"Dr. Crane, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-."

Frasier held up his hand to bring her to silence.

"All right Frasier, before you fly off the handle, I think you should listen to what Daphne has to say." Martin said. "I'm sure there's a-."

"… reasonable explanation, yes, Dad. I know" Frasier finished.

"There certainly is, Frasier." Niles intervened. "Daphne has been through a terrifying ordeal and I think we should take immediate action against that store! Daphne was merely trying to-."

Daphne smiled at her friend and took his hand. "It's all right, Dr. Crane. It was my fault and I should be the one to tell your brother what happened. And then I guess I'll be on me way."

"Well, someone had better tell me what's going on and now!" Frasier said. "My dinner party is only hours away!"

"Speaking of dinner parties, why am I just now hearing about this?" Niles asked.

Frasier cleared his throat and glanced at his brother. "Because, Niles… I… well… frankly I didn't invite you, all right?"

Niles' jaw dropped. "How dare you! After all I've done for you! I suppose you're not even going to tell me who you did invite!"

"Well, for your information-."

"Will the both of you just shut up?" Martin yelled, causing his bickering sons to fall silent. "Now, look I want you both to just forget about this damn dinner party, will ya? I want to know what happened to Daphne, but I don't need to listen to a bunch of hooey!"

Frasier and Niles sighed and nodded at one another in understanding. "You're right, Dad. I'm sorry for getting so angry." Frasier said. "Daphne, please… we love you and want to know what happened."

She sighed deeply, feeling Niles' hand slip into hers and squeeze gently. "It was horrible…. I was so scared! I thought…"

Frasier moved toward her and put his hand on her arm. "What happened?"

"There was a man in the parking lot." She began, feeling as though she was telling the story for the first time. The memories were so vivid that she felt as though it was happening all over again. "H-he was saying something to me, but I just didn't understand! I thought he needed help but he tried to get into me car. I didn't know what to do, so I went around to the passenger side and tossed him out!"

"WHAT?" Martin yelled. "Daphne, are you crazy?"

"Dad-."

She smiled at Frasier. "No, he's right, Dr. Crane. I was crazy… and stupid and every other name you want to call me. I never stopped to consider that he might have a gun or…"

"Daphne, you don't have to do this…" Frasier said. "It's all right."

"I'm sorry I was so stupid, Dr. Crane. I know I should have gone right back into the store and called security, but all I could think about was that I could have saved twice the amount of money at the Food Mart. They have the same things and they're much cheaper! I know you disapprove but I can't go to that horrible Elliot Bay Marketplace again! I just can't! I…"

While she sobbed in Niles' arms, Frasier lowered himself into her plush chair. "Dear God, I had no idea. How could something like this happen?"

"Oh geez Fras, how in the hell do you think it happened?" Martin asked. "I keep telling you, those overpriced stores are full of loons who will do anything to get free merchandise! I saw this all the time when I was on the force! What did this guy look like, Daphne?"

She shuddered at the memory, for it was a face that she never wanted to see again.