Perseverance (The Resident FF) by Frances51163

CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE: Delayed Return

Although Conrad had told Jude he wanted to go back to Atlanta the truth was that he wasn't really looking forward to it.  This detour was a break but not the one he had initially set out on that morning.  Leaning against one of the large windows in his room he watched the torrential rains which had finally decided to fall and sighed heavily feeling so weary.  He was tempted to lie down on the enticing bed, if only for a few minutes, but knew the real problem wasn't physical. No, he was tired of keeping his emotions in check. Tired of keeping his anger and frustration in check.  He told himself it was ridiculous to be feeling such turmoil over the childhood he had.  In fact he had been trying to avail of the same logic he had used as a child.  Back then he had survived the bad days by reminding himself that he had made it through the previous time.   Whether it was an episode when his eyes were mangled or when he was locked in his room he always managed to dampen the urge to end things once and for all.  Now as an adult the eye problem remained but he was no longer at the mercy of a cruel father who stole his freedom at his whim and hurled stinging verbal arrows which left invisible marks on his soul.  Conrad didn't know what had brought about the recent spate of melancholy for what might have been but he knew he needed to snap out of it because it couldn't bring anything good.  The problem of course was that he couldn't simply flick a switch and banish his emotions, at least not internally.  He was damned good at fooling people on the outside, well usually he was.  Lately however he wasn't so successful.  Sighing he rubbed his eyes and turned away from the cascading downfall and was startled to find his friend standing in the doorway with his arms folded looking concerned.

"What's up?" the Resident frowned as he went over to the leather armchair and picked up his backpack as he gave the room a quick once over to make sure he was leaving it as he found it.
"You tell me," the older man directed evenly, "I've been talking to you for the past few minutes."
"Sorry.  Guess I got lost in the nature around us.  This place really is beautiful," Conrad went with the only excuse he could come up with as he walked to the door motioning for his friend to move.
"Want to try that again?" the Surgeon didn't budge.
"You don't think it's beautiful?
"Give me patience!"
"Ask for something possible," the Resident injected levity although his heart wasn't in it.
"You sure you want to head back?"
"Yeah."
"How are your eyes?"
"Fine."
"You know something buddy there's no harm in saying 'they're bad' or 'they're mangled'. I won't think less of you because you admit you're in pain or you're unwell," Jude placed a hand on the smaller mans' shoulder to keep him in place, "your father is not the precedent for the rest of us."
"Come on let's go," Conrad shrugged out of the gentle hold and walked around his friend to end the serious conversation.
"We could eat something here and you could take some tablets before we head off," the Surgeon tried one more time as he followed his friend down the hall to the kitchen/living area.
"Nah it's going to get worse later on. Best to head out now so come on," Conrad pointed to his friends' jacket, "let's move.  And by the way if you're good I'll pay for dinner."
"Last of the big spenders!" Jude rolled his eyes as he snatched his jacket from the arm of the couch and took out the cabin key.

The two men were drenched by the time they reached the car park but the Surgeon knew better than to try any more persuasion.  Ten minutes later they were both nearly dried out thanks to the air conditioning being turned on at full force.  Glancing across at his companion briefly he noted that once again the younger man seemed to be lost in distant thoughts.  In fact there seemed to be an air of sadness about him which hadn't been present before.  Now Jude was getting really worried.  He had thought his friend genuinely enjoyed the cabin and its' surroundings, especially the trip out on the water. Now he was left wondering if it had all been an act. Checking the skies above he saw the clouds in the distance appeared to be lighter so hopefully they would surpass the rains once down on lower ground.  Luckily traffic was reasonably quiet so they made good time before Jude reminded his passenger it was time for some food.  He pulled into Meehans Public House in Sandy Springs smiling at his companions' bemused expression.

