It was two days later when all the relatives met up once more, this time at Brize Norton where the men were flown back. They all waited together their nerves showing and hardly a word spoken between them. Once the men were off the plane they were given privacy for their first meeting in seven months. Each family being given a separate room for the meeting. Much to Merlin's disgust he was taken off the plane on a stretcher and only then allowed to transfer to a wheelchair. Even then he had been ordered to remain in the chair and not try to walk after the long flight. He was the last to disembark.
The minute the rest were in the building the families were allowed to see the men Gwaine walked into the room where Hunith hugged him before stepping back to allow Arthur to greet his friend. It was several minutes before they were allowed to see Merlin before he was transferred to an ambulance to be taken to hospital.
As Merlin was wheeled into the room Arthur noticed that Merlin was keeping his head turned so the uninjured side was showing. Arthur walked up to him and knelt down in front of the wheelchair the minute Lance stopped. The blonde smiled at Merlin and very gently cupped Merlin's face and turned it so it was facing him "Don't hide from me Merlin, you are back and whatever injuries you have won't make any difference to me." With tears in his eyes he kissed Merlin gently not caring who was watching "You are the love of my life and you came home to me"
Merlin very warily returned the kiss, as best he could with his face bandaged. It was clear from his eyes he had been worried about Arthur's reaction. Arthur could also see the guilt and worry in his eyes. It confirmed what Arthur had thought, Merlin was tearing himself up with guilt over the deaths of his comrades. It made the blondes heart bleed for his husband. Hunith had tears running down her face as she to hugged her son. Merlin hung into her like she was his lifeline for several minutes, neither saying anything to each other. Hunith broke the silence and welcomed her son home. They were both shocked by how much weight both men had lost, even though they had seen them via skype. After that initial meeting that lasted a quarter of an hour Gwaine took Hunith to another room where they chatted and allowed Merlin and Arthur space. Gwaine also looked haunted from the experienced but tried to hide it under his brash exterior.
Both men had tears in their eyes, then as Arthur looked at Merlin he smiled finally believing he had his husband and the love of his life home, then they hugged once more. Arthur was careful not to hug to tightly due to Merlin's injuries but he knelt and buried his face in the raven haired man's neck and stayed there unable to believe that at last he had his Merlin back. He whispered Merlin's name over and over.
During his six weeks captivity Merlin had come to terms with the fact he might die without seeing Arthur again, now he was home and could feel the familiar body next to his it was too much and all the suppressed guilt and emotion burst to the surface and he sobbed, silently and with a degree of shame at being so weak. It wasn't until Arthur felt a wet path on his shoulder that he realised Merlin was crying. He moved away and looked at Merlin allowing the other man to see the tears in his own eyes, in the hope he would find comfort in knowing he wasn't the only one breaking down. "It's so good to have you back love."
Arthur then wheeled Merlin over to the sofa in the corner of the room and carefully helping Merlin out of the chair sat down with the other man on his lap. Merlin looked at Arthur "Supposed to stay in chair" he was tired after the flight and the emotion was also taking its toll on him.
"Sod that! I want you in my arms, I don't intend to let you go again, ever" Arthur rubbed a finger very gently over the dressing stuck on Merlin's face. "You had to get yourself hurt!" he paused "I thought I'd lost you" he said brokenly.
Merlin drew in a deep breath and shuddered "I shouldn't be here, I lost so many men"
"It wasn't your fault Merlin, none of it was, you did your best, and you were all in a war zone. I know you, you would have done your best for your men" Arthur swallowed before adding "I'm selfish I know, but I'm so glad you are back, I couldn't have coped if I had lost you"
"But all those other families will have to!" Merlin looked totally miserable "And all I can do is blub like a baby".
"If you are a baby so am I. And yes they will have to cope, but we will make sure they get all the help they need" Arthur stressed. Then he leaned in and kissed Merlin softly, avoiding the dressing. "I need to get you home. Can we go? I will employ a nurse if you need one?"
There was a shake of a raven head "No they want me to go to Selly Oak first to be checked over, I will have to stay in. The others can go, I think, and report to the Barracks tomorrow."
Arthur was bitterly disappointed "Fuck! I wanted to sleep with you tonight. Our bed is too big without you in it."
"I want to go home as well. Maybe you can use your charm" Merlin said with the slightest of smiles he had already spent hours with the psychologists and doctors and just wanted to be left alone.
Arthur gave a smile that sent Merlin's heart a flutter in a way nothing else could. "Maybe they will let you be seen in London. If not then I will stay at Selly Oak as well. I am not letting you out of my sight Merlin"
"Good" was the only answer he got. The sat cuddled up just enjoying each other presence and gaining comfort in each other, until there was a knock on the door and Lance came in.
