Roz's Apartment
"Roz.... open up, I know you're in there." Frasier banged on the door for what must have been the twentieth time.
There was no answer but he could hear movement inside. "Fine then, you leave me no choice," he muttered under his breath as he pulled out his keyring. Thankful that Roz had given him a copy years ago.
When he opened up the door he was alarmed at the mess before him. It looked like the house had been ransacked. "Roz!" He called out in alarm, suddenly wondering if the noise he might have heard was an intruder.
"Go away Frasier, I'm busy," Roz called out as she came from the bedroom carrying another suitcase to join those already placed by the door.
"You're not going to run are you!" Frasier said in astonishment.
"Run, what do you mean?" The breathless Roz finally stopped her packing frenzy.
"Don't try to play innocent, Donny called me, saying you might need a friend. He told me everything." Frasier confronted her.
"Everything?" Roz said weakly.
"Yes, about how he heard while playing golf with a lawyer friend that Rick was working quietly to prepare for a court battle to get full custody of Alice."
Roz froze as she heard the words again, just as she had when Donny had first called her. Then the dam burst as she launched herself into Frasiers arms. "They're going to take my baby, I can't lose her, I would be willing to share maybe but I can't just totally give her up." She cried into his shoulder.
"Ssshhh shhh.... there now," Frasier held her in his arms as he tried to soothe his weeping friend.
"Thank you Frasier," she said when she finally pulled away with mascera streaked down her cheeks. "Now you see why I have to take Alice and run don't you?" She picked up another empty suitcase and began throwing some of Alice's toys into it.
"No Roz, you can't run. It would only make things worse." Frasier stopped her in her tracks.
"What do you mean worse, she'll still be with her Mother."
"Yes, but you'll be living on the run, and if you do get caught you would lose her for sure. Just stop and think about it a moment."
Roz was silent as she plopped down on the sofa. "I know you're right, but what else can I do."
"I have a lawyer friend, lets go see her and see what she has to say. Your chances of keeping Alice may not be as bad as you think." Frasier tried to encourage her as he pulled out a handkerchief for her to dry her eyes with. "Now promise me you won't try to run and I'll go set up an appointment, OK."
"I promise Frasier, you're right, he did leave when I was pregnant and never came back, that would count as abandonment wouldn't it."
"I think that would definitely be in your favor." Frasier agreed
as he picked up the phone to make an appointment with the lawyer.