For The Love of Daphne by Patrick Councilor
Daphne apologized to everyone for her behavior at least half a dozen times during the car ride home that evening. Everyone knew the stress was getting to everyone and they had forgiven her the moment she had lost her control in Niles' hospital room. She didn't get much sleep that night. She cried so much that she was all dried up. She couldn't sleep. As a matter of fact, the few hours she did sleep was only after she splashed some of Niles' favorite cologne on her pillow. She held tightly onto it the entire time she was in bed.
By the time Seattle caught its first ray of sun that morning, Daphne was already up, showered, dressed and had made breakfast for everyone. She was ready to see the love of her life again. She nursed a cup of coffee while Frasier, Charlotte, Martin and Ronee at their breakfast.
"Listen," Frasier said as he stood up from the table. "I'm not very hungry right now. Daphne, why don't I drive you down to the hospital and come back for everybody else."
"Really?" She stood up and for the first time since he arrived, Frasier saw a small sparkle in her eye.
"Sure," he said reassuringly.
"Let me check on David, freshen up and I'll get me purse." She ran upstairs.
With a half-eaten piece of toast covered with blueberry jam in his hand, Martin leaned across the table and kept his voice low so Daphne wouldn't overhear him. "Frasier, do you think that is wise after last night?"
"Dad, you said yourself last night that that was a very stressful day. No one can blame her for going off on Niles like that. Now at this point, we can either keep her under our thumbs or we can show her that we still love and trust her."
"I hope you know what you're doing?" he snapped back.
"Of course I do. Trust me, I'm a doctor. Then again, in the words of the great Martin Crane, 'Shut your big bazoo'."
Martin dropped his toast down on his plate and gave Frasier a stern look.
Soon Daphne came bounding down stairs. "Ronee, do you mind watching after David again today? I have six bottles of milk in the refrige and you know where we keep the diapers."
Ronee gave her a warm smile. "Of course hon."
With that, Frasier took a big drink of his coffee and lead Daphne toward the door, picking up his keys on the end table by the door as they went. Once they arrived, Frasier walked her inside the hospital only to check on Niles' condition before giving Daphne a kiss on the cheek and back to The Montana he went.
When Daphne arrived at his room, she found two nurses there who had just checked on him and gave him clean bedding. He had an IV drip in his right arm. His condition was the same.
She held his hand. When the nurses left, she began to cry again. "Niles, I am so sorry for the way I acted last night. I love you. David misses you something fierce, I can tell. You are my whole world. I want you back. I want you home where you belong."
Niles' hand twitched inside hers.
"Oh my God, Niles! Can you hear me?"
His eyes half opened.
"I love you baby. I love you Niles!" She hadn't even realized that she was on her feet now.
He reached up and tried to take the assisted breathing tube out of his mouth.
"Hold on my love." She ran into the hallway. "Nurse! Nurse! He's waking up! He's trying to take the tube out!"
Two nurses came running up the hall and rushed into the room. "Mrs. Crane, we're going to have to ask you to go back to the waiting room while we get him set up in here."
She nodded as if they had their eyes on her. She back-stepped out of the room as they drew the curtain closed. Somehow Daphne understood. It could be dramatic for family members to see the breathing tube come out of their loved ones.
Daphne turned and hurried down the hall to the waiting room. She had to get to a phone and call her apartment. Her heart was beating so rapidly.
It wasn't long before Martin, Frasier and Charlotte were down at the hospital giving Daphne hugs. "I am so happy… so relieved," she told them.
Everyone was all smiles.
"He's going to be fine," Martin said with a mile wide grin.
She gave him a kiss on the cheek and then quickly checked her watch. "What's taking those nurses so long?"
"Come now," Frasier said. "Let's take seats in the waiting room at chat for a bit to kill the time."
Everyone went to the couches in the waiting room and sat. Martin looked eager when he asked Frasier, "So are you as popular in Chicago as you were in Seattle?"
Frasier's smile faded. "Within six months?" he asked sarcastically. "I've only been in Chicago for six months and you're comparing that to eleven years of Seattle? What's the matter Dad, couldn't you pick a gloomier topic?"
A nurse approached. "All immediate family can go well Dr. Crane now."
"Perfect timing," Martin said as they all stood up. Frasier held Charlotte's hand, inviting her to come into the room with them.
Everyone was so excited to see Niles. The hallway seemed to have gotten twice as long since the last time they walked it.
Daphne was the first to enter the room. She pulled the chair back to his bedside and held his hand. "It sure is good to see you."
"Hey, look who's up," Martin added.
"Hey, it's really good to see you guys," Niles said in a weak state.
"He's under meds." The nurse checked his monitors. "He'll need his rest, so please keep this visit short." She left the room.
"Sure thing ma'am," Frasier said with a smile. "How do you feel pal?"
"Don't toy with me Frasier."
Frasier lost his smile. "Excuse me?"
"Niles, how do you feel?" Martin asked.
"I've got cotton mouth. I could use some water." He turned to Daphne. "Miss, could you get me some water."
"What?" she replied in astonishment.
Martin leaned over to Niles to make himself perfectly clear. "Niles, why are you talking to Daphne like that?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I don't know the nurses' names. Daphne, could you please get me some water."
Martin was careful that each word he spoke was perfectly clear. "Who do you think Daphne is?"
"I'm assuming that she's my nurse and it's Frasier's fault that this happened. He pushed me down the stairs."
Daphne's face turned as white as a ghost as she stepped back away from his bed. Frasier tried to catch her, but she slipped out of the room and ran down the hall. Her own husband doesn't even know who she is. Her heart sank and then broke into several pieces. This couldn't be happening. Charlotte chased after her.
"That's your wife son," Martin told him.
"Yeah, right," Niles replied.
Frasier spoke up. "Dad, wait. Don't push this." He then asked, "Niles, what were you wearing when I pushed you down the stairs?"
"Your opera cape, but that doesn't give you the right to push me."
Frasier turned to his father and whispered, "Dad, that happen when Niles was ten years old. The result of his head trauma has cost him most of his memory."