Perseverance (The Resident FF) by Frances51163

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Delivering Bad News

To Conrads' immense relief the PI was able to furnish an explanation for Sessions' extra speedy departure preparations. It transpired that the man was presently under investigation for money laundering and he had been informed about it only that morning. It was likely that he intended to tell his mistress that he was leaving but Eric' intervention stopped him. The PI himself had only learnt of the investigation that afternoon. The Resident shook his head as he conveyed the information to his two friends with a look of guilt.

"Looks like I didn't need to get ye involved after all," Conrad shook his head, "sorry."
"Hey man it was fun," Danny insisted as he put a hand through his blonde curls, "mind you if this doesn't wash out I might have to shoot you."
"Well I never asked ye to dye yer hair."
"True," Eric conceded with a grin, "so you want to head out for a meal after work? We can tell you all about the place we found to set up."
"Sorry I have to visit someone," Conrad apologised as he spotted Devon trying to get his attention from across the way, "listen I've got to go but give me a shout and we'll sort something out. Need to sign the papers for ye anyway."
"Great. I'll be in touch," Eric assured as Danny nodded beside him, "and get some rest. You're making me tired just looking at you."
"Yes Doc," Conrad agreed sarcastically as he headed off.
"He looks like roadkill," Danny sighed, his gaze following their friend as he approached Devon outside a cubicle.
"I know. Was hoping we could get him talking about what happened with Andy."
"Be easier to get him to say he's feeling unwell!" Danny scoffed.

"So what's up," Conrad asked as they stood outside an empty cubicle.
"Just got word Kirkwood made it through surgery but there's another problem."
"What?"
"CT showed two masses on his liver," Devon handed over his tablet to his mentor so he could see the scan results.
"Damn. His wife still here?"
"Yeah but Conrad I already spoke to her."
"What did you tell her?"
"I kept it simple. Just mentioned the two tumours."
"There's no point in telling her now."
"Why?"
"Because we don't know what state Kirkwood will be in when he wakes up. He may be fine but there's a chance he might not be. You should have waited for me," the fair haired man was not impressed but was not angry, the other man still had a lot to learn.
"She came up to me when I was at the Nurses Station. Didn't leave me much choice," Devon explained apologetically, "turns out she had a feeling there was something else wrong with him besides the headaches."
"She didn't say anything when we spoke to her," Conrad recalled the conversation clearly.
"No she didn't because she only had a feeling."
"So what aren't you telling me?"
"She doesn't want him to be told."
"Well it's not a good prognosis but he's the patient not her."
"I explained that but she wants to talk to you. I told her he would need to be referred to oncology but she's not happy about that."
"Okay," Conrad tried to get his mind focussed, "I'm going up to CT. Want to talk to the Radiologist and view the full scans. Tell her I'll talk to her in twenty minutes."
"Okay," the first year Resident accepted his tablet back, "you okay Conrad?"
"Yeah see you soon."

As promised twenty minutes later Conrad entered the Relatives' Room and found Devon already with Mrs. Kirkwood.

"Mrs. Kirkwood," Conrad greeted as he again sat down in the armchair opposite her, "we informed you about the tumours just to give you a warning of what may be down the line but I need to explain that at the moment our priority is your husbands' recovery from the accident and the aneurysm. As you know there was no rupture but until he comes around we won't be able to assess the damage if any to his brain."
"It's okay Dr. Pravesh already explained that he made a mistake young man," Mrs. Kirkwood looked at the Doctor before her with kind eyes, "and I appreciate the fact you didn't try to humiliate him for it. I've known many Doctors in my time who would have."
"You have?" Devon cut in.
"Worked as a Medical Secretary for more years than I care to remember. Now Dr. Hawkins you were about to explain about the tumours."
"First Dr. Pravesh tells me you do not wish for your husband to be made aware of his diagnosis."
"That's right," the lady agreed, "and please call me Mary."
"Sure," Conrad looked at her with concern, "Mary I know a diagnosis like this is not easy to deal with but as Dr. Pravesh already informed you your husband is our patient and as such we have a duty of care to discharge to him."
"Of course I understand where you're coming from Dr. Hawkins," Mary conceded as she glanced from Conrad over to Devon beside her then back, "the thing is though if he's told he's dying he will just be dreading it for the remainder of his time. It would be better if he didn't know and lived his life as normal."
"Mary you're jumping the gun at this stage. All we know is he has two tumours on his liver. Now without tests it's impossible to say how much the organ has been compromised. He isn't showing signs of jaundice which is good. At this point we don't know if the tumours are malignant or not."
"But wouldn't it be easier for him not to know? I mean then he can just enjoy life. Why put him through tests and surgery?"
"Can I ask you something Mary," Devon asked quietly, "you told me earlier you had a feeling there was something else wrong. Is there something else you're not telling us?"
"No dear. It really was just a feeling."
"Mary the fact is that until your husband is assessed and various factors taken into consideration we won't know what the prognosis will be," Conrad pointed out.
"Factors?"
"Yes. If the tumours are malignant the Oncologist will carry out various tests to ascertain what stage the cancer is at. The tests will deal with a number of factors such as how the liver is performing, tumour characteristics and the type of tumour. Then a decision will be made as to whether or not surgery would be beneficial."
"Liver cancer is one of the hardest to treat isn't it?" Mary checked as her eyes filled.
"If it is liver cancer yes it can be hard to treat but that doesn't mean your husband will lose the battle."
"Guess when I heard mass I just thought the worst."
"Understandable," Devon agreed, "but I get the feeling your husband enjoys life and even if the prognosis is bad I am sure you will still find time to drag him to some more chick flicks."
"Young man if he is dying he'll insist on taking me to all the museums he has yet to visit and I won't be able to argue over it!" Mary quickly wiped the unshed tears from her eyes and smiled sadly.
"I have a feeling with you by his side he's going to do just fine no matter what the future holds," Conrad got to his feet and looked down at her, "do you want to be there when I talk to him or would you prefer if I do it?"
"I would like to be there," Mary spoke after a moments' silence, "but Paul would hide his feelings if I was there so if you don't mind I'll leave it to you Dr. Hawkins."
"Sure. Why don't you head home for the night. He's going to be out if it for another while and even when he wakes up he'll be groggy. And like I said our first priority is to assess him to see if has suffered any brain damage. Nothing will be done tonight so why don't you go home and get some rest."
"Yes I'll do that. I'm waiting for my son and son-in-law to come. One of them will stay here."
"Good," Conrad ushered Devon towards the door, "I'll be on call later so if they have any questions just tell them to have me paged."
"Thank you so much, the both of you."
"Take care," Devon stepped into the hallway after his mentor watching him close the door, "since when are you on call tonight? You're off duty in half an hour."
"I don't answer to you Devon," Conrad shrugged as he headed off down the corridor before the other man could interrogate him.

tbc