Cherry Bark…Almonds…and Darkness

The Weekend Update

On Saturday afternoon, with assistance from her landlord, she took him to the emergency room despite his protests to the contrary.

He complained about having no way to pay, much less repay her.

"Oh you silly sod…" she teased him as her landlord took them to the hospital.

She turned around from the passenger seat to look at him in the back seat.

She locked eyes with his deep blue eyes that looked straight ahead and into nothing but darkness, and ones that held such pain and hurt. She picked up his trembling hand into hers and more seriously she reassured him,

"Don't worry about it, I've got it covered."

They spent most of the day there, where he was subjected to test after test after test.

"Ms. Moon." The doctor finally came out about five hours later to where she was sitting and reading.

"Yes?"

He sat down next to her. "Let's start with the more simple things. He has numerous scrapes, and bruising all over his body. We stitched up several of his deeper cuts. His chest is severely bruised and he has half a dozen extremely bruised ribs, one is actually cracked. We tightly wrapped him up, so it will be difficult for him to breathe. Not surprisingly, he's in a lot of pain. I've given him some painkillers, so it should assist in easing his pain, if only temporarily."

The doctor took in a deep breath before continuing.

"As I'm sure you're aware, he also sustained a rather nasty concussion. We wanted to keep him a few nights for observation but he flatly refused. The savageness and trauma of the beating itself, coupled with the severity of his head trauma, has caused both his amnesia and blindness."

"His sight and his memory. When will they return?"

"They might come back tomorrow, next week, next month…" his voice tailed off.

"Or they might not come back at all," she finished for him.

"Yes, there is that possibility."

"What will happen to him now?"

The doctor removed his glasses. "Well, since he has no place to go, and since he has refused to stay here, I'll call social services, and they can…"

"No," she interrupted. "I'll take him home with me and take care of him."

"Ms. Moon, you are under no obligation to…"

"Me mind is made up. Do I need to sign any papers?"

No News Doesn't Always Mean Its Good

Martin answered the door. "Thanks for coming over Mike. Have a seat."

Mike went to sit on the couch as Martin took his coat and went to hang it up.

"So, how are the wife and grandkids?" Martin asked as he went to sit in his chair.

"Marty…"

"How old are they now?"

"Marty..." Mike tried again.

"Six? Seven?" Martin guessed.

"Marty…"

"Where are my manners? Can I get you something? A Ballintine?" Martin got up and interrupted yet again, as if he were afraid to let Mike say anything about why he was really there.

"Marty, I'm fine. We both know you didn't invite me over here for a beer."

Just at that moment, Frasier walked in the front door.

"Hello? I'm sorry Dad, I didn't realize you had company." Frasier went over and extended his hand to shake Mike's. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Dr. Frasier Crane."

"A big time radio shrink and he doesn't remember me."

"Frasier," Martin started, and in some ways grateful that Frasier didn't remember Mike, for it allowed for yet another diversion. "This is Mike, from the force."

"I'm terribly sorry." Frasier went to hang up his coat and apologized. "Of course I remember you. Please forgive me, my mind is on other things."

"Which is why I'm here." Mike used Frasier's lead-in as his window of opportunity to get back to why he was here.

"Oh? And why is that?" Frasier asked.

"I'm really sorry Marty, I have nothing at all on Niles."

A Warm Offer on a Chilly Night

"Thanks again for picking us up." Daphne thanked from the back seat of the car. Her knight was sleeping and had his head resting in her lap.

"No problem. So, what did the doctors have to say?"

Daphne explained as she stroked his still badly bruised and swollen cheek.

Soon after, they arrived at the apartment complex and pulled in front of her landlord's apartment.

"Audrey?" Daphne asked, confused.

"I talked to my husband, Evan, after I dropped you off earlier and we discussed your situation. We both agreed that you both should stay with us until you get your electricity turned on, on Monday."

"Of course I am most appreciative of your offer, but, I'll have to decline."

