Will and Testament
"Thank you Frasier. I needed that," I sniff and wipe at me tears.
Frasier reaches into his suit jacket and pulls out a handkerchief, as he does so, something else falls out and falls to the floor, undetected by him.
"Here." He offers me the handkerchief.
"Thank you." I take the hankie. "What is that?"
"What is what?"
"The paper that fell to the floor from your pocket."
"Oh, that! It's nothing."
I bend over to retrieve it for Frasier.
"I said it's…" Frasier tries to stop me.
I stand back up and go and sit by Niles' side on his bed and unfold the packet of papers that are folded in thirds.
"The last Will and Testament of Niles Crane," I read aloud, stunned. "Why on earth do you have this?"
Frasier can't look me in the eye and goes to look out the window.
"Dad and I met with Dr. Newsome late this afternoon about Niles and how his condition is not improving, if anything, is worsening…"
He turns to face me, us.
"Listen to me Daph…I know this isn't easy, but you have to realize…" Frasier tries to rationalize. "He's more machine now than…"
"I'll pretend that you didn't say that and that I didn't hear that!" I viciously spat and cut him off.
"This is your little brother we're talking about. He's my husband. The man I love and vowed to stand by in sickness and in health. I know my husband and his love for me, and for his daughter he has never seen or held in his arms. He has a very strong and determined will, and he will come back to us, as a testament of the love, the bond, we share."
"Daphne, in those papers is Niles' living will. He clearly states he doesn't want to live like this…"
"No…" I mumble softly and shake my head in disbelief that My Love would ever say such a thing.
"He has requested that we pull the plug…"
To be continued…
