The further they drove down the road, the slower the traffic became, indicating that the entrance to the Grand Canyon National Park was near.
"It won't be much longer now." Frasier said.
Filled with excitement, Daphne rose from her seat and carefully began to pace the length of the Winnebago.
"Look at me! I'm so nervous I can hardly stand it! You'd think I was meetin' the Queen!"
"Well, we are going to see quite a majestic piece of wonderment." Frasier quipped.
"Oh geez! Again with the bad puns!" Martin said. "Can we just drive in peace until we get to the damn thing?"
Frasier looked over his shoulder at his brother and chuckled.
"Speaking of peace, if Niles doesn't wake up soon, we'll have to leave him in here with Eddie and he'll miss the entire Grand Canyon experience!"
"Like hell we will!" Martin said.
"Dad, it was just a joke!" Frasier said. "I wouldn't dream about leaving Niles in here."
"No, I was talking about leaving Eddie here!" Martin said. "He's coming with us, you know!"
The dog jumped onto Niles' bed and nudged him, only causing him to move ever so slightly. Then, as though determined to wake his master's son, began to bark.
"Nice try Eddie, but it won't do any good. He's sleeping like a log."
"NILES! WAKE UP!" Frasier yelled, scaring Eddie so badly that the dog bounded off the bed and ran to hide underneath the swivel chair.
But amazingly, Niles didn't budge.
"The poor man." Daphne said, smiling at Niles' sleeping form. "He must be awfully tired. He works so hard."
"How many, Sir?" The park ranger asked as the Winnebago pulled up to the pay station.
"Four." Martin replied.
"First time in the park?" The park ranger asked.
"Feels like it." Martin replied.
They drove down the long road until they came to an expansive parking lot.
"I think I'll take this spot back here." Martin said, pulling the Winnebago into the perfect parking space; far away from any other cars. "Geez, I can't wait to see this
thing again! It's been years! Come on, Eddie!"
The dog emerged from his hiding place and out of the Winnebago, forgetting about Niles who was still fast asleep.
"Get up, Niles!" Martin said. After a few seconds there was no response.
"Well, I can't wait around here all day. Let's go to the visitor's center."
Frasier turned his head. "But what about-."
"If Niles wants to sleep his vacation away, that's his problem!" Martin yelled.
Frasier sighed. "Well he'll have to wake up sometime and he can just join us."
"That's wright! Now let's go! I didn't drive for hours on end just to sit in some damn parking lot! Come on, Daphne!"
As they climbed out of the Winnebago, Daphne watched Frasier and Martin in disbelief.
"Don't tell me you're just going to leave him here! Some family you are! Invitin' him on a family trip and then lettin him sleep. All you have to do is walk up and touch him
like this...
Daringly she walked toward him and put out her trembling hand; which only trembled more the closer she moved it to his face. When she was mere centimeters away,
she quickly retreated, her breath catching in her throat.
"Come on Daphne! Let's go!" Martin said in an exasperated tone.
"All right, Old man!" She snapped.
As they crossed the parking lot and headed for the Visitor's Center, she couldn't help but look back at the Winnebago.
She stared for several minutes, completely unaware that Frasier and Martin had gone inside and come back out again.
Martin unfolded a huge map of the park. "Okay, so we take this path to the first overlook, and then we can walk around here." He said, tracing the path with his finger.
"Let's get going. We've got a lot of ground to cover." Frasier said. "Come on, Daphne."
Still staring at the Winnebago, Daphne shook her head.
"No. This isn't right. Your brother should be here. How could you just leave him alone like that?"
Before Frasier and Martin could protest, Daphne headed across the parking lot en route to the RV.
"Don't bother waitin' for me! I'll catch up!" she called over her shoulder.
The further she got across the parking lot, the faster she walked, until she was running at a brisk pace. By the time she arrived at the Winnebago, she was breathless.
Her heart raced as she climbed up the steps and opened the door.
"Niles?"
Amazingly he was still asleep.
Gently she sat down beside him.
"Niles?" she whispered.
To her dismay, he changed positions but barely stirred.
"Niles?"
When there was still no response, she began to worry. Oh God, what if something was really wrong? She couldn't bear the thought of something happening to him.
"Niles!" she said, a little louder this time.
She stared at him, unprepared for the emotions that followed as she thought about his warm hugs, his sweet compliments, his beautiful blue eyes. If something was
really wrong with him...
To her horror she began to cry.