Cinnamon Toast

Cinnamon Toast

"Are you sure there hasn't been even one call?" Frasier asked, surprised, but more disappointed.

"I'm really sorry Frasier," Roz apologized and took a sip of her coffee and then, optimistically, "but, today is another day."

"Frankly Scarlet, I don't give a damn!" Frasier quipped sarcastically.

"Frasier…" Roz pouted.

"Look, Roz, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean that the way it sounded. I'm just frustrated. I called Kelly this morning and nobody's called the television station either."

Roz laid her hand atop of his. "I'm sorry Frasier. But, we're going to find Niles."

"I know, it's just that…" his voice trailed off.

"It's okay Frasier, I know how you feel."

Frasier looked at her with a somewhat skeptical face.

"Okay, maybe I don't know exactly what you're feeling."

"Roz? What are you really trying to tell me?"

She took a deep breath and then confessed. "I never thought I'd admit this, but, I really do miss Niles…"

"Oh come Roz, you don't have to say things like that on my account. I know how much you two get on one another's nerves all the time. After all, most of the time I get front row seats."

"Frasier..."

"Or on the other hand, if this is your feeble attempt at cheering me up…" he interrupted again.

"Frasier. Can I please finish what I was going to say?"

"You were saying?"

"First of all, I wasn't saying that to cheer you up. Second, I didn't say it because it's the…" she curved both her fingers into the quotes sign and continued,

"...quote/unquote, politically right thing to say." She then concluded very sincerely, "he's been a real good friend whenever I needed one, and I really do miss him."

Both looked down at their coffees and were quiet for some time.

Breaking the silence and very quietly and without looking at her, "Thank you Roz."

"You're welcome Frasier."

She called out to their waiter, "Two double cappuccinos, half-caf, nonfat milk, and with um…" she squinted her eyes has if trying to remember something, upon remembering, she finished her order, "…with just a hint of cinnamon."

"I'll be right back with those."

"Roz? That's, that's..." Frasier was getting choked up. "Niles' favorite," Frasier commented, fighting back tears.

"Why do you think I ordered it? When I was last time you heard me order cinnamon on anything?"

The waiter returned and set down the cups, one in front of her, and the other in front of Frasier.

She hoisted up the coffee cup and invited Frasier to do the same.

"I'd like to make a toast," she said, more upbeat.

Accepting her invite, Frasier lifted up both the new cup and his head.

"To Niles, here's to making it home real soon."

They clanked their cappuccinos ala Niles, each taking a sip.

"Say Frasier, what's your dad doing here?"

Politically Speaking

"Have you searched his wallet or pockets for any clues to his identity?"

"I have his wallet. Not surprisingly, one of the thugs that beat him up took all his cash and credit cards and any other identifying items. I never thought about checking his pockets."

Daphne went over to her coat closet and pulled out his overcoat and suit jacket.

"You check this one…" she handed Audrey his suit jacket, "…and I'll check this one."

"Suspenders huh?" Audrey commented to herself as she took the hanger from Daphne that had his suspenders draped over it. She turned the decorative suspenders over and searched the rest of the suit jacket for any clues.

After a few minutes of searching they exchanged their findings.

"All I found out was that his coat is a London Fog," Daphne reported, disappointed, but hopeful Audrey came up with something.

"Well, I'm afraid I didn't have much more luck. But, I can tell you what I think. I think your knight must do well financially."

"What makes you say that?"

"London Fog is an expensive brand, as is his suit jacket. It's an Armani. Additionally, his suspenders are from your neck of the woods-England. See?" She turned the suspenders over so Daphne could see them.

"Trafalgar Square. That's an expensive clothing district in London. But don't stores in the States sell this stuff as well? He might have bought it at some fine men's store here in Seattle."

Audrey shrugged. "To be honest, I have no idea. Evan doesn't even own a suit, much less a tie."

"Well, it looks as if our search was a bust." Daphne took the coat from Audrey and went to hang them back up in her coat closet.

She needed to change the subject.

"Have you ever seen the television show 'The Powers That Be?'" Daphne asked.

