Disclaimer: I do not own any part of The Nanny.
A/N: Those of us who are fans of Niles and CC, this is just another crazy story about their very strange…connection. Set in a partially alternate universe so not completely in sync with the show. Read and Review please!
Powerful Connection
The next morning when Max's bellow came up the back stairs it had a categorically different sound. Niles didn't bother to put his jacket on and just grabbed it and tore off down the stairs. What he saw when he got there shocked him…and scared him. Max was standing in the kitchen with two plain clothes officers. "Come on, why they don't just wear uniforms I'll never know, it's so obvious anyway." Niles thought. "What's happened, Sir? Where are Fran and the children?"
The taller of the two officers spoke. "I'm Detective Ladd. Are you Niles Brightmore?"
Niles looked at Max and then back at the officer. "Yes. What can I do for you?"
Max looked at his oldest and dearest friend. "Niles…when was the last time you saw Miss Babcock?"
Niles wasn't sure what he was supposed to say. "Why? Has something happened? What's going on, Max?"
"Answer the question Mr. Brightmore." Detective Ladd spoke flatly.
Niles looked at his hands. "Last night. We had dinner and then I took her home. Why?"
The detective took a cold and callous approach. "She was found in her apartment this morning by her maid, Consuela, raped and badly beaten."
Niles suddenly looked sick. He managed to drop onto the chair Max pulled out for him. "Is…is she…"
"She's in a coma at Manhattan General." The detective tried to read Niles' face.
"Are there any suspects?" Niles eyes were a little glazed over.
"So far…the evidence leads to just one." Detective Ladd waited and Max watched his friend.
It took several seconds of stone cold silence before Niles understood. He leapt up from the chair and barked at Max and the detectives. "Who? Me? You can't be serious! You don't believe that I could…"
Max interrupted before Niles could finish. "No, of course not!"
"It's just a matter of the evidence, Mr. Brightmore." Detective Ladd started. "There was skin under her fingernails. And there was…"
"You don't need to say it." Niles stopped him and dropped defeated into the chair. "Yes, I made love to CC, because I love her." Niles looked up at his friend and then at Detective Ladd. "I didn't rape her! And I damn well didn't beat her and leave her so I could come home and make breakfast for my employer and his children."
The detective's phone rang. "Excuse me," He started and stepped away a bit. "Ladd." The detective looked back at Niles and Max. "Uh…huh…right…ok, we'll be right there." Ladd closed his phone and turned back to Max and Niles. "I'm going to need you to come to the station with me Mr. Brightmore."
"Now, wait a minute, Detective…" Max tried to intervene.
Niles stood up. "It's alright, Max. I'll go. You take care of the family and call my attorney, please. Ready when you are Detective Ladd."
When they arrived at the police station Consuela was just coming out of a room and spotted Niles. She ran to him. "Oh Missa Niles. Is so terrible how Miss CC look. I called police right away."
"Don't worry, Consuela, CC will be just fine. They'll find the person who did this." Niles tried to calm her down.
Consuela noticed then he was in cuffs. "Missa Niles? What's this?" She turned to the detective who held Niles' arm. "You dummy police. Missa Niles, he no do this. He love Miss CC…" Consuela leaned in to Niles and the detective. "Miss CC love him too, but she no say so…crazy woman…" Then Consuela mumbled something and crossed herself. Another officer led her away to sign some papers.
As they led Niles into a room for questioning Detective Ladd removed the cuffs. "Sorry about the handcuffs, Mr. Brightmore, it's standard procedure."
"I understand, Detective." Niles thoughts were on CC. Before the detective could ask a single question there was a tap on the door.
"Excuse me, Mr. Brightmore." Detective Ladd rose and went to the door. There was some mumbling that Niles couldn't understand. "Bring it in here."
A young officer entered with a large tape player on a cart. "How do you want me to do this, Sir? I ran it through all voice recognition programs, it's just to muffled. It's an answering machine tape, used over and over again. Plus they are meant for up close recording. These voices were further away. Not to mention if we don't have the guy on file, it wouldn't fine a match."
The detective looked directly at Niles to gauge his responses. "Does the voice on that tape have an accent?"
The young officer scowled. "No, Sir. Best I can give you is male, well educated, probably wealthy, upper class if you know what I mean."
Detective Ladd saw no fear from Niles. "Play the tape, Andy."
The young officer hit the button. Niles' recognized CC's voice immediately.
"…I'm sorry you feel that way. But, I'm not changing my mind." CC's voice came out of the speaker.
"Listen, CC. You're slumming, I get it. I can forgive your indiscretion…really. But you can't really be considering a long term relationship with a servant. That's insane." The mystery voice spoke volumes.
"Forgive me? For what? I love him. There was never really anything between you and me. The only reason I even went out with you was to make Niles jealous. We're done. Get out." CC's voice was elevated and angry.
"You're mine. We're not done 'til I say we're done. How dare…" The mystery voice spat out just before the click.
"Where's the rest?" Detective Ladd asked.
The younger officer shrugged. "That's it. The tape ran out. Answering machine tapes last just a minute or two."
"I know that voice." Niles seethed.
The officer looked at Niles oddly. "How could you possibly it's muffled, and…"
"I talk on the phone as part of my job. Not to mention the intercom. That's Chandler Graves' voice." CC was dating him just before we started…" Niles looked at the sheriff. "Can I go now?"