Chapter 3:
A/N: This took me a while to write. It's been one of those things that I just forget about when my life gets too busy. The previous chapter cut of at a rather odd place, just in the middle of a conversation, and so hopefully it's resumed here-seemlessly. I'd like to thank Dulcey and Krista for constantly telling me to write, and reviewing. Well, enough of my bibble-babble!
"I'm positive we never met. Now, if you'll just let me go, I'd be quite thankful." She looked confused, and a little frightened. Her eyes darted back and forth. She didn't trust me, she didn't want me to know her, and it only made me more curious.
"Oh, are you meeting someone?" What intrigued me so much about this woman, who obviously wanted nothing to do with me?
"Well, no..But to be perfectly honest, I don't make it a habit of talking to strangers in bars. So, please."
"I'm Frasier." I offered her my hand. She shook it, a small smile was forcing its way onto her lips. "Now can you talk to me?"
"You don't want to know my name?" Now she was the one looking intrigued.
"I do. But you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"It's Lilith."
"Interesting name." She gave an 'Oh, and your name isn't' look. "Do you have a last name or is it just Lilith?"
"Well, seeing how you didn't tell me your's, I don't need to tell you mine."
"Fair enough. So, Lilith. What brings you here?"
"To this bar, or Seattle in general." She sat down on a barstole one down from mine. Ah, she didn't want to get too close. We'll see how long this lasts. God, I was starting to think like Sam.
"You're not from Seattle?" She shook her head. "Then, what brings you to Seattle in general?"
"Well, I have a psychiatric conference I have to attend. Or rather, that I am attending."
"Oh, that's interesting. I'm a psychiatrist as well." She gave me an 'I don't think I believe you' look. For someone who seemed to think no one could read her icy face, she sure was obvious when it came right down to it.
"Really? What made you want to be a psychiatrist, of all things? To me, you look more comfortable just sitting in a bar."
"No. I did meet my wife, or rather ex-wife, in a bar though. Oh, I'm sorry. I met her in a clinic. She was one of my patients." She raised an eyebrow. "But, my mother was a psychiatrist, and her work always fascinated me. She first introduced me to Freud's work, which I think is just genius."
"So your mother, introduced you to Freud? Interesting." She gave a sexy little half smile, and laughed. Or, breathed loudly.
"That's right Lilith. What made you want to be a psychiatrist?" To me, you look as though you'd be more comfortable in a freezer.
"Oh, my father left us when I was quite young." She looked hesitant. "I don't know why I'm sharing this with you, but it doesn't look as though we'll be seeing each other after this, so..Well, my mother took me to a therapist, and I spent most of my sessions asking her about her job."
I paused, not knowing what to say to this. "If you're not from Seattle, then where are you from?" She gave me another of her half-laughs.
"Boston. Am I safe in assuming that you live here?"
"Yes, but I just moved. Ironically, from Boston. It's an absolute wonder we've never met. Just out of curiosity, how much longer are you staying?"
"Two weeks actually. I just got here yesterday. Which reminds me, I'm late for a lecture. It was nice talking to you, Doctor..?"k
"Crane. Dr. Frasier Crane." I couldn't help but smile. "I do believe that means you have to tell me your last name."
"Sternin. Dr. Lilith Sternin." She stood up, and extended her hand. I took it, probably holding on a little longer then necessary.
"Well Dr. Sternin, I really would like to see you again before you leave. Can I interest you in dinner tonight?"
"Um. Sure. Is 7 alright?" She seemed quite hesitant, but she had said yes. Which really was all that mattered to me.
"Certainly. Would you like me to pick you up here?"
"That would be fine. Good-bye." She started to walk off, but a few steps away, she slowed and turned around. "By the way, you can call me Lilith."
***
"Niles. I have a date. Where do I take her?" I'd just entered Nervosa, where Niles was almost as much a regular as Norm to Cheers.
"Hello Frasier. Nice to see you too!" He took a sip of his coffee-no excuse me-latte, and made a face. "I specifically asked for a pinch of nutmeg. This is clearly a dash."
"Niles. Focus. Date. Where do I take her?"
