Chapter 2

After about a week, Daphne's black eye had swelled down. She was seeing Josh more than ever and she was distancing herself from the Cranes more than ever as well.

"Well, I'm off." Daphne said, zipping up her black coat. "There is dinner in the fridge for you."

"Where are you going?" asked Martian.

"Josh is taking me to the movies." Said Daphne, a slight smile on her face.

Martian nodded. As Daphne slipped out of the front door, Niles and Frasier slipped in.

"Where is she off to?" asked Niles.

"Another date."

"With that abusive bastard?" asked Niles.

"I do believe we may have been wrong about him. Daphne is a smart girl, don't you think that if he was in fact, hurting her she would break it off?" asked Frasier.

Niles nodded and sat down. "I suppose you're right."

Frasier walked out of his bedroom later that night and noticed Niles lying on the couch.

"Niles? What are you still doing here?"

Niles glanced up. "I thought I would wait for Daphne to come home…"

Frasier sighed and nodded slightly. "Don't you start anything."

"Please Frasier, I'm not you."

Frasier grumbled something and walked back into his bedroom. A few minutes later, Daphne walked through the door into the dark living room. Niles peered over the couch and watched as his goddess stood still for a moment or two before completely breaking down into sobs.

"Daphne?" he asked.

Daphne glanced up. "Oh, Doctor Crane, you frightened me."

Niles stood up. "Is everything alright?"

Wiping her tears, Daphne nodded. "The movie was just very sad, that's all."

Niles glanced at Daphne and noticed a few bruises on her neck.

"Oh Daphne…you're neck."

Daphne looked at Niles. "I have to get to bed." With a sigh, she began walking towards her bedroom.

"I know what he does to you."

Daphne stood still. "I beg your pardon."

Niles wished he hadn't spoken those words but he couldn't take them back now. "I-I..."

"No. You have no idea what you're talking about."

"It's just…first your eye and now your neck…"

"I fell when I hurt me eye Doctor Crane, you know that."

"How do you explain your neck?"

Daphne sighed. "I slipped getting out of the shower this morning."

Niles sighed. "Just please be careful Daphne."

Daphne smirked and kissed Niles lightly on the cheek. "Goodnight Doctor Crane."

A simple touch by Daphne would usually send him to the moon and back, but not this time. Knowing that some lowlife was hurting his Daphne, all he could think about was getting her away from him.

Daphne walked into her bedroom and wiped the remaining tears away from her eyes. Removing her coat she let out a giant sigh. Glancing in the mirror, she looked at her neck. How could she miss those when she was covering up her bruises that morning? Lifting up her shirt she examined the new, fresh bruises and cuts on her back that Josh had given her that night. A knock on the door disturbed her from concentration. She quickly lowered her shirt and wrapped a scarf around her neck.

"Come in,"

The door opened and Martian limped inside.

"Hello Mr. Crane." smiled Daphne. "What are you doing up?"

"Just wanted to see how you were doing." said Martian.

"I'm great."

"You sure? You know you can tell me anything."

Daphne sat down on her bed. She should tell him about Josh but she was just so scared. Scared that once he found out, he would hurt her more.

"I'm positive." she said. "You know Mr. Crane, you and your sons worry quite a bit about me."

"You are part of our family." He said seriously.

Daphne felt tears in her eyes and nodded. "That means a lot."

Martian nodded and walked out. Daphne lowered her head in her hands and cried some more. When did her life get so mixed up?

thanks for reading.