Author: Raven Shadowrose

Rating: M

Pairing: ?/?

Summary: Sequel to Epiphany, Jeff and Dixie are trying to have a baby, what happens when it is likely to be more difficult than they first thought?

Disclaimer: I do not know or own any of the characters from Casualty, any original characters and the story are my property and I do not give permission for either of them to be used.

A/N: This is a direct sequel to Epiphany, please read that first to understand this story :) Reviews are welcome :)

Thank you to BeethovenRIP, olivia. c. king1 and chan. nelson4444 for your reviews and support during this story. I have some more squish for you :)

Chapter Forty-Four.

Dixie busied herself readying the towel that had been warming on the radiator for when Sam came out of his bath, Jeff was bathing him, they took it in turns to bath him and Dixie had noticed that Jeff was more confident these days. He had worried that he wouldn't be able to support Sam properly while he was washing him and something bad might happen. She understood his worries, babies could be slippery when they had been in the bath but she trusted Jeff, she had only ever felt safe in his arms. They'd bathed Sam together a few times until Jeff gained some confidence in doing it alone. Dixie still sat in the bathroom with him to support Jeff as he cared for their son, she knew that he felt better with her there. Sam liked being in the bath, the water soothed him and afterwards she would gently massage moisturiser into his skin. Sometimes Dixie got into the large bath with Sam and would just hold him close as they sat in the warm water. Sam liked to be held, having skin contact with her calmed him down and she found that he fed and slept better after lying next to her naked skin. Jeff got in with them sometimes and they would just cuddle up together. 'He's ready to get out now Dix.' Dixie sat by the little bath that they had bought for Sam just before he was born. Jeff carefully picked Sam up out of the water and she quickly wrapped him in the towel so he wouldn't get cold and she dried him carefully making sure that he was completely dry before she rubbed the moisturiser into his skin and checked for nappy rash. Sophia and John helped sometimes, they would sit with Sam in the nursery as he went to sleep and read him stories, they also played with him during the day and looked after him. Dixie was pleased with how much the kids loved their little brother and were helping out with looking after him..

Jeff put Sam's nappy on him and dressed him in his clean clothes ready for their trip out. 'Come on Little Bug, we are going to see the nice people at the hospital where your mummy and daddy work.'

'Jeff, how do you feel about bathing our little boy now?'

'I'm okay, sort of, I would hate for anything to happen to him because of me.'

'Nothing is going to happen to him, you are a brilliant daddy Jeff. Look, you're holding Sam and he is totally peaceful, he trusts you to look after him and take care of his needs. I trust you too.'

'He's so small and I just worry that I'll make a mistake or let him down in some way.'

'Jeff, why do you feel like that?'

'I don't know, he needs me and relies on me, you need me and so do Sophia and John. I just don't want to let any of you down.'

'You won't, you're the sweetest man I know. The fact that you're worrying proves it. I know that you want to do a good job and give all of your children the best of everything, if anyone can do it then it is you.'

'Thanks Dixie.' Jeff knew that Dixie was telling him the truth, he heard it in her words as she spoke to him, her faith in him was keeping him going. 'You're welcome love.' Jeff smiled, he was feeling a bit better about bathing Sam and looking after him. 'I'll go and make sure that the kids are ready to go, will you bring Sam down and put him in the car?'

'Yeah, of course I will.' Dixie left the room and Jeff looked at his son who was starting to fall asleep in his arms, he silently promised him again that he would always be there for him and never let him down, it was one promise that he intended to keep to all of his family.

Dixie went into the garden, Sophia was on the swing that Jeff had bought and John was playing with his football with Little Abs, now that the days were longer and a bit warmer they could play out more, it pleased her to see them making the most of the last few days that they had off school. 'Sophia, John, can you be ready to go in five minutes please?'

'Are we going to see Auntie Tamzin,' Sophia said and jumped off the swing.

'We are, we're going to take your brother to see our friends at the hospital too.'

'Good, I like Auntie Tamzin, she's nice.' Dixie smiled and went inside to get her own coat and shoes, she was looking forward to seeing the people that she had been missing while she was on maternity leave. She loved her job and sometimes she wanted to be back there but she loved Sam too and therefore being off work was definitely worth it.

Jeff carefully strapped Sam into his seat and then he double checked that everything was where it was supposed to be and holding Sam in properly. He had been taking more care when driving these days as he didn't want anything to happen to anyone that he cared for. Becoming a father again had changed Jeff's priorities, he only wanted the best for his family. He would always do his best for them to make sure that they have good life. Jeff wanted to give his children the best of everything, he would make sure that they always had clothes and food. He gazed down at Sam, he was asleep, his little chest moving gently up and down. 'Sleep well my Little Bug.' Jeff stood by the car and waited for Dixie, he wasn't going to leave Sam alone, she came out of the house a few minutes later with Sophia and John following behind her. He got into the car, made sure they were all securely strapped in and only then did he start the engine and drive off.

Dixie got out of the car at the hospital, she took Sam out of his seat and cradled him in her arms, he had slept for a little while but now he was awake and he yawned. 'Come on Jeff, we should go and see everyone in the station first.'

'Good idea, come on kids.' Dixie walked by Jeff's side as they went into the station, some of the crew were around and Norman came over to them as they walked towards the back of the station.

'Hello Jeff, Dixie.'

'Hey Norman,' Dixie said and smiled.

'Is that the little one?'

'It is.'

'He's beautiful.'

'Thanks Norman.'

'How are you doing Dixie?'

