(Two Weeks Later)
It woke her up in the middle of the night; the clammy feeling inside of her stomach that grew worse with each passing moment. Most likely it was due to her overindulgence that she'd enjoyed at Roz's place the night before. It was easy to overindulge on food when you had the company of a good friend. It was like a slumber party for adults. She'd forgone the alcohol, feeling that it wouldn't have been wise, since she was driving home. Now she wished that she'd forgone the extra food as well. Still, she had a wonderful time, talking and laughing with someone she loved like a sister. They spoke about everything but Niles and she decided to keep the night that she spent with him a secret.
However, thinking about that night was a completely different story. She hadn't stopped thinking about it since she left his apartment. A twinge of guilt overcame her at times. She should at least try to contact him because she knew as well as he did that they needed to talk about what happened, but honestly she was afraid. She had no idea what she would say. How did one start a conversation with a friend after they had shared a night of unplanned lovemaking?
She hadn't spoken to him more than casually since that night and on the rare occasions that he popped over to Frasier's she felt that familiar flutter in her heart each time she saw him. Sometimes they hugged, sometimes they did not. But it was always hard to resist him. She knew more about him than ever before, both physically and emotionally. She'd seen more of him than she'd ever imagined seeing and it was difficult to get the feeling out of her mind. She simply hoped that no one was able to tell.
It was a blessing and a disappointment of sorts that his visits Frasier's had been less frequent and when he did come over he greeted her as he'd always done, in his friendly manner and she did the same. It was best not to let on what had happened between them. Not yet anyway. However, they did manage to exchange a few hugs; hugs that held a different meaning for both of them; of that she was certain.
That uncomfortable feeling returned, seeing her racing to the bathroom yet again and when she climbed back into her bed she was physically drained. Even drinking her Grammy Moon's stomach concoction didn't help one bit. But she told herself she wouldn't worry. It was probably just the stomach flu.
She managed to go back to sleep, but woke a few hours later with the same situation. Still, she crawled out of bed and headed for the kitchen in time to hear Frasier's voice.
"Daphne, when will my egg whites be ready? I have an early meeting."
She sighed, barely able to muster up the energy to open the kitchen cabinets. This was wrong, feeling too weak to prepare breakfast for Mr. Crane and Dr. Crane. It was, after all, part of her job. She walked into the breakfast area, where he was sitting at the table in his robe, reading the newspaper. But the image of him was blurry.
"What's with you?" Martin asked. "You don't look so hot."
She tried to smile, but she just couldn't do it. How could she, when she felt so miserable? Frasier's look of annoyance faded and he glanced at his father and then back at Daphne. The paper folded in half and was placed on the table. He rose to his feet and went to her, placing his hand on her forehead. "Daphne, are you feeling all right?"
"She's as green as a cucumber, Fras! Of course she's not all right!" Martin shot back.
"I'll be fine, Dr. Crane. I'll get your breakfast started right away. I'm just having a bad morning."
"You'll do no such thing!"
Frasier's voice bellowed in the condo and Daphne turned around, certain that she was about to be fired. If she hadn't felt so ill, she might have been worried.
"Aw, leave her alone Fras, can't you see she's sick? Look Daphne; forget about breakfast, all right? I'll just go to Duke's."
Frasier's eyebrows rose. "At this hour?"
"Sure? Why not? He'll let me in."
"Well, if you say so."
"Daphne, you look-."
"I'm fine, all right? I just-." She felt a little lightheaded and had it not been for Frasier and Martin's quick thinking, she would have fainted to the floor. They helped her into Martin's chair and she began to feel as though she couldn't move.
"You're not fine, Daphne. You need to see a doctor." Frasier said.
"Fras is right. You don't look good at all."
"I'll drive you."
"You don't have to do that, Dr. Crane."
"I can't just leave you here like this, Daphne. It's not ethical."
"Oh geez, Fras, can't you just tell her that she looks like death warmed over and needs to see the damn doctor as soon as possible?"
"Well Dad, I think you just took care of that!"
Daphne nodded. "You're right. Okay, thank you, Dr. Crane. Hopefully the doctor can give me something for whatever this is. But I'll take a cab home."
"Nonsense. I'll come and get you."
"But your show! And what about your meeting?"
"It'll be fine."
"Well, you can take me but I insist on taking a cab home."
"On one condition. You let me pay for it."
She nodded, barely hearing him. "All right." She was barely aware of her surroundings, but it wasn't hard to notice the looks of worry on Frasier and Martin's faces. And that worried her as well.