Evening Shift (Tad/Ang/Open)

[Dix C. Martin]

After her late lunch with J.R and Marissa that had started great but ended with her and her son locking horns, Dixie decided to go and lose herself in the heap of reports still on her desk. Not caring she'd completed her shift this morning visiting patients.
Opal had called dibs on the twins for the night and Kathy had a science project to do at a friend's house, so she had nothing to worry about on their end. She was just counting on working this evening as long as she could, at least til her eyes hurt from looking at her computer screen.
She'd been doing this a lot lately. There was a new report system put in place so they were more detailed to type up, and patients had been wanting longer sessions. But even so she found herself lending Myra a hand with more technical/computery stuff.
Picking up the work and some extra money was fine by her. Since she wasn't performing at the club anymore she had the time, and the energy since drama at home always seemed to fuel her at the office. Back in the dark days with Tad/Leslie she'd spent every waking minute researching or answering phones for David. Now with the J.R situation eating at her, PVH was serving as her escape yet again. Even though it did have it's flaws. Now it was once in a blue moon she spent lunch at the VIP lounge with Angie. And longer days meant coming home a little less perky. But, she was managing all the same, she liked the work she did and did it well. And it was a hospital so there was no chance of Tad being concerned for her safety.

After parking she went into the lobby, but was spotted by Myra who frowned at her, and pulled out a shift schedule.
"Freeze Mrs. Martin."
Myra ordered, as Dixie sighed and stopped walking.
"I was just going to finis-"
"You already finished. Your shift ended this morning!"
"I know it did..but there were some reports I was gonna go have another glance at."
"A glance or an in depth reading of?"
"Myra c'mon.."
"Don't c'mon me girlie. You've been holed up in that shoebox of your's all day and now you're back again!"
"What? I like shoeboxes."
Dixie shrugged with a soft smirk, but the older woman was far from amused.
"Look what difference does it make? The twins are with Opal and Kathy's making a volcano at her friend's house tonight. I didn't hear from Tad so I just thought I'd come back, clock in awhile longer, then go out and get a late dinner."
"So help me it better not be a sandwich from one of the vending machines."
"Myra.."
"I wouldn't be surprised! You've been coming in earlier and sticking around later for the past month. You think I don't pay attention?"
"You kidding? I know better than to ever think that."
"Don't joke missy. I'm keeping an eye on you."
"Myra, there's no need. I'm fine."
Dixie said, hoping she sounded convincing enough. She just wanted to go in and work. Luckily Myra had had a long day and was too tired to fight her on this. Giving her a nod she watched the blond go over to her office before turning back to her work, only to get called to fill in for the secretary on the second floor.
About three hours had passed and finally it was 7:30 and her shift was done for the evening. But going back downstairs, she made sure to take the route that passed by Dixie's office, wanting to make sure she'd gone home. Peeking in the window, to her dismay she saw the light was on and she was typing away, taking a break once in awhile to eat a sandwich.

"Honestly girlie what am I gonna do with you..."
Shaking her head, she walked back to the reception desk. She knew Angie was working tonight, but just as a precaution decided to call Tad in case he was curious about his wife's dinner plans.

[teamluv08]

After hanging out with his best friend and his god son, Tad had it set in his mind that he would get dinner and talk to Dixie about Krystal and Jenny and her crazy working habit. He wasn’t sure how he was going to bring up everything, but he knew this was something they really needed to talk about. As he was pulling up to he and Dixie’s favorite spot to get dinner his cell phone started ringing. He peeked over and saw the call was from PVH. He thought it may have been Dixie, but she would usually call from her cell. Then fear racked his body. He quickly grabbed the phone from the passenger seat. “Hello.”

“Hey hon… It’s Myra. Are you busy?”
Tad killed the engine of his car. “Uh… No. Is everything alright?”
Sighing heavily Myra began to tell him about Dixie and how she finished her shift earlier that day, but returned sometime ago and was back holed up in her office. Tad laid his head against his seat and groaned. “I just wanted to let you know of her whereabouts just incase you began to worry about her.”
“Th--Thank you for calling.”
Myra nodded, like he could see her and then began to speak again. “Tad, I’m really worried about all of these hours she’s putting in. I mean I remember once upon a time she would be rushing to get out of here but now it’s like she doesn’t even want to leave.”
Tad had no comeback because he had no answer. He had nothing to say that would curb Myra’s worries. “Look Myra, really I appreciate you calling and letting me know. I’ll uh… talk with you later on.”
“O-- Oh okay then. You have a good evening.” And with that the call disconnected.

