Arthur prodded Merlin on the arm. "I'm bored!" he hissed.
"We won't have to wait much longer," said Merlin, closing the magazine he had spent the last few minutes trying to read. He had already come to the conclusion that it was a load of rubbish and threw it down onto the table next to him.
Arthur sighed and drummed his fingers against the arm of the chair. "You said it wouldn't take long, Merlin. We'll miss You've Been Framed at this rate!"
Merlin laughed, prompting a glare from Arthur. "I don't see what's funny about that," he said coolly.
"Well, it's on in two hours!" Merlin protested. "There is very little chance of us missing it."
Arthur's scowl deepened. "We'd better not. Anyway, what exactly is going to happen here? What are the-" He paused. "Doc-tors. What are they going to do to me?"
"I keep telling you, Arthur," said Merlin patiently. "They check you're healthy."
"How will they check I'm healthy?" said Arthur suspiciously.
"Well, they have to give you a-" Merlin broke off. "Well, it's known as a 'jag' and it is something everyone has to have. It protects you against catching illnesses, and they're very important. Seeing as you've never had one, I decided to book this appointment for you." He beamed at his friend, perhaps a little too brightly. "You see? It'll be fine!"
Arthur frowned. "What's a j-?"
"Oh, look at this!" Merlin interrupted loudly, holding up a magazine and pointing wildly at a picture of a car, cutting off the inevitable question. "How interesting! Arthur, look at this fascinating article!"
Arthur's face darkened. "Merlin," he began warningly.
"Mr Pendragon?" Merlin heard a woman call. He felt a rush of relief.
"What's happening?" Arthur asked Merlin sharply.
"It's time for your appointment!" said Merlin brightly. "Would you like me to come with you?"
Arthur hesitated.
"Well, of course I don't," he said eventually. "Not really. But…just in case…in case of…err, in case…"
"I'll come in with you!" said Merlin with a grin, saving Arthur the embarrassment of having to admit that he actually wanted Merlin to come with him.
Arthur nodded, a look of intense relief on his face, and stood up slowly, before looking around helplessly.
"Follow me," said Merlin quickly, remembering that Arthur had never been at a doctor's before. He led Arthur in the direction of the doctor he had booked Arthur in with. The two of them walked in silence until they reached the door leading in to the doctor's room.
"Actually, Merlin," said Arthur suddenly, turning to look at him. "Can you...wait out here? Only I'd like to go in alone."
Merlin nodded at once. "Of course." He smiled at Arthur. "Good luck!"
Arthur rolled his eyes and entered the room.
Merlin sat outside the door for what seemed like ages. He heard several horrified exclamations coming from inside the room, and thought he could make out Arthur saying; "How dare you, you pheasant?" at one point, but all in all it seemed to be going quite well.
"A needle!" Merlin heard Arthur bark. "That's utterly ridiculous! You mean to kill me with a needle?"
Merlin moved slightly closer to the door, in order to hear the whole conversation.
"I don't intend to harm you," he heard the doctor say calmly. "In fact, this will do the opposite! It protects you from-"
"If you really want to fight me, than go ahead and try!" Arthur snapped. "But I'll beat you any day!"
Merlin sighed. He had known that it wouldn't be easy to convince Arthur to get a jag, but it was essential that he did.
Merlin pushed the door open and smiled weakly at the two men. "Would...you like my help at all?" he faltered.
"Merlin!" Arthur exclaimed, striding towards him. "This man is trying to assassinate me something he calls a needle!"
"Arthur, you are not about to die!" said Merlin firmly. "This jag protects you-"
Arthur snorted. "It doesn't seem very safe."
"Arthur, I've had this jag before!" said Merlin. "And I'm alright!"
"If that's what you want to call it," Arthur muttered.
"Arthur, you will be fine!" said Merlin firmly. "I know that many people are scared of needles, and it isn't unusual that you don't like the look of it, but it's fine. I promise."
"Well, go away then!" said Arthur, trying to push him in the direction of the door.
"As long as you promise not to threaten this man any longer," said Merlin, gesturing towards the doctor.
"He threatened me!" Arthur grumbled. "But yes, I'll be quiet."
"That I'd like to see," said Merlin quietly as he escaped through the door.
When he next saw Arthur in the waiting room, the blond man had a large smile on his face. "So it all went alright?" said Merlin, raising his eyebrows expectantly.
Arthur nodded brightly. "It was fine! He even gave me a present for being good!"
"A what?" said Merlin in surprise.
Arthur pointed proudly to his chest, and Merlin noticed, for the first time, a small yellow sticker with a smiling, green whale and the words; "I went to the doctor's today!" printed on it.
A/N: Happy Red Nose Day - are you doing something funny for money? One of my friends shaved her head, she's raised about £400 so far. Anyway, I hope lots of money is raised for Comic Relief tonight!
Hope you liked this chapter :)