Disclaimer: I do not own "Frasier" or any related characters. The only parts of this story that I do own are: the plot and the character Brianna.
A/N: Sorry for taking so long with this chapter. I've had writer's block for awhile, and don't even get me started on school. They want to kill me, I swear . . . anyways, here's Chapter Four.
Title: Blast from the Past
Rating: PG-13 . . . because I can!!!
Genre: General
Summary: When a woman from the past shows up, she unleashes an "interesting" havoc among the Crane family and friends.
Chapter Four-A Simple Plan
Later That Day . . .
Brianna was setting up the couch, transforming it into a bed. By the time she was finished, she heard a knock at the door. She glanced around and when she did not hear anyone coming, she walked towards the door and opened it.
"Watch out," the woman who had knocked on the door said as she stepped into the apartment. She was carrying two brown paper grocery bags in her arms and was bent over slightly as she stumbled into the room.
"Umm, do you need any help?" Brianna asked walking after the woman.
"Oh, yes. Thank you." The obviously-English woman handed Brianna one of the two bags. "And . . . you are . . ?"
"Oh, I'm Brianna Ackland. I'm an old friend of Niles from high school," she explained while she carried the grocery bag into the kitchen.
"Oh, were you the woman on the phone earlier?" Brianna nodded. "Well, I'm Daphne Moon, Mr. Crane's physical therapist."
"Ahh. Well, since you just arrived, I guess you don't know . . . I'm going to be staying here for a few days."
"Are you really?" Daphne asked, sounding a little hesitant. "Well, that's going to be just great. I have to tell you, being with only Dr. Crane and Mr. Crane . . . it can get rather irritating being the only female."
"I can believe that," Brianna agreed, nodding.
There was a long, awkward silence as Brianna and Daphne each chose a spot on the opposite wall and stared at it, unable to come up with anything more to say.
"Daphne, did I hear you come in?" Frasier called out, coming inside from the balcony where he, Niles, and Martin had been, talking (About me, Brianna thought, nervously).
"Yes, Dr. Crane. I'm in the kitchen with Brianna," Daphne replied, and Brianna could hear the relief in her voice; Frasier's coming in had cut into her and Brianna's "awkward silence." Daphne walked out of the kitchen into the living room, Brianna following closely behind.
Frasier and Niles were sitting on the couch and Martin was in his chair. The thing that caught Brianna's eye was the way Niles's eyes flashed as soon as Daphne had entered the room . . . or maybe it was her imagination. Niles was married, wasn't he? Yeah, Brianna thought, it must've been my imagination.
"I see you've met Brianna," Frasier said, smiling warmly up at Daphne.
"Yes, and she said that she was going to be staying here for a day or so," Daphne replied, returning Frasier's smile. "Oh," she added, as an afterthought, "would anyone like something to drink? Dr. Crane?" she asked, looking at Niles.
"Umm, n-no, nothing for me," Niles replied, and the intensity at which he stared at Daphne made Brianna begin to think that there was something . . . some kind of spark between them. Or at least one of them.
"Anyone else, then?" Daphne asked, looking around the room. Everyone else replied with a shake of their head. Daphne shrugged, and sat down on the armrest of the couch, nearest to Niles.
"So, Brianna, what kind of job are you looking for here?" Frasier asked, in an attempt to start a conversation.
Brianna did not respond immediately; she had been watching Niles. She noticed that, whenever Daphne happened to turn her head away, he would lean slightly closer. "Oh," she said, suddenly, shifting her gaze to Frasier. "I . . . what was the question?"
Frasier raised an eyebrow and threw a quick glance towards Martin, who replied with a quick shrug of his shoulders. "What kind of job are you looking for here?" Frasier repeated, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"Well, I was thinking . . ." Brianna paused. "You'll probably laugh, but its okay. I want to be a singer. Or something in that general area."
Frasier nodded, and Brianna could not see any amusement in his eyes at her answer. "Well, since I work at the radio station, I could probably help you with that."
"You'd do that for me? I mean, we basically just met-"
"I know, but it's no problem. Really." Frasier nodded at his last word.
"Wow," Brianna said. "That's . . . either really sweet, or you really want me to leave your apartment."
"No, it's not that-"
"Oh, don't worry about it. If I were you, I'd want me to leave as soon as possible, too," Brianna said, waving her hand absentmindedly. "Really, it's okay." She cleared her throat. "Anyways, that's what I want to do. I have a guitar and-"
Brianna cut off the rest of her sentence. Oh God, she thought. I left my guitar back in Florida. "Oh, damn it," she muttered, rubbing her temple.
"What is it?" Martin asked, leaning in slightly.
"I left my guitar in Florida. Well, maybe if I call my mom she'll mail it to me . . . although you know how expensive U-Haul can be," she added, sarcastically, with a roll of her eyes.
