She was exhausted beyond words, but sleep wouldn't come. Daphne stared at the ceiling, studying the lines of moonlight that streamed through her bedroom window and formed a most unusual pattern. When she turned onto her side, her eyes landed on the photograph that sat on her dresser. It was a picture of the three men for whom she was eternally grateful. Each was handsome in his own right, but the youngest was especially so.
Her heart did a flip remembering the events of earlier that evening. She'd gone to Niles' party solely as an act of friendship, wanting to help him make the evening a success.
But instead of success, he'd experienced sadness and near-disaster (or at least his brother thought so.), making her heart ache for him once more.
No wonder she couldn't sleep.
He'd told her repeatedly that his beloved cockatoo's death wasn't her fault, but deep down she knew that it was.
So here she lay, hurting for her friend in the middle of the night. And somewhere across town, Niles was most likely awake in his bed as could only imagine the pain
he was feeling, knowing that without Baby, he was truly alone. Of course he wasn't really alone at all. He had people who cared deeply for him; his brother and father... and Daphne.
Suddenly she longed to go to him-to arrive at his doorstep at this ungodly hour and hold him in her arms while he unleashed his pain, the way he'd done in his bedroom just hours before.
Only this time, there would be no interruptions from Frasier-or anyone for that matter. They would be completely alone.
But she shouldn't think such things.
Dr. Crane was her friend and the last thing she would ever do is take advantage of him, even if she was lonely and in need of companionship, she hated to think of him hurting and alone and she wanted so desperately to help him.
Realizing that she wouldn't sleep until she found a way, she climbed out of bed and crept into the living room. She was relieved to find the morning paper still lying on the kitchen table. Normally she would be annoyed at Mr. Crane for being so careless. How hard was it to toss the paper into the recycle bin? But now she was grateful that he hadn't. It would take her mind off of Niles and as dull as the news was, it would surely lull her into sleep.
Carrying a cup of tea, she crossed from the kitchen and settled herself into Mr. Crane's chair. She'd think of an excuse as to why she was sitting there later. But now she just wanted to relax.
As quietly as possible she opened paper, her eyes scanning the headlines which seemed to be full of nothing but violence and heartbreak. What was this world coming to?
She was about to put the paper down when she saw something that caught her eye. There in the obituary section was a red circle and it didn't take long for her to scan the page of what seemed like endless sea of ads.
Her heart leapt in her chest when she recognized Martin's handwriting next to the red circled item.
No... Don't tell me he's...
Her vision blurred by tears, she glanced at the article. Relief filled her when she realized that it wasn't what she thought it was at all. But then she read the ad closer.
Of course... Eddie...
Her heart ached when she thought of the little dog, whom she'd come to love, but she'd never admit it to Mr. Crane. He wasn't a puppy anymore and despite how well Martin treated him, there would come a day when...
She forced the thought away and then focused her attention on the ad.
Suddenly she had an idea. It was just the thing that would help Niles... and it just might help her as well.