Trigger Warning: Talk of upsetting situations, depression, medication.
"Did you hear about the soldier who killed his sister and then himself?"
Burt looked over at Finn, giving him a questioning look. "…yeah." He said warily. "It's been all over the news."
Finn nodded slowly. "Yeah…it's crazy. Was it this bad when you came back from the war?"
Burt shook his head. "No. You boys've seen some shit I've never even…" he let out a heavy sigh. "With the technology and everything nowadays it's more than just gunfire. Its psychological warfare out there."
Finn nodded absently and wrung his hands nervously. "…hey, dad?"
"Yeah kid?"
"…do you think I'd ever do that?"
Burt's eyes widened slightly. "No." he answered immediately. "I don't think you would ever do that." He sat up a bit more in his chair. "Finn you've already made really good progress. With your physical therapy and with your therapist and everything. You're doing really well."
Honestly, Burt could never imagine Finn hurting anyone. Especially not his family and friends. He may have been a man, a soldier trained to kill, but he was still Finn, the dorky, sweet, uncoordinated son that Burt had welcomed into his heart with open arms.
Finn didn't look convinced. He worried his bottom lip between his teeth and shrugged. "I just…I'm scared." He whispered, looking away from Burt and down at the carpet. "Sometimes I just get so mad…or really sad, like I can't get out of bed."
Burt felt his heart start to beat wildly in his chest. That wasn't good. "Have you talked it over with your therapist?"
Finn nodded. "Yeah, she wants to put me on meds but I just don't want to. I don't…I don't want to numb everything. I want to feel things. I want to feel happy when Puck's around or I see you guys. I want to feel sad when something sad happens. I don't want to be stuck in this…medicated…place."
He was surprised when Burt's warm, rough hand covered his. "Finn, I can't tell you what to do. I can't make you do anything. All I can promise you is that we will always be here for you. Me, your mom, Kurt, Puck and all your friends. We're here to support you no matter what, okay?"
Finn looked up at Burt again, eyes glossy with unshed tears. This man was the one father figure in his life who never disappointed him, never looked down at him, was never less than honest. He let Finn and his mom into his home and his and Kurt's life and it felt like coming home.
Finn didn't want to hurt that home.
He nodded slowly. "Yeah…thank you, dad."
Burt patted his hand gently. "Anytime, kid. You understand? You need something, you need to talk, I'm here."
"Yeah."
They fell into a comfortable silence, the story of a soldier who appeared to have gone insane splashed all over every news station.
The next week, Finn was on medication.