Chapter 10

"Come on, Merlin. Some time today would be nice. Stabbed, beaten, burnt or shot?"

"Don't have something a bit quicker, do you?" Merlin swallowed. The gun had taken him off guard. The police had assumed the Druids would want to kill Merlin as slowly and painfully as possible and were going to move in when the attack started so the focus of the gang would be on Merlin entirely and it would be easier for them to apprehend. But with a gun involved, one shot at Merlin and it would all be over so the police would have to fight to arrest the men.

"This would be fastest if I wanted it to be," the man said, looking at his gun again, "But I'm not sure I do. I'm sure we could find a way to combine everything, though. Maybe a shot to the leg, a club to the head, a few kicks to the chest and we'll let the flames do the rest," he mimed each thing as he said it, "How does that sound?"

"You missed the knife," Merlin said. He was being stupid but he didn't know what the police were planning anymore. The gun had flipped everything.

"So I did. I'm sure I'll find somewhere to put it. Or perhaps," he looked at the men, "Seeing as Aredian has the matches, Jarl has the club and Halig will do the beating, Oswald- would you like some knife throwing practice? We'll find something for you to do, don't worry, Ethan. Here," he passed his knife to one of the men, presumably Oswald.

Merlin looked around quickly and was worried that he couldn't see any police men anywhere. Oswald got a good grip on the knife and the main man, whose name Merlin didn't know, raised his gun. "On three, Ossie?"

"On three," he agreed.

"Three," he clicked the safety mechanism off, "Two, one."

Merlin didn't expect to hurt quite as much as it did. He didn't remember falling to the floor but he was suddenly there, hand on his side over a hole and only too aware of a horrible pain in his already bad shoulder. It didn't seem to be bleeding as much as his side. Maybe that was because there was a knife blocking the flow. Merlin wasn't sure. But he could just about see a figure standing over him and tried pathetically to move away. Someone put a foot on his chest and it was enough to stop him moving. But no more attacks came. The police had moved in and there were gunshots firing, tasers going off, shouting echoing everywhere. Merlin just lay where he was, trying to remain calm as he forced himself to breath steadily and keep pressure on his shot wound.

"Merlin? Merlin can you hear me?" Iseldir was kneeling next to him and using his jacket to staunch the bleeding.

Merlin grunted and blinked at him.

"Nod your head for me?"

With great difficulty, Merlin nodded his head a little bit.

"Ok, good. The ambulance will be here soon, don't worry."

"Arthur," Merlin croaked.

"I'll call him once we're safe," Iseldir promised, "I'm so sorry."

"Look after him."

"You're not dying," Iseldir said.

Merlin smiled and coughed. Soon, there were more people surrounding him, asking him to do things or say things or look at them. There were fires blazing around them and fights still going on but Merlin was carefully being transferred onto a stretcher and being pumped with painkillers. There was blood everywhere but he remained conscious. It wasn't often he actually saw the inside of an ambulance despite having travelled in one plenty of times.

At the hospital, the knife was taken from his shoulder and both wounds were sealed in theatre which he was kept awake for. It was all very surreal and very painful. But they didn't want to risk anything going downhill with anaesthetic as it had in the past.

"Alright, Merlin, Arthur's on his way in now, he knows what's happening. I just want to do a few tests with you before he gets here, ok?" a doctor came over and spoke slowly to him.

Merlin nodded.

"Ok, good, thank you." He started off just asking basic things like what his name was and where he was from.

"Can you remember your address?"

Merlin immediately fired off the address of his and Arthur's old house in the city, not where they currently lived. The doctor frowned, "Ok, that's good. Is that the most recent address you know?"

"Yes," Merlin croaked defensively.

"Can you describe the surrounding area to me?"

"In the countryside," Merlin gasped, "Lot's of open space and pretty views."

"Alright. Where do you work Merlin?"

"Hotel."

"A hotel?"

"Albion," Merlin said.

"Who do you work with?"

"All my friends."

"Good. Ok, I'm going to hold your hand, can you squeeze it as hard as you can for me?"

She took hold of the hand on the side of his bad shoulder and looked at him expectantly. Merlin stare at his hand, panic starting to grow in his eyes. "I can't," he breathed after a while.

"It's alright, just lift your fingers up one at a time?"

Merlin tried with all he had. None of his fingers even slightly twitched.

"Don't worry," the doctor said, looking worried. He adjusted the positioning of their hands and said, "I'm going to push against your hand, don't let me push it back."

But Merlin's muscles gave no resistance as the doctor easily twisted his hand back.

"What does that mean?" Merlin asked.

"Can you feel anything?"

Merlin shook his head fearfully.

"We'll get an x-ray and an MRI done to assess the nerve damage. It's very possible that it's just temporary and will heal with your wound. For now," he picked up a metal object, "Close your eyes and tell me when you can feel this."

Merlin turned his head away and closed his eyes, waiting for the prick of the object on his skin. It never came. The doctor told Merlin he could look back and moved Merlin's arm so that from below the elbow it was resting on the bed. "Lift your arm," he requested, "But keep your elbow where it is."

