"Jeffrey what do you mean? How are we supposed to do that?" Dixie asked confused, Jeff just gave her a weak smile and led her into the bathroom, placing her gently on the bathroom floor as he turned the taps on. Watching as the water flowed, trying to think how they were going to do this himself, he added in some vanilla scented bubble bath. He knew one thing for sure, Dixie was his Dixie and he wanted nobody to take her away from him.

"I haven't thought that far myself, but we need to do something Princess he can't continue what he is doing. We need to catch him out, we can build a case against him then take it to the trust and police" Jeff sat beside her, letting her head fall on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her, stroking her hair gently.

"He knows what he is doing Jeff, that is why he broke our friendship, he tore us apart. How can we stop him?" Dixie had tears in her eyes at this point, remembering how Mick tore hers and Jeff's friendship to pieces, how she thought she would never get Jeff back, and she was still worried now about Jeff going the same way.

Thankfully Jeff didn't have to reply as the water was nearing the edge of the bath, he got up turning the taps off. Putting his hand in and swirling around the bubbles, making sure it wasn't too hot or wasn't too cold, once he was satisfied with the temperature, he put his arms around Dixie helping her up. He moved the dressing gown from her shoulders, her skin was red and in parts bleeding, he noticed it more as he could see above her vest top, there was no skin left. He sighed feeling his eyes water, seeing the state she had got herself into by scrubbing herself raw.

"What have you done to yourself Dix,"
"I just need to get the feeling of him off me, can we not do this now" Dixie brushed aside his question, not wanting to answer it.

Jeff managed a small nod, before helping her into the bath, he felt bad as he watched her face scrunch up as her skin touched the water, but after getting used to the feeling she soon relaxed. He placed the fluffy towel on the radiator, this way it would be warm for when she got out. Dixie watched him, while she moved her fingers in patterns around the bubbles, taking in the strong scent of vanilla. When she next looked up, Jeff was sat on the floor next to the bath holding a sponge, looking at her on a serious note.

"Dix if you don't want me to, then say and I will go, I won't touch you if you don't want me too" Jeff didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable, he wouldn't do anything she didn't want him to.

Dixie nodded for him to go ahead looking into his eyes and managing a small smile, she was thankful he hadn't left her, she lifted up her arm allowing Jeff to dab it with the sponge softly, he was trying to avoid the rawest parts along with the parts that were bleeding. Dixie could notice that he was being gentle and soft, his warm touch was extremely comforting she was glad she allowed him to stay. Her body knew Jeff's touch, and she felt safe with him with her, she felt comfortable with him dabbing the sponge softly across her skin, taking away the feeling of Mick's touch.

The couple remained in their own thoughts, Dixie could feel herself relaxing with Jeff's gentle touch, and the vanilla scented bubbles. The silence was broken by Jeff talking,

"Maybe we should write everything that he has done, but it would have to be everything" Jeff said on a sad note, knowing to go into detail of what happened would be hard for Dixie.

"What do you mean everything?"
"Start from what he did to you at school, then what he has done to you through work" Jeff replied slowly, continuing to wash her body, he, himself didn't want to admit Mick tore their friendship to pieces but if it helped Dixie, he would do it.

"I'm not sure if I can do that Jeff, is it even going to help?"
"Yes you can, all we can do is try. I mean if we write about how he attacked you, assaulted you, then drove you to take your own life…" Jeff stopped feeling a lump forming in the back of his throat, remembering all those things Dixie had been through without him, he was swimming in guilt and frustration for not being there for here. Looking to the tiles on the wall he took some deep breaths, trying to stay strong for Dixie but the amount of guilt he had was eating away at him. Dixie saw this, and took hold of his hand holding it tightly, making him look at her.

