Three Days Later

When she awoke that morning, she couldn't help glancing into the mirror at her appearance. The bruise on her cheek was beginning to fade slightly, along with the painful memory of her encounter with Niles. But that was of little comfort. The past two days had been agonizing, listening to Frasier and Martin speaking of Niles so harshly. But they had every right to be angry with him. After all, he'd not only nearly destroyed Frasier's home but caused injury to an innocent bystander in the process. She supposed that she should have had Martin turn him into the authorities and she was all but certain that he would have had no qualms against letting his youngest son experience a night in jail. But she couldn't do it. Dr. Crane was her friend and she cared for him profoundly. He was hurting and it wasn't right to punish him any more than he'd already been punished.

Deep down, she knew that he hadn't meant to hurt her. He couldn't have. In all the years that she'd known him, he'd never once laid a hand on her. She couldn't deny that they'd had their share of arguments, but she'd had disagreements with Frasier and Martin as well. However, Niles was different. Even when they argued, he was quick to apologize. And then there were the little things; the sweet compliments on her appearance, and the way he was quick to help her whenever she needed it. He was a wonderful friend and she hated to think of him being alone. He certainly shouldn't be, not during this difficult time of his life.

And it was then that she realized that it had been more than two days since she'd seen Niles praying in the church on Chestnut Street. What if he never came over again? The thought of not seeing his handsome face every day caused a twinge of worry. She hoped that he wasn't avoiding them, afraid of the ridicule he might face by making an unscheduled visit. And surely he didn't think….

Her heart beat faster at the thought and she quickly pulled on her robe.

"Good morning, Dr. Crane. Mr. Crane." She said as cheerfully as possible when she entered the living room. "I'll have your breakfast ready in no time at all."

"Good, because I'm starving!" Martin said. "I feel like I could eat a horse!"

"Well you certainly look like you have!" She snapped, not really understanding why she was being so cruel. He hadn't said or done anything to her to provoke such a comment. But now that she'd said the words aloud there was no taking them back. She'd simply suffer the consequences.

As expected, Martin glared at her. "What in the hell is that supposed to mean? Are you calling me fat?"

"Well, if you would do your exercises more often and weren't so bloody stubborn all the time-."

"Those aren't the same kind of exercises and you know it!" he shouted.

"Well they should be!"

"STOP!" Frasier yelled, bringing them to silence. "I refuse to sit here and listen to this nonsense! I'm trying to have a leisurely breakfast and I don't want to be interrupted by you two arguing like children!"

"Oh, you mean like the way that you and your brother argue?" Daphne snapped. The instant the words were out, she regretted them, but as before, there was no taking them back. "Oh… Dr. Crane I…."

"That bruise on your cheek has started to fade." He said more quietly than expected. "But it's still swollen. You might want to put some ice on it, just in case."

"A-all right. Thank you, Dr. Crane." She replied in the same quiet tone.

There was a long, uncomfortable silence while they ate their breakfast that lingered until Daphne couldn't take it anymore. But when the silence was broken, things became even more awkward.

"Dr. Crane, will your brother be coming over anytime soon?"

"I hope to hell not!" Martin snapped. "He has no business being in this house after what he did to you, Daphne!"

"But it wasn't his fault!" She protested her voice almost desperate. "H-he didn't know…"

"He knew damn well what he was doing and believe me, he hasn't heard the last of this! The next time I see him-."

"Mr. Crane, please!" Daphne shouted as her sudden headache began to grow. "D-did he say when he might come over?"

"Well Daphne, given the state he's in, I doubt it will be any time soon." Frasier said. "He needs help and fast."

Later as she stood in the kitchen with the dishes in her hands, she imagined Niles jumping at the chance to help her, almost insisting. But now he needed her help. There must be something she could do, some small gesture... She gasped as a sudden flash of an idea came to her. She didn't know why she hadn't thought of it before. It had to work, it simply had to.