In one fluid motion, Frasier sank into his leather chair.
"Dear God..."
"I'm sorry to spring this on you, especially while you're working but-."
"What happened?"
"What?"
"With Dad, Niles! What happened?"
"Oh right. Of course. Well..."
"Niles, I don't have all day here!"
"Oh, okay... Well, he was with Frank... H-his partner and they stopped at a convenience store. For a Slushie! Can you believe that? I mean, what in the world is a-."
"Niles!"
"Right. Well it seems that there was a robbery in progress and-."
"How bad is it?"
"He was shot in the hip and they took to the University of Washington Medical Center, even though I insisted that he be taken to Harborview. Believe me; I made sure that the paramedics knew that I was not happy with the situation!"
Frasier rolled his eyes, grateful that his little brother couldn't see the annoyed look on his face.
"Niles, please! Enough of these mundane details! What did the doctor say?"
"Th-the doctor?"
"Yes, Niles, the doctor! It is a hospital and it's only logical that they would have-."
Frasier's heart filled with compassion when he heard a soft unmistakable sound coming from the receiver.
"Oh Niles..."
"What if... What if he-."
"What did the doctor say?" Frasier asked, more calmly this time.
"Well, he said that the bullet is lodged in a pretty risky area and-."
Frasier heard Niles take a deep breath and let it out, followed by soft sobbing.
"Oh Niles, please don't cry."
Instantly Frasier was flooded with memories... Memories of comforting his little brother during a thunderstorm in his darkened bedroom while Niles clutched his well worn stuffed teddy bear; standing next to Niles, Martin and their family and friends at the small grave site, trying to explain to his little brother why their mother was taken from them so suddenly-when Frasier didn't understand it himself; a young Niles walking out of the school yard with yet another black eye-and without his lunch money.
Frasier had felt helpless during those times... but it was nothing compared to the helplessness he felt now.
Back then he and Niles had been close. But now things were different.
They may have been living 3,000 miles apart, but emotionally it was much further.
"I'll be on the next plane." Frasier said, seconds before he even realized that he was speaking.
"Okay, great. I'm sure that will make Dad very happy."
When Niles spoke, his quivering voice remained.
"Dad will be just fine. I know it."
"Yeah..."
"Niles... I love you."
Another sob and a sniffle.
"I love you too, Frasier."
It was the first time they had exchanged words of sentiment since Frasier could remember. But somehow now, those words were more powerful than ever.