"Is it someone I know?" He started spooning nutmeg out of his coffee and onto the napkin. I swear, if he wasn't picky, I'd like you to show me someone who is.
"No Niles. Now, where do I take her?"
"There's this little bistro down the street. Chez something-or-other. I've only been there once but it was excellent. Now that I think about it, why haven't I gone back? Ah yes, Maris broke out in hives when she tasted the bread. Too much..of something." He seemed distracted.
"Niles, are you feeling alright?" I asked, figuring that was the best way to find out what was making him act the way he was.
"Yes, Frasier. What makes you ask that?"
"You just seem.. Well, flustered. Confused maybe?"
"Frasier. I'm positive that I have no idea what you're talking about. I have to go, somewhere to do something. Hey, that sounded a little like you one your show today, didn't it?" Right. Niles would choose that day to listen to the show. "I really do have to go. Good-bye." He got up to leave. Sometimes, he made me wonder.
"Good-bye Niles. Thanks for all your help." That last part was sarcastic but I didn't think he caught it. The way he was acting, it was a surprise he'd understood what he had.
"Oh, yes. You're welcome. Buh bye Frasier." He left looking.. flustered.
I sat drinking my coffee for a while, just looking around and observing people. Diane used to like to pick out random people, and imagine their life stories. I used to think that trait was cute in her, and eventually I'd even picked it up myself. That day, it was annoying for me to sit there thinking about my ex-wife when I'd met a fascinating woman that morning. The last thing I wanted was to be preoccupied with Diane on our date. This woman would surely never like that.
I got up to leave and was halfway to the door when Roz walked in. She stopped me, grabbing my arm.
"What was that about?"
"What was what about?" I knew perfectly well what she was talking about, I just didn't want to admit it.
"The show today, Frasier. You just left. God, that was stupid."
"Roz, if you must know, I've just come off a rather difficult divorce, and some days are hard for me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I really must be going."
"Yeah, just like you *had* to go in the middle of your show!" She called behind me as I was leaving.
"Bye Roz." I stepped out the door as soon as I'd said that.
A/N: This took me a while to write. It's been one of those things that I just forget about when my life gets too busy. The previous chapter cut of at a rather odd place, just in the middle of a conversation, and so hopefully it's resumed here-seemlessly. I'd like to thank Dulcey and Krista for constantly telling me to write, and reviewing. Well, enough of my bibble-babble!
"I'm positive we never met. Now, if you'll just let me go, I'd be quite thankful." She looked confused, and a little frightened. Her eyes darted back and forth. She didn't trust me, she didn't want me to know her, and it only made me more curious.
"Oh, are you meeting someone?" What intrigued me so much about this woman, who obviously wanted nothing to do with me?
"Well, no..But to be perfectly honest, I don't make it a habit of talking to strangers in bars. So, please."
"I'm Frasier." I offered her my hand. She shook it, a small smile was forcing its way onto her lips. "Now can you talk to me?"
"You don't want to know my name?" Now she was the one looking intrigued.
"I do. But you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"It's Lilith."
"Interesting name." She gave an 'Oh, and your name isn't' look. "Do you have a last name or is it just Lilith?"
"Well, seeing how you didn't tell me your's, I don't need to tell you mine."
"Fair enough. So, Lilith. What brings you here?"
"To this bar, or Seattle in general." She sat down on a barstole one down from mine. Ah, she didn't want to get too close. We'll see how long this lasts. God, I was starting to think like Sam.
"You're not from Seattle?" She shook her head. "Then, what brings you to Seattle in general?"
"Well, I have a psychiatric conference I have to attend. Or rather, that I am attending."
"Oh, that's interesting. I'm a psychiatrist as well." She gave me an 'I don't think I believe you' look. For someone who seemed to think no one could read her icy face, she sure was obvious when it came right down to it.
"Really? What made you want to be a psychiatrist, of all things? To me, you look more comfortable just sitting in a bar."
"No. I did meet my wife, or rather ex-wife, in a bar though. Oh, I'm sorry. I met her in a clinic. She was one of my patients." She raised an eyebrow. "But, my mother was a psychiatrist, and her work always fascinated me. She first introduced me to Freud's work, which I think is just genius."