This was the exact thing he was talking about with Erica. His wife working like crazy and for no reason at all. Judging from what Myra told him Dixie had been off the clock for quite sometime now and suddenly she was back. Groaning he started his car back up and decided to pick up something for his wife anyway and take it to her. While there he would get to the bottom of her working like crazy.

[Dix C. Martin]

Humming along to a Ella Fitzgerald CD she had softly playing through her computer speakers, Dixie was finishing her report about Ted Sanderson, an older man who needed a hip replacement. He'd been gruff and short with her at first but eventually she charmed him over and now they were good friends.
She'd completely lost track of time, and after having half a sandwich as a snack with her meds her stomach wasn't even making her get a move on.
As she continued to type suddenly she heard a knock at the door. And looked up from her laptop curiously before whoever it was let themselves in. To her surprise, and delight, it was her husband.
"Well isn't this a surprise!"
She smiled, getting up to give him a quick kiss on the lips only to see he was armed with take-out.
"And oooh, food in addition to your handsome self..I'm feeling a little spoiled."
She teased. Cupping his face she gave him a slightly steamier kiss before pulling back, and sneakily grabbing the bag from him before sitting on her couch. After he joined her she gave him a shy smile.
"So I thought you were just gonna head on home? Just assumed I guess, I didn't hear anything different. I was gonna head out in a little while, but I just got caught up playing catch-up. Figured with the twins at your mom's and Kathy finishing her volcano I had a little time."
She shrugged, poking through the bag.
"Mmmm, this looks terrific."
She grinned, giving him a peck on the cheek to say thanks. Luckily between food and Tad her mind caught a break from the J.R stuff. She knew she had to tell him about lunch but for now was concentrating on enjoying her distraction.

[teamluv08]

Tad smirked when she came up to him and gave him a kiss. “I bet it,” he said with a chuckle. “Anything for my favorite lady… One of them anyway,” he teased right back before their lips touched and the kiss she planted on him sent his blood pressure nearly through the roof. “Hey!” He yelped when Dixie and the bag slipped from his grasped. He whirled around and shook his head.

“Sneaky ole thing,” he teased shrugging out of his light jacket and plopping down next to her. When his wife started rambling Tad scrunched up his face. “Who slipped something in your coffee cup?” He asked taking a fry from the bag and stuffing it in her mouth.

He propped his feet up. “Actually I was just heading home, but then I got a cal-- I mean I decided to stop by here first. I mean you have been spending a lot of time in this old place I just had a feeling you would be here. When I pulled up and saw your car I wasn’t the least bit surprised,” he explained giving her a nonchalant shrug as he draped his arms across the back of the couch and laid his head back.

“How was your day” He asked after sometime. “I hope these people, namely a certain someone who owns this placed, hasn’t been working you like crazy?” It more of a question for him, but he made it sound like it was just a normal ole saying. And he even added a little 'tease'.

[Dix C. Martin]

"Yes that is me.."
Dixie smirked, before Tad made the coffee cup remark. That earned him a swat after she ate her french fry.
Hearing him say he wasn't surprised to find her here, she shrugged. He was pretty on point but she'd just felt up to putting in more hours lately.
"Well hey! That feeling led to you feeding me so, I'm quite okay with it."
She teased, going to work on the burger he'd gotten her. For being take-out it was exceptionally good.
"Oh, well my day here was fine."
She said, telling him about the two patients she'd visited with this morning.
"And, no..a certain someone hasn't been. I've just been up to taking an extra shift now and then. And Myra's in the process of making everything paperless around here, so when she starts getting impatient with the computers I try and help her out."
Dixie answered. More often than not the older woman looked ready to bust the computer screen in when it crashed or froze or went slowly. She liked to think she'd spared the monitor an ugly fate more than once by helping.
Glancing at Tad she thought she saw a conflicted look in his eyes. It was quick but it was there. But not wanting to kill the mood she held off on mentioning it, maybe it would come out on it's own.
"So okay, my turn now. How was your day?"
Dixie asked with a smile, but spotted some ketchup near Tad's mouth. Laughing a little she rolled her eyes.
"Oooh hang on, gimme your face..."
Giggling she took a napkin to his face, cleaning him up like she would one of the kids.
"There, that's better."

