Jeff looked at the pair of them, Chantelle was sobbing in Dixie's arms, while Dixie had silent tears rolling down her face. He paused for a moment, before walking further in, closing the door behind him. Dixie acknowledged he was in her office, she looked up, spotting the new formed cuts on his knuckles.
"Sweetheart, would you be ok if I left you in here for a moment, so I can speak to Jeff" Dixie saw Chantelle hesitate before nodding, Dixie moved Chantelle from her arms, laying her back down on the sofa.
"Now darling I know this is going to hurt, but I need you to stay lying on the side of your cracked ribs. It will help you breathe better"
"Dixie it hurts" Chantelle began to take shallow breaths again, she was unable to breathe properly when lying on her side like she was.
"I know love, we will get you some stronger pain killers from the pharmacy in a bit, yeah? Try and take some deeper breaths" It was killing both Dixie and Jeff, seeing the young woman in such pain, never had she been so open, crying in agony in front of them. Dixie reluctantly left her, pushing Jeff out of her office and closing the door quietly behind her.
"Jeff, what the bloody hell have you done?!" Dixie hissed,
"Let's just say you might need to screw the spare locker back on the wall... And put the hinge back on it" Jeff looked at the floor, his hand was stinging, but he couldn't stop himself, he needed to let his anger out one way or another.
"Bloody sod, give it here" Dixie took hold of Jeff's right hand, wincing as she took a closer look, his hand was covered in blood, with tiny grazes all over his knuckles. Sighing, she lead him into one of the empty ambulance's, making him sit on the trolley while she got the sterile wipes and bandages.
"What did the locker do to you?" Dixie took hold of his hand gently, raising her eyebrows as she began to examine it closer.
"Come off it Dix, you know why I bloody smashed the locker in"
"Do I? Explain to me Jeffrey" Dixie noticed him wince as she began to wipe away the blood on his hand, she slowed down her pace of cleaning his hand up. Trying to be as careful as she could.
"Did she say what happened?" Jeff changed the subject from his hand, he didn't want to explain to Dixie his need to smash the blokes head in who hurt Chantelle, Dixie could already tell from the way he was reacting.
"Yeah... We were right, she was... she was raped" Dixie felt a shiver run down her spine saying the word, it hurt her inside, knowing something so traumatic happened to one of her best friends.
"Does she know who? I swear if I find out who did it"
"You'll what? Go on a one man vigilante?" Dixie put the blood stained wipe in the bin, unrolling the clean bandage she was going to use.
"Yes" Jeff answered almost abruptly.
"Jeffrey promise me if we find out who did this, you won't do something stupid" Dixie put her hand under Jeff's chin, making him look her in the eye, she knew what he was like, the last thing she wanted to be doing was bailing him out of prison.
"Depends what you consider as stupid, what man could even think about doing that to her. She hasn't done anything wrong in life Dix, why her? She goes around trying her best for people, patching them up. This is what she gets in return, where's the justice in that?" Dixie saw a small tear slip from Jeff's eye, it wasn't often he cried, she bit her lip, knowing every word Jeff said was true. She didn't know herself why Chantelle, it always puzzled her, why bad things happened to good people. She got annoyed with all the people in prison, all the people who done bad things, had everything good happen to them, where as innocent people like Chantelle ended up hurt.
She slowly wrapped a bandage around Jeff's hand, making sure it wasn't too tight, she didn't want to cut off the circulation in his hand. Jeff thanked her, admiring Dixie's handy work.
"Is she going to report it Dix... To the police" Jeff opened the ambulance door, helping Dixie out before getting out himself.
"I don't think so mate, and I can't force her. She said she can't remember anything" Dixie sighed, she wanted so much to help Chantelle.
"Ok, just keep me updated yeah?" Jeff looked at his hand,
"Come in if you want?" Dixie opened the office door slightly,
"I don't want to intrude, she's already been through enough... and well, I'm a bloke, don't wanna scare her" Jeff bit his lip, he know Chantelle had been though a lot, he didn't want to scare her by invading space.
"Don't be daft" Dixie could see the hurt in Jeff's eyes, he was so worried about frightening Chantelle.
"I don't want her to think I'm going to hurt her though Dix, maybe it's best I stay out of the way" Jeff wanted to help in any way he could, it killed him inside, he thought because he was a man, his presence may scare Chantelle.
"She trusts you Jeff" Dixie looked into his eyes, smiling at him.
