Perseverance (The Resident FF) by Frances51163

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: 'Good'

As Conrad sat by the glowing fire in the cosy yellow dining room of his old friends' house after the meal the following night and rains lashed the large window he couldn't help feeling a slight pang of envy at the happy domestic life being played out before his eyes. Mack sat holding his wifes' hand on the couch. As promised her cooking had been difficult to swallow but that minor inconvenience was easily outweighed by the brunettes' warm and welcoming personality. From the moment he had stepped into the hallway Tanya had made him feel at home, like a familiar visitor to their home rather than a stranger. Conrad understood immediately why Mack had fallen in love with the woman. The twins were obviously happy and had spent much of the meal peppering their father and himself with questions and not once was a voice raised to them. He couldn't recall one similar occasion from his childhood. He shook his head as he realized his name was being called.

"Conrad you okay?" Mack looked across at his younger friend noting the melancholy which seemed to have shrouded him.
"Yeah. Sorry ...," Conrad looked across at his friend, "what were you saying?"
"He was just saying the boys were thrilled to meet you," Tanya smiled hiding her concern for the man her husband had told her so much about, "if it wasn't their bedtime you'd still be answering questions. Surprised they went up so easily."
"They're good kids."
"Sure just like we were," Mack smiled with a wink.
"No," the Resident shook his head, "they're 'good' kids."
"And we were too," Mack frowned and exchanged a glance with his wife before leaning forward on the couch, "you were a good kid Conrad."
"No ......... I ...," the fair haired man suddenly felt sweat breaking out on his forehead and got up hastily, "I've got to go."
"No you don't," Tanya had walked over with her husband to stand beside their shaken visitor before planting a kiss on his cheek, "you will stay and spend some time with Mack. I look forward to seeing you again. Now I must say goodnight as I have an early start in the morning."

"Come on sit back down," Mack urged laying a hand on his friends' shoulder, "just you and me here. You're okay."
"Sorry ....," Conrad spoke as he sank into the armchair again.
"You want some water?"
"No. I'm good. Damn Tanya must think I'm an idiot."
"Nah. She likes you," the Sergeant crouched down in front of the armchair, "if she didn't you wouldn't have lasted long enough to taste dessert. She's a good judge of character."
"Don't know what came over me," Conrad shifted uncomfortably on his seat, avoiding the other mans' eyes.
"I have a pretty good idea," Mack sighed heavily, "you were thinking of when you were the boys' age and how different it was for you."
"You don't know anything about my childhood," Conrad dismissed.
"I knew enough when we were younger to be worried about you. I know enough in hindsight that you shouldn't have been left with your father."
"Mack drop it."
"You remember the day you passed out in school?"
"What's the point in talking about the past?"
"I remember it like it was yesterday," the older man ignored the question, "finding you unconscious behind the gym. Nearly had a heart attack right then and there. And then when you came around the first thing you said was 'it's okay I just got tired'. Like that wasn't the biggest lie I had ever heard! And yet what I remember most about that day was you begging me not to tell the Teachers or anyone at all for that matter."
"So?" Conrad shrugged as he wiped his brow.
"So you were no older than Jack and Dean and even at that age you had learnt how to hide things."
"Look Mack .... I'm sorry about tonight. Didn't mean to ruin the evening."
"Didn't ruin a damn thing. Now look at me."
"What?" Conrad finally raised his eyes.
"You're my friend and I've always wished I could have helped you."
"Mack I'm a grown man. Can look after myself you know!"
"Sure you can but when you were a boy you couldn't and that doesn't mean you weren't a 'good boy'. It just means your father was a controlling bully who liked to hurt you."
"You finished?"
"No," Mack rose and walked back over to the couch so as not to crowd his friend, "tell me what else he did besides locking you up without food."
"Nothing," Conrad replied too fast.
"Hey this is me you're talking to, a Cop remember? Can smell a lie a mile away. You trusted me enough when we were kids to tell me about him locking you up. You can trust me with the whole story."
"You ..... wouldn't understand."
"Doubt if anyone could unless they went through the same thing but I can listen and maybe that might help."
"Appreciate it Mack but I really got to go," Conrad got to his feet and headed for the door.
"Okay but I'm dropping you home."
"Nah, I'm good. Feel like a walk," Conrad gestured to the glass front door, "rain's stopped."
"You sure?" Mack frowned as he watched his friend putting on his jacket.
"Yeah. Just need ...... some fresh air."
"Okay but call me if it starts pouring and I'll come pick you up."
"Thanks," Conrad offered his hand and found himself pulled into another hug.
"I'll call you tomorrow to check on you."
"No need."
"Hey I'm not doing it cause you're special," the older man insisted, "just want to make sure you don't die of food poisoning!"
"Tanya know how you feel about her food?"
"Yes and she's come a long way since we met."
"You mean she was worse?"
"Oh yeah," Mack grinned as they stepped out onto the porch.
"She's lovely Mack," Conrad became serious as he zipped up his jacket, "I'm happy for you."
"You find a girl yet?"
"Got engaged once. Didn't work out. There is someone. Her name's Nic. We went out for a while but she wanted me to tell her every little detail in my life. We're working together now. She's a good friend."
"The way you look when you speak about her I think she has your heart."
"Well it wouldn't work."
"Why not?"
"Me and commitment don't seem to go together."
"That's your head talking. Listen to your heart."
"Yes Pa," Conrad threw back as he headed out onto the tree lined street.

The Sergeant watched his friend walk away, taking in the hunched shoulders which he knew had nothing to do with the chilled night air and everything to do with a childhood marred by the actions of a cruel and intolerant man He hadn't mentioned Conrads' mother for fear of upsetting the younger man but he had often asked himself in later years why she had not intervened. He knew she was away working a substantial amount of the time leaving the parenting duties to Conrads' father but he often wondered if she was ever aware of the hell his friend had lived through in her long absences. Sighing he closed the door when his friend was out of sight and turned to find he was not alone.

"How is he?" Tanya had come back downstairs on stockinged feet.
"Not good," Mack pulled his wife into his arms, "not that he'd ever say it of course."
"I like him. He will be a good influence on the boys."
"You're talking about ......," Mack looked down at his wife.
"Yes. You were right he will make a wonderful guardian for Jack and Dean," Tanya smiled, glad they had finally decided on the two people they wanted to take care of their kids if the unthinkable happened, "tomorrow I will contact the Lawyer and have the Wills drawn up."
"Honey best hold off on that," Mack cautioned, "know your sister is on board but I need to talk to Conrad about it before we do anything."
"Okay. We will invite him to dinner next week," Tanya decided with a mischievous grin, "and this time we will book a restaurant so he can eat good food!"
"Don't know how he got through the meal."
"Me either," Tanya laughed for she knew she would never be a cook.

tbc