Don brought Amy to Joe's bar – the bar only a couple of blocks away from the precinct. A lot of members of the NYPD came here after a long shift to unwind a little while having a couple of drinks. Only a few weeks before, Joe had started to serve food as well and Don had to admit that he served the best steaks he had ever had. Don thought that Amy could do with a proper meal and some drinks – both had had a long day.

"So this is where you people usually hang out?" Amy asked after she and Don had sat down at the bar and ordered their first round of drinks.

"This is the perfect place to unwind after a long shift. And we both had a long day. Plus, I happen to know that Joe serves the best steaks in town," Don replied, winking at Joe, who was standing behind the bar, making their drinks.

"You're the best PR one can have, Flack," Joe said with his broad New Yorker accent. He smiled at Amy and remarked: "Never seen you here before. You're his date?"

Amy smiled at Joe and said: "Do I look that desperate?" This made Joe laugh and he gave both of them their drinks.

Amy's order had surprised Don – he hadn't taken her for a Gin & Tonic kind of girl. But he also knew that it was probably a total cliché that English people only drank one pint of lager after another. He raised his glass and smiled at Amy. He was happy that the awkwardness after the kiss had almost vanished by now. He still wasn't sure what to make of it, but he thought that it was probably best to forget about it.

Amy looked around the bar and was surprised to see so many NYPD officers spending their evening here. A lot of them were just standing in bulks, talking, while others played pool or tried their luck at one of the quiz game machines. She knew these things from her favourite London pub. Don, meanwhile, had a look at Amy. She seemed to enjoy herself here, tonight, with him. All day she had been absent-minded and had sought confrontation wherever she could. But right now, she seemed to calm down and relax. He didn't notice that Amy was watching him herself.

"What is so funny?" she asked.

Don realized that she was talking to him: "Huh, what?"

"You're smiling, almost laughing. What's so funny?"

"Oh, nothing. Just enjoying myself," he had to admit. "So, are you now finally telling me a little bit about you?" he attempted.

"Oh detective, you think I'm going to make it that easy for you?" Amy teased. "Why not tell me a little about your girlfriend first?" she challenged him, painfully reminding him of the kiss the two had shared earlier that day.

"You've met her. It's Detective Angell," he responded.

"Do you love her?" Amy asked bluntly.

"Why would I answer such a question when I don't even know you?"

"I personally find it easier to talk to total strangers about feelings," Amy admitted.

"I'm a stranger to you, tell me about your feelings," Don tried.

"We kissed. You don't qualify as a stranger anymore," Amy winked.

Don didn't know what to say to that and was quite glad that at just that moment, the food arrived. It smelled fantastic and he realized that he was even hungrier than he had thought. Amy herself must have been hungry because she immediately started devouring the food. Don liked girls with a good appetite and he had no sympathy for those that only had one salad after another because they didn't want to gain any weight. He caught himself smiling while looking at the eating Amy. What the hell is wrong with me? I barely know this girl and I have a girlfriend, she makes me happy, Don pleaded.

Amy ordered another round of drinks for both of them. She was pensive. This had been a long day, but not necessarily one she would label as 'successful'. She knew that the whole team was listening to every word she said, trying to find out what was going on. She hadn't exactly made any friends today – apart from Don maybe. But in her book, he was the devil. He was so damn attractive that he could have any girl he wanted to have. He only had to smile and show off his dimples and he had them already wrapped around his little finger. In cases where that was not enough, he just gave them a glimpse of his ocean-blue eyes and even the last girl was falling down on her knees and would worship the very ground he walked on. Never had Amy seen herself as such a girl and still – they had kissed. A kiss that had started as a simple 'Snap him out of his dreams' tool, but then had ended as the best kiss she had ever had. This has to stop, Amy vowed. There are more important things to do here. I'm on a mission, dammit, she swore herself not to forget.

"You really are a master at this whole zoning-out thing," Don observed, bringing Amy back to the here and now.

"Sorry, it was just a long and highly unproductive day," she commented.

"Tell me about it," Don said and finished his drink.

"Would you mind taking me back to the lab? My stuff is there," Amy asked.

"Not at all," Don agreed and both got up and left.

Mac was sitting at his desk when Hawkes walked in. "You wanted to talk to me, Mac?"

"Yeah, I do. Sorry I made you come in so late. We all had a long day and I bet you just want to go home," Mac apologized.

"It's alright, Mac. Just let me know what you need," Sheldon offered.

"I need you to find out whatever you can about Amy Scott. I tried and I didn't find anything. I actually spent my whole day on her and now look at my desk and all the files that have piled up on just a single day. I can't really waste anymore time on it, but I also don't want to let it go, I can't," Mac said.

Hawkes nodded. "I know what you mean. Something's up with her."

