A/N: Denial is good.

Chapter 14

The surroundings were blurred. More than the fuzzy shapes, it was the colors that got to her. They were all faded, undefined, sloppy mixture of grey and pale green. It was probably daylight, but she could not see any sun. She was not even sure where the sky was. The air was so thick around her it felt like breathing water. Her lungs protested in the effort. She tried to move. Her feet were glued to an indistinct floor. Panic took over. She opened her mouth to call for Arthur. Mud and rooting algae disgusting taste and smell invaded her senses. Her stomach was tight in burning nods. Nausea engulfed her, clogging her throat. Darkness was already claiming her. Help!

Morgana popped up, her eyes searching her surroundings frantically. Her grip on the cushion tightened while she fought the urge to scream. She was in bed. She was home; safe. It was a nightmare, just a nightmare... Shaking, Morgana clutched the pillow to her chest, taking deep breathes until she felt her pulse calmed down gradually and the drumming in her ears finally quietened.

She tried to remember her actions, to get a grasp on reality. Jenny had left around lunch hour, with a check and tons of compliments about the fireplace; afterwards she had filed the required certificate and cleared her snack leftovers; then she had started updating their budget…

Her computer lay upside down near her on the blanket. Morgana picked it up and saw her email alert was active. She had three new messages, one from Arthur, one from Gwen, and one from Godefroi.

She opened the last one first. It amused her every time to read her mentor's flourished style. She needed the distraction right now. This particular message was short:

'My Dear Lady,

Maybe the mystery is solved. Allow me the pleasure of a visit atyour convenience.
Your eternally devoted,

Godefroi.

Morgana beamed, bad dream forgotten, and grabbed her phone.

"Hi Arthur, it's me, guess what! I got a message from Godefroi, he thinks he knows where the next crystal is!… Oops, hi, Merlin… Why are you answering Arthur's cell phone?... Oh. Oh, okay… How are you doing?… Can you tell him to call me later?... No, no, I'm still in Camelot… Of course I miss you… Ciao!"

Shutting off the phone, she stood and stretched. It was dark now, and… Ah, yes, still raining.

Arthur was meeting with their client for another and hopefully (Merlin dixit) last check before they started on the piers consolidation the following week. He had transferred his calls to Merlin, so she was not to hit his voicemail… The tactful thought warmed her and saddened her a little at the same time. If they had the same weather in Wales, Arthur would walk back to the office completely drenched...

Before gloom grabbed her again, Morgana decided she would spend some of the evening in the kitchen, checking on paint samples for the bedroom without risking falling asleep again. After weeks of hesitation, she finally knew what she wanted: earthy colors, brown and sand; the frame of the windows and the doors would be white and they would buy dark wood traditional-style furniture. Maybe a four-poster bed, like the one they had in Cornwall at the bed & breakfast. They would hang paintings by local artists on the walls, with bright colors. Very pleased with herself, Morgana picked up her laptop, her phone, and headed down for a late tea.

Comfortably installed with her cup and a welcome slice of sweet bread, she checked her other emails. Arthur was explaining about the meeting and the call transferring, in his typical brief-sentences style. How he managed to turn consideration into those bossy sassy comments was beyond her understanding. She grinned at her screen anyhow and glimpsed at her silent phone with a sigh. Gwen's email was a bit longer.

From: Gwen
To: Morgana

Hi!

The clinic called about your check-up test results. They could not reach you so they called me instead. They want you to get in touch as soon as possible. What's the matter? They didn't say anything!
Doctor wanted to see you again so I booked you on Tuesday morning. I'm really worried, what's wrong? You didn't say anythingabout not feeling well!
You'd better call me today or I'll phone Arthur and we both know how he is going to react.

Kisses,

Gwen

PS: Call me now!

Oh God. Morgana checked the clock. It was past five already, but the clinic had a 24h number. She picked up the phone to call the medical center. And then she called Gwen.

Arthur wiped the water of his face impatiently. His hands were just as wet, so he didn't see much of an improvement with the gesture. Rain had soaked his jacket, and now, his shirt too was becoming uncomfortable, sticking to his skin and itchy. His jeans were heavy and glued to his legs. He was sure he was hearing suction with every step he took. His client was more or less at the same soggy state, but apparently his enthusiasm was keeping him warm; enthusiasm Arthur definitely lacked at the moment. His fingers were nearly numb with cold.

