Title: Behind This Closed Door
Pairing: Niles/Daphne
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: Alternative continuation of 05x14 The Ski Lodge – Daphne figures out that she must have been the woman Niles was interested in.
A/N: I've been sitting on this story for a while now and I never quite dared to post it. Or even look at it myself for that matter. Thanks to Kristen3 I finally decided I would post it anyway. Please do review!
Eventually, the cabin fell silent. As if ashamed of its guest's shenanigans, it allowed no more noises. No squeaking floors and no clicking of doors could be heard anymore. Daphne, too, was in her room silently staring at the wooden ceiling. Alone. For a while she waited if anything else was going to happen. Wondering if anyone would try again, or would want to talk about what had happened here. There seemed to be too much embarrassment lodged in these walls though. No one dared to take another step, or rather misstep. Daphne could still recall the last act vividly: Annie, Guy, both Dr. Cranes and herself all in the same room and all of them with just one unspeakable thing on their minds. She couldn't keep her mind away from the scene. Like a riddle, her mind tried to unravel the misunderstood endeavors. The one thing she could be sure of was her own longing for Guy, the hot ski-teacher, who was interested in Niles Crane. Then there was her friend Annie, who also had the hots for the younger Dr. Crane – much to Daphne's dismay. Just for a moment she considered writing it all down. She dismissed the thought for being way too silly.
Her thoughts wouldn't leave her alone. They alone made it impossible to even attempt to sleep. Suddenly something became strangely clear to her: two people had been interested in Niles, while neither of them had been the object of his affection. Daphne knew he wasn't gay, so Guy was out of the question anyway. A part of her still felt sad that Guy wasn't interested in her at all. She couldn't dwell on the thought, because she was still preoccupied with entangling the various constellations. If Niles wasn't interested in Guy, or Annie... then there was only person left; Daphne herself.
Suddenly, Daphne's heart began to beat faster. Thinking about it, there was really no other explanation. Niles had wanted her. Not only was she confused, because who would have thought! But she herself had never thought about Niles – really, Dr. Crane – that way before. He was her boss' brother and a good friend. Nothing more and nothing less. Besides, he was married. At least when she met him all those years ago, he had been. So in her mind she had never considered him a possibility. Never even contemplated he could be interested in her. Until that very moment.
Sleep was out of the question. Daphne had to know for sure. Had Niles really been interested in her? Was he still? Her room was next to his which made it so much easier, because she wouldn't have to step out of her room. She wondered if the others were still awake, still rattling their minds as well. Still wondering if the desired person had had a change of mind. Daphne wasn't sure yet what she was feeling other than confusion and curiosity. She only knocked once and hoped she'd done so with enough force. The following moments of silence seemed too long. Daphne was ready to turn away again, disappointed. But then the door opened. There, right in front of her, was Dr. Niles Crane. Looking as awake as she was. For a moment she couldn't do anything but look at him. A part of her had expected to see something she hadn't before. It just didn't happen. He hadn't changed in her eyes, and what a funny thought to begin with. Daphne simply smiled at him, because she was unable to form words in her mouth.
"Daphne? Did you want something?" His voice was not pressing, nor was it any way annoyed with her. Maybe there was some expectancy in it. Not that Daphne could blame him, but she wasn't sure how to formulate her question. The words she wanted to say were trapped in her throat. Some of them even in her heart.
"About earlier..."
"Yes?" His hesitation and the blush that spread out over his cheeks gave Daphne a boost of confidence.
"Who- who did you want to spend the night with?" She finally blurted.
"What?" Niles looked as flustered as his voice sounded. His eyes seemed ready to pop out of his skull and his mouth stayed open as if he wanted to say more. No words came out though. Daphne felt like this was the perfect moment. The only moment perhaps to ask him this inappropriate question. She tried to disregard who he was and to just follow her gut. So with as much audacity as she could muster she said:
"It was me, wasn't it? You were interested in me."