Bully Ray had infiltrated Dixie's house. Left tables with "Dixie fears Bully" scrawled on them all over the lawn. Spud had never felt fear this pronounced until this very moment. It doesn't help his state of mind that he's still in a neck brace from the last interaction he'd had with Bully, being put through a table at the Impact offices. But he's not about to leave Dixie alone to handle this menace, so he squares his shoulders and continues on, determined to keep her safe. His phone is in one hand, the other used to offer a little more support to his neck as he walks through the house.

He hides behind the couch, desperate for a way to get the upper hand against Bully, but the cameraman lets it slip that he's not alone and Bully catches Spud, pins him against an ottoman and then, after talking to Dixie on Spud's phone, tips the entire thing over so it falls hard across Spud's midsection, effectively winding him and knocking him out all at once. He's not sure how long he's out, but he does remember coming to to Dixie leaning over him, actually seeming concerned, but her questions make very little sense to him and he can only mumble "I don't know, I don't know"

Through his mental fog, he's scared, though he's not sure why... but when he hears Bully's voice, it comes back to him in a flash. He whimpers, feeling around for his phone, but it's gone. He groans as Bully corners Dixie over his prone body, trying to get her to say that she's afraid of Bully, but Spud notes when a new pair of shoes appear in his line of sight. He knows that particular footwear quite well and it eases his mind, especially when he hears Bully hit the ground hard.

He's not sure how much time has passed after that, but the weight finally eases off of his chest and he can breathe normally again, gasping and struggling as Dixie kneels by him and cups his face, searching his eyes. He still can't hear her all too well, his fingers wrapped around her wrists. "Madam Dixie," he groans.

"How did you know?" she asks and it takes Spud a minute to realize she's talking to Ethan. "I didn't even know you were home-"

"Spud texted me awhile ago," he explains, kneeling down by Spud once he's thrown Bully out onto the front lawn to languish with the clutter of tables all over the grass. "It woke me up just in time for me to get down here and put a stop to all of this."

Spud's lips part as he considers apologizing, but Ethan's hand is resting on his forehead and Dixie is stroking his arm as they ponder what to do. "I think we should get Spud checked out, and then go to a hotel. I hate leaving my own house, but I don't feel safe here... and it's clear my security leaves something to be desired. So while I work on that, we'll sleep somewhere safe and secure." She stares down at Spud. "How does that sound?"

"Yes madam," he murmurs. The pain is ridiculous when Ethan lifts him up to carry him outside once he's sure that Bully is gone, but he grits his teeth and digs his nails into the back of Ethan's shirt in an attempt to withstand it.

"It's ok," Ethan mutters into his ear. "We're almost to the car."

"Thank you sir," he mumbles back.

-x

"So how is he?" Dixie asks Ethan once she's off the phone with her security team, leaving them with strict instructions of what she wants added to her house's defenses.

"Doctor says he was lucky," Ethan says, glancing over at her from where he's sitting by the desk. "His neck wasn't injured further.. but he does have some bruising on his sternum. He's going to be ok though."

She stands by the bed and watches Spud sleep for a few minutes, nodding. "Alright. Good." Returning to Ethan's side, she cards her fingers through his hair. "We'll teach Bully Ray a lesson for taking away our comfort in our own home. He won't get away with any of this."

"No, he won't," Ethan agrees, leaning back and staring in Spud's direction as Dixie continues massaging his scalp.