"I can't," Merlin cried.

"Just try for me."

It was useless. Merlin couldn't even so much as tap a finger.

"Alright," the doctor sighed, "We'll strap that arm up for you and let you get some rest. Let me just check your side again."

They were lucky that the shot had veered to one side and not hit any organs. It had been extremely difficult to get under control in terms of bleeding but it wasn't dangerous anymore.

"Ok, that's good. The bleeding has very nearly stopped, we'll increase your fluids. Can I have a look at the back of your head?"

Merlin twisted it to one side so that the door to the room was now in view. His heart leapt. Arthur was standing there, his arms folded across his chest. The grave, terrified look on his face morphed easily into a reassuring smile when he saw that Merlin had seen him.

"That's fine too, just be careful not to move too much to let the staples heal." Merlin's head had hit the concrete with some force when he'd fallen backwards and because of the positioning of the cut, it had to be stapled closed rather than stitched.

"Right, I know you're probably exhausted but just bear with me two more minutes while I find someone to dress your shoulder."

"Can Arthur come in?"

"Of course, I just want a quick word with him first."

Merlin nodded and watched intently as the doctor walked over to Arthur and spoke to him quietly but urgently.

"Well," Arthur said as he came over, "Not exactly the result we were hoping for but it could have been worse."

Merlin smiled drowsily, "What took you so long?"

Arthur stroked his cheek gently, "I had things to sort out with the police. I'm sorry."

"I'm scared," Merlin said, "My arm-"

"It's fine, it'll get better."

"I can't only have one leg and one arm," Merlin said tearfully.

"Wait until we get the results back from the tests," Arthur advised, "I'm so proud of you, you know. What you did today was so brave."

"Did it pay off?"

"The police arrested the five men who were left. They're talking to the others about how everything will work. You did so well. How are you feeling?"

"Tired. Sore."

"They were worried about how much blood you were losing," Arthur said.

"I know. I've never seen how terrified people look when they're looking after me in an emergency before. It's mildly entertaining."

"Not at the time," Arthur reminded him, "Were you really awake for all of it?"

"Every second. It's weird."

"I bet it is."

"Have you told anyone?"

"Not yet. But it'll be all over the news soon enough, the police won't be able to keep the media at bay for long."

"Should we tell everyone before they start piecing everything together based on the news?"

"Probably. I'll do it later. What do you want me to say?"

"Just explain everything as best you can."

"That'll be fun," Arthur softened suddenly, "I'm so glad you're alive. I was terrified."

Merlin smiled, "It was the only thing I could do."

"I know. I can't believe the police didn't move in at the first mention of a gun, though."

"You know why they couldn't. Putting me in direct danger kept them safer. Was anyone else hurt?"

"One of the police got a gun wound in his leg from what I heard but that's it. One of the Druids managed to set fire to something but it was put out quickly."

"Why are you so annoyed?"

"You could have died."

"That was the point. It had to look genuine."

"But it didn't have to be genuine. It was a stupid plan!"

"It was all we could have done in the time we had. Otherwise someone else could have been hurt."

"I know. But they must have known Annie's gun was missing or stolen. Why didn't they tell us?"

"Hey," Merlin soothed, "It's fine. I'm still alive, the Druids are over, we've got new staff members. Thank you for agreeing to take them on."

"We'll see what everyone else says. Only you would see the good in people who were trying to kill you, though."

"They've had no opportunities in their life," Merlin said, "They've never seen good. Why wouldn't I give them the opportunity to change that?"

"You are an amazing man," Arthur kissed him, "I'm so proud of you."

"Excuse me," a nurse came up behind Arthur, "I need to dress your shoulder wound."

Arthur moved around to the other side of the bed and made Merlin keep eye contact with him while the nurse did what she needed to. At one point she offered painkillers before apparently remembering Merlin couldn't feel anything anyway and didn't speak a word for the rest of the time she was there. The wound looked gruesome. It was bloody and swollen and tinged green with infection.

It was obviously becoming increasingly difficult for Merlin to stay awake. He'd been through hours of pain and trauma, lost far too much blood and was being supplied with mountains of drugs. The adrenaline was finally starting to wear off and the medication was taking hold. Arthur held his hand tightly, eyes flicking between the nurse cleaning Merlin's shoulder and his husbands face. Merlin was pale and sweaty. His eyes which had been alert when Arthur first arrived, were unfocused and glossy but pinched with pain at the corners. Both his hair and the pillow behind his head were stained red from the wound.

Before he could fall asleep, the nurse wrapped his arm up in a sling to protect it from further damage and then placed an oxygen mask over his face. "Just for while he sleeps," she assured Arthur.

"When will we know about his arm?"

"If you agree to it, we'll take him for the scans while he's asleep. The results will be back fairly quickly after that."

Arthur nodded, "I think it's probably best that you do it while he can't worry about it. Is there somewhere quiet I can sit to make a few phone calls?"

The nurse nodded, "Of course, follow me."

