Disclaimer-See chapter one....it'll never change.
A/N-Thanks for your reviews! They really do encourage me, as odd as that may sound. Okay, I don't have a spell check on this computer, so please excuse any grammar or spelling issues there may be. Please review this chapter!
Chapter Two-Shattered Lives
The four adults climbed into Frasier's car: Frasier and Daphne in the front, Martin and Roz in the back. Although not a word was verbally spoken as Frasier started up the car and began to pull out, their minds were filled with "What if?" "How?" and "Why?" thoughts....
-Frasier's Thoughts-
"How did this happen? I mean, I don't even know what I'm talking about, that doctor didn't tell me anything. But, it must've been pretty awful, or else Dr. Gavet would've said 'minor injuries.' Or maybe it is nothing....a broken toe, or something along those lines. Niles would have called nine-one-one for a broken toe. But if that is the case, why do I feel like something horrible is happening right now?"
-Daphne's Thoughts-
"Something bad is going to happen, I can feel it! But if I were to say that I feel this way, everyone would say things like 'No, that could never happen to us,' or 'You're just scared, so of course you feel this way,' but how can I be sure that that is true? Niles and I have only been married for about three months, and already something is threatening to tear us apart....again. First it was Donny and Mel, and now this accident. I think I'm starting to understand the meaning of 'star-crossed lovers.'"
-Martin's Thoughts-
"I don't know why everyone looks so nervous; Niles'll be fine. The hospital will fix him up and we'll be able to laugh about how scared we were as soon as this is over....I mean, how scared they were. Why is it that everyone seems to be thinking that the worst possible thing happened? Whatever happened to 'positive thinking?' Geez, even Roz looks scared....I didn't know that she even liked Niles. Well, I guess that bad times can bring out the good in people....but this isn't a 'bad time...'
"....Niles'll be fine...."
-Roz's Thoughts-
"Oh, my God, is this happening? I wish that that doctor would've at least told Frasier what the hell is going on. This feels so weird; I never thought I'd worry about Niles this much. Then again, I've never had a reason to....I don't think that any of us have. I've never seen Frasier look so freaked out before. I can't really see Daphne, but I can tell that she's shaking. And Martin is definitely scared; he's just trying to cover it up. He may have been a great detective, but he's no actor. Oh, my God....what is that?"
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All of these thoughts occurred as Frasier pulled out of the parking garage. Although it was very dark out, all of them could see a large cloud of smoke spilling into the sky from another block.
Confusion and curiosity flashed over Frasier's features as they began to get closer to the source of the smoke. The street lights were on, and three fire trucks were shining their headlights on the spot where everything had occurred.
Their car began to slow down as Frasier, Daphne, Martin, and Roz stared at a horrifying car wreck….
A small navy blue car, which had obviously been going the wrong direction, was on the side of the road, the front of the car completely smashed. A young man, no older than twenty-one, was being tested for drinking; he wobbled and tried to use his arms for balance as he attempted to stand on his left leg. The boy looked alright, except for a few cuts and bruises, but it was the other car that caught everyone's attention....
It was completely flipped over, the roof of the car completely smashed against the road. All of the windows, except for the back one, had shattered. It was ruined beyond repair, and a charred part of the rear showed that it had been on fire at one point, although it had been put out. Frasier sucked in his breath; he immediately recognized that car as Niles's.
Everyone else noticed it as well. Frasier's car slowly rolled to a halt. Time seemed to have stopped. Frasier slowly shook his head. No, it can't be his car....that is a very common car around here. Frasier rolled down his window. "E-excuse me?!"
A young woman cop walked over to his window and leaned over to face him. "I'm sorry, sir, but you need to move it along," she said, tapping the roof of his car.
"I will, but I....what happened?"
She bit her lip, obviously debating whether or not to tell him. "Well....you see that kid over there?" she asked, pointing at the boy who had been tested for drinking, and was now being put into handcuffs. "He was driving the wrong way on this road, going about fifty or sixty miles per hour. Apparently, he had had quite a few drinks, although he won't admit it, because he's only twenty years-old.
