Arthur had been debriefed and had returned to see Morgause, it seemed that Edwin Muirden had more to answer for than was first thought. After careful questioning it seemed he had been doing more than just making a bit of extra money for himself. He had been selling information to both sides as well, breaking the neutrality of Doctors without Borders there by endangering all the staff.
It seemed Arthur's uncle was less than impressed with all the extra work, and activity for his office, as well as the fact that he hadn't shown good judgement in his choice of promotions. When the records were checked by the charity it seemed they had been questions raised about Edwin before, and on more than one occasion. As Agravaine was the person who had put Edwin forward on each occasion he had worked in the field as supervisor things were looking bad for his job security.
Arthur's own job was also being discussed. His injuries were going to take a long time to resolve and there was a strong possibility that there would be long term damage, that if not generally debilitating, would make him less than the 100% fit field agents needed to be. Morgause spent some time discussing the future with Arthur. It seemed highly likely he would either have to take a desk job or give up all together.
At the end of the conversation Arthur turned to Morgause "To be honest, as you know I don't need the money, sometimes I hardly make anything after paying some of my own expenses. I hate office work so if it comes too that I think I'll go gracefully and become a proper playboy"
"That's what I thought you would say, we need to wait and see but if you do go it will be a sad day for MI6 and your country. Who knows maybe you'll find something or someone else to fill the time" Morgause said cryptically.
Arthur raised an eyebrow "Who knows, too early to tell" with that he left, now on sick leave. He did have one idea he wanted to follow up and made some calls to Geneva.
Merlin meanwhile was making good progress now he was receiving the proper care in a suitable environment, the fact that he was supported by both of his parents and Gwaine also helped. He had several phone calls from Lance and Gwen, who didn't visit as Gwen was pregnant. He also had messages of support from Syria and other people he had worked with. After a week Arthur visited him, having left it for a time to let the younger man recover.
As Arthur walked in with his protective garments over his suit, his arm now in a custom made sling, he found Merlin sat out in a chair. Still looking weak and fragile but much better.
"Good to see they've stopped you lazing around in bed all day" Arthur wisecracked.
"Yes well, thought I'd better get used to it. I think I might have a wedding to go to soon" Merlin smiled "I never thought I'd see my mother mooning around like a lovesick fool"
"I'm glad, that was an awful thing that happened to them" Arthur admitted "They deserve happiness"
"You won't get any argument from me, how's your arm doing?"
"It will take a long time, but then you know that" Arthur said "I'm having lessons to get me writing with my left hand at the moment. I might need more surgery later but they seem to think that with long term physiotherapy I should get there." Arthur looked at Merlin "You saved my life and I can never thank you enough for that"
"All in a day's work, anyway I seem to think you may have had something to do with saving mine so were evens" Merlin grinned "I will be out of here in a couple of weeks so if you need a lift anywhere or feel like recuperating together let me know, I thing Mums might not be the place to hang out. Poor Gwaine's gone to bed and breakfast already"
"Let me have his number I have five bedrooms going spare, he can use one of those, same with you if your mother will let you out of her sight." Arthur added
Merlin gave Arthur Gwaine's number "Don't expect he will agree but you never know"
"I owe him as well, you two are great guys, you know they've arrested Edwin Muirden?"
Merlin nodded "Yes, Gwaine wants to kill him, not bad to upset a nurse that much"
"I wish I had!" Arthur admitted
Merlin looked awkward "Do you mind me asking something personal?"
"Ask away I can either answer or not"
"Gwaine told me you had a gun and he thinks you're some sort of agent, maybe for MI6" Merlin blushed "I know that sounds dramatic"
"Would it answer your question if I said I can't tell you it's classified? Anyway it looks like I'm unemployed now" Arthur pointed to his arm. "I rang Geneva the other day, asked them if my Uncle had put them off of employing his relatives"
Merlin looked surprised realising Arthur meant Doctors without Borders head office "What did they say?"
"I need to contact them once I'm fit for work. I thought their London branch might need some staff, it's not like I need to be paid and I have a lot to that the charity for"
Arthur went on to say that Agravaine would probably lose his job for several irregularities, including the trouble with Edwin over the years that he had not picked up, as well as his office expenses "It seems he decorates to often" Arthur grinned. "Someone must have mentioned, in passing, the plush office he has"
"Sorry your Uncle has to suffer" Merlin said
"I'm not, and nor are you really are you?"
Merlin grinned "No, but he is your uncle"
The two man continued to chat for some time and Arthur promised to visit again. Then after Arthur left he phoned Gwaine.
"Hi Gwaine, I was speaking to Merlin and he mentioned you're in a B and B. Look I have a five bedroom house for just me, you are more than welcome to move in while you work out what you want to do, no rush. Before you say no, you helped save my life so please agree"
Gwaine eventually agreed and agreed to move in the next day. When Gwaine arrived he was amazed to find a classic looking house in a row that he supposed would be called mid terrace, it was five stories and in what was clearly a very expensive part of London. Before he knocked on the door, he quickly googled the address and found that Egerton Crescent was the most expensive street in London. Gwaine nearly turned round and went back to the B and B but shrugged his shoulder and rang the doorbell.
Arthur answered the door to find a grinning Gwaine "Pad like this mate I thought you'd have a butler."
"He went when my father died, I do have staff but they don't live in" Arthur turned round "Come on in, you can pick your room out later. Mine is the only one with an on suite but there are two other bathrooms."
Arthur showed Gwaine round the house and the nurse picked out a bedroom that looked over the gardens, on the same floor as Arthur's "Make yourself at home, I have my main meal at six it allows the cook to go home. There is a cleaner and a gardener. The cleaner will send your clothes to the laundry or chuck them in the machine if you leave them by your door. If you don't want her to go in your room just leave a message on the door. The cook will do breakfast if your about otherwise make your own, but please leave her kitchen tidy! She comes in and out all day as she doesn't live too far away. The cleaner is here from nine till three Monday to Friday. Is there anything I missed out?"
"Yes, how much will I owe you?"
"Nothing, it will be nice to have someone about. Even Audrey will be pleased to have someone else to cook for she always cooks too much anyway, just don't upset her, she's a great cook but has a fearsome temper. Finna is the cleaner and Morris the gardener. Finna and Audrey were here for my father and Finna refuses to retire, I even offered her a pension. Morris is her son."
Arthur grinned at Gwaine's expression, don't look so worried, if they can put up with me you'll be easy. As for all this" he waved his hand round the room "It came with the title, been in the family for years"
"It's funny I know you were a Lord it just hadn't sunk in I suppose" Gwaine said "I suppose I can rough it for a while" he joked.
"I am one of the luck Lords, my ancestors didn't gamble or drink away the family fortune. I own three other houses in this row but rent them out, I even have an estate and a rather larger house there as well. But I open that to the public as I spend most of my time, when I'm in the UK in London. So please don't try to pay me it would be embarrassing"
"So why risk your neck of MI6?" Gwaine asked
Arthur looked innocent "Do I? If I did I have to do something with my time, its hard being a playboy!" he grinned "Come on have a drink and shut up. It will be great to have someone about who isn't just after me for my title or money"
"What makes you think I'm not?"
"You work in dangerous parts of the world for the same or less money than you could get here. That's good enough for me anyway I'm a good judge of character, you could however be after my best scotch and cognac"
"To true"