Prologue.
It wasn't supposed to happen like this. He changed, once he came back. He wasn't the same man that once upon a time, Joanna Beth had fallen in love with.
When he was out there, he experienced something horrible; he was on the front line during the war. He went out there and tried his best to make a difference for his country. To protect them; the people of America needed to be protected. He was willing to fight for America; to kill for America. Unfortunately, he became attached to someone out there. He made a best friend on the battlefield. Some would call it a dangerous business, to make friends in a place like that.
They did everything together- they relied on each other to get through the tough times of the war. However, when it came to fighting on the front line, something unthinkable happened.
Whilst off fighting the opposing enemies, his best friend got shot down. A singular bullet, plunged through his chest. Dean looked everywhere for him; desperate to find his friend. He could hear the sounds of his fellow fighters, calling out: 'Man down, man down!'And he knew. He knew that it wasn't anyone else. That it was his friend. He became panicked; He had to find him.
Despite the numbness he felt in his legs, he had the determination to find Percy. His feet pounded against the dry dirt ground, weaving through the lines of fire, arms pumping, heart pounding. He ran and ran, until he found him.
When he found him, it wasn't a pleasant sight...
Crimson floods drenched his shirt, his vest, his jacket. Everything was soaked in his blood. Dean sobbed that day. Because it was right. Despite the sadness Dean felt, he didn't cry for long; he had to be strong for Percy. He prayed that he would make it out alive... But he didn't. Dean was restrained. Dragged away from Percy as they disposed of his body. He wished that he could see him once more- but he didn't ask, he didn't create a scene. He just watched them take the lifeless body away.
And to this day on, he remained cold. Bitter. Frozen.
It scared Jo.
Jo didn't know how to handle him.
And so, she did something drastic.
Something that would change her life forever.