Most people probably look at Nate and think he's doing just fine. His eyes are clear, his smile is steady, and his voice and handshake are firm.
Those are all good indicators. But Brad knows Nate; in the years since he left the Corps, he's had his ups and downs, times when stress allows dreams (nightmares) to return him to Iraq, even more helpless than they'd been in reality. When one of those relapses happens, Nate turns to running his demons out. There's a reason he qualifies for the MCM every year. He's never been out of shape, although his body is sculpted differently from when he spent more time on weightlifting and upper-body strength. Then again, he'll probably never have to heft a one-hundred pound backpack for a day-long hike, so that's not important.
What is important is that when he's suffering, he runs, and he doesn't eat, and the muscles in his thighs, always defined, stand out against thin skin with little other protection.
Brad always loses weight on a deployment - the MREs and prepared food are fat and calorie-laden, but he doesn't wouldn't feed a dog most of what they serve - and he always insists on cooking full meals when he's home, but it's not just for his own benefit. If he cooks, Nate eats. And when he's home, Nate sleeps. He runs, but not endlessly, and he becomes less like an anatomy teaching aid, more human.
running on empty
Those are all good indicators. But Brad knows Nate; in the years since he left the Corps, he's had his ups and downs, times when stress allows dreams (nightmares) to return him to Iraq, even more helpless than they'd been in reality. When one of those relapses happens, Nate turns to running his demons out. There's a reason he qualifies for the MCM every year. He's never been out of shape, although his body is sculpted differently from when he spent more time on weightlifting and upper-body strength. Then again, he'll probably never have to heft a one-hundred pound backpack for a day-long hike, so that's not important.
What is important is that when he's suffering, he runs, and he doesn't eat, and the muscles in his thighs, always defined, stand out against thin skin with little other protection.
Brad always loses weight on a deployment - the MREs and prepared food are fat and calorie-laden, but he doesn't wouldn't feed a dog most of what they serve - and he always insists on cooking full meals when he's home, but it's not just for his own benefit. If he cooks, Nate eats. And when he's home, Nate sleeps. He runs, but not endlessly, and he becomes less like an anatomy teaching aid, more human.