Disclaimer: I don't own any part or character of The Nanny…but I'll never give up hope.
A/N: Answer to a RUNHP challenge. Let me know what you think. - D
The Rules:
1. Either Niles or CC is involved in an accident.
2. The accident victim believes they are married to the non-victim.
3. The 'spouse' and family must play along via doctor's instructions.
MIND GAMES
CHAPTER 1
"Oh my God! Max!" Fran yells from her place in the foyer. "Niles has had an accident!"
Max and CC, practically run in from the office. "What's happened, Fran?"
"He's at the hospital, I'll explain on the way…let's go!" Fran was at the closet slipping into her coat.
"What about the children?" Max asked as he too slipped into his coat. "CC, can you stay here and wait for the children to get home from school and then bring them to the hospital?"
CC looked nearly broken at the thought. "I uhm…I…I guess."
"They'll be home in an hour, CC…please." Max begged.
CC nodded. "Sure, you go. I'll bring Maggie, Brighton and Grace with me." Max and Fran turned in shock at CC getting the children's names right, but quickly resumed their path out the door.
Max and Fran nearly ran to the nurse's station in the emergency department. "I'm Maxwell Sheffield, I was called about Niles…he was in an accident."
The nurse checked her chart. "Oh, yes, Niles…odd that his ID didn't have a last name. Anyway, he was crossing the street and got clipped by a car. He's actually very lucky. He has a bad concussion but the doctor thinks he'll make a full recovery. You can see him if you like. Are you the wife?"
Fran smiled politely. "Oh, no…I'm the nanny."
"Oh…well he's asking for his wife." The nurse stated flatly.
Fran and Max's heads both whipped around. "Excuse me?" Max asked her.
"Niles…he's asking for his wife." The nurse checked her chart. "Someone named…CC?"
Max and Fran stood in stone cold shock. "Uhm…we'll need to speak with Niles' doctor before we see him, Nurse." Fran asked softly as Max slowly stammered. The Nurse nodded and left them sitting outside Niles' room.
"I'm Doctor Rivers, I understand you're here for Niles'?" The tall thin man spoke softly as he extended his hand to Max.
"Doctor," Fran spoke since Max was still speechless. "The nurse said that Niles is asking for his wife…CC?"
"That's right." The doctor smiled. "It's quite common, for a man to wake from a concussion and ask for his wife. Why does it concern you?"
"Well, Niles isn't married and he and CC have a less than friendly relationship. Are you sure there isn't anything…wrong?" Fran asked.
The doctor frowned. "He showed no signs of brain trauma, but I'll run a CT Scan. If what you say is true, there has to be something going on." The doctor went to speak to the nurse and returned. "For now, it's best if you don't upset him. Go along with whatever he says, at least until we find out what's causing this odd memory lapse."
Max and Fran stood just as CC and the children joined them outside of Niles' room. Trailing behind were Sylvia, Yetta and Val. "I couldn't help it the three stooges got to the mansion just as the kids got back from school." CC offered. "Why aren't you in with Niles?"
"CC…" Max sat her down. "There are a few things we have to tell you."
"Is he alright?" CC looked genuinely worried. "Oh, God, Max…he isn't…?"
Max shook his head. "God no…he's fine…well, mostly. The doctor is going to run a CT Scan…it would seem Niles has some memory issues."
"He's lost his memory?" CC asked concerned wondering what bits and pieces he's lost.
"Oh he hasn't lost his memory…" Fran started. "He's lost his mind!"
CC and Max's heads both snapped up to look at Fran. "Miss Fine!" Max chastised her. "CC…" Max swallowed. "It would seem that Niles believes that…"
"Oh for Heaven's sake, Max…spit it out." CC barked.
Max looked around the gathered family. "Niles thinks that you and he are married. He's been asking for his wife. And told the nurse her name was CC."
"Oh, my God…he has lost his mind." CC muttered under her breath. "What are we supposed to do?"
Max sighed and searched the faces of his family. "The doctor insists that we go along with anything Niles says. It's best not to upset him until the doctor understands what's causing his…problem."
"You've got to be kidding! You want me to pretend to be married to the dust mop?" CC feigned upset and anger, knowing she'd full well go along. She and Niles had an understanding after all.
