This time, Niles was all alone in his waiting cell. He sighed. They let this get way out of hand. Why couldn't he just have dropped Daphne off at Donny's after the first night? Part of him wanted to be mad at Daphne for not helping him when he got arrested. But he knew she must have been just as terrified as he was. She cared about him. He knew she did. And she would turn up eventually and set things right.

Then why was he feeling like his heart was being ripped out of his ribcage? Why had he been torturing himself in the last couple of days? What was he thinking, even approaching her like that, thinking they could still be friends after everything that happened. Who the hell where they kidding? He was a grown man, a psychiatrist, for heaven's sake. And he had just spent two days with the love of his life, who was married to another man. Parading like a lovesick teenage couple, not caring about any of the consequences, not caring that they weren't really meant to be together.

And it seemed like she was playing along just as much as he had been. She had wanted him... He could't stop thinking about what would have happened to them if they didn't see that item on the news, if he wasn't arrested... He could have had his way with her, and she would have let him. They could have had one truly amazing morning of explosive passion...He could have done everything he ever wanted to do to her, express his undying love for her...and she would have made his dreams come true.

...Well, most of them, at least. Because he would want her to stay. He wanted her to leave Donny and be with him, love him for the rest of her life. Did she really love him? She said it once, but that was 2 months ago... Did she still feel the same way, or had their naïve outbursts of passion just been a hormonal thing to her, a way to take her mind off her husband? He wasn't sure. And either way, he wasn't sure where this would place them. Even if she loved him, would she have the courage to leave Donny?

The thought of it made him sick to the stomach. His heart was feeling heavy and weary with sorrow. It was as if his heart was swelling up, pushing all the air out of his lungs. He was choking up and felt his eyes get wet. This wasn't fair. He had gone through so much already, why couldn't he just be happy? He thought about his essay. He knew that his interest in the subject was more than just the psychiatric point of view. It had given him hope. If even people with limited social skills who where used to living in their own world with their own strange little habits and living patterns, people who had no experience with maintaining a romantic relationship...If they could find love, then so could he, right? So why wasn't it happening for him? He was getting old... he had made too many mistakes already, why couldn't he just be with his love, why couldn't he be the man that made her happy?

Niles buried his head in his hands and started sobbing uncontrollably. He was a complete mess. Instead of visiting museums and preparing his speech, which he was supposed to address to the International Psychiatric Association tomorrow, his life had spun completely out of control in just two days. And now he was in jail. Again. What was he supposed to do?

He was too caught up in his own sorrow, that he didn't notice the door to his cell unlocking and 2 men stepping inside.

"Regretting your little adventure already, Doc?" sounded a familiar voice.

He startled and looked up. In the doorway stood a police officer and next to that was... Donny. Oh dear God...

"I'd like to have a little talk with you.." He continued in a tense voice. "To start things off with... where the hell is my wife?" He said angrily as he sat down on the bench next to him.

He dried off his tears and tried to compose himself. "At this time, I can honestly say I don't know..." He answered, sadly. "But I'm pretty sure she is safe. Nobody kidnapped her, Donny."

"Listen... Niles. I want to believe you. You always seemed like a safe, honest guy. But after I found out what you got yourself into...I'm just not sure anymore. What is this trip to you, doc? Some abandoned celebration of your new freedom? Because I've spoken to Mel, you know... she told me all about your current... preference. So what, you come to New York, where people don't know you, and go wild? I have nothing against homosexuals, but this is just plain wrong. I mean, prostitutes, drugs? That's not the Niles Crane I know..."

"Who...told you this?"

"And Daphne must have known about your escapades, and you didn't want her to blab it all over town... so what, doc? What did you do to silence her?" Donny yelled, raising his voice.

"Silence her..." He repeated confusedly. And then, adressing the officer: "OK, could someone fill me in here? Because honestly, I haven't got a clue!"

"Dr Crane.." said the officer. "When you came in here, we have done some research on you. We have checked your bank account and it seemed that on thursday morning, a charge was made for "services" to the account of a well-known Brooklyn transvestite and prostitute. When questioned, he admitted he was indeed with a client on thursday morning. And then when we searched you, we found 4 grams of cocaine hidden in your sock, and your blood test came back positive for marihuana..."

Niles gasped at hearing all this information. His cards...the junkie grabbing his leg...He looked at Donny to the officer and started to hyperventilate.

"Look"...he said as he composed himself once again "There's a perfectly good explanation for all of this. Well, I suppose the part about the marihuana is true... but it was just a little and just one time... I've never done it before in my life, I swear! And furthermore, it wasn't mine. As was the cocaine. A drug dealer hid it in my sock this morning and if you don't believe me, he was taken into custody as well this morning, and I am willing to point him out to you. As for the prostitute, how stupid do you think I am, charging the bill to my own account? Even I wouldn't make that mistake. And have you ever thought about checking your OWN records? I never thought I'd be using this as an alibi, but I was in JAIL on thursday morning! My cards where taken from me, and because of a stupid misunderstanding, the Brooklyn police blamed me for the robbery. So it took me a few hours before I could block my cards. If you just check the time I was brought in, I'm sure it will match up...And my wife is a freaking liar! I'm not gay, she's just frustrated that our marriage isn't working!"

