Chapter 11 – Tears dry on their own

All the events that had taken place that day were enough to put someone to sleep for several days; however, Niles couldn't. Being in his dreamy place was senseless if she wasn't there, so he stayed fully awake the whole night.

At the crack of dawn he couldn't take it anymore. He needed to be with her.

No one was in the room when he arrived and that was a relief. His encounter with Daphne's brothers last night was still fresh in his mind.

He sat down in a chair beside her. Apart from the bullet wound, she hadn't any visible injuries so it seemed she was only fast asleep. That relaxed him a little and soon he fell in a welcome asleep.

A couple of hours later, a voice woke him up.

- I knew you'd come –

He opened his eyes and couldn't believe what he saw. Those brown eyes he was so in love with were looking at him beneath hooded lids.

- Daphne – he said springing from the chair almost falling.

She smiled weakly, not fully awake yet. He sat beside her and caressed her face.

- How do you feel? He asked tenderly.

She tried to get up, but a pang gripped her chest causing her to collapse back on the bed.

- Hey, hey, easy –

- What happened? Why am I here? It hurts. – She panicked.

- Calm down, my love. Everything's going to be fine. The doctor talked to us

Claire, who had arrived half an hour earlier, stepped in and sat down on the other side of the bed.

- Don't worry Daphne. You're going to be fine. –

Daphne turned to the voice and when she recognized her dear friend, she started to cry.

- Claire…. He….. he tried to…. He shot me and I…. –

- Shhh, we know sweetheart. Mr. Morris saw what happened and call an ambulance. The police caught him hours later –

Claire's words seemed to calm her down a bit. She could feel Niles's thumb caressing her hand.

She looked so helpless and scared.

- Everything is fine. He's not going to hurt you anymore – he said as Claire left the room silently leaving them alone

- Promise? –

- I promise. – And then he kissed softly. The sight of her smiling was wonderful and he whispered – I missed those lips.

- I missed you – she said running her fingers through his hair. – You are more handsome here. –

He blushed slightly and kissed her forehead. – And you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my whole life –

She tried to speak but she was too tired.

- Why don't you rest? I'll be here when you wake up. I won't let anything ever happen to you –

With that, Daphne drifted back to sleep.

The weather had worsened over the last few days. It rained heavily over Manchester and the temperature had dropped off considerably.

Niles and Daphne were in Claire and Stephen's apartment watching a movie, both wrapped in a soft blanket. It had been one week since she had been released from hospital, but she was still too weak to go out.

Although there was little to do inside the little apartment, she enjoyed every moment together with Niles. Sharing mundane things such as watching TV, having coffee, preparing lunch or just talking made her realise how much she loved him.

That love was about to show its true extent.

- What's wrong, sweetheart? – Niles asked when he noticed she wasn't paying attention to the movie.

She snuggled up to him.

- Just thinking. These past few weeks have been wonderful but I'm sick and tired of being at home. You must be dead bored, stuck here with me. –

- Nonsense, I love staying here, taking care of you. There will be time to sightsee. You need to rest –

- I know but I just want to get out. – she said frustrated – There are a lot of places I want you to see; the park, the downtown, everything –

He smiled and kissed her cheek – Yeah, we'll have to look for a proper restaurant for our first official date here.

Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.

- And– he added nuzzling her neck. – I'm anxious to start looking for a place for myself. –

She looked at him puzzled. – Are you planning to stay? – She asked bewildered.

- What's wrong? Is it a bad idea? – he asked afraid of moving things too fast too fast

- No, no. It's just… I didn't expect that. I thought that, after a while, you would eventually move back to Seattle. –

- Moving? Why would I want to do that? –

- But what about your job and your family? Niles, you have a life there. –

- My dad and Frasier? They will understand. I have transferred my patients to other doctors and I have enough saved money. –

She didn't answer and looked so vulnerable, as if she didn't believe that anyone would do anything like that for her. He cupped her face in his warm hands. – You are my priority right now and I don't want to be without you. Of course I don't want to press you or rush things, so I thought that the best thing is to look for a flat for rent and give you the space you need. –

She started to cry and hugged him tightly. – Oh Niles! I don't want to live without you either. I love you so much.

