A/N: I have removed a scene involving Mel from this chapter because in retrospect, I feel it didn't add much to the story and was just based on one of my personal experiences. Instead, I have extended the scene with Niles and Roz. I have also done a minor edit to the final paragraph.

Niles broke into a run, dodging Frasier's restraining arm. His heart thudded in his chest as fear coursed through him. He barreled through the cafeteria, barely dodging the other patrons, who looked after him in disapproval, One shouted an epithet at his retreating form. None of this mattered to Niles. He sped through the labyrinthine halls, weaving around staff and patients, and did not stop until he came to the elevators, breathing hard. He pressed the button for the elevator with shaking hands, and it seemed agonizingly long before the doors slid open.

Still the automated alarm echoed in his head. Code blue, the one that nobody wanted to hear, used only for the worst medical complications.

Once on the first floor, Niles took a moment to compose himself; running into the emergency room like a madman would only get him removed by security. And possibly arrested. Dread spiking through him, he stepped into the waiting room. The scene before him stopped him short.

Sitting in the chair nearest the door was Gertrude, looking more agitated than Niles had ever seen her. She was shifting nervously in her seat, wringing her hands frantically, and she looked ready to bolt at any moment. A kindly, young security guard was respectfully talking her down.

"Take a deep breath. Focus," he was saying. "It's a much safer process when the doctor and nurse have room to work. You can help your daughter by staying out here until there's further news."

"But what if the worst happens and I'm not there?" Gertrude said, poised to rise.

"They'll page you to your daughter's room if they need you there," the security guard said soothingly. "Right now, the best thing you can do is stay here and let your daughter be taken care of. Can you do that for her?"

Niles watched in surprise as Gertrude calmed visibly and settled back into the chair, tense but under control.

"Thanks, Mr...?"

"Just call me Scott," the guard smiled, and then walked off with a polite goodbye.

"Gertrude?" Niles slipped into the seat next to her.

"Niles! Thank God you're here. I was worried I'd have to go through this alone," Gertrude said. "I thought maybe you'd left."

"I'd never leave Daphne," Niles said emphatically. "But Dad and Frasier insisted I needed a break or I'd go crazy. And they were probably right. I'm surprised you're alive, though. I figured Dr. Northwood would've killed you for trying to stay with Daphne during a code blue."

He chuckled a little, trying to lighten the mood for Gertrude.

"Ha," Gertrude said, managing a faint smile. "Actually though, another doctor took over a few minutes after you left. She's much more pleasant."

Niles and Gertrude lapsed into silence until...

"Mrs. Moon? You can come back now."

Gertrude sat up so abruptly that she nearly fell over.

"Coming, Jim," Gertrude called back to the nurse who stood at the door to the emergency wing.

"I guess I have to stay back," Niles said reluctantly. "Tell Daphne I'm thinking about her."

"You'll do no such thing," Gertrude said. "I've been appointed as Daphne's representative, since she's, well, you know...so I've authorized you to be able to hear any and all health information. Shall we?"

The air in Room 213 felt heavy when Niles and Gertrude entered, bracing for the news. An unfamiliar doctor stood by Daphne's bedside, adjusting (to the horror of both) a breathing tube.

"This is bad, isn't it?" Niles said hoarsely, knowing from medical school that most coma patients could still breathe on their own.

The doctor turned her attention to them. Even before she spoke, Niles saw she was of a different sort than Dr. Northwood. There was an air of professional kindness about her, and she gave them a sympathetic smile.

"You must be Niles," she said cheerfully. "Gertrude has been telling me all about you and how good you are for Daphne. But where are my manners? I'm Dr. Leeves."

Then the doctor's demeanor turned polite but professional.

"Gertrude, your daughter had a stroke," she explained. "It was somewhat unexpected; a stroke usually happens within a few hours of traumatic head injury, which your daughter suffered in the accident."

"Dear God, no," Gertrude gasped, while Niles paled.

"We did stop it, without any significant damage," Dr. Leeves went on. "However, this does set back her recovery quite significantly, which is why we've added the trach tube. Jim or Sienna will be by later as well, to add a feeding tube. We're not going to stop fighting for Daphne, you two."

"Thank you, Dr. Leeves," Niles managed to say, fighting a sickening feeling.

This is bad. A setback like this could have a profound impact, he thought wildly.

Dr. Leeves' voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"I have to do my rounds, but one of our nurses will page me if there are any significant changes."

With one last reassuring smile, she left the room.

A calm but brooding silence fell over the room as Niles, at Gertrude's behest, took the chair nearest Daphne. He held her hand again, trying to control his emotions as he blinked back tears at the sight of her hooked up to the trach tube. This was worse than a nightmare. A nightmare is just a dream, and when the worst of it happens, you wake up.

But this was not a dream, and Niles could not wake up.

