Perseverance (The Resident FF) by Frances51163

CHAPTER EIGHTY: Seeing Things

By the time the second western the pair had chosen to watch on the large screen was over Conrad was considering bed. The thunder and lightning had cracked and flashed respectively over the past few hours and the torrential downpour showed no sign of letting up.

"Think I'll make an Irish coffee before I turn in for the night," Jude gave his friend a brief assessing look before continuing, "you fancy one?"
"No thanks," Conrad muted the sound as the end credits rolled, "think I'll have some cereal."
"It's the p.m. not a.m.," Jude chided standing up and offering his hand to help his companion knowing that his eyes were still bad as the bruising under his eyes, natures' mark of true pain, had deepened.
"Yeah, yeah."
"So have you decided to stay for a couple of days?" the Surgeon asked as he located a bottle of whiskey after turning on the kettle.
"This is the second day," Conrad observed as he took out a box of rice krispies.
"Man you know what I mean. Your eyes are still bad. Give yourself a break. Work can wait."
"How about you? Won't they be missing you?"
"Nah I phoned and said I was taking some vacation days."
"I love the rain," Conrad stated out of the blue.
"You told me that in Savannah. Have to say I'm a sun person," Jude readied his concoction as something caught his eye through the pelting drops outside.
"What is it?" Conrad frowned pausing mid bite.
"I saw a light," Jude placed his steaming mug back on the counter and rolled up the blinds to get a better glimpse of the hazy night outside.
"It was probably lightning."
"Don't think so. It was low near the ground. I'd better go check it out."
"Okay," the fair haired man approved and trailed his friend to the mud room.
"Hey what are you doing?" the Surgeon demanded as he looked up from pulling on oilskin trousers a few minutes later.
"What does it look like?"
"You're not going out there man. You're unwell. Besides one of us needs to stay here in case it's a diversion."
"You've lost me," Conrad paused in pulling on a black waterproof jacket.
"There's a fugitive on the loose," the older man reminded as he zipped up his jacket and tugged the one his friend was holding throwing it back on its' hook, "you've seen enough horror films. Guy goes out to check suspicious activity and the killer sneaks in and kills the family."
"Hell you couldn't have thought of a comedy?"
"No. I won't be long. You might check the doors and windows. At least if the power goes out there's a back up generator," Jude grabbed a flashlight as a roll of thunder echoed overhead.
"Just be careful," Conrad wanted to go with his friend but in truth his eyes were getting worse and his head was killing him so he gave in figuring he'd be a hindrance rather a help, "I don't have enough energy to bury your body."
"Now he admits his not one hundred percent!" Jude rolled his eyes with a grin as he opened the door and stepped out.

Pushing the mud room door closed against the worsening wind Conrad decided to start at the top and work his way down in checking the place was locked up tight. The ascension proved as painful as he expected, his head throbbing in his skull as he finally reached the top floor. Checking the rooms and windows he was satisfied all was in order and tried to psyche himself up to continue with the task as he walked down to the next floor. He had to admire the sturdy construction for despite the howling winds swaying the trees outside the structure remained immovable on its' perch. He made reasonably short work of checking the first two rooms and was about to open the door to the third luxurious room when a sound downstairs startled him. His friends' words said in jest came back to him but no mirth accompanied them. Damn it! If someone hurt his old friend he didn't think he could handle the guilt. Releasing the door handle he quickly diverted his steps cursing inwardly as the increased pace caused the throbbing tempo to reach a higher level. He didn't have time to be sick! On the final step he looked around the open plan kitchen/living area seeking the source of the noise. The place looked exactly as they had left it. He was contemplating his options when the door to the mud room banged. Running in that direction he realized he should have grabbed a knife but it was too late now. Pausing outside the door he calmed his breathing willing the throbbing to ease off. Placing a hand on the handle he was shocked when the door opened in and he found himself facing a wet figure.

"Well hand me some towels," Jude shook drops out of his hair and shivered as he took off the heavy water proof clothing, "should have worn a cap. It's freezing out there."
"See anything?" Conrad passed over a green bath towel.
"No but it's so heavy could have been three murderers out there and I'd have passed them."
"You really are into horror films," Conrad shook his head in disgust as he hung the oilskins on hooks on the back of the door before becoming serious as he rubbed his eyes, "you're really worried about Wilson aren't you?"
"I just think with the weather he wouldn't get far," the black haired man finally admitted, "and this place is remote."
"I promise you if he breaks in I'll protect you."
"You would and all," Jude pointed out as they walked back to the kitchen knowing the other man spoke in humour but in reality it was what he would do, "I'll check the top floor then make a fresh Irish coffee."
"Why? What's wrong with the top floor?" Conrad took some ice cubes out and pressed them to his eyelids after he returned to his stool.
"Need to make sure the windows and doors are locked."
"I already did," Conrad didn't bother removing the cubes to look at his companion, "you asked me to do that before you went out."
"Damn buddy I didn't mean for you to go up to the top," Jude winced, "you must have been in agony."
"Make your drink old man."
"Okay but you're taking some meds so what do you want to eat?"
"Does Tom have any chocolate stored away?"
"That bad huh?" the Surgeon asked knowingly as his friend, unintentionally, conceded he needed pain relief as soon as possible.
"Chocolate?"
"He thought of everything else so he probably picked up some," Jude spoke quietly as he headed over to the pantry and did a quick reconnaissance before smiling, "mars bars do?"
"Yeah," Conrad sighed as the hard ice began melting and landed on the dish he had placed back in front of him just for that purpose, "Jude?"
"Yeah I'm here," the older man left the pantry with his bounty and approached his friend quickly throwing the chocolate bars on the counter, "what do you need?"
"Sorry ....... facecloth?"
"Stop apologising Conrad. Will I wrap some cubes in it?"
"Yeah," Conrad stood up carefully and began to head down the hall towards his temporary bedroom, holding onto the wall for support.
"Hey I gotcha," the Surgeon had turned from the refrigerator to find an empty stool so hastily caught up with the struggling man and placed a hand around his waist as he pulled an arm across his shoulders, "once you're lying down I'll sort the meds and the face cloth."
"Need ..... you to leave .....,"
"Not likely."
"But ........,"
"It's okay Conrad," Jude assured gently as he guided his friend to sit down slowly on the bed, it even hurt the Surgeon looking at the ill man.
"No it's not .....," whatever Conrad was going to say was interrupted by the sound of banging on the main door.

Jude looked from the ill man to the bedroom door and back again. He was torn. The Resident needed him but whoever was knocking on the door must be in trouble if they were out in this weather. He looked down as he felt his friend pushing him from the bed.

"Go on. I'll be fine."
"Okay I won't be long," Jude promised reluctantly, "probably some idiot out driving surprised when a tree jumped in front of him."

tbc