"I spy with my little eye..."
"Oh geez, Fras! How long are you two going to keep playing that game?"
"Well Dad, we have to have something to do while we're driving in the middle of nowhere." Niles said.
"But you've been playing that game since we left Oregon! Play something else!" Martin ordered, trying to keep his attention on the road.
Niles pouted and crossed his arms in front of his body. "I don't want to!"
"Do I have to pull over? Because I'll do it! And if that happens, you don't want to know what I'm going to do after that!" Martin yelled.
"Will you knock it off?" Daphne yelled, startling them to silence.
"I'm sorry Daphne." Niles said. He glared at Frasier and Martin. "You see what you've done? You've upset our Daphne!"
"I'm sorry for yelllin' Dr. Crane. I'd just like to get a little rest. I'm quite tired." Daphne said.
"You know, I think we're all pretty tired." Frasier said. "Dad you've been driving ever since we left home. Why don't we pull over to the next KOA and get some sleep.
It's late."
"Like hell we will!" Martin yelled. "I'm not spending the night in some crummy campground! It's stupid! I want to get to the Grand Canyon as soon as possible!"
"All right, well if you won't stop for the night, at least let me drive. And in a few hours it'll be Niles' turn to drive." Frasier said.
"Okay, fine." Martin grumbled. Reluctantly he pulled the Winnebago to the side of the road and climbed out, trading places with his son.
"Time to hit the open road." Frasier said as they pulled out onto the highway.
Martin settled himself into the passenger seat and closed his eyes. "Thanks, Fras."
As he leaned back against the leather seat, he sighed contentedly. "Boy, I must have been more tired than I thought."
"Just relax, Dad and leave the driving to me." Frasier said.
Within seconds, Martin was sound asleep.
Meanwhile in the back of the Winnebago, Niles lay on the impossibly uncomfortable excuse for a bed and feigned sleep.
When he was sure that Frasier was deep in thought and his father deep in sleep, he pushed himself to a sitting positing and caught a glimpse of Daphne who slept
peacefully on the tiny corner bed.
His heart melted as he stared at her. She was even more beautiful than before; with her hair splayed across the tiny pillow.
When a lock fell onto her forehead, he couldn't resist rising from his makeshift bed and walking toward her. With trembling fingers he reached out and brushed the
stray lock back into place.
A soft sigh escaped, causing Niles a momentary case of panic.
"Is everything all right, Daphne?"
Niles froze, praying that his brother hadn't seen. He could see Frasier glancing into the rear-view mirror and quickly hid himself from view; his heart racing.
If Frasier caught him watching Daphne sleep, he'd never hear the end of it.
The last thing he needed was a lecture!
It was absurd! He wasn't a child!
Besides, he wasn't watching her. He was merely-
When she stirred again, he glanced into the rear view mirror, relived when he saw Fraier smile.
"Ah, just a bad dream I suppose." Frasier continued. "Well, don't worry Daphne. Soon we'll be at the Grand Canyon and your wonderful dream of seeing it will come
true. It's truly an awe-inspiring masterful creation."
After a few minutes, Frasier returned his attention back on the open road ahead.
When he turned on the radio and found a most impressive piece of music, Niles knew that Frasier's interest in Daphne's "bad dream" had disappeared.
Relaxing a bit, Niles emerged from his hiding place and looked at Daphne who had resumed her slumber.
And before he realized what he was doing he rose from his bed and crept toward her kneeling on the floor next to the woman who had stolen his heart.