10 Clues Billie & Conrad Would End Up In A Relationship On The Resident

This article includes mentions of sexual assault.

Although Conrad Hawkins and Billie Sutton started their unexpected relationship after The Resident season 6, their romance started brewing long before they even realized their feelings. The Resident is a medical drama that ran for six seasons on Fox, and follows charming doctor Conrad Hawkins as he faces the cruel realities of being in the medical field and the highs and lows of everyday life. For three seasons of The Resident, Conrad, the main character, is in a relationship with nurse practitioner Nicolette “Nic” Nevin.

The two get married and have a child together, but in a tragic turn of events, Nic dies of a traumatic brain injury at the start of The Resident season 5. For the remainder of The Resident‘s fifth season, Conrad must deal with the loss of his wife, and over time, he decides that he wants to move on because that’s what Nic would want. He eventually falls for Billie Sutton in The Resident season 6. However, their romance had plenty of lead-up in the preceding season, and many hints suggested the pairing would eventually happen.

10 The Subtext Of Conrad & Billie’s Conversations

What Conrad & Billie Didn’t Say Was Important

Many viewers online said they felt that Conrad and Billie’s relationship came from nowhere. However, other fans who watched the show carefully heard plenty of subtext when the two were speaking, even when it wasn’t about their relationship. When the two were spending time together in and out of the hospital, there were many things they said that showed a growing attraction, relationship, and possible future for the couple.

They were always honest about their feelings and what they wanted from a relationship. In The Resident season 6, episode 5, “A River in Egypt,” Billie said, “We all cover up things we don’t want to see. The longer we look away, the harder it gets to see what’s right before our eyes.” This wasn’t about their relationship, but it was easy to see what she was saying when Conrad asked her what she had denied, to which she said, “a fair amount.”

Billie kept using Nic’s name when he was saying how she felt about Conrad.

This also happened right before they finally admitted their feelings towards each other. Billie kept using Nic’s name when he was saying how she felt about Conrad. It was as if she wanted to tell him her feelings, but couldn’t, so she hinted at it through Nic. When Billie said Nic would be “proud” of Conrad, he finally said he wanted to know what Billie thought of him, not Nic. It was where the subtext finally became the spoken word, but it had been building up for a long time before they said it.

9 Two Elevator Scenes

The Couple Showed Their Feelings In An Elevator

It seems that Conrad and Billie told some of their story through elevator scenes. In season 6, episode 2, “Peek and Shriek,” the director used an elevator to show Billie’s feelings while wrapping it up in the elevator in a later episode. While they are standing in the elevator together at one point, Conrad is asking Billie what she thinks of him dating Cade (Kaley Ronayne), a doctor at the hospital. “I just want you to be happy, whoever you’re with. So would Nic,” Billie says, although there is sadness in her voice.

Moving ahead to season 6’s seventh episode, “The Chimera,” they are back on the elevator again. After an entire episode of people asking if Conrad feels something for Billie, thanks to a moment they danced at an earlier wedding, Conrad is feeling confused. Then, when James shows up, and Billie mentions maybe dating him, Conrad says the exact same line to Billie she said to him: “I just want you to be happy, whoever you’re with.”

They broke down those walls here and held hands as the elevator’s doors closed.

That leads to season 6, episode 10, “Family Day,” where Conrad finally says he wants to know what Billie thinks, not what she feels Nic would think. This was his moment of finally opening up, and they used an elevator again. Billie always uses Nic’s name when she feels things are getting too personal with Conrad. Conrad uses Nic’s name when he wants to see moments through Billie’s eyes. They broke down those walls here and held hands as the elevator’s doors closed.

8 Billie’s Longing Look After She Gives Him Permission To Move On

The Audience Noticed Billie’s Feelings For Conrad

In The Resident season 5, Conrad is working through his conflicted feelings as he mourns the loss of Nic but also considers a potential romance with Marion, a worker at the hospital daycare. During The Resident season 5, episode 8, Billie tells Conrad that it would be normal and valid for him to move on romantically after Nic’s (Emily VanCamp) death. At the end of the episode, Conrad confirms with Billie, asking if she really meant it. After seeing the spark between him and Marion, she says yes and encourages him to go for it.

Although this scene may seem like Conrad and Billie are entirely platonic, the words left unsaid make the moment much more romantic. Once Billie emphasizes that Conrad should go after Marion, he turns around, and Billie looks after him longingly.

At this moment, the audience sees Billie’s feelings for Conrad and her desire to be with him.

At this moment, the audience sees Billie’s feelings for Conrad and her desire to be with him. However, being a good friend and understanding Conrad, Billie does not push her feelings onto him in this The Resident episode and instead helps him cope with his grief and budding romantic feelings. This shows the first hints of a healthy base of their relationship, which eventually grows as the show continues.

7 “If You’re Going Into Battle, I Want To Be Your Wingman.”

Billie Decides To Fight For Justice

One major plot point for Billie in The Resident season 5 is the introduction of her son, Trevor, and the backstory of her pregnancy. It is revealed that a doctor, who is up for a seat on the state medical board, is the man who raped Billie when she was 13, resulting in her pregnancy with Trevor.

In The Resident season 5, episode 14, “Hell in a Handbasket,” Billie decides to file an ethics complaint against the doctor and decides to trust Conrad by telling him about the situation. When it comes to this topic, Billie is intensely reserved and refuses to speak about it to anyone except Conrad, hoping to keep the truth a secret from her co-workers at The Resident’s Chastain Hospital, so now has no one to support her.

However, when Conrad shows concern for her and asks for her to share, she trusts him and receives his undying loyalty. He encourages her to speak out and offers his help in fighting this battle, saying “If you’re going into battle, I want to be your wingman.” This assertion shows that Conrad cares about Billie deeply and will even put himself at risk for her.

