Title: Moving On

Author: Raven Shadowrose

Rating: M

Pairing:?/?

Summary: Dixie has been left broken hearted by Cyd's departure from the Holby team, what happens when Cyd is replaced by Hannah Darbyshire and Dixie takes a liking to her. Will she end up with even more of a broken heart or will she find the happiness that she has been searching for?

Disclaimer: I do not know or own any of the characters from Casualty, all original characters and the story are my property and I do not give permission for anyone else to use this story.

Author's Note: This story will contain will contain some femslash, if you do not wish to read it then by all means back away slowly the way you came, other than that enjoy the story and reviews are appreciated :)

Thank you to chan. nelson444, olivia. c. king1 and beethovenRIP for your comments. Enjoy the chapter, snuggle time.

Chapter Forty-Five.

Dixie woke up before the alarm went off, she turned it off as she didn't really want it waking Hannah up, she looked worried even in her sleep. She kissed Hannah on the head and then checked the phone, nobody had called all night, she was relieved about that as it meant that Hannah's dad wasn't any worse. Dixie didn't want to wake Hannah but she had to, it was a long drive to Yorkshire and they would have to go to the hospital as well. Dixie sat by Hannah and stroked her hair, she kissed her on the head again and quietly whispered in her ear. 'Hannah, come on beautiful, time to wake up beautiful.' She kept stroking Hannah's hair and whispering comforting things in her ear. 'Morning sweetheart.'

'Morning Dixie.' Hannah sounded as if she had the weight of all of her troubles on her shoulders.

'How are you feeling?'

'I don't know, it doesn't feel real.'

'Come with me Hannah, I will make us some breakfast.'

'I'm not sure I can eat anything.'

'You must eat Hannah, you will end up ill if you don't. Please, just have a little something, for me.'

'Okay, just some toast, I think that is all I can manage.'

'Toast it is.' Dixie hugged Hannah and kissed her, she was relieved that Hannah had agreed to eat some breakfast. 'I love you Hannah.'

'I love you too Dixie, thank you for being with me through this.'

'I'm not going to leave you, you mean everything to me.'

'I am glad to hear you say that, I don't want anyone else to be with me.' Dixie took Hannah into her arms and just held her; she would not leave her alone.

Hannah took comfort from being in Dixie's arms, she needed her at this time. Hannah was trying to sort out what was happening in her head, she wasn't sure, her father was in hospital and he was being treated for stab wounds. She knew from her work as a paramedic that stab wounds had the potential to cause a lot of damage to vital organs, especially around the stomach and chest. Would her dad be all right? Would he make it through this? She had many questions but nobody had any answers for her just yet. Hannah let Dixie take her into the kitchen and she sat at the table while Dixie busied herself making toast and tea. She looked at her phone; what would she do if they called with bad news? How would she cope if all of this ended badly? Hannah snapped out of her thoughts when Dixie put a plate of toast and a cup of tea in front of her. 'Thanks Dixie.'

'You're welcome beautiful.' She picked up a slice of the toast and ate it, she still didn't feel like eating but Dixie wanted her to eat and she knew that Dixie was right, she had to eat to keep her strength up. She drank some of the tea, somehow it made her feel a bit better, it was made how she liked it, Dixie always made the best tea in the world.

Dixie checked that her bag contained everything that she would need while she was away, Hannah was quiet while she packed her things, no doubt she was thinking about her father and how he was faring in hospital. 'Hannah, are you ready to go?'

'Yes, I am.'

'You don't sound so sure.'

'I'm not, this is going to be so hard.'

'I know but I will be there with you and we will face all of this together.'

'Of course we will.'

'I love your father too Hannah, he is a great man, I am sorry that this has happened to him.'

'He loves you Dixie, he's happy that I've met someone like you.'

'I am pleased that he's happy, that he thinks I'm good enough for you.'

