What Was That About? (Kathy&Dixie)

[teamluv08]

The whole way home all Tad could think about was what Kathy revealed to him about David being in their home. He wanted to know what brought him there. Most importantly he wanted to know why Dixie even entertained him by letting him knowing the kind of man he was. Guess you and her will have to talk about that later on, he thought soon pulling up and killing the engine. “You ready?” He asked once they were both out and heading up.

[Kathy Martin]

Kathy had fallen silent on the way home, her head resting against the window of the car as she watched the houses and streets that passed by. She was glad to know she wasn’t in trouble or that she’d be grounded, but she couldn’t help but feel bad for tatting on her mom, despite what her dad said, and then there was the whole running away part. Next time she wouldn’t be so afraid to tell the grownups what she’d heard, that was for sure. As they pulled up in front of the house she got out and walked beside her dad, looking up when he asked her if she was ready for this.

“Ready,” she confirmed with a nod, as she reached the door and headed in. For a second she glanced curiously at the back of Di Henry.

“Aunty Di?” she asked her and then glanced past her to her mom on the couch before running forward and racing into her arms. “Mommy! I’m sorry I ran away! I’m so sorry!” She clung to her tightly, burying her head against her chest as tears resurfaced in her eyes again.

[Dix C. Martin]

After Dixie got the text from Tad that he'd found Kathy, Di stuck around and made sure her sister was holding up. But once Tad and Kathy walked in she knew her work here was finished. She'd just be in the way.
"I'm glad you're home safe Kathy. But don't ever run like that again though! You scared me and your mother to death!"
Di gently scolded, but got down to Kathy's level and gave her a quick hug, before patting Tad on the shoulder and leaving, closing the door behind her.

Meanwhile, after Kathy flew into her arms and clung onto her, Dixie clung back just as tight, burying her face in her daughter's hair.

"Oh thank God! Thank God.."
She cried. Kissing the top of Kathy's head she rubbed her back and held her close. The two hours or so she'd been gone, all the fear Dixie had lived with for five years came rushing right back. She had visions of her daughter getting lost or hurt, kidnapped, even worse. Given what J.R was battling, anything happening to Kathy or the twins would've been enough to put her over the edge. Tonight nearly had.

Kathy's squeaked out apology though tore at Dixie's heart. Even though her little girl was home it was clear she was still afraid and upset. And all of Dixie's instincts told her she had to fix that.
"Shhh, I know sunshine. I know."
She soothed, pulling Kathy onto her lap. Holding her face so their eyes locked she gently thumbed a tear or two away.
"But you have to promise me, right now, you'll never, ever do it again! Promise me!"
Dixie demanded, and getting a small nod, nodded back.
"God, Katie.."
She sighed, and was sure Kathy knew she'd been stressing out. Her voice was accented and she called her by a different name, only used when she was worked up.
"You scared me and your daddy so much! If anything had happened to you..."
She trailed off. Quickly she gave Kathy a once-over to make sure not a hair was out of place, and was relieved to see she was fine, at least physically. But emotionally, she wasn't so sure.
Thinking she'd open up more if she was relaxed, Dixie eased back against the couch cushions with Kathy still in her arms, and gently started braiding her hair.
It calmed her down when she was a kid, and it seemed to have the same effect on Kathy.
"Thank goodness you're home, sweetie. I'm so glad you're safe."
She said, before glancing at Tad across the way. Feeling like he had answers that she didn't have yet about their little girl.
"But I need to know what happened, Kath. Why'd you feel like you had to run away? I'm not, gonna get angry. I just need to know what happened. I mean, we were giving eachother manicures and then I sent you to go play with Nolan for a bit...then your dad got home and we were gonna have dinner..? I...what happened during all of that, that made you upset?"
Dixie asked, looking puzzled. The one horrible part of the day she'd made sure Kathy wasn't around to witness, or so she thought...

[Kathy Martin]

“I wont run away again, I promise Aunty Di,” Kathy confirmed, feeling doubly guilty for what she’d done. She hugged her aunt back before racing over to her mom and hugging her just as tightly, if not more. She continued to sob into Dixie, afraid to let her go and hurt by what she’d done.

“I really didn’t mean to run away,” she explained through her sobs, soothed by her moms calming words. She met her moms eyes as her face was held, giving a weak nod as her mom asked her to promise her that she’d never do it again. “I promise I wont, I promise. I didn’t want to scare you or daddy.” She glanced over at her dad and then back at her mom quickly as she used a different name to call her by.

