Perseverance (The Resident FF) by Frances51163

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

To Conrads' surprise the next time he opened his eyes he found himself lying down in bed.  Not again he thought to himself.  This was getting out of hand.  Looking around he noted the cause of his fuzzy vision on the bedside table, an empty syringe.  Blinking to clear his eyes he was about to get up when Devon approached the bed and sat down on the mattress beside him.

"What the hell hit me?" Conrad demanded as he fell back against the pillows.
"Exhaustion and going without meals," Devon offered looking down at his friend and pulling back the covers without asking permission to reveal a newly dressed wound as he checked for swelling, "seems that as well as not sleeping or eating you were stabbed.  You forgot to mention that."
"My business," Conrad sighed wearily, "don't remember undressing."
"That's because you didn't. Mike and I put you to bed."
"Damn," the fair haired man reddened as he looked over at the kitchen area glad to see the Psychiatrist absent, "look I appreciate what ye did but you can go now. Tell Mike I said thanks and I'll call him tomorrow."
"Okay I'll go," Devon spoke as he pulled the covers back up and rose, "but you can tell Mike yourself."
"Sure," the pale man agreed, relieved his privacy would be back shortly.
"Mike!" Devon shouted innocently.
"What?" Mike walked out of the bathroom carrying a waste bag and a cleaning spray.
"Conrad wants a word," Devon looked back down at his mentor, pointedly ignoring the glare sent his way, "I'll talk to you soon."
"Get out of here," Conrad ordered ruefully.
"If you insist."
"I do," Conrad turned over on his side so his back was to the men.

For ten minutes after Devon left the silence grew in the studio apartment.  Deciding to end the standoff Mike finally walked around to the other side of the bed and sat down on a chair by the window.

"So you're upset with Devon and myself," Mike stated rather than asked as he looked over at his young friend.
"Mike ... I don't want to talk.  I'm tired okay ....... so just leave."
"Now I know you're tired but until you deal with whatever is causing your lack of sleep you're going to continue to look like a zombie movie extra."
"I'm fine."
"Unfortunately just saying those words doesn't make it so.  You said you don't 'want' to talk which I understand but Conrad you need to talk.  If not to me to someone else "
"Don't need to."
"Tell me something," Mike folded his arms and leaned back in his chair, "if the situation was different and it was Devon in that bed would you simply walk away?  Or would you do what a friend does?  Stand by him."
"I'd ... abide by his wishes."
"Like hell you would."
"Hey!"
"That creed etched on your back, death before dishonour, is something you believe in isn't it?"
"Ya."
"Honesty is one of the foundations of honour.  Tell me why you hid the stab wound from your friends and colleagues?"
"Wasn't important."
"Yet if one of your friends was stabbed you would expect them to tell you wouldn't you?"
"That's different."
"Why?"
"Just is."
"Tell me," Mike persisted relentlessly.
"Because they're important!" Conrad snapped and as soon as the words escaped his lips he cursed inwardly.
"And you're not?"
"That's not what I said.  Look Mike you should go."
"Well as it happens Jane is out of town for a few days so I am free as a bird."
"That's good.  Now go on and enjoy whatever it is you plan doing."
"I plan on spending time with a friend."
"Good," Conrad smiled, "I'll give you a call in a few days."
"That won't be necessary," Mike frowned when he realized the other man genuinely did not pick up on what he said, "I'll be here more often than not."
"You said you were spending time with a ....,"
"Exactly," the older man readily concurred, "now do you really want to stay in bed or do you feel like getting up?  You missed out on the pancakes earlier but I'll give you another chance to enjoy my world famous recipe."
"World famous huh?"
"Absolutely," Mike grinned and headed for the kitchen to let the other man get dressed, giving him some semblance of privacy.

----------------------------

Nic cornered Devon as soon as he returned to Chastain.  She had not been impressed when Devon and Gibson asked her to stay behind when they checked on Conrad.

"Well?" the Nurse Practitioner couldn't keep the anger out of her voice as the pair sat in the cafeteria.
"He's rundown," Devon ran a hand down his face wondering how much to disclose.
"So help me if you don't tell me what's going on I'm going over there right now!"
"Hey take it easy," Devon raised his hands in surrender, "like I said he's rundown ..,"
"Devon!"
"He's been stabbed Nic."
"What?" the anger quickly transformed into worry and the blonde put down her coffee.
"He had thirty staples put in to deal with an abdominal stab wound.  Ten came out at some point," he decided not to mention the bloody staples found on the bathroom floor, "when we got there he fell asleep almost immediately.  Which was just as well because otherwise we'd never have known about the wound."
"But when was he stabbed," Nic asked in confusion, "on the way home last night?"
"No," Devon shook his head, "wound is days old."
"But ...,"
"He had surgery somewhere else."
"I just don't understand why he wouldn't come here."
"Really?" the first year Resident arched a brow.
"Okay, okay .... I know it's typical Conrad but the way he acts sometimes you would think there's something wrong with being hurt or sick.  It's almost like he's ashamed of it."
"Any ideas?  You've known him longer than I have."
"He's always been like that since I've known him," Nic looked out the window beside her as fresh snowflakes began to descend, "I think it's because of things that happened in his childhood."
"I've been thinking the same thing."
"You have?"
"Just a couple of things I picked up on," Devon wasn't going to elaborate, he was already walking a tightrope between helping his friend and respecting his privacy.
"How was he before his friends' death?"
"His eye problem acted up but other than that he seemed okay."
"So the weight loss and lack of sleep stem from then?"
"Well he lost sleep over his eyes I think but yeah things have definitely gotten worse since he lost his friend."

"Hey guys mind if I join ye?" Jude walked over with a steaming cup and a sandwich.
"Sure," Nic nodded, "we've been discussing Conrad."
"Well don't let him hear that," the Surgeon grinned as he unwrapped his salad sandwich hungrily but when silence net his suggestion he looked up at his companions, "I miss something?"
"You and me both," Nic complained in frustration, "Conrad was stabbed."
"What the hell ....," Jude went to stand but found his arm in a grip.
"It happened a few days ago," Nic explained, "Devon only found out after he examined him earlier."
"Ye're telling me Conrad Hawkins actually agreed to an examination?!"
"He was out of it at the time," Devon looked across at the dark haired man, "long story short - since his friends' death Conrad hasn't been sleeping or eating much.  He missed his shift yesterday.  Mike Gibson and myself went to check on him earlier and he didn't stay awake long.  That's when we found the knife wound."
"How did we not hear about it?  This place is like Gossip Central usually ..... unless of course he treated himself."
"No.  He had surgery and Devon said thirty staples were put in."
"Damn it!" Jude pushed the sandwich away, his appetite gone.
"You know what's wrong with his eyes?" Devon asked changing the topic slightly.
"Yes but he told me in confidence so I can't tell ye.  It won't kill him if that's any consolation."
"It's not," Nic shook her head, "is Gibson staying with him tonight?"
"Yeah," Devon replied softly, the tightrope shaking as he wavered between telling his friends that his mentor may have had a flashback, if the mess in the bathroom was anything to go by, or keeping silent.  He chose the latter.

tbc