Back in Season 3 of Outlander, a teenage Fergus (César Domboy) bravely faced up to a small patrol of Red Coats—partially because he was a smart aleck, but also to distract them from discovering the location where a fugitive Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) was hiding out in the Scottish Highlands.

Sadly, one member of the British patrol who had no interest in putting up with a know-it-all French kid pinned Fergus down and cut off his hand with a sword. After the soldiers departed, Jamie raced down the hill, saved Fergus’ life by tying off his arm to stop the bleeding, and later vowed to look after him ever after, which Jamie has done in the years since to the best of his ability.

In chatting with Parade in an exclusive new interview, Domboy said that Fergus has no regrets for sacrificing his hand to save Jamie. After all, in truth, he owed Jamie so much.

“Jamie took him out of his life [in the Paris brothel] and that was actually worse than just losing one hand,” Domboy said. “Fergus grew up in a brothel where he was abused and where he witnessed horrible things, and I think the life Jamie gave him is enough that his loyalty will go to losing a hand. Of course, growing up he now thinks that his position in the Ridge is not secured. It’s secured by love, but it’s hard for him to find a job to be fulfilled and to help his family.”

As a result, in Season 6, Fergus is a shadow of his former feisty self and has taken to drink to compensate for what he feels is missing in his life. And nothing anybody does makes enough of a difference to snap him out of his depression.

“This is something that is growing inside him where it’s just getting worse and worse,” Domboy added.

And while it’s not rational, Fergus has taken on himself the blame that his pregnant wife Marsali (Lauren Lyle) was beaten, and Claire (Catríona Balfe) abducted and raped, because he feels he should have been there to prevent it.

“Fergus wasn’t there in time enough for Marsali, so because of that he thinks she [felt like she] had to kill Lionel Brown,” Domboy explained. “And the abuse that Claire went through reflects a lot on what he suffered as a younger kid. But then, I think, Fergus somehow thinks that [the birth of] his new child will solve lots of problems. You know, new child, new baby, new chapters. But then everything is 10 times worse because Henri-Christian is a dwarf.”

The birth of Henri-Christian starts Fergus on a new downward spiral because of his fears for what he sees as his new son’s inevitably unhappy future.

“I think there is a really good bridge between the problems and the worries Fergus has and then his dwarf child and how he fears for him. Fergus is like, ‘If I cannot find my position, if I cannot be useful to the Ridge, how could that kid be?’ It’s all about that. It’s real challenging adult problems for this young couple.”

That said, there is still hope. True, Roger (Richard Rankin) had to goad Fergus into going to Marsali’s side while she was giving birth, but once he was there, he came through for her–big time, as viewers of the episode watched Fergus’ very unique method for helping his wife through labor.

“When Lauren and I were both working together on the conversation of Fergus and Marsali for Season 6, of how to level it perfectly so there’s still hope, there’s still a chance for this couple to rebuild. Even if Fergus can be abusive and all, he’s hurting himself most, which triggers the love of Marsali for him. But it’s complex.”

Outlander Season 6 airs new episodes Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Starz.