Afternoon gave to sunset, to early evening, and still Niles stayed with Daphne. Gertrude, who was fidgety and on edge, took regular breaks to walk the garden on the hospital grounds. Then Mark, the nurse who was assigned to the night shift, gently informed them that visiting hours were over.

Niles and Gertrude said their goodbyes to Daphne, with the former pausing to softly kiss her cheek.

"I'll be back tomorrow morning, sweetheart," he whispered.

The drive back to the Montana was quiet. Both felt a kind of resigned acceptance. The stress and fear from earlier had faded into an unspoken resolution. All they could do now was wait and hope and be there for Daphne. They stopped only to get Chinese takeout, which Gertrude called her "comfort food.

She was the one to break the silence back at Niles' apartment, after they'd settled into the dining room for their pick-up dinner.

"So, how are Martin and Frasier holding up?"

"Better than I am," Niles said. "They've been such good support for me."

Then, wanting to get his mind off the present situation for the moment, he switched to other channels.

"How is life in England going?" he asked.

"Aside from a trial separation from me husband, I haven't fared badly," Gertrude answered.

"About that, I was wondering why you didn't come with Harry," Niles said delicately.

"I figured it wasn't a good time to mention it, especially in front of Daphne. Dr. Northwood thinks that talking to people who are in comas is nonsense, but doctors don't know everything."

"I'm sure," Niles said, hastily getting the conversation on another route. "Who's been taking care of you?"

"Simon was taking care of me for a while," Gertrude said proudly. "But you know that boy has his own dreams and likes to go where the wind takes him. Now he's in London, hoping to go big with his friend's band. Someday you'll hear about Screaming Eagles, with Simon as the band's lead singer."

"Anything's possible," Niles said, choking back a laugh at the woman's confidence. "And now?"

"A lovely young woman from next door helps me out for a few hours every day."

The conversation continued like this for a good while, lighthearted and trivial, the break they both needed.

But after Gertrude had gone to bed and Niles retreated to his own bedroom, loneliness settled over him again like a shroud. It was Friday night, and Daphne spent Friday nights with him (and many other nights when she could, but she was sure to always stay the night on Fridays).

It was a perfect ending to a long week of patients, getting to unwind at the Montana with her. Now he felt her absence more keenly than ever. Tonight they would be settling into bed for their usual jokes and conversations, or perhaps a blissful session of lovemaking. Sometimes they were content just lie side by side in companionable silence.

Niles tossed and turned, struggling to fall asleep, something he never experienced when Daphne was in bed with him. He fell asleep readily with the reassuring presence of her nestled closely against him, her breath warm on his neck. And who knew when-or if-he'd ever experience that again?

Stop it. You're getting morose again, Niles chided himself. Remember what Dad suggested. Think of all the good times you shared with her. And stay strong for her so you can have more times like that.

Niles closed his eyes and searched his memories for his favorite moments with Daphne.

There was their first meeting...

"YOU'RE Daphne?" Niles said, looking at the beautiful woman who was folding Frasier's laundry.

"Yes, I am," she answered with a warm smile.

He had to drop his gaze before she noticed him staring. This Daphne Moon radiated a warmth he'd never seen in any woman, not even Maris.

The Snow Ball...

"I feel like I'm on Cloud Nine!" she said, as she swept him into a passionate tango.

"I'd have to look down to see Cloud Nine!"

They continued their dance. Niles felt as if he could fly. And when the music drew to a close and Daphne finished the tango with a tender kiss, he felt like he'd broken free of gravity itself.

The day of her wedding to Donny...

It was all over. Niles leaned back in the front seat of the Winnebago, sadness and regret unmistakable on his face. He'd lost Daphne forever. If only he'd told her how he felt sooner, if only he hadn't married Mel.

Someone knocked at the door, probably Martin or Frasier back to comfort him, or Mel demanding why he wasn't at the wedding.

But it was not Martin or Frasier or even Mel.

"DAPHNE?"

"I was wondering if you'd be free for a date."

The very unexpected outcome of their fight following her return from the health spa...

"You're too tall," Niles said, struggling to come up with the final word in their ridiculous argument.

"You're too short," Daphne breathed as he reached out to brush his fingers against her cheek.

Something sparked between them and Niles gently pressed her against the pillar shelf in Frasier's living room, kissing her fervently, until they finally gave in to their need for each other...

Vivid, precious memories went through Niles' mind, and upon these pleasant reflections, he finally fell into a dreamless sleep.

As before, Niles was at the hospital the moment visiting hours arrived.

He stepped back when he saw who was in the room. Roz stood by Daphne's bedside, speaking awkwardly but emotionally.

"I'm sorry I didn't come here before, Daph," she said slowly, as if unsure of what to say. "Alice got sick this weekend and couldn't leave her. By the way, she wants you to know that she 'hopes Aunt Daphne gets better soon'."

