For The Love of Daphne by Patrick Councilor

Donny was knocking on the door at the first light of day. Everyone was scrambling to get breakfast when he arrived. When Daphne answered the door, Donny walked right in, straight to Niles and kissed him on each cheek.

"Well, good morning to you too," Niles said.

"All charges have been dropped," Donny said with a smile.

Everyone cheered Donny.

"Why?" Niles asked. "Not that I want to pry, but what happened?"

"The prosecutor was pressing for mandatory man slaughter. But litigation is like playing chess. I produced a copy of your cell phone records showing an inbound call on that night just before midnight from a Professor Rebecca Williams. They flipped their charges to attempted murder with the assumption that you then knew Miss William's location. Playing on a hunch, I had the area searched and Ms. Williams vehicle was parked over six miles away. So why would she be walking on the road on the way to her house and your office six miles from her vehicle? I walked a court order through and was granted a warrant to have Ms. Williams house searched. Bingo! We found a suicide note ending with the explanation that Doctor Niles Crane had no knowledge or intention of aiding in this suicide."

Niles looked like he had just swallowed an apple whole.

"I'm sorry Niles." Donny continued. "You were set up to help her end her life. The phone call must have been dramatic. That's why you left your office so quickly, dropping your wallet and cell phone without noticing. She knew the route you would take and probably called you even after she started walking down the road waiting for your car to come racing down the road."

Niles couldn't believe that he was used as a pawn in an ugly game of Arsenic and Old Lace. Her depression was relevant, but she hadn't displayed any signs of suicidal tendencies. Niles was beside himself.

"The only charge you are now facing is a $65 fee for driving without possession of your driver's license," Donny added.

Daphne hugged Niles. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, yes… I mean, I will be. I just need some air. Will you all excuse me?"

"I'll go with you," Daphne said.

"No, you stay here. There's some celebrating to do. Mind the guests. I'll be back."

She cupped his jaw with both of her hands and gently turned his face to tenderly whisper a kiss on his lips. He smiled back and then wheeled himself out the front door.

That was hours ago and no one knew where he was. Frasier tried his cell a dozen times, but he wasn't answering. Frasier took a drive to go find him. He drove out to Niles' office. There he found Niles boxing up his office in the dark. Frasier turned the light on. "How did you get here?"

"I took a cab," he said as he continued to pack without looking Frasier's way.

"You're still walking away from your profession?"

"I should have been there for that woman. I could have helped her. I couldn't foresee the signs enough to stop her from attempting suicide. Worst of all, I became the murder weapon."

"You were on your way to help her Niles."

"Sometimes it's not enough to pave a road with good intentions."

"Then why did you go Niles? Why did you rush out of here so quickly leaving your phone and wallet behind?"

"I've dedicated my life to helping people, not helping people end their lives."

Fraser lifted a frame from one of the boxes that he had packed. It was Niles' diploma. "That's right Niles. You HAVE dedicated your life to helping people. Why stop now?"

"I can't do this anymore. I have defeated my own purpose."

"Niles, there was a certain party I went to… or was it a silent auction… I remember the bottomless wine samples… Anyway, a priest came up to me. He asked me what I did for a living. I told him and he asked me how many sanities I thought I had saved. I told him that I didn't know. Then I asked him how many souls he thought he had saved. He laughed and said he didn't know. Niles, at your age, perhaps it is not time for you to look back and count the sanities you've saved, but to look forward and see how many you have yet to save. You are a great doctor and you have helped countless people. Don't let this incident stop you from using your gift to help others. Becky Williams is getting better now, but only physically. She will be transferred to a mental institution soon. Perhaps it would be best if she was helped along the way with a familiar face; a forgiving face."

Niles slowly took the frame from Frasier. His words were a little choked up. "Thank you Frasier." He wheeled himself over to the wall where the nail still marked the spot where his diploma used to be. "Frasier…"

"Yes Niles."

"Taking this down was hard enough with this cast. Could you please hang it back up for me?"

"Sure." He hurried over and hung it for him. "Well now, that's where that belongs."

"You are a good brother Frasier. And a great friend."

"You're not so bad yourself." Then Frasier said with regret, "Charlotte has to get back to her business. I can drop you off to see Becky on the way to picking up Charlotte before heading to the airport. What do you say?"

"That would be great. Thank you."

"My pleasure Niles." Frasier started to push him toward the door, but Niles held the wheels stopping him.

He repeated, "Thank you Frasier."

Frasier smiled as he wheeled his brother out. The eminent Doctor Niles Crane held his head up high on the way out of his office.

When reaching the hospital, Niles said his good-byes in the parking lot and then wheeled himself inside to talk with Becky. This time he was ready to take a new approach with her. He was going in as a forgiving friend and a caring doctor. If nothing else they had injuries in common to talk, joke and laugh about. It was the greatest session that the two of them ever had. Becky knew Niles was being sincere, because psychologists usually don't make house calls, even if they are in hospitals, and very seldom on their own dime. They were now more that doctor/patient. They were good friends. Niles told her he would keep in touch with her though out and beyond her treatments in the clinic.

When Niles wheeled himself outside, the air seemed fresher and the sun was out on a beautiful Seattle day. There stood Frasier at the car in the same spot he was when he dropped Niles off. Niles wheeled himself over. "Frasier, what are you still doing here? I thought you had a plane to catch."

"I did. Then I thought what the hell, I'm going to have that cup of coffee at Nervosa with my brother."

Niles smiled. "I'm glad you did."

He helped load Niles into the passenger seat. "So, I called Charlotte and told her I'd meet up with her in Chicago in a day or so and then asked Dad to drive her to the airport." He lifted the wheelchair into the back.

"Say Frasier, do you think this tie is too busy for this jacket?"

Frasier got into the driver's side and started the car. "Well no Niles, but I do think it is acute with the cast."

As the car pulled out of the parking lot, Niles commented, "Well I was going to go with my brown loafers, but how obscure would it be to wear one brown loafer with a cast?"

THE END

I want to thank Andrea and Kristen for being my inspiration, Kristen for keeping me straight with the storyline, and Andrea, Kristen and Leighann for all the wonderful reviews.