As Daphne stood in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner, the phone rang once more.
"Are you going to get that, Fras?" Martin asked, his voice tinged with annoyance. "I'm trying to watch my program!"
"Dad, you've seen that movie at least five times! How many more times are you going to watch it before you realize that Clint Eastwood isn't going to regain consciousness until-."
Martin held up his hand. "Shut up! Don't tell me! You'll ruin it!"
Frasier merely shook his head in disbelief as the phone continued to ring. "Fine, I'll answer it. But it's Daphne's job, not mine! I was hoping to avoid this because I don't want to talk to that obnoxious woman from the station again! Just because she's the new Assistant Station Manager doesn't mean-." He picked up the phone and sighed.
"Hello? Yes, this is Dr. Crane and before you say another word, no I don't want to make a donation! Don't you hospitals get enough money for-what? Yes, of course I know Niles Crane. He's my brother. What's this all about?"
As he listened to the caller on the other end, Frasier suddenly grabbed onto the back of his father's chair for support, causing Martin to stare at him in alarm.
"Oh Dear God... Are you sure? Well are you sure it was Niles? I-I..."
"Fras, what's wrong?" Martin asked. "You're white as a sheet!"
But Frasier said nothing and instead moved woodenly around the chair. "I-I need to sit... somewhere."
His eyes wide, Martin rose from his chair and watched as Frasier sank into it, his ear pressed to the receiver and his hand over his eyes.
"Fras, are you all right? Who is that on the phone?"
"Y-yes, yes. I'm here." Frasier said into the phone. "Yes, I-I'll be there as soon as I can. T-thank you for calling. Oh... and please... take good care of him for me. I... I can't..."
The phone left his hand and Martin managed to catch it before it hit the floor, returning it to its base.
"What's going on?"
"I-It's Niles..." Frasier said. "H-he..."
"He what, Fras? What?"
Frasier's breathing was staggered, much like Niles was when he was about to hyperventilate and Daphne walked into the living room, holding a dishtowel and a ceramic plate in her hands.
"Come on Fras, you're scaring me!" Martin said, causing Daphne to stare at the men in alarm.
But Frasier remained where he was, unaware that Martin was shaking him. "If you don't tell me I'm going to force it out of you!" Martin threatened. "And believe me, I know how to do it! What's happened to Niles? Is he all right?"
Frasier swallowed hard. "I-I don't know. That was... Seattle General. N-Niles has been in a car accident. A-a bad one. They found his body in his car on I-5... and..."
The dish Daphne was holding fell to the floor and crashed into pieces, but no one seemed to notice. Every eye was on Frasier, staring at him in disbelief.
"Oh my God..." Martin said. "You mean Niles is..."
"No, he's not dead, Dad. I-I mean not yet."
"What the hell kind of thing is that to say. Not yet? That's a terrible way to talk about your brother!" Martin yelled.
"I-I'm sorry, I just..."
Martin sighed deeply. "It's all right. Did they say anything else?"
"N-no..."
"Well then we'd better get over there. Come Frasier."
Daphne couldn't ignore the hurt of the way Frasier and Martin seemed to have forgotten that she was in the room, but she tried to focus on the fact that Niles was family and she was not. And there were so many things to do around the condo; the cleaning and the laundry... It was only right that they get to the hospital as quickly as possible.
But when the door closed behind them and she found herself alone, it was impossible to keep her mind on her impending duties. Instead her mind was filled with images of Dr. Crane. He was such a wonderful friend and an incredibly sweet man. She hadn't forgotten the way he'd looked when he'd spilled the coffee on her at Café Nervosa nor could she ever forget his generosity in insisting that he pay for her to buy a new dress.
And then the tears began to fall, along with the ache in her chest. This had to be a dream... for no way could it be real. Dr. Crane couldn't really be...
The door opened unexpectedly and she quickly brushed the tears from her eyes.
"Daphne?"
She whirled around and found Frasier smiling at her with such concern that she bit back a sob.
"Forget something, did you Dr. Crane?"
"Dear God, Daphne I'm so sorry. Dad and I were half way to the hospital when I realized that I did something very stupid."
"What on earth are you talking about. This isn't your-."
"Come on... You're family too."
"Oh, but I'm not-."
"Of course you are, Daphne. We love you and frankly..." Frasier's voice broke and he struggled to continue. " I-I don't think I can get through this without you. I can't lose him, Daphne. I-I can't..."
Wordlessly Daphne took her boss into her arms and held him close while he cried.
"Don't you worry. Your brother will be all right. I promise."
It was the first time she'd ever lied to the man who had given her so much.
And when he held her a little closer, her tears fell at last.