"CC…" Max gave her the 'warning' voice. "I need you to do this. The doctor doesn't seem to think it'll last, but we can't afford to upset him and risk his health. It's not even a year since his heart attack."
CC sighed. "Oh alright." She stood from her seat. "I'm going in, but I'm going in alone. I'll find out as much as I can about what's going on in his warped mind and let you all know." CC stood at the door for a moment and took a deep breath before she slowly opened the door.
CC slowly approached his bed. There he lay, sleeping. He wasn't as pale as when he'd had the heart attack, actually he looked rather handsome and content. "Niles?" CC whispered not wanting to disturb him. She swallowed the forming lump in her throat. "Niles, Honey…are you awake?"
Niles blinked a few times as his eyes adjusted to the soft light in the room. He turned to look at her. "Hello, Love."
"What happened?" CC sat on the edge of his bed and took his hand in hers.
Niles sighed. "I was crossing the street just outside the bakery and got clipped by a car…" Niles gave her a half smile. "At least, that's what they tell me. I don't remember anything after this morning."
"Niles…" CC was careful to speak softly and as kindly as she'd ever spoken to him before. "The doctor's are a little worried about memory loss. What do you remember about…well…everything."
Niles smiled at her. "You look worried, Love. Don't be…I'm fine, really."
"I know…but please…what do you remember?" CC coaxed him again.
Out in the waiting area the children were full of questions. "Daddy," Grace finally asked. "What are we all going to do if Niles memory doesn't ever come back?"
"Oh, Grace, I'm sure Niles is going to be just fine." Max smiled. "Sylvia, could you take the children down to the cafeteria and get them something to eat? I don't think we're going to get out of here for dinner."
"Oh sure, Max." Sylvia, Yetta and Val took the children and left. "We'll grab something for you and Franny too."
"Max," Fran started softly. "Grace had a valid question. What happens if Niles' memory really doesn't eva come back?"
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Max leaned back and sighed.
A couple of hours later CC emerged from Niles' room and was immediately surrounded by everyone. "Ok, people, I need to sit down…not to mention I'm starving." CC sat in the waiting area and was still surrounded. "Hey…my husband insists that I eat something, so back off for a minute would ya?" CC was exhausted and watched as the orderlies brought Niles out of the room for his CT Scan. "I'll be here when they bring you back." CC leaned down and kissed his cheek causing an audible gasp from the group behind her.
Down in the cafeteria, CC explained everything as best she could. "His memory seems perfectly fine up to his heart attack, after that it is completely different than anything I can recall…at least as far as he and I are concerned. It's like an alternate life or something."
"CC…" Max tried to follow. "Are you saying that Niles' has selective memory alterations?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying." CC sipped her soda. "Every other part of his memory is unchanged. The differences are just between him and me. Apparently, once he regained his strength after the heart attack he decided he wasn't going to waste any time living his life. He says that on the evening of the Elton John dinner, he asked me out for drinks after the premier. That we started dating and on my birthday he proposed and we married on Valentine's Day. It was a very small wedding at the mansion. Daddy gave me away and Noel and DD were both there too. He said I was beautiful and that you did marvelous job of putting it together so quickly, Nanny Fine."
"So then the two of you haven't been married even a year?" Fran asked. CC shook her head. "Oh my God, I can't believe I even said that."
"CC," Max started. "What else do we need to know? We all have to be prepared to go along."
CC took a deep breath. "We live at my place for now, while we look for a place closer to the mansion. We didn't have a honeymoon because we were both too busy so we decided that we'd wait until our first anniversary and take a big trip. I still haven't met his parents since everything happened so quickly. This is our 'wedding photo'. It was in his wallet." CC handed the picture to Max. "We'll need copies for the apartment. Any pictures you may have of the two of us as well." Otherwise, there really isn't much. We still toss the insults apparently; he called me his little witch. So at least that hasn't changed. Oh, Fran I'll need you to go to my apartment and get our wedding rings."
Fran stared blankly at her. "Ya what?"
"In my jewelry tower there's a dark green box. It has my grandparent's wedding rings in it. I told him I had them out being cleaned and that's why we weren't wearing them. He figured it was just something he'd forgotten." CC handed Fran her apartment key.
"Uh…Miss Babcock…" Fran started. "Are you alright, you seem a little pale."