"What's wrong."
"It's a bar," Conrad eyed the building in surprise.
"You should be a Detective," Jude chided as he turned off the engine.
"Thought we were going for a meal."
"Well they actually serve great food here," Jude explained for he had dined at the venue previously, an Irish pub with red brick walls complimented by wooden tables and floors.
"Guess I'll chance it," Conrad stated as he opened his door and got out.
"And this time buddy you're going to eat something proper," Jude insisted as he followed suit and locked the car.
"Ya, ya," the Resident brushed off the comment as a raised voice caught their attention.
"HELP!" a young man ran around the side of the building looking panicked.
"What's wrong?" Jude asked as the pair quickly diverted their path.
"My friend," the panting man pointed back to the direction he had come from, "we came back from shopping and this guy was trying to break into the car ..... he ....,"
"Tell us as we go," Conrad instructed as he tugged the young man to get him moving again for there was blood on his hands so time might be of the essence.
"Yeah," the stranger nodded vigorously and began to jog back to his friend, barely checking beforn he crossed the road, "he .... hit Glen with a .... bottle.  A broken bottle."
"Where did he hit him?" Jude checked as they walked through the mall car park and saw a small gathering in front of a black Porsche.
"His thigh. Come on! I know some first aid so I left the glass in. I told him to hold it in place until I came back."
"That's good. What's your name?" Jude asked as they made their way through the people and saw the problem immediately in the form of an unconscious twenty something man with a blood drenched right leg.
"Pete," the young man then cursed vehemently when he saw his friends' leg, the bloody piece of glass that had been embedded in his friends' leg now lay on the ground a couple of feet away, "what .... what happened?"
"This guy he just walked up and pulled out the glass," a middle aged man explained, "then he just walked off."
"Did anyone call 911," Conrad looked around as he knelt down quickly ignoring the glass fragments digging into his knees and applied pressure to the still pumping wound.
"Yes," a businesswoman informed him, "they said they'd have an ambulance here shortly."
"Why didn't anyone apply pressure to the wound?" Pete asked angrily looking at the assorted group just standing around.
"Well ...," the middle aged man began but halted.
"Who made the call?" Jude looked at his watch.
"I did," a brown haired man replied, "they said the ambulance wouldn't take long."
"Really?" Conrad shared a look with his friend then turned to Pete, "Ring 911. Explain the femoral artery has been cut. Say cut not severed."
"But I already phoned," the brown haired man reminded.
"If you phoned you'd have been told how to help him," Jude glared in disgust before continuing calmly, "it's a good thing it happened here."
"Why?"
"Plenty of cameras," Jude ignored the curse as the man took off at a run before turning back to his friend and crouching down to check the injured mans' pulse, "let me take over."
"Nah I got it," Conrad insisted nodding towards Pete who was still on the phone, "how about ye get some towels from the bar?"
"He wants to talk to you," Pete went to hold the mobile close to Conrad but the Surgeon took it with a wink of encouragement, "we're Doctors.  I'll talk to them you go the bar and get as many towels as you can.  White preferably but towels anyway."
"Okay," Petes' relief that his friend was in the hands of professionals was obvious as he turned away.
"Pete," Conrad looked up at him as he tried to ignore his pounding headache, "check the road this time.  We don't need another patient."

Five minutes later the Paramedics had arrived and quickly transferred the unconscious man to a gurney after taking a note of his vitals. Conrad rubbed his eyes as sirens came closer.  The Cops no doubt. He glanced over at the ambulance and saw Jude talking to the older Paramedic, wondering what they were talking about.

By the ambulance the Surgeon looked back at his pale friend and shook his head as he spoke to the thirty something Paramedic.

"It's okay I'll look after him."
"You sure? He looks as if he's ready to collapse," Tim Johnson noted as he slammed the back doors of the ambulance for the bruised eyes and pale complexion had raised alarm bells when they had arrived on the scene, not to mention the blood stained jeans.
"He hates hospitals," Jude offered sardonically.
"Yeah Doctors always make the worst patients," Johnson jibed as he jumped into drivers' seat for he had been informed of the mens' credentials.
"I'll let that go," Jude nodded and headed back to his friend figuring fate had stepped in but not sure if it would be a help or a hindrance that they had been held up.

tbc