"So your mother, introduced you to Freud? Interesting." She gave a sexy little half smile, and laughed. Or, breathed loudly.
"That's right Lilith. What made you want to be a psychiatrist?" To me, you look as though you'd be more comfortable in a freezer.
"Oh, my father left us when I was quite young." She looked hesitant. "I don't know why I'm sharing this with you, but it doesn't look as though we'll be seeing each other after this, so..Well, my mother took me to a therapist, and I spent most of my sessions asking her about her job."
I paused, not knowing what to say to this. "If you're not from Seattle, then where are you from?" She gave me another of her half-laughs.
"Boston. Am I safe in assuming that you live here?"
"Yes, but I just moved. Ironically, from Boston. It's an absolute wonder we've never met. Just out of curiosity, how much longer are you staying?"
"Two weeks actually. I just got here yesterday. Which reminds me, I'm late for a lecture. It was nice talking to you, Doctor..?"k
"Crane. Dr. Frasier Crane." I couldn't help but smile. "I do believe that means you have to tell me your last name."
"Sternin. Dr. Lilith Sternin." She stood up, and extended her hand. I took it, probably holding on a little longer then necessary.
"Well Dr. Sternin, I really would like to see you again before you leave. Can I interest you in dinner tonight?"
"Um. Sure. Is 7 alright?" She seemed quite hesitant, but she had said yes. Which really was all that mattered to me.
"Certainly. Would you like me to pick you up here?"
"That would be fine. Good-bye." She started to walk off, but a few steps away, she slowed and turned around. "By the way, you can call me Lilith."
***
"Niles. I have a date. Where do I take her?" I'd just entered Nervosa, where Niles was almost as much a regular as Norm to Cheers.
"Hello Frasier. Nice to see you too!" He took a sip of his coffee-no excuse me-latte, and made a face. "I specifically asked for a pinch of nutmeg. This is clearly a dash."
"Niles. Focus. Date. Where do I take her?"
"Is it someone I know?" He started spooning nutmeg out of his coffee and onto the napkin. I swear, if he wasn't picky, I'd like you to show me someone who is.
"No Niles. Now, where do I take her?"
"There's this little bistro down the street. Chez something-or-other. I've only been there once but it was excellent. Now that I think about it, why haven't I gone back? Ah yes, Maris broke out in hives when she tasted the bread. Too much..of something." He seemed distracted.
"Niles, are you feeling alright?" I asked, figuring that was the best way to find out what was making him act the way he was.
"Yes, Frasier. What makes you ask that?"
"You just seem.. Well, flustered. Confused maybe?"
"Frasier. I'm positive that I have no idea what you're talking about. I have to go, somewhere to do something. Hey, that sounded a little like you one your show today, didn't it?" Right. Niles would choose that day to listen to the show. "I really do have to go. Good-bye." He got up to leave. Sometimes, he made me wonder.
"Good-bye Niles. Thanks for all your help." That last part was sarcastic but I didn't think he caught it. The way he was acting, it was a surprise he'd understood what he had.
"Oh, yes. You're welcome. Buh bye Frasier." He left looking.. flustered.
I sat drinking my coffee for a while, just looking around and observing people. Diane used to like to pick out random people, and imagine their life stories. I used to think that trait was cute in her, and eventually I'd even picked it up myself. That day, it was annoying for me to sit there thinking about my ex-wife when I'd met a fascinating woman that morning. The last thing I wanted was to be preoccupied with Diane on our date. This woman would surely never like that.
I got up to leave and was halfway to the door when Roz walked in. She stopped me, grabbing my arm.
"What was that about?"
"What was what about?" I knew perfectly well what she was talking about, I just didn't want to admit it.
"The show today, Frasier. You just left. God, that was stupid."
"Roz, if you must know, I've just come off a rather difficult divorce, and some days are hard for me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I really must be going."
"Yeah, just like you *had* to go in the middle of your show!" She called behind me as I was leaving.
"Bye Roz." I stepped out the door as soon as I'd said that.