A/N: This is my first Monk story. My first fan fiction story. Reviews would be greatly appreciated.

"Ugh." Monk groaned. There was someone at the door. He looked to his right at his alarm clock. It read 10:45. 'Can't I ever get any sleep?' He needed his 10 hours of sleep or he was useless the next day. Grumpily, he got, slipped into his bathrobe and walked to the door.

Monk cautiously approached the door and looked through the peep hole. Standing the, outside his door was Natalie. She looked a fright. She was wearing her pajamas and looking very much disheveled. She almost looked as if she had jumped out of bed and into the car. Monk quickly opened the door and ushered her inside.

"Natalie, what's wrong? Why did you come here in the middle of the night?" Even as he said this he was running through all the scenarios in his head. He studied her closely and noticed her eyes were puffy and red. She had red streaks down her face. All in all, she looked like she had been crying. At this realization, he stood in front of her, looking her in the eyes.

"What's wrong? Are you okay? Did something happen to Julie?" he urged, his eyes shining with concern.

"Wha, I, she's fine. Really nothing is wrong. I'm just. I'm fine." Monk just stared at her incredulously then spoke.

"Natalie you've obviously been crying. Then you show up at MY house in the middle of the night. I know something is wrong." He continued to stare at her until she sighed and began again.

"Nothing is wrong. Okay you're right. Something is wrong. I- I had a nightmare." she ended quietly.

Monk was about to say 'You woke me up for a NIGHTMARE!' when he recalled what Julie had told him earlier that very day. "Mom wakes up hysterical. I think she still has nightmares that you died Mr. Monk."

"Wha-What was it about?" He questioned as he led her towards the couch. 'Please don't be about me. I can't handle causing her any more pain. She doesn't deserve it.' She looked over at him, her eyes shining with pain.

"It was. It was about you. You were dead Mr. Monk. Dead for real. It just seemed too real. I had to, I had to come. I had to make sure you were okay. I just, I had to check…" Natalie broke down, sobbing and hugging herself.

Monk felt his heart breaking for Natalie. She had been through so much because of him. He knew she needed him to reassure her that he really was alive. Adrian didn't know what he could do. Well, he did know. But it frightened him. He knew he should go over to her and hold her. But the thought of holding someone besides Trudy scared him. No, the idea that he wanted to hold someone other than Trudy scared him. He desperately wanted to be holding Natalie. Adrian felt like something in the universe would be wrong if he didn't. And yet, his fear of germs was almost too powerful. Natalie sobbed again, louder this time. This made his mind up for him.

Monk slowly reached towards Natalie, putting his hand on her shoulder. 'Calm down Adrian, it's just Natalie.' This thought, far from reassuring him made him even more nervous. He couldn't afford to mess up here. With Natalie, his assistant, his best friend, almost everything to him. He felt her tense and the slowly relax as he slowly slipped his arm around her and pulled her to him. As Natalie put her head on his shoulder she felt Monk's arms encircle her. Natalie began to sob harder against his shirt, soaking it with tears. At the feeling of the tears Monk momentarily stiffened. Natalie felt him slowly rock her until she began to calm.

"Shh. I'm right here. I won't leave you again. Ever. I promise. Shh." Monk whispered continually as he slowly stroked her hair.

Natalie groggily smiled against his chest and squeezed him. Adrian could tell she was completely drained, both mentally and physically.

"Na-Natalie, don't you want to umm go home? I mean you-you have to sl-sleep right?" he nervously stuttered. He didn't want her to think he was kicking her out or abandoning her again. He just didn't have a place for her to stay the night. His couch didn't make for a very good bed.

Natalie visibly tensed at his words. She shook her head against his chest at his words and squeezed him tighter still.

"I just- I can't. I-I need to make sure. I need to know you really are here and that this isn't some cruel dream. I don't-I don't want to leave you."

Something in her voice sounded so desperate, so broken that it made Adrian hold her tighter to him. He felt as if he was protecting her, from what he didn't know. He felt her breathing slow, as if she was slowly falling asleep against him.

"I won't. Don't worry Natalie. You can, you can stay here. I won't leave you. Not tonight. And not ever again." he whispered. Through her sleep Natalie smiled. Adrian felt himself get sleepy and begin to fall asleep. He knew they'd both feel horrible in the morning if they slept on the couch so he carried her down the hall and into his room.

By now, Adrian knew he couldn't leave without causing her to panic. He skillfully drew back the covers with one hand, the other supporting Natalie and slowly slipped her inside of them. He quickly changed into his pajamas, surprisingly without feeling awkward with her sleeping right next to him. He knew she wouldn't do anything, even if she was awake and he doubted he would have felt awkward with her awake even.

He turned to look at her and was surprised at the way the light was illuminating her face. 'She looks so beautiful.' he thought. As Adrian raised a hand towards her face, he wondered what she would do if he ever kissed her.

He quickly erased the thought from his mind. 'Now's not the time.' he thought to himself. As he got into bed and turned to face her, he was surprised to see her looking at him.

"You okay?" She asked, knowing his phobia of touching other people, much less sharing a bed with them. Natalie was surprised by the honesty of his answer.

"I know it would seem like I should be, but somehow, for some reason I'm not. And I should be the one asking you that question, Natalie." he replied as he put his arm around her waist and pulled her towards him.

"Good Night Natalie."

"Night Adrian." And although Natalie had never used his first name before, this time it felt like the thing to do. It felt right.