"Wow, your mother really is . . ." Daphne stopped talking, unsure of how to finish her sentence.
"A money-obsessed bitch? Yeah, that's true." Brianna shook her head. "Well, maybe she will. I mean, I did move out of her house after over fifteen years . . ." Brianna's eyes drifted back to Niles; he was staring longingly up at Daphne. He really looks smitten with her, Brianna thought. But isn't he married? To Maris, or whatever her name is?
"Niles," Brianna said, moving towards the kitchen. She nearly smiled at the way he snapped out of his trance when she said his name. "Could you show me where the . . . ice is?"
"Well, I could show you-" Frasier began, starting to get up.
"-And I need to ask you a question," Brianna added, causing Frasier to sit back down on the couch.
"Sure," Niles replied, getting up and following Brianna to the kitchen. He walked over to the refrigerator and opened the freezer door. "See, the ice is right-"
"This isn't about that," Brianna whispered, throwing a quick glance back towards the living room. "I don't need ice. I don't even have a drink. Listen, I have a question to ask you.
"Okay," Niles replied, nervously, closing the freezer door.
"Do you have a thing for Daphne?"
Niles drew back, obviously shocked. His back smacked against the freezer door, causing the other door to open. "What . . . what are you talking about?" he asked, his voice shaking, while he closed the refrigerator door.
"Do you have a-" Brianna brought up her hands and made quotes symbols with her middle and index fingers, "-'crush' on Daphne? Don't worry, it's not like I'm going to tell. Remember what happened with Kendall?" she asked, grimacing slightly.
Niles nodded. "The grape juice stain never came out of that shirt," he said, pitifully. "But . . . no. I mean, Daphne, while she may be the most beautiful, perfect woman I've ever seen . . . I don't love her. I mean, I have Maris, who . . . is my wife. I don't love Daphne. I mean, I think of her as a . . . a goddess, maybe, but I don't love her. I-"
"A goddess?" Brianna repeated, a mixed look of confusion and perplexity washing over her face. "Wow, I thought that you maybe had a little thing for her but . . . you love her."
"I do not," retorted Niles, defensively.
"Yes you do," argued Brianna, nodding. "I was your best friend in high school. I know these things."
"Well, maybe I do adore her, worship her, even, but I would never dream of leaving my Maris."
At that, Brianna raised an eyebrow. "Why not? You'd probably be happier, right?"
"I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. I'm married; I can't go after Daphne."
"Would you, though? If you weren't married?" Brianna asked, hopefully.
". . . yes, I guess I would. But I am married. To a . . ." Niles searched for the right adjective. ". . . woman. And my feelings for Daphne will just have to . . . stay where they are."
"You should go after her," Brianna said, seriously.
"What? I can't; I'd be cheating on Maris-"
"So? If you love her, go after her," Brianna retorted, rolling her eyes. "It's not hard. Remember when you told Kendall how you felt about her?"
"Actually, you told Kendall how I felt about her," Niles said, looking up at Brianna.
"That's right, and I'll do it again with Daphne if you don't tell her," Brianna said, looking into Niles's eyes so that he would know that she was not joking.
Niles returned her gaze, and Brianna was happy to see that a small trace of fear washed over his eyes. "I can believe that," Niles said. "But don't. I'll tell her . . . when the time comes."
Brianna smiled slightly. "Would you tell her that you love her if she felt the same way about you?" she asked, a look of thoughtfulness appearing on her face.
Niles looked at her, becoming aware of what she was implying. "Yes, I believe I would. Why?" he added, although he had a good idea of what she was going to suggest.
"If I can get Daphne to fall in love with you, unless she already has, will you tell her?" Brianna asked, her smile widening.
"If you can do that, I would worship you more than I do Da-"
"Hey kids," Martin announced as he entered the kitchen. "Just grabbing myself a beer."
"Dad! Hey Dad," Niles said, covering up his prior sentence.
Martin gave Niles a curious look and then looked over at Brianna, who simply shrugged. Martin took out a can of beer and left the kitchen, leaving Brianna and Niles alone.
"So, is it a deal?" Brianna asked, holding out her hand.
Niles looked at her hand for a moment before placing his hand in hers. "Yes," he said, as they shook hands. "But something tells me that you'll never make it happen."
Brianna smiled at him. "Maybe. But if I do, I'm holding you to that 'worshiping' promise." She turned and walked out of the kitchen, leaving Niles standing there rolling his eyes, but a hopeful look upon his face.
Who knows what Brianna could do?
To Be Continued . . .
A/N-I'm sorry that this chapter is so short! I wanted to get it uploaded before prom tomorrow. I know that I said that this wasn't going to be a "romance" story, but I meant between Brianna and Niles. And maybe this won't be a romance story. You don't know. Actually, neither do I, but that's beside the point. Oh, and review please!!!