(Daphne's POV)
She ran into the café and opened the door, almost melting with relief at the sight of Niles and Frasier who were standing at the counter, deep in conversation. Niles was telling Frasier a story about something that had happened to Maris and her beloved garden.
"You think you had a bad week, Frasier? Yesterday morning, Maris and I woke to the sound of our gardener, Yoshi, hacking his way through our prize topiary!"
" You know, Niles, I've never understood why you wanted your hedges to be sculpted into the shapes of animals!"
"Well, we're both animal lovers. But Maris is unable to have pets. She, she distrusts anything that loves her unconditionally."
Daphne's eyebrows rose. Although she would never say it to him personally, Maris was the strangest woman she'd ever encountered-and the strangest thing of all is that they had never met.
"Anyway..." Niles continued. "There was Yoshi, drunk as a lord, swinging his hedge-trimmer recklessly over his head! Before we could calm him, he had transformed
Maris's prize stallion into some sort of obscene... goat-boy! The poor woman was inconsolable and when I tried to point out the uniqueness of the hedge, she became livid and ordered me out of the house!"
Frasier grinned. "Again?"
"I'm glad you're amused Frasier, but yes, again! And given what happened at your home last night, I had hoped you'd be a little more sympathetic!"
Frasier looked at his watch. "I have to go. I'm due back at the station."
"Of course you are, I-." He turned to find Daphne standing next to him. "Daphne…"
"Hello, Dr. Crane. Dr. Crane."
"Daphne." Frasier nodded. "What brings you here?"
"Oh, I was just… Don't you have to get back to work?"
"Right... Well, I'm off!"
When Frasier was gone, Daphne breathed another sigh of relief. She really didn't want to deal with her boss right now. Feeling somewhat shy, she turned to her friend. "Hello, Dr. Crane."
"Getting more coffee beans for Dad?"
"Actually, I came here to see you."
She could hear his breath catch in his throat. "You… came to see me?"
"Yes. Might I have a word with you… in private?"
"Um… of course. Can I get you anything?"
"Tea would be nice. Cinnamon."
"Cinnamon tea it is!"
"I'll just… go find us a seat."
Nervously she crossed the café and found a seat by the window, hoping it was quiet enough. She certainly didn't want to embarrass him after what he'd been through. As she sat down she could see him talking to Taylor, the barista that always seemed to have a smile on her face.
And suddenly he came walking toward her, carrying two steaming paper cups. "There you are, Daphne. One large cinnamon tea."
"Thank you, Dr. Crane. That's very sweet of you."
"Now, what's on your mind? It's a bit inappropriate for me to act as your therapist but as your friend I'd be happy to-."
"Oh, it's not about me. I just wanted to apologize for last night."
He blinked in surprise. "Last night? What about it?"
"Well, when I came home and found you on the sofa, so upset. I'm afraid that I was prying into your personal life, trying to get you to talk to me about it."
He looked away, in much the same way he had the night before. Clearly he was still upset.
"I'm sorry."
He returned his gaze to her and smiled sadly. "It's not your fault. There's nothing to forgive. If anything I should be the one apologizing to you. I'm the one who sent you away. But please know that I would never-."
"it's all right. You needed your privacy and I understand that. I just wanted to let you know that I care about you. And I was worried. I am worried."
His gaze dropped to the table and he sighed. "Thank you, Daphne. But I'm fine. Or I will be."
She laid her hand on top of his, smiling at the way he drew in a quick breath. "Dr. Crane? I'm sorry for prying into your private life but your father told me about what happened… with Danny Kinsel."
He rose from his chair and sighed. "Right. Look, Daphne I hate to cut this visit short, but I really should be going. I -."
Her hand in his stopped him from leaving. "Please stay."
He was looking deeply into her eyes now and she was certain he could see into her soul. And somehow she hoped that he could see how much she cared. It was then that she realized her hand was still in his, but she couldn't bring herself to let go.
"Dr. Crane, I… I don't know what happened between you and this Danny person last night, but your father told me what he did to you in junior high. That's a terrible thing to have to go through and I always tried to stick up for kids at me own school who picked on me brothers. Kind of ironic since they are all older than I am, but I couldn't let that happen. And I want you to know that had you and I gone to the same school, I would have done the same for you."
He blinked once more, obviously not caring about the tear that escaped and she felt him squeeze her hand. "Thank you, Daphne. But I really should be going."
"I understand. But just remember this, Dr. Crane. You're not that little boy anymore."
And as he walked out of the café, her heart warmed when she saw the smile on his face. He would be okay, she was sure of it.
