sorry this has been a bit later than the past 2 updates, i'm trying to make them more regular, but i'm currently on holiday, so getting time to write is very limited when you're crammed in with 4 other people 24/7!
not sure what to make of this chapter, it's a bit of a filler, but i hope it satisfies you for a week :)
Chapter 11
"ARTHUR!"
Arthur had heard Merlin scream his name, and he had whipped his head up, trying to see over Gwen. He had just been able Merlin struggling against officer Elyan, and had tried to push himself off the stretcher. But he had forgotten he was fucking strapped down. He had twisted viciously, with his head hitting against the stretcher repeatedly as he had tried to struggle free. Merlin was obviously in trouble, and Arthur couldn't help him. Gwen had put her hand on his shoulder and pushed him firmly back down onto the stretcher.
"Sir, please stay calm or we will have to sedate you" Gwaine threw both of his arms across Arthur's thighs, in an attempt to restrain him.
He could feel the pain licking at his senses, trying to push its way to the front of his thoughts. He closed his eyes and tried to breathe through it. He relaxed his body, and Gwen took her hand from his shoulder and continued to check him over, her fingers skimming lightly over his ribs, but Gwaine's arms still stayed firmly pressed across his legs.
"ARTHUR!"
Merlin had cried out again, and Arthur had tried to bolt upright, the straps across his body going taught. Gwaine had pressed down harder, and Arthur had got desperate, fixing Gwaine with a chilling stare.
"Let. Go. Of .Me. NOW"
Gwaine just looked at him; brows furrowed, as if trying to work out why Arthur was so angry, as if trying to read the words Merlin had painted on his soul, then gave him a small grin.
"Sorry mate, any other day, that would have had me wetting myself, cause to be honest, you look like you could beat the crap out of me. But, if you hadn't noticed you're strapped down." He raised an eyebrow and his grin widened. Gwaine slowly moved his arms away, palms flat out, obviously ready to pin Arthur down again if he was going to be difficult.
"Now are you going to lie still?" Arthur just scowled at him. Gwaine gave him a pat on the leg. "Don't worry, you shouldn't be in hospital for more than a few days, and I'm sure your friend with come visit you"
Arthur just scowled a hell of a lot harder. Was this guy fucking serious? He was wasn't he? He was bloody oblivious, his friend was screaming his name, screaming for his help, and this guy was just sat here fucking patting his leg like he was some lame horse.
"Listen, you fucking idiot! My friend is in trouble! Can't you bloody see! So don't try to get me to calm down!" Arthur roared at Gwaine.
Gwen startled backwards, her hands jumping from their assessment. Gwaine's jaw tightened, and his eyes went cold and hard, and he turned swiftly away from Arthur. He moved over to Gwen and they both murmured to each other, heads bent, ignoring him. He growled, and ignored them in turn.
"Let me go! For god's sake it's not mine! Officer, please!"
Arthur tried to twist his head to the sound of Merlin's voice, closer than before, but he felt a sharp sting in the crease of his elbow. He looked down and saw a needle piercing the skin, and he raised his eyes, following the hand that pushed to plunger up to its owner.
Gwen gave him just a small twitch of her lips, her eyes looking wary but sad. "I'm sorry. It's for your own good."
He heard footsteps coming closer still, and then a scuffle of feet by his head. His vision dimmed and his focus grew blurry as he looked up. Merlin was pushing back against officer Elyan as he tried to move him along, back towards the way they had come, back towards the station.
Arthur's eyes flashed to Merlin's wrists, clasped behind his back in handcuffs. There was no time to say what he wanted to, to ask what had happened, to help. It was all happening so fast, and he was too late.
As the blackness closed in, Arthur locked his gaze with Merlin's. He saw the fear in the ice blue, and he tried to show Merlin all that he didn't have time to say.
Merlin stared back, looking more and more terrified. Officer Elyan gave Merlin a hard shove, and he stumbled forward, moving further away from Arthur.
As the dark covered the last of his sight, Arthur cried out.
"I'll find you, I promise!"
Officer Elyan had held Merlin in check as he struggled against the handcuffs, the cold metal had rubbed against his wrists, had left dull red lines slashed across the pale skin.
He had pressed Merlin's hands up into the small of his back, giving him no choice but to walk. He had shuffled slowly, fighting the officer every step of the way, fighting to stay closer to Arthur.
"ARTHUR!"
He had cried out a second time, trying to see Arthur beyond the paramedics who were crouched around him. Merlin had slowed, and twisted to the side, unnoticed by officer Elyan, and as he had tried to push Merlin forward, they had stumbled and fallen. Merlin had landed hard, pain shooting up his side, but he could see Arthur, strapped down, scowling at the paramedic, Gwaine. He had heard Arthurs voice, leached of all warmth, as he had threatened him. Arthur's face had been laced with fury and Merlin had felt an answering fury rise in his own. Though he had not seen his face, Merlin had seen Gwaine's shoulders tighten as he turned away from Arthur and towards Gwen.
Officer Elyan had pulled him roughly to his feet, and he had felt a dull throbbing in his foot, meaning he had to walk slowly, even with Elyan forcing him forwards. Perfect. Yet every step was taking him closer to Arthur, and yet further away. Every step was a step closer to the end of everything.
"Let me go! For god's sake it's not mine! Officer, please!"
He dragged his feet, making his steps slower and slower, until he a shuffle of feet let him look down upon Arthur. He pushed against officer Elyan as he tried to move him on, and in that second he took in the needle in Arthur's arm and his eyes widened in fear. He stared into Arthurs eyes, trying in vain to cover how scared he was.
Officer Elyan pushed him forwards, and he lurched past Arthur, only just managing to keep his feet under him. He craned his neck back over his shoulder, trying to keep Arthur in his sights. The further he was forced to walk the harder it was to see Arthur. Merlin was terrified this would be the last time he would see him. As Merlin strained his neck for a final glimpse of Arthur, he heard him cry out.
"I'll find you, I promise!"
Merlin felt tears sting the corner of his eyes, and his whole body sagged as he let officer Elyan lead him meekly to the station. His head felt heavy on his shoulders, as if all the emotions he had kept welled up were suddenly bearing down on him, too much to cope. He closed his eyes and let his head sag forwards, cool teardrops running down his face and dripping off the end of his nose. He felt officer Elyan manoeuvre him up the station steps, and Merlin blinked his eyes open, watching the tiles of the reception retreat under his shoes. Black, white, black, white, black, white. He heard a cell door swing open and he was unceremoniously hauled inside. He shuffled listlessly to the nearest wall. Officer Elyan paused, and Merlin could feel his eyes on him, but he never once looked up. The officer sighed and the sounds of his footsteps faded as he left the cell. The door clanged shut as Merlin slid slowly down the cell wall. His body curled in on itself, broken and weak, knees to his chest, face tucked in tight as he sat there and howled.