'Of course he does, you are good enough Dixie, I do not want anyone else.' Dixie took Hannah's hands in hers and squeezed them. 'Come on beautiful, let's go, the sooner we get there, the sooner we can find out what is going on.' Dixie picked up both bags and she closed the door to their bedroom, it was time to begin the journey to Yorkshire. Dixie didn't want to ask how Hannah felt about her mother just yet, it was likely that she felt angry and she was suffering enough already. Dixie didn't want to add to Hannah's emotional suffering by asking her.

Hannah followed Dixie out to the car, her phone began to ring and she looked at it, were they calling with bad news? 'Go on beautiful, answer it.' Hannah took a deep breath and picked up the phone, she put it on speaker so Dixie could hear everything that was said during the conversation. 'Hello.' Hannah felt Dixie take her hand and squeeze it.

'This is Sister Clairmont from the HDU at Whitby Community Hospital, I'd like to speak to Hannah Darbyshire please.'

'Speaking.' Hannah felt the nerves kick in and she took comfort from Dixie being by her side.

'Your father has been brought to us after his operation.'

'How is he, is he all right?'

'He's been very lucky, the knife missed his heart and lungs but it did penetrate a few inches into his liver which has been repaired during surgery. The wounds have been stitched and he has been brought to the HDU so that we might keep a close eye on him while he comes around from the anaesthetic that he has been given.'

'Thank you for calling and letting me know how he is.'

'Do you have any questions?'

'How long is he likely to be in hospital?'

'Around five days.'

'What are the visiting hours?'

'Our hours are ten until twelve and then six until eight, you can visit for an hour at these times.'

'Okay, thank you for phoning me.'

'You're welcome, will you be coming in today?'

'Yes, it will be the later visiting time as I have to travel, can I bring my partner with me?'

'You can, we allow two visitors per patient. Anything else?'

'No, I think that is it for now.'

'I will note it down that you are coming in.'

'Thank you.'

'Goodbye Miss Darbyshire.'

'Goodbye Sister.' Hannah put the phone down and held it to her lips, she was glad to have some news about her father and his condition.

Dixie squeezed Hannah's hand. 'Do you feel a bit better now?'

'A little bit.' Dixie started the car and drove off, now that Hannah had some idea of what was happening to Lawrence it would make her feel better.

'Hannah, it isn't as bad as we thought, he's been very lucky.'

'I know, he's still going to need time to recover though.'

'He will, you know that he will have all the care he needs in the hospital.'

'I do, they will look after him but I still need to see him and make sure that he is all right for myself.'

'Of course you do.' Dixie focused her eyes on the road as she talked to Hannah, she was going to have to look out for her during the time that they were in Yorkshire. It was going to be hard for Hannah seeing her dad in hospital. Dixie would make sure that Hannah ate properly, she was going to need her strength. 'We'll have to tell Jeff the news, he's asked me to keep him informed.'

'Jeff is a good man.'

'He is, if I wasn't into women then he would be exactly my type of man.'

'Did you ever think about dating a man Dixie?'

'No, I've always known that I wanted to be with a woman.'

'I wish I had that conviction, it took me a while to admit to myself that I was bisexual.'

'You got there in the end Hannah, I am glad that you did because now you are mine.'

'Of course I am yours.' Dixie smiled at Hannah and her mind turned to the ring that she had put in her bag, she had been carrying it around in her pocket since she'd asked Jeff for his opinion on asking Hannah to marry her. She was waiting for the right time to ask Hannah, she hadn't found the right moment just yet.

Hannah took advantage of the opportunity to stretch her legs and go to the bathroom when they stopped at the service station. Dixie was talking to Jeff and letting him know what the hospital had told them. Hannah felt a bit better knowing that her dad had made it through the operation and was being looked after. There was still some recovery time to go but he was over the first hurdle, the fact that he had made it through the operation was a good sign. Hannah went into the services and bought herself and Dixie a coffee and some chocolate for the journey. She thought again and then bought them both a sandwich and some crisps from one of the other shops. Hannah knew that Dixie would worry if she didn't eat. She took their food back out to where Dixie was waiting for her. 'Hey, how's Jeff and Polly?'

