Author's Note: I wish there were more stories on this site. That probably means there are not many readers, either. So sad! I recently discovered The Resident and felt compelled to write. I find Conrad difficult to write because he is so expressive with his face. There's more to this story to come. I hop you like it.

Conrad entered the cubicle where his sister stood at the bedside of his nineteen year old patient. "How are you feeling, Tara?" he asked.

Remnants of the black charcoal clung to the edges of her mouth. "Ok," she said he voice hoarse.

"We're going to keep you here for a few hours. Keep giving you fluids." He indicated the bag dripping into her IV. "Your parents have been called. They're on their way." Tara nodded and closed her eyes. The doctor turned his attention to his sister. "Come on," he said. "Let's go for a walk."

"I'm staying here," Belle said, not looking up from her roommate turned best friend.

Conrad reached out and touched her arm. He ignored the flinch. "Come on. She's just going to sleep now."

He led her in silence up the elevator and through the corridors until they came to the empty lounge. Grateful that no one was around, Conrad leaned against the counter with his arms crossed in front of him and waited for his sister to talk.

"I was so scared," she said. "I didn't know what to do."

He smiled at her. "You did the right thing. You stayed with her, called for an ambulance, and got her here in time. You did good, kid."

"I was hoping you wouldn't be on tonight." Belle's lip twitched at the admission.

Conrad crinkled his forehead. "Why would you do that?" he asked.

Belle shrugged one shoulder. "I didn't want you to be mad at me. Or, you know, disappointed." She had connected with Conrad almost a year ago, but they had come too far in their relationship, the only real relationship she had, to lose it now.

"I'm not mad at you. Or disappointed. I am worried for you though."

"You don't need to be."

He scoffed. "I think I do. But, seriously, Belle, don't ever try to hide from me when you need help. I will always help you. You need to be running towards me."

With that, Belled took three steps forward and threw herself into the arms that had opened to receive her. Conrad enveloped her and kissed the top of her head.

They stood like that for a few moments, until Belle pulled away. "Sit down," Conrad said, directing her to the couch. He walked to the refrigerator and grabbed a water bottle for her. Unscrewing the cap, he gave it to her then sat in the adjacent armchair. He gave her a moment to compose herself, then started. "Did you take anything tonight?"

She looked up into her brother's eyes, hoping it would make her appear more truthful, and shook her head. "No. I don't do drugs. When I'm at a party I'll drink. A little. But I never do drugs, and I don't get drunk. Believe me, I saw enough of that from my mother." She rarely opened up to him about her mother or her childhood, but decided to take a leap here. "And the guys she let hang around us."

The bile rose in Conrad's gut at this latest glimpse she gave him. Any time he asked about her childhood, she shut him down. In the short time since they first connected, he learned to wait for the dribbles of information that she gave. "Have you spoken to your mother recently?"

"No."

"When's the last time you spoke to her?" He suspected he knew the answer.

Belle's eyes stayed locked on Conrad's for a moment, wishing she did not have to verbalize a response. "It's been a bit," she said.

Conrad waited for his anger to temper. "Ok, here's what we are going to do - "

"Can you please just take me home?"

"No - "

"I'll take an uber."

"No. Listen. I'm off now. I'm just waiting for Tara's parents to get here. Then I'm taking you home with me." His tone left little room for argument, but he saw Belle take a preparatory breath. "This isn't up for discussion. Nic will be off in a few hours. We will all sleep and then see what tomorrow brings." He paused and watched her eyes roam and lip twitched as she considered this. He looked at his watch. "It's 2:15 in the morning. I'm not letting you go to an empty dorm room."

Sensing she would lose this battle, Belle acquiesced. "I want to see Tara before we go."

Conrad let go of a breath of air. "Me, too. Let's go."