Silence has never roared so loudly in Frasier's ears. His nose thuds and throbs, but the deceptive peacefulness of the apartment almost overwhelms him. He walks around like a nervous hamster, picking up the phone a couple of times just listening to the dial tone. He doesn't dare to call Niles just yet. For a moment he wonders if he couldn't just call Roz, have her tell him how wrong he's been. Then again, he is almost sure he can't take it. So eventually, he moves into the kitchen. Frasier drinks a glass of water. Not just because he feels his mouth too dry after the alcohol, but he feels like he needs to wash away what he did with Daphne. A kiss. Two kisses. The water doesn't help and only makes him shiver. Time seems to stand still around here. He wants - he needs - to talk to someone.

"Frasier!" his name blares loudly from the living room, followed by the door being slammed shut. At first Frasier is not sure if it's just a figment of his imagination, but then he hears Eddie bark once, twice, and he knows it's not. Feeling like a child about to be scolded, he walks into the living room and there's his father looking beyond angry.

"We need to talk, son."

"How do you even know what's happened?"

"I have my ways. Sit down." It's a command and Frasier obeys.

Niles counts the steps as he walks upstairs. He knows he will start anew if he miscounts, but so far he hasn't. 37, 38 and he feels himself relax. He hasn't done this since he was little. Back in the day when he counted for comfort after some bully would harass him. This time it's Frasier he's worried about. So he counts. 42, 43. He doesn't know how many steps are left. All he knows is that he has to find out.

"Daphne! Daphne, stop." For a split second, she thinks it's Niles. She doesn't want to stop for Niles, she can't. But then she registers the lower voice, the even smaller statue. It's not Niles, it's his father.

"I- I was on me way out, Mr. Crane."

"Did you cry? What happened?"

"Oh Mr. Crane!" And Daphne throws herself into the arms of yet another Crane.

"Care to explain yourself, son?" His father hasn't been this angry with him since... well, probably not that long ago. But today it feels different to Frasier. More serious. His father's eyes sparkle with anger. How to explain his behavior? Where to begin?

"Frasier." The voice is more dangerous now. His father used to be a cop. He knows how to get information out of people. Even his own son.

"Niles started it." Frasier says sheepishly. Martin just groans.

"It's not about your brother, or you. It's about Daphne."

Frasier thinks he should feel guilty and he does. But he still feels sorry for himself, too.

"But Niles really did start it."

That earns him another angry glare.

Martin consoles her as best as he can. Her sobbing makes it hard to understand what she's saying; all he gets is Frasier, Niles and feelings. All the feelings. He has no idea what she's talking about. At his feet, Eddie is impatient. Gently, he pushes Daphne away. Crying won't help matters – he needs to find out what's wrong and help her. She is almost like a daughter to him and he can't stand to see her crying.

"What did my sons do?" Instead of an answer, there is just more crying.

Martin knew his sons could screw up. He just didn't know they could do it so brilliantly. At least not when it comes to Daphne.

"He kissed me." She finally manages to say, trying to wipe away a few of her tears. Her face is already red and puffy though.

"Who? Niles?"

"No!" Martin doesn't find out more, because Daphne is crying again and all he can do is hug her once more and wonder why on earth Frasier would kiss Daphne.

Niles stops just once. Suddenly unsure if he's miscounted or not. A woman passes him by and for a moment he thinks he's wrong. So he stops and looks up. He is not there yet. 74. That's his number. As soon as he's alone again, he continues. 75, 76. Almost there. He can feel it.

Martin wishes Niles were here and could defend himself. Frasier naturally depicts himself in the most vivid and honest colors. Like he's never done anything wrong. Even Lilith sounds like a goddess in his story now. It's hard to even listen and not zoom out like he often does. This is important.

"You see my point, dad?" Frasier finishes.

"Your brother made a mistake. There was no reason to involve Daphne!"

"You didn't get my point!"

"You had no point!"

Frasier starts to wonder if maybe he's really been wrong in doing what he did.

"But-"

"Niles screwed up, fine. But Daphne didn't and what you did was much worse than what your brother did."

"But-"

"Let's just hope they forgive you."

This time Frasier is quiet.

As he watches Daphne leave the building, Martin can't help but wonder what's going to happen next. If everything is going to turn out fine. She's threatened to quit before and this time it's even worse.

"All I did was take the dog out!" He says out loud to no one but himself. Eddie stares up at him.

"Let's go have a talk with Frasier."

99 steps. Niles is disappointed. Not even 100. Such an uneven number. Like his family. It's just him, Frasier and dad. A three. But then there's Daphne. Four. Should he count Eddie? Four and a half. Maybe five. He stands in front of apartment 1901. This is his last number for the day, he decides. Niles lifts his hand to knock when he hears voices from inside.

"But-" That's unmistakably Frasier.

"Let's hope the forgive you." His father. Then silence. Niles knocks and waits.

Waits.

"Niles. Come in." There is no anger perceptible in Martin's voice now. Still, it sounds strange in Niles' ears. Carefully, he walks inside. He recoils from the sight in front of him; Frasier's nose is swollen. He looks hideous. Then again it almost makes him proud, because he did this. For a woman. For Daphne.

"Frasier."

"Niles."

The two brothers stand a few feet away from each other. Each of them ready to attack the other again if need be. There was a time in his life when Martin would have encouraged his sons to work through their problems by fighting with their fists. Yet they never did. They bickered and hurt each other verbally. He's never seen them like this. Over a woman neither of them loves. And another woman they all love; albeit in different ways.

"Frasier, I think there's something you want to say to Niles."

"He should say it first!" They're always going to be children, Martin realizes. In a strange and twisted way, the thought consoles him.

"Frasier," Martin chastises Frasier, but Niles holds his hand up in surrender.

"It's alright, dad. I am sorry, Frasier. I really am – like I told you before. I realize now," he stops and clears his throat, "I realize now what you must have felt when you saw me with Lilith and I am really sorry. I hope you can forgive me."

Frasier waits for more, or for his brother to crack and take it all back. It doesn't happen. It's his turn now.

"I'm sorry, too. For... kissing Daphne."

"You should apologize to her, not me."

"It hurt you, too, didn't it?"

"I would lie if I said it didn't."

Frasier opens his mouth to say something, but stops because the front door opens. Suddenly, Daphne stand there and three pairs of eyes land on her.

TBC (next chapter is the last one!)