A / N – Head still not really in work (and I have a hell of a lot of work to be doing). So, I thought I would update this one as well! There is some hatred for Jeff right now in this fic and I cannot really blame anyone for that, enjoy this chapter, I am not that happy with it to be honest. Polly has come to visit!

'Hey Dix, how are you?' Polly joyfully exclaimed as Dixie opened the front door to her being enveloped in a tight hug straight away.

'Not to bad thanks Pol, how was the holiday?' Dixie asked pulling out of the hug to shut the front door behind her.

'It was fabulous, I had a great time. Oh my God, Dix, what happened to your face?' Polly's bubbly mood soon changed as she looked up and caught sight of the purple bruise on Dixie's left cheek.

'It's nothing, I slipped on the stairs that's all and hit my face on the banister, I was trying to carry too much down the stairs and lost my footing that's all.' Dixie quickly rushed out as Jeff appeared in the doorway.

Polly looked back at her friend, she had a feeling Dixie wasn't being truthful, even more so when she looked down to the floor once more as Jeff cleared his throat behind them.

'Heyyyyy, hello gorgeous, how are you?' Polly said happily moving towards Jeff giving him a long hug. Dixie watched Jeff nestle his head into the young girls shoulder as he gently wrapped his own arms around her waist. She hated lying to Polly, she was such a kind girl, but, she couldn't tell her that Jeff had hit her; he needed the company now, not the grief.

'Would you like a cup of tea Pol?'

'Oh yes please Dix, would you like a hand with it?'

'No, she is fine, aren't you Dix?' Jeff said looking up at this best friend who nodded weakly before heading off to the kitchen with Abs in tow.

Jeff and Polly sat down in the lounge on the larger sofa, Dixie could hear them having a good laugh and chat, she hadn't heard Jeff laugh like that since before the accident and certainly wouldn't laugh anymore when she was in the room. Dixie knew he blamed her for what had happened, she blamed herself for it as well, each day was a reminder of that.

Since Josh had been to visit, the Collier household had been a fraught place to live in. Jeff was reeling over what Josh had said to him, and, he was really making Dixie suffer. She wasn't sure how much more she could take of his attitude and behaviour towards her, but, she would stand by what she said; she is his wife and would look after him no matter what.

Taking a deep breath, Dixie picked up the two mugs of tea and headed into the lounge, 'there you go, I will just put them here then.'

'Aww, thanks Dix, just what I needed. Are you going to sit down with us as well?' Polly asked hopefully.

'Would you like me too?'

'Of course, I haven't seen you two in so long, it is just going to be lovely to catch up and chat.' Polly responded, her usually cheery nature went someway to lifting the oppressive atmosphere that was in the room.

Dixie joined the pair, sitting in the arm chair to the side letting them get on with their chatting only really getting up now and again to move things for Jeff when he looked at her. Dixie sat watching her two friends interact, she focussed her attention on Jeff, he looked like he was enjoying having Polly here, he was always content with Dixie for company, but, now, couldn't really look at her.

They talked about her holiday; Polly had brought the photos with her to show them, she insisted on explaining every one of them in immense detail but with a huge amount of enthusiasm. Dixie moved over towards Jeff whilst they looked at them together, she moved them slowly giving Polly enough time to explain and Jeff enough time to look at them. The last thing she wanted was to move too quickly.

'So, are you being a good patient then?'

'You know me Pol; I am an extremely good patient.' Jeff smirked,

'Seriously, Dixie, has he been good?'

Dixie nodded, 'are you looking after Dixie as well Jeff?'

'I do my best Pol, but it is hard, I cannot really do much with both arms in plaster, but at least I can move around a little more than I could before.'

'Well that is something then isn't it?' Polly said pleased that Jeff was making progress.

'It is, although I still need to rely on her a great deal.'

'It will get better Jeff; you have an amazing woman behind you who is with you every step of the way. Just make sure you look after her as much as you can.'

'Just for you I will Pol.' Jeff replied smiling at her before turning his gaze to Dixie. He looked at her tired and worn out complexion once more, why were people so intent on telling him to look after her, it is her fault he is in this situation to begin with. Dixie didn't need any looking after, she could do that herself.

Polly stayed for a few hours before she left; Dixie had made dinner and was now back to clearing the plates away. Once more, she hadn't really eaten anything; Jeff was being particularly demanding of her time. It seems Polly's comment of him looking after Dixie had fallen on deaf ears; he seemed intent to make the most of her attention and guilt.

He was sat back on the sofa watching television when Dixie went into the room once more,

'Do you need anything else love before I just nip up to have a shower?'

