Red Foreman was not a many with many emotions. Only fully knowing three to be exact. Love was obviously carried out for his wife, Kitty. Anger held a strong place for his son and the posse that came in the package deal that Red hadn't agreed with in the first place. And joy, which usually came from punishing or threatening Eric's gang, was another well known emotion to him.
But this? Sorrow? Pity? Please. Red Foreman did not pity anyone. Well, he had pitied a man once, an imbecle who'd usually used the same excuse for not being at work. But that was beside the point.
As the Foreman's stepped through the door and into Hyde's room, Red instantly felt that same gut twisting feeling he did while battling on the fields during the war. Not a feeling one would like to remember. Held kept his hands in his pockets and tried to grin.
Kitty dismissed her husbands odd behavior, and it was indeed odd, especially for him. She held a piece of chocolate cake in her hands, a smile plastered on her face. "Here you are sweetheart." she cooed, putting the piece on the nightstand next to him.
"Thanks Mrs. Foreman." Hyde smiled, hiding the scene that had just happened.
The woman smiled and went to touch his cheek while laying a kiss on his forehead. "I'd really love to stay, but my shift is about to start. You rest up and I'll be back at the end of the day."
The door closed and Hyde was left alone with Red. He tried not to roll his eyes, feeling like a lecture was about to come.
"So..." Red started. "When they lettin' yah outta here?"
"Week or so." Was the answer. "I don't know why, though. I feel fine."
"Steven," Red looked up. "You were shot in the side."
Hyde shifted in his seat, No duh.
"Now listen," Red walked about the room before finally settling his eyes on Hyde's. They both avoided the eye contact, both not wanted to say those unspoken words. Red cleared his throat and continued on. "You don't hafta play the macho act when yah get back home. If you want some help, just ask."
Hyde nodded, "Think I can do that."
Red half smiled, Hyde finished the other half with his own lips. They'd shared something then, both understanding the other. Both exactly alike, yet complete opposites. Emotions rised in them, but not ones that either were willing to let show. What Red saw in Hyde, well...it was like looking in a mirror some years back. And that, made him proud.
"So how yah feelin?'" Eric asked fifteen minutes after his dad had left the room for work.
Hyde shrugged, "Not bad. Except I gotta hole in my side."
Eric smiled and nodded from his seat next to the bed. "I broughtcha a gift."
Hyde perked up, his eyes lighting from behidn his sunglasses, Jackie had finally given up and handed them over from the table. "Baggy?"
"Nope." Eric reached into a brown paper bag and pulled outtwo bottles. He handed oneto his friend, who popped open the top and stared down at it.
"Foreman, this is orange juice."
"Try it." Eric urged on.
Hyde, thinking his friend had sunk to an all time low, pressed his lips against the top, tilted it back and swallowed. "This is Vodka." Hyde announced, once done.
Eric nodded, "You're the one who taught me how tah make a Screwdriver."
Hyde smiled and clinged his bottle against Eric's. "You're a good man, Foreman."