While the guy chatted happily about masonry stones and parapets, Arthur discreetly checked his cell phone. He had one transferred call, identified as Camelot; Morgana.

If she hadn't checked her emails, Merlin had told her about the meeting, so now she would not call back. She was probably curled in their bed or whirling around the kitchen looking for her favourite tea blend. Maybe she was giving the phone a glance once in a while, sipping her tea and smiling.

With his head bent, more rain dropped from his hair into his eyes and he straightened up. Seriously, he had enough.

"Mr. Grant, I got your point. Be assured we will do the structure justice."

"I'm glad to hear that. I think we're done here. My woman wanted me to come home early; I guess she'll be happy if we call it a day now."

Depends on her notion of early… His woman would not have let him out in a damned storm. Or maybe she would have pushed him outside, if he dared call her that.

"Thanks for making yourself available, Sir."

The overheated truck was another torture. The steam from his humid clothing constantly fogged the glasses and the mirror. He bore it. No way he was opening the windows and let the rain in. The only next pouring he was going to allow on him was going to be hot and coming from a shower. And afterwards, he was going to crash in a chair with a glass of bourbon and call Morgana. He was going to make her talk until Merlin complained about diner, and then he'd call her again so he would drift into sleep to the sound of her voice. Best plan ever.

The phone vibrated on the pillow next to her head. The screen read 'Arthur'. Morgana closed her eyes, hoping it would make it disappeared. She couldn't talk to him right now. Things were too complicated. The insistent buzz forced her to glance again. She pushed the speak-up button on.

'Hi Beautiful.'

A little smile brushed her lips despite her.

"Only Merlin is allowed to call me that. You don't sound like Merlin. Who are you?"

'A very tired man whose girlfriend is too far away. Gosh, I hate rain…'

"It rained all day here too."

Talking about weather was safer grounds…

'Did the sweeper come anyway?'

"Yes, yes the chimney is sound and clear. I took pictures!"

Arthur grinned. He could almost see the proud gleam in her eyes.

"I have the certificate, too."

'That's my girl…'

He took a sip of his drink and let the alcohol warmed his stomach.

'What else did you do while the sky was falling on my head?'

Morgana froze; suddenly glad they hadn't carried on with buying cameras and installing Skype communication software. With only her voice, distorted by the microphone, he could not guess what she was hiding from him.

"Nothing much…"

She described the sweeper, and then she explained about her decorating ideas; had she told him about how strange the girl was? Completely bewitched by chimneys. Oh and Godefroi thought he had solved the next riddle…

Arthur straightened up in his chair. Subjects were bouncing randomly in the conversation and she was talking too fast.

'Morgana are you okay? You sound weird.'

"Of course I'm okay. It's just probably the speaker."

'I don't think so. What's wrong?'

He knew her too well. She hesitated. Morgana heard a noise from his side, a glass hitting a hard surface.

'Tell me what's wrong, Morgana.'

She couldn't. Arthur had to be able to go where his job called him. He wanted simple things with her. Fun. Dates. No strings. Nothing that could ground him. It was too soon. She needed time to figure out how to tell him...

"I am… I'm having nightmares again."

Arthur gripped the phone more tightly as if it could comfort her.

'Tell me.'

She closed up the speaker and picked up the phone.

"I was… I think I was drowning. There were seaweeds and mud and I called for you, but I couldn't breathe…"

Her voice shattered dangerously. He wished he could hold her and cradled her into oblivion.

'Hey, hey, you're fine now, it was just a bad dream... I think I'm going to fill a lawsuit against those new-age believers. Those crystals are not working properly.'

Morgana found back enough of her composure to giggle.

"We'll put Merlin on the case."

'God helps those poor druids then... Hold on a sec, okay?'

He got up to answer the rap on his door. Merlin was mimicking 'food' when he noticed the phone in Arthur's hand. He grabbed it before his friend could react.

"Hello Morgana!... I'm stealing Arthur for diner, do you mind?... Okay, okay, I'll tell him... Love you!"

He hanged up and tossed the phone back at Arthur.

"She said 'enjoy your meal' and that she is going to try to sleep now. She will call you tomorrow once she'll be back in town."

Arthur wondered how bad Gwen would react if he forced Merlin to swallow the damned phone. He was very near to conclude it was worth the risk.