A/N: There's not much of a way to explain this. I suppose I was just in a really strange mood when I decided to think it up -- or perhaps half-asleep...

Disclaimer: Haha, like I work on TV shows!

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"And as a consequence I can see out of the gloom
That I gathered about myself
That I thought would flatter me
What the hell was the matter with me"

--Elvis Costello, When Green Eyes Turn Blue

Frasier Crane had an ethics monitor built into him when it came to telling the truth. It was especially sensitive when under pressure. The problem was, as hard as he might have tried to lie -- even when it was very important that succeeded -- a feeling of self-loathing and disgust settled into him.

It's despicable, what I'm doing, he would tell himself. The law provides so many wonderful things for our community -- our country, even! -- and here I am, trying to defy it. I'm terrible. I'm a criminal, no better than a common burglar or murderer...

When Geoff Whalen paced around the conference room, throwing out question after insane question, and then suddenly stopped... When he stopped and stared right through his victim, his sharp eyes dissecting and analyzing... Donny Douglass looked from his client's brother to his opponent with dread in the pit of his stomach.

"Dr. Crane, did your brother ever mention another woman?"

The answer came quickly: "Yes, but we both have female acquaintances and -- and friends, you know..."

"Did he ever mention his interest in one of your 'female acquaintances' or 'friends'? Perhaps more than once?"

A beat. Donny looked at Frasier from the corner of his eye. Frasier swallowed.

"Er... yes."

"Anyone in particular? Miss Moon, for instance,"

The monitor nearly went off in the splitsecond Frasier took to utter the affirmative.

That was it. It was all over, and Maris had just won.

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