Don't Help Me, Please by Patrick Councilor

Daphne was folding the Crane's clothes and humming to herself. She hadn't spoken with her mother in days. The thought crossed her mind and made her smile. Perhaps that is why she was in such a good mood. She didn't have to hear her mum's bickering. She loved her so, but it was a nice break of it. Dr. Crane was off somewhere on an alluring jaunt in retrospect to a call he had gotten about a rumor of a very rare wine being found in a corner nook by Pioneer Square. Mr. Crane had just taken Eddie to the park for a bit. She was just about done with the whites when the phone rang.

"Dr. Crane's residents. Daphne speaking." She waited, but there was no one on the other end. "Hello?" Again, there was silence. "Is anyone there?" She almost expected heavy breathing… something. "It's your dime my friend, so if you don't want to talk, I've got some laundry to tend to." Silence. "Have a nice day." But when she started to hang the phone up, she heard something from the receiver. She brought the phone back to her ear. "Hello, is someone there?"

"D…"

"Hello?"

"Daph… Daphne"

"Who is this please?"

"Daphne… It's… Niles… did you hear me?"

"Dr. Crane, I was on me way of hanging up on the likes of you. I couldn't hear you." She gave a sigh of relief. "Your brotha's gone tracking down a bottle and your fatha's off walking Eddie."

"Is Frasier there?"

"Dr. Crane, I just told you he's not home. Did you hear me?"

"Yes, Daphne… I can hear you just fine."

She paused, waiting for him to supply more information, but he offered none. Taking a deep breath, she asked, "Would you like to leave a message?"

"Is Frasier to me?"

Her eyebrows dropped. "Dr. Crane… are you alright?"

"Leading question you be sure."

"Dr. Crane, you're scaring me. Tell me where you are."

"Daphne… I'm right here."

"Sounds as if you're gettin' your wits back. Where are you? What's going on?"

"I'm… I'm on the floor."

Her voice changed to a more accusing tone. "Dr. Crane, have you been drinking?"

"Yes, that would be fine. I'll have a sherry."

"Dr. Crane, are you alright. Tell me where you are? Are you at your place?"

"Bumped my head."

"What was that? What did you say? Did you say you bumped your head?"

"Daphne, there's blood."

"Don't look at it. You know you pass out when you see your own blood."

"Know this… how did you? Oh yes, you're psychic."

"Well, your brotha and fatha gabber about you from time to time. Are you alone?" Of course you fool, Daphne thought. If not, the other person would be helping him. Then again, what if he had been in a car accident and… Her eyes started to puddle and she had to take in a breath to keep from bawling. "Dr. Crane, please tell me where you are so I can come and get you," she pleaded.

"I'm a little light headed. I am bleeding…"

"Don't look at the blood. Dr. Crane. Dr. Crane?"

Dr. Niles Crane was unconscious on his rug in the Montana. He was bleeding from the head, but nothing too intense. He was breathing normally and his skin was pale, just as it always is.

He found himself standing in the streets of Seattle. The rain had soaked his clothes. He had backed himself to a cubbie part of a building, but it was too late to help from getting soaked. He was already drenched from head to toe. The rain stopped in an instant. But no, it hadn't. The sound of rain was all around him. Yet, it wasn't raining on him anymore. He looked up into the beautiful eyes of Daphne as she held her umbrella over him. His mouth fell open. He didn't know what to say.

"Hello," she said playfully.

"Daphne… thank you. How did you find me?"

"I don't know. Somehow I knew you'd be here."

"A psychic vision?"

She shook her head. She was standing awfully close and he could feel her breath on his cheek as he was melting in her eyes. Was she wanting a kiss? No, he pushed the thought out of his mind. They were just sharing an umbrella, he told himself, nothing more.

Her lips pressed against his ever so lightly. Niles felt weak in the knees. Was that a kiss? Or was that an accidentally bumping? How long did it last? Three to four seconds. Definitely a kiss. If he wasn't so damned light-headed, he would have been more aware of it.

He swallowed. "Daphne, was that a kiss?"

"Do you mind?" Her voice was but a whisper. "Would you mind?"

"Would I mind what?"

"Would you mind if I stole another?" She was so close, her nose was touching his cheek. "You see, I've been attracted to you almost of as long as I've known you and… and I've been wanting to do that for years. May I sneak in another?"

Her lips gently pressed against his. It was as light as a feather. It was INCREDIBLE! She put her arm through his. "Come now, let's get you home and into something dry."

"No," he pulled away. "No, Daphne I don't want to go home."

"Well you can't stay in those wet clothes."

He was in denial. Was he dead? Was this heaven? Was he sleeping? If he went home, would he find himself unconscious on the floor? He didn't want to wake up. He didn't want to come across anyone who could possibly ruin this day. He wanted to stay in this moment forever. "Daphne, could we spend the afternoon together… j-just you and I. I could stop into a store and purchase a new set of clothes. I could treat you to lunch."

She didn't have to answer. That bold smile on her face was all that he needed. She tucked her arm back under his and they headed down the rain showered street.