"He ran head first into another car, and....you know, I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but you seem so concerned, so I'll go on....he completely totaled that car there," she continued, gesturing towards Niles's car. "That kid walked out of his car with only a few scratches to show for it, but the other driver wasn't as lucky. We had a hell of a time trying to get him out. Finally, we had to break all of the windows and pull him out manually. Luckily, he was wearing his seat belt, but it seems that as soon as the car flipped over, he got hit in the back of the head with some bottle, and the bottle shattered. The poor guy lost a lot of blood because of that." She shook her head sadly. "We sent him to Harborview Medical Center a little while ago."
Frasier's eyes widened; it was Niles who had been involved in that crash. "We were just on our way there," he said, his voice croaking. "Do you have his name or any information at all?"
"Well...." She searched her pockets and pulled out a small, white, laminated piece of paper. "Oh yes, I do. I completely forgot to give this to the ambulance worker after I gave him the name of the injured driver." She squinted to read the name in the limited amount of light. "It was a Mister....Niles Crane."
Everyone in the car stared at her for a second, and then let their heads drop.
Frasier slowly held out his hand. "I'll-I'll take that," he mumbled, "since I'm going down there to see him, anyway."
A pained look filled the cop's features as she realized what he meant. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. She looked from Niles's picture to Frasier's face. "You know, you do look a lot like him....brothers?" Frasier nodded, and then accepted his younger brother's license.
The drive to the hospital had been filled with prayers, tears, or complete silence. As soon as they arrived at Harborview Medical Center, they all feared what they would learn as soon as they entered the building. They entered the waiting room, which was unusually empty. They receptionist greeted them with a small smile.
Roz plopped down in a chair, and began picking a hang nail. Daphne excused herself to the restroom, so that she could be alone for a short while. Martin went to ask the receptionist if they could see Niles as soon as possible, and then he sat down in a chair across from Roz, rubbing his forehead.
Frasier leaned against the wall, staring down at the ground. The memory of Niles's car wouldn't leave his mind. This is all my fault, he realized. I was the one who told him to go and get that wine, and then the wine bottle makes the accident all the worse! I'm so sorry, Niles.
Tears filled his eyes, but he did not try to stop them. They flowed freely out of his eyes, trailed down his cheeks, and dropped down to the floor. Frasier slid down the wall into a sitting position. He buried his head in his arms and began to cry, not knowing, or caring, that Roz and his father were watching him, wanting to do the exact same thing.
Even when he ran out of tears, Frasier continued to sit on the floor, still buried in his arms, and still clutching his brother's driver's license, not wanting to let go....
Daphne soon returned from the restroom. Her red, puffy eyes showed that she had been crying as well. She sat down on the floor beside Frasier, patting him on the arm.
"I'm so sorry, Daphne," he said, his voice slightly muffled by his arms.
"Why on Earth are you sorry?" she asked.
Frasier took in a deep breath, his chest shaking. "I was the one who had him go out and get the stuff in the first place. If I hadn't, he would've arrived with you, and we wouldn't be here, worrying about his life!" Daphne opened her mouth to disagree, but closed it as Frasier continued to ramble. "And-and then, after the crash, my bottle smashes his head, and is probably the reason he's here!" Frasier began to hiccup softly, fresh out of tears.
Daphne shook her head. "No, Frasier, it wasn't your fault. That young boy was driving too fast, going the wrong direction, and he was drunk! If you really want to go so far into detail, the real people at fault are the creators of alcohol."
Frasier lifted his head. "Daph, I appreciate you trying to make me feel better, but the fact is, Niles wouldn't have been on the road at that time if I hadn't demanded that he go out and get me that wine, and if he had been a bad brother for once and just said "No," he wouldn't have to be in this damn hospital!"
Frasier broke down once again, and began to shed tears that he didn't even know he had.
"Mrs. Crane?" called a nurse. "You can go in and see your husband, if you wish."
With one sad glance at her brother-in-law, Daphne stood up. "May we all go in and see him?"
The nurse looked at the four worried faces staring at her. "Of course you may."
Roz helped Frasier to his feet, and the four of them followed the nurse to Niles's room....
To Be Continued....
A/N-This chapter made me sort of sad....now, please review! I simply looooove feedback. And I would like to know what you think about it before I go on. I've planned out the whole story, and it *should* be five chapters, if not, more. Review!