But Doctor

"But Doctor, he is not man he use to be! Jillian explained to the marriage councilor as John sat looking down at his hands gently rubbing each other. John had looked up the best in the field. DoctorMax's dissertation had been on PSTD. He truly thought that Doctor Max could help Jillian understand. His hopes were quickly slipping away.

"On the questionnaire you answered that there was no violence." Max's eyes darted from one face to the other for telltale body language as to the truthfulness of the answer. No, the problem hadn't gone there yet.

"Well, Jillian, are you now the same person you were before he left for Afghanistan?" Jillian's face flushed, her lips pushed tight against her teeth as she tried to contain her fustration. 'What do these people know' she thought.

In a meaured voice she replied, "No, I guess not. I have to take care of everything. Working, housework, paying the bills, and I can't even talk to John. He sits up most of the night and stares at the wall. He never laughs. All the time he want me to go on these long walks with him, and he walks so fast. Doesn't he know that I am tired? If he would only get a meaningful job, some friends, have a life again." Jillian ended her tirade with sideways glances at John who showed no reaction at all.

"John, you put down that you do not take any medications. Have you taken any medication in the past for your sleeping problem or stress, emotional problemes, or such?" Doctor Max gently inquired. "Any illicit drugs?"

"No, I'm dealing with it all in my won way." John's voice was barely above a whisper.

"What would you like to accomplish through these session?" Max becoming more matter of fact.

"Just to calm down Jillian. Help her."

"Help her with what?" Max watched Jillian's face. She had a shocked look in her eyes.

"Not be so so jittery, so angry, so demanding, to be more honest." John hadn't been very informative but that was all the words he could come up with. He couldn't express what it was without setting her off. He thought she might be using cocaine but he wan't going to tell the doc that. He didn't know for sure but it was one of the thoughts that keep him up at night.

"But Doctor, don't you see it's because of him that I get so upset. He isn't carrying his weight in this relationship?"

"There are a lot of dynamics here that will take some working on. This will take time."

"But Doctor, I don't have time or money for this. I have to work downtown. It's a long drive. It is not safe there. I nearly got carjacked the other day. If I hadn't had my gun with me, who know what would have happened." Jillian's eyes glazed over as she reached into her purse and pulled out a snub nosed 38.

"Get back! YOU AR NOT TAKING MY CAR!" she shouted as she pointed the gun at the doctor. John's military training kicked in His elbow hit her in the face as he grabbed her had as she pulled the triger. Doctor Max's face was white, shock in his eyes as he examined the hole in the wall just above his chair.

"Close, close, I..I..I never.."he stuttered. Clearing his throat he continued, "I think this calls for her involuntary commitmen. I wish you had been more detailed when you called for an appointment."

"But Doctor WHAT are you talking about. I'm fine. It's John with the problem!"

Jack and Jill went up a hill...Jack fell down and broke his crown...and Jill came tumbling after........