Merlin looked up at Arthur, "You're not going to sack me?"
"What an earth for, as I see it you're a damn good PA ,and I'm lucky to have you. As to your other worries well as I said the health and safety issue was to get out of paying you your rightful compensation." Arthur looked at Merlin trying to say the right thing. "I want to help you Merlin nothing else, you have had a rough time which you don't deserve." Arthur got back up and handed Merlin his coffee that was now only lukewarm. "Drink that before its cold."
Arthur drank his coffee using the time to think what to do next. Then Merlin asked him another question.
"You don't mind that I'm gay?"
"No Merlin I don't and even if I did I wouldn't discriminate. But no I have no problem at all; we have several gay and bisexual employees."
"Thank you; sorry for blubbing, I shouldn't bring my problems to work." Merlin was trying to get the situation back to normal.
"I think you'll find I brought this all about not you, idiot." Arthur smiled to take the edge of his words. "Now we do have a very good staff counselling service if you think it will help."
"No thanks, I've had so much counselling in the past year, but thanks anyway."
"I suppose you have. Well I'm always here if you need me, ok?" Arthur didn't know what else to say or do and the tired feeling had now turned into a full blown headache.
"I'll go and get on with my work, but I'll get you a hot coffee first." Merlin picked up the empty cups and flask and went to leave the office.
The rest of the day went from bad to worse for Arthur all his meetings seemed to overrun and he felt by the end of the day he had achieved nothing. It was a quarter to five and he decided to call it a day. Going to the office door he spoke to Merlin and told him he could go as soon as Leon was ready to leave.
"I'm off I'll see you tomorrow."
"Thank you Arthur…..for everything." Merlin smiled at Arthur.
Arthur couldn't remember ever seeing such a smile it lit the whole of Merlin's face. He was amazed that Merlin could manage such a smile after all he had been through.
"That's ok have a good evening." With that he left to go home.
As he got to his car he saw Morgana going towards her sports car she waved and came over to him.
"How did it go? Did you tell him?"
"I did it was worse than I expected, He broke down and told me a few more details. We need to sort Cenred out and I will no matter how long it takes."
"I agree but just make sure you get a good night's sleep. Don't worry we'll think of something. See you tomorrow."
The next day Merlin phoned Morgana in her office.
"Hello Ms La Fay, It's Merlin Emrys, I wanted to have a word with you if I may."
Morgana was surprised to hear from Merlin and wondered if it was due to the conversation with her brother the day before. "Hello Merlin nice to hear from you, please call me Morgana, what can I do for you?"
"I have been here a month now and my caseworker would like to visit me in my workplace to see if he thinks I need more adaptation's he can help me with. I am perfectly happy but he wants to be sure. Is it alright if he comes in during my lunch break today?" Merlin sounded nervous.
"Of course, but it doesn't have to be in your lunch break Merlin. Has he given you a time?"
"He would like to come in at twelve thirty, that's when Arthur normally stops and he has no appointments at that time."
"That's great not problem, would you mind if I came along? Only if he does have any ideas I could get them put in place for you." Thinking about it Morgana was surprised that she hadn't been approached when Merlin started.
"That would be good of you, he wanted to come before but I asked him to wait until I'd settled in. His name is Percy McLeod"
"Thank you Merlin I'll tell the front desk to let him up."
Merlin was pleased at how that went, he was a bit annoyed with Percy he had told him he didn't need anything but the man insisted on coming. Now he needed to tell Arthur, it was embarrassing he was trying to show he didn't need special treatment and Percy was ruining it for him.
Merlin knocked on Arthur's office door and went in when called.
"Hello Merlin how can I help you?" Arthur looked up he thought Merlin looked annoyed.
"Good morning Arthur, I'm sorry to bother you but I need to let you know something. I've already spoken to your sister." He paused to collect his thoughts.
Arthur now thought the other man was going to hand in his notice. He was relieved when Merlin continued.
"My caseworker Percy McLeod is going to come to see me in my lunch break, he wants to see if I need anything to help me in my work, I told him no but her insisted I'm sorry. Morgana said she would come to see him. I don't want you thinking I can't cope or need special treatment I don't."
"Calm down Merlin I think that's a good idea. Let me know when he's coming will you?"
"He will be here at twelve thirty, Morgana has arranged for him to be let in." Merlin was pleased at his two superior's reactions even if he wasn't looking forward to the visit.
With that sorted he went back to his work and waited for lunchtime to arrive. At twelve thirty on the dot Percy arrived at Merlin's desk. Merlin was always surprised at how the big man did it; he always arrived dead on time. Percy always made him feel so small. He was a big man at about six foot four and with Merlin being in the chair he almost got a crick in the neck looking up at him.
