If the days before were bad, Tuesday is excruiciating. Between the traveling, and the event, and the general waiting. It doesn't help that they're on different timezones, so Dolph's not sure when exactly Zack's procedure is happening. Every few minutes, he checks his phone, aware that it could be starting at any time around now. He gnaws on his bottom lip and considers calling Zack's dad, but then he thinks maybe it's already over and he's with Zack, waiting for him to be ready to head back to the hotel, so he stays his hand.

Three weeks. Six months. So many numbers and facts and worries bounce around Dolph's head that he's glad he's already gotten his match out of the way, certain he'd hurt someone or himself, so distracted by what's happening in Atlanta, Georgia right now. He sits, absentmindedly scraping his finger against the phone case, waiting for the show to end, waiting for the phone to ring, waiting for something, anything.

He almost throws the phone- which entirely defeats the purpose- when it vibrates in his hand, his brows furrowing together as he stares down at the screen, uncomprehending for a moment before answering it. "Hello?"

"Hello, son," Zack's dad greets him warmly. "So we're sitting here waiting for Zack to get the go-ahead to leave and it kinda dawns on me that maybe my sleepy-head boy over here would like to talk to someone... Think I'm right?"

Dolph can imagine him grinning obnoxiously at his son. "Yeah," he breathes out. "I think you are."

When he hands the phone over, Zack does sound a little sleepy, but better than Dolph had expected. "Hey, bro."

"Hey, kid. How're you feeling?"

"Alright," he says. "A little sore, I think. The medicine they gave me hasn't worn off completely, so I'm mostly numb right now, but I'll be feeling it soon, probably. How are things going over there?"

Dolph shrugs, not able to think of anything important from the past few days. "It's been fine, same old same old."

Zack huffs out a little laugh, fondness in his voice. "You've been unable to really focus on it all, huh, bro? You'd usually be talking for the next half an hour about everything you've seen, the matches you've had, the food you've ate..."

"It all seems kind of meaningless right now," Dolph admits, licking his lips. "I just wish I could be there with you, kid. The thought of you alone through all of this..."

"Hey, I'm not alone," Zack interrupts. "My dad's taking good care of me, you don't have to worry. And when you're touring with WWE, he and Mom are gonna be right there, helping me with what I can't do the next few weeks, so you don't have to worry about a thing. It'll all work out. Hey, the hard part's over, right? Now we just wait and check to see if I need surgery or not." A bit of doubt fills his voice and Dolph nods, swallowing hard.

"I'll be home for that, kid. I promise. But it'll work out, it has to."

Zack's smile is slow and uncertain and audible over the phone. "I hope so, bro. I'm really gonna do my best to avoid the surgery."

"I know you will." Dolph hears chatter of a nurse in the background and figures Zack is getting discharged to go rest at the hotel before his flight back to New York. "I'll see you soon, kid. Take care of yourself."

"Alright. I love you, bro."

"Love you too, kid." Upon hanging up, he realizes that the event has wrapped up and he can leave, a small smile teasing at his lips. Just hearing Zack's voice and knowing that he'd made it through at least this much makes him feel better. One step closer, he thinks, snagging his bag and jaunting out to the bus to continue on for the last leg of the tour.