His fingers trembled as he rang the doorbell and Frasier's expression, once the door was answered, was one of complete surprise.
"Niles, what are you doing here?"
"Well, I-."
"If you're looking for Daphne, she's not here." His father said from behind his newspaper.
Niles looked up in surprise. "No, I-."
Frasier turned to the older Crane. "Dad, please!"
"He deserves to know, doesn't he?"
"Wait a minute." Niles said. "What are you talking about?"
Frasier ran a hand through his hair. "Well, Niles… Actually Dad and I have been kind of worried about Daphne."
Snapped to attention, Niles felt his heart skip a beat. "Worried? Why? What's happened?"
"I don't know, exactly."
"Frasier, if something is going on with Daphne, I need to know!"
"Niles, just calm down, okay? I shouldn't have said anything at all. It's just that… well, after what happened with Donny, I don't really blame her for leaving, but she could have at least told us herself."
"Told you what? I don't understand. What does Donny have to do with this? Frasier?"
His heart was racing. Dear God, he was about to learn the truth about why Daphne had been so upset since he'd arrived in this very living room and found her completely distraught. Suddenly he wasn't sure that he wanted to know. He felt like a traitor; as though he was about to learn the deep, dark secret that Daphne had been keeping from him. But he realized that he needed to know. It was the only way to help her.
"All right Niles, I'll tell you." Frasier said. "But first I need for you to understand that I'm telling you this in coincidence. I'm sure that Daphne would rather-."
"Damn it, Frasier, tell me!" Niles yelled.
The room fell silent. Niles' outburst had shaken them all; even his farther, who glanced at him only for a moment before returning his attention to his newspaper. Niles took a deep breath in an effort to calm himself, but the effort was useless. However, when he spoke, he did so slowly.
"Frasier please. Tell me what's going on with Daphne."
"Niles, I really don't think this is the time or the place."
Anger rose inside of him and he was dangerously close to the boiling point. "TELL ME, DAMN IT!" he shouted, even louder than before.
"Niles for God's sake, calm down!" Frasier ordered. "What in the hell is wrong with you?"
He began to pace the room. "I don't know! I-I don't know, all right? I don't know anything anymore!" When he stopped, he saw his brother's expression soften.
"I think you do." Frasier said quietly.
Niles turned and stared out at the Seattle skyline through Frasier's large picture window. At that moment he wanted to cry; oh how he wanted to. Ironically, given the circumstances, he knew that his brother and father would understand. But he simply could not do it.
"Niles, what's going on? What's happened?"
"Mel and I are through." The words left his mouth, but sounded foreign to his ears. He should have been happy; elated even, but instead he felt numb. And once again the room fell silent.
He couldn't look at his father or Frasier, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw his dad rise from his chair and grab his cane. He knew what was coming next.
"Aren't either of you going to say anything?" Niles demanded. He hadn't expected this; the silent treatment. Didn't they have any kind of reaction at all? "Look, I'm sure that you both are happy about this, and-."
"Niles-."
"Just say it, Frasier." He paused, swallowing hard. "You never liked Mel. You or Dad."
Frasier's hand went to his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Niles."
Another hand went to his back. "I'm sorry too, Son."
More silence followed.
"I really am sorry, Niles. I know that you loved her." Frasier said quietly.
"Thank you." he mumbled, trying to sound grateful for the sympathy.
"I-I'm sure you're wondering about Daphne."
Frasier and his dad exchanged looks.
"You may as well tell him." His father said. "He's gonna find out anyway."
"F-find out what?"
It was Frasier who dropped the bomb.
"The engagement is off. Daphne and Donny have split up."
And what a bomb it was.