“Nothing happened, I only went to the park, I swear, you have to believe me because I didn’t... I didn’t mean to run away,” she tried again to explain. She stayed still as her mom looked her over and tried a tiny weak smile before it faded slowly and she looked down at her hands in her lap. She felt her mom lean back and then start to braid her hair and slowly Kathy began to relax a bit more, the panic of worrying her mom subsiding now that they were back together.

“I’m glad I’m home too,” she admitted quietly. “I didn’t want to be away forever.” She stiffened slightly as her mom asked what had happened and quickly glanced at her dad once more, afraid to say it again before she remembered his words, that it would be alright, she’d done the right thing.

“You promise you wont be mad?” she asked, needing to hear it, despite what she’d been told at the park. “The manicures were fun and I was playing with Nolan but then...” She paused taking a deep breath before it came spilling out of her. “I didn’t mean to listen to you and Doctor David, I just got scared because he does bad things and when I heard him talking he sounded mean and I thought he upset you and... I didn’t want to tell you I heard you two talking because then you’d get mad and would ground me but I was worried about you mommy. I swear, I just wanted to make sure you were okay.” She was on the edge of tears and as she turned around in her moms lap she wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tightly.

“I didn’t want to be a tattletale, but I couldn’t tell anybody so I ran away and I scared you and daddy and I’m so sorry mommy,” she sobbed against her. “Please don’t be mad.”

[Dix C. Martin]

Hearing Kathy say she didn't want to be away forever, Dixie couldn't help but chuckle a bit.
"Good, that's good to hear."
She smiled, but went solemn again when Kathy tensed up, clearly hesitant about telling her the truth.
"I promise, sunshine."
Dixie assured, before Kathy started explaining everything, and when she mentioned David's name it was her turn to stiffen up. Her eyes wide she quickly glanced at Tad and saw he was just as tense. Not that she could blame him. Odds were good it wasn't his first time hearing this story. Making Dixie dread the conversation she and him would be having later.
Her stomach in knots she listened to the rest of what Kathy had to say and her heart broke at how nervous she was, now and even earlier. But she couldn't get mad at her daughter for hearing everything. Now Dixie was just mad at herself, for letting David in the house when she just should've slammed the door in his smug face.

After Kathy finished and broke down crying in her arms, Dixie was fighting tears herself.
"Shhh..I'm not mad, baby. I'm not mad at you at all."
She soothed., and let Kathy cry it out and calm down while she tried to figure out how to respond. Taking a deep breath she pulled back a bit and wiped a few more tears from the girl's cheeks.
"Honey listen, nobody thinks you're a tattletale, and nobody would've thought you were for telling me or your dad or someone what you heard. When something upsets you or scares you it's always better to talk about it than to keep it all bottled up.
And when you got worried today you should've come to talk to me or even your dad when he got home. But you should never run away because you're afraid to talk to us, alright? The only way we can help is if you tell us what's going on, you understand?"
Dixie asked, and got a nod to her relief.

"Good. And baby I wouldn't have gotten mad if you told me you overheard me and Dr. Hayward. We weren't exactly being quiet. If I'd had it my way though you wouldn't have heard him or, seen him at all. Especially in our house. I didn't know he was going to come over today and I didn't want him to. I sent you out of the room because I didn't want you seeing eachother, and I was trying to get him to leave and wasn't being nice about it."
Dixie sighed. But thought she owed Kathy an explanation, albeit a short and simple one, about her and David considering what happened.

"You know sunshine, I've known Dr. Hayward a long time. Since J.R was a teenager. He saved my life when I got sick because of my heart, and, I even worked for him for awhile at the hospital. That's why he came over today, to ask if I'd go back to work for him. But I told him I wouldn't. Not in a million years."
She said matter of factly, and looked at Tad hoping to communicate that to him too.
"I told him no because a long time ago I made a mistake with Dr. Hayward. One that, hurt your dad and your brothers very much. I..I thought I was in love with him.
But even after I, realized that wasn't true, and that the only man I loved was your dad, Dr. Hayward still loved me. And for awhile he tried to prove that to me. Finally I told him I was sick of it and wanted him gone. And after that he felt hurt, and did and said a lot of things that hurt me, and your dad and your brothers. I never expected I'd see him again after that, but today he surprised me by showing up, and you were right he did make me upset. But the only thing that I'm upset at right now is that his coming over and talking to me, scared you. Kathy I'm so sorry for that. And I'm so sorry you felt like you had to, worry about me."
Dixie sighed, and gave her daughter a big hug.
"I'm fine though sunshine, now that you're home I'm just fine, okay?"
She assured, looking at her husband over Kathy's shoulder.
"Everything's gonna be fine."

