Disclaimer-See chapter two, which will tell you to see chapter one, which will tell you that I do not own Frasier, any of its characters, Harborview Medical Center, or anything like that. All I own is my computer, my mind, and....no, wait, that's it!

A/N-A forewarning: This chapter is angstier than the two previous ones, in my opinion. And mentions of "blood" and other hospital stuff. And brotherly stuff; I love brotherly stuff.

Chapter Three-You Think That You Can Handle It

They arrived in front of room 253. The nurse placed her hand on the doorknob, but did not turn it. "I'd like to warn you," she said, slowly. "There are quite a lot of tubes and machines." No one said anything; they did not care that the nurse was treating them like children; all they wanted was to see Niles, no matter how many devices were sticking out of him.

The nurse waited a few seconds, and then turned the doorknob. The door opened inwardly, revealing a small room. There was a curtain hanging from the ceiling, around what everyone assumed to be Niles's bed.

A faint *boop boop* sound came from behind the curtain. The nurse held open the door, allowing them to enter the room. "He's right behind that curtain," said the nurse, pointing at the curtain, before exiting.

They all just stood there, not acknowledging that the nurse had said anything to them, or had even left. All they could do was stare at the white sheet of plastic which separated them from something that would either relieve them, or cause them to worry even more.

"Th-this is silly," said Martin, slowly walking towards the opposite side of the room.

"Yeah, you're right, Dad," replied Frasier, following Martin around the curtain, who was also followed closely by Daphne and Roz.

"I can't bare to look," mumbled Daphne, burying herself in Frasier's shoulder and squeezing her eyes shut.

She felt Frasier stop abruptly, and could hear his heart rate speed up. "Oh, my God," he muttered, closing his eyes as well, and laying his head upon Daphne's.

Daphne could not take it any longer; she pulled her head away from Frasier and opened her eyes. All she could manage to let out was a small gasp....

Niles was lying in a bed, at least five tubes coming out of him. He was connected to a heart monitor and two doctors were standing around him, muttering something Frasier, and everyone else, could not make out. Although he looked peaceful,

Niles's face was covered in stitches, burn scars, and a numerous amount of bruises, and his head was covered with a white wrap.

One of the doctors noticed the group standing there, and walked over to them, pulling down her facemask. "Hello, I'm Dr. Taylor, and this is Dr. Gavet. I believe he was the one who called you." She gestured at the man who had moved beside her.

Frasier nodded, unsure of what to say, he had so many questions. "I'm sure that you would like to know how Dr. Crane is doing," she continued. "It seems that Dr. Crane has suffered from severe head trauma as well as severe blood loss-"

"'Severe?'" repeated Daphne. "How severe do you mean?"

"Well, he lost more than a liter of blood from a gash in his head, but, luckily, he has a very common blood type, so replacing the blood wasn't too difficult. It's really the head trauma that we are concerned about; he took a few nasty blows to the head while his car was being flipped over. He's been in and out of consciousness, and we're hoping that he won't go into a coma, but we can't administer any treatments, because of his low-level of consciousness."

"So, do you think that he'll be alright?" asked Martin, hopefully.

"We're not completely positive just yet. We're hoping that he'll stay in consciousness for an extended period of time, so that we can treat the high blood pressure in his head."

"Can we please see him?" asked Daphne. "....alone?"

"Of course, but if there is any change at all, notify us as soon as possible."

Daphne nodded, and the two doctors stepped out of the room. Slowly, the four approached Niles's bedside. Daphne stroked his hair gently. "Hey, Sweetie," she said softly.

Frasier stood behind her, looking down at his little brother. "I say we try and wake him up," he whispered.

"Really? Do you think that we can?" inquired Daphne, not taking her eyes off of her husband.

"I'm sure we could; it's been proven that voices of loved ones can help someone back to consciousness."

"I'm all for it," agreed Roz, stepping beside Martin, who hadn't made a noise since arriving in Niles's room. "How about you, Martin?"

Martin didn't respond; he stared at the frail body of his son, whom he had been so sure was going to be alright, but now....he just wasn't sure.  "Yeah....let's try it," he said, so quietly that they had to strain to hear him.

"Hey, Niles," began Frasier. "It's your older brother, Frasier. Umm....what should I say?" he asked.

"I don't know, it was your idea," snapped Roz.

"Fine, umm....everyone's here; Daphne, Dad, Roz....we're happy to see you. I-I-" His voice trailed off, trying to think of something he wanted to say. What he really wanted to say was how sorry he was that this had to happen, that all of this could've been prevented if he hadn't been so selfish, how terrible and guilty he felt....but he would rather tell Niles all of this without everyone else in the room. "Now Daphne would like to talk to you," he said, turning the floor over to Daphne.

"Hey, Sweetie," she said again. "I miss you. But don't worry, this'll all be over soon and we can go back to Frasier's house and celebrate his birthday together, like we used to do." She paused. "I love you," she whispered.

Everyone was shocked when Niles began to stir. His eyes fluttered open, and then shut. They opened once again, and stayed open, looking around him. As his eyes regained clarity, he could see the four people standing around his bed. "Niles?" whimpered Daphne.

Niles responded with a small smile. "Oh, it worked! You were right, Frasier!" exclaimed Daphne, throwing her arms around Niles, sobbing heavily.

Frasier couldn't help but smile as well. "Do you think that we should call in the doctors and tell them that Niles is awake?"