'When can I have my shower?'

'After me if you want?'

'Oh, so your needs come before mine then? At least I know where I stand.'

Dixie sighed heavily as she moved forward to help Jeff back up, 'Come on then love, you can have a shower first.'

'And so I should do.'

The couple went upstairs where Dixie undressed Jeff once more wrapping his arms in bin liners to protect them before helping him into the bath. Slowly Dixie washed him being careful as she moved her hands around his body.

'Do you think Polly believed you about your face?'

'I don't know Love, I hope so.'

'She doesn't need to know what happened does she.' Jeff said as he turned to face his best friend.

'No, no Jeff she doesn't.' Dixie replied looking down at the floor as she spoke.

'Good, I can do without any more of our so called colleagues poking their noses into our business.'

Dixie proceeded to dry him off before helping him into his pyjamas. She waited at the top of the stairs making sure he got down them safely before she went into their bedroom to get changed for her own bath. She didn't fancy a shower anymore; she just wanted a little bit of time to herself.

Dixie relaxed into the bath feeling the warm water soothe her skin, she never really realised how much she was aching, how tired her body was becoming. She was always on the move at work, it never bothered her, but, this was a different type of exhaustion. Dixie felt her eyes wanting to close as the water soothed her tired body, she tried to resist it, but couldn't help herself, she needed some time.

'Dix, Dix, DIXIE COLLIER.' Jeff yelled in her ear making her jump clean out of her skin and almost out of the bath.

'Jeff, Whoa, what's wrong?' She asked readjusting herself in the bath and wiping her eyes before staring at her husband.

'You have been ages, and I wanted a drink. I cannot make one myself can I thanks to you.'

Dixie let out a sigh, he had a point, he couldn't make one himself and it was all down to her. She was putting herself before his needs again after she had promised not to.

'OK, I will get you a drink in a sec love, let me just sort myself out.'

Jeff mumbled something as he left the bathroom. Dixie sat up in the bath pulling the plug before she got out and wrapped herself in the towel that Jeff had managed to knock to the floor as he left the room. Not wanting to keep him waiting any longer than needed, she quickly dried herself off and put her own pyjamas on before rushing down the stairs.

Dixie never made it to the bottom safely, where she was in such a rush, she hadn't fastened her dressing gown properly, tripping on the belt missing the last few steps landing in a heap on the laminate floor by the front door. The crash was enough to make Abs bark wildly, but, not enough for Jeff to see if everything was alright.

'Christ almighty what was that?' Jeff shouted from his perch on the sofa.

'Nothing love.' Dixie called back as strongly as she could, her ankle really hurt and so did the base of her spine, she had landed really heavily. She sat there nursing her foot while Little Abs continued to bark trying to get Jeff's attention.

'Will you shut that bloody dog up Dix, I am trying to watch the news.' Jeff called out.

'Ssssssh, Abs, come here sweetheart, it's OK. Give me a cuddle.' Dixie cooed at the dog as he slowly stopped barking and came around to her side where she flung her arms around him holding him tightly. Why was it that the dog knew she had hurt herself but Jeff didn't?

'Are you making a drink or what?' Jeff called out again once Abs had settled down.

'Yes love, sorry, I am doing it now.'

Dixie slowly let go of Abs giving him a little tickle under the collar before she carefully got up. She moved as carefully as she could to avoid making any noise, but also just in case she had done some serious damage somewhere. Dixie used the wall and banister to help her stand upright before she shuffled herself towards the kitchen. Her ankle and back were killing her so much that she just wanted to burst into tears there and then. Why didn't Jeff care about her anymore?

Dixie made Jeff a coffee taking it into him, each time she moved a shooting pain ran straight through her back and down her right foot; she was in agony, her eyes watered through the pain. She placed the mug on the small table in front of him trying not to show her pain as she stood back up to leave the room.

'Where are you going now?'

'Just back into the kitchen, why do you need anything else?' Dixie asked quietly not facing Jeff.

'No, not for now, although I wouldn't mind some toast in a little while.'

'OK, I will bring you some in.'

And with that, Dixie left the room, tears streaming down her face. She sat at the kitchen table staring at the number on her phone stroking Little Abs with the other hand. He knew she was hurt and although he was a dog, he wanted to protect his mum. Dixie stared at her phone, she knew what she was about to do would make things worse, but, she needed someone to come and see her, to make sure she was alright. Jeff couldn't do it, would he even check her over if he knew? Dixie knew one thing, she needed to make sure she was alright, if her stupidity had caused her an injury, how was she ever going to help Jeff.

Slowly, Dixie picked up her phone and dialled Josh's number.