After Deployment

48

"Well, I've been home since March." Puck began. "I tore up my shoulder pretty bad and I was discharged."

"Oh, geez." Shelby muttered. "Are you okay?"

Puck nodded. "I had surgery when I came home and I..."

Quinn looked at Puck. She took his hand and squeezed it while nodding encouragingly.

"I did physical therapy, and I still go occasionally." Puck continued. "But I've been prioritizing therapy."

"Therapy?" Shelby repeated, glancing at Beth.

Beth had her head leaned back as she looked up at Puck.

"I have bad anxiety." Puck informed Shelby. "And PSTD, and it all gets worse with stress."

"You've had a lot of stress since you've been back." Shelby noted.

"Yeah." Puck nodded slowly. "But I'm working on it."

"I've seen what PTSD can do." Shelby stated. "It's destructive and debilitating."

"He's been managing it well." Quinn added as she glanced at Puck. "He never misses an appointment and he follows the doctor's orders."

Shelby nodded slowly and took a deep breath. "I'm glad you're doing well."

"Yeah." Puck nodded back. "Me, too."

"Daddy." Beth said softly. "What's PTSD?"

"PTSD is..." Puck paused and glanced at Shelby.

Shelby nodded slowly.

"It's..." Puck muttered.

"It stands for post-traumatic stress disorder." Quinn said softly.

"What does that mean?" Beth wondered.

"It means that sometimes Daddy relives bad things that happened over and over again." Quinn explained.

Beth frowned and looked at Puck. "Like what?"

"I saw a lot of bad things when I was away." Puck told Beth. "And sometimes my brain thinks I'm away again."

"Why?" Beth asked.

"I don't know, B." Puck stated. "But the doctors are helping me and I'm okay."

Beth nodded slowly and looked at Puck, trying to understand the concept of PTSD.

"I'm okay." Puck repeated as he kissed Beth's cheek. "Mama Quinn protects me."

Beth looked at Quinn and smiled.