One Night Changes Everything

Natalie couldn't understand what was happening to her. The more time passed the more confused she became.

Starring out across the bay with her hands over the railing she repeatedly ran her thumbs over each other, knowing that she was falling deeper in love with a man that was inaccessible. And it seemed the more she fell for him the farther out of reach he seemed.

Natalie huffed out a frustrated laugh at herself. Shaking her head the words 'who would have thought' seemed to continually pop into her mind.

Today had been incredible for her. They had made love for the third time - and he had come to her. Masculine hands had touched her with such gentleness that for one brief moment she had thought...she had thought he was in love with her too.

Before she knew it she was crying.

Natalie had thought she had seen it in his eyes. "Maybe" she had thought, just maybe he loved her back. Now more than ever she realied she couldn't stay away from him. Even after seeing Sharona hold him like he belonged to her - she knew she had to protect him.

Sharona had already left him once, and she'd be damned if she would let it happen again.

Natalie believed the years she had spent with him led her to feel that she knew him better than Sharona ever could. Not just because of what had happened in recent months - but because of what they had been through together. From how she began to work for him to saving each others lives - in more ways than one - they had become closer than she ever thought possible.

Her faced morphed into one of distaste as she pictured Sharona taking care of Adrian. The way she seemed to always be touching him and caring for him. It was driving her INSANE!!

Every now and then she would catch Sharona staring at Monk with tears in her eyes while her hand would caress his cheek.

Until today she had thought it was only because they had been friends for so long that Sharona was sad to see him like that.

But the look in her eyes as she saw him today......it made her think that there was something more.

Pulling away from the railing she realized she really needed someone to talk to. Someone that could help her understand what this all meant.

Then inspiration struck as she realized exactly who.

Dr. Bell.

Monk's face showed so much pain as the woman spoke her name. Trudy. People called her Trudy.

"Are you ok?" Trudy asked in concern. "Mr. Monk.."

"Ye..Yes. I'm ok." He said quietly as he examined the woman before him.

Blonde hair with bright blue eyes that stared at him in a way that unnerved him.

"It seemed like you were looking through me for a second."

Monk nodded again but he wasn't listening.

"Trudy?" the defective detective asked.

"Yeah......is that it? My name..." She never got to finish her question as Monk interrupted her.

"It was my wife's name..."

Trudy stared into his eyes and understood those words oh so well. Nodding her head she asked "When did she die?"

"Eleven years ago." Monk answered quickly.

Trudy nodded her head as her eyebrows furrowed.

"Doesn't matter how much time passes," at this Monk was jarred from his thoughts of his late wife and to the woman that was sitting in front of him, "the pain still feels the same."

It took a few moments for Monk's mind to actually work out her words, but he did get it.

"You husband didn't just pass away......he's been dead for a while."

"Five years." Trudy said as she starred out into empty space in front of her in what Monk recognized as deep thought.

"It's strange isn't it?" Trudy began. "How you can miss a persons scent and touch."

Monk said nothing as he himself began to remember those sensations of his Trudy.

"They become an extension of yourself...how you share yourself emotionally and physically with them. You become possessive of them body and soul...yet...yet you can't do that with the people who are your friends and family."

Monk felt like the woman handcuffed to the chair was reading his thoughts. How he himself felt but yet couldn't express.

Trudy turned and finally looked at him.

"My best friend David died last night."

Monk was a little shocked at the words. He didn't understand the connection until her next words came out.

"He told me he had been in love with me for years. That he didn't act on it because of my loyalty to Michael."

Monk concluded quickly that Michael was her dead husband. Empathizing with the woman he completely understood what she was talking about. If anyone knew what she was talking about it would most definitely be him. He realized that she was crying a second later, and felt extremely uncomfortable.

"I let him die without letting him know that I loved him back."

It was this statement that made Monk's mind jump to Natalie.

"I just couldn't...I wanted to..but I was too afraid to. And now...now the police think I killed my husband so I could be with David." She let out a sad laugh as tears fell down her face.

Monk didn't know what to say yet he found himself feeling a kinship to this woman. Something that he never really had with anyone else...well...except maybe Harold Krinshaw. But only recently had they become friends.

"I wish I would have told told. I wish...I would have just kissed him......just to let him know that..." Trudy never finished as she closed her eyes and let the tears fall down her pale cheeks.

"They arrested me right in front of him....I never even got to say good bye."

Monk didn't say anything for a long time...until three words left his mouth.

"I'll help you."

Trudy opened her eyes and looked over at Monk.

"I believe you...and...I think I can help you."