Perseverance (The Resident FF) by Frances51163

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE: Surrendering To A Friend

The following day Conrad woke to a pounding headache and mangled eyes.  He cursed under his breath as knocking reminded him what had brought him out of his slumber. Going over to the door he checked through the keyhole and sighed.  Jude as ever checking up on him.  This was getting to be a habit.  One he needed to call a halt to he scolded himself as he tiredly opened the door.

"You took your time," the older man strode in taking off his long coat without waiting for an invitation, "I've been calling you for the past hour."
"You have?" Conrad asked hoarsely as he shut the door and headed into the bathroom.
"Man you look like hell," Jude noted as he got a proper look at his friend, "maybe you should take it easy today."
"That why you woke me?" Conrad tossed over his shoulder as he shut the door without waiting for a response.

Ten minutes later feeling cleaner but still in pain the pale man emerged wearing only a towel around his waist as he walked over to his gearbag.

"You've got yourself a cold."
"Thanks for telling me," Conrad sneezed as he retrieved fresh briefs and a pair of black jeans which he made short work of putting on.
"I've ordered room service," the taller man stated as he approached his friend, noting the loose fitting jeans and the pronounced ribs, "sit down a minute so I can check you out."
"There's no need."
"Humour me," Jude tugged his companions' arm and guided him over to the table, "promise I won't take long."
"You don't have your kit."
"Always come prepared," Jude grinned as he took his stetascope out of his coat pocket and pushed the reluctant man down onto the chair.
"What time is it?" Conrad asked, his eyes were so bad at the moment that his vision was blurred so he had no hope of reading the digital clock on the bedside locker let alone his watch.
"Ten after midday."
"Damn.  Didn't mean to stay in bed that long."
"Obviously you needed the rest," Jude put away the stetoscope and turned his attention to the wounded arm, "this seems to be healing nicely.  Glad you remembered not to get it wet."
"I do know how to look after wounds," Conrad scoffed as he went to get up but was stopped by a firm grip on his shoulder, "what?"
"I'm going to dress your arm," Jude walked over to his coat and took out more medical supplies.
"I can do it."
"I'll be quicker."
"So what did you order?" Conrad gave in, too unwell to argue.
"Well I'm having a double cheeseburger with all the fixings and you my friend are having a cheese omelette."
"Ah man! Listen I'm not really hungry right now.  My ..... eyes .....,"
"Conrad you've got to stop being embarrassed over being sick.  Everyone gets hurt or is sick at some stage in their life," Jude pointed out gently as he quickly disinfected the damaged area before applying ointment and a dressing, "you reckon all your patients should be embarrassed?"
"We've been through this before.  I know what you're saying," Conrad stood up as soon as his arm was released and went over to the chest of drawers to choose a jumper, it was freezing.
"Well start believing that you have nothing to be embarrassed about," the Surgeon reiterated as he tided up his makeshift supplies as there was a knock on the door announcing the arrival of room service.

Fifteen minutes later Jude was three quarters of the way through his cheeseburger but it was obvious the younger man was struggling with his dish.

"You need something in your stomach for the painkillers to work."
"Don't have any," Conrad admitted with a shrug.
"What the hell?! You should have said something," Jude demanded as he put down his cutlery, "do you have a prescription?"
"Finished it," the fair haired man forced himself to take another bite of the egg and cheese concoction for he was hungry even though he was afraid if he ate too much he would end up getting sick.
"Okay," Jude rose to his feet, "you eat as much of that as you can manage and I'll be back soon."
"Jude would you sit down and finish your burger? Please?"
"I'm finished," the older man took a large bite of the item in question and winked as he headed for the door, "won't be long."
"Damn," Conrad spoke to himself as the door closed.

When the Surgeon returned a short while later he was glad to see that half of the cheese omelette had been eaten.  Eyeing his friend who was standing at the window he sighed to himself.  The man looked as if he was in excruciating pain.  Taking off his coat he walked over to the table and took out a bottle of DF118s before reaching into the pharmacy bag again and retrieving a couple of syringes and two small ampules.  Conrad had turned to see what his friend was doing and frowned upon seeing the syringes.  A protest was about to leave his lips but his friend spoke first.

"You're in a lot of pain right now.  The morphine will deal with it. You and I both know the DFs won't really be effective at this stage of an attack.  It's too full blown.  The shot will kill the pain and let you rest for a while.  Then you can take some DFs."
"Look I appreciate you helping, I really do, but I don't need a shot," the pained man insisted as he walked over to sit on the side of the bed, subconsciously putting distance between them.
"It's only me here," Jude spoke as he expertly pierced the ampule and filled the syringe with the pain relieving liquid, "you know you can trust me."
"Okay ..... I'll take it but you go.  I can give myself the shot."
"No way," Jude approached his friend purosefully, "now lean over so I can get at your hip."
"Arm."
"Hip! You know it works faster if you get it there."
"Damn," Conrad slowly pulled down his jeans and briefs leaning away from his friend to expose his hip.
"You'll be glad of this.  I promise," the Surgeon wiped a patch of skin with an alcohol wipe and inserted the needle delivering the painkiller, "now let's get you undressed and then you can lie down."
"I'm not undressing," Conrad rubbed the stinging area after fixing his clothes, "I can lie down like this."
"Sure, whatever you want," Jude knew the younger man would be more comfortable undressed but he wasn't going to argue, he was just glad he had accepted the strong medication, "I'll get you a face cloth."
"I can get it."
"Just lie down before you fall down," Jude walked into the blue tiled bathroom and found a face cloth which he rinsed under the cold tap before going back out to his now prone friend, "this should help.  You just close your eyes."
"Thanks.  You can go," Conrad gratefully placed the damp material over his eyes, "I'll see you later."
"Okay," the black haired man walked over to the door and opened it before closing it again, relieved his friend didn't remove the cloth to ensure he had left.

Jude waited standing by the door for a full ten minutes before he was satisfied his friend was unconscious.  Taking out his stethoscope again he quietly went over to the bed to check the unaware mans' breathing.  He intended to stay for the duration.  No one should have to suffer excruciating pain on their own.  Especially someone who had experienced so much pain already.  He had intended leaving Savannah that evening, per his companions' request, but now he was determined to stay, no matter what.

tbc