The dreaded night out soon arrived and Dec was beside himself with worry.

Nick's tormenting hadn't let up one tiny bit throughout the week and Dec could just imagine how horrendous the night out would be.

"I'm pretty tired" he told Ant beforehand "maybe I'll just come out for one drink,then leave you guys to it"

"Aww,come on Dec" Ant replied disappointed "you're the guest of honour and once you're out and enjoying yourself,you'll forget about how tired you are"

"Maybe" Dec sighed,realising now that there was no way he could get out of this.

"I promise you'll have a great time" Ant beamed "Nick is such a laugh on a night out"

That sentence practically made Dec want to throw up,but all he could do was reluctantly agree to go for the entire evening.

"And this is for you" Ant continued,handing Dec his wage packet for his first week.

"You'll have to set up a bank account soon though" Ant continued "so we can pay you straight into your bank,but it will have to be this way until then,oh and eventually you'll have to be paid monthly like everyone else,but this is fine at the moment"

"Oh,I already have a bank account" Dec exclaimed.

"You do?" Ant asked surprised.

"Yeah" Dec nodded.

"Well,why didn't you tell us?" Ant shrugged "could have set it all up straight away"

"Well,I...it's..." Dec stuttered "it's a joint bank account,mine and Ali's"

"Ah,fair enough" Ant smiled sympathetically "in that case,we definitely don't want to be putting any money in there,but now you've got a permanent address,you can set up a new one"

"Yeah,I'll get onto that soon" Dec nodded "although I'll need proof of my address won't I?I don't have anything"

"Don't worry" Ant smiled "we'll sort it somehow"

"Ok" Dec nodded.

"You could always open an account online" Ant suggested.

"Nah" Dec shook his head "would rather go into the bank and anyway,would be a bit tricky as I don't have access to a computer or mobile phone"

"Internet cafe?" Ant mused "now you've got a bit of cash"

"Really?" Dec laughed "an internet cafe that is probably next door to a bank?"

"Yeah,fair point" Ant smiled "well,if you need to take a bit of time off during the week to at least have a chat with someone at the bank,then that's absolutely fine"

"Thanks" Dec smiled "you're a good boss Ant,but I'm sure I can do it one Saturday,most banks are open Saturdays now,at least in the mornings,I might pop in tomorrow...if I'm not too hungover"

"Well,if you are" Ant grinned "you know you've had a great time"

Unfortunately,Dec was a million percent sure that that wouldn't be the case.

"I'll get the first round in" Ant announced once they arrived at the pub,with Nick and a few others from the office who willingly tagged along.

As Ant went to the bar,Dec purposefully sat between two other people from the office.

Although he was pretty sure that Nick wouldn't do or say anything bad when other people were around...Nick was much more crafty than that...Dec still didn't want to be anywhere near him,even so,he was mightily relieved when Ant returned from the bar.

"Here we go" Ant smiled as he placed a tray of drinks onto the table and passed Dec his pint.

"Thanks Ant" Dec smiled.

The evening wasn't actually going too badly,much to Dec's surprise,Nick seemed to be busying himself chatting to some of his colleagues about work,so Ant,Dec and Denise chatted about life in general,although Dec didn't want to say too much about his life,as lovely as everyone was,apart from Nick,Dec just didn't feel comfortable telling people he'd only known a few days everything he'd been through,not just yet anyway,so he instead made a mental list of things he would be happy to discuss...his love of dogs,favourite foods,films etc,he smiled to himself as he thought it all sounded like a first date.

"I'll get the next round in" Nick offered and returned to the table a few minutes later with another tray of drinks.

It wasn't long before Dec started to feel a bit tipsy,he didn't think too much of it to start with,it was more than likely just because he'd not drunk much over the last few months,so the alcohol was going straight to his head.

"I'll get the next round in" Dec smiled,once everyone had finished those drinks,while taking the small,brown envelope out of his pocket.

"Absolutely not" Ant snapped "I invited you out,so I won't hear of it"

"But I don't mind" Dec insisted "I do have some cash now after all"

"And you can keep it for yourself" Ant insisted "tonight is on me and Nick,right Nick?we're the bosses,so it's up to us to take care of the costs"

"Right" Nick agreed.

