wince. Adrian looked back at the car, where Natalie waved at him. He waved back with a smile, making sure she could see he had now elected to keep the top button free, then turned back to Stottlemeyer and nodded consent.