Everyone in Daphne's and Niles' lives were soon used to this new way of life. Niles of course visited every day, staying by Daphne's bedside after work, and visiting her just as faithfully on the weekends. Frasier also dropped in almost every day. Roz visited whenever her busy schedule as a working mother allowed her. Daphne's friend Annie also stopped in from time to time.
The hospital was becoming as familiar as Niles' own home. He came to know many of the staff and volunteers, had memorized the labyrinthine halls, and knew even small details like themed days at the cafeteria ('Taco Tuesday' was especially popular among the doctors and staff).
Strangely, and to Niles' disappointment, Martin's visits became more infrequent and shorter, and he always seemed strangely distracted.
"I don't get why Dad seems to have stopped caring," Niles said bitterly to Frasier one day.
"He still cares, Niles," Frasier said casually. "But enough about Dad. I was wondering if you'd like to go to a fundraiser for the Kelly Ann Gunther Foundation tonight."
Niles was puzzled by his brother's dismissive words, but brushed it aside.
"The cat rescue? Only if you promise not to keep trying to outbid me."
"Ha. As if you weren't doing the same thing," Frasier jested, laughing at the memory.
"I didn't know you cared that strongly about cats," Niles remarked.
"I didn't, until I took care of that cat, Mr. Bottomsley. They really are nice little creatures."
More than a week went by before the reason for Martin's brief visits became clear.
Niles had been holding up quite well, drawing strength from his family, Gertrude, and Roz. And Daphne was still alive; with that, there was always help. Still, there were days when he felt uncertain and discouraged by the waiting game.
"Please come back to us, Daphne," Niles said brokenly on a day that marked two years since that bittersweet night on the balcony, when they had admitted their feelings for each other. "I want you in my arms again. I want to hear your laugh and feel your lips on mine again."
He paused to blink back tears, and in that beat of silence heard a familiar clicking sound come closer and closer up the hall. Niles turned away from Daphne, puzzled.
The door opened and Niles turned to see Martin smiling sympathetically at him. And with him was-
"Eddie?"
The terrier barked happily.
It was then that Niles noticed that Martin was wearing the blue jacket and khaki pants that was the uniform of the hospital volunteers. The badge he wore read: Van Riper Memorial Volunteer. Eddie was wearing a matching harness and leash.
"You're a volunteer now?"
"Well, I'm not wearing this uniform for fun!" Martin joked, and then his expression turned apologetic. "I'm sorry, son. I know this isn't the time for jokes. Yes, I'm a volunteer. The hospital has a program for dog owners. They'll train owners and their dogs to visit patients and cheer them up. We just became official volunteers! And I knew just which patient to bring Eddie to first."
"Thanks, Dad," Niles smiled as Martin scooped up the terrier and gently laid him on the bed.
"Someone's here to see you, Daph," Martin said.
Eddie gently nudged Daphne and whimpered softly before curling up at her side.
"Help her feel better, boy," Niles said.
Niles and Martin talked about lighter subjects while Eddie stayed faithfully by the woman who had taken him for so many walks over the years. After some time, however, Martin had to excuse himself.
"We have to make the rounds at the pediatric ward now, but I'll bring Eddie back same time next week. I'm signed up to volunteer every Tuesday."
"I'm sure the kids will love him, Dad," Niles said encouragingly.
"I hope so. Those poor kids are already going through so much."
A heartened by Eddie's visit, Niles left Daphne's side stop at the cafetria for lunch. He was bringing his food to an available table when a voice called out cheerfully.
"Niles! Just the person I wanted to see!" Roz said as Niles made a detour to greet her.
She indicated a handsome doctor sitting across from her.
"This is Dr. Dimitriou, aka Nik," she said. "Nik, this is my friend, Niles."
"Nice to meet you," Niles said to the doctor, giving him a formal handshake.
"You, too. Roz talks about you a lot," Nik said pleasantly.
"Only good things, I hope."
"No guarantees," Roz teasingly interrupted, flashing a playful grin at Nik.
"Sounds like you two are close," Niles said with an exaggerated wink toward Roz.
"We are," Nik said. "You know, I wasn't so sure about working two hospitals, but after meeting Roz, I figured it was at least worth picking up a pretty girl."
Niles rolled his eyes at the silly grin the doctor's words brought to Roz's face.
"You work another hospital?" he asked conversationally.
"Harbor View Medical Center," Nik said. "I'm a trauma doctor there."
"Yeah, you wouldn't believe what Nik had to deal with sometimes." Roz said, with an ominously cunning smile on her face. "Last week, he did surgery on a bear attack victim. He was telling me all about how much blood the poor guy was losing, and how his face was literally almost ripped off..."
"Roz..." Niles said, feeling slightly nauseous.
"See, he really is a big doily when it comes to blood," Roz jested. "Even just hearing about it."
"See you later, Roz."
...
The days went by punctuated only by Niles' work, supporters, and the daily visits of the fatherly and skilled Dr. Crawford.
One day, wanting something to listen to besides the repetitive sounds of the various machines monitoring and supporting Daphne, he brought his CD player in. He grabbed a CD at random to play.
The first strains of music startled him. It was a soft, wistful, familiar song. The song he had danced to with Daphne the night before what would have been her wedding to Donny. The memories overtook him, taking him, at least in spirit, away from the brooding silence of room 2242.
He sat by Daphne at the bar after Mel accepted Donny's polite offer to dance. It was just the two of them, like old times. Back when he'd had a chance. The feelings that he'd insisted to Frasier had passed resurfaced, startling him. Don't be ridiculous, he told himself. I'm over her. I've put it behind me. After all, I've married Mel.
Daphne unwittingly distracted him from the sense of loss he'd been trying to suppress.
"I love this song."
Niles turned to her.
"Where are my manners? Would you like to dance?" he asked cordially, and she eagerly agreed.
Niles led her to the dance floor, taking her in his arms, and he could no longer deny that these feelings still existed. The guests around them, even Mel and Donny, seemed to cease to exist as he held Daphne so close that the scent of cherry bark and almonds teased his senses.
"It's been a long time since we danced," he found himself saying.
"Yes, it has..."
He didn't want this moment to end. As long as it lasted, he could fantasize that she was his, that he hadn't made the biggest mistake of his life by not confessing his feelings, losing her.
Daphne said something indistinctly, strangely muffled. Odd. He didn't remember this...
Niles snapped out of the memory and looked toward the bed, startled to see Daphne shifting under the sheets. Again her heard her voice, raspy but unmistakable. And definitely real. This was no memory.
With fumbling hands, Niles pressed a nearby page button. He stumbled through his next words.
"Nurse? I-I n-need someone here immediately. Ms. Moon is waking up."