Ant stood in front of Nick and Dec,looking from Nick to Dec,then back to Nick again.

He narrowed his eyes at his so called friend.

"What the fuck did I just hear?" He demanded to know.

"Um...I...I..." Nick stuttered.

"You what?" Ant asked angrily.

"We were...er..." Nick still struggled to find his words "we were just messing around,weren't we Dec?"

He glanced desperately at Dec,somehow misguidedly assuming Dec might just save his skin,but Dec's distraught,tear stained face told another story.

Ant gently took hold of Dec's elbow and pulled him away from Nick to stand at his side.

"Phone" Ant demanded,holding out his hand to Nick.

"What?" Nick asked surprised.

"You know what" Ant fumed "give me the fucking phone"

Nick reluctantly handed over his mobile and Ant immediately went to the photos and clicked on to the most recent one,showing Dec sobbing into his hands.

Ant held it up in front of Nick's face.

"This was messing around was it?" He asked furiously.

"Well..." Nick began.

"Don't fucking bother" Ant snapped,immediately deleting the picture and practically throwing the phone back at Nick "I heard everything,you've been making Declan's life hell...is that right Dec?"

Dec nodded sadly.

"From day one?" Ant continued.

Dec nodded again.

"It was just a bit of banter" Nick tried desperately to defuse the situation "honestly Ant,that's all it was,nothing more"

"Banter?" Ant growled,every word that came out of Nick's mouth made him even more angry.

"I don't call attempted murder banter" Ant stated.

"What?" Nick asked shocked.

"Spiking someone's drinks and leaving them to freeze to death in a field" Ant scowled "oh yeah,I heard it all"

"Well,you're a lawyer Ant" Nick snapped back "how do you plan to make that stand up in court?"

Ant ignored the question,suddenly grabbing Nick by the collar of his shirt and shoving him hard against the wall.

"You get your belongings and get the hell out of here" Ant demanded "and don't ever come back"

Nick now knew he was fighting a losing battle,but had no intention of going quietly.

"This is my place of work" he stated,pushing Ant away "my business,my livelihood and if you think I'm just going to give up on it just like that,then you are seriously deluded"

"Fine" Ant replied sarcastically "prison it is then"

"You're bluffing" Nick smirked "you haven't got any proof of anything"

"Oh yeah?" Ant smirked "haven't you heard of a little thing called CCTV?those cameras are everywhere these days,it wouldn't be hard for the police to retrace your steps and find out just exactly where you were that night,who you were with and where you went"

Nick was starting to panic now,he'd never thought about anything like that because he genuinely believed he would never get found out,so in desperation,tried another tactic.

"Please Ant" he begged "try and see it from my point of view,I swear I was just looking out for you,we're best buds right?I'd do anything for you..."

"Including killing someone?" Ant interrupted.

"Aww,come on" Nick pleaded "don't be such a drama queen,I knew he'd be alright,it wasn't that cold that night"

"It was freezing" Dec spoke for the first time since Ant's appearance "and wet"

"But you're ok now right?" Nick asked with fake concern "come on guys,let's not let this come between us,let's just move on shall we?"

"You're fucking unbelievable" Ant snapped "as if I could ever trust you again,I don't even want to breathe the same air as a low life snake like you"

"Anthony" Nick sighed "why are you throwing our friendship away...for him?"

He looked at Dec with such utter disdain.

"He..." Ant replied "has been more of a friend to me in the few weeks I've known him than you have in years"

"That's not true" Nick snapped "what about all the good times we've had?nights out together,football matches...hell,we even went on holiday together,remember Ibiza?the lads holiday,wasn't that the best time ever?me,you,Ricky,Dave,Alistair and Johnny,we laughed so much until we cried,pulled the girls and ate and drank until our stomachs could take no more,you gonna throw all that away?"

Ant looked Nick squarely in the eyes.

"YOU" he said seriously "are the one who threw it all away,you used to be one of the good guys Nick,what the hell happened to you?"

"I still am one of the good guys" Nick insisted "don't you see?I did all this for you,to protect you"

"I don't need protecting" Ant snapped "especially not from Dec"

"But he took advantage of you" Nick continued "taking your kindness as well as your money,he's taken so much from you"

"Which I insisted on" Ant retorted "I can make my own decisions about who or what I spend my money on"

"I just didn't like how it was turning out" Nick shrugged.

"So you decided to be a nasty,spiteful,vicious,dangerous bully instead?" Ant asked.

"I'm none of those things" Nick said,actually looking slightly hurt.

"You're all of those things actually" Ant replied "you made Dec's life a misery,I just wish he'd told me what was going on"

Dec stared down at the floor,feeling both Ant and Nick's eyes boring into him.

"But for whatever reason" Ant continued "he didn't tell me and if I hadn't found out like this,God knows how much longer this would have gone on,or how it would have escalated...so what's it to be?"

"What?" Nick asked confused.

