For The Love of Daphne by Patrick Councilor
Frasier drove Daphne to the hospital. They didn't speak on the way, but Frasier could sense the tension in the air. He knew that Daphne wasn't up for another moment of Niles not being the Niles she had fallen so madly in love with. He parked and walked inside with her. He stopped at the waiting room. Daphne stopped walking and turned to Frasier. "I'll be right here in the waiting room, if you need me," he said.
Daphne wiped the tears from her face. "I was hoping you were going to say something like that."
"I know this is tearing you apart, Daphne, but find some more patience in your heart, like I know you can. He has loved you for so long before you even knew it and you know he's worth the wait."
She nodded and gave him a hug. "Thank you Frasier."
He stood there in the hall next to the waiting room as he watched her walk down the corridor toward his room. The walk was much longer for her this time. The hallway was a mile longer and she didn't remember the lights being this dim before. It felt like her heart was up in her throat.
She stopped at his door. The only thing she could bring herself to do is to continue to try to swallow that lump in her throat, her heart, to get it back down where it should be. "Jump in Daphne," Aunt Bessy's words were ringing in her ears again. "Ah, put a sock in it, Aunt Bessy, you ol' crow," Daphne said out loud before she stepped into Niles' room.
She found him asleep in his bed. This time, he was propped up with his pillows in a half sitting/half laying position.
The tears silently streamed down her face with every step she made toward him. He looked so peaceful. Delicately/carefully, she sat on the edge of his bed. With a trembling hand, she reached out and touched his hand.
Ever so slowly, he opened his ocean blue eyes and tears started to form in them. One of them streamed down across his cheek so quickly, as if it had some place to be. He reached out his hand and caressed her soft cheek. She tilted her head; slightly leaning into his touch and a faint smile crossed her lips. For a moment, he just stared into her warm hazelnut eyes. Then gently with his fingertips, he ran then across her lower lip and then slowly back again.
He finally spoke with broken words. "Am I dreaming?"
She shook her head and whispered, "No."
He shook his head back at her. "You're wrong," he said almost underneath his breath, "You couldn't be more wrong. I'm always dreaming when I'm with you Daphne."
She let out a heavy sigh and kissed his hand as she started sobbing uncontrollably.
"Daphne, you have no idea how much you saved my life this time."
They drew to each other and their lips met. They held onto each other as if to prove that no force by man or nature would break them free from each other… not again… not ever. "I love you Daphne." She laughed. His words never sounded so good to her… so pure.
"I love you Doctor Crane."
"Hey," he said, "Who's backsliding now?" She had not called him that since before they had become a couple.
She laughed and brushed her lips with his again. She kissed his nose tenderly and then she gently laid her lips back on his. Niles' heart rate monitor started to pick up and ping from his elevated heart rate. His eyes widened from the alarm, but nothing was stopping them from prolonging that kiss.
He could feel her breath on his cheek and her soft hair upon his face. He thought for a moment that he had actually died and gone to heaven.
She pulled up for a moment. "I was SO SCARED that you were expecting to see Maris."
"I said 'dream' not 'nightmare'." He pulled her in for more of those kisses.
Martin paced back and forth in the lobby of The Montana. He tried to piece together what Frank was talking about on the phone, but he kept stopping himself. He was only driving himself crazy.
Finally there was a look of relief when he saw Frank enter the lobby. Martin hurried over to him. "Frank, what's going on?"
"Marty, you know I love your kids like day was my own."
"Just tell me what is going on."
"The medical reports were just filed from the accident. This Becky girl wasn't a passenger in Niles' car."
"What?"
"The report shows that she suffered neck injuries from the impact and a broken pelvis from the grill of the car."
Martin stared off into nothingness. "Oh my God." He turned back to Frank. "Niles has amnesia. He doesn't remember the accident."
"I hope he gets his memory back fast. I hate to tell you this Marty. We go back a long way."
"Why don't you just say what's on your mind."
"He's going to be facing charges soon and if the Becky girl dies, he looking at vehicular man slaughter. I'm sorry Marty."
"The doctor said that Niles may never remember the accident. Well… at least they weren't in the car together. At least we don't have to face that bullet."
"Don't get ahead of yourself Marty."
Marty thought for a moment and an uneasy look fell over him. "He still went out to meet her after she called, didn't he?"
Frank put a comforting hand on Martin's shoulder. "I know that doesn't help, but that looks like that part is the lesser of his problems. Maybe you should look into getting a lawyer for him."
Martin started to fumble with his hands. He shot Frank a quick look. "Thanks Frank."