Percy looked at Merlin and smiled; he had a soft spot for Merlin and hoped that they would always be friends. He was one of a very few people who knew Merlin's full story. Merlin never told the hospital what had happened before he was run over it, was too raw and hurt him too much. Percy had only found out by accident and had promised not to tell anyone. After all it had no bearing on his injury and Merlin had been a consenting adult even if he had been tricked. He knew Merlin had no family and that most of his friends had disappeared after his accident and needed all the help and support he could get/
"Hello Merlin, Good to see you. I see you've already got the filing sorted that's good. So shall we look and see the rest?"
"The personal officer is coming along she wanted to see what you said." Merlin had just finished when Morgana came round the corner.
She took one look at Percy and liked what she saw he was just her type. From the look he gave her it was obvious he felt the same way. Merlin looked from one to the other and smiled. This could be interesting. He quickly introduced them and then Percy tore his eyes away and back to Merlin.
"Well let's see you moving around in here it all seems well set out. Is the desk and computer the right height for you?" Merlin did as he was asked and Percy seemed happy.
"What about the facilities? Is there a disabled toilet?" He asked all business.
"No but I think you'll find there is enough room." Morgana said happy to make a contribution.
"Right Merlin lets go and see shall we."
Merlin set off down the corridor to the men's and Percy followed him in. He took a good look around. "There's no where private you can do you intermittent self cauterisation so how are you managing?" the big man asked.
"I'm not I do it just before I leave home and as soon as I get back. I can still get in my four a day." Merlin insisted knowing he would now be told off.
"Merlin you know better than that, you'll end up with an infection or worse! How many times do you need it explaining to you!" Percy was annoyed.
"I can't expect special facilities it's not reasonable."
"Yes it is this is a big firm they should have disabled facilities! Let's talk to Ms La Fay." Percy insisted.
"This is going to be so embarrassing" Merlin went red at the thought, but followed Percy out.
They had a good look round at what was available before going back to the office. They were then joined by Arthur.
"From what I can see most things are great," Percy turned to Arthur "How do you feel about the flask Mr Pendragon? It was Merlin's idea. So many wheelchair users end up getting scalded carrying hot drinks. I realise if you have clients it must me a bit strange but I don't see an alternative unless you have a coffee maker in your office."
"It's worked out fine so far but a coffee maker might be a good idea then I could sort the drinks out. I'll give it some thought. Have you any other suggestions to help Merlin?"
Percy was impressed at Merlin's bass and pleased. He had been worried when Merlin said he was going back to being a PA after his last experience but he had hopes that it would work out well.
"Merlin won't like me mentioning this but I need to. Merlin needs to carry out something called intermittent self catheterisation at least four times a day if not more often and at the moment he isn't doing this at all during the working day. He will end up getting a kidney infection if this continues. I saw you have facilities on the ground floor so your company does comply with regulations but this is the fourth floor. So I can see why he finds it too much of a bother. Merlin needs a space he can use easily and the male cubicles are not large enough on this floor for a wheelchair and room for Merlin to move about. What he needs is somewhere private with a toilet, washing faculties for hands and waste disposal. I wondered whether it would be possible to somehow enlarge the end cubicle in the male toilets on this floor and add a sink. There is enough room. This would also benefit any other differently abled people you might employ in the future." Percy looked at Morgana since she was head of personnel.
"That sounds very reasonable in fact I think we should look at a disabled toilet on every floor ideally, Leave it with me. In the mean time Merlin you must go down stairs as often as you need. I'm sure Arthur agrees with me." She looked at her brother.
"Yes I do agree, and Merlin I want no excuses for you either. I need my PA well and not off work sick do you understand?"
"Yes ok" Merlin was as red as a beetroot by now.
"The only other thing I need to discuss with you Ms la Fay is the evacuation procedures in case of fire. But we can do that in your office if you like and let these men get back to work."
All in the entire visit could have gone worse for Merlin but he was still embarrassed by what had happened. Arthur took him in the office after the other two had left.
"Merlin I told you to tell me if you needed anything you should have mentioned this earlier. Now I want you to promise me if anything else crops up you will speak to me." Arthur insisted.
"I don't want to bother you; I don't want or need special treatment Sir."
"Well you're going to have to face up to the fact that sometimes you will. So stop being pig headed. Now get on to stores and order me a good coffee maker will you." Arthur grinned "I think my sister might be sometime talking to your friend don't you?"
"Yeh, he'll be round here all the time now!" Merlin was pleased he could change the subject.