Author's Note:Usual disclaimer applies: I own nothing, etc. Many thanks to Leigh Ann (leighann415) for providing feedback as I wrote this. Also thanks to Andrea (iloveromance) for encouraging me to get this posted! *Hugs*
"I'm coming!" Niles shouted as he walked toward his front door. The insistent knocking continued. Niles sighed. He'd been in his study, updating some patient files. He did not have the time or the patience to deal with this interruption. Finally he opened the door. To his surprise, Daphne stood there, looking more frightened than he'd ever seen her. She seemed to be trying very hard not to cry, but wasn't doing a very good job of it.
"What's the matter?" Niles asked, immediately taking her hand and helping her into the apartment.
"It was horrible!" Daphne exclaimed.
"What was?" Niles asked, as he guided her to the fainting couch.
"Me car's in the shop, so I asked your brother to lend me his. Well, I practically had to beg him to let me drive the bloody thing! So I was out doing a bit of shopping, groceries and such. But then..." Daphne suddenly began to sob.
Niles reached over and took her hand in his. "Daphne, you can tell me anything. I hope you know that."
She gave his hand a little squeeze, grateful for his kindness. "I just had an accident. With your brother's car! Oh, he's going to kill me, I just know it!"
"Frasier won't kill you. Do you know what a thing like that would do to his image?" Niles grinned. He hoped his joke would make her feel better. He wanted that more than anything in the world.
"I didn't mean he'd murder me, Dr. Crane. But I know he's going to fire me. You know how much he loves that car!" Tears once again filled her eyes.
Immediately, Niles took the box of tissues from the coffee table and handed it to her. "Frasier might be upset, but he wouldn't do that."
"How can you be so sure?" Daphne replied as she wiped her tears. "He gets so angry if I don't arrange his knick-knacks just so on the shelves when I've finished dusting. What do you think he'll do when he finds out his precious car is ruined?"
Niles' heart broke, seeing the woman he loved in such pain. "I won't let him fire you. I promise."
"Thank you, Dr. Crane. You're a wonderful friend," Daphne replied, smiling for the first time since she'd come here.
Niles tried not to let her see how much it hurt to be called a "friend." To cover, he said, "Would you like a cup of tea?"
"That would be lovely," Daphne replied. Somehow, just seeing the way Dr. Crane's brother was treating her made her feel a bit better. He always seemed to know just the right thing to say when she had a problem.
