Back at the hospital it was half an hour before people started looking for Merlin, his first case was ready in theatre. They stopped at Gwaine first knowing that Merlin would always check his patients out before going to theatre. Gwaine said he had left sometime before. The toilet bock was checked as was Merlin's room. Then a general search was instigated, but there was no trace anywhere. This went on all day with even the outside areas being checked. All of Merlin's possessions were in his room and there was concern he may have been taken as a hostage. It wouldn't have been the first time such a thing had happened. Security was increased and the local authorities informed.
Gwaine was seriously worried knowing that if Merlin had gone anywhere he would have told him first. The new supervisor, Trevor Iseldir, who had arrived when the transport had come for Arthur and Edwin was doing his best to find out what happened. He was an experienced member of the Doctors without Borders Charity having worked all over the world for them for a number of years and was confident he could find out what had happened.
By the next day Trevor had started to look through the paperwork for any clues. He found a file on Merlin that suggested Edwin had had the need of several talks with Merlin and that he had suspected the young doctor might be involved in several thefts from Pharmacy and that his performance had been called into question. At the same time the Pharmacist had reported the disappearance of a retrieve bag, as well as three boxes of morphine. Trevor began to wonder if the disappearance and the missing drugs were connected. After all Merlin Emrys wouldn't be the first doctor to turn to drugs with the pressure the staff found themselves under. The new supervisor decided to do some investigating of his own.
At the caves, figuring he had no choice, Merlin knelt down to look at the man's wounds, he had clearly been shot, but several days before. He appeared to have two bullet wounds. Merlin looked round for the light source and saw an old lamp in the corner. "Is that the best light you have? I need more than that if I am to do anything."
More lights were supplied and gave the wounds a thorough assessment before deciding that surgery was the only course of action. Now it was just a case of how and where. He suggested that the man be taken to the hospital only to be told that was impossible and he would have to do what needed to be done in the caves. Merlin checked the retrieve bag to make sure everything was complete and ready for use. More to give himself time to think than anything else. To his surprise he found far more morphine and local anaesthetic than normal and well as other equipment he wouldn't have expected. He began to wonder if this had been planned, and whether Edwin had been involved, why else would he have all these extras. Deciding that speculation wouldn't help him out of his present predicament he asked if there was anywhere more suitable he could do the surgery needed.
After much debate, once again Merlin was pleased he had learnt several languages, they found another cave when there was a large wooden table about the right height. The man was moved onto it and Merlin used as much of the local anaesthetic as he could to numb the area, as well as a hefty dose of Morphine. Cleaning his hands and the patient as best he could Merlin started to operate to locate the bullets and repair the damaged caused. One of the other men, a large and strong one held the patient down at the shoulders until the injured man thankfully passed out. Merlin did what he could, then dressed the wounds and gave the man a dose of wide spectrum intravenous antibiotics from his pack. All he could do know was hope and pray, it had been made clear to him if the patient died so would he. It had been the longest hour and a half of his life, as well as the most unpleasant operation he had ever performed.
The man was moved back to his bed and Merlin was tied up and thrown into a small area off of the main cave, an armed guard watched him. Merlin fell into an uneasy sleep from mental and physical exhaustion. He was kicked awake and taken to the patient having asked to be woken in six hours so he could give another dose of antibiotics and morphine. Merlin carefully checked his patient, who thankfully was still alive and seemed to be more settled, whether from the treatment or the morphine he had had. Once he was happy Merlin was tied up once more and put back in the same area. This time he was given a small cup of dirty looking water and a chunk of some sort local bread. He ate and drank as he had no idea when or if he would be given anymore. Then he curled up to try to conserve his energy, hoping by now he had been missed and that someone had seen who had taken him. He didn't fancy being a hostage and wondered if he was how his mother would cope after what had happened to Merlin's father all those years ago. He hoped that if he saved the man they would return him to the hospital or at least Aleppo.
Merlin continued to be woken every six hours to treat his patient, sometimes he was fed but often he received nothing. He had been taken outside on a couple of occasions to pass urine but otherwise he was left alone. After a full day he took the dressings off to inspect the wound and was pleased to see the signs of infection had gone, and it all looked better than he had expected for such primitive conditions, He continued to give antibiotics, he figured he had enough for a five day course, but decide to reduce the morphine. He hoped he would be released once his patient was better, but was realistic enough to realise that probably wouldn't happen. He had already worked out that the man must be high up in the group of men and that was why he couldn't be taken to a hospital as he would be recognised. Which in turn meant that they wouldn't want it known that he had been injured or where his base was. Merlin did wonder if he could stretch out the treatment to prolong his own life, in the hopes that someone would find him, the snag was he had no idea how to do that safely making sure he kept the man alive as he did so.
Back in London Arthur had been discharged from hospital after having a thorough check, he would need to return for check-ups and later physiotherapy but they were pleased with his surgery, it would be a long slow road back to recovery. The talk he had with Edwin and later his uncle surprised him as the story didn't match what he had been told by Gwaine. But he kept quiet for now. The cover story was that he had been kidnapped and escaped getting shot in the process. Once back at M16 he handed over the flash drive he had retrieved together with the other information of who had been involved the mission was considered a success. It seemed he would be off field work for an extended period as his arm and its damaged nerves repaired, but he was considering his options. He was secretly thinking he might retire and get a desk job, but he didn't inform Morgause.
Then Arthur heard of Merlin' disappearance, Gwaine had contacted him asking if he had influence anywhere to try to get someone to increase the search. It didn't look good people who went missing in that area of the world seldom got found. Arthur did know of someone who could help. A man who had been involved in hostage negotiations for years. He was a contact of Morgause's Arthur decided to see if he could get his boss to do something nice for once, rather than just because national security demanded it.
Morgause had been less than enthusiastic but after much persuasion said she would speak to the man. In the end she did better than that and allowed Arthur to speak to him himself. It was over a secure radio so Arthur had no idea who he was talking to but that didn't matter.
"You wanted to speak to me about a possible hostage?" The man asked, Arthur wasn't permitted to know his name.
"Yes he saved my life, he is works for Doctors without Borders as a surgeon, and he disappeared without trace over a week ago from the hospital." Arthur told him. He then went on to describe Merlin. "I can't think he would have left for any other reason than against his will. A nurse there, a friend of his said he hadn't even contacted his mother and he would have, it seems his father disappeared, and never resurfaced, in Africa in similar circumstances years ago, he wouldn't have done that to his mother."
"What's the boy's name, age and description?" Arthur was asked, the voice sounded only vaguely interested.
"Merlin Emrys and he's thirty but looks a lot younger, very slender, about six foot, hair is nearly black, striking blue eyes and high cheek bones, oh and prominent ears." Arthur finished "Look I would really appreciate it if you hear anything to let Morgause know"
"One of her boys are you? Well I travel about a lot if I hear anything I will report it when I can. But you have to understand it's volatile in the area. If he's been taken for hostage the authorities will hear sooner or later, Then I will probably be called to negotiate, if not he's probably dead. Some of them would kill him just for his nationality you know that. Life's cheap in a war zone" the man paused "Don't expect too much but I will do what I can, they're a good outfit"
All Arthur could do now was wait. He contacted Gwaine and asked him to let him know if there were any developments and arranged to go and see Merlin's mother who had been informed of his disappearance. After ringing the doctor's practice and finding Dr Emrys had been given compassionate leave he found her address and set off to visit her. He wasn't sure what he could do but the man had saved his life and the use of his arm. The department had lent him a driver so getting there was no problem. He was glad for something to do. Having a useless arm was driving him nuts, especially as it was his right arm and he was right handed.