There was a loud thud, and then there was nothing. It was nearly two in the morning, but Frasier was still up reading. He rose from his bed, threw on a robe, and rushed to see who was at the door at such an hour. He had suspected one of his neighbors, but instead he found Niles, leaning against the wall for support and reeking of liquor. There were bags under his eyes, stains and rips on his suit, and a half empty bottle in his left hand. He took a swig of it before inviting himself in.
"Niles? Where have you been, what you have done?" Asked Frasier, closing the door behind his brother. "Nobody has seen you since the wedding." Niles didn't respond, but started to close his eyes and sway to a tune that only he could hear. This did nothing to put an end to Frasier's concerns.
"What's going on out there?" Martin called from his room. He shuffled out in his plaid robe and slippers, Eddie following close behind. "Niles, is that you?"
Martin squinted to see if his son had actually returned, and he smiled when he was sure it was him. He started to shuffle towards him to greet him when he smelled the booze. His smile vanished. "Oh jeez." He muttered.
Niles' swaying turned into more of a spin, and he started to hum some unrecognizable tune, presumably the one he had been dancing to. Frasier reached out to stop Niles' spinning, but only succeeded in taking the bottle from Niles' hand.
"Is this...Absinthe?" Frasier asked, dumbstruck. Niles laughed a bit too loudly, what Frasier took to be a yes.
"Oh jeez..." Martin muttered again. "Frasier, go get your brother some coffee. Niles, come lie on the couch."
Frasier obeyed his Father, but Niles didn't seem to hear him. Martin had to grab Niles' wrist and lead him over to the sofa to finally get him to stop spinning. Niles was lying on the couch, but he wouldn't stop giggling, even when Martin was forcing the coffee down his throat.
"I've never seen him like this." Frasier sighed. "I knew he would take Daphne's marriage hard, but at least with some dignity."
Martin said nothing, but sat on the coffee table in front of the sofa, trying to coax Niles to sleep. It wasn't until nearly half an hour later that the giggles started to die down and Niles finally grew tired. He was slipping in and out of consciousness, and Martin and Frasier finally felt safe to leave him when he started singing, low and mournful:
Heart and soul, I fell in love with you heart and soul...
He finally fell asleep before he could finish the song.