"Ask her, if she wants me to, I will come in, if not, I will be around the station" Jeff rubbed his forehead, he loved Chantelle, like she was his daughter, so the last thing he wanted to do was scare her.
Dixie nodded, understanding why Jeff felt that way, she went back into her office, Chantelle was where she left her, it looked like she hadn't moved an inch. "Love, what would you think of seeing someone from gyne?" Dixie crouched down to her level. Taking hold of her hand, rubbing soothing circles in her palm.
"Do I have to?"
"Sweetheart, if your bleeding, it's normally an indicator something isn't right. They are only there to help" Dixie took a deep breath, she knew Chantelle needed looking over, normally it would be done in the ED, but Dixie didn't want them all gossiping about Chantelle.
"Won't they call the police?" Chantelle tried to stop herself from crying, but it was useless.
"Not if you don't want them to. How's about we go there now, see if they can fit you in?" Dixie offered, she paused, Chantelle wasn't responding, Dixie could see from her expression the young woman was considering. "Then after, how's about we go to the coffee shop on the highstreet?" Dixie added, she knew that was Chantelle's favourite place, it was a coffee shop on the edge of town, it was quiet and peaceful there.
"Ok, only if you come with me?"
"You know I will" Dixie helped the young woman into a sitting position, she waited a few moments before helping her get into a standing position. Dixie lead her out of the office, and into the hospital, she made sure to use a different entrance to the ED, that way she knew nobody from the ED would spot them, the last thing either she or Chantelle wanted was the whole ED finding out what had happened.
Going into the lift, Dixie pressed the button for the gyne and obstetrics floor, she could see Chantelle was visibly paling, so she put her arm around her, holding her close. "Dixie I'm scared"
"It's ok sweetie, I'm not going to leave you" Dixie assured, once the lift stopped they both walked out, Dixie removed her arm from Chantelle's shoulders, taking her hand instead as the pair of them walked up to the reception desk.
"Hello, how can I help you?" The receptionist smiled at Dixie,
"I know this is short notice, but would it be possible to see someone now?"
"I'm sorry, we are fully booked, I can make an appointment in a week though?" Dixie bit her lip, it was going to take a lot of convincing from her behalf, Chantelle leaned into her, looking for some comfort.
"No, that isn't good enough. Please, look, she was really needs looking over. I would take her to the ED, but our friends work there. She doesn't want them knowing" Dixie was begging, she saw a woman behind the reception desk turn and look at her.
"Sally leave this one to me. Hello I'm Dr Cheryl Grace. What seems to be the problem?" The doctor came out of the reception desk, and stood opposite Chantelle and Dixie.
"Well. It's my friend, she well, she was forced into intercourse and has told me she wont stop bleeding..." Dixie tried to say this as gently as she could, she could feel Chantelle violently shaking next to her.
"Right, Ok, well lets go into my room for a bit more privacy, eh?" The doctor lead them down the corridor, into a little side room.
Dixie went in first, holding Chantelles hand tightly, the doctor went to her desk, gesturing at the two seats opposite. Dixie nodded, encouraging Chantelle to sit on one of the seats,
"Now, what seems to be the problem then sweetie? And what is your name " The Doctor looked at Chantelle, who looked at the floor unresponsive.
"Her name is Chantelle Loader" Dixie said, she knew Chantelle wasn't going to talk anytime soon. She then turned towards Chantelle before continuing speaking "Love, you need to tell her" Dixie pulled Chantelle's hands into her own, she was pleased at how good the doctor was being, she was so patient.
"I was... Well. Dix I can't even say it" Chantelle broke down into tears, she was unable to say the words
"I know this isn't exactly professional, but, if you held her hands, asked her to squeeze them for a yes. That might be easier for her" Dixie suggested, she didn't know what the doctor would think of this, but it was worth mentioning.
"Ok, how would you feel about that Chantelle?" Chantelle weakly nodded, the doctor came from her desk, sitting in front of Chantelle and taking hold of her hands.
"Squeeze them for a yes, yeah? Let's start with something easy, do you like Chocolate?" Chantelle broke out into a gentle smile, squeezing the woman's hands.
"That's good then, I don't need to check over your taste buds. Now, I know this is hard, but I do need you to be open and honest. Have you been forced into sexual intercourse?" Chantelle slowly squeezed the woman's hands, looking at the floor.
"Good girl, was it over a week ago?" The Doctor felt her hands being squeezed again for another yes.
"It was, alright, was it last week?" Chantelle felt tears slip from her eyes, she nodded at this question instead of squeezing hands.
