Secrets and Shirts

The blonde scowled as he sat in the hospital bed, his arm still hanging limply, as he watched the hospital staff walk past the windows into the corridor. He could feel the cold hospital sheets beneath him, even more so thanks to the painfully embarrassing hospital gown he'd been forced to change into. From across the room, he could feel Merlin's eyes boring into him, and he turned to see a sly grin on the man's face.

'Merlin, what the Hell are you grinning at?'

'You can't see yourself right now.' Merlin laughed, causing Arthur to shift uncomfortably in the foreign garment.

'Very funny, Merlin.' Arthur looked over at the door once more. 'How long are they going to be? It's just an arm, not heart surgery.'

'Are you scared of hospitals, Arthur?' Merlin asked, as he studied the blonde's face closer. 'You are, aren't you? And I'm the chicken?'

'People die in these places, Merlin. Do you really expect me to be comfortable?'

'You kill people!'

'Merlin!' Arthur motioned to the open door with a slight cock of his head. Merlin approached the bed and sat in the chair beside the hunter as he hissed, 'you do realise the door is wide open, right? You do have a brain? And besides, I don't kill people, I hunt monsters. There is a difference.'

'Ely died only two days ago, Arthur. Morgana killed a poor woman as well as that demon. They are people. Not monsters. And they died because of your hunting.'

'If you have nothing useful to say, Merlin, then keep your trap shut.' Arthur's face, which had previously been reasonably relaxed, was suddenly stony, his glare fierce. 'In fact, maybe you should leave. Go get a coffee. Or, even better, get a doctor so we can leave this son-of-a-bitch place.'

'Fine.'

Merlin stood; foot tapping impatiently on the floor as he watched the stream of hot water filled his cheap plastic cup in the coffee machine. After a minute or so, it slowed down and he took the steaming cup carefully.

'Merlin.'

The cup slipped from his grasp as he felt his heart leap at the sudden voice behind him. He watched in horror as the boiling liquid fell down his front, soaking his shirt and the cup fell to the floor, spilling more across the previously scrubbed surface. Slowly, trying his hardest not to scream, Merlin turned to meet the gaze of the Angel behind him.

'Kilgarrah, get out of the way.' He charged down the corridor, searching desperately for any sign of a toilet as he tried to hold the scorching shirt away from his chest. He heard the hurried footsteps of the Angel following him and he sighed angrily.

'Merlin. Merlin, slow down. We need to talk. You didn't listen to me. You're in danger.'

He sighed again as he watched passing nurses glancing at him confused as Kilgarrah continued to follow him, shouting him as Merlin only walked faster. Kilgarrah sped up, trying to catch up with the dark-haired man, ignoring him for some unknown reason. Frowning, he followed him into the room he entered, to be greeting with the sight of Merlin practically ripping off his shirt angrily.

'Kilgarrah, pass me your shirt.'

'I don't understand…'

'You 'magically' appearing behind me, Kilgarrah? Me dropping the boiling hot coffee? You don't think they might have been related at all?' Merlin stood bare-chested awkwardly, holding the dripping clothing out to the Angel. 'Take it. Hand me yours. I'm not walking around covered in coffee, not when you caused it.'

'But…'

'You can't keep just showing up, Kilgarrah. People do kinda notice when a man randomly appears and disappears at a moment's notice. Not to mention you scare me out of my skin every time. What are you doing here, anyway? I didn't call you.'

'I know. I came here to see you. To warn you.'

'If this about the Pendragons…

'Morgana.'

'What did you mean about her? She's betrayed who? She hasn't betrayed anyone. Ok, she killed that demon, but that's hardly a betrayal. It's one less demon, that's a good thing no matter how you look at it. Especially a Hell Lieutenant, killing one of those has got get you some serious brownie points in Heaven.' Merlin took the shirt that Kilgarrah held out to him and began putting it on, as Kilgarrah took the soaking one in his hand with a slight look of disgust on his face. 'So, come on, Kilgarrah? What did you mean?'

'She's dangerous, Merlin, you've got to go…'

'What do you have so against her? What's she done?'

'Merlin, you know I can't…'

'If you can't tell me, I'm going to presume you're just lying for some reason. I don't know why. She turn you down for Angel protection or something?'

'There's no such thing as Angel protection…' Kilgarrah stammered as Merlin rolled his eyes, and turned to the mirror, tugging at the shirt that was almost big enough to dwarf him. With a sigh, Kilgarrah said defeated, 'she didn't kill the demon, Merlin. Morgause lives, with Morgana's help. They are now allied against you all.'

