(Cheers-several hours later)

"One more of these, Sam."

"Fras, you'd better take it easy. This'll be your fifth one!"

"Don't worry about me." Frasier replied, only slightly aware that it took him longer than normal to get the words out. "It'll be just fine! Who in the hell cares if I've lost my wife and son? It's all... relative isn't it? Hey, that was a joke! Get it? Relative?"

"Yeah, we get it Frasier!" Norm laughed.

"That was a good one, Dr. Crane." Woody agreed. "But you really shouldn't make jokes about your mother like that!"

"Woody, he didn't say anything about his mo-oh never mind! It's pointless trying to explain anything to you anyway." Carla said.

"What's going on, Frasier? I've never see you drink this much before." Cliff said.

Frasier held up his half-empty beer mug. "Never had a reason to, Cliff."

"What happened?"

"Ha!" Frasier scoffed. "What didn't happen?"

"Uh oh... That doesn't sound good. Come on, Fras... Let's go into my office."

"Sam, I'm a doctor for God's sake!" Frasier slurred. "I don't need a counseling ses-Whoa!"

In the nick of time, Sam grabbed Frasier's sleeve, preventing what could have been a terrible fall.

"Easy, there Fras!"

"Thanks!"

"No problem. Now let's go in here and have a little talk... man to man." Sam said.

"Look Sam, I know you mean well, but I'm a graduate of-."

"Harvard Medical School. I know, I know!" Sam finished. "And I'm a graduate of the School of Life." Believe me, the stuff I learned there can get a man through the worst imaginable hell. It worked for me."

Frasier tried to smile. "Yes, well I'm afraid that the hell I'm going through is... incurable."

"I doubt that but try me anyway."

Frasier walked over to Sam's sofa and sat down.

Sam closed the door and sat down at his desk.

"Now, what seems to be the problem?"

"Well it's Lillith."

"When isn't Lillith a problem?" Sam laughed, rising from his chair to punch Frasier lightly on the forearm.

When Frasier didn't laugh, Sam moved his hand to his friend's shoulder in comfort.

"I'm sorry. Look, if you don't want to talk about this, I understand."

"No, it's all right. Everyone's going to find out sooner or later. You might as well be the first."

"What's going on?"

Frasier took a deep breath, not sure if he was ready to say the words out loud. To say them here... in his refuge, was going to be a true test of his self-control.

"Lillith and I have decided to divorce."