For The Love of Daphne by Patrick Councilor
"I'm still getting used to Chicago, but I am with Charlotte now and that makes it all worth it. I'm also closer to Fredrick. Sure I miss Seattle like the dickens and I'll never have an apartment like I did at Elliot Bay Towers, but life is all about change," Frasier said as he stood next to the chair beside Niles' bed. "I sure miss Nervosa and my coffee time with you. When you get better, we must go back to our old haunt." He turned to face Niles as if he expected an answer. "Promise me that Niles." Then he whispered, "Promise me you'll get better little brother."
"Hey!" Martin limped into the room on a higher note, the way he does when he's trying to lift the mood of a heavy room. "What are you two talking about? Guy stuff?"
"Apparently, and excuse the phycology pun, 'our time is up'." Frasier gave his dad's arm a pat as he headed out to honor the one-visitor-at-a-time rule.
"What are you still doing in bed lazy bones?" Martin took a seat on the chair. "What are you going to do, sleep until noon?" He took the comic book that was tucked under his arm. "I'm sorry son, but the book store just down the street didn't have any Archie comics, so you'll have to settle for Batman." He took a moment to look at his son as the machine inflated his lungs time after time. "Here, I'll just tuck it here for later." He tucked it half way into the blanket by Niles' arm. "Maybe I should have held out and kept looking for an Archie. I'm sorry son." He sat there for a moment. Then he spoke with less pep in his voice. "I'm sorry son." He pulled the blanket up tighter on Niles, not that it needed it, but Martin needed to feel like he was there to look out after him. "It's times like these where a father realizes that he can do almost any job. One could be a cop or a mailman… but the one job he wishes he had perfected a lot more is the job of being a father. I wish I was there more for you kids. I love you Niles. But you already knew that, right? People assume that there family knows just how they feel and then regret it when they realize it's too…" He wiped the forming tears from his eyes. "It's not too late, is it Niles?" He leaned forward enough to where his chin was resting comfortably on Niles' arm. He smiled a little. "Hey, when you're up to it, why don't I teach you how to play catch? When you get better, I'll even let you drag me to an opera, anyone you'd like." When he lifted his head up, he took a hold of his son's hand. "When you get off this breathing machine, the doctor says that immediate family members can come in. All we have to do is convince them that Roz is your sister and we can all come in at once. After a few days of sleep, that might be enough to scare anyone. We're a scary ol' bunch." He sniffed to pull back the tears. "I sure wish Hester was here. Even though I married Ronee, I will never stop missing your mother. You know she's looking down on you right now. She's going to make sure we get through this." He leaned back in the chair. "Here, let's see what we have here?" He took up the comic book and opened it. "Oh, it looks like the Riddler is at it again." He started to read to him, "Gotham City had been diverged upon in many different ways throughout the years…"
Later that evening, long after the sun had gone down and after two different trips to and from the hospital to allow Ronee and David to spend a little time at the hospital with their loved ones, Martin was asleep in one chair of the waiting room, while Charlotte was asleep in another. Frasier and Roz were draped over other chairs with bloodshot eyes.
"We should convince Daphne to go home and get some sleep," Frasier suggested to Roz.
"You wanna try that, because I know that that ain't gonna work… not in this lifetime."
"I'm tired," Frasier lazily said. "I'm even too tired to correct your grammar."
The cell phone on Martin's chest rang, startling him half to death. He answered it.
"Marty, Frank. How is everyone holding out?"
"This day has stretched into a year."
"How's Niles?"
Martin held his hand up to Frasier and Roz to dismiss himself as he walked out of their hearing range. "He's still out of it. The doctors don't know when he may come out of it. They say, 'it could be a day, a week, a month…'."
"Well, I wish I had more news for ya, but it looks like the doc was right. Two people were brought in from the accident and one vehicle was towed. The second victim is still out of it. Her injuries include the neck. She could be paralyzed. And yes, her first name is Becky."
Martin swallowed hard. He was going to say something, but his throat became so dry at that very moment.
"Marty, I know it's not much to go by, but I'm going to earn that beer yet."
"Thanks Frank."
In Niles' room, Daphne tenderly held his hand as she laid her check on it, almost drifting to sleep. She had to feel the warmth of his hand. Visions of Niles driving clear across town in the middle of the night to be with another woman flashed in her mind. She sobbed heavily and uncontrollably. She stood in a sudden burst of rage. "How could you do this to me?" She started to scream, "How could you do this to your son? Was she worth it? Damn you Niles Crane for putting me through this! You didn't think about how this would affect your family, did you?"
Frasier came running into the room, soon followed by Martin. Frasier was holding her as she cried.
Martin took her in his arms. "It's been a hell of a day. Why don't we call it a night? Frasier, why don't you bring the car around?"