"I'm fine, Fran." CC looked at her watch. "Niles will be back from his CT Scan soon. I need to get upstairs." CC stood and looked back at the assembled 'family'. "Thanks." She left them all very confused at this new altered life.
CC sat in the chair next to Niles' bed and waited for his return. She wasn't there ten minutes before they wheeled him in. "Well, did they find anything? Anything at all?" CC smiled at him.
"Hello, Love. Where'd the family go?" Niles asked having seen them with CC in the hall before his CT Scan.
CC helped get Niles settled into his bed and sat next to him. "They'll be here soon. I told them to feed the kids and then come for a visit."
"The kids?" Niles asked.
"Maggie, Brighton and Grace…geez, Niles…you practically raised them, please tell me you haven't forgotten them?" CC looked suddenly worried.
"Kidding!" Niles winked. "The doctor said he'd want to speak to you after the results come back from my CT Scan. I wonder why he won't just tell me."
"He's probably worried about how you'll take the news that you don't actually have a brain and it's just some little gerbil in there running madly on an exercise wheel." CC smiled softly at him. "I'm just glad it wasn't worse."
"What's the matter, Love? You don't really think I'd forget about us…do you?" Niles took her hand in his. "I've loved you for so long there's no way I could ever forget it."
"Tell me again…Niles…please?" CC asked curiously.
Niles frowned. "I thought you hated it when I tell the story about when I discovered I was in love with you?"
"Well sure, usually, but I could've lost you today. I'd really like to hear it…again." CC practically pleaded with him.
Niles smiled. "Well, you had only just started working for Mr. Sheffield. You still had long auburn hair and wore your glasses, very studious looking. Don't get me wrong, I was taken with you the minute I opened the door to your signature 'hello, hello!', but it wasn't until our first sparring match that I lost my heart forever." Niles smiled as he remembered.
"What's the matter, Hazel…is your dust buster broken?" CC cackled.
Niles raised an eyebrow. "No, it would seem someone borrowed the batteries." Niles stepped toward her. "I thought you decided that you were going to look for a real boyfriend."
"I loathe you." CC spat at him.
Niles smirked. "Just keep telling yourself that. You may believe it someday."
"What the hell does that mean?" CC barked.
Niles could feel his heart race as he moved closer to her. "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."
"Don't even try quoting Shakespeare to me, you…domestic." CC snapped.
Niles raised an eyebrow. "I may be a domestic, but someday your kind too will be domesticated."
"Bite me, Niles." CC snarled at him.
Niles had her right where he wanted her now…off balance. He took one last step and backed her against the counter. "I will, Miss Babcock. But only if you beg."
"I'll never beg you for anything, Servant." CC narrowed her eyes.
Niles matched her look. "Oh, that day too shall come."
They stood there, noses practically touching, their hearts pounding and their breathing heavy. "Niiiillllesss!" Max bellowed ripping them apart. Max then strode into the kitchen. "Brighton is in need of a diaper change, and Sara is still resting. Would you be so good, old man?"
Niles took Brighton from Max. "Certainly, Sir, I live to serve others." Niles winked at CC as he headed up the back stairs with Brighton in his arms.
"That was it…no one had ever put me in my place like that. I was a goner." Niles sighed and gazed at CC in such a way it made her feel warm all over. "Mind you, I didn't think it would take nearly fifteen years for us to get where I always hoped we go, but you're well worth the wait."
CC looked down at him. "Why did you wait so long to say something?" CC asked, hoping it wasn't a conversation they'd had before.
"I wondered when you'd ask that." Niles looked away sadly. "Well, I thought I'd have to give you some time to get used to the idea that I was just a butler and that's likely all I'd ever be. Then we lost Sara and that brought a whole new list of issues into the mix." Niles sighed. "If I had it to do over, I'd have kissed you that day in the kitchen…maybe that would've been a better ice breaker."
There was a light knock on the door. Max poked his head in. "Hey there, are you ready for visitors, there's a crowd out here and they are likely to cause a scene."
"Bring 'em in!" CC stood and kissed Niles lightly. "I have to find Doctor Rivers. You have a nice visit and I'll be back soon."
CC started out as everyone else started in. Max grabbed her arm lightly as she passed him. "I really appreciate this, CC. I know it must be very difficult for you."
"It's ok, Max." CC left him and thought to herself. "I'm finding it's not so very difficult after all."
