A big thanks to BeethovenRIP, who gave me most of this chapter xxx
Jeff sat alone in the holding cell wondering what was going on banging his head on the wall for being stupid, he had been interviewed by the police where he admitted to hitting Mick. Jeff replayed in his mind the part where he told them why, even he had to admit it sounded like he had made it up, but, he hoped they would believe him. He closed his eyes taking himself back to what had happened in the interview room.
"So you admit to assaulting Mr Williams then?" The officer kept asking the same questions over and over, making Jeff feel annoyed at this wasting of his time.
"I have just told you that I do."
"According to Mr Williams, your attack on him was totally unprovoked, he doesn't know why you did it."
"Are you joking me? Seriously he said that?" Jeff responded, he was getting cross with the whole situation, he wanted to be with Dixie but yet he was stuck here saying he had hit Mick unprovocked, when he was touching Dixie inappropriatly in front of him. Jeff wondered what the officer would have done if he was put in his situation, watching his wife being groomed in front of him.
"Mr Collier, this is a very serious incident and we would like to remind you that anything you say here will be used in evidence"
"I know that, you keep on telling me that" he muttered, fiddling with his thumbs under the table.
"Mr Collier, for the second time, why did you attack Mr Williams?" The police Officer sat back in his chair eyeing Jeff waiting for his reply.
"He was grooming my wife" Jeff snapped, thinking this was a perfectly valid reason to hit Mick, how was he meant to let him get of scot free, after touching Dixie right in front of him.
"That is a serious allegation to make Mr Collier, can I remind you that if this turns out to be a false accusation, you will be charged with perverting the course of justice"
"I am not lying, you can ask my wife. I saw him holding her against a wall, hand over her mouth while the other was up her top touching her breasts. I stormed in, he told me to go away and to leave him to get on with it. I couldn't, I just had to get him off her, she was so scared" Jeff had tears forming in his eyes as he thought back to the sight he saw, he never wanted to see it again. His mind traced back to all the cruel things Mick did to Dixie, all the things she had been through alone suffering all those months without his help or support. Guilt filled him, he had let Dixie down big time and him being here instead of being with her, wasn't good.
"Go on Mr Collier" The officer looked interested in what he had to say, but Jeff could see already that he didn't believe him.
"He bullied her when she was at school, since he has been working with us at the Trust, he has beaten her up, left her for dead, held her at gunpoint and touched her inappropriately multiple times. I know it sounds like I am making it up, but I am not, Dix was, well, still is really scared and every moment I am stuck in here with you I am not with her. I need to be with her" The officer just looked at him, Jeff's pleading to be allowed home with Dixie was dismissed and he was led back to his cell.
Jeff slammed his fists down on the plastic mattress in frustration, he had been in custody all morning, he had had enough, he wanted out, wanted to be with Dixie, wanted to protect her. The thought of her being without him all morning was worrying him, was she ok? Had she remembered to eat? A million other questions were racing through his mind but he wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answers to them.
He knew the police would have to investigate his accusations but, deep down he knew Mick was an accomplished liar, if he could turn Jeff away from Dixie, he could turn the police on a different trail very easily. Jeff remembered how he turned against Dixie, his wife, his best friend. Many thought his bond with Dixie was unbreakable, but Mick had really tested this statement. Jeff was glad he had his Dixie back, and he didn't want to lose her again.
Unbeknownst to Jeff, back at the Ambulance Station, things were unfolding that would make him cringe and his blood boil. Dixie stood in front of Mick as he continued to stroke her hair and face. She visibly flinched with every touch, but she said she would do anything and she really meant anything. She wanted Jeff back, needed him back she had no idea of what he would be looking at if Mick didn't drop the charges. She wouldn't be able to cope with him being in prison, she couldn't lose him not now.
"You said you would do anything" Mick said as he moved his lips closer to Dixie's neck, she could feel him breathing on her skin, is made her blood run cold, but she closed her eyes trying to imagine it was Jeff who was getting this close to her, not Mick. This was becoming hard, even harder as Mick moved his lips so they were touching her neck placing one of his hands on her hip.
"Yeah, I would" Dixie replied in barely a whisper, fear taking over.
"It is time I taught a filthy Lesbo like you a lesson, one you will never ever forget" Mick was making it known to Dixie that he was now in charge, she had willingly consented to him doing anything to her, whatever he did it didn't matter anymore, she had consented he could use that against her. He was smart, and knew Dixie had no way to defend herself now.
