A/N Finally I have time for an update! Thanks so much for the support so far.
Niles
As I am writing this, I am slowly going insane. I expected Maris home last monday, but I have heard no word from her. This is not like her! Maris is always very punctual. What if she's been kidnapped! What if she's dead?! Maybe I should sweep the coy pond. Oh, I don't know! On top of that, these recent events have really been getting to me. I can't get this dream of this.. ghost lady.. out of my mind. I feel.. strange. paranoid. All the time. And the nights seem to frighten me the most. The terror creeps into me. My dreams are feverish nightmares of dead, hateful blue eyes staring at me, watching my every move. I wake up in cold sweat every morning, terrified to even open my eyes. I feel like I can't talk to anyone, like I'm hearing things that other people don't hear. Seeing things that other people don't see! That I'm going mad! I can't go mad, I'm a psychiatrist for heaven's sake! Where the hell is Maris?
The walls are closing in on me. How one can feel claustrophobic in a gigantic mansion is beyond me, but It's happening. Unable to stay in my own home any longer, I asked my brother Frasier to take me in for a couple of days. I had planned a few days off from seeing my patients anyway so I could celebrate Maris' return. Well, some celebration. I decided I'd better spend awaiting her return in the company of my family before I go completely mad. Their company will hopefully take my mind off things...
...
While I hoped things would be getting better, they are getting worse. I have been off work, spending all my time at Frasier's for three days now, and I'm not feeling any better. Sure, the paranoia is subsiding, even though that ghastly dead lady is still bothering me in my sleep, but I'm actually in pain now. I feel like my physical health is even suffering from this whole ordeal. How is that even possible? Either way, I have had this splitting headache for days now. My head was thumping and I swore this morning when I woke up I was running a fever. If it wasn't for Daphne's sweet support I don't know how I could have even managed to get out of bed. So I called in sick for the rest of the week and I had parked myself on Frasier's couch, munching aspirin and awaiting Maris' return. Where could she be?
After three days I have decided I was tired of waiting. How could she do this to me? She didn't even call me to tell be she would be late. For the first time since I can remember, I find myself feeling angry at Maris.
I took a lot of effort tracing the phone number of Maris' clinic: apparently it wasn't listed in the yellow pages, which didn't surprise me since Maris preferred all things exclusive. She left an unlisted number with Martha in case of emergency. It took me quite a while to convince her to give it to her. After all, Martha values Maris' peace and tranquility above all else. And so would I, if she had sent me a message of some kind. After a surprisingly long discussion Martha reluctantly agreed and gave me the number. It was of a place in a small town in California. I tried calling them all day, to no avail. Finally, at 7AM a woman with a surprisingly melodic and blurry voice answered the phone on the other side of the line.
"Samedi 's rejuvenation clinic, good evening! Where can I help you with? Maris Crane? No, I don't know anyone...oh you are doctor Crane! I see.. well, no, we haven't heard from Mrs. Crane in over three days! What? No, it's not our policy to tell where our clients went, or any other personal situation. I am aware that you are her husband. I just.. No. No. Absolutely not! And don't bother calling us again. Goodnight, Dr. Crane!"
Puzzled and even more worried I held on to the the horn for several minutes after the woman had hung up. My little search party had left me none the wiser. I'd better go to sleep.
...
I called her, again, for the 243th time this week. At least her phone's not switched off any more. Maris has no idea what she's putting me through. I never knew a person could feel anger like this. How could she? I am her husband for heaven's sake. She only cares about herself. How dare she! How dare she.. of course, I'll feel terrible if she ends up being found dead in a ditch somewhere and.. oh my God. My head.
Oh my, wait.. is she.. To my surprise, her majesty is actually answering the phone!
"Maris Crane speaking"
Her haughty voice sounded on the other end of the line, and I was suddenly too overjoyed to feel angry.
"Oh, darling! I am so happy to hear your voice. Are you OK? Where have they taken you? If they want money just say so, I'll give them anything just to get you back! Maris? Maris?"
"Yes darling. What are you talking about?" Her voice sounded coldly on the other side of the line.
"You where missing! I expected you home last monday, and it's friday! Where you kidnapped? Did you fall in with a bad crowd at the clinic again?"
"Oh no darling I did nothing of the sort. Why would you even think so? "
"Well, I just expected you home three days ago and since you didn't leave a message you had me worried sick, I mean literally!"
"Well, that's not my fault now is it? I just did some shopping in New York!"
She what?
"You what? Why didn't you let me know? I was worried sick! I am your husband you know and you could have left a message. What the hell where you doing in New York that was so important?"
"I was running low on supplies, my dear."
I felt myself getting angry at Maris. Where did she get the right? She didn't even let me know where she went. I had been feeling miserable for days and she didn't even care! And this wasn't the first time this happens. She always walks all over me, she doesn't care about my opinion, she has terrible tantrums that are always my fault and... she never talks to me! I have always been surprisingly calm about this, why could I let her walk all over me? How could se!
"Supplies?"
"Yes, of course darling. It was an absolute emergency. The latest make-up trends just came in from Paris, apparently pink is the new red. Plus I had heard of this delightful new Prada fur coat from Mimsy, custom made you know, and I just had to pop in there to get it! Could you imagine the dread I would face if she'd get a hold of it before me?"
Typical Maris. Always thinking of herself. Never caring about others. Never caring about me!
"Well... I can't believe you didn't call me."
"Why should I have called YOU?"
And then, something snapped. I was tired of putting on a brave face, tired of pretending this did not bother me. She was being a horrible person to me and I could no longer stand it.
"Because I am your husband! Because you promised you'd be back monday and you weren't! Because you could have been dead!"
"I will not tolerate this tone of yours, Niles. I have no obligations to you."
"You should have! Do you even care about my feelings? Do you even care about how miserable I've been feeling in the last couple of days?"
"I think I can explain it, but care? Frankly, no."
before I even realized it, it was out:
"Well then, if you don't care about your husband, I want a divorce!"
"You don't mean that." she answered calmly.
"No, I don't but I can't stand the way you treat me! This is not because of this one fight, this is a long time coming! You always shut me out! And you always find some way to, to cloud my judgement of you! Well, it will not work anymore. I don't care how many layers of Creme Fraiche you will smear on your body for me to lick off, it just wont work!"
"Niles. you are being delusional. Have you had your sherry yet?"
"And what is that supposed to mean? You think, you think I'm a drunk? A drunk that you can push around and that will crawl back to you whenever you damn well please? Well, frankly, I haven't and I don't need it, I see things clearer than ever!"
I never knew I had so much rage in me.
"I don't believe you do! I can tell you have been spending time with your brother. He's been getting into your head. And have you been eating well? I told you, you should stick to your diet and let Martha take care of you, but no.. you have to..."
"I can take care of my own now." I snapped at her
"I see. Yes things are getting very clear to me. Niles, shut up! You better apologize and come home."
"I will do no such thing! I will stay right here. See you around, Maris." I said with a lump in my throat. I can't believe that after my outburst, after all the things I just said, I can't seem to get an emotional response from her.
"Fine, whatever you want. But don't think you will get very far without me!" She answered and I finally heard some anger in her voice. "How dare you even bring it up. I made you! You are everything you are, because of me. Without me you are nothing! And don't even think about other women. They won't be interested because alone you are but a shadow of a man! You are nothing, you pathetic leeching loser! And no, I will not grant you a divorce because I know you will come crawling back to me, mark my words! Who the hell do you think you are? You think that you can make it on your own? Well I would like to see you try. Goodbye, Niles."
"Goodbye Maris." I managed with all the strength I had left.
"And Niles? I will be watching you!"
TBC