One morning a few days after Arthur had given up his job the doorbell rang. Arthur went to answer it expecting it to be Dr Kilgarrah at the door. Instead he found himself confronted by a very angry Uther.
"What the hell are you doing you fool!" Uther shouted at Arthur.
"You'd better come in." Arthur not wanting to upset Merlin took Uther to the bodyguard's office before he could ask his father what the problem was Uther spoke once more.
"You idiot! What on earth possessed you to give up you firm? You're only forty you have years left; you would have been made a high court judge soon. Just because you've got yourself tangled up with that man, you throw everything away. He's no good to you, put him away somewhere and get on with your life." By now Uther was red faced and angry.
"What are you talking about father? I love Merlin, just because he's ill I won't desert him. He's unwell because of me don't forget." Arthur was taken aback by his father's attack before he could say more Uther spoke again:
"You can't walk away from everything for him. He's weak and no good. See sense my boy, get rid of him." Uther seemed unaware of the effects his words were having on Arthur who opened the office door
"Get out! And don't come back. This time I disown you, don't ever come here again!" with that he saw Percy. "Escort Uther off the premises and don't ever let him back" Arthur was livid.
Uther stepped out of the room and spotted who was just coming out of the lounge.
"You Pervert! This is your fault; you've ruined my son's life. They didn't do a good enough job; you should have died instead of coming back and dragging Arthur down! You deserved everything you got." he shouted pointing at Merlin. Uther had lost all control.
Merlin looked at Uther in horror and put his hands over his ears. He turned round, stumbled and fell to his knees. "I'm sorry, you're right… my fault." he sobbed all the horrors came flooding back to him as he saw the angry man shouting at him and shaking his fist. With that several things happened at once.
Gwaine stepped out from behind Merlin and pinned Uther against the wall by his throat "You bastard! What the fuck are you doing!" His face made Uther pause worried for his safety.
Isolde left Merlin's side and leapt at Uther her teeth aiming for Uther's leg. Uther kicked out sending the small dog flying through the air.
Arthur ran to Merlin's side and fell down next to him holding the younger man to his chest.
Percy came round the corner scooped up Isolde and put her into the office out of harm's way and then went to Uther.
Together with Gwaine he manhandled Uther out of the bungalow. Gwaine pushed the older man against his car. "If you ever come here again I will rearrange your face, you bastard. No one speaks to Merlin like that, now get out of here while you still can!" with that he turned and went back to check on his friend.
Percy looked down at Uther. "You'd better hope you haven't hurt that little dog or I'll find you. As Gwaine said don't come back, Merlin's like a little brother to us and we protect our own." Somehow coming from Percy the quiet words carried more of a threat than Gwaine's. Uther got into his car and left. Percy went back indoors to see if he was needed.
Arthur and Gwaine got Merlin to his feet and sat him in an arm chair. Merlin was muttering to himself and cringing as if the two men were going to hurt him. In his mind he was back in the room that had been his prison for so long. In those few seconds of anger Uther had brought all Merlin's inner worries to the fore. Whenever he had his down periods he was always tormented by the feeling that he had been to blame for his capture, and if he had tried to escape none of what followed would have happened. He also felt that he should have let himself die instead of fighting them, that way Arthur would not have to cope with him now. Uther in those few seconds of anger had confirmed his fears he had been wrong it was his entire fault.
Nothing Arthur or Gwaine could do would calm Merlin. Even Hunith when she came through couldn't get through to him. He seemed to think Hunith was a ghost come to torment him. In the end they left him alone and kept an eye on him from a distance. The physiatrist was on his way
It was about an hour later when Dr Kilgarrah finally arrived. Percy opened the drive gates and let him in then briefly told him what had happened. Isolde was the only one Merlin would let near him, the little dog has ran straight to him as soon as she had been let out of the office. Merlin was staring into space and refused to speak. Arthur was looking in horror at Gwaine as Dr Kilgarrah and Percy came through the door.
Dr Kilgarrah knelt down and moved towards Merlin, talking to him all the time. He slowly got closer and managed to check the young man over quickly for any sign of injury. Merlin looked at him with a blank expression on his face. After establishing that Merlin was now calm enough to accept them near, him he asked Percy to carry Merlin into the bedroom so he could examine the shocked man properly. Arthur by now was to shocked himself to be any help.
Arthur and the others sat in the kitchen waiting for the doctor to come out. It was over a half hour later that Dr Kilgarrah came to find them. He pulled out a chair and sat down. Percy stood up to leave but Arthur told him to stay.
"I know what happened Percy told me. It has pushed Merlin over the edge I'm afraid. He seems to have gone into a Depressive catatonic state. I need to admit him to hospital for some tests and if it is as I think, we can start treatment. Merlin's not reacting to anything at the moment he withdrawn himself from the world." He paused before continuing."I could admit him to a private clinic in London if you prefer. That way the bodyguards will be able to stay."
Arthur nodded to upset to say anything. Gwaine however did think of something:
"Can Isolde go with him? She helps him, and when he does come round he'll be devastated if she's not there."
Dr Kilgarrah considered the request for a moment. "I see no reason why not as long as the bodyguards care for her. We can consider her as a medical assistance dog. Although Merlin doesn't appear to know what's happening he may well be more aware than we think. Now I will arrange a private ambulance. Go and sit with him Arthur." The doctor felt for the couple they had been through so much together.
Within an hour Merlin was on his was to London. Hunith stayed home and would visit Merlin later when he was settled. After the ambulance had left Hunith called Morgana as Arthur had requested. She told Arthur's sister what had happened and where Merlin had been taken. Morgana was upset to hear what her father had done. As soon as she had put the phone down she called her father and they had a row. Uther insisting he had been wrongly treated and had meant well, wanting to save his son from himself. In the end Morgana told him she didn't want to see him and not to visit unless she contacted him first.
Once Merlin had been admitted to the private clinic Dr Kilgarrah organised various tests and investigations to rule out any organic cause for Merlin's collapse. Once they were done Merlin was put on more drugs and started ECT. Arthur was horrified but Dr Kilgarrah convinced him it was a valid treatment. After two weeks Merlin was allowed to go home. He was far from being well but he would be better at home.