"Have you completely lost your mind?" Frasier complains, holding his nose. To his own surprise, it's not bleeding. The pain almost blinds him though.

"No, but you have. What were you thinking molesting her like that?"

"I didn't molest her."

"Oh no. She kicked you because she liked what you were doing. I need to go and talk to her."

"Wait!" Frasier grabs Niles ankle before he can run out of the apartment. The smaller man lands flat on his face. He angrily turns to Frasier.

"Well, you can't blame me for falling just now!"

"Just let me go, Frasier." The resignation in Niles' voice and his eyes tell Frasier he's lost. He is not quite sure what, but it is over. He lets go of the ankle and watches his brother get up. For a moment he thinks he will turn around and give him a look. Even an angry look would be reassurance, but Niles just leaves. There's nothing; no words, no look. Just the sound of the door silently closing behind his little brother. Leaving Frasier all alone.

Niles takes the stairs following Daphne, not even sure how much time has passed since she's run out. It could be mere minutes – or too many minutes. She could be anywhere. Niles decides to take his car instead of looking for her on foot. He's simply faster that way. Before he even reaches his car, he sees a shadow. Niles stops dead in his tracks. His first thought is not Daphne – that's only his second – but how he's going to be robbed. Then he sees the shadow again and this time he gets a glimpse and it's her: it's Daphne.

"Daphne, wait!" Niles realizes his mistake; she stares at him like a deer caught in the headlights and then she disappears between cars. He follows her as she is running towards Frasier's car. She has a key dangling from her hand which surprises Niles. She must have remembered to take it when she fled the apartment.

The next mistake is hers; she finds Frasier's car, but she's on the wrong side. The passenger side not the driver's side. Any other moment, Niles is sure he would find it funny. Not today where he's just glad. She's just standing there. Staring back at him. There is an angry glare in her eyes he can see even through the relative darkness of the underground garage.

"I'm so sorry for what Frasier did to you."

His honest apology surprises her. Apparently, she expected him to say something else.

"Are you all right? I mean... how far..." Niles closes his eyes as if in pain. Frasier is his brother, but at the moment his sole concern is Daphne. His uncertainty about what has really happened before he arrived disturbs him.

"He just kissed me. Twice." Daphne grimaces at the memory. Upon seeing this, Niles clenches his fists tightly. Then he feels a sharp pain in his right hand and immediately unclenches it.

"What happened to your hand, Dr. Crane?" She must have seen it. At least she doesn't hate him so much that she's stopped caring all together. In two short strides she is at his side and carefully takes his hand into hers.

"It's fine." He tells her, but winces as she moves his fingers around.

"Did you punch your brother?" Daphne's face is very close. Her eyes are so beautiful there observing him. The memory of her in Frasier's arms comes back uninvited. She's been this close to his brother. Now he understands it, finally and completely. Niles gets a glimpse of what Frasier must have felt like. Now he feels sorry in a way. He would feel even sorrier if Frasier hadn't done what he had to Daphne.

"If I did... would you judge me?" Her soft chuckle is music in his ears. It's like a cure for his hurting hand.

"Not at all." The way she looks at him now is full of pride and something else. Maybe it's an expectation or a question.

"Daphne, about what Frasier said..." Niles' mouth is suddenly too dry to continue. Yet, she's looking at him and somehow it urges him on. Even makes him feel brave.

"He was messing with your head?" She gives him a way out and Niles takes a deep breath, considers taking it. He can tell her it's all been part of Frasier's plan and he doesn't love her. It would simplify everything. Then again what is the point in hiding it now? What is the point when she looks at him like this? With her eyes sparkling, waiting. He takes another deep breath, prepares himself.

"No. No, he wasn't just messing with my head. I do. I do love you, Daphne." Now it's all in the open and now it's Niles who waits. Daphne seems frozen. Niles wishes he could rewind the Now and go back a minute, take all of it back. Go even further back and not even run after her. Erase the whole damn day.

"Daphne?" Suddenly she lets go of his hand. Niles feels his heart fall down, too.

"It's all a bit much, Dr. Crane. I- your brother and you, and... you're in the middle of a divorce."

"That bothers you." Niles states.

"I don't know what I feel right now, Dr. Crane. I need – I need a moment to meself."

"I understand." Niles says and he means it. Yet, he feels hurt. This rejection hurts even more than what Frasier has done to him. He starts to walk away when all of a sudden Daphne grabs his hand again. Niles turns to her, surprised. Then she softly kisses his lips.

"I wanted a comparison." She grins at him, but before he can react she flees the garage. Niles is frozen in place. He touches his lips. They tingle with the promise she just put there.

Now, he thinks, all he has to do is make things right with Frasier.

And wait.

TBC