Secret Service and FBI agents flooded Air Force Two as the First Lady was sequestered in the executive quarters. Nobody was allowed on or off the flight without authorization. The plane had landed 2 hours prior at Reagan International and the air within the luxury cabin was beginning to become stale and hot.

"Do you know how many germs are on an airplane?" Adrian said, squirming in his seat. "These systems on these planes don't really do anything to filter out germs, but just spread them all around the inside so that they fall on everyone. We'll be lucky if we don't get out of here with bubonic plague."

"Adrian, stop." Natalie said. "I seriously doubt anyone has bubonic plague onboard." She took his hand.

Motioning with both of his hands. "What is taking them so long?" he asked. "We've been on the ground for two hours!"

"Adrian, someone was murdered on the flight. You've got to be patient!" Natalie said touching his arm.

"Patient? I don't want to be patient. What are we doing here, Natalie. I'm no hero. I don't deserve any special recognition…"

"You're my hero." She stated, giving him a kiss on the cheek and threading her arm through his arm, grabbing his hand and laying her head on his shoulder.

He turned his face to her and kissed her on the top of the head. She always knew how to calm him down, and she stuck with him through all his idiosyncrasies. What on earth had he done to deserve her love?

Suddenly he noticed movement towards the front of the plane. A group of Secret Service agents followed by FBI escorted the trembling first lady off the flight. He craned his neck to look out the window as she was put into a waiting limousine and whisked away.

He waited with Natalie as an FBI agent took down the names and contact information for every person on board. In addition to the astronauts and their families, there were top news correspondents, the Secretary of State, the Senate Majority and Minority leaders, the First Lady's chief of staff, assistant chief of staff and chauffeur, the President's Press Secretary, and junior staffers and aids. Taking down all of their information took about another half hour until the agent reached Monk and Natalie.

"Name please?" the Agent said.

"I'm Adrian. Adrian Monk. And this is my Assistan…my Partner, Natalie. Natalie Albright." he said.

Natalie smiled, partner. He considered them partners.

"Okay, Mr. Monk. And where are you staying?" the man asked.

Adrian looked over at Natalie who pulled out her notebook and stated. "We're staying at the Willard. We have adjoining rooms at the Lincoln suite."

"Wh-what happened,if I may ask?" Monk asked the agent.

"I'm not allowed to say, sir. We'll be in touch if we have further questions. You may go." He answered, moving to the next person.

Monk and Natalie stood up and stretched their legs, walked down the stairs to the tarmac where they were greeted by a chauffeur ready to take them to their destination. As their bags were removed from the flight, the two slipped into the back of the limo and quietly sat, her head once again on his shoulder and his cheek resting on her head. Comfortable in each other's presence, they sat quietly watching the city lights as they made their way to the hotel.

A bellhop carried their luggage up to their suite and let them in the door, handing a key card to Adrian and one to Natalie.

Adrian, hesitated at giving the man a tip, but after Natalie's scolding gave him two dollars. Natalie took his wallet and handed him a ten-dollar bill and told him to keep the change.

"Hey." Said Adrian. "I was saving that."

"You'll live." She stated as she reached up and kissed him sweetly on the mouth. "You want to go get something to eat and then take a tour."

"A tour?" Adrian said. "Does that mean being around the tourists?"

"No, dear. I booked us for a private tour tonight of Washington by night. It'll just be the two of us and our driver under the stars. I'm going to go freshen up."

Natalie went to the left across the large living room and Adrian to the right in their beautiful adjoining suites. This trip was first class all the way and in spite of the way it had started, he actually began to relax and looked forward to just spending some alone time with Natalie away from the violence and ugliness of the world.