A/N: This was originally intended as part of a longer story which is why it might seem a little fragmentary, but I thank you for reading and reviews are appreciated!

Niles sighed deeply, trying not to appear as troubled as he felt. He loved poking fun at his older brother, even though it annoyed their father to no end. He and Frasier were brothers, after all, and… well, sibling rivalry was to be expected. But when it came to public humiliation, the situation was completely different.

Guilt washed over him as he listened to yet another segment of KACL's newest radio duo, Carlos and the Chicken as they yet again tore into his older brother as though he was the most gullible and uneducated human being in Seattle.

But Niles' guilt was his own, for he had joined in on the ridiculing, adding insult to injury. And now he realized (after realizing, that is, that he was an unsuspecting victim of Carlos and Mr. Chicken's insults as well, making him feel like a fool) that by joining in, he'd hurt his brother, deeply it seemed. Now that guilt was renewed, as he listed to them tear into Frasier using every tactic possible (he shuddered to imagine what they would do had their show been on television. Hearing his brother's humiliation was bad but seeing it would be devastating.

Undeterred, at least on the outside, Frasier vowed to storm down to the station to get revenge, a decision that Niles strongly advised against. "You'll only be stooping to their level!" He warned.

"I don't care, Niles! They've gone too far this time!" Frasier shot back in a voice that told Niles that he had been defeated. And then Niles watched helplessly as Frasier stormed out of the condo.

Niles glanced at his father for advice, but the elder Crane only shrugged. "It's his funeral, Niles. You tried to warn him, but you know Frasier; stubborn as hell. He's got to learn some way or another. Might as well be this way."

Just as Niles had feared, his older brother's 'revenge' hadn't gone well at all and had, in fact backfired in a big way. The duo was thrilled when Frasier walked into the studio and took the opportunity to tear into him like never before. Niles listened to his brother's humiliation, knowing that this moment could very well spell the end of Frasier's career and could destroy his reputation.

"I'm going down there." He announced as a statement rather than a suggestion.

"Dr. Crane, don't!"

He whirled around, his heart fluttering at the sight of his angel. She looked so incredibly beautiful in her pink sweater and jeans that he wondered if he was, perhaps imagining her presence.

"I know you didn't know I was here, and I'm sorry if I startled you. I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation with your father, Dr. Crane. I just-."

"Yes, Daphne?"

"Well, as much as I love your brother, I hate to see him treated like this. It's humiliating and if they do something like this to him, I hate to think of what they might do to you."

His cheeks flushed at the hint of caring in her voice (dare he hope?), and he smiled. "I'll be fine, Daphne."

"But you see how they are, Dr. Crane. They're horrible. And I'm sorry for laughing the way I did. It's never right to hurt someone, especially their feelings."

His heart warmed at her words and he felt compelled to hug her. "Thank you, Daphne. But I'll take my chances. If it ruins me as well, so be it. But at least Frasier's reputation will be saved. And that's what's most important here."

To his amazement she blinked back tears and kissed his cheek. He barely heard his father saying the words;

"I'm proud of you, Son."

But he heard Daphne's sweet voice loud and clear;

"I'm proud of you, too."

THE END