"Should have warned you" Denise nudged Dec gently "they always pay when we go out,they insist on it,I gave up arguing with them about it a long time ago"

"Well,that's very nice of you" Dec smiled at Ant.

"I need to go to the toilet" Ant announced "then I'll go to the bar on the way back"

"No need" Nick quickly replied "I'll go and get the drinks while you go and do your business"

"But it's my round" Ant protested.

"Does it really matter?" Nick shrugged.

"Guess not" Ant nodded and made his way to the toilets.

Both Ant and Nick soon returned to the table and Nick handed all the drinks out.

"That's yours Dec" he smiled as he handed Dec his drink.

"Thanks" Dec replied,without looking up.

He took a sip from his third pint of the night,although he was now feeling quite lightheaded,a little bit dizzy and actually quite sick.

He was surprised that barely more than two pints of lager were now having this effect on him and vowed that this would be his last drink of the night.

"You alright Declan?" Ant asked concerned "you've been a little quiet the last few minutes"

"Yeah,I'm fine" Dec lied "just tired"

"We'll make this our last drink then shall we?" Ant said with understanding "then you can get home to bed"

"Thanks" Dec replied quietly.

He was determined to finish his drink,but with each sip he felt more and more ill,it was a strange feeling like he'd never experienced before and he was scared,all he wanted to do was to go home and go to bed and hopefully wake up feeling better in the morning.

He mistakenly hoped the cool liquid of his drink might help with whatever the hell it was he was feeling,as he took gulp after gulp.

"To Declan" Ant startled Dec out of his thoughts by beginning a toast to his new employee.

Ant was now standing up and holding his pint glass in the air,which made Dec want to curl up with embarrassment.

"Welcome to the family Dec" Ant continued "I know you'll be very happy here and we're all happy to have you,I hope this will be the beginning of a special working relationship and friendship between all of us"

"Thanks" Dec mumbled.

"To Declan" Ant repeated and held his glass towards the middle of the table so everyone could clink it.

"To Declan...cheers...welcome Dec" came all the greetings.

"Speech" Nick called out.

Dec glared at him,which Nick totally ignored.

"Yeah,speech" they all joined in,clapping and cheering.

So Dec reluctantly stood up,well more swayed than stood and Ant quickly grabbed hold of Dec's arm to steady him.

"Oops" Ant laughed "the booze has gone to someone's head"

"Um" Dec muttered "thank you everyone and thanks for being so nice to me and making me feel so welcome"

He glared at Nick as he said that statement,but as usual no one noticed.

By the time everyone had finished their drinks,Dec could barely think straight and was losing a grip of what was going on.

He wasn't sure of where he was,what he was doing or even who he was with.

He was aware of voices around him,but couldn't make out what they were saying,he just wanted to lay down on the spot and go to sleep.

Unknown to him,Ant and Nick were actually discussing his predicament.

"I'll take him home" Ant announced to his business partner "he's obviously in no fit state to look after himself,can't believe he got this drunk on three pints"

"Obviously a lightweight" Nick smirked "but seriously Ant,I live closer to Dec than you do,why don't you get off home and I'll take care of this little guy"

Ant thought to himself for a moment,it was very kind of Nick to offer,but he felt that Dec was more his responsibility.

"I can't expect you to do that" Ant frowned "it won't take me long to get him home and get him settled"

"Hey,don't be so ridiculous" Nick beamed "that's what friends are for right?now I won't hear of it,get yourself home and into bed and thanks for tonight"

"Ok,if you're sure?" Ant smiled "text me though ok?so I know he's home safely"

"Such an old worrier" Nick grinned.

"Can't help it" Ant laughed,as he left to hail a cab,leaving Dec in what he thought were Nick's capable hands.

Dec by now was completely out of it,with little idea of what was going on.

He vaguely knew that he had now been taken outside,due to the cold wind on his face and was slightly aware of a man's tight grip on him,but other than that,he could barely remember his own name,let alone where he was or who he was with.

Then everything went black!