Nora had returned to work after being off for almost two years.
"Sam, I am perfectly capable of setting the chairs on the table or stocking things," Nora told her brother.
"You can never be too careful," Sam was still paranoid about his sister being back at work.
"Sam, you are driving me nuts."
"What can I do to help you calm down."
"Let me do my job!"
"Okay, now you're getting worked up and you really shouldn't be."
Nora sighed loudly in frustration and walked behind the bar. Rebecca, Woody, Carla, Norm, and Cliff were still at Cheers. "Sammy, if her doctor says she's fine then she's fine," Carla said.
"Hey, doctors don't know everything."
"She brought in forms from a neurologist and a cardiologist," Rebecca added.
"What's your point?"
"That's it!" Nora yelled as she picked up the beer tap and sprayed her brother, "I've had it with your overprotectiveness. My husband wasn't even this bad when I was still recovering. He was there the entire time, but you know who wasn't? You!" Nora could tell she had the effect on Sam she wanted to.
"I thought you forgave me for that," Sam was trying not to yell.
"I did! Now I'm pointing out that you haven't forgiven yourself. You think that you have to overcompensate for not being there the first few months and you still feel guilty!"
"I do not! Don't tell me how I feel!"
"Don't tell me what I am or am not up to!"
"I'm your boss I have the right to," Nora cut him off when she sprayed him again, " to be careful about one of my employees," and again, "who just came back after major heart surgery and a stroke."
"For God's sake, Frasier and I have had sex several times in the past six months."
"Oh geez, I don't need to know that," Sam said. Nora sprayed him again, "stop that!"
"It has been almost two years."
"Yeah well it was almost seven years ago that you gave birth to Henry two months early and almost five years ago you almost died having the triplets. You know how hard it is to get the image of my sister panicking because her child is going to be born too soon out of my head? The sound of her husband's voice when he calls to tell me she hemorrhage? The visual of her nearly bleeding to death? Or even the visual of her lying unconscious on the floor not responding to you? No, you don't and I may have moved on, but those images will always be there and there wasn't a damn thing I could do to help you."
Everyone stared at Sam for a moment before Nora started walking towards her brother. She hugged him tightly, "I'm so sorry. I didn't know and I'm sorry I put you through all of that."
"You don't have to apologize. You couldn't help it."
"I realize that you are traumatized, but you have to let me live my life. If I don't do it here then I will do it somewhere else."
Sam pulled out of the hug, "I know and I'm sorry. I'll try to back off, but be patient because it may take me some time."
"I'll try," she smiled, "sorry I sprayed you so much."
"That's alright, I'll just do a payroll deduction," he smiled back.
"You do and I'll tell mom."
"You know, you don't fight fair." Nora and Sam laughed as they hugged one more time before everyone left and the bar closed up for the night. Nora was so relieved to have her life back, but all of the events in the past would pale in comparison to what was to come for the Crane Family.
Nora and Frasier had made a deal that he would give the boys 'the talk' and Nora would give 'the talk' to the girls. Nora would teach the boys to drive and Frasier the girls. Tony and Charlie were now 15 ½, Henry's 14 ½, and the girl's 12. Frederick was 21 and had graduated pre-med. He was going to medical school to be a cardiologist in the fall.
"Tony, you're doing really well," Nora said from the passenger seat.
"Thanks," Tony said.
"Just take us home and then I have to get to work."
"Sure, mom."
Just then the car in front of them swerved out of the way as another car hit Nora and Tony head-on. After what felt like forever, Tony was able to lift his head off of the airbag. He found it strange that he didn't hear his mother asking if he was okay. When he looked, he found that his mother's airbag hadn't deployed and she was unconscious. "Tony," she moaned.
"I'm okay mom."
Nora kept groaning from the pain, "hurts."
Tony managed to open his door and carefully made his way to the passenger side. He opened the door and knelt next to his mother. "Mom, can you stand?"
Nora slowly turned her head towards her son, but when she opened her eyes she winced. "I'm not sure."
"Here," Tony unbuckled her seat belt and help his mother turn so that both of her legs were out of the car. Nora screamed in pain from the movement. "We'll go slowly." Tony heard sirens as he began to try and help his mother out of the car.
"I can't," Nora nearly fell back into her seat. The paramedics rushed over. One set took Tony to their emergency vehicle while the others went to work helping Nora.
"Ma'am, can you tell us if you are in any pain?"
"Head hurts," Nora said softly. "My neck and back are sore too. Sun is too bright can't open eyes."
"Anything else you're feeling?"
"Having trouble breathing."
The two first responders got Nora onto a gurney and headed for their vehicle. One of the other paramedics met them, "Hey, the kid wants you to know that about ten years ago mom, uh, Nora Crane," he said pointing at the woman, "had a stroke and heart valve replacement." The other paramedics thanked him, made a note, and hurried off.
"Nora," the paramedic in the back started talking to the woman, "do you feel any numbness?"
"I wish," Nora mumbled, "I can't tell if I'm having stroke symptoms. If that's what you're asking for."
"It is, the fact that you hit your head and are having difficulty breathing is worrisome."