The next morning, Frasier, Niles, Daphne and Ronee all gathered by Martin's bedside for when he awoke. This was going to be a difficult conversation to have, but seeing as both of Martin's sons were doctors, Dr. Marshall reluctantly agreed to allow the family to break the news to him.

"What's going on? Why's everyone staring at me?" Martin groused as he opened his eyes. "I know how you feel when Eddie stares at you," he complained to Frasier.

The Crane men smiled. This was a good sign. "Dad," Frasier spoke up. "Do you know where you're at?"

"Hell by the looks of things."

"Ha ha. Very funny. A positive attitude is important, as I'm sure we're all aware of that simple fact. Do you know why I'm here?"

"What's going on? You know I hate hospitals… where's my partner at?"

Daphne squeezed Niles' hand.

Frasier started to speak, but Niles decided that he had a bit more sensitivity than his older brother had. "Dad...you haven't spoken to Frank in years. Do you remember getting shot?" Damn, he thought, that hadn't come out the way he wanted it to. In a way he felt so guilty, almost as if he were patronizing his father. But this had to be done.

"Of course I remember being shot. How's a guy supposed to forget such a damn thing?"

Ronee took notice of Niles and Daphne holding hands so she felt inspired to do the same thing to her husband.

"Are you my nurse? Boy that's some service they give you around here. Maybe I should be hospitalized more often!" Martin smiled jovially.

"Martin…look at me…" Ronee demanded. "Do you remember me?"

"You look kind of familiar…I know, you used to work at McGinty's, didn't you?"

Ronee refused to let go of her husband's hand. " Daphne, will you bring Dr. Marshall in here please?"

"Of course."

A few minutes later, both women returned, and Dr. Marshall gave Martin a brief exam.

"Might I see you all out in the hallway for a moment?"

They all followed.

"Perhaps I should have warned you. Today's a bad day for Mr. Crane. He's regressed quite a bit. There is some good news however…"

"Good? What in the bloody hell good could possibly come out of this?" Daphne demanded.

"I understand your frustrations. Please allow me to explain. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, which means that things will likely not improve much as he gets further into his illness. It appears he's at a relatively advanced stage. Have you all not noticed anything before now?"

The Cranes all looked at each other. "We've been so busy with David and the new baby…" Niles admitted.

"I've been singing so I've been away from home more than usual," Ronee spoke up. "This is all my fault. My husband doesn't even know who I am anymore? How could I have not seen the signs?"

Frasier hugged her. "There's plenty of blame to go around; let's not forget who abandoned his father to move to a whole new city to start a new life?"

Dr. Marshall spoke up. "Please..it's not my business to stick my nose into other people's affairs, but we've all become rather fond of Mr. Crane since he's been here. Let me assure you of one thing…now is not the time to blame. You each will need all of the support you can muster up from each other. Blaming yourselves is not going to change the situation for Mr. Crane. What you can do is support him and show him how much you care. Visit him. I'll make arrangements for home health care as soon as he's released."

"Please, allow me," Niles started. "It's the least I can do, and besides, I know of the perfect agency." He glanced over at Daphne, who smiled that even after all those years, Niles never regretted meeting her.

"Of course. Now I do think it's for the best that we tell Mr. Crane what's going on. I will allow you to tell him, but I must insist on being in the room. I don't want to alarm anyone, but news like that will of course be hard for him to take in."

"Whatever you say, Dr. Marshall," Ronee agreed. They all returned to the room.

"Where'd you all go? Ronee, where've you been? I'm starting to get hungry."

Everyone's eyes focused on Ronee. "Honey…we'll get you something to eat in a minute. But first we need to talk."

"Everyone? Why's she in here?" He nodded towards the doctor.

Niles, feeling another round of hyperventilation coming on, went over and opened the window for fresh air.

"Martin…you're my husband and I want you to know how much I love you, how much we all love you. Frasier flew in all the way from Chicago so we can tell you…so we can tell you….no. I can't do this!"

Daphne hugged Ronee.

Frasier approached his dad. "Dad, what Ronee is trying to tell you, what we're all trying to tell you…is that you're sick."

"What? Am I dying or something?"

"No, no, nothing like that. Have you ever heard of Alzheimer's disease?"

"Yeah. My mom had it. What's your point?"

Frasier looked at Niles, then at Daphne, then at Ronee and finally at Dr. Marshall.

He took a deep breath In order to continue. "Dad….I'm so sorry, there's no easy way of saying this….but it appears as if you yourself have the disease."

Everyone looked at Martin to gauge his reaction. No one spoke in order to hear him when he finally talked.

"Well?" Frasier prodded.

"What do you want me to say? That my wife, who's too good for me , has to put up with an old man of a husband? That my kids have gathered around to send me off to some home….I know, you want me to say I'm happy. I'm happy I'm a burden of an old man. Are you all happy now?"

Daphne approached Martin. "Martin…I want you to know how much I love and care for you. You're like me own dad, you are, and I will never forget your kindness to me when I first came to America. I was starting a new life and immediately I took to you. I just wanted you to know that I'd do anything, anything, to help you."

He looked down. "So this is it, huh. This is goodbye?"

"No," Niles finally gathered the courage to speak. "Don't think of this as a goodbye. Think of this as a hello, an introduction to the next part of life. It won't be easy, of course, but as long as you have all of us, you'll want for nothing. There is nothing on earth we wouldn't do for you. Please," he tearfully begged. "Don't shut us out now. It took Frasier and I our entire lifetimes to build the kind of relationship that we always wanted with you. I value it as much as I value Daphne, as much as I value my children. All we want to do is help, and to let you know…well, I'm sure that I speak for all of us…Dad, we love you."

"I love you, too, Martin," Daphne sighed.

Martin stared at Ronee. "Well?"

"Well what?"

"Nevermind. Just forget it."

"What do you want me to say? Do you want me to say how much I love you, how much I'm going to miss you when you're gone? Well listen to me, buster…you're not going anywhere. Not as long as I can help it, anyhow. Do you hear me?"

"I'm old, not deaf."

Ronee stared at Martin, who broke into a grin.

"I'm just joking. If I can't laugh at myself, then who the hell else is going to lighten things up around here?"

Everyone took turns hugging him, even Dr. Marshall. When it came to Daphne's turned he sat up and whispered into her ear.

No one knew what he said to her, but all they saw was the smile that crept upon Daphne's face. "You rotten old sod. Dr. Marshall, when can we take him home? I've got a new recipie that I've been anxious to try out."

"Better yet," Frasier chimed in. "Let us take you out to lunch. Anywhere you like!"

"Even the steakhouse? They have the best lunchtime buffet.."

"Even the steakhouse."

So everyone, including Martin, wiped their eyes and the rest of the family left Dr. Marshall alone with Martin for a few minutes. It was then and there, when Frasier looked at his brother and sister-in-law, how grateful he was, even if gratitude was hard to come by these days.