"Hello Lieutenant Emrys" Lance saluted and as Merlin went to return the salute Lance told him "Don't, there is no need." then he raised an eyebrow "I understood you were supposed to stay in your wheelchair"
"Tell him that!" Merlin pointed to Arthur.
"Umm well, I have come to take you both to speak to the Chief Medical Officer so back in the chair" Lance ordered he outranked Merlin, but he smiled as he spoke. He thought the two men looked well together and having spent so much time with Arthur he understood exactly what happened and why. He couldn't find it in his heart to say more.
As they went into an examination area they were greeted by the Chief Medical Officer who was an older man, he greeted them with a smile "Please take a seat Lieutenant Emrys, Mr Pendragon." Although they had become Emrys- Pendragon on their marriage they had both chosen to just use their own names at work for convenience. The doctor held out his hand and Arthur shook it. "My name is Major Derek Iseldir, welcome back to the UK Lieutenant Emrys. Now due to your injuries we will be transferring you to Selly Oak Hospital from here. I am sure you would rather be going home but hopefully in a couple of days. I just need to check you over before the next stage of your journey."
After shaking the Majors hand Arthur spoke up "Major I was led to understand my husband's injuries are not serious, I am sure he would recuperate better at home. I can employ a nurse if you think it's necessary." Arthur commented.
"Ah Mr Pendragon, I have heard about you from my colleagues at the Ministry." The Major smirked slightly before continuing "I understand your eagerness to spend time with Lieutenant Emrys but he is in her Majesties Army and therefore subject to regulations. I don't know what you have been told, but although the injuries are not in any way life threatening they were sustained whilst on duty. They are also sufficient for us to want to make sure all risk of infection has passed." He paused before continuing "I don't know if you are aware but your husband has a chest wound that required a total of 70 sutures as well as an injury to his face and neck. This is not a minor wound and he also required a transfusion of four units of blood. Some of that due to his general condition it might be added. The bayonet that caused the wound would not have been clean either and physically and mentally he is run down"
Arthur looked at Merlin before looking back at the doctor "No I was not aware of the size of the wound. But surely you understand we want to be together. As a compromise may I accompany Merlin to Selly Oak or better still can he be admitted to a London Hospital. I will gladly pay for Private care"
The Major looked at the couple with sympathy. "I do understand, contrary to opinion we do care for our men. You may of course visit the Lieutenant and there are facilities where you can stay. But visiting times are strictly maintained. As I said a few days should be enough, although clearly I cannot promise." Looking at Merlin the Major ordered him to get onto the examination couch, Arthur jumped up and helped Merlin to get up from the wheelchair and sit on the edge.
"Now I suspect you would like your husband here" the Major asked Merlin
"Yes he would!" Arthur said not giving Merlin chance to speak. "I want to see how badly he is hurt for myself" then he looked apologetic as he saw Merlin tiredly rolling his eyes. The Arthur added "I mean I need to know, to put my mind at rest"
Merlin had removed his tie and undid his shirt as Arthur stepped forward to help him remove it. Then he helped Merlin swing his feet up and lie down. The major pulled a curtain around leaving Arthur on the outside, the doctor washed his hands and removed the adhesive strip covering Merlin chest from shoulder to lower abdomen. Soon there was a red line with sutures visible, then the facial dressing was removed and a small one on the neck. The doctor looked at the wounds and seemed satisfied.
"You will have some scaring I'm afraid but the wound looks good, a little red but you are on antibiotics. Are you happy for your husband to see?"
"Yes Sir, he had better, after all he has to see it sometime." Merlin said resigned. He wasn't happy with the scaring issue but knew Arthur would have to see it sometime, much as he would prefer him not to. He didn't want Arthur to feel he was obliged to put up with a maimed partner through any sense of loyalty or pity. "Can I see my face first?"
The doctor nodded "It looks red and swollen now and that will fade down, but it will take time" He gave Merlin a mirror.
The wound ran down his face, from just below his cheek bone to his chin following his jaw line. Merlin knew it had cut right through in places as he could feel it with his tongue. He was also having to use a month wash regularly. It looked worse than he thought, it was swollen although he knew it had gone down in the last couple of days, he had been warned that the flight back would have made it swell more. He really wasn't looking forward to Arthur seeing it. The neck wound was small and he had already seen the chest wound. After a few moments the doctor took the mirror and called Arthur in. Arthur looked at the chest first and schooled himself not to show his upset at the large wound. He now felt guilty at sitting Merlin in this lap knowing that must have hurt his husband to move. Then he looked at Merlin's face. That upset him even more but again he made sure it didn't show.
"You are still my good looking husband, a couple of scars won't change that. Are you in much pain darling?" Arthur said carefully.