He continued to get closer, Dixie felt his lips touch her neck as he kissed it while moving his hand over her chest once more. Dixie took in a deep breath, closing her eyes trying to convince herself she was at home, in her bedroom with Jeff. She tried to picture him in front of her, touching and kissing her, but it wasn't working. She found strength in her to push Mick away,
"Oh no, you don't want to be doing that now do you Kathleen" Mick said as he came towards her once more, he wasn't going to let her get away that easy. Dixie backed away, her eyes moving cautiously over him.
"I am not going to let you do anything, until you have done something for me" Dixie found the strength to speak, make her point clear she was only doing this if it guaranteed Jeff would be coming home.
"Like I am going to let you tell me what to do" Mick was getting annoyed with her now, she had consented and he already knew what he was going to do.
"I said I would do anything, and I will. You know how much Jeff means to me, you have tried to tear us apart and have failed. I want you to call the Police right now and drop the charges, then I will do anything you want" Dixie couldn't believe were she found this new strength, but all the time she had it, she was going to use it. She knew something would happen to her that deep down she didn't want to happen, but if it meant she got Jeff back she would do anything.
"OK, well if we are going to play games Kathleen, I am going to want a little something first just to make sure" Mick edged closer to Dixie who was backing away even more, before she could get any further away, he grabbed her hair tugging it tightly making her scream out in pain before he slammed her down into the chair holding her there as he held her by the throat moving his hand up her leg slowly stopping just before the top. Dixie was scared, but she tried hard not to show it she knew he would want to see her frightened and scared, she tried not to give him the satisfaction.
Mick could see from her face that she was in hell, this made him smile, he was going to enjoy taking everything from her knowing how desperate she was to get Jeff back.
"Right Mr Collier, you are free to go" The custody sergeant said as he opened the cell door then led Jeff back to reception, where his keys and wallet was handed to him in a plastic sleeve.
"What? Why?" Jeff gratefully took his possessions back but was unsure as to what was going on, one minute he was being charged with assault, now he was being released.
"Mr Williams has contacted us, he wishes to drop the charges against you. He has decided to refer it to the Ambulance Trust instead, so, as I said, you are free to go" He showed Jeff the door, he nodded at the Policeman before he made his way out of the station to start his walk home.
As the mid-afternoon air hit him, he began to wonder what happened for Mick to change his mind, whatever it was couldn't be good. After everything he had done to Dixie, Jeff knew deep down that this wasn't going to be the end of it. Mick had to want something in return, he just hoped it wouldn't involve Dixie. He had already done so much to hurt her, he just hoped Mick was only trying to hurt him now, but something told him that Mick wasn't done with Dixie.
Jeff sped up his walking pace, wanting to get home to Dixie and hold her in his arms.
He eventually got home putting his key in the lock opening the front door.
"Dix? Are you here babe?" He called noticing she wasn't in the living room, where he thought she would be.
"Jeffrey? Is that you?" He could tell something was wrong from her voice, her voice was shaky and more quiet than usual.
"Yeah where are you Princess?" Jeff asked looking around for Dixie. She appeared in the doorway and ran straight into Jeff's arms feeling his warmth, unlike what she had recently experienced. Jeff had his arms in a lock around her tightly, noticing that her hair was wet and she was shaking uncontrollably in his arms. He stroked her damp hair in attempt to calm her down, kissing her head softly and beginning to feel bad about being in the station when he should have been with Dixie.
"What is it Babe? Has he done anything to you?" Jeff asked in a rush looking at the state of his wife in his arms, he knew something had happened and he knew who was behind it.
"Christ Dixie, what has he done to you?" Jeff had obvious worry and concern in his voice as he moved Dixie from his arms to looking into her eyes. He took in the sight of her, the pale complexion and most of her skin was red raw the sight making his eyes water. He moved his hands from her bare skin, knowing it must have stung as he could see layers of her skin worn away now looking red and irritable. He then saw the purple brusing that was beggining to form at the top of her chest and around her wrists, making Jeff feel sick.
"I am sorry Jeff, I didn't know what else to do. I am sorry. I didn't want to lose you, I cannot lose you. I am really sorry. Please forgive me Jeff, please" She said hastily trying to get all the words out at once, Dixie continued to sob in front of Jeff who was now beside himself with worry, millions of thoughts racing through his mind and none of them good. He moved some of her damp hair from her eyes, and looking into them they had tears streaming from them, and she was breathing quickly obviously in a state of panic.
"Princess, please calm down and tell me. What are you sorry for?"