- My life is where you are. Either here in Manchester or in the middle of nowhere, I'm going to stay with you. –

She remained silent in his warm embrace. A couple of minutes later, she whispered.

- Or I could move there –

He looked at her puzzled - Oh Daphne, I couldn't ask you that. Really, I don't mind. I have friends here who can help me to establish and… –

- Let's face it Niles. You have more to lose moving in here than me. I don't have a proper job; I lived in a dingy flat with Andrew. And although, I love my family dearly, they can be a little too much –

- So, would you come with me? – He asked unsure

She smiled and kissed him softly. – Of course I would. Besides, I've always wanted to live in the States. –

He caressed her face lovingly.

- Everyone's going to think that I'm crazy. Going away with a man I barely know. –

He kissed her tenderly. – I have every intention to show them that you made the right choice. Even, your brother Simon will like me –

- Are you sure you want to do it? Your lawyer said that you could testify alone, in a separate room - he said as he pulled over the car in front of the Court.

She looked at him and caressed his cheek. He looked so concerned, and she loved the fact that he was trying to protect her.

- I'm going to be alright, Niles. –

He didn't seem so convince – He tried to kill you, Daphne. I think that being in the same room with him is not going to do you any good. I don't think I could… –

- He will be handcuffed and watched over by guards. – She cut him softly. – Nothing's going to happen –

She had started to learn that Niles could be hard to reach when he was troubled.

- I need to do this, Niles. Please, try to understand. I have to confront him if I want to close this chapter of my life and start another one with you –

He smiled softly, took her hands and kissed her palms.

She leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips. – It will be over soon, I promise. I love you –

- And I love you. –

She didn't let go of his hand during the whole trial. She had told him that she was going to be alright; but now, she wasn't sure. Being so close to that man was upsetting her.

Having to recall all the events that had brought her there in front of all people, wasn't pleasing either. To revive his bad temper, his abusive behaviour, his, aggressions, everything.

When she thought that she was going to fall apart, she lifted her head and there he was. Suddenly, everyone in the room but him disappeared. Niles was looking at her dead serious. His blue eyes locked with hers. He was the only one who could give her the strength she needed.

Everything went as expected. Andrew Mills was found guilty and would spend 12 years in prison. Family and friends were overjoyed, and so were Niles and Daphne.

When she excused herself and went into the ladies room, everything came up to her. Tears cascaded down to her cheeks and breathing was laboured. She was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. It was a normal reaction. All the tension of the previous days was taking its toll now. So instead to trying to stop it, she let everything go.

She pulled herself together after a couple of minutes. She washed her face and dug through her purse looking for a handkerchief. She didn't want Niles to see her in that state. The poor dear had had his fair share of suffering.

She found something she didn't know it was still there. It was a picture of her and Niles taken at home a few days ago. He had insisted on taking it so he could send a copy to his father and brother.

- That will convince them that you're real – he had said.

The picture had been taken by Stephen. They both were in the kitchen preparing dinner. He had his arm around Daphne's waist and she was leant slightly on him. She looked weak but she wore a genuine smile.

The frozen expression of the picture made her smile too.

When she opened the door, there he was, waiting for her and she was sure that everything she could wish would become true with him.

She hugged him tightly and he returned it kissing her neck lightly.

- Want to go home? – he asked

- Yes – she said taking his hand - Home

The end

First of all, I'd like to thank all of you who have read this fic. I quite proud of it because it's the first one I get to complete.

Reviews are more welcome than ever. It would be great to know what you think of this story.

As far as "Turning the tables" is concerned, I need more time to organise my ideas in order to keep on with.

On the plus side, I'm working on two N/D short stories; one of them is almost finished.