[teamluv08]

The whole time Dixie and Kathy spoke Tad stood back with his arms crossed and his head down. Having already heard the reason Kathy ran away and still not over what she told him, he’d been listening and then again not listening. He was still too busy trying to process everything and convince himself that running out of the door and finding David was not the way to go. Not when Kathy was still broken up over everything and there was a conversation that still needed to be had between he and Dixie.

“She’s right Kathy… Everything’s gonna be fine,” he bit out, eyeing Dixie. “And I am going to make it my duty to make sure he never steps foot in this house again. Make sure he doesn’t bother this family ever again,” Tad vowed, going to sit next to Dixie and running his hand over Kathy’s hair. “You understand me?” He asked looking into her eyes and getting a nod. “That’s my girl… Come here,” he said, opening his arms and enveloping her in them when she crawled into his lap.

Tad kissed her cheek and whispered a joke in her ear, hoping to put a smile on her face. “Hey, uh… How about you go with you mother and get cleaned up and by the time you guys finish up dinner will be sitting out and waiting for you. I got your favorite,” he whispered the last part in her ear and gave her a wink.

[Kathy Martin]

Kathy sniffled and looked up at her mom through red-rimmed eyes as she felt her pull back and wipe away a few more tears. She fell silent as her mom reminded her that it was okay to talk to others and let them know what was bothering her instead of bottling it all up.

“I just got scared,” she told her quietly with a small shrug. “I know now that I wont keep it inside, I’ll tell you or daddy or Uncle Jesse or Aunty Ange, I promise. I understand mommy.” She nodded before falling silent and listening to her mom talk about what had happened earlier and slowly she looked away before glancing back and biting her lip.

“But you told me to go upstairs with Nolan, and I did but then I came back downstairs and listened,” she explained still feeling guilty for it. “He didn’t sound like he wanted to go and I didn’t like him being in here either.” Again Kathy went silent as she listened to her mom talk about the past and what had happened between her and David.

“Not in a million years, really?” she gasped. “And he saved your life? What was wrong with your heart, mommy? Was it sad?” She tilted her head slightly as her mom continued and then made a face in surprise. “But you love daddy. Why would he do that? He’s mean and isn’t very nice.” She quickly glanced down at the floor as her mom spoke about it upsetting her and then apologized. “No, it isn’t your fault. I always worry about you, mommy.” She hugged her mom back as tightly as ever, hearing the words and being reassured by them, and then pulled back as her dad began to speak.

“Never ever,” Kathy agreed with a small nod, smiling at her dad for a moment. “I understand.” She nodded and then came forward into his lap, hugging back tightly. When he whispered a joke she giggled wholeheartedly, the biggest smile on her lips before she looked at him curiously when he spoke up again.

“Okay!” she exclaimed and jumped off her dads lap, giving him the thumbs up as he said he got her favourite. Reaching up she took her moms hand and headed off towards the stares, more relaxed then she’d been all day and more excited for dinner. When she was all cleaned up and fresh clothes with washed hands she came out of her bedroom and then went into her mom and dads room, standing just inside their open door.

“All cleaned up,” she exclaimed with a smile.

[Dix C. Martin]

All smiles and a little misty eyed when Kathy took her hand and practically skipped with her upstairs, Dixie brought her over to the bathroom and helped clean her face a bit before touching up her braid. Then after she ran over to her room to change her clothes, only to have Kathy standing at the door a few moments later.
"Well looks like someone's very ready to eat! C'mon let's go downstairs, make sure your daddy hasn't messed up my kitchen."
She joked, getting a giggle out of her little girl before they went to the kitchen, and as promised dinner was all set.
While Kathy went and got herself ready at the table, Dixie went over to the fridge where Tad was standing, and guided him over by the counter, holding his hands.
"Hey..I know we have to talk later. And we will. But, I've just been needing this all day."
She sighed, and leaned a bit against Tad's chest before gently wrapping her arms around him. Today had been one of the longest days of her life and she just wanted to be close to her husband and relax, even for a moment.

