Perseverance (The Resident FF) by Frances51163

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: A Day Lost

Conrads' happiness at Nics' return was short lived as she seemed intent on checking up on him despite several assurances he was fine. It came to a head at the end of their third shift together when both Deven and Nic cornered Conrad as he was leaving for the night.

"Hey Conrad we thought you might like to go out for a drink with us," Devon jogged up to the pale mans' side as Nic joined them.
"Not tonight guys. Got things to do."
"What things?" Nic asked as she put on her thick wool gloves.
"Didn't know I had to answer to ye," Conrad commented lightly.
"You don't. Just thought it would be nice to catch up."
"Another time," Conrad spoke as his cab pulled up.
"How come you're not cycling?" Devon enquired with a frown.
"Too icy," Conrad began to walk away, "see ye tomorrow."
"You know you could just tell us what's wrong," Nic persisted.
"Don't know what you're talking about."
"You're not well Conrad. You should get checked out."
"Bye," the fair haired man opened the passenger door of the vehicle.
"I could do it," Devon offered hopefully.
"Just leave me alone guys!" Conrad ordered finally losing his patience.
"Not going to happen," Nic folded her arms in determination, "we'll see you tomorrow."
"Sure," Conrad didn't turn around so they wouldn't see the anger in his eyes, he just wanted to be left alone.

"So what do you think?" Devon asked as the cab pulled off.
"Beats me. Conrad is never easy to read. I know he's upset over his friend but that doesn't explain the weight loss and the fact that he looks like hell."
"He's been looking worse the last few days."
"Well if he keeps going the way he is he's going to collapse."
"I know. Thanks for coming back early."
"I'm just glad you called. Something tells me we're in for a bumpy ride."
"Yeah I was thinking that myself," Devon concurred as he pulled his collar up, "come on I'll buy you a drink."
"Thought you'd never ask," Nic smiled as they headed off hoping things would improve sooner rather than later for their friend.
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Conrad spent yet another night tossing and turning after waking up after a nightmare. Visions of Andy still plagued his dreams. It frustrated the young man because he felt he should not be reacting so badly to his friends' death. That's what he tried to tell himself anyway. Unfortunately his friends' death also seemed to have unlocked memories of Afghanistan long since buried. He had been avoiding Eric and Danny for this very reason and now they were actually moving to Atlanta. Maybe he could just ask them to stay in San Antonio and when they asked why he could say he was having bad dreams. Yeah he could just see that happening! He scoffed as he sat up and turned on the bedside lamp in defeat knowing sleep was once again an unattainable goal.

Reaching for the book he was trying to get through images began to play in his mind and before he knew what happened he was waking up on the bathroom floor in a cold sweat, his midriff bloody where at some point a number of staples had been ripped out. Taking deep breaths he slowly sat up and tried to remember how he got in this condition. His mind didn't surrender any memories and he grudgingly admitted to himself that he must have had a blackout. He hadn't had one in over six years. Yes he'd had flashbacks in the intervening period but never a blackout. A flashback for him meant reliving events as if they were happening all over again but when an episode passed he had some vague recollection of what he had relived. He knew everyones' PTSD was specific to the individual. He cursed softly as he forced himself to get to his feet and assess the physical damage. Gingerly peeling away the remaining section of the wound dressing which was still stuck to his skin he walked out to the kitchen overhead cupboard and retrieved the first aid kit and returning to the bathroom. After taking a fresh facecloth from a shelf he ran it under warm water for a minute then used it to wipe away the dried blood. Further inspection revealed he had pulled out ten of the staples but luckily there was no fresh bleeding and he quickly sterilised the wound with alcohol wipes and applied a number of surgical strips hefore fixing a fresh dressing in place. After a quick shower, mindful of the injury, he decided to make a couple of pancakes for breakfast hoping the food would give him the energy to clean up the mess in the bathroom and then he could head into work. He had taken down the pancake mix and pulled out a frying pan when he decided to check his cell. Then he saw the time and date. It was night not morning. He had missed a shift. Practically a whole day. Leaving the food, pancakes no longer an issue, he quickly checked the missed calls and texts. Damn it! Nic and Devon had left several messages throughout the day. Mike had called twice and Pete left a reminder to come in to get the staples out. He was lucky no one decided to check up on him. Dressing quickly he was about to call a cab when a pounding on the door startled him. What was the point in having an intercom for security if people let others into the building without buzzing up he thought crossly as he trudged over to the door, his jacket in hand.

"I'm just on the way out guys," the tired man informed Devon and Mike Gibson, "ye should have called."
"We did," the Psychiatrist pointed out as he placed a hand on the younger mans' shoulder without preamble and turned him back into the apartment.
"Hey," Conrad dug his feet in, "I'm going out."
"No you're not," Mike stated with a certainty that the fair haired man didn't like.
"I have a shift ......,"
"No you don't," Devon spoke for the first time, "now sit down and let us talk to you."
"Guys ye can't tell me what to do," Conrad protested as he was gently pushed down onto the leather couch and Devon took his jacket before he could argue.
"Conrad we're here because we're worried about you," Devon sat down beside his friend and mentor, "you missed a shift today and didn't even call in. You've never missed a shift before."
"I'm fine. Just got tied up with something."
"Seems to me you're not well," Mike crouched down in front of the seated man, "now Devon here is going to check you out while I make you something to eat."
"Stop!"
"Conrad it's okay," Mike gently assured, "just let yourself take it easy for a while. Nothing wrong with that at all."
"But ...,"
"But you're exhausted Conrad," Devon cut in as he took out a stethoscope from his jacket pocket.
"I'm fine."
"You're not but you will be," Devon spoke as he pulled up his friends' jumper revealing the dressing before he had a chance to stop him.
"What the hell?"
"It's okay. I got it looked at," Conrad shoved the hands pressing on his abdomen away as he tried to stifle a yawn.
"What happened?" Devon demanded.
"Devon how about we leave the questions for later," Mike suggested mildly as he rose and headed over to the kitchen, "now I'm going to make you something to eat and then young man you are going to rest."
"Look guys I know ye mean well but would ye just go?"
"Not going to happen," Devon shook his head as he took in the pale features and bruised eyes, "now tell Mike if you want an omelette or something else."
"Damn," Conrad looked at Devon in defeat then over at the older man, "I have pancake mix out."
"Great," Mike plucked butter from the refrigerator and headed over to the hob as if it was a normal thing for him to be pottering around in his friends' kitchen, "love pancakes."
"This is ridiculous," Conrad spoke as he leant his head back and closed his eyes.

tbc