"I'm not sure, what's it about?"

"I'm still trying to figure it out, I only caught it for the first time myself late last night. But from what I could tell, it's some sort of a political satire. But there's this one character, he is like some suicidal congressman, who of course, always fails and his name is Theodore Van Horn. But get this Audrey! He's a dead ringer for me knight."

Audrey was both surprised and impressed. "Oh wow. Really?"

"So, I was thinking that maybe I would call him Theodore or Teddy, since I can't exactly call him 'knight' to his face."

"Good point. So when is this show on again? I'll have to watch it and I'll tell you what I think."

"Channel 7, from 11:30-12:30 in the evening. They air back to back shows. And I think they said in a commercial that they re-air them the following day at 5 in the afternoon "

It's Confirmed, They Found The Shrink

Frasier swiveled around in his seat to see Martin enter Café Nervosa. He waved his dad to over to their table. "Dad. Over here."

Martin started to limp his way over to the table as Frasier turned to Roz.

"He's meeting Mike, a friend of his from the force to get an update on Niles. I sure hope he has something. Which reminds me, don't say anything to Dad about not getting any calls…..hey there Dad!"

"Frase. Good to see you again Roz."

"You too, Martin. Have a seat," Roz invited and pulled out a chair.

"Thank you," Martin said and sat down.

"Marty!" Mike called out and walked over to the table.

Roz gathered up her belongings and got up and excused herself. "Here, why don't you have my seat," she offered to Mike.

Frasier stood up to wish her goodbye. "I'll talk to you later Roz." He gave her a hug. "Thanks again for everything," he whispered in her ear.

Once Roz had left, Martin asked, "So Mike, what do you got for us?"

"Well…" he was interrupted by his cell phone, "Excuse me." Mike got up and walked away from the table only to return a few minutes later.

"Was that about Niles?" Frasier asked.

Mike sat back down with his poker face on. One which, even after 20 some odd years of playing poker with the man, Martin still could not read.

"Mike? What is it?"

The Mind Joggers

He involuntarily jerked.

"Hold still..." she instructed. Firmly, yet carefully, she held his chin in place. "...don't move."

She then proceeded to gingerly circumnavigate all the cuts and scrapes on his face. She applied as little pressure as she could on the bruises on his cheeks, as she slid the razor down the side of his face.

For a moment, she was secretly glad he was blind. For if he wasn't, she was more than positive he would have never agreed to what was coming up next. Additionally, this would be a very important step in her attempts to establish trust with him.

"Okay, finished." She set the razor down in the sink.

Even though he couldn't see her reaction, he was still terrified.

"It's alright." She tried to alleviate his understandable trepidation and uneasiness.

"Remember, I am a physical therapist, and this is nothing new to me."

His long fingers, shaking with fear, slowly loosened the dressing gown's knot and he slowly shrugged it off.

As she slowly eased her knight into the bubble bath (she figured it would be easier for him to get cleaned up with bubbles already in the tub) she forewarned, "The water and the soap bubbles are going to sting some."

He flinched as he slid into the water, but at the same time, it also felt refreshing.

Once he was fully submerged, she gave him a guided tour.

"The soap and the shampoo are all to your right." She took his right hand into hers and guided it to both the soap and shampoo. "If you need a towel…" again she moved his hand, this time the left one, "...it's over here on your left."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. I'll go make us some dinner. And before you pop open that mouth of yours to protest you're not hungry, you're going to eat something. Understood?"

He nodded.

Then more warmly, she offered,"If you like, I thought after your bath and dinner we could go over the notes I took when you were talking in your sleep last night to see if it jogs anything.")

Just then there was a knock at the front door.

"I'll be right there," she called out.

Returning her attention to back to him, she got up to leave. "Call me if you need anything."

Before getting to the door, there was another round of knocks.

"I heard you the first time, don't get your bloomers in a twist."

She looked through the peephole.

Her body instantly stiffened as her mind jogged up the memory.

"Hey doll, don't even think about calling the cops."

To be continued…