"You're right, Fras. Roz, should we go and find Dr. Taylor and Dr. Gavet?" Roz nodded, very happy that Niles had finally awakened. Martin and Roz exited the room, barely able to stop smiling.

Daphne finally released herself from Niles, and had stopped sobbing. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired," Niles replied, his eyes half-closing.

"Well, don't pass out again; the doctors need to give you some kind of treatment." Daphne began to wipe away the tears from her face. "I'm going to go find myself some tissues; I'll come back with Roz and Martin, alright?" As she turned away from Niles, she gave a knowing look to Frasier, silently telling him that she knew he wanted to apologize to his brother.

Daphne left the room, leaving the two Crane brothers alone. "So, anything hurt?" asked Frasier, who could barely look at Niles anymore without feeling a twinge of guilt.

"Not much; it's mostly my head," he replied, touching the wrapping on his head.

"Niles, I am...." He stopped. "I...."

"You what?"

"I am so sorry for all of this," gushed Frasier, unable to keep the words back any longer.

"What do you mean?"

"I should never have made you go out and get me something as little as a bottle of wine; you being there should've been enough, but I put my selfish needs above you. I-I am so sorry! Not only did I make you get me that wine, the bottle is the whole reason they're worried that you won't pull through....I'm so sorry, I should never have even had a birthday (*thanks TVStoryGirl538*)!"

Niles smiled and shook his head. "Frasier, it's alright. None of this was ever your fault. It was just one of those 'wrong place, wrong time' scenarios."

Frasier smiled. "Thanks, Niles. I was so scared that you either weren't going to forgive me, or...." His smile faded. "....die. You know, tonight must've been the most stressful and, well, painful night of my life. And it made me realize something...."

"And what is that?" Niles asked, lying back down on his pillow, all strength draining from him.

"It made me realize that the people you care for won't always be there, so you should say how much they mean to you day after day." He paused; Niles had shut his eyes. "Niles? Are you listening?"

"Yes," he replied, frailly.

"Okay, well, I know I don't say it enough but....I love you, Niles. I know we have our fights and quarrels, but I don't know what I'd do without you." Frasier could feel a great weight lift off of his chest.

Although his eyes were still closed, Niles smiled. "T-thank you, Frasier. I don't know the last time I've heard you say that....I love you, too...." His voice faded, and his body went limp; he had lost consciousness once again.

Right at that moment, Dr. Taylor and Dr. Gavet rushed in. "Is he still awake?" asked Dr. Gavet, hurriedly.

Frasier shook his head no. "He just went unconsciousness a few seconds ago."

Dr. Gavet sighed, and looked at the heart monitor. "Oh, my God....his blood pressure is dropping rapidly, we've got to treat him, now!" Dr. Gavet took Frasier by the arm and pushed him behind the curtain.

A few other nurses rushed in, disappearing behind the curtain. Frasier sat down in a chair, listening to the doctor's voices, and the faint *boop boop* coming from the heart monitor.

*boop boop*

"He's experiencing cardiac arrest!"

*boop....boop*

"Give him one hundred volts!"

There was a small *zap* and then a thud.

"No change!"

"One hundred and five volts!"

*Zap* *Thud*

"Still no change!"

"Come on, you've got to help us out, here!"

*boop....*

"Quickly, one hundred and ten volts!"

*Zap* *Thud*

"No change."

Dr. Taylor sighed. "There's nothing more we can do....he's gone. Shut of the AED."

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP*

That sound was the most painful Frasier had ever heard. He had listened to his little brother pass away, listened to the doctors attempt to bring him back, but fail. He shook his head in disbelief. No, this can't be real. He was fine a few minutes ago. This....can't be real.

Dr. Gavet came out to where Frasier was sitting. "Dr. Crane, I'm sure you know....you're younger brother has passed on.

Frasier nodded, but he didn't want to accept it, or even hear it. "Do you want me to tell the others?" Dr. Gavet asked.

"No, I should do it," said Frasier, standing up. He walked out of the room, where he saw his father, Daphne, and Roz standing next to the opposite wall, waiting for any information at all.

Frasier sighed. He did not want to be the one to tell them this news, but him telling it was better than a doctor.

"How is he, Frasier?"

Frasier looked at Daphne, who was still so happy from her husband's awakening.

"Not good, Daphne."

"No, you don't mean that he's....?"

Frasier took a deep breath. "Yes, Daphne....I do."

Daphne shook her head slightly, before bursting into tears. "But, he was fine!" she exclaimed. "He had woken up, and was....fine!" She turned on her heel and ran to the restroom once again.

"I-I'll go after her," said Roz, still in disbelief of what Frasier had said.  She turned slowly and ran after Daphne.

Martin stared at the wall behind Frasier, not moving. "Dad?"

Martin looked at his older son, his eyes glassy. "Yes, Fras?"

Frasier didn't say another word; he simply embraced his father, and began to cry silently. The way his father shook told Frasier that Martin was crying as well.  Roz and Daphne cried as well, sitting on the bathroom floor.

No one understood how this could have happened. It had always seemed that this sort of thing could happen to anyone, but not them....but it had. Everything had seemed so perfect, until that one boy decided that he could "handle" a few drinks....

To Be Continued.....

A/N-I feel so bad about killing off Niles, but it was the direction that I needed this story to go. I apologize for this, please don't hate me!

And it was hard trying to find all of that information on what happens in hospitals (i.e. equipment, etc.). Thank you AskJeeves.com!