"Did he have any protection, do you know?" Shaking her head, Chantelle looked at the ground feeling a lump forming in her throat.
"Have you had the contraceptive pill?" Chantelle nodded again, her hands were shaking, unable to squeeze.
"Now, I need you to be honest with me for this one. Have you been bleeding all that time since the intercourse?" Chantelle again, weakly squeezed the doctors hands.
"I'm going to need to examine you, for that, I would need you to get undressed on your lower half. Is that ok?" Chantelle squeezed the doctors hands, feeling tears continue to run down her face.
"Can Dixie stay with me?" Chantelle moved herself closer to Dixie, resting her head on her shoulder.
"If she wants to" The Doctor nodded, seeing that Dixie was easily able to calm Chantelle down.
"Thank you"
"I'll leave you to get undressed, then come back and sort you out. Eh?" The doctor stood up, then left the room. Chantelle turned in her seat, looking at Dixie.
"Love you're doing so well, it will all be over soon. Then we will go to the coffee shop, have something to eat and drink" Dixie encouraged, she was so proud of Chantelle, she wasn't going to give up now.
Chantelle held onto Dixie's hand through the whole examination, she was too scared to let go. Dixie felt saddened, seeing her friend lying there so petrified and vulnerable, but she knew it was the right thing to do.
Once it was over, Dixie was glad it was only a few tear's that needed stitching, but it could have been a lot worse. She had some stiches, that was all, Dixie stuck by her word, taking Chantelle to the coffee shop. They took some seats in the corner, it was quiet and peaceful, not a lot of people knew the shop was there. Dixie was glad Chantelle had shown it to her, as she thought they did the best chocolate brownie in Holby. "Thanks Dixie. For being there" Chantelle put her hand on Dixie's, she was grateful that Dixie hadn't left her.
"That's ok love, I just wish you would have told me sooner... We could have found out who it was" Dixie felt horrible, knowing the man who did this to her, was still out there, it scared Dixie knowing he would be able to get to her again.
"Dix I told you, I can't remember" Chantelle sighed, tracing patterns on the table.
"And that's the truth?"
"Yeah... That's the truth" Chantelle turned her head up looking Dixie in the eye, lying, she felt bad for lying, but she didn't know what else to say. Dixie nodded slightly, before the pair of them were interrupted with a waitress taking their orders. Chantelle enjoyed that time with Dixie, she made her feel safe, never in her life had she trusted someone as much as Dixie.
After they had dinner in the coffee shop, Dixie paid, then dropped Chantelle home. "Sweetheart, does David know?" Dixie bit her lip, wondering if David knew what had happened to her, unbeknownst to Dixie, he was the culprit.
"No... I don't want him to. I'll see you tomorrow" Chantelle opened the car door,
"Um, actually sweetheart, I had to swap mine and Jeff's shifts, we were supposed to be working now" Dixie noticed Chantelle's sudden change, she seemed to pale, was becoming more agitated.
"You changed your shifts so you could be with me?" Chantelle whispered, she didn't know what to say.
"Yes, I moved our shift so we are working tonight" Dixie hated working nights, but under the circumstances, she didn't mind.
"Oh, I'm sorry" Chantelle apologised quietly, then got out of the car, walking up the path towards her house. She heard Dixie's car drive away, as soon as Dixie left she opened the front door to her house.
When she went into the house her blood ran cold, she was shaking, looking around the house for any sign of David. She saw him coming down the stairs, she could tell from his face that he wasn't happy.
"What the hell are these?" He flung the pharmacy bag at her, the one that Zoe gave her with the morning after pill in. Chantelle drew in a sharp shallow breath, staring at the bag.
"It's the morning after pill... " She whispered slowly, feeling her skin crawl, he walked down the rest of the stairs, towards her until he was directly opposite. "You fucking traitor, what is it? You don't want to have a kid with me is that it?" He spat in her face, his own face bright red with anger.
"David..." She was cut off as he punched her in the ribs, she gasped, unable to breathe from the pain. She fell to the ground on her hands and knees, spotting the empty beer can on the floor, it was then that she realised he had been drinking. "Please stop..." She begged, tears snaking down her face.
"When will you learn?!" She felt him kick her in the stomach, this send her flying back, her head snapping against the kitchen door, she felt a warm sticky substance run down from her head to her neck, everything was spinning, getting dim, the last thing she saw was David launch himself at her, she was too weak to stop him kicking her in the stomach and chest, all she could do was lie there in agony before everything went black.