Perseverance (The Resident FF) by Frances51163

CHAPTER THREE: Too Late

As he reached the top floor he heard his pager and quickly checked the message. Noting Andy was not in with Thorpe he yanked out his mobile.
"Devon he's not there?"
"No. What ..," Devon began only to be cut off.
"Just do what I say! Give Security Andys' description and tell them to detain him. Tell Gibson I need him on the roof now!" Conrad squeezed his eyes shut as he cut off the call.

Outside Thorpes' office Devon shook his head as his mentor and friend hung up. He was used to Conrad giving firm orders but he had heard something else also. Something in his voice he had never heard before - fear. Nodding to the Secretary he quickly dialled Security and explained the man in question needed to be found urgently. He headed for the stairwell at a run as he dialled the number for Mike Gibson, one of the Psychiatrists' attached to the hospital, hoping he was on duty.

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When Conrad had opened the heavy steel door and stepped onto the roof he had allowed it to close behind him gently not wanting to startle his friend. The helicopter pad was situated right in line with the elevator doors beside the door he had just exited. Yanking off the sunglasses he discarded them and threw the jacket across his arm beside them then ran to the other side of the roof expecting to see his friend. He shivered involuntarily as the cool night air, colder up high, breached his jumper but ignored the feeling as he allowed himself a sigh of relief. Checking the other areas on the roof he could not believe the sense of relief which overcame him and he had to lean against a wall for a moment to compose himself. He had just straightened up and begun walking towards the door when it opened to reveal Devon and the tall middle aged Psychiatrist. He was just about to apologize when the expressions they wore sank in and he froze in place.

"Conrad I'm so sorry," Devon approached slowly, " he's gone."
"But ... ," Conrad shook his head wincing as his eyes began throbbing in tandem with his head.
"Security found him a few minutes ago," Devon spoke as he reached the shaken man.
"How ....," Conrad couldn't seem to get the words out.
"Conrad let's get you out of the cold," Gibson spoke for the first time after assessing the younger man and fearing he was going into shock.
"Tell me!" Conrad instructed impatiently.
"He jumped Conrad," Devon forced the words out after a pause, placing a hand on his friends' shoulder sharing Gibsons' concern.
"Jesus!" the distressed man shrugged off the hand and went around the two men at a run for the stairwell door, leaving his jacket and sunglasses where they lay on the ground.
"Conrad!" Devon reacted first and ran after his friend reaching him as he went to open the door.
"I have to ...,"
"You have to use the elevator," Gibson gently guided the younger man over to the elevator doors and pressed the button as he handed Devon the coat and glasses he had retrieved.

The elevator ride was quiet and sombre as Devon and Gibson flanked the third year Resident. Devon shared a concerned look with Gibson as they got a proper look at the distressed man. He had looked unwell during the day but the shock he had just been given had bleached away any remnants of colour. For his part Conrad leant back against the steel frame and lowered his head as thoughts sped through his mind of their own volition. When the elevator chimed and the doors opened he straightened up and raised his head squinting as he took a step forward then stopped in confusion.
"I'm going down," Conrad stated with a frown after noting that only the second floor button was illuminated, the floor where the Psychiatrist had his office.
"Conrad you don't need to see your friend like that," Gibson pointed out.
"Yes I do," Conrad quickly pressed the button for the ground floor and for the first time looked at his companions, "ye can get out here," he depressed the open door button.
"No way," Devon winced as he got his first proper look at the man.
"If you want to go outside we're going with you," Gibson wrapped a gentle hand around Conrads' wrist and pulled it away allowing the doors to slide shut.
"Don't need babysitters!"
"Good because I don't know any," Gibson explained mildly without rancour, "did you work a full shift today?"
"Yea," Conrad answered after a while with a frown glad when the elevator chimed again and he could escape any more questioning.