Title: Moving On
Author: Raven Shadowrose
Rating: M
Pairing: ?/?
Summary: Dixie has been left broken hearted by Cyd's departure from the Holby team, what will happen when Cyd is replaced by Hannah Darbyshire and Dixie takes a liking to her? Will she find the happiness that she has been searching for, or will she end up with even more of a broken heart?
Disclaimer: I do not know or own any of the characters from Casualty, any original characters and the story are my property and I do not give permission for anyone to use this story.
A/N: This story will contain some femslash, if you do not wish to read then, by all means, back away slowly the way you came, other than that, enjoy the story and reviews are appreciated.
Thank you to chan. nelson4444 and BeethovenRIP for your reviews, enjoy the chapter :)
Chapter One.
Dixie surveyed the assembled paramedics that were waiting for her, when she was satisfied that they were all there she began the Monday morning meeting. 'Okay guys, I won't keep you long. I presume that you've checked the rota and you know who you are working with this week. We have another paramedic joining our crew this morning, I hope that you will make her feel welcome. Polly, will you look out for her and bring her to me in my office when she arrives?'
'Of course I will, what's her name?'
'Hannah Darbyshire, she should be here soon.' Polly nodded and Dixie turned back to the other paramedics. 'Don't forget to check your equipment and make sure that everything is working before you leave. Have a good shift everyone.' Most of the crews went to their vehicles and Dixie was left with Jeff and Polly. 'What is this Hannah like?' Jeff sounded curious.
'I don't know, I've never met her, but she comes highly recommended from her previous station.'
'Why did she leave?'
'You're full of questions today Jeff, you'll have to ask her that, assuming she wants to tell you.'
'I will, you can be sure of that, no woman can resist my charms.'
'Could you let the poor woman get here and settle in before you start the inquisition Jeffrey.'
'All right, grumpy woman. Did you get out of the wrong side of the bed this morning?'
'Do you want to clean out every ambulance in this place at the end of the shift Jeffrey?'
'No, it took forever last time.'
'Then keep your comments to yourself.'
'I will, for now anyway. I'm going to check on Dorothy.' Dixie shook her head, Jeff had a name for every ambulance in the station. Nobody knew how he remembered which one was which. Polly smiled at the antics of her colleagues, she sat on the back step of an ambulance to wait for Hannah.
Hannah looked up at the ambulance station that was about to become her new home, she hoped that her new colleagues would be friendly and that she would get on with them. David, her last boss, had told her good things about the Holby crew, he had also written her a glowing reference and he'd understood her need to go somewhere that she could get more experience. Hannah took a deep breath and walked into the garage that housed the vehicles of the Holby team. She looked around for someone that could help her find where she was supposed to go.
Polly stood up when she saw the brunette woman walk into the garage, she was betting on it being Hannah, she looked a bit lost and unsure of where to go. Hannah was shorter than Polly thought she'd be, she looked friendly though. Polly's eyes were drawn to the boots that Hannah wore, they were heavy and looked like something that a person into rock music would wear. Polly made a mental note to ask Hannah about her musical tastes later on. 'Are you Hannah?'
'I am, I'm looking for a boss type person, Kathleen Dixon.'
'Dixie, she hates being called Kathleen, she says it makes her sound old. I'm Polly, Dixie asked me to bring you to her.'
'Okay, I'll remember the name hatred bit.'
'Don't worry, she's very nice, she won't bite.'
'That's good to hear.' Polly smiled, as quiet as Hannah was, she looked like a nice person and Polly was looking forward to working with her.
Hannah followed Polly through the ambulance station, she looked curiously at the men and women that were checking and restocking the ambulances. She wondered what the boss of this place was going to be like. David had been very kind and he'd taken Hannah under his wing when she had first joined his team as a technician. Under his tutelage, Hannah had progressed, and she had passed the paramedic exam the first time that she took it. Hannah vowed to stay in touch with the people in Yorkshire, some of them had helped her cope during a few of the tough times of her life.
Dixie placed the rotas for next week into the file and tucked it away into the filing cabinet, she turned at the sound of a knock on the office door. 'Come in.' Polly poked her head around the door and smiled.
'I found Hannah, I brought her to you like you asked me to.'
'Thanks Polly, can you let Jeff know that I'll be with him shortly?'
'No problem, I'll see you later.' Polly walked out of the door again and Dixie looked up at the woman that was stood in her office. Dixie took in Hannah's appearance; her hair was neatly braided and she was wearing minimal make-up. Her nails were cut short and she looked as if she was ready for a twelve hour shift. She obviously had a few piercings in her ears, but some of the earrings had been removed. Dixie was pleased, there had been some paramedics in the past that weren't cut out for the work, Hannah looked as if she was quite capable.
Dixie sensed that Hannah was nervous, coming to a new place was always hard. Dixie resolved to try and help Hannah to feel at ease. 'Hannah, please, take a seat.'
'Thank you.' Dixie interlocked her fingers over the report that she had been sent from Hannah's boss.
'I understand from this report that you asked for this transfer.'
'I did, I wanted to gain more experience. My last station was quiet and not a lot happened there.'
'It's not like that here, we do get busy and there are days when we're not short of shouts. Do you think you can handle that?'
'I do, I know I've only worked at a small station, but, I'm ready for this.'
'Good, you'll be working with me and Jeff this week. I just want to see for myself how you deal with emergency situations and if you need any additional training.'
'Okay, who will I be working with after that?'
'Polly, Simon is just a temporary paramedic from an agency.'
'Okay, not a problem, she seems really nice.'
'She is, Polly has a good heart, you won't find a better partner. I'll introduce you to Jeff and then we can get going. Watch out for Jeff and his jokes, they really are quite rubbish.' Dixie was pleased to see a smile form on Hannah's face. 'Good, a smile, don't worry, everyone is nice here.'
