Niles tried to feel some annoyance at the fact that Frasier was coming home after so many years of living in Boston, but he found that he just couldn't do it. If anything, Frasier was doing an admirable thing, coming home to reconnect with his family. Granted it took their father being shot in the line of duty to make it happen, but Niles supposed that in a very small way it was a blessing. And the truth was that he missed Frasier. He'd never admit it of course, but the truth was the truth. He missed the company and the face to face talks they had. And he hoped that they might reconnect someday. It would take time, that was certain, but he was optimistic that it would happen sooner or later.

With a sigh, he finished up his notes and tucked them neatly away in his briefcase. It had been a tiring day. For hours he'd tried desperately for a breakthrough with his most difficult patient ever, Mr. Witherton. The man was all but impossible with a string of problems and there were times when Niles was tempted to pawn the man off on one of his colleagues. But he soon came to realize that a breakthrough in a patient like Mr. Witherton would give him a sense of satisfaction that he'd never experienced in his professional career. Dare he hope Maris might be proud of him? He doubted it very seriously, but there was no harm in dreaming.

Another deep sigh escaped and he rose to his feet. As always, Mrs. Woodson greeted him at the door with a smile. "Finished for the day already, Dr. Crane?"

"Just for the morning, Mrs. Woodson. I have more patients this afternoon. But feel free to take a long coffee break if you like. You certainly deserve it."

"That's nice of you, Dr. Crane, but I do have a lot of work to get caught up on. In fact, I'm sure that I'll still be working on it when you return."

His smile faded. "I haven't been giving you too much work, have I?"

"Not at all. In fact, I enjoy it. It keeps me busy and gives me a sense of self-worth."

"You don't need to worry about that at all, Mrs. Woodson. You're a good person and the best thing I ever did was hire you as my secretary. I don't say it often enough but I appreciate you."

"Thank you Dr. Crane. You have no idea what this job means to me."

He smiled as they stared at each other for a moment. "Well… I'll see you this afternoon. I'm going to head to Café Nervosa now. Can I bring you anything? "

"No, I'm fine. Thank you. Enjoy your coffee."

"I will. Thank you."

As he walked out of his office, he could hear her sniffling. Ordinarily he'd be appalled that he'd made her cry, but today it made him smile, for he was almost positive that her tears were tears of joy.

With a smile on his face, he left the office and climbed into his car. When he arrived at his beloved Café Nervosa, he was pleased to find a parking space right out front. It was as though they were waiting for him.

He hopped out of the car, eager for his half cafe non fact latte with the faintest hint of cinnamon. It was his signature drink and today he certainly needed it. But he wasn't prepared for what happened as he started to walk into the café.

The moment he opened the door, he was startled by the unexpected presence of a woman with brown hair. "Excuse me!" He stammered, embarrassed by the collision. But the woman's reaction was not at all polite.

"Excuse you!" She shouted.

He was about to use one of his witty comebacks when he froze. There, standing at the coffee bar was his brother. He tried to look away, but unfortunately he was spotted.

"Oh Niles!"

Niles gritted his teeth. Why, of every open space in Café Nervosa did his brother have to pick Niles' favorite spot at the bar? Not wanting to make a scene, Niles plastered on a smile and walked toward his brother.

"Frasier! What a serendipitous event! How did you discovered my favorite café?"

"Well, it is right across the street from KACL Radio." Frasier explained. "I did my first show today!"

Niles cringed, remembering how unnerving it was to hear that his brother, a noted psychiatrist, had gone from a prestigious practice in Boston to… well, a call in radio show host. The thought made him shudder and he prayed that Frasier's next question wouldn't be about how Niles liked the show.

"That's right; this was your first show, wasn't it?" Niles said, trying to sound as enthusiastic as possible. "Well, it was good to see you. Have a nice day, Frasier!" He quickly turned and headed for his favorite table. But once again he was stopped in his tracks.

"Aren't you going to join me?"

Reluctantly Niles turned around. "Well, you see Frasier, I have a routine. I come in here every day, order coffee and spend quality time with myself."