"Daphne, listen to me. It's going to get pretty chilly tonight. You have no heat…"

"I know, I know," Daphne interrupted. "It's just that..." She looked down at her sleeping knight." I just don't want to displace him anymore," She explained. Then more quietly, "He's been through enough already."

"I'm not going to change your mind, am I?"

She shook her head, determined.

"Well, let me get Evan out here and he can help you get him into your apartment. Before Evan leaves, I am going to tell him to build you a fire in your fireplace, and I'll be up shortly with a few things for you."

"Thanks Audrey."

"You're welcome."

-------

About 15 minutes later Audrey arrived at Daphne's door and with her arms full.

"Let me take something," Daphne took a couple of shopping bags from Audrey's hands and placed them on the kitchen counter and opened one. "What's all this?"

"It's some clothes for your knight. Granted, since he's so skinny, everything will be a mile too big on him."

"That's okay," Daphne commented while pulling out the clothes. "Sweats and sweatshirts and flannel shirts are made to be baggy."

"I forgot to tell you, the Phone Company came this afternoon while you were at the hospital, so you now have a working phone."

Daphne breathed a sigh of relief, "One less headache to worry about."

Just then there was a knock at the door.

"Who could that be?" Daphne asked aloud and walked over to the door and then froze in her tracks.

What if it was that guy? What if he found out where she lived and had come to finish the job? After all he said he wasn't finished with them yet. What if…

Another round of knocks interrupted her fearful thoughts.

Audrey went over to where Daphne stood.

"Daphne?"

Daphne nearly jumped out of her skin.

"It's okay Daphne, I didn't mean to startle you." Sensing Daphne's anxiety, "Want me to get the door?"

She nervously nodded as Audrey went to get the door.

Only 24 Hours

"But…" Mike quickly tried to abate Martin's rising fears. "Marty, you know as well as I do, its only been, what? 24 hours or so since he was last seen leaving his lawyer's office?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Marty, you said so yourself that Niles was having a real hard time accepting this divorce. He probably just needed some time alone to think things over."

"You're right, of course," Martin agreed and then added, "maybe."

"Marty…."

"Say Dad, remember when Niles and I were kids? Niles would always run away whenever he was really upset about something."

"Which I'm sure is exactly what he is doing now," Mike added.

Martin still wasn't convinced and countered with,

"Yeah, but that was whenever he got a bad grade, like an A- on some paper or homework assignment…it was never because of a girl."

-------

"I hadn't given any thought about eating."

"That's what I thought. I figured both you and your knight could use some food. And since I didn't know what either of you liked, I…."

"Don't worry about. I don't think he does either," she commented with a hint of sadness.

Audrey looked down. She was embarrassed and wished she could take back her last comment.

"I'm sorry," Audrey apologized.

"It's all right. So, what kind did you get?"

"Cheese."

"Will you be joining us?"

Audrey started making her way to the door. "I can't, but thanks for the offer. In one of those bags you'll find some paper plates and some napkins."

She went over and hugged Audrey. "Thank you so much for everything. You've been an angel. And be sure to thank Evan for me as well."

"It was nothing, really, but, you're welcome. And I will."

"And Daphne…"

"Yes?"

"If there's anything else we can do, please call, anytime." She smiled.

"Audrey? I hate to even ask…"

"What did I just say?" she mocked annoyance.

"But you've done so much already."

"Daphne…"

"Alright. All right. What are you doing Monday morning?"

-------

After Audrey left, she woke him and offered him a piece of pizza, which he declined with a "not hungry" and fell back asleep.

She wasn't surprised. He wasn't that skinny for eating too much.

She went and got herself a couple of slices and went to sit by the fire. She sat and ate. Soon, her eating gave way to staring. All she could do was watch her sleeping knight. Continuing to be completely and utterly fascinated by him.

M&M's Help to Fill in The Gap

"I got it!" Martin screamed coming in from the bedrooms and into the living room and limping as fast as he could over to the phone. "It's got to be Mike with some information on your brother."

