The next week passed in relative peace as the two groups gelled. Merlin slowly got used to having someone nearby all that time, even if he didn't like it. When he was in the labs the two protection officers were on duty, one would stay outside the lab door the other nearby keeping an eye on the surrounding area. They were all fascinated by Merlin's capacity to study and work, the boy was hardly ever idle. Even if he was sat down he would have a book in his hands. The first Friday night in the flat will and Elyan decided they wanted to go clubbing. Gwen and Morgana agreed. To Arthur's surprise Merlin came to ask him if he was allowed to go.

"Merlin you are not a prisoner if you want to go clubbing that's fine, we would appreciate notice so we can arrange the appropriate cover for you, but we are not here to stop you enjoying yourself" Arthur explained. Merlin's face very briefly seemed to show disappointment but it was so brief Arthur decided he was mistaken.

Morgana and Gwen seemed to have great fun in sorting out Merlin's wardrobe for the night. Morgana explained to her brother "Merlin has no sense of style he would wear what he always does, so we take him shopping sometimes and then when we go out we make him wear decent cloths."

Arthur and the others were surprised when Merlin appeared, he looked older and more handsome than his normal look. Merlin had the habit of wearing loose t shirts and trousers with tatty trainers and he added a scarf round his neck and a loose jacket when he went outside. But now he was in skin tight jeans and a blue shirt open at the chest. The transformation was surprising. Gwaine whistled "You'll pull tonight Merlin, the girls won't be able to resist you"

Merlin blushed but didn't reply. Gwaine, Percy and Arthur were accompanying them and had dressed appropriately so they wouldn't stand out as protection officers. Lance was staying behind as he was on the night shift and Leon was off duty but drove them to the venue and would collect them later. When they got to the nightclub the youngsters soon found a table and got the drinks in. It wasn't long before they were dancing. Gwaine sat with them at the table and Arthur and Percy mingled in the crowd but keeping a close eye on what was happening.

It wasn't long before Elyan had found female company and Will wasn't far behind. Morgana, Gwen and Merlin continued to dance, but after a couple of dances Merlin sat back down. He was nursing his first drink and watching the others. Gwaine looked at the youngster "What another drink Merlin?"

"No thanks, don't drink much" Merlin smiled at him "I can't hold it very well and get clumsy"

"Not pulled yet?" Gwaine grinned "It looks like Elyan and Will are doing alright"

"They always do, although Will often ends up offending them once he's had a few" Merlin looked round and his eyes rested on Gwen and Morgana who were being chatted up by a couple of men. Gwaine noticed that Merlin seemed alert and worried "What's up?"

"Nothing but I always keep an eye out for the girls some of the men can get a bit handsy. Sometimes I pretend to be with them if they signal. You know like their boyfriend. If they are both having problems I get one of the others." He confessed

"You're here to have fun as well Merlin, go on we will keep an eye on the girls for you" Gwaine insisted.

Merlin looked at Gwaine in surprise "I am, I don't ever dance much, to uncoordinated. I like people watching"

It wasn't long before Gwen and Morgana were back at the table. After sitting out a couple of dances they dragged Merlin back out with him. But again it wasn't long before he was back at the table. The raven haired boy was approached by several girls, and even a man, but he politely turned them all away. This pattern was repeated several times with either the girls or one of the men dragging Merlin up for a while.

It was near midnight when Merlin was up dancing with the girls once more when the group was approached by a couple of men in their late twenties, who had clearly had a bit too much to drink. One of them pushed Merlin away from Gwen's side and put his arm around Gwen's waist while the other one grabbed Morgana. "Butt out mate, the girls prefer our company, they need proper men not some twink."

Merlin glared at them and was clearly not amused at being insulted. "They don't want your company then, that's for sure." He told them. "Just leave then alone."

