Perseverance (The Resident FF) by Frances51163

CHAPTER TEN: Trying to Talk

Devon had spoken to the two Police Officers after most of the other Officers had left. Two of the remaining Officers took up posts in the cubicle. Devon knew the two Officers with him were not happy with Conrad inserting himself into the hostage situation in spite of the successful outcome. He watched the third year Resident walk towards them nonchalently as if he had not just saved Devons' life and it was just another day in work.

"Dr. Hawkins," the taller of the Officers, Benton, spoke, "you should have let us handle the matter."
"You okay Devon?" Conrad spoke to his friend as if he had not heard the Officer.
"I'm fine, thanks to you."
"You handled him well," Harding, the second Officer, spoke taking out a notepad, "I need to take a Statement from you."
"Ye saw what happened," Conrad pointed out.
"Still need you to give a Statement. Is there somewhere we can talk?"
"Sure," Conrad sighed as he felt the first tendrils of pain encompassing his eyes, "you sure you're alright Devon?"
"Yeah," the dark haired man assured readily, "come on we can go to the relatives' room if it's still free. I have to give a Statement as well."

Fifteen minutes later the two Officers left the relatives' room to take up duty in the prisoners' cubicle, satisfied they had all the information they needed. Benton had offered Conrad his hand before he left stating he had to admit the Resident had guts. Conrad returned the handshake but didn't acknowledge the compliment.

"Thanks Conrad," Devon turned to the other man when they were out in the corridor noting he was starting to squint, "how about lying down for a while? Might stop your eyes getting worse."
"If you want to head off for the day it will be okay," Conrad countered with his own suggestion.
"No I'm good but you on the other hand
......,"
".. am fine," Conrad headed off towards the lifts to check on a patient on the third floor.
"Sure you are," Devon called after him sarcastically.

The lift doors opening revealed Mike as the sole occupant causing Conrad to groan inwardly. He moved forward and held the doors expecting the other man to get out.
"It's okay," the Psychiatrist stated pressing his floor number hastily, not about to miss an opportunity to talk to the young man, "I'm on the way back up. Forgot a book I promised to give a patient," he fibbed.
"Okay," Conrad stepped into the lift cursing his luck.
"So are you alright after that incident a while ago?"
"Me? I'm fine," Conrad frowned as he rubbed his eyes, "Devon was the one in danger."
"That's not quite true," Mike refuted as he leant against the wall and folded his arms, "you could have been hurt too."
"It was nothing," Conrad dismissed relieved when the lift reached the second floor and chimed signalling the doors opening.
"Why not come to my office for a while?"
"What?"
"You heard me."
"Mike I'm kinda busy," Conrad quickly moved to stop the doors closing and gestured for the other man to get out.
"Where are you going that's so urgent?" the older man didn't make a move.
"I have a patient to check and I'm on shift," Conrad explained in exasperation.
"Well why didn't you press a floor then?"
"Thought I had," Conrad quickly remedied the situation and pressed to illuminate the third floor button.
"Conrad when your shift is over I would like to talk to you."
"About?"
"Come to my office later," Mike didn't elaborate as he spoke stepping out and heading to his office without a backward glance.
"Damn," the third year Resident cursed as the doors slid closed.

Unknownst to Conrad Devon sought out Jude and questioned him again about the eye problem he seemed to have. Although concerned the older man brushed aside the query stating their friend was a big boy and could look after himself.

"But surely he should be taking it easy to avoid the condition, whatever it is, getting worse," Devon argued.
"Conrad won't appreciate your interference."
"I'm just worried about him."
"I know," Jude acknowledged, "but I've known him a long time. Conrad doesn't believe in sharing his problems. Heck I've known introverts who talk more than him at times. He keeps a lot bottled up and believe me when I say I have tried to get him to open up."
"Well I'm not going to give up."
"Didn't think you would," Jude said with a grin.

After checking his patient Conrad was debating whether or not to take some painkillers when he was called down to the Emergency Room to deal help deal with a large volume of casualties coming in from a bus crash. His meds forgotten Conrad engrossed himself in looking after various victims, even as his eyes became bruised and his head throbbed mercilessly.
Deven was also called downstairs and tried to keep an eye on his mentor but it was difficult with so many traumas to deal with. As the last victim was sent up for surgery Devon found himself standing beside Irving as they surveyed the familiar aftermath of the onslaught. Sheets covered in blood, red dressings on cubicle floors beside pools of blood, empay packages scattered around. The cleaning staff were already at work as Nurses helped to restore order for the next batch of customers. It was a sight Devon never got used to and one he likened to a battlefield. That thought had him searching around the area.

"He's gone back upstairs," Irving spoke knowingly.
"How did you ....,"
"I was keeping an eye on him myself," the bearded man confessed, "he looks like roadkill but he'll never tell me what's wrong."
"Know the feeling," Devon shook his head angrily, "what the hell is so hard about admitting he's not feeling well?"
"Beats me," Irving shrugged, "but I'm guessing there's a pretty good reason he's the way he is," with that input he walked away.

As his shift was over Conrad retrieved his jacket and donned his sunglasses even though darkness had already invaded the skies. He decided not to visit Mike as he knew the other man only wanted to get him talking and right now he needed to be by himself. After saying goodnight to some of the staff he headed out leaving his bicycle behind knowing his head could not tolerate the toll hard surfaces would take on it. He had politely brushed off Judes' offer of a spin home insisting he needed some fresh air. He had been walking for about ten minutes when he had to take a break. Leaning against a wall he slowly crouched down holding his head as if that would somehow stop the pain. By now he was in agony and he regretted not accepting Judes' offer. He was trying to will the pain away when a hand on his shoulder startled him. Slowly looking up through blurry vision he saw Devon and Priya looking at him worriedly.

"Hey you're lucky Priya saw you," Devon lied as he crouched down beside his friend for they had been following the man in her car, "you okay to stand?"
"Conrad you take it easy and we'll get you up," Priya suggested as she bent down on the other side and placed a hand under his arm and her boyfriend followed suit.
"It's okay," Devon spoke as the other man unknowingly gave voice to his agony when he was raised, "we'll get you home Conrad. You're going to be okay."
"I'm sorry," Conrad tried feebly to get free of the hands on him, "didn't mean ....,"
"Conrad you have nothing at all to be sorry for," Priya insisted gently as they slowly guided the man over to the car.
"Sorry," Conrad murmered as he settled into the back seat closing his eyes, "don't mean ....... to cause hassle."
"You're not," Priya informed him from the drivers' seat as they moved off, catching Devons' eyes in the rearview mirror where he sat beside his mentor unable to hide his anxiety, "we'll get you home and it's no hassle."

As they drove Devon wondered if there was any way to get his friend talking. What the hell made him think he was a hassle? He resolved to find out and teach his friend something in return for all he had taught him - that being sick or hurt didn't make him a burden or a hassle and he had nothing at all to be embarrassed about.

tbc