Chapter III: Hard To Say I'm Sorry... or Goodbye

As soon as she was safe and alone in her car, Daphne took a deep breath. Just being out of the apartment was a relief. But then she started to feel guilty for something else; she had just left. Without letting Dr. Crane – Niles – know that she was gone. Something about that nagged her. In the glove apartment, she found an old piece of paper. It wasn't perfect, but it would have to do. She quickly scribbled down a note saying she had to go home, because of her thyroid pills. Daphne thought it sounded like an excuse, and in a way it was. She went upstairs again and realized she had no key. There was no way she was going to wake him. She felt cheap when she slipped the small piece of paper under the door. For a moment, she just stood there as if she was waiting for something to happen. Then she finally left for good.

On the radio, they informed the public that the heat wave was over. Daphne felt the irony of the situation; if only they would have waited. If they had distracted themselves somehow. Maybe all those feelings would have disappeared, just like the heat wave had. Daphne knew it didn't matter. She could wish for any kind of what-if, but nothing would change what had really happened. Driving home, she couldn't help but think about the night. She tried to shut out all the images. The first, passionate kiss. She should have remembered the way his lips felt against her, but she didn't. This time it had been so different. Then the moment she'd touched his skin and when they went further and... Daphne stopped herself. To distract herself, she turned the radio up. As if to make fun of her, the station played some sappy romantic song. She tried not to listen, but it wasn't easy. She couldn't wait to get home.

As it was merely 10pm, both Dr. Crane and his father were still awake and in the living room. Daphne's hope that she could just rush to her room was crushed as soon as she opened the door.

"Daphne! Finally, you're back." Dr. Crane exclaimed. He was up immediately and on his way over to her. Daphne wasn't sure if he wanted to check her for injuries, or simply hug her but she took a step back. He didn't seem to notice and engulfed her in his arms. She gasped, because he hugged her too tightly. This obvious display of affection brought tears to Daphne's eyes. If only he knew what she and his brother had done... she broke the hug and tried to smile at him, knowing that she couldn't.

"We were worried sick about you!" Mr. Crane yelled at her from his chair. Daphne felt the words as if he had hit her. The tears threatened to fall, but she swallowed them. At least for the time being. She knew she needed to be alone soon. She really didn't want to make a scene in front of these two men – and Sherry. The woman, who was partly to blame for what had happened, walked out of the kitchen. Immediately, Daphne felt the anger return to her.

"Daphne, where have you been? We were about to call the police." Sherry told her, but Daphne didn't believe her. There were so many things she wanted to throw at her verbally – and maybe even physically – but she didn't even get the chance to open her mouth.

"Damn right! You can't just storm out and then not come back!" Mr. Crane went on angrily. Daphne was surprised at how furious he was. Again, she felt the guilt bubble up inside of her. They had been worried about her as if she was truly a part of their family.

"I'm sorry, I really am. I didn't notice the time and well, I guess I was angry. And I'm really sorry." Daphne said.

"I'm sorry, too." Sherry said with little enthusiasm. Apparently, someone had had a talk with her. Daphne almost felt like smiling. Not enough though. Too much had happened since Sherry had told her off. Daphne wasn't ready to forgive her just yet.

"Well, great, but... don't ever do that again, Daphne." Mr. Crane said. His voice, as well as his face, had already softened.

"I won't, Mr. Crane. Now I really need to take me pills, excuse me." Daphne meant to flee to her room, finally, but Dr. Crane stopped her. His fingers encircled her arm softly. Her heart was beat faster, fearing he knew where she'd been. Even if he couldn't know, even if it was illogical.

"Where have you been then?" He asked as if having read her thoughts. His eyes looked at her expectantly, just like she felt Sherry's and Mr. Crane's boring into her back. The tears she'd fought off successfully earlier threatened to fall again. This time Daphne felt defenseless. She was a horrible liar, but she wasn't ready to tell them. They would never let her hide in her room if she told them.

"Dr. Crane..." She uttered the words and they reminded her so badly of another Dr. Crane – of Niles – and the tears, they started to fall and fall relentlessly. She felt, rather than saw, the concern of Dr. Crane.

"Daphne, are you alright?"

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!" She only realized he had released her arm when she tried to draw away from him. As a result she almost stumbled. Her head was flushed, but she ran past her three observers and locked the door to her room behind her. Outside in the living room, three people were at a loss at what had just occurred. And in an apartment somewhere across town, another one woke up. He felt the emptiness beside him and the cold. Had it only been a dream? Niles sat up in his bed. As he saw the crumpled sheets next to him, he felt his heart skip a beat. Not a dream, but she was gone. He was all alone.

TBC