Chapter 35

A short time later…

David has to go and pick up Ashling from dance class but since he still so distraught from hearing of his grandfather's death, Daphne volunteers to go pick her up. Daphne is clearly upset over Martin's death but at this point she has to be the strong one for everyone. Everyone was there for her when Niles was sick and now it's her turn to be there for them no matter how difficult it may be.

As Daphne gets ready to go pick up Ashling, she sees Niles on the phone talking to someone. When she left him he was crying uncontrollably and was inconsolable, now he is acting like nothing is wrong. Niles always tries to act like he's okay in a crisis, until it just all comes crashing down on him. Ashling is the same way when Niles was sick, she was cutting herself in order to hide the fact that she was really in pain seeing her dad so sick. They are so alike in many ways. Daphne realizes that out of the three, Ashling is the most like Niles. Ashling may look the most like Daphne but she takes more after her father in most everything else. Daphne thinks about this as she grabs her purse to leave but before she can get a foot out the door, Niles stops her.

"Daphne, I was just on the phone with Frasier, and he wants me to meet him at Nervosa for a coffee; can you drop me off on your way to wherever you are going?"

Daphne nods and smiles at her husband, "Sure, I can drop you off before I pick up Ashling from dance class."

Niles smiles at her and grabs her hand. "Thank you."

Daphne smiles back as she squeezes his hand.

"Are you ready to go, darling?" Daphne asks.

Niles nods. "Yes, let's go. I'm anxious to see Frasier and catch up. I haven't seen him since I woke up. I want to spend as much time with him as I can before he goes back to Chicago."

"It has been great having him here all this time; I have missed him and Charlotte." Daphne explains as she and Niles head out to the car.

They continue their conversation as Daphne helps Niles in the car and puts his wheelchair in the trunk. Before long they are on the road and on their way to Nervosa.

Meanwhile at Nervosa…

Frasier sits at a table by the door as he waits for his brother to arrive. Niles sounded so strange on the phone earlier when he called. Frasier is anxious to find out what is going on and can't wait for Niles to arrive. He's actually glad to have this time with Niles since he and Charlotte are going back to Chicago soon. It's time to get back to normal life again which means work and less family.

Frasier sees his brother come in as he stands up to greet him.

Niles spots his brother and rolls himself over to him.

"Hello Frasier, it's good to see you."

Frasier takes Niles' hand in his.

"Hello Niles, it's good to see you too. I have a table for us, won't you follow me?"

Niles nods as he follows his brother to the table. He rolls his wheelchair up next to the table as Frasier joins him.

As he sits down, he looks at Niles' wheelchair.

"How much longer do you think you'll need to be in that chair?" Frasier asks.

"Hopefully not too much longer. My physical therapy is going great; Daphne is taking really good care of me."

Frasier smiles, "Of course she is, she just has a way with people."

Niles nods and smiles back, "You don't have to tell me that, Frasier. That's what attracted me to her in the first place; it wasn't just the physical you know? Well maybe at first but I did see her loving and giving nature and I just fell in love with her even more if that's possible."

"It's possible, Niles. I feel that way every time I look at Charlotte." Frasier replies.

A waitress approaches them to take their orders.

"What can I get for you gentlemen, this evening?"

Frasier orders first.

"I'll have a latte."

The waitress writes down Frasier's order.

Niles then tells her what he wants.

"I'll have a half-calf cappuccino with light foam and a sprinkling of nutmeg."

The waitress nods as she writes down his order and then leaves to make their coffees.

Frasier focuses his attention on his brother.

"So Niles, are you going to tell me the real reason why you wanted to meet me here?"

Niles looks at his brother before answering.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news, Frasier. It's about dad."

Frasier gives Niles a questioning look.

"What about dad, is he in the hospital again? Is his hip giving him trouble again?"

Niles shakes his head, "No I'm afraid it's much worse than that, Frasier. It's much, much worse than that. I'm sorry I have to tell you this but dad died this afternoon."

"What?" he asks not believing what he just heard.

"Dad died this afternoon. Daphne went by his house to see him and she found him in his bed. He died in his sleep."

Frasier isn't one to cry much but hearing that his father died, triggered something in him as he breaks down crying. He drops his head onto the table and just cries. Niles watches him as he begins to cry again himself. He puts his hand on Frasier's back to give him some kind of comfort as the waitress brings them their coffees. She gives Niles a look of confusion as he just nods at her. She understands as she puts the drinks down on the table and leaves.

Frasier looks up at his brother, his face wet with tears. Niles looks back at his brother, his face wet with tears as well. He looks at Frasier with a mix of pain and sympathy on his face.

"I can't believe dad is gone, Niles. He's really gone." Frasier says as he hugs his brother.

Niles hugs his brother back, "I know, Frasier. I know."

Meanwhile...

Daphne has just picked up Ashling from dance class and they are on their way home. Ashling has been talking nonstop from the moment her mother picked her up, and Ashling picks up on how quiet her mother is being. It's very unusual for her mother to be this quiet unless there is something going on.

"Mummy, is there something wrong? You are being really quiet."

Daphne looks over at her daughter.

"Oh, I'm sorry, sweetie. Yeah I have something on me mind."

Ashling gives her mother a questioning look.

"Well what is it?" she asks.

"I would rather wait and tell you and your sister together, if that's all right?"

Ashling shrugs her shoulders.

"Sure I guess, have you told Davey already?"

Daphne nods.

"Yes your brother knows."

Ashling nods.

"Oh okay. Is it good news or bad news, mummy?"

"I'm afraid it's not good, sweetie."

Ashling gets a look of worry across her face.

"Is it daddy, is he sick again? Is he back in the hospital again?"

Daphne grabs her daughter's hand for reassurance.

"No it's not your daddy. He's doing just fine."

Ashling lets out the breath she was holding and smiles.

"Good because I don't think I could handle it if daddy was sick again."

Daphne smiles at her daughter and then she realizes they are home. She pulls into the driveway and turns off the ignition. Ashling gathers her things together as they both get out of the car and go inside. As soon as they get in the house, they hear David and Emily yelling at one another.

"What in the world is going on?" Daphne asks to anyone who is listening as she goes to find out what is wrong. Ashling follows her and once they get to David and Emily, Daphne sees Emily kicking and punching her brother.

She gets a look of shock and disbelief on her face as she grabs her daughter and pulls her off her brother.

"What in God's name is going on in here?! Emily, why are you beating up your brother?" Daphne asks.

Emily looks at her mother before answering.

"David is a big fat liar and a bully, mum!" as she points at him.

"Why do you say that, Emily?" Daphne asks.

"He just told me that grandpa died, but that can't be true right, mum?! Grandpa's not dead is he?!" Emily screeches.

Daphne gives her daughter a sympathetic look as tears form in her eyes.

"I'm afraid it's true, sweetie. Your grandfather died this afternoon, I'm so sorry, Emily."

Daphne starts to reach out to comfort her daughter, but Emily glares at her and pushes her away.

"No, grandpa isn't dead, mummy! He's not!" Emily screams as the tears pour down her face. She runs to her room and slams the door.

Daphne then hears sobs behind her and realizes that Ashling just heard everything. She turns to look at her daughter and sees her crying. Daphne reaches out to comfort her as Ashling falls into her mother's arms and just breaks down. David just stands there watching them as he begins to cry again himself. Daphne hears him, looks up and reaches for him. He falls to his knees and into his mother's arms as they all three cry together.

This is just the beginning...

To be continued...