"What is it Princess?" Jeff asked wiping his tears away with his arm,
"You can't blame yourself for this" Dixie turned herself on her side, so she was looking into his eyes.
"I can't help it Dix, I let him break us apart, you tried to kill yourself while thinking I hated you, I'm so pissed off with myself for not seeing what you were going through for myself. He blinded me to you. I...'
"Jeff, if we are serious on doing this both of us need to remain a sense of composure"
Jeff nodded in agreement, and moved on to run the sponge across her chest, watching cautiously making sure he wasn't hurting her or making her feel uncomfortable in anyway. Then he thought of something else that would help in their case, but he wasn't sure Dixie was going to approve of it, all he could do was assure her things would be ok.

He decided the bath was getting a little cold now, he stood up getting the towel from the radiator which was now warm. Helping Dixie out and wrapping the towel around her, hoping that after the bath she felt a little better about herself. Guiding her out the bathroom, he placed her gently on the bed then opened one of her draws to find some warm pyjamas.

"Dixie" He asked, placing the pyjamas beside her, it wasn't until he finished helping her into them, that she spoke.
"Yeah"
"I have been thinking, maybe we should take some pictures" He got a puzzled look from Dixie so he explained further, "Of the bruising, and your skin" he watched as Dixie shock her head.
"No Jeff, I can't" she began to weep,
"It will really help princess, trust me, it will back up what we write. We can get Tamzin to back us up too, she was there when he admitted the things he did, and he did some things to her too" Jeff reasoned, wiping away Dixie's tears, pulling her towards him running his fingers through her hair.

"I'm scared though Jeff, I didn't do what he wanted me too. What is he going to do now?"
"He probably thinks you haven't told me about what he did, I think I might start playing dumb pretend that I don't know about any of it when I go into work"
"You're going to work?" Dixie asked, feeling her eyes water and beggining to feel scared about being left alone, but she did have Abs to keep her company.
"I haven't got a choice princess, I don't think he is going to be willing to pay for holiday leave, I will phone you at every opportunity I get" Jeff looked into her eyes, moving a lock of her hair behind her ear, he felt bad about leaving her but he had no other choice.

"What if he uses this to try and break us up again?" Dixie was becoming worried of losing Jeff again, she didn't want to be without him. Jeff sensed her worry from her voice.
"We will make him think he has broken us up princess" Jeff assured, while playing with her hair.
"How? How will we know if he succeeded or not? I don't think I can do this Jeff, I'm scared and it could come back on us" Jeff just held Dixie tighter, sitting themselves down on the bed, he took her hands firmly before explaining how this time would be different.

"It won't be like last time babe, when I come back we can cuddle, talk and I will tell you what I do every evening, that you are beautiful on the inside and out and that nobody is going to take you away from me. I won't let him break us up again" Jeff said all these words while looking into her eyes, he wanted her to know nobody was going to tear them apart again.

"I'm scared, what if he does turn you against me, what if you do end up hating me for what I have done, what if you don't come home, what if…" Jeff heard enough and put his fingers to her lips, stopping her from talking but she looked to him in a worried way, wondering what he was going to say.

"None of that is going to happen, I promise and when I get home from work, the first thing I will do is hold you in my arms, and tell you how much you mean to me, you are the most precious thing in my life I'm never letting you go. I will hold you when you sleep, and I won't let him hurt you again" Jeff ended, half way through talking he pulled Dixie close and he was now kissing her head softly. He wasn't sure how he would be able to contain himself, and act dumb towards Mick the oncoming day, but if he didn't his plan wouldn't work. For now he was focusing on Dixie, stroking her hair and assuring her that he wouldn't leave her, he was glad she let him wash her as her skin was clean and soft, still red from the first time, but it could be worse.

Dixie was sure Jeff would keep his word, she was finding a little courage and strength inside her again. Jeff had made her confident she wasn't going to lose him, and he would only make Mick think their friendship was over, when in reality it wasn't. She was scared of being left alone the next day, but the thing that would keep her going was knowing Jeff would be coming home and the first thing he would do was hold her tightly in his arms.