Sorry this wasn't up yesterday. I couldn't finish it because I had (have) the worst headache ever. My eyes feel like they're trying to escape my skull! But it's better now so here's the next chapter!

Enjoy!

Base Hospital

18th November 1916

The Battle of the Somme ended today. I can't stop worrying about my fellow stretcher-bearers out there. And the troops of course. This is already the worst Battle of the war. Hundreds of thousands have been reported dead.

The doctors say that I'm lucky to be alive. When the bomb dropped in front of me a shell fragment embedded itself in my stomach. They're surprised I haven't caught gangrene yet. They don't say that but I can see it in their eyes when they take the bandages off to change them. Actually every man in the room with me as gotten better quicker than they thought. I wonder why?

Ok. I did it.

I can't stand them being in pain. Also, the smell of the gas* was making me want to throw up. Anyway, what's the point of being skilled in healing magic if I'm not going to use it?

The man on one side of me is called Robert. His blond head was dirty with a grimace of pain on his face. He lost his leg when he was standing closer to the bomb than I was. Not the same bomb, he came in yesterday. He was in so much pain and the dreaded stench was already leaking out of his bandages. So, I made sure no-one was looking and cast a spell. Today - he opened his eyes and asked where breakfast was.

It was so much like Arthur I had to stop myself from yelping. I had searched his face for any sign of my friend. But no. It wasn't him.

I just thought that finally he had returned. But perhaps that's too much to ask.

On a happy note - the nurses are really nice. They always have a smile on their faces (even if it was forced), they only dropped the smile when they were working hard to save someone leg, arm... life.

Whenever they walk up to me, a look of relief washed over their faces. Maybe it's because they always see me last on their shift or because I make them laugh with my antics. I don't know. But I'm glad if it's the latter. They need to relax. Working here puts a lot of strain on your shoulders. They start at six in the morning, finish at six at night.

One of the nurses - Jenny - likes to sit with me when she finishes her shift. She listens to me talk and adds her own comments now and again. I try to encourage her to talk more but it didn't take long for me to realise that she just wished to escape from this nightmare called nursing. She used my stories as that escape. When she sat down her shoulders would be tense, when she stood up they were relaxed.

I'm glad I could help. Although now more nurses have taken to talking to me when they get the chance. I think the other men are getting jealous.

21st November 1916

Alistair came today. He had survived the last couple of the days of the battle and had a few days off before being transferred. He decided to come to see how I was doing.

He couldn't stop saying "sorry" for not noticing it earlier. He had thought the blood on me was just the solider's, it was only when I went to go up again that he saw it dripping from me.

I just told him that I was surprised I hadn't noticed it. I made a couple of jokes about my stupidity (which he immediately denied) and he was smiling again.

"What do you write in that book?"

"Huh?" Merlin looked round and saw Robert propped up on an elbow, watching him.

"That book," he said, pointing at the journal in Merlin's lap, "What do you write in it?"

Merlin stared at him for a moment before looking down at the journal and his scribbled words. "I..." What could he say? If he said it was his journal the man might start teasing and want to read it. That would be disastrous. Merlin was nearly at the end of this one and it goes all the way back to the 1870's. But prehaps' he was just reacting to the feeling that this was Arthur. Even if he had tried to convince himself that it wasn't. Robert's face shape wasn't the same, he wasn't as built up as Arthur. Actually, the only likeness was the hair. He wasn't Arthur.

Nodding to himself, Merlin decided to tell the truth and hope that he wouldn't begin to tease. "It's my journal," Then he added quickly, "I'm recording the war," Surely that would keep him from trying to look at it.

Robert frowned and looked down at the journal again. Then he said something Merlin had not expected, "Aye, I got one too,"

Merlin's eyebrow shot up in surprise, "Really?" He couldn't remember Robert ever writing anything in anything before.

Robert chuckled at his expression, "Well, it got left behind in the trenches with me leg,"

"Oh," They watched each other for a minute. Merlin had no response to that.

"What did you do then? In the trenches, I mean, what was your job?" Robert asked.

"I was - am - a stretcher-bearer," Merlin answered, he watched as Robert's face turned from one of mild curiosity to respect.

"Really?" Robert grinned, "It was thanks to a stretcher-bearer that I still have me other leg - and me life, for that matter," He continued to smile for a moment then added, "I can go back to me family now,"

"Family? You have children?" Merlin asked a smile lighting up his face.

"Aye, I have two girls and a boy. Then my wife of course," His eye's filled for such love for them that Merlin felt his heart ache. He thought of Freya, his own love. He wouldn't have that family. Even if he had settled down he would have to have seen them grow old and leave him.

"How old are the children?" Merlin asked.

Robert quite happily talked about his family for a while. Merlin lapping up everything. He understood completely about the needing to talk to someone that the nurses got from him. When Robert asked if he had family, Merlin considered for a moment before answering, "No,"

The simple answer seemed to make Robert pause but after a few more question's from Merlin he continued to talk.

They only stopped their conversation to watch another solider being wheeled in. He had shell-shock and a shot wound to the arm.

Merlin made a mental note to help him when the lights went out.

AN: Everyone glad he's alive? I actually considered killing him for a minute before I realised I would have no sequel if I did.

I was thinking that I could go back and edit all the chapters so are like these one's - without Merlin writing. I just had loads of ideas to pop in. Make it an easier read aswell. But probably not do that until I'm finished this story first. I'll do it in the couple of day's before sequel! (Yes! I'm having a break before posting it!)

What did you think of this chapter then? Please review! :D

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin! *gasp* It hasn't changed!

:D Update of my baby brother if you're interested: he's coming home today! YAY! His lungs are fine now and he's out of neo-natal. We're gonna have a baby in the house! :D

*Gas gangrene (nice thing to * after baby news... o.O)