Try to Remember

"So, how'd it go? Audrey asked before Daphne was even fully in the apartment.

"It was really hard to say," she replied as she shrugged off her coat. "They were dealing with a family crisis and had completely forgotten about the interview."

"I'm surprised they still went through with the interview."

"So was I. I offered to reschedule, but they insisted. Maybe it was to take their minds off of things."

"Perhaps. By the way…" Audrey went over to the light switch that Daphne had unsuccessfully tried to flip on the other night.

"Let there be light."

"It's about time." A very relieved Daphne walked over to her knight. "Did he cause you any problems?"

"Not one. I woke him and gave him his painkillers around 11:30 and then he fell back asleep and has been sleeping ever since. But you should know..."

"What? What is it?" Daphne inquired, concerned.

"He did cry out a couple of times in his sleep."

"He did that this weekend as well." She stroked his hair behind his ear. "I only wish I knew what he was dreaming about. Whether he is remembering something of his life or it's just a bad dream…"

"Well, whatever it was, it seemed to really upset him. He had tears rolling down his cheeks. I wasn't sure if I should have woke him or not."

"Did you?"

"No. I'm sorry if I did the wrong thing."

"Don't be. I'm not quite sure what to do myself when he has these. Cause even if he would remember the dream, who knows if he trusts me enough to share it."

"That's a toughie. I have to run, but I'll talk to you later." Audrey started to make her way to the door as the phone rang.

"Thanks Audrey, I'll talk to you later." She then darted quickly over to the phone, so it wouldn't awaken him.

"Hello? This is she…they did? Wonderful...Oh?" Daphne bit her lower lip and looked longingly at her knight sound asleep on the couch. "Problem? What makes you think there's a problem?"

There's a Problem

"Even though we forgot about the interview, I'm glad we still went through with it, cause I really like her Frase," Martin commented as Frasier hung up the phone.

"Yeah, so did I." Frasier agreed.

"Then what's the matter?"

"That was her employment agency. It appears we have to keep looking."

"I told you. You should have offered her the job before she left here," Martin pouted. "But no, you didn't. What are the odds that we'll both find someone we both like again?"

"Well, its not like she's exactly taken."

"What are you talkin' about? You just said..."

"The agency said she would take the job if we didn't insist she live here."

"Is that all? I mean, how important is it that she lives her? She doesn't have to live here to help me with my exercises. Besides, do you really need someone to clean this place everyday?"

Frasier frowned. "Well, of course not. It's not the cleaning or the fact that she doesn't want to live here, that's bothering me."

"Then what's the problem?" Martin asked again, annoyed.

"Well…." Frasier hesitated.

"What?"

"Okay, okay. It was Niles' idea that we hire someone to help you, and, I just don't know if I feel right hiring someone before he has had the chance to meet and talk with them first. After all, half of this person's salary is coming out of his wallet. I just think he should have some say as to who his money is going to."

"But what if…" Martin couldn't bring himself to finish.

"Don't even say it. We are going to find Niles."

She's Listening

Daphne was doing some unpacking in her kitchen while her knight continued to sleep.

Her inner voice was in overdrive.

Her placement officer at the agency thought she was crazy to turn the job down. But of course, they didn't know the real reason for her turning it down. She couldn't just abandon her knight, not after everything he had done for her. The man practically lost his life defending her. He lost his memory and his sight, all to protect her, a complete stranger. Heroes like her knight don't come along everyday. She was very lucky and would always be indebted to him.

When his doctor confirmed to her that he had lost his memory and sight, she vowed right then and there she would do anything and everything to help him regain both, it was the very least she could do.

She shook her head in an attempt to clear it out.

Looking for a distraction, she turned on her radio and turned the volume down low, as not to awaken him.

She was particularly interested in listening to Dr. Crane's show. She didn't even know he was a big time radio talk show host until she was on her way home from the interview.

Thanks to Audrey, she knew which buses to take to Elliot Bay Towers. When she got on the transfer bus on the way back to her apartment, there was a big poster with Dr. Crane's face staring back at her. The slogan "I'm Listening" along with the radio call letters and station and time of his show were all underneath it.

She glanced at her watch. The show would be on soon. "What were the call letters and station again?" She asked herself and flipped through the stations trying to find it.