[teamluv08]

After watching Kathy and Dixie head upstairs Thaddeus sat on the couch and buried his head in his hands. Though he was smiling on the outside and telling Kathy everything was alright, on the inside he was still shaking up by Kathy running away. “Need a drink,” he mumbled, finally getting up and going into the kitchen to get dinner set up. He was at the fridge getting ready to get some drinks when the girls came in and then Dixie came up to him.

“Huh?” He said, looking at her and willingly letting her lead the way to the counter. He chuckled when she wrapped her arms around him. “Guess I need it too,” he told her, wrapping his own arms around her and kissing her hair. Tad hadn’t realized he needed Dixie in his arms until the moment she stood in them.

[Dix C. Martin]

"Yeah guess ya do.."
Dixie giggled, snuggling closer to Tad and melting when he kissed her hair. She always felt so safe in his arms and if she had it her way he'd be holding her well into forever.

But forever was cut short when she heard Nolan wake up and start calling for her in the nursery. When Tad and Kathy were still at the park, Dixie and Di fed and bathed the twins at the normal time, but they were fussing and tensed up like they'd known something was wrong. All that stress plus the warm weather made them crabby and overtired. Especially Tara who practically fell asleep in the bath earlier.
But now it sounded like her little boy wanted to be up and about.

"Oooh, I got him. You go ahead and dig in. I felt your stomach growling."
Dixie teased, and playfully patted Tad's belly before going to the nursery. Tara no surprise was out like a light, but her brother was clumsily heading her way with a big smile.
"Momma! Chick fingers?
"Shhh..alright yes, you can have a chicken finger. But Tara wants to sleep so we gotta be quiet..okay? Shhh.."
"Shhhh.."
Nolan mimicked, before sneaking out of the nursery, then bolting out the door and down the hall.
"Hey now, hold on tiger. You wait for me!"
Chasing him down the hall Dixie scooped the boy up, and tickled and blew raspberries on his belly all the way down to the kitchen.
"Alright this young man's requested a chicken finger..after hours. No doubt he's his father's son."
She smirked, but Nolan barely nibbled the chicken finger she gave him before he spotted Kathy and ran up to her. Getting Dixie misting up.
"Oh...someone missed you, sunshine."

[Kathy Martin]

Kathy had started putting food on her plate the moment she’d sat down at the kitchen table. She loved chicken fingers with French fries and ketchup and the whole works, her dad really had brought home her favourite meal and as she ate a bit it started to settle the monster grumbling in her stomach. Although after a moment she realized that no one was around she leaned across the table, pushing her plate out of the way to see where her mom and dad had gone.

“Uh oh...” she whispered to herself, wondering if she was secretly in trouble for a moment. But the silent was broken as she saw her dad coming over to the table and she smiled. “If I ate a monster, he isn’t angry or hungry anymore!” She beamed up at him and nibbled on a chicken finger, though her eyes looked past him to Nolan and her mom coming down. The moment her brother came over to her she threw her hands up in excitement.

“Nolan!” she exclaimed and jumped off her chair, catching him in a tight bear hug and lifting him gently off the ground. “I missed you too. Muawh!” She kissed the side of his cheek before pulling back and scooping a chicken finger off her plate, offering it for him to have before looking at her mom. “Does he know what I did?” She felt the guilt grow inside her again and she looked back at her baby brother. “I didn’t mean to go away.” She hugged him again and closed her eyes.

[Dix C. Martin]

"Oh honey..."
Dixie sighed guiltily, seeing Kathy hug Nolan and tell him she didn't mean it.
"He knows you're back now, that's all that matters. Isn't that right tiger?"
She cooed. After Kathy sat back down with Nolan in her lap, she reached over to tickle him getting him giggling, before he snuggled against his sister.
"Kay-Kay..."
Nearly tearing up at the sweetness of it all, Dixie smiled before helping herself to some chicken. But glanced at Tad and noticed he was on the quieter side, staring off into space.
"Hey...where are you, you far away?"
She chuckled softly, rubbing his shoulder a bit to get his attention.

[teamluv08]

Tad hadn’t missed what was happening right in front of him, deep inside his heart was melting just watching Kathy and Nolan. But his face told a different story he knew this even before Dixie reached over to get his attention.

Shaking his head, he sighed and looked over at her. "I'm right here," he said as he looked over and gave his daughter a wink. "Eat up. Don't want your food getting cold." He gave Dixie a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. Tad was itching to get Dixie alone to ask about David’s visit. He wanted to know what gave that bastard the gal to step on his property, all the while knowing he wasn’t welcomed. He wanted to know if what Dixie told Kathy earlier was the total truth or not.