Chapter 1: Niles


Niles and Daphne stared at the fan, both in a trance. The air in the room was thick, and not just because of the heatwave. Niles, trying to be a gracious host, offered the fan to Daphne. He, after all, only had the one. She, of course, would be staying in the guest room, and he couldn't bear the thought of her unable to sleep due to the heat.

"Well... I suppose, under the circumstances... we could both sleep in the same room." Daphne stared straight ahead as she said this, mesmerized by the fan.

Niles swallowed, hardly daring to believe what was being suggested.

"It does... oscillate." He was vaguely aware how suggestive that sounded.
"What?" Daphne seemed to pick up on the suggestive tone as well.
"The fan."
"Oh..."

An alarm on Daphne's watch started beeping, breaking the spell they were under.

"Oh, dear."

Daphne sounded worried. Niles suddenly wondered if there was something he should be concerned about

"What?"
"It's time to take my pills. I forgot all about them, they're back at the apartment."

Niles looked slightly confused.

"What pills?"
"It's my thyroid. Nothing serious, it's just a bit overactive. If I don't take my pills I tend to faint dead away."

Damn. Why now?

Niles couldn't believe his bad luck. They were so close. Daphne glanced at him apologetically, seemingly also upset at the interruption.

"I'll just run over and get them. I'll come right back."

Niles seemed resigned to this. It was, after all, unavoidable. But then, he remembered something.

"Oh, I've got a prescription pad, I could write you a prescription. And- and there's an all-night pharmacy across the road, so we can get it filled straight away. That way, you won't have to go back tonight!"

He noticed his voice had gotten louder in his excitement, and Niles hoped he didn't sound too desperate. Daphne looked at him, seemingly not noticing - or ignoring - the eagerness in his voice.

"Oh, I wouldn't want to put you out, Dr Crane."
"Nonsense. It's probably - no, definitely quicker than having you drive back to Frasier's and then back here. You would also be able to avoid Sherry. In case you make up- more excuses to fight!"

He hoped that was convincing enough. Daphne considered the suggestion for a moment, before nodding in agreement.

That was all Niles needed. He ran upstairs to his study, taking the steps two at a time in his haste. Daphne followed him a little slower. He quickly searched his office, and located the pad. Niles started writing, asking Daphne questions regarding her current prescription. He usually didn't do this sort of thing without an actual exam, but Niles was not exactly thinking straight. He didn't want to lose this opportunity. Exam aside, however, he ensured he got as much information from Daphne as he could. Even though it took several minutes, Daphne seemed happy to answer his questions, rather than just leave.

Niles finished writing, and tore the prescription off the pad.

"I'll have to get changed to go over and get the prescription filled." Daphne started to leave the room.
"No, no. I'll go, I'm already dressed." Niles stood up, not wanting to delay this any further.
"Oh, I wouldn't want to put you out any more than I already have."

Niles turned to face Daphne. He took a risk, brushing a piece of hair out of her eyes and tucking it behind her ear. Niles couldn't remember the number of times he had wanted to do that but didn't. He could still feel the electricity that had been building all night. Daphne obviously did too, as she leaned into his touch. He left his hand there, gently caressing her cheek, marveling at the softness.

"Daphne, I'm glad you're here. You'll never be an imposition. Now, sit tight. I'll be back soon."

Niles wanted to kiss her right then, but knew if he did he would never leave to pick up the prescription. Instead, he just smiled at her before heading downstairs and out the door.


Once in the hall, Niles suddenly started to panic. He'd somehow managed to keep his cool in suggesting that he fill a new prescription for Daphne to keep her here, but now he had actually stepped out the door to go through with it, the weight of the actual situation hit him.

He stepped into the elevator, and started to hyperventilate. He bent over, and tucked his head between his knees, in an attempt to calm his breathing. As he did so, he noticed a couple of drops of blood fall onto the carpeted floor.

Damn it all.

Sometimes, Niles wished his nose didn't bleed whenever he did something that could be seen as unethical. And filling out a prescription to keep the woman of his dreams at his apartment so they could potentially have sex was pretty high on the list of unethical.

But is it really? Daphne's an adult. And she definitely seems to want this as much as I do. Or am I imagining that?

Niles was pretty sure he didn't. The whole evening so far had been almost like a dream. Like one of his closely held fantasies come to life. Having caught his breath, Niles stood up again, and pinched his nose, trying to take care not to get blood on his clothes. Typical that this would happen when he was wearing an all white outfit. He stood in the lobby of the Montana for a few minutes, handkerchief pressed to his face, willing his nosebleed to stop. He started repeating rationalizations in his head as to why this wasn't wrong.

We're both adults. We're both mostly sober. We know what we are getting into. I offered to get Daphne a new prescription, and she accepted. I asked her multiple questions about her health, and she answered each one. She's not in a relationship, and I'm separated with reconciliation nowhere in sight.

Eventually the nosebleed subsided, and considering that it didn't start up again, Niles decided that whatever ethical dilemma he was panicking about in his subconscious had been assuaged. He sniffed a couple of times to be sure, and decided to just throw his now bloody handkerchief in the bin.

Niles realized he'd lost precious time; wasting minutes trying to get his nose under control. He practically ran out the door and across the street to the pharmacy. Luckily, the pharmacy itself was practically deserted, so it was a very short wait. But it still felt like an eternity.

His mind kept wandering back to Daphne as he stood there, fidgeting impatiently.

Daphne is waiting in my apartment, right now. Wearing nothing but my bathrobe, and-

Oh my god. She wants to have sex. Sex with me. Tonight.

The prescription finally filled and paid for, Niles sprinted as fast as he could back to his apartment.