'I'm all right, I'm a bit tired from getting up to feed Sam during the night but Jeff is helping all that he can with them, we take it in turns to get up.'

'That's good to hear.' Norman was distracted by his radio going off. 'I have to go but congratulations on your new baby.' Dixie and Jeff thanked Norman again and watched him leave and then they went to see Tamzin in the office.

Jeff tapped on the office door and Tamzin looked up. 'Hello everyone, I am glad to see you all.' Tamzin hugged Sophia and then John. 'You brought the little one with you, how is he?'

'He's doing very well, he's feeding frequently and I think he's growing by the minute.'

'That is good to hear, you look well Dixie. Is Jeff looking after you?'

'Of course he is.'

'Good.'

'I am looking after everyone,' Jeff said and smiled at Tamzin.

'I can see that, you look like a very proud daddy. It is so nice to see you all. Are you enjoying your paternity leave?'

'Very much, it is nice to spend time with all of my family.'

'You like looking after them, I can see it.'

'I do.'

'Family life definitely agrees with you.'

'I love it, it is definitely one of the pleasures in life.'

'I think it will be hard for you to come back to work.'

'Maybe a little bit.'

'Just enjoy the time you have while you're off. You're a good dad Jeff, I know it.'

'Thanks Tamzin.'

'You're welcome. Are you going in to see everyone else? They've been asking me when you're going to come in and see them.'

'We are.'

'That's good.' Jeff and Dixie stayed in the station a little bit longer and then went into the hospital, it was time to introduce Sam to the rest of their colleagues.

Dixie went to the reception desk and Tess came over as she approached. 'Dixie, Jeff, come into the staffroom, it is so nice to see you both.'

'Nice to see you too Tess.' Dixie and Jeff followed Tess into the staffroom.

'So this is the little one and who are these two?'

'This is Sophia and John, two of my lovely children, ' Jeff said. 'This is Tess, she might deny it but she is the boss of this place.' Jeff smiled as Tess shook hands with Sophia and John.

'They're lovely Jeff, you should be very proud of them.'

'I am.' Dixie handed Sam to Tess when she went over to her.

'Look at him, he's so beautiful. What did you call him?'

'Sam.'

'Hello Sam, I have a son called Sam. He's lovely, it reminds me of when my Sam was this small.' Dixie looked up when half of the staff from the department came in to look at Sam, she was pleased that they had all come to see her, Jeff and their baby.

Jeff sat with Sophia and John as they had a stream of visitors coming in and out of the staffroom to see baby Sam. He was definitely the star of the show and he was pleased that everyone loved him. 'Daddy, I think everyone likes our baby brother.'

'They like you too, who do you like the best?'

'I like Big Mac, he is so nice, he brought us some juice and a biscuit.'

'What about you John?'

'I like Noel, he showed me his action figures.'

'Oh yes, Noel and his action figures are legendary in this department.'

'Can I go and see some more of them? Noel said I could go behind the reception and play with them.'

'Of course you can, you must stay at the reception though.'

'I will do, thank you dad.'

'You're welcome.' John got up and left the room, Jeff was happy that his son had found his confidence with Dixie's help, he wouldn't have talked to Noel before he met her.

Jeff didn't mind that Dixie was the centre of attention with Sam, he was quite happy sat with Sophia and letting her cuddle up to him. 'Daddy, when I was born, what did you think of me?'

'You were so cute, so small and cuddly. When you were born you were a little bit early and the nurses had to help you. You had to stay in hospital for a few days until you were strong enough to go home. You're my little fighter Sophia. I stayed with you for as long as I was allowed each day. I loved you from the first second that I saw you. I used to like holding you and singing to you.'

'Like you do with baby Sam?'

'Exactly like that.'

'Was it the same with John?'

'It was, he was a quiet baby, he never really cried and when he did that was quiet too. I fell in love with you all when I held you close to me.'

'Daddy, do you think that I will have a baby?'

'Of course you will my little princess, you will be a very good mummy.'

'I want to be like mummy Dixie.' Jeff smiled and kissed Sophia on the head, he had every faith in her that she would be a wonderful mother one day.

Dixie gently rocked Sam in her arms as they left the staffroom, everyone had loved him and she had been so happy to see all of the people that she worked with and was very happy that they had loved Sam as much as she and Jeff did. She would like to stay a bit longer but Sam was getting tired and cranky and she didn't want him getting too overstimulated. They stopped off at reception and found John sat in Noel's seat and they were playing with the action figures that were lined up on Noel's desk. Dixie saw Jeff smile, she knew how happy he was that John was talking to people and had come out of his shell. 'Come on John, it is time to go home.'

'Do I have to?'

'You can come back again, little brother, I'll be happy to see you,' Noel said.

'Okay, I'd like that.' Dixie smiled, Noel had clearly taken a liking to John and the reverse was also true. John got up and Dixie looked around to see Sophia giving Big Mac a hug, he was lovely man that cared for people and Sophia clearly liked him. Dixie turned to Jeff. 'Come on Jeff, take us home. I think our little boy is getting a bit cranky.'

'He's just tired, he'll be all right once he gets a bit of sleep.'

'You're right.'

'I think mummy needs some sleep too, mummy looks a little bit tired.'

'Maybe, it has been a long day.'

'You are going to bed for a nap once we get home.'

'Bossy Jeffrey.'

'It is for your own good princess.' Dixie smiled, Jeff was looking after her and she liked it, he was a caring man and he made her happy. She looked around at the little family that surrounded her, sometimes it was the simple things that made you the happiest.