'Glad to hear it.'
'Do you have your uniform and a spare set just in case anything happens to it?'
'I do, is there somewhere that I can get changed?'
'I'll have Polly show you the locker room shortly.'
'Thanks, I think I might like it here.' Dixie hoped that Hannah would like working here, she had high hopes for her. Hannah reminded Dixie of Polly when she first started at Holby, and Polly had grown to be a wonderful paramedic.
Hannah followed Dixie back through the station to one of the few ambulances that were left in the garage. 'How old are you Hannah?'
'Twenty-seven.'
'You're about the same age as Polly, you should come out with us after work, we sometimes go out for a drink after the shift if you want to join us.'
'I might just do that.'
'Good,' Dixie smiled at Hannah and then carried on towards the ambulance. 'Jeff.' Jeff turned around at the sound of Dixie's voice.
'Oh good, a new victim.'
'No Jeffrey, I've already warned Hannah about your jokes.'
'Why do you always do that Dixie?' Hannah looked curiously at Jeff, he seemed nice. 'Morning princess, don't listen to a word Dixie says, my jokes aren't rubbish, they're experimental. Now Dixie's driving on the other hand...'
'Jeffrey, there's still time for me to make you clean out all of the ambulances again.'
'You see how mean she is to me Hannah, this is slave labour, I'm going to call the union on you.' Hannah laughed, she was already beginning to think that she would like it here. Hannah relaxed, some of the nerves that she'd had since she got up were already disappearing.
Jeff liked Hannah already, she was fitting in despite only being there a short time. Dixie turned to Polly and Hannah. 'Polly, will you take Hannah to the locker room and make sure that she has somewhere to put her things.'
'Will do, Dixie.' Polly linked arms with Hannah. 'You can tell me all about yourself on the way, what music you like and so on, I want to know everything.' Jeff smiled at Polly and Hannah, it was about time that Polly had someone her own age on the crew.
'What do you think of Hannah?'
'She seems nice, I think she's going to fit in well here.'
'Me too, she's a bit quiet, but that should change once she's been here for a few days.'
'I know that look Dixie.'
'What look?'
'The one on your face.'
'I have no idea what you're talking about Jeff.'
'Yes you do Dix, you get that look when you see someone you like the look of. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you find our new girl attractive.'
'Don't be stupid Jeff, she's a lot younger than me.'
'So? I noticed that you didn't deny it.'
'It doesn't matter Jeff, you know that nothing will ever happen.'
'Why not? This is about what happened with Cyd isn't it?'
'No, I'm just more professional these days, besides, she probably has a boyfriend.'
'Come on Dixie, it has been ages since you've had a date, how long will you keep on with this not going on dates thing you've got running? It is okay for you to notice that women other than Cyd are attractive.'
'Drop it Jeff, we have work to do.' Jeff nodded, Dixie was very stubborn and she wouldn't give in, but there was nothing stopping him finding out a few things about Hannah.
Dixie turned around as Polly brought Hannah back, she was dressed in her uniform now. 'Thank you Polly,' Dixie said.
'No problem, Simon is waiting for me so I'll see you later.' Polly waved and went off to find her partner.
'Are you ready Hannah?' Dixie asked.
'I am.'
'Good, come with me, I want you to meet some of the doctors and nurses in the department, it will make it easier on you when you have to do handovers if you know some of the people already.'
'That makes sense, lead the way.'
'Jeff, can you make sure we're ready to go, please?'
'Sure thing princess.' Dixie took Hannah into the emergency department and she went straight to the woman stood by the board with the admissions on. 'Zoe, are you busy?'
'No, what is it?'
'Hannah Darbyshire is our new paramedic, I'm just giving her a bit of an introduction to the staff.'
'Nice to meet you Hannah.'
'You too Zoe, it is all right for me to use your first name, isn't it?'
'Of course it is. Wait, Darbyshire, I was at a conference last week and met a man named Lawrence Darbyshire. He said his daughter was starting at Holby soon, is he your dad?'
'He is, it's a small world.'
'He's a very intelligent man.'
'Thank you, I'll tell him you said so.'
'We'll see you later Zoe, we have some more people to meet.'
'See you later, Hannah, good luck with your first day.'
'Thanks Zoe.' Dixie took Hannah around the rest of the department so she could meet the doctors that weren't busy.
Hannah walked with Dixie out of the department. 'So who did you meet?'
'Zoe, Sam, Dylan, Tom, Tess and Charlie.'
'You have a good memory.'
'I've always had a good memory.'
'What does your dad do? He met Zoe at a conference so he must be a doctor at least.'
'He's a surgeon.'
'A surgeon, did you ever want to be a doctor?'
'No, I've always known what I wanted to be. I got my dream, I'm here and doing the job that I love.'
'Good, glad to hear it.' Hannah smiled and went back to the ambulance station with Dixie.
Dixie's attention was captured by the radio, control had a shout for them. 'Holby control to 3004, over.'
'Go ahead control.'
'RTC on Aberville Road, multiple cars involved, casualties unknown, 3006 are also attending.'
'3004 all received and mobile.' Dixie turned to Hannah. 'Are you ready for your first shout?'
'I'm ready.'
'Good, let's go.' Dixie climbed into the ambulance and started the engine, the sirens and lights soon followed and she drove off in the direction of the accident.
Hannah took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves as Dixie drove them to the accident, she hoped that she would do well enough to prove to Dixie and Jeff that she would be a valuable addition to the team. Hannah knew that she was being watched and that her every action would be taken into consideration as to whether or not she would end up staying at Holby. Dixie radioed control to let them know that they were arriving at the scene, Hannah looked out of the window and tried to prepare herself to deal with whatever casualties and injuries they found there.