'He's okay, they send their love and want us to let them know when we find out more.'

'You're lucky to have a friend like Jeff, Dixie.'

'I know, I don't know where I would be without him, he's been there for me so many times when I needed him.'

'I am sure you do the same for him too.'

'I do, it is nice to have someone there when I need them.' Hannah smiled, Dixie and Jeff were the closest friends that she'd ever seen.

Dixie looked at the food that Hannah was holding. 'Are those sandwiches for us?'

'I thought we could do with something to eat.'

'I am hungry, coffee too, you are a star Hannah.' Dixie took the sandwich and coffee that Hannah held out to her and she noted that Hannah had bought one for herself too, she didn't make it obvious but she watched Hannah and made sure that she ate. They sat on the grass at the side of the car park and Dixie took advantage of the brief respite from driving to have a little something to eat.

'Hannah.'

'Yes Dixie.'

'Your dad will be fine, you do know that don't you? He has you to live for, you mean everything to him Hannah, he wont leave you behind.'

'That's lovely Dixie. I hope that it is true, I hope it's enough.'

'It is true, I know it, I've seen it every time you've been together.' Dixie hugged Hannah and kissed her head. 'He's so proud of you, it is nice to see a father that cares for his daughter as much as he does.'

'He cares for you too Dixie because you make me happy.' Dixie put her hand on top of Hannah's and smiled.

'We should go beautiful, there's still a long way to go yet.'

'I know.' Dixie stood up and walked back to the car with Hannah, there was still quite a way to go and Hannah would want to see her dad as soon as possible.

Hannah directed Dixie to the house when they got closer to Castleton, she got out and saw the policeman waiting for her. 'Are you Miss Darbyshire?'

'I am.'

'Can I see some identification?' Hannah took her work pass and her license out of her purse and showed it to the man. 'Thank you miss,' he said and gave Hannah the keys to the house. 'The forensic team have been in and we have cleaned up in there for you.'

'Thank you.'

'You're welcome miss.' The policeman left and Hannah opened the door to the house, she stepped inside and the smell of cleaning fluid and bleach hit her as she walked in. It was stronger when she passed the kitchen so she guessed that was where it had happened. Hannah turned when Dixie's hand settled on her shoulder. 'Come on Hannah, let's go upstairs, you look a little pale.' Hannah was glad that Dixie was there, the smell of bleach and the idea that her father had been stabbed in the kitchen was making her feel sick. She held onto Dixie's hand and followed her upstairs, the sickness she had been feeling had begun to disappear now that she was away from the kitchen. Dixie went into the bathroom and reappeared a minute later with a glass of water. 'Here beautiful, drink this, it'll help you feel better.'

'Thanks Dixie.' Hannah sipped at the water and put the glass down when she had finished it all. 'Your colour is coming back so that's a good sign.'

'I think it happened in the kitchen, how could she try to kill him like that?'

'I don't know beautiful.'

'What did he ever do to her, she caused this by cheating on him.'

'Hush sweetheart, please try not to think about it. I can hear the stress in your voice, try and relax. Come here my love.' Hannah cuddled up to Dixie and she felt the reassuring comfort of Dixie's arms as they wrapped around her. She rested her head against Dixie's shoulder and felt herself calming down as Dixie stroked her hair and hummed quietly. 'We're going to have to go to the hospital soon.'

'Take a few minutes Hannah, we don't have to go just yet, you've had a rough day.'

'I know, thank you Dixie, for being with me.'

'I'll always be with you.' Hannah smiled into Dixie's shoulder, the older woman was her rock and she was glad that Dixie was with her. Hannah sighed quietly, it was almost time to go and visit her dad in the hospital, she was going to need Dixie, seeing him injured and hurting was going to be hard for her but she would make it through with Dixie by her side.