Dancing In The Rain by Patrick Councilor

[ The Doctor Is Losing His Patients ]

The intercom sounded on Niles' office desk, startling him. He closed his reading book and quickly glanced at his watch. It was just after 1:30. He didn't have anyone scheduled at this time. He had just returned from the Montana where he had lunch with Daphne and the kids.

He answered the call. "Yes?"

"Doctor Crane, there is a Mr. Winslow here to see you. He wanted to know if you would accept him without an appointment."

"Yes, of course. Please show him in." Niles got up from his chair and went over to the door to greet him. When he opened the door, he found his brother standing on the other side of it. "Frasier… Winslow is your middle name. Why are you using your middle name?"

He held up a hand as if to stop his questioning. "I am not here today as your brother. I am not here as a colleague. Let it be known that I am here merely as a patient."

Niles looked a little puzzled, but nodded in agreement. "Please come in Mr. Winslow. Please have a seat." Niles closed the door behind them.

Frasier took a seat on the new chase lounge and made himself comfortable.

Niles sat in the chair next to him. "Well Mr. Winslow, I seem to have been caught up on your entire life history up until last evening, so… why don't you tell me what is new?"

"Alright. I met with Roz this morning to discuss career strategies. We've even interviewed potential agents."

"And how did that go?"

"Not so well. Once you've had a great white shark like Bebe Glazer for an agent, the rest just seem like guppies."

"And how about Roz? Tell me how she is handling all of this."

"Well, she is deeply concerned, as she should be. And she's still in denial that she's pregnant."

"How does that make you feel Frasier?"

"How does that make me feel? I'm angry. No, anger doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about Roz losing her job when she has Alice and another one on the way. I'm so furious I'm shaking. I've got to find a job and hire Roz back on as my producer."

"Tell me about Roz."

"What do you mean? You know all about Roz."

"Yes, but I want to see Roz through your eyes. Is losing her job going to cripple her?"

"'Cripple' is a harsh word. She is a strong woman of many talents."

"So perhaps this frustration is misdirected toward Roz's situation."

"Niles, what are you saying?"

"Tell me about your love life."

"Ha! My dance card is full. I have a date with Regan on Saturday and I ran into Claire French at the airport. She is interested in riding the 'Frasier Express' as well."

"Well, you definitely are being a caboose."

"What?!" Frasier shot him a look.

"Oh nothing. Frasier, tell me about your real love life."

"My 'real love life'?"

"Yes."

Frasier thought for a moment. "Charlotte…"

Niles didn't speak. He allowed Frasier to continue at his own pace.

"I thought she was the one. After a decade of being single again, I thought I finally found someone to settle down and grow old with."

"In consideration of your decisions to alter your departing destination from Seattle to pursue a relationship with Charlotte, do you feel that it is really over between the two of you?"

Frasier bowed his head. "Yes. Yes, I do. She had a failing career and a failing relationship. Between the two, she chose the high road."

"How does that make you feel?" Niles spoke softly.

"Empty inside."

"Now you've returned to Seattle. You have a fresh start."

"I wish it was all that simple."

"New beginnings aren't always supposed to be simple, but they are new."

"They say, 'You can never go home'."

"The only thing that remains constant is change."

"I come home and it doesn't seem like home. Everything has changed. My job is no longer available, someone is occupying my old apartment…" He looked over at Niles. "… even my family is moving away."

Niles swallowed slowly. "Ah."

"Ah? What? What is 'Ah'?"

"You are used to the solid ground… the higher ground. You're used to the grand apartment, the job that grants you fame and higher status in certain circles… the ability to help your little brother when he needs you the most."

It was Frasier's turn to swallow. He noted that his hands stopped shaking in frustration. It was then that he knew his brother had hit the nail on the head. They weren't in Kansas anymore. Frasier was used to solving everyone's problem. He would have been able to get Roz her job back or help his little brother in troubled times. Now Frasier's hands were tied.

"Frasier, it's okay that you can't always ride in on a white horse and save the day at the last moment."

Frasier forced a smile. "But that's what I'm best at. That's what I do."

Niles returned his brother's smile. "I know… I've.. I've a… accepted the job in Arizona. We'll be moving next month."

Frasier nodded, giving himself time to gather himself to speak without cracking his voice. "How did Daphne take it?"

"Quite well. I know she's hurting. I'm a psychologist, I can see the signs. It will take some adjusting."

"If you need help packing, I'm your man."

Niles' eyes widened. "What did you just say?"

"Excuse me?"

"Say that again. What you just said."

"If you need help packing, I'm your man."

"Oh my God, Frasier. I don't know why I didn't see this earlier."

"What is it?"

"Why don't you take over my clients when I move? You can still have a radio show and see patients on your off time. At least you'll still have this office to fall back on for extra income while doing your radio show."

"That's brilliant Niles! Thank you. I accept your generous offer. If there's ever a chance that you'd ever move back to the Emerald City, you can take back your office and patients."

"It's a deal." Niles took a moment to collect his thoughts. "And for what it's worth, I've always looked up to you Frasier. It was you who got me through all those years of college."

"Me? How?"

"Because I've always wanted to be you. I worked my ass off to live up to your reputation. And that's how I've always felt about you."

They stood and Frasier hugged his little brother.

The intercom buzzed again. Niles went over to retrieve it. "Talk about timing." He spoke into the intercom, "Yes?"

"You're two o'clock appointment is here."

"Thank you. Please send him in after Mr. Winslow leaves."

Frasier shook his hand. "It's really too bad that Seattle is losing such an eminent psychologist."

"Thank you Frasier. And I know that you'll land a job in no time."

Niles went over and held the door open for him. "See you at the apartment for dinner?"

"Sure thing." With that, Frasier exited.

Frank Tate walked up to the other side of the door and stood there as if someone was standing in the way, preventing him from walking in.

Niles stood to the side to allow him access to the office. Perhaps the man was a germ-a- phobe. "Good afternoon. I'm Doctor Niles Crane," he said.

"Frank. How ya doin'?"

Niles waited, but Frank just stood there. "Would you like to come in?"

Frank turned to his invisible friend. "I'm waiting on you."

Once Niles had "them" step inside, he had "them" have a seat. "So how long have you two known each other?"

Frank sat there, staring at Niles.

"Frank, can you hear me?"

"Oh doc, I'm sorry. I thought you were talking to Harold."

"Harold," he said in a half-statement/half-question remark.

"Yes, we're here on the count of Harold." He leaned over to whisper to Niles. "For some reason, he doesn't think that I'm real."

Niles reached over for his pad of paper and pen. "I see. Just for sake of saving time, because Harold speaks so softly, Frank, I'd like you to be a liaison between Harold and me. Repeat everything he says to me and you can repeat everything I say to him."

"Alright."