"What?" Niles asked in disbelief. "Daphne that's horrible! You're Frasier's employee and Dad had no right to-."
"I'm afraid that your brother was even angrier than your father. As soon as Mr. Crane let me have it for hurtin'
Sherry's feelin's as he put it, Dr Crane told me to pack me things and get out. Said I was causin' your father's
blood pressure to rise to unacceptable levels."
"Why, I'm just going to call Frasier and demand that he apologize to you! How dare he and Dad hurt you like
this!" He picked up he phone, prepared to dial.
"No.. I deserved it, I suppose."
Slowly he put the phone back on the table. "Daphne..."
"It's okay, really. I just... didn't have anywhere else to go and-."
She gasped as another sob consumed her and she cried into her hands.
"Daphne... my God... this has to be tearing you up inside." Niles said, taking her in his arms. "Come here..."
"Oh Dr. Crane..." Daphne said as she sobbed into his shirt. "I'm so sorry."
"Now Daphne, you have nothing to be sorry for."
He held her close; closer than she'd been held in a long time, stroking her hair. It was the first time in ages that
she'd ever felt truly loved.
Finally she sat up and looked at him. "I'm sure I must look like a bloody mess, with me mascara smearin' all over
the place. And this heat doesn't help things at all."
"I'm sorry about that." Niles said. "Unfortunately the extravagant price of a place at the Montana doesn't come
with air conditioning. Normally it's not a burden, but tonight..."
Daphne rose from the fainting couch. "Oh... Yes, I see. Well...I suppose I should be gettin' back home... Oh
right. I don't have a home. Or a job for that matter." She laughed nervously. "Well... might as well call a taxi to
take me to a hotel for the night. Not like I have any place else to go."
She walked to the door, trying to ignore the fact that Niles was incredibly handsome in his white shirt and white
pants. "I can't thank you enough for your kindness. Dr. Crane. It truly touches me heart."
"Daphne, wait." Niles said when her hand reached for the doorknob.
"Yes?"
"Please... stay. I don't want you going out this late alone."
She was stunned by the offer. "Stay here with you? Are you sure?"
"I insist. I wouldn't be able to sleep, knowing that you're all alone, hurting and..."
"But where would I sleep?"
"You can sleep in my room." Niles answered.
"What?"
"I-I mean... there's plenty of room and well... I can move the fan upstairs. It oscillates, you know."
"But what about you?"
"Oh... well... I'll figure something out." Niles said.
"Dr. Crane, I'm not going to inconvenience you just because of some stupid thing I did. I'll just sleep here on
the couch."
"You'll do nothing of the sort. It's dreadfully hot and I want you to be as comfortable as possible. Is there
anything else I can get you?"
"Well, I never got to taste that delicious omelet."
"Oh, Heavens! I'd forgotten all about that!" Niles said. He hurried to the table and picked up the plate. "I'm
afraid it's gotten cold. I'll go warm it up and bring you some tea to go with it. Just sit right here and I'll be back
in a second."
Overcome with gratitude, Daphne hugged Niles. "Thank you, so much, Dr. Crane."
"You're welcome, Daphne." He said, with a boyishly handsome grin on his face.
She sat down at the table, but couldn't resist peering into the kitchen where Niles was hurrying to warm up her
food.
Minutes later he returned with a piping hot plate and a cup of tea.
"Dr. Crane this is much too generous of you."
"Nonsense. I don't want you going hungry." Niles said. "I'll leave you to eat and I'll go and fix up a place for you
to sleep."
She couldn't help but smile when he walked up the stairs, pausing to glance at her before he disappeared from
sight.
