Chapter 10 Dale's Question

A/N: You knew I HAD to get Emma and Dale involved in D&N's realizations. They're like the voice of reality. Review please :)

Niles arrived at the Cambridge train station just after 6:00 am. It was still quite cold and dark. Saturday mornings were always quiet at Cambridge; not many students had classes and the few that were employed had the day off.

It was only a twenty minute walk back to his dorm room so Niles didn't mind the solitude and darkness of that morning.

As he walked toward his dorm, Dale's distinctive snoring echoed through the halls. That being the reason why Niles purchased a set of ear plugs the day after they moved in together.

He opened the door and found the room dark, except for the light that crept in through their only window. Dale tossed a bit but then went back to snoring, louder. Niles, as quietly as possible, tip-toed his way to his bed without disturbing his sleeping friend.
That is until he tripped over a bucket?

"What the hell?"

The loud noise scared Dale half to death. Niles apologized and continued the search for his bed in the dark.

Dale, now fully aware of Niles' presence, jumped out of bed and turned on the lights. "You just get home, mate?"

"Yes, I did." Niles tried to sound casual but was unsuccessful.

"Where the hell you been?"

"Go back to sleep Dale." Niles didn't feel like divulging any details of the last 12 hours.

"Come on, Niles! Where you been?" Dale insisted, sounding like a whining child. "Wait, let me guess: you went to the library and fell asleep."

Now he was just mocking, but Dale knew Niles well enough to know how far to push for an answer.

"If you must know I was out with someone."

"A girl?" Dale asked. "Like a human girl?"

"Yes, a girl!" Niles grew impatient.

"You? Niles Crane with a girl?" Dale suddenly jumped to Niles' side and gave him a hard slap on the back, knocking the wind out of him.

"Why is that so hard to believe? I was out all night with a girl," he repeated. "Now can we talk about this later because in case you haven't noticed, I didn't get much sleep tonight." Niles began taking his shoes off, but even as Dale went back to bed he knew the interrogation was far from over.

"So, I see you actually listened for once and took my advice," he smirked.

"What advice?"

"You know, about finding yourself a girl and having a one-nighter with her."

That was the last straw.

"Just shut up Dale! Daphne is not a one-night stand!"

Dale jumped back. "All right, sorry. But think about it. Unless you're planning to take her with you tomorrow when you leave..." His voice trailed off as Niles turned and glared at him. "Sorry."

Niles had completely forgotten about his departure the next day. He'd been so caught up with everything that'd been happening that he didn't stop to think about the future of his relationship with Daphne.

He was also beginning to feel guilty about his angry outburst towards Dale.

"Sorry Dale. But trust me, this wasn't just a fling or a one-nighter or whatever it is that you call it. We didn't even sleep together."

"Uh-huh." Dale sounded skeptical.

"End of conversation, Dale. Night." Niles reached for the switch and shut the lights off. But the question of what would happen to his relationship with Daphne remained unanswered.
We'll work things out, he thought before drifting to sleep.