Merlin frowned. 'You lie. She wouldn't do that. This is her family. We are her family, why would she suddenly turn on us with some demon army bitch?'

'There's no such thing as a Hell Lieutenant, Merlin. There's no Hell army. She made up that story to get rid of you all, so none of you would find Morgause, or realise she had no body to bury.'

'You're lying…'

'Why would I lie, Merlin? I'm only ever here to help you. I come when you call. I answer your questions. I've now even given you my shirt, why would I do that if I was going to lie to you?'

'You don't like her, that's why.' Merlin swept past the Angel, exiting the toilets and heading back up the corridor to Arthur's room. 'You sound like you'd do anything to get rid of her, or keep me away from her.'

'Because she's dangerous, Merlin.'

'Why?'

'I can't tell you anything more, Merlin.' The Angel could feel his temper building slowly as Merlin continued to walk away from him. 'But if you refuse to believe me about her change in allegiance, why don't you see for yourself? Dig up the body.'

'Maybe I have more loyalty…' Merlin began speaking only to feel himself pulled backwards, and the Angel held him hard against the wall, their faces inches from each other. 'Kilgarrah?'

'Heaven gave me one job, Merlin. That job is to look after you, and I'm not going to fail my orders because you won't listen to me. Morgana is dangerous. The Pendragons are dangerous. Leave them. I don't care where you go or what you do, just leave them all behind. I will not be held responsible for your death.'

'Anyone would think you care.'

'I will not Fall because of you, Merlin. And you better make sure of that.' At that moment, Kilgarrah turned as he heard footsteps approaching them both, and he released Merlin from his tight grip. As if broken from his rage, he suddenly looked down, guilt apparent on his face. 'I'm sorry, Merlin. I didn't mean to get so aggressive. I just…'

'Yeah, I know. You can't fail or Heaven will throw you out and all that crap. I will not leave the Pendragons for you, Kilgarrah, I can't. They've kept me safe. How can I possibly return to any sort of normality now I know what's out there?'

'Merlin…'

'I'm not listening anymore.' He turned away from the Angel, desperately attempting to end the circular debate. He was about to enter Arthur's room when he smiled suddenly. 'You say you want to help, Kilgarrah? I have a job for you.'

'I can't believe it. We spent hours in that place for them to turn around and say there's absolutely nothing wrong with my arm.' Arthur shook his head in outrage, looking over at Merlin as he drove them back from the hospital, whose gaze lay firmly on the road before them. 'That doesn't even make sense. It was agony. Gaius was sure it was broken. How can it just be ok?'

'I have no idea, Arthur.' Merlin shrugged, desperately attempting to conceal a smirk. 'Gaius is old, he could have been mistaken. And there is a bruise, maybe that caused all your pain?'

'Don't try be some smartass.' He frowned, before giving a knowing smile. 'Anyway, Merlin, who was that doctor you brought in? You know the one, the dark haired, stubbled one, wearing your shirt…'

'He spilt coffee on me; he gave me his shirt to wear.'

'Yeah, we'll go with that…'

It was nearing sunrise rather than sunset by the time the rest of the house had fallen asleep. Outside, the very first birds had begun to awaken, chirping lightly. Inside, however, Merlin lay fully awake, still dressed as before, his mind racing. He'd tried to ignore all the Angel's warnings, yet the more he tried, the faster they whirled around in his head. Morgana had met them from the car, her face fully of worry, fussing over Arthur, yet Merlin saw nothing but her tiny gestures. The coldness of her eyes. The nervous glances around. The knowing looks she seemed to share with Mordred. And the more he thought about it, the more restless he became until he realised he'd stayed up all night, waited for everyone to sleep, and he knew exactly what he needed to do.

The shovel was cool in his hands and a slight chill caused him to shiver as he stood outside, looking down on the dirt pile that signified Morgause's apparent grave. He'd already worked out he had three, maybe four hours, in which to work. Enough time to dig it up. To work out the truth. If Kilgarrah was right, that's all that would matter. He'd have proof of Morgana's betrayal. If he was wrong, Morgana would be innocent, and he'd simply look paranoid. Merlin would be left with no choice, he'd have to leave. It was a risk. But the more he thought it over; it was a risk that he needed to take.

He braced himself, shovel in position, when he was suddenly blinded by a flashlight from the porch.

'Merlin, what the Hell do you think you're doing?'