Life outside of jail takes getting used to. Dixie is still recovering and refuses most visitors, Ethan is distant and mad, and Spud... Spud has his own problems to work through. He sits on the porch and rocks back and forth wearily in a swing, trying to hold his emotions in. Time has gone by slowly since Spud's release, since Ethan had taken him to the hospital. Since... He closes his eyes, shaking his head. Tries to think about other things.
Ethan is angry, Dixie will barely look at him, and Spud's not sure what's going to happen next. Ethan blames everyone around him for what's happened to Dixie- from Ryck, to Rhino, to the fans, to the other members of the roster. Spud's not sure how he's exempt from Ethan's anger when it was his fainting that'd caused all of this, and he can't help but wonder if perhaps it's pity over what happened to him in jail... He closes his eyes and rocks back and forth a little harder, wanting nothing more than to go flying higher and higher until he falls out of this world and can just find peace, quiet. No horrible thoughts and emotions to weigh him down.
He's still sitting there, the sun setting, when he hears rushed footsteps coming towards the side door, his head lifting from his knees as Ethan barrels through the delicate glass doors, stopping short when he spots Spud. They stare at each other, quiet and tense, until Spud whispers, "Sir?"
Ethan swallows hard and walks over to Spud, clearly trying to keep himself under control. "You were out here this whole time," he sighs out, a maelstrom of emotions in his voice.
Spud nods, staring up at him. "Yessir... I'm sorry... Is there something you needed me for?"
Ethan sighs and drops to his knees in front of Spud, searching his face. "No, not... not like you're thinking. I just... didn't know where you were." His brow furrows as he takes in the quietly tired gleam in Spud's eyes. "I just... wanted to apologize. I know things have been hard... lately. And I'm not making things any easier for you."
"It's fine," Spud says, his lips pale and dry as he tries to accept everything that Ethan's been doing, saying lately, in comparison to the man standing before him right now.
"No, it's not," he sighs. "There's a reason for it, and if you just hold on... be patient with me, I promise everything will be better soon. Alright?"
Spud nods, it a natural reaction to believe Ethan. "Of course, sir," he whispers, leaning forward and hugging his best friend. "I believe you."
Ethan closes his eyes and pats Spud's back, hoping he can keep this promise. "Thank you."