Perseverance (The Resident FF) by Frances51163

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR: Stubborn Friend

Two hours later the pair sat in Conrads' room in the Forsythe Park Inn, aptly named as it was adjacent to Savannahs' oak lined Forsythe Park, as the older man replaced the dressing despite his friends' protests.

"So other than the arm how are you feeling," the Surgeon asked as he began unbuttoning the younger mans' shirt without asking for permission, "and don't say you're fine."
"Stop," Conrad pushed away the hand holding a stethoscope crossly as he pulled his shirt closed, "I don't need you checking me out!"
"Wish I could believe you," Jude once again pulled the shirt open and placed the cool pad of the stethoscope against the now bare chest, "now breathe otherwise we'll be here all day."
"Damn," Conrad complied in defeat not having the energy to argue any more.

Once the examination was over Jude sat down across from his friend at the table window and decided there was no point in threading gently.

"So as discussed before you've been losing weight for a while now and you didn't have any to lose in the first place.  We need to keep an eye on that."
"We don't need to do anything."
"Sorry buddy I've left you deal with things alone for too long and it hasn't got you anywhere."
"Jude no offence but I can take care of myself."
"Oh I know you can take care of yourself but you don't.  It's like you don't care about yourself. You going to tell me I'm wrong?"
"Don't know what you're talking about," Conrad protested with a sigh as he looked out the window at the dull skies still sending down sheets of rain which pelted the large pane of glass relentlessly, "don't you need to get back?"
"Years since I visited Savannah.  I want to see more of it and it's been even longer since I went on a road trip."
"Well you're free to go and explore anytime," Conrad pointed out as he was finally allowed to close his shirt.
"I intend to but with one stipulation."
"What?"
"You're going to be my guide."
"No way," Conrad shook his head as he stood up, "I came here to have some time to think. Can't do that with you here."
"I'll try not to be offended," the dark haired man said wrily as he put away his medical kit, "come on we could have a good time."
"Why do you want to stay?" Conrad asked with genuine confusion.
"Like I said I want to find out more about Savannah but the main reason is I want to hang out with my friend. If he'll let me that is."
"You're crazy."
"Been called worse."
"I'm fine you know.  You don't need to stay."
"But I want to okay?"
"Don't you have to get back to work?" Conrad tried.
"Have plenty of holidays to use up.  So will you give it a go? If you decide after a few days that you want me to go then we can discuss it again okay?"
"Okay," Conrad agreed tiredly as a flash of lightning lit up the large room, "where are you staying?"
"Wasn't sure until now," Jude grinned happily as he headed towards the door, "I'll go down and book a room here and then we can make plans!"

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

The Surgeon spent the next three days being guided around his friends' childhood hometown.  While he had used the excuse of sightseeing as an opportunity to stay with his friend he actually enjoyed the various outings.  He had purposefully avoided talk of the fire wanting the younger man to regain his equilibrium for he knew the visit to the ruined mansion shook him to the core. Now sitting on a park bench overlooking the Savannah River and South Carolina across the way in the far distance he smiled as a paddle wheeled riverboat moved slowly through the waters.  The pair had gone on a riverboat trip the day before and Jude had chided his friend that it was like being back in the times he loved so well of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer.

He moved his gaze from the vessel to his companion. He figured the time was right to get down to the real reason he had travelled after the other man.

"Conrad you need to stop punishing yourself for things you had no control over. The fire or your old man mistreating you."
"Where did that come from?" Conrad looked at his friend in surprise for they had been having a good day.
"You know I'm worried about you. You know cutting is not the answer."
"I don't want to talk about this," Conrad got to his feet and headed back along the walkway.
"You need to deal with it," the taller man insisted when he caught up, "bottling things up hasn't helped you.  You know that."
"I'm here to deal with it.  That's why I came back here.  Figured if I faced some of my ....... demons it would help."
"And has it?"
"Don't know," Conrad sighed as they strolled along not willing to disclose that he was still having nightmares.

After partaking in a quiet evening meal in a nearby restaurant Conrad insisted on returning to the Inn.  He was only in his room a few minutes when there was a knock on the door.  Shaking his head he opened it expecting to find his friend.  Instead he looked at his visitor in shock.

"What ...... what are you doing here?" Conrad asked dumbfounded as he stared at the newcomer.
"Aren't you going to invite me in?" fifty-eight year old Alicia Hernandez still looked much the same as she had all those years ago although her once loose flung jet black hair was now mostly grey and tied up in a bun.
"Sorry," Conrad hastily stepped aside to allow his former Nanny to enter.
"I was hoping you would contact me," the plump woman admonished without rancour as she was guided over to the table.
"How did you know I was back?"
"Honey I have been waiting for you to return for a long time," the smiling woman informed as she moved closer and embraced the stunned man before he knew what was happening, "and I have been waiting to do this for a long time also."
"It's good to see you," Conrad choked out as he returned the hug then gestured for her to sit down, "can I get you something to drink?"
"No thank you," Anita looked across at her former charge and shook her head, "you are not well.  Tell me what is wrong."
"I'm fine, just tired."
"I see you have not changed.  You never liked to complain."
"So how did you know I was back in town?" Conrad repeated his earlier question.
"Someone saw you out at the mansion the other day."
"Who?"
"My son Miguel. He was there but left before he was seen."
"Why?"
"He said he felt like he was intruding on your privacy," Alicia explained with a smile, "when he described the two men he had seen I knew the fair haired man had to be you. Besides there are rarely visitors to the mansion."
"You go there a lot?"
"Sometimes I do. When I want to feel close to Tom.  It helps to go there."
"Hey you have a son," Conrad looked at his visitor gesturing to her wedding ring, "you remarried?"
"Yes.  I am very lucky.  I found a man who gave me two wonderful sons but who understands part of my heart will never be his."
"I'm happy for you.  I really am."
"I wish I could say the same to you but you are not well.  Now tell me what is wrong young man and we will do our best to fix it."

Conrad listened to the familiar words recalling them said on numerous occasions in his childhood home.  Looking at the womans' warm brown eyes now he wished he could unburden himself but since he hadn't done so as a child he didn't think he could do so now.

tbc