"You've got a choice Nick" Ant stated "you either pack up your things right now,leave this office and never,ever come back..."

"But it's my business" Nick protested "where would I go?what would I do if I leave here?"

"Not my problem" Ant snapped "either that or I call the police and they can deal with you"

"Please Ant" Nick begged.

Ant grinned menacingly at Nick and ran a finger down his flushed cheek "And good luck in prison,a pretty boy like you is gonna need it"

Dec couldn't help but smile at the thought of Nick being someones bitch while being detained at her majestys pleasure.

He would finally find out what it's like to be terrified,just like Dec had been since Nick started his vile bullying campaign against him.

"You'll regret this Ant" Nick sighed,now beginning to admit defeat "throwing away years of friendship for him"

"Don't think I will somehow" Ant replied confidently,while placing a comforting arm around Dec's shoulder.

"Whatever" Nick mumbled "I'll branch out on my own,I don't need you or this shitty business"

"Don't let the door hit you on the arse on your way out" Ant quipped with a grin.

Ant and Dec glanced at each other and smiled knowingly as Nick opened the door and stepped out of the toilets to the uncomfortable glare of everyone in the office.

They had all gathered around the toilets once they'd heard the shouting and now knew everything that had gone on.

"For fucks sake" Nick fumed "not you lot too?"

He quickly packed up his belongings and grabbed his briefcase to sneers and shouts of "shame on you" "go to hell" and "you fucking bastard" from his former colleagues and friends.

"That's right" Denise called out as he made his way to the lift "do the walk of shame"

As the lift door closed,everyone burst into rapturous applause,knowing that Nick would still be able to hear.

Afterwards,as Ant led Dec into his office,he got a lot of sympathetic smiles and pats on the back,which did make him squirm a bit.

He didn't like being the centre of attention,especially in a situation like this,but he was grateful for their support nevertheless.

"I'm sorry Ant" Dec whispered as he sat down in Ant's office.

"Hey" Ant replied sharply "you have absolutely nothing to be sorry for"

"I've ruined your life" tears began to flow down Dec's cheeks.

"Don't be so ridiculous" Ant smiled sympathetically "you've ruined nothing"

"But if you'd never met me" Dec pointed out "you'd still have your friend,your business partner"

"Do you really think I'd want someone who is capable of what Nick did in my life?" Ant asked "all you've done is show me his true colours and I'm grateful that you did,I like to surround myself with warm,kind and caring people and he was obviously none of those"

"I'm still sorry" Dec mumbled.

"Don't be" Ant smiled,handing Dec a glass of water which he gratefully accepted.

Ant sat down at his desk,leaning on his elbows and staring at Dec who was sitting opposite him,sipping the water.

"I just wish you'd told me sooner" Ant said earnestly.

"I wanted to" Dec replied "I just couldn't"

"Why not?" Ant frowned "did you think I wouldn't believe you?"

"Maybe" Dec nodded "and I was reluctant to come between two friends,you haven't known me for long after all,but you've known him for years"

"Yeah" Ant nodded "and that was obviously what he was counting on to get away with this"

"He made me feel like scum" Dec said sadly "that I was using you,it just made me want to go back on the streets sometimes,at least that was a simple life"

"Oh Declan" Ant sighed "I'm so sorry you had to go through all this alone,I would have done something if I'd known"

"Sorry" Dec mumbled.

"Well,it's done now" Ant smiled "and it's over with,you don't have to worry about that arsehole any longer,ok?"

"Ok" Dec smiled,extremely grateful for Ant's kindness as usual "but I'm sorry you lost your friend"

"Ah well" Ant grinned "no one needs friends like that"

"Fair point" Dec nodded "there is one thing that is bothering me though"

"What's that?" Ant asked concerned.

"He knows where I live" Dec frowned.

"I don't think you need to worry about that" Ant smiled kindly "he would have to be incredibly stupid to come anywhere near you ever again"

"He might though" Dec sighed "he's crazy after all"

Ant thought about the situation for a moment,although he thought it was very unlikely that Nick would come anywhere near Dec,he couldn't guarantee it.

He hated the fact that Dec was so stressed and obviously still scared of Nick and any potential action he may take.

"I tell you what" Ant smiled "you can come and stay with me"

"What?" Dec asked surprised.

"Stay with me" Ant repeated "for a couple of days at least,just until you feel a bit safer about going home and to be honest,I'll enjoy the company"

"Ok then" Dec beamed,happy at Ant's suggestion "I'll pick up my stuff after work shall I?"

"I've got an even better idea" Ant grinned "the advantage of being the boss is that I can leave the office if I need to and also,I can give you the day off"

"You don't need to do that" Dec replied "I'm happy to work today"

"I know you are" Ant smiled "but I don't think you should after everything you've been through,you should take some time to yourself and I'm in a position to help with that"

"But don't you have work to do?" Dec asked.

"Nothing that can't wait" Ant smiled.

"Let's go home!"