[teamluv08]

Right, Tad thought before he finally sat up and started in on his food. “Every now and then?” He asked giving her a look. He wanted to tell her to him it looked like she been working everyday now and not just every now and then. It was on the tip of his tongue and almost like Dixie knew what he was about to say she turned the spotlight on him. “It was ok… What are you doing?” He asked instantly pulling back only to have her grip his chin to keep him still. When she started wiping his mouth he mimicked Nolan who always pouted when Dixie went to mess with him.

“I was going to eat that!” He teased nudging her a bit and then going back to her question. “My day was pretty good. Went to see Erica and Colton. And we talked about everything that’s been going on and from what she told me everything’s pretty good,” he explained. “All though I was a bit shocked when I showed up and she told me she was pregnant again… Did you know she was pregnant again?” He asked looking over at her. He was still in shock by the news. He was really happy for his best friend, but he was still shocked!

[Dix C. Martin]

"Hey cut that out!"
Dixie giggled when Tad started nudging her, and she couldn't help nudging him back a little.
"Oh that's good to hear."
She said, before he told her Erica was pregnant.
"Yes I did. I thought for sure you'd have found out awhile ago though."
Still surprised he hadn't, she took another bite of her burger and swallowed before continuing.
"I'd invited her to the house for coffee, and it was right after she found out. She actually got the conversation going by asking, how you'd react if I told you we were having another baby."
Dixie said with a soft smile.
"But I remember she was so upset because of all this drama between her and Jack over the pregnancy, his reaction to the news. I was so worried about her. But you said everything seemed good when you talked with her so..that's a relief. I'm glad they smoothed things out."
She asked curiously, feeling bad she hadn't gotten a chance to talk with Erica in so long and having to get the info secondhand.

[teamluv08]

Tad gave her a look. “So you knew this whole time and didn’t tell me?” He asked. He placed a hand over his heart to show he was hurt by her actions. “How rude!”

“Yea, she told me they were having some issues. Said she moved out for a bit,” he said slightly shrugging his shoulders. “I know she said she needed sometime to herself then and this was something that happened awhile ago, I hate that she had to go through that alone. I told her, even though I’m sure by now she knows, that I’m just a call away. She doesn’t have to go through anything alone again.”

[Dix C. Martin]

"Honestly Tad.."
Dixie chuckled, rolling her eyes.
Hearing him talk about Erica moving out and needing space, she couldn't help but sigh and think back on how not long ago that'd been her.
But she couldn't help but notice just in the way he was talking about her friend, there was concern in his eyes and a little emphasis in his tone. Just adding to how he'd looked conflicted earlier. And she couldn't help but wonder if he was expressing a bit more than his thoughts on their friend.
"Of course she knows, but there's no way it could hurt that you told her again."
Dixie said knowingly, taking a few more bites of her burger to finish it off. But not that hungry anymore she slowed down when she got to the fries. Soon enough quiet set in though and she was anxious to break it.
"So um, I was just gonna get these reports sent out before I called it a night but..if you wanna head home you can. I promise I won't be that far behind yo--"
Right when she went to get up she felt Tad reach over and take a gentle grip on her hand. And whatever feeling she had earlier that something was on his mind tripled.
"What? What's wrong?"
She asked warily.

[teamluv08]

Thaddeus shook his head when Dixie all but brushed him off and went to get back to work. That’s what he was talking about earlier with Erica. It was way past time for her to be home and yet here she was talking about finishing up more work. He could recall the time she would literally beat down the hospital door just to get out of there. Now she was staying. “Nope,” he mumbled, taking her hand into his. “That work can wait until tomorrow, Dixie,” he started, fixing her with a serious look. “For the past couple of weeks, probably months now you’ve been pulling in all kinds of odd hours and frankly I’m tired of it. I’m tired of watching you come home dragging your feet.”

“So you can shut everything down for the night and let’s head out. Because I’m not leaving you up here to overwork yourself. And I’m certainly not going to sit here and watch you work on this mess.” Tad gave her another knowing look before coming to his feet and walking over to her desk. He started looking around for her things. “Come on, let’s go. And if it’s your boss you’re worried about, hey I’ll call her up right now and tell her you’re not staying.”

Tad even went as far as to pick up her office phone, only to have her snatch it from his hand and put it down. “Dixie, I’m not playing.”

