It was horrifyingly late, much later than he realized and he entered the elevator at the Montana, shaking his head in disbelief. A simple trip to the all night pharmacy had taken nearly two hours.
He checked his phone slightly dismayed and yet relieved when he realized that Daphne had not called him. However, now he was worried about her. She was at his home alone and although he trusted her completely, he needed to get to her as quickly as possible. His heart pounded wildly beneath his chest. He simply had to get to her. He had no more time to lose.
As soon as the elevator doors opened on his floor, he sprinted into the hallway. When he reached his apartment, his hand was trembling so badly that he could barely get his key into the lock. But he made certain to keep a firm grip on the small white bag containing Daphne's prescription. After the hell he'd gone through to obtain it, he was determined to guard it with his life.
With a gentle thrust he turned the knob and thrust the door open. At first glance, the living room seemed empty and aside from the soft humming of the oscillating fan, it was eerily quiet. The bag still in his hand, he quickly scanned the living room for any sign of his angel.
"Daphne?"
When there was no response, he walked father into the living room and shut the door. "Daphne, it's Niles… Um… Dr. Crane. I-I'm sorry that it took so long. I had a little trouble with-." The bag fell from his hand with a thud and he froze just inches from the fainting couch.
Oh God...
"Daphne!" His heart raced and he could barely breathe. For she was lying on his fainting couch, completely unconscious.
Oh no... He was too late. Her thyroid condition had gotten the better of her. No... This wasn't happening. It couldn't be.
In a panic, he rushed to her side and dropped to one knee. He took her hand in his bringing it to his lips. It was hard not to ignore the irony that his stance resembled a proposal… Oh how he wished…
No, it was wrong to think such nonsense. What in the hell was wrong with him? He studied her perfect face, which was sweet and angelic. Her perfect lips, beautiful creamy complexion. Oh heavens, she was breathtaking. He averted his eyes, if only in the slightest. Thinking about her beauty at a time like this wasn't right at all.
Keeping her hand in his, he squeezed it gently.
"Daphne, it's Niles... I-." He reached for her shoulder and touched it lightly, but to his horror, she didn't respond.
Panic set in immediately and he ignored the fact that her beautiful face was suddenly blurred by the tears in his eyes. "D-Daphne, please… Wake up. I-I'm sorry…" The tears slid down his cheeks as he stroked her hair. "Oh God, you have to be all right! I-I'm sorry that it's so hot in here! I…"
He rose to his feet, and then scrambled toward the kitchen in the hopes of finding something, anything to revive her. She had to be okay, because if she wasn't, he'd never forgive himself. And frankly he didn't know if he could live without her.
In less than a minute, he rushed back into the living room, a cool damp cloth in his hand. As he knelt beside the fainting couch once more, He found it impossible to keep from stroking her face with his fingertips, nor could he stop staring at her. And suddenly, almost daringly, he leaned to brush his lips against hers…