Frasier knocked lightly on the door.
"Daphne? May I come in?"
When he got no response, he turned to leave. Best to give Daphne the space she needed.
"Dr. Crane?"
At the sound of her voice he turned around, pained when he saw her consuming a box of chocolate bon bons.
"Oh Daphne, you don't want to be eating right now. You'll ruin all of your hard work. You're slim and-"
"What difference does it make? I have no one to look nice for anyway." She said; her voice quivering.
He went to her and sat down on the bed next to her.
"I-I'm sorry I was so cross with you and Mr. Crane. I don't know what came over me." She said tearfully.
"This is about Niles isn't it?"
When Daphne began to sob into her hands, Frasier took her in his arms and rubbed her back.
"It's all right." He said soothingly.
After a few minutes she sat up and brushed the tears from her cheeks.
"What happened?"
Daphne sighed deeply. "Well, he came to pick me up, and I wanted to show him how hard I worked on losing weight but when he got there... he... he..."
"Just take your time." He said as she started to cry again.
"Oh Dr. Crane, he was showin some video of him making a basket, wearin' a Sonics jersey! What was he doin' at a Sonics game anyway, let alone on the court?"
"I'm afraid that was my fault." Frasier said.
Daphne looked at him in amazement. "Your fault?"
"Well, someone at the station gave me tickets to the game. I was going to give them to Dad but he assumed that I wanted to go with him. Niles and I had plans to go to the opera, but we went to the game with Dad instead."
"But Niles hates basketball!" Daphne cried, blotting her eyes with a tissue.
"And I can't blame him, but after we played a ridiculous game of musical seats, Niles ended up in the unfortunate position of having his seat number called. He had to go down to center court and try his hand at making a basket. I still can't believe the thing went in. It left his hands and sailed through the air and-."
"I don't want to hear any more about that bloody basketball game!" Daphne yelled.
"I'm so sorry, Daphne. I'm afraid that Niles was so surprised by all the attention that he let his newfound fame go to his head."
"I-I just wanted him to be proud of me." Daphne said tearfully. "B-but he didn't notice me at all! I worked so hard-."
Frasier hugged her again.
"Oh Daphne, I'm so sorry! You look so beautiful and I'm so proud of how hard you worked. I know that Niles-."
The door opened and they looked up to see Martin standing in the doorway.
"Sorry to interrupt, but Daphne... Niles is here."
"I don't want to see him!" Daphne said.
Frasier rose from the bed. "I'll go talk to him. Dad would you stay with her?"
Martin walked into the room. "Sure Fras. Hey Daph, how are you doin'?"
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Crane." She said, rising from the bed to hug him.
"Oh geez, you don't have to apologize." Martin said as he rubbed her back.
"Well, I'm gonna go straighten out my youngest son. Are you gonna be all right?"
Tearfully Daphne shook her head.
"Thank you Mr. Crane but I don't think so."
Martin hugged her again. "Things will be okay. I'll make sure of it."