Once Arthur was in a little room by himself, he took a few moments to calm down. The doctor told him that Merlin was confused and would be for some time. He'd forgotten simple things and got it all mixed up. And his arm… Merlin would be heartbroken if he didn't regain movement and feeling in it. But the deepness of the wound and the infection on top of it made it verge on the side of unlikely.

Arthur was furious with the police. The plan had been Merlin's idea and it had all made sense. He'd hated the prospect of it but Merlin was adamant not to let anyone else get hurt unnecessarily. He'd come up with the plan so that he would be the only one at any risk, just how the Druids would want it. It would give the police the advantage of surprise when they moved in and make arresting the men easy. That was all arranged under the assumption the police would stop the attack at the very first sign of violence. There was no way the police didn't know there was a chance the Druids had a gun. So not only had they let Merlin's idea take place but they'd not even warned them of the threat at all. And, by the sounds of Iseldir's report, the ambulance which had been on standby was so far away, there had been at least five minutes where Merlin lay on the ground, bleeding out in the middle of a fight.

He decided to call his sister first so she could maybe send out a few reassuring messages while Arthur contacted Merlin's family who he felt needed to know most urgently.

"Morgs, have you seen the news yet?"

"No, why?"

"Ok, good. Look, erm, you know yesterday how that poor man got beaten to death."

"Yes."

"Well, the Druids were responsible for it and Merlin felt awful because it's him they're after."

"What did he do?"

Arthur explained everything that had happened, the deal they'd made with those who were willing and Merlin's current condition.

Morgana was silent for a while as she absorbed it all, "Do you think we can trust these people to work for us?"

"Merlin's determined to let them try. They're under caution from the police, they'll be monitored and watched closely but not patronised or abused. We have to let them try to prove themselves. Anything from us to make them turn against us would ruin everything. We treat them the same as the rest of your staff. But maybe keep them away from Gwaine."

"You should have talked to us."

"There wasn't time to. They could have hurt so many more people by then and you all would have just told Merlin not to go."

"You should have."

"I did. But he was right, Morgs. They had to be stopped and the police were too slow. You should be proud of him."

"He's lost all feeling and movement in his arm! And he was shot!"

"Morgana, tell me you wouldn't have done the same."

"I wouldn't. I'm far too much of a coward."

"He'll be alright. They're getting scans and tests done now."

"I can't believe you were going to let him run off and die without saying anything to us."

"Morgs-"

"I know, I know."

"Can you message the group chat? Just say if they've watched the news, Merlin was involved in the accident but he's going to be fine and I'll call everyone to explain once I've contacted his family."

"Of course."

"Thanks, I'll call you back later." Arthur made a very similar call to Hunith, explained everything and gave her all the details before leaving her to think over everything and promising to call her that night with the results of her test and to make sure she was ok. Then came the calls to all his friends. Lance and Elyan were easy to tell, Gwaine less so. He was beyond angry with Arthur for letting Merlin attempt something so stupid. Arthur just let him shout and rant, sort of agreeing with him, sort of not.

By the time he'd called everyone, Merlin was back in his bay in A&E, waiting for the results of the tests so he could be sent to a relevant ward to be treated. He was still asleep, having been sedated to get him through the scans and everything without panic and to make sure he did get some proper rest. Arthur sat by his side, holding his good hand gently and messaging his friends on his phone.

"Arthur?" Merlin's doctor came back over, "Have you got a second?"

"Of course."

The doctor showed him a picture of a scan on his tablet and talked him through it, "So the damage is extensive it would take a couple of operations to repair as much as we can and then it's just down to hoping."

"Right."

"We can get the first operation done now, the theatre's free. So if you give permission, we can take him now while he's sedated and sleepy and on painkillers so we don't need anaesthetic."

"Is that safe?"

"It'll be fine."

Arthur nodded, "Alright. Do I need to sign anything?"

The doctor nodded, "I'll bring it over."

Several hours passed in a blur and soon Arthur was making his way to a new ward where Merlin would be staying. Being in a hospital barely even phased him anymore. It was just like second nature. And because Merlin's life wasn't in danger, he felt a lot more calm than usual. Although he was worried about his arm. Losing use of it would be devastating but it was, unfortunately, looking likely.

"You're awake," Arthur said in surprise when he arrived in Merlin's little room.

Merlin smiled groggily.

"Are you super high and loopy, then?"

Merlin hummed, "I can't feel my arm," he said.

"You probably can't feel anything, can you?"

"Not really. Is my arm still there?" he asked, "They haven't taken it away like they took my leg?"

"No, gorgeous. They're not going to take it away."

"I'd be wonky, then. Missing an arm on one side and a leg on the other."

Arthur smiled at him, "What have the doctors said?"

"Doctors?"

"About the surgery," Arthur clarified.

"Oh. I don't know."

"Ok, I'll ask someone."

"You're going?" Merlin looked heartbroken.

"Just to the nurse's station," Arthur promised.

"No," Merlin begged.

"Ok, alright. I'll stay.