Totally Eclipse of His Heart

She could hear the piano resounding all the way in the master bedroom.

On a few, rare occasions she had heard Dr. Crane play, but all his performances up until this one, seemed to lack this amount of intensity, energy and passion. She never knew he was so gifted. He was amazing and his playing gave her goose bumps and chills.

She quietly tiptoed her way out to the living room so she could listen more intently.

Upon arriving, she peeked around the corner as not to be detected.

Mr. Crane was sitting in his usual chair, and to her surprise, Dr. Crane was sitting on the couch, with his back to her. So, the marvelous playing was from someone else.

She scanned over towards the grand piano and saw that the Crane men had a guest and it was their guest who was playing.

She watched him play, awestruck.

Ever since she was a little girl, she had always wanted to play. Nothing too grand mind you. Just enough to be able to pluck out a rugby song when her brothers came home from their matches all bloodied, or to play the seasonal Christmas carol on Christmas Eve.

Never, even in her wildest dreams, could she ever play that masterfully.

She was simply mesmerized and breathless.

She watched his hands, which were a mere blur since they were playing so quickly. Each time his long fingers made contact with the keys, each and every one were stuck with a sharp and equal determination of pent-up hurt and anger, or both, it seemed to her.

Whoever he was, he was an extremely emotional and passionate player.

After several more electrifying and stirring minutes, he finished playing the emotionally sweeping and fiercely powerful piece by Franz Liszt called the Totentanz.

She quietly clapped, showing her admiration to the mysterious pianist and wished she could hear him play again. She hoped that maybe he would, right now.

Much to her disappointment, apparently not.

Dr. Crane got up off the couch and started walking towards the piano, so she quickly retreated back to the bedrooms before she was discovered.

Daphne wiped away at her own reflection that was staring back at her and finished wiping down the mirror. She wasn't sure which was more streaked, the mirror from the supposedly "streak-free" glass cleaner, or her own tear streaked cheeks.

Once again, her inner voice was in overdrive.

She had called Dr. and Mr. Crane to see if they had hired someone and they said that they hadn't. She told them that if the offer still stood she would gladly accept.

They all agreed that she would come over on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to assist Mr. Crane with his exercises and on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons she came over to clean.

That was almost two months ago.

She didn't mean to drive him away, or for him to leave for that matter, but then again, did she really expect he would stay with her after she rejected and pushed him away like that?

From what she could find out, the morning after she pushed him away, she went to get some groceries and while she was gone, Audrey and Evan helped him out, but he made them swear not to tell her anything about his whereabouts.

Audrey did tell her that when they had asked him why he was leaving, all he told them was that he no longer wanted to be a "burden to her" and that he had "overstayed his welcome."

Of course, all which were completely untrue.

Audrey talked to Daphne to get her version.

"I know you love him, so what happened?" Audrey asked and handed her a tissue.

"I told him exactly what I told you. That I couldn't risk being hurt and losing him to his family."

"Which he might not even have. You might have been the only family he will ever have and now he's lost you too on top of everything else he's lost."

"Oh Audrey." She sniffed.

"I never thought of it like that. I've been so wrapped up in me and how I was feeling I completely forgot about his. I was so bloody selfish. Please. Tell me where he is. I need to at least say I'm sorry and that I still want to help him."

As much as it pained her, and knew it was probably the best thing for them both, she still couldn't betray his confidence. Sadly, she told her, "I'm sorry Daphne, but I can't."

Daphne wiped away at her tears. Crying wouldn't bring her knight back to her.

Daphne finished cleaning the bathrooms and started to go back into the living room to go clean the guest bathroom.

"Let me help you back to the couch," Frasier offered, announcing his arrival at the piano and held out his arm.

Both Frasier and Martin knew better not to interrupt him while he was playing, especially whenever he played this, his "signature piece".

It was self-taught, and ever since he was about five, he only played it whenever he was deeply depressed and/or distraught. He used the piece as a way to deal with his emotions. He was always very guarded with them, and seldom did he ever express them, especially his darker ones.

So, if playing the piano helped him to release some of those bottled up feelings, then all the power to him.

Now sitting next to Frasier on the couch, he continued sharing with both Martin and Frasier everything that he could remember, which were only selected things.

It was when he was sharing everything with them that he had decided he needed to "let it all out" and had to play.

"And that was the last time I..." Niles stopped and then awkwardly added, "saw her."

"I'm so sorry Niles," Frasier offered sincerely.

"The doctor told me that although parts of my memory have returned, I'll never remember everything, especially not my beating since it was so severe and traumatic. As for my short term memory, it is permanently damaged and it's the little things I'll tend to forget."

He removed his sunglasses.

His eyes were still badly bruised, which only punctuated the deep circles under them and his bloodshot eyes. They were also slightly swollen and puffy, most likely he was crying while he was playing. Additionally, he looked both physically and emotionally exhausted and drained.

Then sadly, he offered an example.

"Like her name for instance. And of course, even if I ever do get my sight back, it still won't do me any good since I don't remember what she looked like in the first place," he added, remorsefully.

"I'm sorry son. But the most important thing now is that you're home where you belong, and we'll both do everything we can to help you in your recovery."

"Dad's right. Speaking of which, you look like you could use a very long rest. Why don't I help you to the guest room and you can get some much needed sleep."

"In a minute Frasier."

Niles took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

"There is something else you both should know."

"What is it son?"

"That no matter how much pain I've endured and am still going through, I have no regrets. And while I may never actually remember what happened that night, I have to ask myself what if I never signed those papers? That would mean I would have never have been there to help her, and what would have happened to her then?" he confessed.

The Crane men were never more proud of the youngest Crane. Niles' act was one of pure heroism and to hear Niles, it was also one of pure unselfishness.

"I'm very proud of you son."

"Me too."

"Thank you Dad, Frasier. But, what I do regret is that I never thanked her for all she did for me. She took care of me like no one has. She healed my mind, my body, my soul." More softly he acknowledged, "And though she'll never, ever know, she taught me how to love and be loved."

He lowered his head and his shoulders sagged.

Both Frasier and Martin felt for Niles and his pain.

Niles had already been through a very stressful, exhausting and traumatic ordeal. And while he was back home where he belonged and was no longer alone, Niles still had a very long road ahead of him.

In the past few months Niles had lost everything: his marriage, his home, his memories, his sight, and perhaps, his soul mate. Frasier was very concerned if his little brother would ever fully recover from all this.

Trying a different approach in an attempt to cheer Niles up and to aid in his recovery, and even though he didn't really buy into himself or think Niles would either, Frasier suggested. "You know Niles, maybe it wasn't really love that you felt for this mystery woman, maybe it was just the Florence Nightingale syndrome."

"No." Niles not surprisingly disagreed and then just as adamant he declared. "I really did fall for her. I-I love…loved her."

He threw his cane down in frustration and disappointment and then buried his head in hands. "I've lost her. Just like I've lost everything else."

She peeked around the corner to see if their guest was still there.

Mr. Crane was still in his chair and Dr. Crane was talking to their guest on the couch.

Since their backs were to her, she couldn't make out what they were saying. Again, she didn't want to intrude by walking through, so she made a quick exit back to the bedrooms before anyone could see her.

Niles lifted his head.

"Frasier?"

"Yes Niles?"

"Do you smell cherry bark and almonds?"

To be continued…