6 Conrad Makes Sure Billie Isn’t Alone After Everything Comes Out

He Gets Even Closer To Her

In that same episode, Conrad makes sure that Billie isn’t alone when her secret finally comes out. Billie files her complaint and must speak in front of her co-workers documenting the doctor’s actions and her subsequent pregnancy. In the final moments of the episode, The Resident’s main character leaves Billie alone outside following the proceedings and notices Conrad hanging around.

He immediately asks if she is ok and then wonders if the next day they can meet up and just talk. Billie agrees, and the moment shows a new tenderness between them. His concern for her, once again, proves his affection and shows the efforts he is making to ensure that she’s alright. Even if the romantic feelings between them are already there, Conrad recognizes the seriousness of the situation, and he’d rather be there for Billie as a friend and ally than a romantic partner because that’s what she needs in this moment.

5 Billie Confesses Her Love For Conrad To AJ

AJ Tells Billie That Conrad And Gigi Would Be Lucky To Have Her In Their Lives

During the penultimate episode of The Resident season 5, Billie has a heart-to-heart with AJ, where both parties discuss their fears about relationships and family matters. While AJ confides in Billie about his worry becoming a father, Billie tells AJ that she hasn’t been in a real relationship in a long time but has now realized that she has feelings for someone in the medical TV show whom she refuses to name.

AJ, not fooled, tells Billie that Conrad and Gigi would be lucky to have her, and she wonders aloud if her feelings are that obvious. Although Billie and Conrad don’t officially get together until the following season of The Resident, Billie’s confession seems like a sort of tipping point in their relationship.

Earlier in the season, she shows signs of having a crush on Conrad, but in this scene, she finally admits it not only to herself but to another person. She also gets confirmation that the relationship could work and that it’s fairly obvious. This scene is pivotal for their romance because it opens the door for Billie to make a move.

4 The REsident Love Triangle Introduced

Cade, A New ER Doctor, Arrives At Chastain Hospital

With Conrad close to moving on from Nic’s death, The Resident season 5 finale presents a potential love triangle for season 6 between Conrad, Billie, and newcomer Cade. Cade enters The Resident‘s cast as an accomplished ER doctor who is now working at Chastain Hospital.

Conrad, ever the leader, helps Cade settle and a few sparks fly, while Billie and Cade chat at a bar and both acknowledge that they’re friends with Conrad but potentially want more. This love triangle is significant in Conrad and Billie’s relationship because it forces their feelings into the spotlight.

With another person in the romantic mix, it’s impossible for Conrad and Billie to ignore the tension that has existed between them and furthermore, a choice must be made. The love triangle makes Billie become more invested in her feelings for Conrad and pushes Conrad to see his feelings clearly and make a decision on who he wants to be with, which is eventually Billie.

3 Billie Caring About Gigi Like She’s Her Own

She Works Hard To Be A Good Example For Gigi

A significant part of Conrad’s life in The Resident medical drama is his daughter, Gigi, especially after Nic dies, and he becomes a single father. Conrad does the best he can to take care of her and lead her on the right path, and Billie helps with this as well.

Billie works hard to be a good person for Gigi to look up to and help her in any way she can. But more than that, Billie genuinely cares for Gigi, as well. Billie’s affection for Gigi is an optimistic sign of her relationship with Conrad and makes their romance even more seamless and bound to happen.

Billie knows that nobody will replace Nic, and she’s mindful that Gigi has to grow up without her biological mother. She just wants to be there out of unconditional love for both Gigi and Conrad, and that’s why the two Resident main characters are meant to be together.

2 Conrad & Billie Share Romantic Dance At Kit & Bell’s Wedding

This Dance Marks A Vital Moment In Their Relationship

In The Resident season 6, episode 6, Kit and Bell have their wedding, and happy, romantic emotions are certainly running high. Billie asks Conrad if he wants to dance and he agrees, as Dr. Jake Wong (played by How to Get Away with Murder’s Oliver Hampton) sings Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” They make their way onto the dance floor, joking around at first and laughing.

Then, Conrad thanks Billie for taking care of Gigi and says that he is grateful for her. The tone of the scene suddenly changes from silly to serious as Billie says, “It’s nothing. I love you guys.” As Billie says this, it’s clear that what she truly means is that she loves Conrad romantically, though she can’t say this directly.

This dance, though seemingly small, marks a vital moment in their relationship because they both realize, at this moment, how deeply they care for each other.

Conrad seems to realize the depth of her feelings but he also keeps his to himself. Suddenly, their dance becomes more intimate as Conrad pulls Billie close and they dance together, both in a state of awe. This dance, though seemingly small, marks a vital moment in their relationship because they both realize, at this moment, how deeply they care for each other. Their character personalities in The Resident also mean that they are hesitant to show how they feel, but that it would be easy, at this point, to take their relationship to the next level.

1 Everyone Can See It

Conrad And Billie Were Meant To Be Together

The biggest signifier of Conrad and Billie’s impending romance is the fact that everyone except them can see it coming. Even before Billie admits her feelings, AJ reveals that the sparks between them are completely obvious. This means that for an entire season before they actually enter a relationship, their romance is obvious and expected. This fact was a massive hint that Conrad and Billie would eventually end up together, even if they didn’t realize it themselves.

In the final seasons of the beloved hospital drama, the love life of protagonist Conrad Hawkins has many ups and downs, but in the end, he sticks with Billie, who proves to be a good match for him.

Billie puts Conrad before herself and is a huge help when it comes to Gigi and, in turn, Conrad supports Billie completely and goes out of his way to aid her in any way he can. Despite the long build-up towards their relationship, Conrad and Billie were meant to be together very early on, making their eventual romance in The Resident that much stronger and satisfying.