She dropped to her knees and hugged the boy tightly, followed by Frasier.

"Frederick, what on earth has your Uncle Niles done to you?" Lilith demanded.

"Dear God, Frederick! What has happened to your face?" Frasier asked, revolted by his son's appearance.

"I'm perfectly fine, Dad. I took my pills."

"B-but you're all bruised and... your nose... It's swollen. How can you possibly breathe?" Lilith asked.

"I'm managing." Frederick said.

"You look like you've been in a football game, instead of having watched one! Oh this is horrible!" Lilith said. "I must find the first aid kit immediately!"

"Frasier I'm sorry." Martin said. "This was my fault. You see, I took Frederick outside to play a game of catch, and I missed and hit him in the eye with the ball."

But Frasier shook his head in disgust. "Save it, Dad! I'm tired of you defending him all the time!"

"What makes you think I'm defending someone?" Martin asked. "I'm telling you the truth!"

"I'm a Harvard graduate!" Frasier said. "I know when my father is lying to me! I took a whole course in the art of being able to tell the liars from those who tell the

truth. And speaking of lying... How about that Seahawks game, Niles?"

Niles froze in the doorway as his older brother glared at him. An anger Niles had never seen before flashed in Frasier's eyes.

"Frasier, I-."

"How could you let this happen, Niles?" Frasier yelled. "I trusted you to look after him for one brief afternoon and do you see what's transpired? Lillith was right. What

was I thinking?"

Niles' gaze fell to the floor and then to his father.

"Leave him alone, Fras!" Martin said.

"Dad why do you keep defending him? Can't you see he's completely irresponsible?"

"I'm not going to let you talk about your brother this way! If you must blame somebody, blame me! Niles just happened-."

Niles held up his hand to silence his father. "No Dad. Frasier's right. It is my fault. I was opening the refrigerator door and he walked into the house at the most

inopportune moment. The door hit him and he just fell over!"

"WHAT?" Frasier yelled, causing Niles to back away slowly. Unfortunately he backed up one step too far and backed right into someone...

"That goes for me as well!" Lilith said from behind him.

"Lilith, I didn't see you there..." Niles said, moving away from her.

She shoved him out of the way. "So I noticed. I knew you were trouble from the first day I met you!"

"Lilith shut it, would you? It was an accident!" Martin said. "Frasier can't you talk some sense into her for once?"

Frasier's eyes went to his son's battered face and then back to his brother. "Well this time I think she might be right."

"I'm so sorry, Lilith." Niles pleaded. "It was an accident I swear!"

"Like hell it was!" Lilith snapped.

"Lilith, Frasier... You must believe me! I love my nephew dearly and would never..."

Niles turned to find Frederick standing beside his mother, holding her hand.

"Please, Frederick. Tell your mother that I'm telling the truth."

"I came inside and Uncle Niles hit me in the nose with the refrigerator door." Frederick said. "And then I fell down."

"Is that so?" Frasier asked. "Your uncle failed to mention that you'd fallen down."

"Of course, Dad." Frederick replied, glancing at his uncle. "I'd never lie."

"Well, there you have it." Frasier said.

"You know Frasier; we really should get him to a hospital."

"The hospital?" Martin exclaimed. "But Lilith, he'll be just fine!"

"You'd better hope so." Lilith replied.

"I'll go with you. Come on, Frederick." Frasier said, helping Fredrick with his coat.

At the kitchen door, Fredrick turned to Niles and Martin. "Bye Uncle Niles, Grandpa."

When they were alone in the kitchen, Niles began to pace back and forth and then looked at his father in horror.

"Dear God, what have I done?"