"But I've only seen you once in the past two years! And that was-."

"Yes, I know." Niles replied, choosing not to rehash the evening's events. Once was awkward enough.

An uncomfortable silence filled them and then Niles said; "Oh, that was your point. Yes, well, I suppose that we should get this starting over thing over with."

Together they walked to Niles favorite table and sat down. Niles, of course, removed his handkerchief and wiped down the wooden seat, aware that Frasier was watching him in amusement.

"Oh yes." Frasier began; his tone derogatory. "I remember your fourth birthday party. We were at the park getting ready to ride the carousel and you made all of those kids wait while you wiped off your painted pony."

Niles grimaced. "I was wearing Bermuda shorts and that seat was thick with toddler sweat." He explained, cringing at the memory.

They sat down to an uncomfortable silence.

"Oh, thanks again for dinner with Maris the other night." Frasier said. "You two seem very happy."

Niles remembered his joy when Maris finally agreed to go out to dinner with himself and Frasier. It was, by all accounts a triumph in his eyes and during dinner he did his best to convey to his older brother how blissfully happy he was. Maris even held his hand. She didn't say much, but she didn't say the wrong things either. In return he was more than happy to comply with her requests to make love. And he was completely shocked when instead of kicking him out of her bed mere hours after they had finished, she let him hold her through the night and into the morning. Oh how he'd regretted waking up that morning to go to work. It was a moment that he would remember always, and he knew that it would be a very long time before he would experience something like that again. But oh what wonderful memories they had created.

His smile however was a bit less than sincere when harsh reality broke through his thoughts. But he couldn't let Frasier know that his marriage was somewhat estranged. He'd never hear the end of it. "Ah yes, it's love. Like the Artic Puffin, we've mated for life. I can't even imagine looking at another woman."

At that moment, he realized that there were no napkins on the table and he turned to the table next to him. The woman who was sitting there stood and walked over to Frasier. "Excuse me, are you finished with that sugar?"

"Oh, yes." Frasier said, handing her the container of sugar.

When the woman thanked him and returned to her table, a wonderful scent filled the air. It was heavenly and he rose to his feet, sniffing softly. But when he looked again, the woman was gone. He realized that he'd never really gotten a good look at her. Perhaps he was imagining it. Deciding to shake it off he shrugged and sat back down.

"Are you ready to order?" Frasier was asking.

"Um yes. A half caf nonfat latte with the faintest hint of cinnamon. Oh, and medium foam." Niles said.

"And you sir?" the barista asked.

"Just black coffee for me." Frasier replied.

"You'll have to forgive my brother." Niles explained. "He's been away from Seattle for a long time."

"That has nothing to do with it!" Frasier snapped. "God help me the day that I am so snobbish that a good old cup of American coffee isn't good enough for me!"

"I'll be right back." The barista said.

When she was gone, another uncomfortable silence followed.

"So how did your visit with Dad go?" Niles asked.

"I haven't been to see him yet."

Niles' eyebrows rose. "Really? You've been in town a whole week!"

"Well I've been very busy, unpacking and getting settled into my new condo."

"You're just making excuses, Frasier. I'm going over to Dad's tonight. Why don't you come with me?"

"Well, I don't know…"

"Look there's nothing to worry about. Dad's changed! I promise!"

"Niles, I visited him in the hospital and he's the same if not worse than he always was! He made his roommate cry. And the man was in a coma!"

"Well, he was in shock, Frasier. And besides, the change came after. Surely as a psychiatrist you can understand. A man has a brush with death and suddenly his whole outlook changes."

"Here you are." The waitress sat down their drinks and Niles eagerly picked up his paper cup to take a sip. But once he did, he cringed.

"What's wrong?" Frasier asked.

"The nerve of that woman! I asked for the faintest hint of cinnamon and a medium of foam and she's given me a shout!"

Frasier rolled his eyes. "You know, I'd forgotten what a weird little person you are."

Niles said nothing; just continued to drink his coffee. Perhaps the thought of reconnecting with his brother was a bad idea.