(Daphne's POV)

She'd just finished putting Frasier's clothes into his top drawer exactly the way he liked them when she heard the yelp of pain. Alarmed, she closed the drawer and rushed into the living room. She'd know that voice anywhere. And just as she feared she saw him, standing in the foyer, a look of pain on his face.

"Dr. Crane, what's wrong?"

He turned to her and cringed, causing her heart to go out to him, as it always did when he appeared to be hurting. But he smiled anyway, doing his best to make it seem genuine. She could only imagine what he was feeling inside.

"Oh… Daphne…"

"You weren't leaving were you?"

"Well, I… Oohhh..."

She rushed toward him and took his hand. "You poor man! You're still in pain, aren't you? Well, I know just the thing. Some stronger liniment should take care of that." It was hard to believe that the liniment she'd already applied on his aching back hadn't seemed to help, but she was more than happy to do whatever it took to make him feel better. She couldn't bear to see him hurting. "I'll be right-."

"NO!"

His outburst startled her and he seemed to be surprised as well.

"What?"

"N-no liniment." He stammered. "Daphne, please…"

When she moved closer to him, he recoiled, stinging her heart. He'd never reacted to her touch in such a way before, but she tried not to take it personally. "What's wrong?"

"No liniment, Daphne. I can't do it. I just can't."

"But how is your back ever going to get any better, if-."

"I can't Daphne. I-I have to leave. It just hurts too much."

Suddenly she understood, and she wanted to sink though the floor. She'd done the one thing that she swore she'd never do. "Y-you mean… I hurt you?"

He sighed, as though irritated with her. "Yes. Very much."

Her eyes filled with tears and she stared at him for a moment. "I see… Excuse me."

"Daphne-."

But she ignored him and ran to his brother's room. She closed the door and sat on his bed, not caring that he may come home any minute and erupt in anger when he realized that she was in his room. And it was there that she began to cry until her cries became sobs. She was only trying to help him, but she'd made things worse. He was angry with her and she'd never forgive herself. She certainly couldn't sit in Frasier's bedroom and cry all afternoon. Perhaps some tea would make her feel better. But she'd barely made it to the living room when she sank onto the sofa and cried some more.

Moments later the doorbell rang, but she chose to ignore it. She heard a key in the lock and the turning of the knob. It was most likely Frasier, returning from his silly meeting at work. She wanted to run into her room, to avoid the confrontation that she knew was coming, but she didn't have the strength. And so she sat on the sofa, crying quietly. The door opened and she kept her gaze focused on the kitchen, staring into space. And then she heard her name.

"Daphne…."

The sofa cushion shifted beneath his weight but when she turned her head she found that it wasn't Frasier's hand on her back. It was Niles. His handsome face was blurred by her tears.

"Dr. Crane…"

"Daphne, I am so sorry." He said, his voice filled with compassion.

"I just wanted to make you feel better." She said, her voice broken. "I never meant to hurt you. I would never-."

"I know. And please don't blame yourself, Daphne. You've been a complete angel."

His words and the sweet (yet completely untrue) name warmed her heart. She took his hand in hers, wanting so badly to bring it to her lips for a kiss; even a small one. "Dr. Crane.."

"It is I who hurt you. And for that I will never forgive myself."

"No…" she said, realizing that there was only one way to make things right. She smiled and softly kissed his cheek. "Just stay here and I'll be right back."

She hurried into the kitchen where she grabbed a blue cloth that she kept in the refrigerator. It was, perhaps an odd place for a cloth, but it came in handy when treating burns and the like. When she returned she saw him eying the cloth. And that's when she realized that he no longer trusted her. "What's wrong?"

"I-I…"

"Here… sit down and this will make you feel better." She reassured him.

He swallowed hard, looking so frightened that it broke her heart. "No, I…"

"Just relax." She said, sitting down beside him. "I promise this won't hurt a bit. Now untuck your shirt."

"I-I can't." He said after a long silence.

She nodded, blinking back tears. "All right." Wordlessly she rose and was about to head for the kitchen when she heard her name.

"Daphne?"

"Yes?"

"What's that?"

Her eyes moved the cloth in her hands. "A cooling cloth." She explained. "I thought it might soothe your skin."

Dutifully he lay on the sofa and lifted the hem of his shirt. As gently as possible she moved the cloth to his upper back, but when he shivered she lightened her touch. But the sight of his skin brought more tears to her eyes. "Oh Dr. Crane… your back is so red! I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. It will heal, I promise. And that cloth feels wonderful."

She smiled, continuing to press the cloth lightly against his back until some of the redness had disappeared. He looked so relaxed that she thought he might have fallen asleep. "Dr. Crane?"

He lifted his head and smiled. "Thank you, Daphne. That feels wonderful."

"I'm sorry I hurt you, Dr. Crane."

He sat upright and smiled as he engulfed her into his arms, surprising her. "What's this for?"

She felt him move his face closer to her hair and inhale deeply, the way he'd done so many times. "To thank you, Daphne."

"But I didn't…"

He held her a little closer and she melted against him. "Yes you did, Daphne. You're an absolute angel."

She was hardly an angel but at that moment, she chose to believe it.