Merlin looked down "Bit sore" he hesitated "The face looks bad, I can hide the chest but…"
"The marks will fade with time" the doctor stressed "There was no damage to any of the nerves. Your scars won't benefit from surgery, as that would just leave further scaring. If it upsets you there are camouflage creams you can use later, But as I said they will fade in time."
Trying hard to cheer Merlin up Arthur added "I reckon a beard would suit you" Arthur smiled at that thought. "You know how I like it when you are on leave and your stubble grows a bit."
Merlin looked at Arthur sadly and sighed "Not allowed in the army and I'm not transferring to the Navy" his voice was weak and he was still finding it painful to talk as it pulled on his wounds.
Arthur winced he was hoping against all hope Merlin would leave the services. As he had told Hunith he really wasn't sure if he could cope if Merlin didn't agree. "No you'd get sea sick" he said as lightly as he could, wishing he could take back the comment. But he was also suffering from stress knowing how badly Merlin had been hurt and how close he had come from it being much, much worse. Arthur took Merlin's hand in his.
The doctor took Merlin's blood pressure and then called a nurse in the redress the wounds adding to the men "If the wounds stay clean the sutures will come out of the face and neck in another couple of days and in further week to the chest. Now I know the ambulance is waiting' I'm afraid you can't accompany your husband in the ambulance as they have someone else to take. But you can follow on if you wish. Either now or later."
Arthur looked at the doctor "Is Sergeant Green allowed home? Because Mrs Emrys is also his next of kin"
The Major looked surprised "I hadn't realised you were related" he told Merlin
"Not Sir, but Sergeant Green's parents are deceased and my mother is now next of kin, the families have known each other for years" Merlin told the Major
"Ok, well he can go home as long as he can stay in London. Otherwise he will have to stay in Barracks"
Arthur reassured the major "Hunith and Gwaine can stay in our house, Mrs Emrys has been staying with me anyway. But I will ask her what she wants, as she might want to go with her son"
Merlin looked up "Tell her to go home with Gwaine. It's only for a couple of days, and he needs someone as well." Merlin held his hand to his face and winced.
"You might want to take care talking. I know you have been told of the need to move your facial muscles but it is early days" the doctor was advised "A little less talking would be good just for a couple of days. Don't stop altogether though" Merlin was handed a couple of tablets "Take those for the journey Lieutenant, for the pain"
So it was agreed Hunith would return to Arthur's with Gwaine while Arthur left with Merlin. Hunith managed to spend a short time with Merlin before they left and as she did Arthur sat with Gwaine so mother and son could have some privacy. Arthur thanked Gwaine for all he had done "I know you were there for him when I couldn't be and that meant a lot Gwaine and if you need anything just let me know. Also if you think any of the others need any help I intend to be there for them. I suspect you will all be friends for the rest of your lives now."
"Let us all get settled first and work out what's happening to us." Then Gwaine grinned "Oh and let me raid your drinks cupboard! It's been ages since I had a drink"
"Get stuffed" Arthur said with a grin "I'll ask Hunith to keep an eye on you"
Gwaine rolled his eyes dramatically "I love Hunith dearly but that woman is a Rottweiler if she gets her mind settled on something, don't encourage her."
Arthur looked serious again "It's been hard on her with both of you missing"
"I know" Gwaine paused "But she is a strong woman, don't worry I'll look after her. With me to fuss over she will be too busy to worry about Merl to much. Just make damn sure you look after him" Gwaine threatened "Or you'll answer to me"
"I would do anything for him, you know that" Arthur said "He means more to me than anything else"
"I know" Gwaine said trying to lighten the mood "But I'm still going to drink your best brandy"
Hunith meanwhile hugged her son "I should be with you, but I'm sure you would rather have Arthur"
"Mum you know I want you but Gwaine needs someone, it's either that or he has to stay in the barracks and he needs looking after no matter what he says. They tell me I'll be home soon."
Hunith realised just how close to breaking down her son was so she agreed all be it reluctantly, he was right Gwaine would need someone and would be better off with her. "Ring me?" she asked.
"You know I will. I've missed you and Arthur so much, it was the thought of seeing you both again that kept me going" Merlin admitted to his mother. He hugged his mother once again "Please mum go to Gwaine, you haven't seen me cry since I was knee high and I don't want you to now" he gave a lopsided grin.
"Ok son, look after yourself and see you soon." With that she left her son and went to find Arthur. When she found him she had tears running down her face "Look after him Arthur"
Arthur hugged her "You bet, just don't let this vagabond run circles round you"
Arthur followed the ambulance in his car as it was taking more than Merlin to Selly Oak. Gwaine, Hunith and the others were provided with army transport home. The other families lived in Wales but were staying in hotels together in London. Unbeknown to them paid for by Arthur. After a few days they would be allowed home for a while.