Arthur meanwhile was packed and also ready to go, no luggage restrictions for him, but he was careful what he packed, to many times he had lost everything when he had to leave suddenly. Yes was sometimes collected later by the British Consulate at a later date but not always. His expenses didn't cover his made to measure suits but then he was lucky he did substantial independent means. At least most of the time he didn't have to remember a cover story his own high profile life in the UK was normally enough cover, also his face was rather well known through the gossip columns of the tabloids. Hence why he was only used on very select missions, and so far his secret job was unknown even by his opponents. Even his sister and Uncle were unaware of what he did, both thinking he was just was the press depicted him. Arthur knew he wasn't going to continue in his present occupation much longer, recently he had begun to hanker for something other than fleeting relationships and the constant travel. He had no intention of dying in the job, at least not if he could help it. He had had several near misses in the past and knew his luck wouldn't hold out forever if he continued in espionage. Once at the airport Arthur went straight to the first class waiting area and booked in for his flight to Turkey where he would then drive into Iraq. He cut quite a picture in his dark suit, white shirt and trademark red tie.
"Business or pleasure Sir" the check in staff inquired
"Oh pleasure of course" he smiled at the young woman who clearly knew just who he was "I haven't been to Turkey for a while"
"I hope you enjoy your stay Sir"
"If not I can soon move on" Arthur grinned "At least it's warmer than here at the moment" he was playing the playboy image up.
Merlin was travelling economy class to Turkey where he would be joining a Charity convoy of medical supplies into Syria. They may have been on the same plane but were worlds apart. Merlin had already queued for his check in and would have a noisy wait for his flight. He had also already been there for over an hour. He was trying to grab a tea before the flight knowing that the British style tea from now on would be a luxury he would be lucky to have. He hoped that he had a quiet seat on the flight as it would be nice to get the extra peace before flying into what was after all a war zone.
As the plane landed in Turkey Arthur was off and on his way, well rested from his flight, before Merlin had even managed to get out of his seat. Unfortunately his wish for peace hadn't materialised as he was sat with a family with young children who were going back to visit their family in Turkey. Although he loved children, he was a paediatric doctor after all, he had found sitting next to small children on a plane not the easiest of journeys. He had had juice spilt on him and hadn't managed to get even a small peaceful moment in the nearly four hour flight and felt exhausted. As soon as he disembarked he found someone from the charity waiting for him. It seemed there were several staff on the plane he had been on. He was soon on the way to the depot where he would depart from in the Lorries taking the medical supplies. They would be leaving for Syria the next morning. At least now Merlin would get to meet some of the new staff he would be working with.
As soon as Arthur landed in Turkey he picked up his hire car and drove across the border to Iraq and on to Tabriz where he met up with a contact who told him where they thought Valiant was. Arthur then waited for the early evening when he headed out to the bazaar were he hoped to find his target. Getting his gun out from the compartment in his hand luggage, x ray proof of course, he placed it in the holster he worn under his jacket. The cut of the jacket and the slim design of the gun made sure it was undetectable by eye. He was now in a pair of jeans and a t shirt instead of the suit he normally favoured after all a bazaar was the place to be casual. It took him an hour to spot the target then he carefully followed him, the plan being to find out who Valiant was dealing with before retrieving the documents.
Arthur wasn't surprised in the least when Valiant met up with another man, well known by sight and reputation to Arthur. Helios had been a feature of the Middle East underworld for several years. But having the two of them together would just make life more interesting. Helios also had extensive interests in people trafficking as well as drugs. Arthur kept a close eye out for Helios known assassin and enforcer Myror. It looked like Arthur would need his wits about him this time.
Merlin was travelling in a truck along with the driver and another doctor, a pleasant woman by the name of Isolde who had decide to try something different from the life as an Casualty doctor in London. This was her first trip with the charity and she was looking forward to it as well as apprehensive about the posting of Syria, although she had volunteered. She appeared a tough character and was very keen to help those in great need. Although she told Merlin she wasn't looking forward to the strict dress code she would have to adhere to. But she was sensible enough to know not to buck against it. Admitting that at least covering up in the heat wasn't a bad thing. Talking to her Merlin realised she had a good depth of knowledge and a cool head on her, he was looking forward to working with her. Both her parents had volunteered before they married and settled down but had only two years earlier both died together in a car crash.
Merlin found himself telling her about his mother Hunith who was a doctor who worked in inner London, but before she found herself pregnant with Merlin, had worked for the Red Cross in War zones. To his surprise he also found himself telling her that he had never known his father, who had also been an aid worker, who had disappeared, believed kidnapped when working in Africa with his mother. He never even knew Hunith was pregnant when he went missing. No sign of him had ever been found, but it had never put Merlin off of his desire to help those in direst need.
They were pleased to find that they were working in the same area and would be seeing each other. Merlin was also pleased but not surprised to find Gwaine there when he arrived at his new home. The Irishman had a habit of turning up in the same places a Merlin. Gwaine claimed it was destiny, but Merlin thought it was some sort of plan. Gwaine was a nurse and had given himself the job of Merlin's bigger brother ever since they had met up on Merlin's first job for Doctors without borders. He was a gregarious man who was fun to be with and in the right situation love a good drink, he could find alcohol in the strictest of countries, where it shouldn't even be obtainable but he was careful never to get caught. He had also never turned up to work drunk, although Merlin felt that was more because of his legendary capacity rather than anything else. Gwaine was a ladies man through and through and never stayed with one long enough to get attached.
With Gwaine and Isolde for company Merlin felt sure he would have some good times when he had rare time off duty. That was until he saw who his team leader was, Edwin Muirden, a man who had gone up through the ranks at an unbelievable speed. He had a habit of getting the praise for things other had achieved, and wasn't slow to push his mistakes off on others. Merlin thought he was a weasel of a man and hated working with him. When he was child he had got caught in a house fore that had killed both of his parents and had suffered facial burns that left him disfigured. It had also left him with a huge chip on his shoulder and wasn't someone Merlin would have ever thought would want to work in the conditions they did. Merlin tried to tell himself that there must be some good in the man, but he just hadn't found it yet. Edwin also seemed to know Agravaine well and Merlin always thought you looked at a man's fiends to see their true character.