After a few hours spent at the hospital, enduring tests on his arm, Zack finds himself back in bed, buried under pillows and sheets, Dolph leaning over him. "Phone was ringing," he says, holding it out to him until he wakes up, scrubbing at his eyes with his good hand. "It's the hospital."
This wakes Zack up and he takes it, holding it up to his ear once he sees that Dolph had answered it. "...'Lo?" His lips twitch up as Dolph settles in next to him and he listens to the WWE doctor on the other end explain in detail what he already knew, the options he has before him. That he would definitely be missing the upcoming European tour... and maybe much more than that. He closes his eyes and grimaces. "Alright. Thank you." Hanging up, he drops back down against the pillows with a grimace, regretting the move as pain stabs up his shoulder.
Dolph lays down next to him, staring at the ceiling as he inches his hand over and tangles their fingers together. "What is it?" Zack's breath hitches and he doesn't rush to respond, Dolph squeezing a little tighter. "Kid, c'mon..."
"Torn rotator cuff," he finally confesses, voice cracked and weak. "Guess you're goin' to Europe without me, bro." He's trying to inject humor, and clearly failing, as Dolph sits up, wraps an arm around him and hugs him gently. He's shaking and the fingers of his good hand is digging in Dolph's back. "I can't... I can't..."
"Can't what, kid?" Dolph murmurs, kissing below his ear.
"I can't be out for long, I just- I'm already on thin ice as it is, my spot is shitty, yeah, but this... I'll lose it, and I may never regain it, they'll probably fire me before I'm good to go, or-" He's panicking, his eyes wide and dark, his breathing rough and ragged, and Dolph pulls back, cupping his face.
"Stop it, kid, you're gonna make yourself have a panic attack. Just breathe. Tell me what your options are."
Zack coughs. He breathes in slowly. Releases it even slower. "I, uh. There's a thing they do with stem cells... they take bone marrow out of your hip, and then inject them in your arm, and if all goes well, it helps to heal the tear. I rest for a few weeks and, if all goes well, be able to start rehabbing in a couple of months or so. If that doesn't work, it'd be the surgery..."
Dolph nods. "Alright." Either sound awful, but it's clear which one is the better option, especially with the mindset Zack's in. "So you're going to want to do the stem cells, right?"
"I think so," he breathes out. "It'll be during the European tour, though. Soonest they can get me in is November 11th."
Dolph hisses through his teeth and rests his forehead against Zack's. "I'll call you, kid. Before and after. Just... make sure your parents are there, ok? I don't want you alone during all of that."
"Good luck keeping them away," he chuckles weakly, brushing his hand up Dolph's wrist. "Ugh, this sucks out loud, bro."
"I know." Dolph shifts their positions, easing Zack into his arms and hugging him from behind. "It'll work out though, kid. You'll see." Zack is tense, his breathing still sounding off to Dolph's ears and he suspects he's fighting not to cry. Kissing the side of Zack's head, Dolph murmurs, "Let it out, kid." And that works, Zack shuddering as he turns and buries his face in Dolph's shoulder, his tears soon soaking Dolph's sleeve. He runs his fingers through Zack's hair, listening to each hitch in his breath, each strangled noise he makes. "You're gonna be ok," he whispers.
"I don't want you to go," he finally admits.
"I don't want to go either," Dolph sighs. "Especially now. But I'll call as often as I can, and send pictures. You'll probably get annoyed with how many pictures I send you." He cups Zack's face, gently wiping the tear tracks away, and draws him up until they can look at each other, lazily pressing a kiss to his lips. "And when I get home, I'll take care of you. Anything you need or want, I'll get it, I'll do it. Just gotta ask."
After a delayed moment, Zack's lips curve up into an almost mischevious smile, drawing Dolph closer with his working arm. "Can that start now?"
"Oh boy, I might regret suggesting this, huh?" Dolph hums, kissing Zack again and swallowing his bark of laughter.