"You will work closely with her now and no matter how tiny the detail might be, I want you to report back to me. I know in what kind of situation I'm putting you, Sheldon, and I really don't like doing it."

"Don't worry, boss. I would have scruple if she was a friend, but she's a total stranger to me, to everyone on the team. You got it, I'll be doing it for you," Hawkes assured.

"Thanks Sheldon. And now go home and get some sleep, there's nothing more we can do tonight," Mac said and dismissed Hawkes.

Don walked into his apartment and closed the door behind him. He got himself a can of beer out of the fridge and sat down at the computer to check his mails. That's when he remembered that he wanted to send a mail to his old friend Marc in London.

He walked into his bedroom and got his old notepad, leafing through the pages, trying to find Marc's mail address, which he knew had to be in there somewhere. Don heard a knock on his door and went to open it. In front of him stood Angell, wearing a black dress, red lipstick and high heels.

"Wow, you cleaned up nice," Don complimented her. "Special occasion that I don't know anything about?" Jess walked into his apartment and shut the door with a bang. "Why do I get the feeling you're angry?" Don asked carefully.

"Didn't you forget something?" Jess asked, clearly agitated.

"It looks like I did, but I wouldn't know what," Don had to admit.

"Dinner, my place, eight o'clock? Ring a bell?"

Don closed his eyes and groaned – he had forgotten his date with Jess. "Where have you been all night? I tried your cell, but all I got was your mailbox and so I thought I'd come and have a look. I was worried sick, Don!" she shouted.

Don got his cell out and saw that his battery had died. "I'm sorry," he mumbled, fully knowing that it was not enough, but the best he could do at the moment.

"Where have you been?" Jess wanted to know.

"Joe's. I was at Joe's."

Jess snorted. "You rather spent your night in a bar than with me? Now that's a sign," she retorted and walked towards the door. Don grabbed her arm, not wanting her to leave as angry as she was.

"Look, I really am sorry I forgot," he said, looking directly at Jess. She knew him and she could see in his eyes that he deeply regretted having stood her up.

"Who were you with?" she asked then.

"Why do you think I was with someone?"

"I didn't want to listen to rumours, especially because it was Pete telling it and everyone knows he is the biggest blabbermouth in the NYPD. But he saw you kissing the new girl," she let him know.

Don sighed and took a deep breath. He should have known that someone had probably seen him kissing someone other than his girlfriend in the lobby of the crime lab building. He rubbed his face with his hands and looked at Jess. He knew that she wanted to have an explanation, but there simply was none.

Jess looked at him and smiled hurtfully. "He was right, wasn't he? You kissed her."

Don knew how much he had hurt her by the tone of her voice. It was matter-of-factly as not to let him know how hurt and upset she really was. He was sure that a simple 'sorry' wouldn't be enough.

Jess walked towards the door and opened it, turning back to him one more time. "I can live with a lot of things. But you kissing a stranger and spending the night with her rather than your girlfriend – that just hurts, Don." Jess left the apartment, closing the door quietly behind her.

Don was left alone in his apartment, shocked at what had just happened. He was disgusted by himself and by what he had done to Jess. He knew that she deserved so much better. He had made a fool out of himself today and he didn't even know what for. He had to make it up to Jess, but before he could do that, he had to finish the whole 'Amy-business'. He sat down on the computer and typed a mail to his friend Marc, then had another look for his mail address and after having found it, he clicked the 'send' button.

Now all he had to do was wait and hope for a helpful answer.

Amy walked through the dark streets of New York City. She was on her way to her hotel. She hadn't bothered with a comfortable or luxurious accommodation because she had hoped that she wouldn't have to stay in New York for too long.

When she arrived there, she asked the receptionist for her room key and was surprised to find that someone had left her a message. She took the brown envelop, wondering from whom it might be. She couldn't remember telling anyone where she was staying.

She walked into her room, closed the door and sat down on the bed. She took off her jacket and then opened the envelop. Out fell a folded piece of paper and a little golden necklace.

Amy gasped. She knew the necklace – it had belonged to her mum. Amy then took the piece of paper and opened it, her hands trembling.

I see you made it to New York alright. I also see that you found my little welcoming present – the Parkers. I just wanted to let you know that I'm not finished yet and it seems that you enjoy your stay in New York, so you probably don't mind staying a little longer. Say Hi to your Detective-friend from me.

Amy's whole body trembled. The note had been written with a typewriter, so there was no chance to trace it back to its sender. Amy fell back down on the bed and closed her eyes. He was watching her – that's how he knew about Flack. She hated it that he was always so close and yet so far away. She felt extremely frustrated.

She sat back up and before folding the note again, she had another look at the signature of the note.

Your Worst Nightmare.

I've got the weekend off and I'm ill, so I'm going to spend my recovery time writing - watch out for updates!

Read and Review, please. I just like knowing that there are readers out there who like what I'm doing. :)