"PTSD is not about what's wrong with you, it's about what happened to you."

Janine and Michele were standing in the door way when my Uncle Jordan barged in. He shook his head as he looked around the room. I stood beside Daddy and gave a wary look at my Uncle. He sighed and spoke.

"Why didn't you call me or Dad?" He basically yelled.

"Jordan, I-"

"Phillip, neither one of us are giving you any more chances. This has been going on long enough."

"It's just a set back.... I'll-"

"Don't pull that bullshit card with me, Smith. You wouldn't get help if your life depended on it."

Daddy hung his head and sighed.

"Just give me another week.... I'll make improvements and...-"

"Daddy, you've said that for the past three years. You've been through several different therapists and you won't open up about what happened to you during the war. How are they supposed to help you if you don't?" I said, tears in my eyes.

"Gracie, sweetheart, I'll be fine. It's just a set back." Daddy looked from me to Jordan and back.

"One more week, that's it. If you can keep a clean slate until then, Jack might decide to let you back in the FBI. That means no drinking, no tearing this house completely apart, and things like that. Got it?" Jordan said.

"Yes, I got it." Daddy said.

He limped back into his room and closed the door, completely done with this conversation. Uncle Jordan turned to me.

"You okay, Gracie?"

"Yeah, it's never easy coming home to this." I said, wrapping Jordan into a hug.

"You two staying here tonight?"

"Yes, I can get the house cleaned. You don't have to help."

"I'll help. If you need anything, you call me or Jack or Andrew." Jordan said, flipping the recliner right side up.

"Gracie?" Janine said "why didn't you tell us?"

"I-I couldn't.... I didn't want you two to worry and-"

"Gracie, you should have told us. We can help you and your dad out and-" Michele started.

"No, you two need to head on home. Take my car and I'll see you guys tomorrow."

They both came and hugged me tight.

"If you need anything, just call." Janine said.

"Will do. Drive safe."

I took the broom and swept up the little shards of glass and picked up the busted picture frames and set them in their rightful spots. In an hour we had the house half way back to normal. Uncle Jordan wiped his hands on pants and looked over at me.

"Are you sure you two will be okay?" He asked.

"I'm sure, Uncle Jordan. I'll call you if we need anything."

"I will. Love you Uncle Jordan."

"Love you too, Gracie." He kissed me on the cheek and walked out the door.
******
I went to get ready for bed and stopped by Daddy's room. He was sound asleep, but I knew it wouldn't last. I took a shower, changed into my pj's, combed my hair, and brushed my teeth before heading to bed. Ark hopped onto the bed and nestled down beside me. I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. I shot up when I heard my Daddy scream. It was a scream full of fright. Another nightmare/ flashback. I got up and made my way toward his bed room. I nudged open the door.

"Daddy, you okay?"

He was pacing his room, his assault rifle lay on his bed.

"Daddy, come here." I pulled him into a hug and he buried his head in the crook of my neck and began to cry.

I sat him down on the edge of the bed and allowed him to cry.

"I killed him." He said, through his tears. "His blood was on my hands...." His voice trailed off.

We sat like that this all night long. He couldn't fall back asleep after waking from a nightmare and I wouldn't fall back asleep, fearful he might attempt suicide. The 'him' Daddy was referring to was his war partner Daniel. He never did go into detail about what happened to Daniel. Just like he couldn't go into detail about what happened to me or mom. War was hard on him. It would take him a while to forgive and forget and even then I knew he wouldn't be the same. No matter how long or rough this journey is, I'll never leave his side.