"DIXIE COLLIER, IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR ARSE OUT OF THAT BED NOW. I WILL PERSONALLY DRAG YOU FROM IT!" Jeff was shouting at his wife, who was refusing to move from her bed. It had been a month since she was put in hospital, Jeff tried he really did, but he couldn't get her to open up about why she done it. He was forced to arrange counselling, even though he didn't think it would help in any way shape or form. Ben Harding was far from his idea, of an ideal counsellor, Jeff's idea of an ideal counsellor was a tall slender young single woman, but he had to keep reminding himself this wasn't for him, but Dixie.
"I DON'T WANT TO GO, AND THAT IS FINAL" Dixie folded her arms, determined to stay in the warmth of her bed.
"STOP BEING STUBBORN, AND JUST GET OUT AND GET DRESSED" Jeff flung some clothes at her, they were late as it is, this would only be something else Ben would go on about.
"YOU CAN'T MAKE ME," She threw the clothes back to him, and laid back down pulling the covers above her head, and hiding.
"WATCH ME" Jeff pulled the covers back so the warmth escaped from her, and he flung the clothes at her once more, before speaking directly too her not impressed facial expression.
"Now you have two options, you can get dressed and I will take you, or you cannot get dressed and go in your pyjamas. What is it going to be?" Jeff lowered his voice, giving her two options either way he was going to take her, it was up to her how she looked when she went.
"I don't want to go Jeffrey" Dixie fiddled with the buttons that were on the back of her jeans, sounding like a child not wanting to go to school.
"I know, but you're not going to tell me are you?" Jeff asked a little hopefully, but that hope was torn away from him when she shook her head.
"So what is it going to be princess, clothes, or pyjamas?" He played with her hair, but she still held the jeans fiddling with the loose thread.
"Clothes…" She mumbled still fiddling with the buttons.
"Good girl," Jeff pecked her on the cheek, before getting up to leave her to get dressed. Ten minutes later she came down the stairs, where Jeff was waiting by the door to leave, he didn't like the fact her arms were covered it just drew more suspicion.
"Come on then princess"
"Do we have too?" Dixie made one last attempt, of getting herself out of seeing Ben.
"Yes" He took hold of her hand tightly, opening the front door.
"But…"
"Ah, no buts, you are going and that's final" Jeff ushered her out the house, keeping hold of her hand in case she made a bid, to run back in the house and shut him out. In the car, Dixie continued her rant, of not understanding why she had to go, but Jeff had learned to let it go in one ear, and out the other.
When they pulled outside the building, he sensed Dixie's unease that he also felt himself, but he knew Dixie needed help, he only wanted to make her feel better, although she was better physically, she was still an emotional wreck refusing to do the simplest of things.
Standing outside the door, Jeff already felt intimidated by his presence, in the room that was behind the door. Dixie went in first, so he was sure she didn't run off and leave him alone with Ben.
"Ah, Dixie how are you?" He took a gulp of his coffee, then pointed to the two chairs that was opposite his desk, Dixie and Jeff sat together their hands finding themselves locked together.
"Fine"
"I see you are married"
"Yes, but what has that got to do with anything?"
"Just wondering, you are a lesbian aren't you?"
"I'm sorry, but what has my wife's sexuality got to do with the reason we are here?" Jeff was confused, the only reason he brought Dixie was for the self-harming, he didn't want a marriage counsellor.
"I am just asking, why the sudden change Dixie?"
"I don't know, Jeff just makes me happy" She looked to the floor, still holding Jeff's hand for support.
"But yet you didn't tell him about the self-harm, if you trusted him you would have done this. Why marry somebody you don't trust?"
"I think that is a little harsh" Jeff came to Dixie's defence immediately.
"I'm just trying to build up a back ground, before we can deal with the real problem" He leant back, swinging side to side in his chair.
"Well how long is that going to take?"
"Depends on how willing you are to co-operate with me, and at the moment, you are not exactly co-operating are you Mr Collier?" Jeff bit his tongue, to stop him saying something back that would get him thrown out, but the urge was too much.
"I'm not willing to co-operate because I don't think you are no good, at helping my wife"
"You keep on referring to Dixie as your Wife, Mr Collier"
"What has that got to do with anything? Maybe that's because she is my wife." Jeff was getting touchy, he never did like Ben. The way he would expect you to talk about feelings, Jeff didn't understand how talking about things helped.
"Do you see her as your property, and that is why you refer to her as your wife?"
"I see Dixie as my best friend, who I care deeply about" He instantly defended his friendship with Dixie.
"You didn't spot the self-harm, is that because you are too ashamed" Ben brought up, Jeff already felt bad about this, Ben didn't need to make him feel any worse.
"Ashamed of what?" Jeff spat back, why would he be feeling ashamed?
"That you are married to a lesbian, tell me Jeffrey how does that work" He leaned forward folding his arms, Jeff was imagining punching him, that would knock the smug grin off his face.
"It works very well" Jeff managed to say, through his gritted teeth.
"I think that is enough for that session" He said tilting his head to the side a little, Jeff lead Dixie out of the room, holding hold of her hand tight never of them were expecting that.
Going back in the house, Jeff was the one who had the courage to speak first.
"You ok Dixie?" He moved her chin up so she was looking into his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm fine, going to go and have a bath"
"Right ok" He ruffled her hair, and watched as she left going up the stairs, he could hear the door shut, then the sound of running water. He sat on the floor next to Abs, Ben didn't once ask about why Dixie had been doing what she has, surely that is what he was supposed to be doing, Jeff sighed and tickled Abs behind the ear.
While Dixie was upstairs stripping off her clothes, and sinking into the warm bubbly water soothing herself of the tough day, it was hard watching Jeff go on to Ben. She wondered if Jeff was ashamed of her? After all he was married to a lesbian, she sighed putting her head under the water, to wash away the forming tears. When she lifted her head, she rubbed her eyes one object was gathering her attention, the razor on the side of the bath, she picked it up looking at the razor sharp edges.