Another week passed and things slowly returned to normal. Otis was still cold toward her, but she couldn't truly expect much more out of the albino, she reasoned. That was who he was now. The warmth she had seen in those ember eyes in the pictures was gone, extinguished by his mournful tears over his wife.

"Otis, sweetie...You ain't eatin' much..." Mother Firefly fretted, gently petting those white locks that Maggie longed to stroke.

"Mm...Don't worry about me none, mama. I'm alright."

"Oh honey don't...Don't get there again..." She pleaded, glancing at Maggie as if remembering that she shouldn't know Otis's past.

"I told ya, I'm fine."

"What'd you boys have for lunch out in the garage?"

"Wasn't in the garage today. Went into town to see Cutter. See if he needed anything."

"You did...?"

Otis nodded. "Yeah. Didn't fight or nothin'. Just...Business."

Rufus laughed. "Can't believe you of all people didn't start nothin'."

"I didn't. Fuck him."

She didn't understand the tension between Otis and Captain Spaulding, but she guessed she never would. She loved the clown, and found him quite enjoyable to be around. But Otis hated him for whatever reason.

They all sat in the living room, watching the TV hum through the news. Otis sipped on a fifth of whiskey as a liquid dinner, and Rufus snacked on popcorn, throwing a few stray kernels at her.

"Hey, he alright?" Rufus asked, gesturing to Otis.

Turning in her seat, she saw the albino slumped over, his hair obscuring his face, hand still wrapped around the neck of the bottle of Jack.

"Otis?" No response. "Otis...?" She reached to shake him, but Rufus stopped her.

"Find the cap and put it on that bottle first."

"What? Why?" She asked, but did as she was instructed.

"You'll see."

"Otis...?" She shook him gently. "Otis, wake up. Come on..."

He whimpered, raising his head only slightly.

"Hey. You alright?"

"Mm-hm..."

"I think it's time you get to bed. I think you're a little drunk." She reached to take the bottle away.

"No..." He pulled it away from her, hugging it to his chest. "It makes the pain go away..."

Shocked into silence, she paused for a moment as his head slumped down once again. "O...Okay...Well, come on. Let me get you up to bed."

"Okay..." He mumbled, still clutching the bottle of alcohol. Rufus watched, one eyebrow raised. Maggie mouthed 'I have no idea' over her shoulder and led Otis up the stairs.

"Alright. Give me the bottle, Otis."

"No...Makes my heart stop hurting..." He stumbled a few steps toward his bed. "Makes it stop..."

"Well, you can't sleep with it."

"Why...?"

"You'll break the glass. Come on. Give it to me."

"No..." He whined as he clamored for her hands as they took away that sacred relief.

"Hey, relax. It'll be right here, okay?" She placed it beside the bed.

"Okay..."

She gently stroked his face, watching him struggle to keep his eyes open.

"I miss her..."

"I know you do..."

"I wish I could be with her..."

"I know..."

"I still love her..."

"I know."

"Do you think she knows?" He asked.

"I'm sure she does..." She smiled mournfully. "Wherever she is, she knows you still love her."

"She's dead. We had a funeral...I wish she could have seen me...I looked so handsome. Just like I did on our wedding day..."

Holding back tears, she sighed. "You're a little warm, Otis. You feel okay?"

"No."

"Is that why you were so quiet? You don't feel good?"

He didn't respond, and she sighed in relief when she saw that he was blissfully asleep. Shame that he had drank so much she couldn't give him anything to bring down his fever, but that could wait till morning.

The next morning, Rufus met her downstairs. "Hey..."

"Morning, RJ."

"He was real weird with you last night."

"He wasn't feeling good. He was running a fever. Which he probably needs something for. And if he's sober, I won't be the one taking it to him without getting killed."

"Aw, come on he's been fine the past few days."

"Yeah, but if he's hungover AND sick, I'm the last person he wants to see.

"I think you should take care of him. " Baby chimed in, surprising them both. "I think it'd be good. Here. Take up some toast and tea to him and some medicine."

"I-I..."

"Go, come on." Baby smiled. "You'll be fine.

She prayed that her knees would stop shaking as she ascended the stairs, turned the knob on his door, and entered.

He lay in bed, shivering and moaning.

"A...Angel Baby?" He whimpered.

"Nope. It's me."

He groaned, curling farther into himself. "Get Baby..."

"I tried. She made me come up to take care of you. Said it would be good."

Otis whimpered as he shuddered. It seemed as if every movement was causing excruciating pain, and he couldn't stop shivering.

"Here...Let me get a blanket for you." She spread a thick comforter over his body, hearing him sigh blisfully in relief as he was able to stop shaking and relax his muscles. "Better?"

He nodded.

"Brought some breakfast."

He shook his head. "Sleep."

"I'll let you sleep after you take your meds and eat something."

"Sleep."

"Otis. I'll force you to if you don't do it yourself. I know you're weak and hurting right now. Do you really want that?"

Grumbling, he sat up, grimacing and almost crying out in pain.

"You're really hurting that bad?"

"Had so many busted bones...When my body aches they act up." He took a sip of tea. "Doesn't matter."

"It does. I'm sorry you went through that..."

"Went through what?"

"TH...Aahhh..." She swallowed heavily. "Th...That you...were abused..."

"Baby told you."

"...Yes..."

He sighed, "Alright. That's a conversation for a later time. I just want to sleep."

"Okay..."

As she doctored him that day, not leaving his side, while he slept, she was astonished. Had he really grown to trust her that much? Had he forgiven her? Or was he just so sick it didn't matter to him anymore?

As he whimpered in his sleep, she figured she would find out.

"Shhh..." She stroked his arm. "It's okay. You're okay. You're safe."

"No...NO they're gonna get me...Don't let them..."

"I won't let them get you. Come on Otis wake up..."

"No...they're coming...Daddy's coming..."

"He's not here. Let's wake up, huh Otis? Let's go."

As he slowly opened his eyes, gasping slightly, he turned to her, fear swimming in those lava pools.

"You're alright. It was just a dream."

Relaxing and seeming to melt back into his pillow, He cleared his throat. "...Thank you..."

She stroked his hair. "Of course..."