Both Fran and Max went into the den area. Fran sees Niles on the couch. She was about to go over there to wake him up before Max yelled at him.
"Ms Fine don't wake him up."
"Wha?" she turns to face Max who was walking up to her. "Wha didya say?"
"Let him sleep. He's had a hard time. He apparently has been dreaming about a good friend of his who past away." A teardrop dripped from his eye, and down his cheek. Max didn't know David all that well but he knew that David was one of Niles' closest friends.
"Well, I didn't know him that well. I meet the guy for about two weeks when he stayed over here. His parents were both alcoholics and used to beat him. Niles would comfort David." Max went on.
"Niles has always had a big heart." Fran smiled over at Niles.
"Yeah, I just realized how big." Max looked down at Niles. "Sometimes I wonder if he really knows how much he means to me?" I hope that I can tell him before he dies. Niles if you can read minds, which I know you can't I wanted to let you know that I do care.
"You better not wait too long mista." Fran playfully slapped him on the arm.
"Yeah David was Niles' first friend here in the US besides me." Fran rolled her eyes at Max. "They were closer then any bothers would have been."
"Where did he go?"
"The family moved away after their other son was murdered in their house. To many memories I guess."
"That's awful. Did they ever find out who did it?"
"No just moved away. Niles cried for weeks. I knew what he went though when I lost Sarah. It wasn't fun."
"David never contacted Niles?"
"Not even a letter. I just assumed that he died away too. But that wasn't the case. Well not all of it. From what Niles told me, David was in 'the place' that CC went too. Had been there for the last 25 years or so." Max sighed. "He died a few days ago."
"That's sad. So that's why he hasn't talked to much lately."
"I think he's grieving all over again." Fran put a blanket on him.
"Poor fella." Niles stirred a little.
"Sleep hasn't come easy, that's why I'll let him sleep this time."
Fran bent down at kissed Niles on the forehead. "That's to get rid of all the bad dreams and bring in new bright ones." A smile went across his lips. "I see that he's still the same." Fran laughed.
Fran and Max went to the office. Max sat down in his leather chair. Piles of paper lined his desk. He shook his head. God I wish CC was better. I can't imagine what it must be like in that place. A place were, no one cares. Well CC, I do care about you. I just couldn't take it anymore. None of us could. Max picked up the phone. Then thought that that he shouldn't call her not yet anyway maybe later on. He placed the phone back down.
"Who were you going to call?" Fran who was sitting on the love seat in his office just like CC always did asked.
"Never mind changed my mind." He leaned back. "Look at all the work I have to do today." Fran left the office when she heard the kids coming in.
