Linda Reagan couldn't have been more ecstatic- her husband was home from the four years he spent in Iraq. He was home, and all was right in the world... almost. Everything was right... except him. And Linda knew it; her ecstasy slowly faded day by day as she noticed her husband slipping into a black hole. She couldn't lose him to this- she couldn't and wouldn't. She decided to take action and confront him... as soon as she figured out how...
Danny Reagan stared at the ceiling for the umpteenth time since he came home. Two months had passed, and he was officially used to the time change. In another two months, he would be going back to his day job as an NYPD detective. He was glad to be home, glad to be in his wife's arms again, but that didn't mean he didn't know what was happening. He wasn't sleeping, he was being short with everyone, he didn't want to participate in anything... He knew what this was- it was that nasty ptsd. The same thing he had kicked the first time he came back from oversees. It plagued his mind and his dreams, almost as much as Linda plagued him. He didn't understand it; he had left her with a tiny, one year old baby to look after herself. Then, two years later when he was back for RR, he got her pregnant. He was able to be there for her and the baby the last two months of the pregnancy, then the first month after baby Sean was born. He figured she'd yell at him or write an angry letter, but she didn't. She wasn't mad- only scared, and that made Danny feel guilty.
The detective sighed and got out of bed. He walked to his sons' room, just watching them for a few minutes. He pulled himself away and headed downstairs, hitting his toe on a box. They had just moved to what would be their home for nearly sixteen years, and boxes were still packed. Danny walked to the kitchen and decided to organize the cabinets- anything that would keep him from sleeping.
Linda rolled over, with the full intention of snuggling close to her husband. She and he almost had a sixth sense about that sort of thing- even in their sleep, they knew when the other needed comfort. And right now, her sixth sense was yelling at her that her husband was not fine. When she was met with cold sheets, she sat up, wondering where he had gone. Her first inclination was to check on her children, who she found sleeping soundly. Next, she walked down the stairs and surveyed the living room.No one there. She walked to the kitchen, where she saw her husband putting away their wedding china.
"Danny, what're you doing?"
"Putting this away," he yawned, very sleep deprived.
"But now?"
"Somebody has to do it." He yawned once more, picking up the sheet pan of glass measuring cups and plastic colanders. He sat on the floor, slowly putting the things away.
Linda frowned and sat next to him. She put her hand on his, stopping him from putting things away. "Danny, are you worried?"
"Worried? Everything worked fine. I'm here, and I'm okay." He offered a very unconvincing smile.
"Babe. This is me. It doesn't have to be good or fine. This is the place where you don't have to be brave, and I'll still love you. If you're worried or mad or upset, be worried or mad or upset! Be sad or scared or stressed! Cause I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you, no matter what. I'll be here as a wife, as a friend, as a lover, as a confider. Whatever you want me to be, I'll be it for you. And I won't be mad or upset or annoyed with you. I'll just be here, a shoulder for you to cry on. And I'm not gonna say it's 'un-manly' to cry, cause it's not. I am your wife, for better or worse. And right now, it's bordering on worse. But I'll always be here for you, as a wife, a friend, a nurse, a lover, or whatever the hell you need me to be."
Danny smiled weakly, "I could use all-a those right about now."
She pulled him into a hug, letting him cry on her shoulder. She never made fun of him or ridiculed him for coming back broken. She was just there, ready to offer comfort or laughter or love or anything else he could ever need. And in the end, when Danny had readjusted to civilian life, he realized he hadn't married a pretty lady. He had married the most kind, loving, compassionate, and understanding angel. And every day afterwards, he always said a little prayer of thanks for having Linda in his life.
