Following the search for Willow in the woods, Spud's ankle had swollen to an ugly level, Ethan growing so worried that he'd dragged him back to the doctor's. A quick examination later and they determine that he can't put any weight on it for at least a couple days, the doctor authorizing them to rent or buy a wheelchair to keep him mobile since Dixie needs him for TNA business. Ethan leaves him at the house, resting, before going to get both the wheelchair and his muscle relaxers. Normally he'd be fine pushing it off on some member of the staff, but he feels strangely responsible for the state of Spud's ankle and he needs a minute to himself anyway, so it's good to be stuck in the silence of his car, not having to look at Spud while he struggles just to sit still without grimacing in pain.
Once finished, he drives back to the house and drags the wheelchair inside, unfolding it and rolling it by the couch where Spud is currently sitting, tilting his head to look at it. "Sir?"
Ethan looks from Spud to the chair, releasing a soft breath. "Here, let's see how this looks." He plucks Spud up from the couch and settles him in the chair, stepping back to stare at him. "How does it feel?"
"It's fine, sir," he says, resting his ankle gingerly on the foot-rests. "Thank you for getting this for me, you didn't have to." He checks his command over the wheels, relieved to find that it's not difficult to roll himself around. "With some practice, I suppose that this could come in handy." He goes backwards and forwards a few times before looking up at Ethan, forcing a smile.
"Yeah, sure," Ethan says awkwardly, hoping that he won't need it- knowing all too well what something coming in handy could mean when it comes to his aunt, especially in regards to Spud. "Here's your medicine." He passes over the bag as well before settling in on the couch to watch TV, trying not to stare as Spud continues to practice with the wheelchair, careful not to block his view.
"Thank you, sir."
"Uh huh," EC3 sighs, staring pointedly at the TV despite not registering a damn thing flashing across the screen.
Of course, at that week's TNA taping, Ethan's expectations come true. Dixie suggests Spud use his new wheels to help distract Willow during Ethan's tag match if needed and Spud, always desperate to please, agrees readily, Ethan's lips pressed tightly together as they work through a plan. He doesn't like it but there's little he can do to stop Spud once Dixie gets in his ear, short of tying him up and locking him in a closet... not that he'd risk injurying him further with such things. "How does it sound, Ethan?" Dixie says, patting his cheek. "Think it should work unless Spud does something to ruin it?" Her dark eyes rest on the assistant as he squirms uncomfortably in his chair, about to protest when Ethan cuts across him.
"Yeah, Aunt Di, it sounds fine. Spud will do fine." He watches as the wheelchair-bound man looks slightly mollified at his confidence in him, but it's not enough. It never feels like enough. He sighs, his guilt and uncertainty quickly getting overwhelmed and lost by the actual madness of that tag match. They're about to lose whatever advantage they have when Spud wheels himself down the ramp, attracting Willow's attention, Jeff Hardy's alter ego quickly bailing from the match and chasing him backstage, Ethan only able to watch for a few moments before he turns his attention back to the match, which he and Roode win not long afterwards.
He's relieved to go backstage and distractedly accept his aunt's congratulations. "Have you seen Spud?" She shakes her head and continues to talk excitedly about Ethan's domination until Ethan's able to brush her off and duck inside the personal locker room she'd set aside for him, looking around. It's dark and quiet and his face falls in disappointment. "A quick shower, and then I'll look around for him," he decides, stepping into the shower to get the water temperature just right before he gets his shampoo and soaps together just to jump back in shock. "GAH! Spud!"
"Sir! I- I'm sorry," the British man gasps, eyes wide as he anxiously wheels himself forward against the tile floor. "I, I couldn't think of anywhere else to hide, so I... I lost Willow and I came in here. I didn't mean to startle you-"
"No, no," he impatiently waves his hand around, stepping closer to him. "I was going to go look for you after I showered, this just... saved me a step, I guess. We won the match partially thanks to you anyway so I can't be too mad." He rests his hand on top of Spud's head, smirking down at him. "But seriously, I need a shower, so go wait out in the main part of the locker room. I'll be out in a few minutes."
"Yes sir, of course," Spud nods, hurriedly wheeling himself out to give Ethan some privacy.
As soon as he's gone and Ethan's alone, he stares at the door as it closes, too relieved to move as he listens to the soft sounds of Spud wandering around the room, sometimes bumping into things by accident- he has to grin as he hears the clipped British curses that Spud would never ever say in front of Dixie. He sighs and slumps back against the wall, running his fingers through his hair and wonders where exactly this Willow thing will end, if it will end, and what condition they all will be in by then.
