Perseverance (The Resident FF) by Frances51163

CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT: A Nightmare Revisited

By four the following morning Jude had fallen into a deep sleep after spending the first few hours in bed waiting for his companion to have a nightmare. Mike and himself knew nightmares were still the cause of their friends' sleepless nights. Although he had reluctantly admitted that before he had not let either man delve too deeply into what exactly was haunting his dreams. Unlocking the key to access the information was not going to be easy. For his part Conrad had known immediately upon learning they were sharing a twin room after his friend changed the booking to the Royal Hawaiian that it was going to be difficult to hide his nightmares. To that end he had outlasted his room mate but he found his eyes closing of their own accord and soon he found himself transported back to his childhood home where fear was a constant companion ....

...... Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer could only distract a young boy for so long so with a sigh the seven year old child closed the thick book and jumped down off the bed. After quickly placing the coveted item under the mattress and ensuring it was out of sight he headed out onto the landing on stockinged feet. He had learnt early on that stealth was sometimes required when he went downstairs.  He missed Tom and Alicia so much and they had only been gone two days so far.  They would not be back for another twelve and he was already counting down the days.  He had descended half way down the stairs when his father walked out of the kitchen to the foyer.  Noticing the boy he glared as he picked up his coat from the hall table where he had thrown it earlier.

"I thought you were in your room."
"I was going to get some milk," Conrad knew better than to mention food.
"Well don't be long downstairs. I'm bringing an important guest here this evening and I don't want to see you for the rest of the day. Do you understand me?"
"Yes Sir."
"Well get your milk and be quick about it," the gruff man ordered impatiently as he glanced at his watch, a hand on the door.
"Yes Sir," Conrad quickly went down the rest of the steps and walked past his father hoping to hear the door opening and sighed in relief when he did.

In the kitchen the young boy found the usual tall glass Alicia always let him use and hastily filled it halfway once he retrieved the milk from the refrigerator.  The bigger glass meant he was less likely to spill the drink.  His Nanny was a very clever lady he had decided. He didn't want to waste time for his father could always come back.  Replacing the milk bottle his stomach grumbled as he eyed the cheese sandwich he had been told to make all by himself that morning.  It was meant for his dinner but he was hungry now.  He hadn't eaten since lunch the day before. Shaking his head he abandoned the much needed sustenance and closed the refrigerator door afraid he might just give in.  He stilled his movements to check if he could hear any sounds in the usually quiet residence and smiled when he heard the car engine heading away. He looked again at the refrigerator wondering if he could chance even half. His father didn't want him downstairs again after all.  Giving in he took out the plate and began to pull the uncut slices and packing apart.  He wasn't allowed use a knife yet even though Alicia said she trusted him.  It was his father who decreed he was too young for a knife.  Just as well he didn't know of the one secretly hidden in Conrads' room. Covering the untidy half of the sandwich up he returned it to its' place in cold storage, letting the bulky end face out.  He convinced himself it didn't look too obvious. Tugging off two sections of large kitchen towel paper he wrapped up his feast then carefully tucked it inside his shirt, a familiar routine by now. Carefully lifting the glass off the table with two hands he turned towards the door and froze, the glass dropping, sprinkling the floor heavily with glass and white liquid.  Raising his head from the disaster at his feet he looked up at the fuming adult before him.  He had been so engrossed in hiding the food he forgot to keep an ear out.  His father had returned unbeknownst to him.

Present Day

Jude didn't know what was happening other than someone had been screaming. Struggling to focus his eyes in the dark he frowned upon seeing the bed opposite empty. He rose quickly and stood glancing around in his boxers.  Quickly shrugging on his jeans he was about to open the bedroom door when he heard a faint noise emanating from the bathroom.  He had assumed it was empty as the door was open and the light off.
After turning on a bedside light he advanced slowly, unsure of what he would find and anxious not to startle his friend, and pushed the door back to reveal his friend lying in a foetal position, his hands up as if to protect his head.  The Surgeon froze.  The younger mans' eyes, seen through his fingers, were open but he did not seem to be aware of his presence.  Crouching down slowly he paused deliberating how best to bring his companion back from whatever memory he was lost in.  Gently he placed a hand on Conrads' head and began to speak softly hoping he would get through to him.

"Hey man you're okay. I'm right here with you and nobody is going to hurt you.  I promise.  No one will ever hurt you like that again," the older man wasn't a fool and knew the defensive posture must relate to his childhood travails even though he had assured them he had not been hurt physically so he kept up his litany of soothing words, "it's okay.  You're safe.  I'm right here with you."
"Jude?" Conrad blinked and found himself looking up at his friend in confusion after taking down his hands, what the hell had happened?
"You back with me?" the Surgeon smiled in relief as the other man sat up checking his surroundings carefully, as if looking for something or someone.
"What are you doing?"
"Think I should be asking that question," Jude decided to play a hunch seeing a way to finally unlock one secret at least, "you were dreaming about your father. How about you tell me what you were reliving?"
"Nothing," the fair haired man put up a hand to be pulled to his feet, "sorry I woke you."
"Put on a jumper," the Surgeon instructed as his friend walked out of the bathroom, he had noted he had yet to look him in the eye.
"It's too early to be up. I'm going back to bed."
"No you're not."
"Yes I am.
"We need to talk," Jude purposefully went over and turned on another light although he left the main ceiling one off, "now put on a jumper and I'll get some ice."
"Ice?"
"You need a drink and so do I," Jude grabbed the ice bucket and headed out before any argument could ensue.

Ten minutes later both men sat on the comfortable chairs at the small table beside the window.  Upon returning to the room the Surgeon had been pleased to see his friend dressed and seemingly willing to talk.  After pouring two whiskey bottles from the mini bar into each of their glasses he dunked in a few ice cubes.  Even at this time of the morning the dead heat was ever present.  In deference to his friends' hesitance in speaking about his past Jude had once again returned the room to darkness after pulling back the curtains to let the moonlight provide some illumination.  He waited until the younger man had downed half of the liquid before speaking.

"How did he hurt you?"
"It ...... it doesn't matter. It was years ago," Conrad focussed on the cubes floating in the amber liquid.
"It may have been years ago but it's still effecting you today buddy.  Look I know you hate talking about a lot of stuff but you already know you can trust me."

The shaken man shivered despite the wool against his skin and the humidity enveloping the room as he eyed his friend. He always told himself some things were better unspoken about.

tbc