Then, as if sensing someone was behind her, Roz turned and saw Niles.

"Er," she said uncomfortably.

"Roz, can you come with me for a moment?" Niles asked, forcing himself to meet her gaze. "Let's go to the cafeteria. I'll get you some breakfast."

Roz nodded mutely and the two headed upstairs in an awkward silence. It wasn't until they were sitting at the table with a surprisingly excellent breakfast that Niles finally spoke.

"I just wanted to apologize for how I acted," he began uncomfortably.

"You were hurting. I know this has been a lot for you," Roz said kindly.

"It was still wrong. You weren't responsible for what Daphne did, and I was out of line losing control and blaming you. You'd think I'd learn not to snap like that. I mean, look what happened to the last person I lashed out at," he ended with a bitter, hollow laugh.

"Niles, none of this is your fault," Roz said firmly, holding his gaze. "A much as I love Daphne, it was her choice to drive while she was that upset."

"Frasier and Dad keep saying the same thing," Niles said. "But if I'd reacted differently, this wouldn't have happened. I should have done anything but rejecting her and telling her I never wanted to see her again!"

He stabbed a sausage link savagely, rattling the table and causing other diners to look at them oddly.

Roz slammed her hands on the table.

"Okay, that's it!"

"What?"

"You. Sulking," Roz scolded. "Constantly blaming yourself. You need a break. Let's get out of here and do something fun."

"Like what?"

"There's a matinee of A Doll's House at the civics center. You like Tennesee Williams, right?"

"A Doll's House was written by Henrik Isben, but no matter," Niles said with an amused smile. "It is one of my favorite plays, though. You might enjoy it, too-it's an excellent study of gender roles."

Hours later, Niles and Roz filed out of the convention center, Roz chattering animatedly.

"Wow, I never expected that ending. Talk about girl power! Down with patriarchy!"

Niles laughed as several other attendees turned toward her with disapproving looks.

"Breach of theater etiquette?" Roz asked quietly.

"A bit," Niles teased, "but I like the enthusiasm. When Frasier goes to the theater with me, he always overanalyzes the performance."

"And you don't?" Roz teased back.

"Touche."

"Oh, you're all right," Roz said sincerely. "I like you-like the annoying little brother I never had, But enough chatter. Let's get some lunch, my treat. I know this great Italian place."

The next hour was spent eating their way through a sumptuous meal of vermicelli in shallot sauce, and a divine tiramisu. As they ate, Niles and Roz exchanged lightweight banter, mostly about Frasier, his latest feud with Cam Winston especially.

All was going quite well; of course, Niles hadn't completely forgotten Daphne, but he realized now it was not disloyal to go out and enjoy some time with a friend.

"You know, Roz, this was the break I needed," Niles admitted.

"So you're saying I was right?" Roz smirked playfully.

"Yes. But don't make me say it again."

Walking through the hospital doors didn't feel as oppressive and dreadful as it had before. Daphne was getting the best care and she had the best support team behind her.

"Want to come back with me and visit her?" Niles asked. "Now that things aren't so awkward?"

"Of, course, you big doily. Now, come along. I need to see my best friend."

Roz spent the better part of an hour with Daphne, Niles, and Gertrude, before excusing herself.

"I'll be back tomorrow," she assured Daphne and Niles (Gertrude she ignored, as the older woman had referred to her as 'that girl who will sleep with anyone who looks at her twice').

"Any plans tonight?" Niles asked conversationally, and Roz grinned.

"I have a date with a cute doctor who chatted me up when I came to see Daphne," she answered. "He's taking me out to Chez Henri tonight!"

"See, what did I say? Anyone who looks at her twice," Gertrude intoned.

"Oh, shut up, you old crone," Roz snapped as she stormed off.

Niles had to choke back a laugh at Gertrude's expression. Classic Roz. Never change that sass, he thought.

Niles spent the entire weekend with Daphne, and when Monday came, it was difficult to tear herself from her side and go to work. Only his patients saved him from constantly thinking of how she was doing, or what might be happening while he wasn't there. But when it came time for his lunch break, unwanted memories came flooding back.

He remembered Daphne's tearful confession, his blinding anger, and his words. Daphne had been brave enough to confess something that could destroy their relationship, and he hadn't stopped to realize how difficult that must have been for her. What she'd done was wrong, but he knew she would never hurt him intentionally.

And he'd responded to her confession by intentionally breaking her heart. What had he been thinking? How could he have hurt the woman he loved, on purpose?

"Just...go. I don't want to see you again."

Niles' words echoed in his head, the consuming guilt flooding back.

I can't do this anymore, he thought miserably. I have to talk to Frasier before I become a wreck. He's my brother, and a psychiatrist. Just the support I need.

After telling Mrs. Woodson to cancel his afternoon appointments, Niles made his way to the studio. If anyone could help him with this crisis of conscience, it was his big brother.