"He's right we don't want your company" Morgana agreed "So leave us alone" Gwen tried to move away and Morgana stamped on her molesters foot. The man who had already spoke grabbed at Gwen once more, as he did Merlin grabbed his arm "Leave them alone"

"Yes leave them alone, I don't think my sister appreciates your grabbing her nor does her friend" Arthur's voice spoke from over Merlin's shoulder. Merlin found himself been eased back by Gwaine and Percy had also arrived.

Gwaine grinned "And what's more I don't like you mealy mouthing Merlin either. So run along and get some fresh air and sober up at bit."

The two men realising they were out-numbered and now had more than just a slender young man and two young women to contend with, turned away, but as they did, the one who had grabbed Gwen threw a punch at Gwaine, It never landed as Gwaine caught his hand and twisted it behind his back. "Don't try playing with the big boys" Gwaine snarled in his ear "Just go quietly and you won't get hurt"

Very quickly and effectively the men were dealt with and escorted out of the building by Gwaine and Percy. The doormen approached Percy who showed his identification and no more was said.

Merlin looked at Arthur "I was dealing with it"

"I know, but I didn't want this to escalate into anything more, it would spoil your fun." He smiled at Merlin "Anyway Merlin It's my job"

Gwen hugged her friend "Thank you Merlin"

Morgana looked at Arthur and smiled "Thank you all, you know it could be useful having you about brother, although as always Merlin was there to rescue us" with that she hugged Merlin "I think perhaps it would be best to go home, I think the other boys might stay, but I for one have had enough" she looked around for Will and Elyan.

"I'll find them and tell them" Gwen said "Will you come with me Merlin?" she was clearly trying to act as peacemaker. She dragged Merlin off and Arthur nodded to Percy and Gwaine who discretely followed the pair.

Then Arthur turned to his sister "Does he often do that? Try to rescue you?"

"He keeps an eye on us, but so do the other two normally. Look Arthur we all look after each other. Don't make Merlin feel useless. He is normally very good at talking people down." Morgana pleaded with Arthur

"I'm not but the idea of him taking on two much bigger men who were clearly drunk is dangerous, he could have been hurt" Arthur said

"Nah, we wouldn't have let that happen. We both have pepper sprays if need be. Don't make Merlin feel emasculated it's not fair" Morgana said "You know me Arthur, and Gwen is also able to look after herself. Merlin feels responsible for his friends and it's nice"

She stopped talking as Merlin and Gwen came back "The other two want to stay" Gwen said "But we told them we were leaving, they will get a taxi back later"

Arthur called Leon and as soon as he arrived they headed back to the flat. Arthur took his sisters advice. "Thank you again Merlin, it's comforting to know Morgana has such a good friend"

Merlin was slightly appeased on receiving the thanks and said no more. Secretly he had been pleased when the others had arrived, he knew he was outnumbered and he hadn't see either Will or Elyan, no that that would have stopped him, but he wasn't about to admit that to Arthur.

The other two young men didn't return home until several hours later and when Lance let them in he made sure they made it safely to their room. Merlin had turned in a few minutes before. It came as a surprise to Lance when he didn't see Merlin again even at his normal early rising time. He did check but the raven haired young man was fast asleep. Merlin wasn't seen hardly at all next day, he slept right through only coming out for a drink. None of the others were concerned and told the protection team that every so often Merlin did that and not to worry.

But on the Sunday he was back to normal. He got up at four a.m and removed a joint of meat from the freezer then proceeded to get everything ready for the lunch. Although later he did blow his top during lunch when Gwaine, who was really enjoying the home cooking said flippantly "You will make someone a good wife one day"

Merlin stood up, this chair falling backwards, he was still feeling touchy after the others had interfered at the club. "Don't you dare say such a thing! Just because I cook doesn't make me feminine. And anyway you insult the females here" with that he took off. Lance and Percy took off after him, by the time they got to the door Merlin had gone out of sight. What was worse when Gwen tried to ring him they found he had left his phone behind. Gwaine looked at Arthur "I didn't mean anything by it"

"Never mind that now, come on we need to find the idiot" he looked at Merlin's friends "Any ideas?"

