As her sickness came again and again, she felt a pair of hands on her shoulders. And then she heard his voice.
"Daphne dear God, what happened? I-."
She heard him quickly move away from her ad then the sound of the office door opening. "Mrs. Woodson, come quickly! Please! It's Daphne! She's-."
The kind hearted woman entered the room and gently helped Daphne to her feet. In a daze, Daphne felt Mrs. Woodson guided her to the sink where she was given a glass of water. "Here, rinse your mouth with this." Daphne did as she was told and felt a cool cloth touch her face. "Come on, hon. Let's go over here."
Mrs. Woodson and Niles led her to the couch and coaxed her onto the cushion.
"I'll get some ginger ale." Mrs. Woodson said. She left the office, returning momentarily with a soda can, which she handed to Daphne. Mount Rainer Sparkling Ginger Ale, the can read. The idea that Niles kept gourmet ginger ale in his office refrigerator would have made Daphne laugh had she not felt so miserable.
"Now, drink that slowly, dear. That will settle your stomach."
"Thank you." Daphne replied weakly, taking a sip of the sweet liquid.
"Thank you, Mrs. Woodson." Niles said. "I'll let you know if we need anything more."
"Of course, Dr. Crane. I'll be right out here."
Mrs. Woodson left the office again, closing the door behind her. The instant she was gone, Niles, took the washcloth and began blotting Daphne's cheeks in the gentlest manner she could have imagined.
"Daphne, I'm so sorry. I had no idea you were sick. I'm surprised that Dad and Frasier let you leave the condo."
"Your bloody father did enough!" Daphne snapped, startling him with her harshness. And to her surprise, his expression softened and she reached for her hand and sighed.
"What has Dad done?"
"He treated me like a bloody child, that's what he did! Gave me a lecture about drinking while pregnant and all sorts of nonsense!"
Instantly he released her hand and rose to his feet. "I see… So you're really… Well, this is a surprise. I guess I didn't expect this to happen so quickly but I suppose congratulations are in order, so-."
Her head rose and she looked at her in confusion. "Congratulations? For what?"
He smiled halfheartedly and returned to his seat. "It's wonderful, you and Donny having your first child. I-."
"I'M NOT BLOODY PREGNANT!" Daphne yelled.
The outburst brought Mrs. Woodson flying into the office.
"Is everything all right in here?"
"Everything's fine!" Daphne snapped. "It was a mistake coming here so I guess I'll just leave!"
Niles and Mrs. Woodson called to her in protest, but Daphne walked out of the office. However, she'd barely reached the door when she sank to her knees, sobbing into her hands.