"Daphne!"
The sound of her name and of his voice is what made her whirl around, fully aware of how quickly her heart was beating. How he'd managed to reach the lobby at almost the same time as she was a mystery, but it didn't matter anyway. Her face, she knew, was streaked with tears, but she no longer cared. She didn't want to see Niles. Not now and not ever. She wished that he would just go back to his apartment where he could enjoy the evening in peace without any disruptions.
He reached for her and she pulled away. "Dr. Crane, just leave me alone!" she yelled. But he stared at her, his chest moving up and down as he desperately tried to catch his breath, just as she was doing.
"No, Daphne. Not until you allow me to apologize."
"There's nothing to say! Don't you understand that?"
"You're crying, Daphne. In my opinion that means that there's plenty to say. Look, you don't have to respond, but please, hear me out. The fault was mine. I never… I never meant to hurt you. When I said those things, about you and about Sherry, I meant…"
"I know what you meant, Dr. Crane, and it doesn't matter anyway!" The tears were choking her voice making it almost impossible to speak. But to her dismay, he was relentless, remaining where he was, watching her with that calm, but worried expression And his voice, when he finally replied, was calm, almost soothing.
"Of course it matters, Daphne. It matters a great deal."
His attempt at kindness was killing her.
"I-I shouldn't have come here. I-I should just… face me problems on me own! Isn't that what you're always telling your patients? To try and work things out for themselves and take responsibility?"
He nodded. "Well, yes. On occasion. But Daphne…"
Angrily she brushed away tears, wanting so badly to leave. "What?" She spat the word like venom. But she no longer cared. He couldn't possibly have hurt her any more than he already had.
"You're not like my patients. You're…" he swallowed hard and ran his hand through his blonde hair.
Oh why, at that moment, with his white linen shirt unbuttoned almost halfway, did he suddenly look so… sexy? Her eyes moved to his chest and then down the length of his lean body before she quickly looked away. It wasn't right to think of him in such a way; the way she'd often thought of men whom she was attracted to... With longing and desire.
It wasn't right at all.
Panic filled her and she broke free of his grasp, suddenly aware that he'd been holding her hand.
"Daphne-."
"I-I need to leave. I-I shouldn't have come here.. I-I had no right!"
"You had every right. It's your home too."
She froze at his words, unable to believe what he'd said. And his stunned expression told her that the words were unintended, if in fact, they were even true. She had, essentially said the exact words to him on numerous occasions, but the circumstances were entirely different. She was speaking of his brother's home. And since his father lived there as well, it was only natural to let Niles know that it was his home too.
Her heart was expanding in her chest. She wanted to stay, God how she wanted to stay. But her conscious refused. "No… I'll just go back. I can handle Sherry on me own! I shouldn't have run away."
He sighed, a deep, troubled sigh. "Daphne, I'm truly sorry for hurting you and for the things that I said."
His apology softened her but it wasn't enough. "I know!" She snapped. "You already apologized!"
"Yes, I did, but when I opened the door and saw you standing there, I-."
Her mouth curved into a smile and amazingly the hurt suddenly began to melt away.
"I can imagine that it was quite a shock."
He nodded, giving her a smile of his own. "Well, yes… I guess that would explain why I fainted. Thank you, by the way, for taking care of me."
She reached for his hand. "Of course."
"Well…"
"Dr. Crane, I'm sorry for intruding." She said, her calmness gone once more and desperation taking its place. "But I didn't have anywhere else to go! Now don't worry about me, Dr. Crane. I-I have some money. I'm sure I'll be able to get a hotel room, or somethi-."
"No."
His sharp word startled her. "What?"
"You drove all the way over here because you needed a place to say and were seeking out someone you thought you could trust. You have no idea how honored I am that you chose me and I'm deeply sorry for breaking that trust. I've been a terrible host and I beg you to let me make amends. I can't bear to think of you spending the night alone in some shoddy hotel, much less a five-star hotel. You'd still be alone and it's wrong. So please, Daphne. Spend the night with me."
