Blake Doakes<br/><br/>Sometimes it was hard for Blake Doakes to remember this was his new 'normal'. If he had been told when he enlisted in the Army the day after his high school graduation that by the time he was twenty five he'd be handicapped, he'd never believe it. But he was. Blake had faithfully served his country until two years ago. When, in Afghanistan, the convey he had been a part of was attacked by insurgents. Lots of good men and women in his unit were killed that day. He was lucky to be alive.<br/><br/>Yeah, lucky...That's what he tried to tell himself. Sometimes he didn't feel lucky. He had lost his left leg below his knee and he had lost seventy percent of his hearing in his right ear. His prosthetic leg and hearing aid would always be a part of his life. Those he could live with, the fake leg was almost second nature to him. Scars didn't bother him that much. It was the mental stuff he had trouble with.<br/><br/>The therapist his parents sent him to called it post traumatic stress disorder. Said lots of veterans had it. That things got easier with time. Well, it had been two years, it didn't feel easier. Not when he thought he was back in Afghanistan because of stupid car's muffler backfiring. Working helped a little. It made him feel more normal. Distracted him from his own problems. The hospital staff was open to the idea of hiring veterans, even ones with physical and or mental handicaps.<br/><br/>Blake's shift was just about over and he was going to head home. Well, back to his parent's home. He didn't have his own place anymore. When he got shipped back home to recover from his injuries, he had moved back into his childhood home. He saw Becca coming and gave her a friendly smile. He always appreciated that she didn't sneak up on him. One time, an old friend had done that, and Blake thought he was back in the Middle East and had decked him.<br/><br/>Blake liked Becca, considered her a friend. Well, a work friend, anyway. He didn't have as many of any type of friend anymore. Blake's old friends didn't know to act around him anymore. They didn't understand what he had went through. Or how to handle it if he heard or saw something that sent him back to Afghanistan.<br/><br/>Becca was easy to talk to, since she didn't like to talk about her own life anymore then he did. Although she could be moody. He swore her moods changed along with the moon. But, regardless, he did like her. He nodded his head to her.<br/><br/>"Sure, Becca. What's up?"<br/><br/>Blake asked as he grabbed his bag out of his locker.