Perseverance (The Resident FF) by Frances51163

CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE: Blind Hate

The Sheriff it turned out was not a fan of Conrads.   Rather he was not a fan of his father but as he wasn't around he took his displeasure out in his son.  Not only did he overlook thanking the pale man for saving his sons' life he had the temerity to try to suggest that Conrad and the other three should not have been out at the swimming hole.  Jude and Pedro had stepped aside as the two men approached in the mistaken assumption the Sheriff wanted to thank their friend for his heroic deed.  The fact that neither man intervened for a couple of minutes was because they could not believe what was happening.   Glancing at the Deputy it was obvious he was not happy with the unfolding scene either but his attempts to intervene were coldly brushed aside.  After the big, red faced man began to take out his notebook the Surgeon finally came out of his stupor and walked over to stand beside his friend who was standing with arms folded looking stone faced.   The black haired man was not surprised when Pedro walked around the Sheriff and Deputy and came to a halt on Conrads' other side.

"Sheriff I'm going to say this clearly," Jude looked from the Sheriff to the embarrassed Deputy and back again, "my friend risked his own life to save your son.  The fact that he  actually received more injuries than your son testifies that it was a damn dangerous thing he did.  Now you have two choices.   You can write up your Report with the facts or you can lie.   Either way doesn't change the fact Conrad here nearly died today because Sam was out on the water when he shouldn't have been."
"You mentioned Conrads' father," Pedro joined in, his anger palpable, "you have a problem with him you take it up with him.  Conrad happens to be one of the most decent men I know.  He is not responsible for anything his father did.  You want to make an issue of this coming up close to the election go ahead and see how well you do!"
"Pedro it's okay," the fair haired man tried to appease.
"Sheriff your son would probably be glad to see you," the blue eyed, long faced young Deputy, identified by his badge as Rogers,  spoke for the first time, trying to ease the tension.
"He's lucky Conrad reacted so fast.   He would be half way to the Atlantic by now otherwise," Pedro stated softly looking at the Sheriff thoughtfully, "I know there is history between you and Conrads' father.  God knows I have no time for the man either but Conrad is everything his father isn't so if you want to judge him do so on his actions, not his old mans."
"You know him well?" Walter Hicks asked as his anger began to fade.
"Yes I do," Pedro may have only met the young man recently but he had known about him ever since he met Alicia, "this boy is like a son to me."
"What are you doing in Savannah?" the law enforcement official checked although he put away his notebook.
"Sheriff what Conrad is doing here is his business," Jude cut in, still rankled by the other mans' attempt to cause trouble for his friend, "you should just be glad he is.  I know your son is,"
"Okay," Hicks had the grace to blush at the rebuke, truth was he had just heard the surname Hawkins and old rivalries sprang to mind, causing him to become angry at the wrong target, "I'm sorry.   There are a lot of things Hawkins has done over the years which make my blood boil.  I directed my anger in  the wrong direction.   I apologise."
"Apology accepted," Pedro put out a hand, "and believe me you don't know the worst that man has done."
"What do you mean?"  the Sheriff frowned as he also shook the Surgeons' hand.
"Just put it this way Conrad did not have an easy time with him as a father," Pedro said cryptically but then felt the twin glares from Jude and Conrad and realized he shouldn't have said anything.
"Guess I never thought of what it would be like to be his son," Hicks commented honestly holding out a hand to the injured man, "please accept my genuine apology and also my thanks.   Sam means the world to us.   I really do appreciate what you did."
"It was nothing," the injured man brushed off the thanks awkwardly and offered his hand, "I'm just glad he's going to be okay."
"Perhaps you could visit him before you leave.  I'm sure he'd like to thank you himself."
"How about about another time," Jude intervened as he handed a pile of clothes to his friend, "Conrad needs to get some rest now."
"Shouldn't he be staying in hospital since he has more serious injuries than Sam?" Rogers looked at the slow moving  man as he headed for the washroom.
"He should but he hates hospitals," Jude shook his head in resignation, "can't imagine why considering he works in one."
"He does?" Hicks was clearly surprised by this piece of information.
"He's a third year Resident.  He's studying internal medicine," Pedro spoke proudly as the topic of their conversation finally reached his destination and closed the door without a backward glance, studiously ignoring the men.
"Guess you were right," Hicks said ruefully still gazing at the door, "he's nothing like his old man.   Guess there was a mighty wind the day he was born because the apple definitely landed far from the tree.   Hawkins considers 'help' a four letter word, figuratively speaking."
"No arguments from us," Jude acknowledged easily.

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The following morning found Conrad waking at ten before eight to find his friend asleep in the armchair in the corner across from him.  Frowning he tried to piece together what led to this and an inadvertent move partially onto his left side brought the events of the previous day to the fore in a painful manner.   He really hated broken ribs.  Of course he knew things could have been worse.   Considering the battering his frame had taken as he struggled to reach the helpless man and battled through debris carried along in the undertow of the fast moving waters it was a miracle he hadn't sustained more serious injuries.  The slight headache he had was probably more to do with his overall state rather than the river escapade and he was thankful he hadn't suffered a concussion which would have resulted in a hospital stay for sure,   He had heard Judes' words to the Sheriff the day before about him hating hospitals but knew the Surgeon was wrong.   He had no problem with hospitals per se, after all the could hardly work in one if he did, but he did have a problem with people focussing their attention on his physical ailments. When he had hurt his ankle while jogging and Devon had insisted on caring for him he had rebelled.   The first year Resident had assumed his recalcitrant attitude related to his patients' passing and his self imposed guilt.  Devon had been right, partly.  The truth however was  that being hurt for Conrad represented what he hated in himself, weakness.    Early lessons engrained in him by his callous father would never be fully expunged even if in adulthood he gained a more reasoned perspective.  Mike and Jude knew how he felt and although both had tried to reassure him there was no validity attached to his fathers' cruel words he still, in the deep recesses of his mind, believed what he had been told.  Sighing the prone man decided to get some more sleep.   He'd deal with things later on.   For now he savoured the soft mattress and closed his eyes, willing sleep to engulf him again.

Unbeknownst to Conrad his friend was awake but his face was hidden in the darkness with the curtains closed. He had been surprised when the younger man did not attempt to get up and extremely relieved when he clearly decided to give slumber another chance.  He wondered if his friend would still want to visit Toms' grave that day as planned or if he would agree to postpone the trip for a couple of days.  He shook his head.  Who was he kidding?   They'd be going today.  He just hoped it proved beneficial rather than detrimental.  It was about time his friend made peace with at least part of his childhood.

tbc