"Well, I'm not interested in your personal life, but we will check up on the information about the cards. In the meantime, I'm afraid we do have to keep you in custody.." said the officer.

"Look, Donny...I didn't do this OK? I would never do anything that could endanger Daphne. And Mel's a liar... she hates me right now and she would like to do anything to harm my name..."

"So I guess now's a bad time to tell you that the police have contacted her and told her everything this officer just told you?" Donny replied, smirking.

"Oh well, I would have figured it out when my name appeared in the tabloids..." Niles sighed. "Terrific, he thought. "As if I wasn't in enough trouble to begin with, and now Mel knows..."

"Niles... I don't know wether or not I should believe you. But I do believe in justice, and the truth will reveal itself eventually. But I really hope you are right, because I like you...now, back to my wife..."

"Yes well...I don't know where she is right now, but she could tell you I'm telling the truth as soon as she arrives..."

"Whadayamean when she arrives? You do know where she is, do you?" He snapped.

"crap" thought Niles. "No I don't...but I haven't been completely honest with you on the phone before..."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"I did see her... after wednesday night."

"You what? What do you mean by that?"

"We sort of... spent the whole night together..." he hesitantly replied.

"WHAT? Did you sleep with her?" Donny yelled.

"No, I did not..."

"Well, did anything else happen between you two? I've seen your little awkward behavior around her..I'm not blind. WELL?"

"Uhm...(turning to the officer) Excuse me sir. May I have a napkin? I'm afraid I was punched in the face some days ago and the wounds haven't fully healed."

The officer gave him the napkin and he precautionary held it in front of his nose. He turned back to Donny. "No... nothing" And the napkin slowly turned red.

"Is that so?" Donny said in a suspicious tone

"Yes. Look, why don't you release me and we can wait for Daphne to contact either one of us and she can clear the whole thing up..."

"Sir, I'm afraid you are a suspect and we cannot release you until we have checked your statement..." said the officer.

Suddenly, a woman's voice with a familiar accent was heard from behind the door: "Let him go. He's innocent."

Suddenly, everyone startled and looked to the source of the voice in the door opening. "Daphne.." Niles stared at her in awe and got up from his bench, before Donny got up, knocked him over, rushed towards her and hugged her tightly.

"Where have you been honey? I've missed you so much.. did anyone try to harm you?"

"I.." Daphne hesitated and broke the hug "No. And I was never kidnapped. I was..." She looked at Niles sadly and took a deep breath. "I was with Ni...Dr. Crane."

"You what?" said Donny, and turned to Niles, slowly walking towards him with a threatening look on his face "You lying son of a..."

"Donny wait! Let me explain." Daphne interrupted. "I was with him the whole time. We are very close friends and we just wanted to have fun together, we haven't spoken to each other in months... But then Dr. Crane got robbed and had to spent the night in jail and I... I panicked. I didn't want to give you the wrong impression, that I had spend the night with my male friend, so I made Dr. Crane lie about me visiting a friend. The truth is, there is no friend. We where together the whole time. And then my phone died and I couldn't reach you..."

"..Right.." said Donny. "Well, forgive me for being a bit hesitant.. I think I believe you but..what happened after that?"

"Why don't you just release N..Dr. Crane, and we can get back to the hotel and I'll explain the whole thing?"

"That sounds like a reasonable plan..." agreed Donny... "I'm sorry I yelled at you, Doc."

"It's OK" he sighed. "You where upset, you lost your wife and it was partly my fault.. I'm happy you believe I'm innocent." he said, sincerely.

"So, shall we go?"

"I'm afraid I have to interrupt you on that" said the officer. "I have noted your statement, so Mr and Mrs Douglas are free to go. And, even though there was no kidnapping and your story about the prostitute sounds solid to me, you are still suspected of possession of drugs. You can get out on parole, but you are not allowed to leave the state until your case is addressed in court. Mrs Douglas can stand as a witness to prove your innocence."

Niles sighed deeply. "Allright well... It was an illusion of me to think that I can spend my whole life without a permanent record...you have all the right to suspect me. Fine then. Daphne, you should go home with Donny... I'll make a statement against our little junkie friend that got me into this mess, and I'll call Frasier to bail me out. Mel probably told the entire population of Seattle about my arrest by now, so he'll surely know about it..."

And so, Niles followed the officer to the phone booth and Donny and Daphne exited to the door, walking hand in hand. When he turned around, Niles couldn't help but stare sadly at them.

A/N: OK this is turning out to be quite a project... After this one, I will release one more chapter this week. After that one, I'm going to finish the story and release it all in one day. So, keep the feedback coming, it's much appreciated! Also, thanks to SamandDianefan10 and 5uck3r4pun15hm3nt for their support so far!