Café Nervosa (a week and a half later)
"Well, if it isn't my dear long-lost brother!" Frasier exclaimed. "Hello, Niles."
"Good morning, Frasier." Niles said as he sat down at the table across from his brother. "I'll have a double decaff non fat latte with the faintest whisper of cinnamon." He said
to the waiter.
"Cappuccino, please." Frasier said. He opened his wallet to pay for his drink but Niles pushed his hand away.
"No Frasier. This morning, drinks are on me."
"Well, what a truly unselfish gesture!" Frasier said. "What's gotten into you? Not that I'm complaining of course." He added with a chuckle.
"Frasier, I'm a changed man." Niles said proudly.
"Let me guess... Holly." Frasier said with a smile.
"Excellent work, Holmes." Niles said. "I've never been happier."
"So I take it that things are going well, considering this is the first time I've seen or heard from you in over a week! I was beginning to think that you fell into Puget Sound!" Frasier said.
"On the contrary, my life is going splendidly." Niles laughed. "Holly and I have been all over the city; seeing the sights and just last night... now don't faint when I reveal this
information... we went to a rock and roll concert!"
"You went to a rock and roll concert? I find that very hard to believe." Frasier said.
"You know, I couldn't believe it either, but Holly insisted. She had front row seats and I simply couldn't bear to say no. It would have broken her heart." Niles said.
"So what musical act did you see?" Frasier asked.
"Oh I can't even remember. It was the most horrible thing I've ever sat through in my entire life. I kept praying that I'd wake up from that nightmare but it only got
progressively worse at the evening went on! Not to mention the screaming! I hadn't heard screams that loud since Maris mistook a piece of lint for a spider! I'm still
paying for the ambulance bill on that little episode!"
"But you went anyway because..."
"Frasier, you should have seen Holly at the concert. She was positively glowing with happiness."
"You seem to be glowing yourself, Niles. Are you sure that you're not leaving out any details?" Frasier asked.
"Do you hear ringing?" Niles asked suddenly, putting his hand over his ear.
"I don't hear a thing." Frasier said.
Niles reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. "There it is again!" he said, opening the phone.
"Hello? Hello? Is anyone there?" Finally he looked at the display in confusion. "Hmm... how strange. There wasn't a call at all. I could have sworn I heard it ring."
"Niles, that ringing is inside your head! That damned rock concert has given you tinnitus!" Frasier said.
"Oh my God, you're right, Fras. "Now I know how my patient Mrs. Bradford felt when she swore that her ex-husband called her on the phone at all hours of the night... from
the grave mind you... Come to think of it,she did mention something about going to a dance club for weeks on end in hopes of finding another husband. I just didn't put the
two together! I should probably get to a doctor right away."
I wouldn't worry about it too much. The ringing should subside in a few days." Frasier said. "So Niles, it seems
that you had Holly have had quite a few adventures. What's next on the agenda?"
"Well, tomorrow afternoon we're going on a boat cruise of the Seattle harbor and then a double decker bus city tour!" Niles said.
"But Niles, you've seen the entire city! You were born here, remember? And have you completely forgotten your bouts with seasickness? What were you thinking, agreeing
to such ridiculous antics?"
Niles couldn't help but grin. "Well, we don't plan on actually seeing the sights, if you know what I mean!"
"Why Niles Crane!" Frasier exclaimed. "You've become a regular Casanova! What in the world had gotten into you?"
"Frasier, I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but. I think I'm in love."