Will was the first to speak "The lake, he does his thinking by water"

"Right just make sure someone stays here in case he comes back, you have our numbers ring if he does" Arthur grabbed Gwaine and they set of towards the park. When they got there they could see Merlin sat on his normal bench. "Let's just watch him for now, he needs to cool down, then you make it right" he glared at Gwaine. Pulling out his phone he let the others know Merlin was safe.

They watched from a distance giving Merlin the space he so clearly needed then Gwaine walked up and sat by Merlin "Sorry mate, I didn't mean anything by my remarks"

He got no answer but nor did Merlin move. Gwaine took of his jacket and lay it over Merlin's shoulders. The slender boy had ran out in a t shirt and it was a cool day. "Come on lets go back shall we?"

Merlin shook his head and shrugged the jacket off "m, not a girl" he muttered

"That you're not, but at the same time it's my fault you're out here and I don't want you getting a cold" Gwaine admitted "Look I really didn't mean to insult you, I wish I could cook half as well as you do, it was just a flippant remark nothing more. I have this tendency to talk rubbish"

"I'm fed up with comments like that, do you have any idea what's it's like to not be able to do the 'blokes' stuff. I've spent my life listening to remarks like that and it hurts. You lot even thought you had to 'save' me the other night!"

Gwaine looked at Merlin in surprise "Merlin you were outnumbered we would have helped anyone. As for the rest think of the things you can do! Hell I would love half your intelligence. I picked up one of your books the other day and I had no idea what I was looking at. Any twit can play footy or lark about but what you do takes someone special. As for the cooking I even burn toast! But you make a better apple pie than my mam and I've never known anyone do that before. You are a very special young man. You are also very brave and look after your friends"

Merlin looked slightly mollified as he listened to Gwaine who continued "My brain doesn't always engage before my mouth and for that I'm sorry, if it's any consolation I'm guessing the boss will have me doing laps of this park tomorrow"

"So why do it, you're not in the army anymore he can't make you!" Merlin looked surprised.

"Why? Good question, Arthur has saved my neck more than once, ok I've saved his as well, but we are a team and every team needs a leader. He's ours. He says jump and we say how high. I might call him Princess but he is the best bloke I know, and if you tell him I said that I might just have to kill you" he grinned to show he was joking "Anyway in this case I deserve the laps. I upset you and I wouldn't do that willingly, I have a lot of respect for you, you inspire loyalty like Arthur does and that takes a special person." Gwaine ruffled Merlin's hair "I've come to think of you as my younger brother. Come on back to base before I have Morgana after me, she's one scary lady"

"Morgana is a special person, I've seen you looking at her, please don't hurt her she deserves someone as special as she is, and I don't think your that person" Merlin said sincerely.

"I think you're right and don't worry, at the moment I'm just trying to get the rise out of Arthur, and I think she knows it" Gwaine admitted. "I think we might have to watch Lance and Gwen though, I know there's a few years between them but I've seen that look before"

"He'd better watch out for Elyan then, they are very close" Merlin grinned his even temper restored "We sound like a pair of matchmakers"

"I like to see you smile, you don't do enough of it, come on my friend lets go back and let Arthur get back in the warm, give him a slice of that cake when we get back and he'll soon forget he's had to stand out in the cold" Gwaine advised the younger man.

"You just want the flak taken off you" Merlin said as he started to walk back. Once back in the flat he did as Gwaine had suggested and took Arthur a slice of cake and a coffee. "Sorry I went off like that, I guess Gwaine hit a sore spot"

Arthur took the cake "Yes he has a habit of that! But you need to toughen up a bit. He didn't mean anything nasty, Gwaine is a good bloke underneath, but if you tell him I said that…"

"I know you'll have to kill me" Merlin turned and went back to the kitchen.