His slender fingers were on her face, moving softly in a feather-light motion. But it was the touch of his sweet lips on hers… his oh-so-soft lips that made her heart beat faster.
"I'm here, Daphne… Everything's going to be all right. You're safe now."

Slowly her eyes fluttered open and his handsome face came into view. However, instead of a smile he wore a look of confusion, almost guilt. And his hand was over his mouth. Suddenly she was confused. Was she still dreaming? Where was she? Suddenly she bolted upright and looked around disoriented. What had happened?

The effects of her sudden movement were felt immediately, as the room began to sway and the dizziness returned in full force. She tried to move a little more, but the effort nearly caused her to tumble. Niles hand was on her arm, preventing her from falling. And then he smiled. She put her hand on her head and stared at him.

"Dr. Crane?"

He smiled, but it was a different kind of smile. And was it her imagination or were those tears in his eyes? Oh God, had she done or said something to upset him? Had they gotten into a fight? What was she doing here anyway? If only she could remember.

"Daphne, thank God…"

"Dr. Crane, what's going on? I-." But before she could finish her question, she was in his arms, strangely comforted by the unexpected hug. "Dr. Crane?"

He held her tighter. "Daphne, Oh thank God… I thought…"

She hated to draw out of his arms, where she felt so safe, but she simply had to know what was going on. And if she'd upset or angered him in any way, she need to apologize, no matter what the cost. "Dr. Crane, what happened? What am I doing here?"

"I-I was so worried…" He replied slowly, as though speaking to himself. "When I came back and saw you lying here unconscious, I thought…"

She gasped. "Unconscious? But I-."

"You must have fainted."

"Fainted? But that's impossible! I-." And then it all came back to her. The fight with Sherry, the fact that she'd forgotten her pills, the heat. She vaguely remembered Niles asking her about the kind of pills she took and then excusing himself, saying he'd be back shortly. Oh God, she'd ruined everything.

"You told me that it might happen if you didn't take your medication, but I never dreamed…"

She moved slightly, taking note that his hand was still on her shoulder. "It… that's never happened before, but the doctor said… Oh how could I have been so stupid?"

"Daphne you're not-."

"What kind of idiotic person leaves the house with the intention of not coming back until the next day and forgets their pills?"

"You were upset, and rightfully so."

"But that's no excuse, Dr. Crane! Sherry may be a horrible person but that doesn't mean-."

He turned and reached for something, and then handed her a small white bag.

"What's this?"

"Your pills."

Her eyes narrowed as she tore open the bag and reached inside. "What?"

"When you said you'd forgotten them, I…"

She could hear him speaking but she had no idea what he was saying. She simply couldn't stop staring at the small brown bottle in her hand. The one with the white label that read Thyroxine, and the familiar instructions on when to take them. But it was the name of the doctor, printed next to her own name that made her heart beat faster.

"Dr. Niles Crane…"

"That's me."

Her eyes met his and she saw that he was chuckling softly. "What?"

"You said… Dr. Niles Crane... And I said…"

"Y-you mean…"

"Well, that is my name, although you're welcome… encouraged in fact, to call me Niles."

"I-I…"

"I'm sorry Daphne. My attempt at humor was rather poor wasn't it? Are you all right?"

She studied his face. "Wh-where did you get this? A-and how?"

"At the all-night pharmacy across the street." He replied.

"But-but you're not my doctor, and yet your name…"

His gaze went to the floor. "I know… and it was wrong. Believe me, Daphne under any other circumstances I would have never gone against my ethics, but-."

As she stared at him, letting what he'd told her sink in, she realized what a kind and selfless act it really and truly was. His ethics meant the world to him, and to think that he'd gone against them in such a big way. She could only imagine what he must have gone through to make sure that she had her medication. And then to her horror, she burst into tears.