Gaius sneezed.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," Merlin said, pacing from one end of the room to the other. "You're not supposed to get sick, Gaius." He hadn't saved his friend's life only to watch him fall ill the moment they returned to Camelot, after all.
"It was that blasted rain," Gaius said, giving Merlin a stern look complete with a sharply raised eyebrow.
"Sorry about that," Merlin said, looking embarrassed. "I tried to stop it, but… it just got a little out of hand." Many things had, that day.
Gaius' look softened. "Yes, I know," he replied. "Don't worry about me, Merlin. I'll be all right soon enough." He coughed once, deeply, and rested his head against the pillow. He looked exhausted, and even older than he usually did.
Merlin hovered around Gaius' bed, feeling helpless. "I could try healing you," he said. "With magic." His hand twitched forward unconsciously.
Gaius' eyebrow began its steady climb once more. "Good heavens, no! You cannot use magic to cure a cold."
"But I healed Gwen's father that time," Merlin protested. "Curing a cold will be easy in comparison."
"And a lot of good that did," Gaius reminded him, his eyebrow climbing even higher. "What did I tell you about using your gifts for trivial purposes? There is no cure for the common cold. I simply need to drink plenty of fluids – and get some much-needed rest," he added pointedly.
"Right. Going now," Merlin said, taking the hint. "I should go and check on Arthur anyway. He must be wondering where I am. I'd better make an appearance before he decides to put me in the stocks again."
"You'd better get a move on, then," Gaius replied, watching as Merlin headed to the door. "Merlin?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you," Gaius said. "For everything."
Merlin smiled. "Get some rest," he said. "I'll be back soon."
Gaius watched him leave with a fond smile. In his letter he had called Merlin the son he never had, and he knew deep in his heart that he could not have chosen a better one.
