With trembling hands she packed her bag (just enough for a one-night stay) and slung it over her shoulder, willing her tears to remain at bay. Bloody hell, why was she so upset? It was just a stupid fight with the stupid, annoying woman that Mr. Crane found so appealing. She couldn't understand why she would let someone like Sherry get the best of her, and it was obviously the reaction that Sherry was looking for. But now the words of that retched woman rang loudly in Daphne's ears:

"You're too rigid! Too thin! Maybe you wouldn't be so touchy if you didn't wake up next to no-one every morning! You're not seeing anybody… Jack is a great guy! Oh now you're so pretty. I can't understand why men aren't buzzing around you!"

Fighting the angry tears that filled her eyes suddenly became much more difficult and she found herself looking away as she moved through the living room, ignoring Frasier's questions and the shouting of his father. Not to mention Sherry's horrible attempt at an apology. She ignored it all, choosing instead to leave the condo and slam the door. Her heart was pounding so quickly that she could barely think and she pressed the elevator button repeatedly. Oh why was the damn thing always so slow?

She could take the stairs. Yes, that's what she would do. Get rid of some of her unwanted energy. But it was so hot. She'd surely pass out by the time she reached the 5th floor and it was bound to cause a scene. It wasn't hard to imagine the things that Sherry would have to say once word got out about that fiasco. It was best to wait for the elevator, no matter how long it took.

She closed her eyes and began to count to ten. It was a technique that she'd heard Frasier and Niles suggest a hundred times to keep one's self calm. And amazingly, it seemed to work. Like magic, the elevator doors opened, allowing her to step inside.

Soon she was walking past Morrie the doorman, grateful when she reached her car. Her heart was pounding against her chest as she climbed inside and started the ignition. But seconds later, her tears unleashed themselves in full force. She knew that she shouldn't be driving on the streets in this condition; hurt and upset over what Sherry had said to her, but she just got so mad. How dare Sherry call her rigid and reiterate the fact that Daphne didn't have a man! Just because she was single didn't mean… Well, it didn't matter anyway. Sherry had no idea what she was talking about. No idea at….

Daphne slowed the car to a stop, having driven blindly through the streets of Seattle. But she never imagined that she'd end up here. It wasn't planned, it wasn't even intended and yet here she was, staring at the beautiful apartment building that overlooked the city of Seattle; The Montana, the home of the man who had somehow, in the course of the four years that she'd known him, had become her best friend.

Now she stood at his front door, her heart racing beneath her chest. This was crazy. He might not even be home. And even if he was home, there was a good chance that he might not be alone. What would she say to him? How could she possibly explain why she was standing on his doorstep? But one thing was certain. She knew deep down that despite any inconvenience that showing up at his home unannounced might cause, he'd never turn her away.

She could always count on Niles Crane, even on a hot summer night.