[Dix C. Martin]

"I..what?"
Dixie frowned before Tad stared her down, and started going on about her working too much.
"Tad c'mon..I don't come home dragging my feet! It's just an extra shift or two, I only take on what I can handle!"
She defended, but saw that stubbornness in her husband's jaw and knew he wasn't backing down on this. Unfortunately she could get just as stubborn as he could.
"It's not a mess, Tad. It's my job..one I care about very much, I..what do you think you're doing!"
Coming over she saw him grabbing her purse, trying to call her boss..next thing she knew he was gonna throw her over his shoulder.
"Well neither am I!"
She snapped, putting the phone back in the cradle before perching on the corner of her desk, letting her feet swing back and forth.
"I don't want to fight with you on this. I don't."
Dixie admitted.
"I just, do you remember why I took this job in the first place?"
She asked.
"I didn't want anyone to go through what I did, dealing with Madden, losing Kate, feeling that vulnerable and alone. I wanted to keep people from facing that kind of nightmare. Even if, I couldn't fix my own problem, the one that mattered most, I could help other people out and, that helped me cope.
And I'm sorry I guess, lately I've felt like I have to do that again."
Dixie shrugged, getting more agitated as she spoke. Not at Tad for asking just at the situation as a whole.
"I mean, just because I can't help someone I love more than anything in the world doesn't mean I can't help others, right?"
She asked bitterly. Getting up she crossed to the other side of the office and folded her arms protectively over herself. She was still upset over everything that had happened with J.R earlier and now it was flooding back. Their lunch today did nothing to make her feel any better about what he was battling. It just reinforced that she could lose him and was powerless to stop it. If she couldn't even stop him from going into the office how could she stop him getting sicker than he already was. Biting her lip she tried to keep her emotions in check but still wound up swiping a stubborn tear away, to her annoyance.

[teamluv08]

“Dixie,” Tad said softly before flipping his eyes back up and looking into hers. “Well don’t,” he told her. He didn’t want to fight with her about this either. All he wanted was for her to go home and get some rest before she ran herself into the ground. Thaddeus knew she knew loved her job and knew what it did to her when her patients listened instead of ignored her advice or help. Sighing Tad looked away and crossed his arms. “How can I forget?” He asked a question of his own. As she went on about the Madden thing and then losing Kate and not wanting anybody to go through what she went through, Tad’s shoulder fell. He was wrong for calling what she did mess and he should have done a better job at getting through to her, but Tad was afraid then and afraid now. But Tad was beginning to fear, as much time as she spent here, that her passion for helping others were starting to become an obsession. As well as an escape.

Tad frowned. “Wait… What does this have to do with helping someone you love?” He asked, standing straight up. “Dixie, everybody is good. I mean JR is still going through his sickness but he’s strong and he’s doing good. And everybody else is fine. So…” He eased up to her and thumbed away her tears. “Dixie?”

[Dix C. Martin]

When Tad brought up J.R, Dixie let out a heavy sigh but eased a little into his touch when he wiped her tears. Taking a seat on the sofa he joined her, and she figured it was just time to bite the bullet and explain.
"I went to lunch today with Marissa and J.R. He, showed up late but I didn't think anything of it, until I got a closer look at him and saw how exhausted he was. And he was coughing too which got me concerned. He told me he was held up at work but it caught me off guard. I thought he'd cut back at Chandler ages ago but he hasn't. He may even be putting more hours in lately."
Sighing Dixie absentmindedly fiddled with her ring. Realizing as she spoke she must look like a complete hypocrite, since working overtime was what Tad was hassling her over earlier.
"I let it slip I didn't want him overdoing it at the office or anyplace, but, he got defensive so I backpedaled. He knew I had more I wanted to say on the subject but I was gonna drop it. Until he said something that..Adam, would've been thrilled to hear."
She said, bitter at mentioning her ex.
"He kept going on and on that he's got to prove himself to the board and earn their respect, that he's worthy of being a Chandler heir. And if that wasn't enough he said he wants A.J to have the company to remember him by! Like that's all he has to offer him or something. Hearing that just, was so hard. He's killing himself at work thinking, establishing his spot at Chandler is all he can do to give A.J a future.
Finally I just, broke and told him exactly what I thought."
Dixie sighed, lowering her head a bit.
"That there was more to life than, a damn company and he shouldn't work himself to death when all his energy should be towards getting well. And, suffice it to say J.R didn't take it well."
She said guiltily, getting angrier with herself.
"I'd be a liar if I said I didn't mean what I said. But the last thing J.R needs is stress and here I was, arguing with him over lunch. I..I handled it all, wrong..Tad!"
Dixie choked out.
"I..I just don't know what I can do. I try and help and all I do is, make everything worse."