Discalimer: You know... Don't own Merlin, and all that...

XI

From Gwen
To Morgana

Object: Diner

Merlin called me. Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean it's great the two of you try to be friends again, and get along instead of fighting and hurting each other, but…

Whatever happens at diner, don't kiss him! And call me.

Gwen xxx

*

Unusual fact, Arthur gave the wheel to Merlin for the ride back. It was a 3 hours drive, and he didn't feel like it. Or so he said. Truth was the wound in his shoulder was still bothering him, and the painkiller was making him sleepy. So he installed himself comfortably in the back-seat, and let Morgana entertained Merlin. The peaceful purring of the car and the slow conversation cradled him into sleep.

As soon as his slight snore assured Merlin that Arthur was definitely sleeping, he turned to Morgana. She was flipping through the CDs to put some music on.
"Hey, I need to talk to you."
"Please, Merlin, don't you also give me a lecture on going out for diner with him…"
"No, nothing to do with that. I want to talk about the Chapel."
"What about it?"

He took a deep breath.
"I don't know. I'm… Uneasy. That stone which was stolen, how could someone knew how valuable it was before you examined it? And I'm pretty sure we were watched the other day when we brought in the ladder and stuff to get the seal."
"What!" She lowered her voice at once, casting a quick glance to Arthur sleeping form. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"It's just a feeling. I don't have any proof."
"Did you tell him about it?"
"Tell to Mr. 'I-don't-believe-in-anything-I-can-not-touch' that I have a feeling something might be wrong? Not in this life-time."
"Merlin…"

Her cell ring interrupted her. She picked up the phone:
"Hey Gwen… Yes, we left already. We'll be there in maybe two hours, depending on the traffic. What's up?... No!"

This time, her rising voice woke up Arthur, who straightened slowly.
"Why are you shouting… I didn't try…"

"Gwen, calm down and tell me exactly what the Police said… Okay. We'll meet you at your place… And Gwen… Be careful."

Morgana hanged up, and turned to her friends. She was as white as a sheet.
"The lab was robbed last night. We lost the seal."

*

Finally awake, Arthur listened to Morgana related what Gwen had told her. The previous night, two men had gone through the security system, shot the guard, and stole various smalls objects, including theirs. The exterior camera had images of a white truck, unmarked. The guard was badly wounded, but his life was out of danger.

The lab had never been robbed before.

Arthur leaned back into his seat.
"I don't like this."

Merlin half-turned to him, just to receive a slap on the arm.
"Merlin, please, look at the road or I'll drive."
"Do it, Merlin, she's a terrible driver. Only know two speeds; fast and faster."
"Look who's talking… I didn't lose my licence because of a 50 mph exceeding…"

Arthur dismissed her statement with a flourish. The argument had coloured her cheeks, which suited him better than her previous pallor. Merlin was not done however:
"You won't like it, but I think the Museum is involved somehow."

Arthur lost his mocking smile and Morgana green eyes widened.

"Think about it. Only the four of us knew about the seal…"
"And the lab. Our piece was not the only one stolen, maybe…"

Arthur shut off Morgana' hope.
"Merlin is right. I don't believe in coincidences, and the only way for someone to know about both items is through the Museum. We put our daily report and the photos on the portal yesterday, so someone with the code had access to the information."
"But why?"
"That, Darling, is the Million-dollar question."

A very good question, and not a reassuring one.

"Morgana, where is your laptop?" asked Arthur.

"Behind my seat, at your feet. Why?"

He retrieved it, and put it on.
"Just a precaution. From now on, we don't put anything on the FTP site."

Extracting a USB key from his own carry-on, he copied all their files on the key before shutting down her machine carefully. Her vivid green eyes followed his pocketing the USB. He gave her a cocky smile.
"I don't think anyone will search my front pocket without me knowing…"

Merlin laughed. Morgana hissed, irritated.
"Of course not. They'll shoot first, and then they'll search you."

How much he wanted to retort, he didn't push. Her tone was harsh, and just a little too much high-pitched to miss the worry.

*

They reached the city around seven and headed directly to Gwen's apartment.

She was waiting for them, and opened the door as soon as she saw their car parking. Merlin followed her inside, but Arthur stopped Morgana by the arm. Her stare was just one bit too nervous for his taste, so he released her and went straight to the point.
"Maybe we should reschedule diner."

Merlin had been right. He did have changed. She grinned.
"Cold feet?"
"As much as you are."

He had her cornered. He was offering time, or a way out, but if she redrew she looked like she still cared about him, or worse, a coward. Oh, he had changed; but not that much… He still loved a challenge. So she made her choice; and damned the consequences.
"What about tomorrow night?"

Arthur released the breath he didn't know he was holding:
"Works for me."
"You're still buying, by the way."

Merlin walked out of the window through which he was looking at them smiling to each other.
"They might not call it a date, but it looks a lot like it."

N/A: Merlin Season 1 DVD Box-set is released tomorrow in Canada!!! Can't wait :)