When he was finally able to think coherently, Niles was blissfully aware of the angel sitting beside him, stroking his hair as she lifted the bottle of water to his lips. He drank
thirstily, wondering if he was dreaming. His throbbing head indicated that it was no dream. But even if it was a dream, he didn't want to wake up.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Um, yes. Thank you, Daphne. I-what are you doing here? Not that I… mind of course. You're always welcome here."
She smiled sadly. Thank you, Dr. Crane. You're so sweet. But the truth is that it wasn't my intention to drop by unannounced. I just-I..."
"What's wrong?"
She sighed and re-positioned the ice pack against the back of his head. "It doesn't matter. I shouldn't be bothering you with my problems."
He sat up, painfully aware of the sadness in her eyes. This was no casual visit. And he refused to believe that she was there by accident. There had to be a reason. The fact
that she was in his home should have had him floating above cloud nine, but she needed his help and he vowed to help her in any way he could. He loved her, even if she did
not-and perhaps never would-love him in return.
He looked down, taking note that their hands were joined and he squeezed softly. "I want to help you, Daphne. That is, if you'll let me."
Her sweet, sad smile resurfaced, if only for a second. "You're so sweet, Dr. Crane. And I really am sorry for coming over unannounced. It's just… well I was so mad! I couldn't
let her talk to me like that a moment longer! And your brother-."
"Frasier? What's he done?"
"Nothing really. But he was yelling just as much as Sherry and your father! I was only trying to make your father a healthy breakfast. Is that too much to ask?"
"Of course not. You're an angel for taking care of him. But what does that have to do with Sherry?"
"Oh, she and your father-."
Niles waited while Daphne did her best to compose herself. But she was dangerously close to tears.
"Sherry just makes me so mad!"
Niles sighed deeply and his blood began to boil. He barely knew his father's girlfriend but if he had disliked Sherry before, that feeling had increased in ten-fold. "What has
she done this time?"
Anger flashed in Daphne's eyes. "You want to know what she's done?" She was on her feet, pacing back and forth. "She's been giving my number to strange men so that
they'll call and ask me out!"
This was far worse than Niles could have ever imagined. "What? How dare she! Why would she do such a thing?"
"Because she says I'm too rigid!"
"Nonsense!"
"And that I'm too picky!"
"Poppycock!"
"And that I'd be much happier if I just went out and had sex with someone!"
His gasp was silent but his mind reeled. He couldn't bring himself to give a response out loud, but his heart was shouting. He had no idea how to respond with words, but his
heart knew. Oh, how it knew. The things he wanted to say to her, the things he wanted to do to her, with her. Oh God, it was almost overwhelming, this incredible need for
her. It took all of his strength to keep from touching her and he hoped that she couldn't read his thoughts, for they were sure to rival anything she'd read in one of his
romance novels. But when he finally spoke, the words weren't at all what he'd intended to say.
"Well, just to play Devil's advocate…"
Her mouth fell open in stunned disbelief and he wished that he could take his words back. But of course he could not. He waited for her response, his heart pounding.
"What?"
"I-I -."
"Don't tell me that you agree with her!" Daphne shouted.
"Oh, no…it's much too hot for hell to have frozen over." Where had that come from?
"WHAT?" Daphne screamed, startling him with the outburst. Quickly he tried to make amends.
"I-um…"
Daphne rose to her feet and headed to the door. This was not a good sign, not at all. Despite his still slightly aching head, he rose from the fainting couch.
"Daphne-."
When she turned to face him, there was no mistaking the tears in her eyes. Oh dear God, he'd done the unthinkable. He'd made her cry.
"Daphne, please wait!"
But she turned and headed for the door. "No, I-I have to go. I'll just-get a hotel or something. There must be somewhere in this city that doesn't cost a fortune! And if not,
well, there's always Oregon, or-."
"No, stay. Please."
But she shook her head. "I-I can't." Her voice broke and she kept her gaze away from him.
He rushed toward her in one last desperate attempt. "Daphne. I-I'm sorry. I-."
When she turned around, his heart shattered at the sight of the tears on her cheeks.
"Daphne-."
"I'm sorry Dr. Crane. I really am. I really thought you were different, but you're just like them. Goodbye."
He was mere steps from her, so close that he could reach out and touch her. The door slammed in his face, rattling the pictures on the walls and the priceless antiques on the
shelves. But had any of them teetered and crashed to the floor, he wouldn't have cared. For his heart was already shattered beyond words.