"I got it!" Frasier screamed coming in from the kitchen to the living room. "It's Marta calling me back about Maris."

They arrived at their final destination at the same time and over the ringing phone they argued.

"You're not gonna answer it, are you?"

"I was going to, why?"

"I told you I was expecting a call from Marta. You know how she gets whenever she hears your voice, she thinks you're going have her deported back to Guatemala and she'll hang up and then I'll never get to talk to Maris."

"And I told you that it's going to be Mike with some information on your brother."

The phone continued to ring.

"Oh! I know! Let's get Mikey! Hey! It probably is!" Martin sarcastically suggested.

Frasier frowned. "I have no idea what you're talking about. Just answer the damn thing before someone hangs up!"

Martin picked up the phone, "Hello? What do you got for me?" and limped over to his chair.

But there was still another ringing.

Frasier dashed over to his cell phone. "Hello? Marta, I'm so glad you called me back. I was calling to see if I could talk with Mrs. Crane."

A few minutes later, both Crane men adjourned at the kitchen table to eat some breakfast.

"So, did you get to talk to Maris?"

"No. Marta said she left for parts unknown. What did Mike have to say?"

"They have a lead."

"Oh, that's great! What is it?"

"A lot of charges were made on Niles' credit cards over the weekend."

Frasier was relieved. "That's good. Maybe he too just went out of town to get away from things and just forgot to tell us."

Martin didn't seem to share his oldest sons' enthusiasm.

"Dad? What is it?"

"Most of the charges were made at places like The Gap."

"Oh dear God! You shop there! Niles would never…" Frasier stopped in his own tracks when the realization hit him.

Cherry Bark…Almonds...and Darkness

He spent most of the rest of the weekend sleeping. A couple times, she had awakened to his cries. Every time they occurred when he was sleeping, so she had no way of knowing what they were for.

Monday morning came quickly. She showered and got ready for her interview.

Around 10 Audrey showed up as requested of her.

"Thanks again for doing this for me."

"Again, it's no problem. Evan's got everything covered downstairs."

"Come here for a second." Daphne called Audrey over to the couch.

They walked over to the couch and as Daphne carefully lifted his head, she had Audrey prop up the pillows behind his head and back. As Daphne did so, some of her hair briefly spilled onto and over his face.

It was the scent that woke him.

He sniffed.

Cherry bark and…

He sniffed again.

Almonds.

Cherry bark and almonds.

Interesting combination.

He then slowly opened his eyes.

But there was only darkness.

So he shut his eyes.

"Thank you," she carefully laid him back down.

"It's really important that you make sure his head and chest are elevated as much as possible…"

"How come?"

"The doctors had to tape up his ribs pretty tight in order for them to heal. That's why he's having so much trouble breathing. Listen. That's why he's wheezing. Anyway, there is a danger of fluid building up in his lungs."

Daphne recovered him and started to stroke his cheek.

"Audrey, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Do you think he's cute?"

Just then her phone rang preventing her from getting her answer…for now.

Help Wanted

Frasier was sitting on the couch with a small note pad and pen in hand, and was surrounded by dozens of crumpled up balls of paper.

"Damn!" Frasier swore and added another ball to the pile.

Martin limped back in from the kitchen. "What ya doin' Frase?"

"I'm trying to write a description of Niles for Roz to read before my show today."

"How come you're not reading it?"

"I'm just not up to it. They agreed to play "The Best of Crane" and I was thinking that when Roz tells my listeners why I'm not there, she could also give a description of Niles."

"Not a bad idea Frase."

The doorbell rang and as Frasier got up to answer it, he further explained his idea.

"I got to thinking we need all the help we can get. The more we get the word out, the better chance we have of finding him."

Upon answering the door, he found a young lady with her hand down her front.

She blushed, "Caught me with my hand in the biscuit tin." She extended her hand, and sheepishly introduced herself. "I'm Daphne. Daphne Moon. I'm here for me interview."

To be continued…