She couldn't breathe… couldn't even think. But somehow she was aware of the doctor's chattering. He was writing something on a piece of paper-a prescription for pre-natal vitamins-and then handed it to her along with some brochures. "Information about being a new mother." He explained. But she barely heard his explanation. All she could hear was the whooshing in her head moving side to side, the way it happened in the movies or in books when the main character received some devastating life-changing news.
Oh how she wanted to believe that it was all a dream-all of it. For if it was a dream, then Mr. Crane would have never met Sherry, Sherry would have never gotten on Daphne's nerves enough to send her running out of the condo into Niles' apartment. Daphne wouldn't have come over a second time and made love to Niles on impulse and she wouldn't be sitting here in the doctor's office, facing the consequences of what she had done.
She looked down at the piece of paper in her hand; the one written in the doctor's scratchy handwriting. Woodenly she climbed off of the exam table and made her way into the lobby. The pharmacy was directly across the hallway and for that she was grateful. It only took a few moments to have the prescription filled and when she was finished she went outside, ready to hail a cab. But then she heard a familiar voice calling her name.
"Daphne!"
She looked up in disbelief. "Dr. Crane?"
It was Frasier, sitting in his car in front of the clinic. Curious, she went to him and peered into the open passenger window.
"What are you doing here?"
"Well, my meeting was canceled and Roz had an emergency, so the station decided to play The Best of Frasier Crane."
Daphne was alarmed. "Roz is all right, isn't she?"
"Oh, yes she's fine. The station manager needed her for some project so I decided to take advantage of the free time and since I was in the area, I thought I'd stop by and see if you needed a ride. Looks like I had perfect timing."
She tried to smile. "Yes, you did. Oh… Here you are." She reached into her pocket and removed the cash, handing it to him.
"What's this?"
"The cab fare. I won't need it now."
He smiled. "Thanks Daphne, but go ahead and keep it. Buy something nice for yourself."
She swallowed hard. "Thank you. I will." Like baby clothes, diapers, food…The thought made her dizzy and lightheaded, but fortunately, Frasier noticed her swaying a bit and caught her just in time.
"Daphne, um, here… get in the car and I'll take you home."
"Yes, that's a good idea." She climbed into the car and shut the door, painfully aware of the weight in her chest.
She said little in the car on the way home except for the obligatory responses to his comments. But then the conversation changed to one she couldn't ignore.
"You're looking a little better."
"Am I?"
"How's your stomach? You were a little peaked earlier."
"Oh, well…"
"Was the doctor able to diagnose anything?"
She nodded, unable to look at him.
"Daphne?"
He drove on but then turned to her. "Well?"
"Well what?"
"Daphne, what did the doctor say?"
"Oh…" Her head began to spin and she could hardly breathe.
"Daphne-." His voice became agitated. "What did the doctor say?"
Still she couldn't look at him.
"Look, if it's something serious-."
She burst into tears against her will and began sobbing into her hands. The car veered to the right and the next thing she knew they were sitting in an empty parking lot. Frasier turned off the ignition and turned to face her.
"Daphne… Dear God…"
"I'm sorry, Dr. Crane. I-."
He climbed out of the car and walked around to the passenger side, coaxing her to her feet. There in the parking lot he held her while she cried. And when he spoke she could hear his voice quivering, telling her that he was scared as well.
"Look, we'll deal with this, all right? We'll… I'll get you the best medical team available, even if I have to fly you across the country. You're like family to me. You are family. And Niles and I… we'll do everything possible to-."
She looked at him tearfully. "Oh, Dr. Crane! I'm pregnant!"