Syd in Seattle

By Kelly


I wrote this fanfic about a year ago, after the first season finale. It's a Frasier/Providence crossover, and suffice to say, I hope everyone enjoys it, and feel free to send me feedback!


"So, Bob, if you don't want to lose her, my advice is to tell her how you feel." Frasier Crane looked over to his producer. "Roz, who's our next caller?"

"We have Syd on line three," Roz announced. "She's been having some tough times lately."

"Hello, Syd," Frasier said. "I'm listening."

"Hi, Dr. Crane," the caller began nervously. "Things have been a little rough for me lately. To start with, my mother died last year, and I've had to take her place and look after my family. Then my love life went to hell, my boyfriend has cancer, and then Lilly." She broke off. "I'm sorry. This is still hard to talk about."

"That's OK Syd," Frasier assured her. "Why don't you take a moment to pull yourself together while we go to go to commercials?" He glanced at Roz who was motioning that time was up. "Actually, we're out of time for today. Syd, if you'll stay on the line, I can talk with you off the air.

"Seattle, this is Dr. Frasier Crane, KACL, 780 AM." Frasier slipped off his headphones and picked up the phone. "Syd, are you still there?"

"Still here," Syd replied. "Thanks so much, Dr. Crane. I appreciate this."

"It's not a problem," Frasier replied. "Actually, would you rather talk in person? It seems to me that you have a lot of issues to deal with, and I might be able to help you more face-to-face."

"Really? That would be great. Where do you want to meet?"

"Do you know where the Café Nervosa is?"

"No, but can I take a cab there from downtown?"

"I'm sure you can. It's a well-known coffeehouse in Seattle. Shall we meet in, say, half an hour?"

"I'll be there," Syd promised. "Thank you again."

"You're welcome. I'll see you in a little while." Frasier hung up, grabbed his briefcase, and headed for the elevator before Roz could ask any questions.

He was a little early, so Frasier ordered his usual and sat down at a table near the window to wait. His brother Niles was at a table nearby, but Frasier had explained to him that he was meeting someone and couldn't join him today. Niles had seemed a little hurt, but recovered quickly when Frasier promised they would have dinner that night instead.

"Excuse me, are you Dr. Crane?" Frasier looked up to see a woman with dark, curly hair standing by his table. She was wearing jeans and a Brown University sweatshirt, and looked out of place compared to all the professionals in the café. "I'm Dr. Sydney Hanson.Syd."

Frasier shook her hand. "Hi, Syd. Dr. Frasier Crane. Please, sit down. Would you like anything?"

Syd shook her head. "If it's alright with you, I'd just like to talk. Where do you want me to start?"

"You were talking about Lilly before we ran out of time. Could you tell me about her?"

Syd thought a moment, remembering. "I met Lilly at the clinic I work at. She broke in with a friend of hers, and the two of them went through the stained glass window trying to get away from the police. She was actually a good kid, though. After she got out of the hospital, she was placed with a foster family since she didn't have any family in Providence-"

"You're from Providence?" Frasier interrupted. "Sorry, please go on."

"Yes, I'm from Providence. I grew up there, and recently moved back from Los Angeles after my mother died. Anyhow, Lilly ended up moving in with my family and me. She almost burned down the house once, but then she seemed to straighten out. She was doing well in school and worked at the clinic. She was part of our family. Then." Syd's eyes filled with tears.

"What happened?" Frasier asked gently.

"She-she died," Syd managed to say. "In a car accident. She was only sixteen.she had her whole life ahead of her. And then there's Kyle. My boyfriend, you could say. He has cancer, a tumor on his shoulder, and when I told him his arm had to be amputated, he said he'd rather die than live without his arm. Dr Crane, I don't know how to help him. I became a doctor because I wanted to make a difference, but I couldn't save Lilly and I can't do anything for Kyle. Maybe I'm not meant to practice medicine."

Frasier handed her his handkerchief and covered her hand with his. "Syd, regardless of what our egos tell us, doctors are not gods. We're human, like our patients are, and we can't always save them. Lilly's death wasn't your fault, and neither is Kyle's cancer. We do the best we can, but it's not always enough."

"What do we do when we can't do anything?"

"We keep going, because others need us to."

Frasier drove Syd to the airport, insisting that it was no trouble for him. Syd didn't have any luggage, and when Frasier asked her about it, she blushed and told him she had heard about his show from a patient in Providence, and had flown out for the day just to call in.

They got to the gate as the flight was boarding. Syd shook Frasier's hand and thanked him for listening. He assured her he was happy to help, and made her promise to get in touch and let him know how she was doing.

The final boarding call was announced. Syd thanked Frasier once again, and left to board the plane.

Frasier stayed until the plane took off. Goodbye, Syd, he thought, and good luck.

Syd fell asleep shortly after takeoff, worn out from an emotional day. "Hello, Syd," her mother greeted her. "You have a visitor."

"Lilly!" Syd gasped, hugging her fiercely. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," Lilly replied. "I can't stay long, but I wanted to tell you that I'm really happy here and not to worry about me. Save it for Robbie and Joanie. They both need you so much, and so does your dad. Give them my love, OK?"

Syd nodded. "I will."

"I have to go, but I swear you'll see me again," Lilly promised.

Syd woke up smiling, as the plane began its descent into Providence.

THE END

© 1999 Kelly
stoneh@u.arizona.edu

DISCLAIMER: Characters mentioned in this story that have appeared in the NBC series "Providence" are the property of National Broadcasting Company. No copyright infringement is intended.

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