As she did so, her inner voice started up again.

She felt badly turning down Dr. Crane and his father's offer, for she really liked them both, and could have seen herself being very happy working for them both.

"...stay tuned to the Dr. Crane Show after the top of the hour news. You're listening to KACL 780 AM on radio dial here in downtown Seattle."

She sighed and said to herself. "Oh well. What is done is done," and went to put the teakettle on for some afternoon tea and got ready to listen to Dr. Crane's show.

"Good afternoon Seattle, as most you know, I'm Roz Doyle, the producer of the Dr. Frasier Crane Show. Unfortunately, Dr. Crane is unable to be with us this afternoon so we will be airing "The Best of Crane" in its place, so callers please don't call in. Hopefully, Dr. Crane will be able to join us tomorrow to take your calls.

"Dr. Crane did have something he wanted me to read to you, all his loyal listeners, in hopes that you can help him. If you can, please call us at the station at 206-555-KACL.

" 'Friday night, Dr. Crane's...' "

"NO!" he screamed causing her to jump.

She flew to the couch and found him sitting upright. He was breathing extremely hard and sweat, mixed with tears, was pouring down his face.

She went over and sat down at the edge of the couch and very cautiously, for the first time since the beating, really reached out to him.

With a very shaking hand, she laid it on his equally trembling shoulder.

"It's okay. Just take it easy, you're going to be just fine. Small breaths..." She soothed and reassured. "Nothing is going happen to you."

Try To Remember

After several long minutes, highlighted by a full blown hyperventilation attack, he started to slowly calm down and relax, a little.

To help him breath she had him swing his legs over the side of the couch and then place his head between his knees. The hunched over position brought severe and excruciating pain to his very tender ribs, but it had to be done in order to restore his breathing back to somewhat normal levels.

She had inched closer to him and was now soothing his back with the palm of her hand.

"How are you feeling?"

"My head is killing me and I'm so dizzy," he panted.

"It's probably due to the lack of oxygen and the fact that you haven't eaten for at least three days. That being said, I'm making you some broth for dinner…"

He protested with, "No thanks. I'm not hungry."

"How did I know you were going to say that?" she teased him and then more seriously, "Aside from the fact that you could stand to put on some much needed pounds, you really need to get your strength back. You are terribly weak."

He slowly lifted his head and tear stained face back up and groaned as the pain was finally being released from being hunched over. She grabbed one of the pillows, so his head could rest on it.

"I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to lose it like that," he breathlessly apologized.

"It's alright." Carefully, she asked, "Please don't think I'm prying, I'm just trying to help you, but, what do you remember?"

He sniffed and shook his head. "I-I can't remember anything."

"It's okay, don't try and push it. You've been through a horrible ordeal. Your doctor said that it might take awhile for you to remember." She opted not to share the fact that his memory or his sight may never return. She would share that with him when he was much stronger and much less vulnerable.

She reintroduced herself, figuring it couldn't hurt. With the concussion, his amnesia, the drugs he was on and everything else he had been through the past couple of days, he probably was too out of it to even remember.

"Me name is Daphne."

"Nice to meet you," he responded as if they were being introduced for the very first time and attempted to reply in kind, "I-I'm…"

Her heart just broke. The pain in his eyes again as he tried so desperately to recall his name from the deep recesses of his mind. He looked so scared and lost. His mouth bobbed open and closed like a fish.

Finally, defeated, he lowered his head.

The teakettle whistled announcing her afternoon tea was ready.

"Don't worry about it, it will come to you in time. In the meantime, I'll be here with you every step of the way."

Of Course, It Gives Him Camera Time Too

"...so once again listeners, if any of you have seen someone matching the description of Dr. Niles Crane, Dr. Crane's younger brother, we ask that you call us here at KACL at 206-555-KACL. Now, to "The Best of Crane."

Frasier bent over to turn off the radio. "Well, let's just hope that brings in some callers."

"I gotta hand it to you Frase, that was a great idea."

"If only we could reach even a wider audience."

"What do you mean?"

Frasier went over the phone and started to dial. "Hello, Kelly Kirtland please…Dr. Frasier Crane…"

To be continued…