Percy took Merlin to his car and back home. Merlin refused to speak to Percy, he was feeling embarrassed, not only had he had to put up with Valliant and his group, but his friends and boss had got involved. He wondered what they all thought of him. After all except for Percy and Arthur none of them knew what happened. Not even Gwen and Lance knew the whole story.

When they got back to the flat Percy got Merlin inside and helped the young man get into bed. The fresh air and stress finished what the drink had started. Percy sorted out Merlin's bladder and covered the now sleeping man up with his duvet and put a bowl by the side of the bed. Then leaving both doors open he went into Merlin's spare bedroom and settled down. He wasn't about to leave Merlin alone in case he was sick or tried to get up in the night.

Arthur and Morgana were also on their way home and Morgana was determined to talk to her brother.

"When are you going to do something about it Arthur?" she demanded her tone of voice telling him he had a battle on his hands.

"I've told you Morgana I don't know yet what I can do. Merlin doesn't want everyone to know." He was getting fed up with her harping on.

"No not that! When are you going to ask Merlin out? If you don't get a move on Gwaine will beat you to it." Her brother could be so thick sometimes.

"What do you mean?"

"It's obvious you fancy him, so ask him out!"

"Morgana mind your own business." He wouldn't be drawn.

"Don't be a fool Arthur, he's a great person and you would be great together. Is it the wheelchair?"

"No it's not! You know why if you stop and think about it."

"Uther! It's time you went your own way, he knows your Bi, and he'll have to live with it." Morgana couldn't believe her brother.

"That's not the only reason Morgs, Merlin was put through hell by Cenred and now he's my PA. I can't just ask him. What if he thinks I'm after the same thing? It's not fair on him."

"You're over thinking this Arthur; he knows you're not another Cenred. You're lucky Merlin doesn't realise what a great guy he is or Gwaine would have got in there by now. Poor Merlin's self esteem is so low at the moment but it won't last long. Just get a move on." Morgana knew how much both the men liked Merlin and wanted to see her brother the winner.

"Gwaine's only flirting, you know him. Give him a couple of weeks and he'll be one to the next one."

"You're wrong there brother I've seen the way he looks at Merlin, what's more hasn't even asked him out yet. No I think he's serious this time."

Arthur was pleased to see they had arrived at Morgana's. "See you tomorrow." He said quickly before driving off.

When Merlin woke up and looked at this alarm clock it was six o'clock. He was going to turn over and go back to sleep but he felt awful. He decided to get up and get some painkillers and a glass of water. As he sat up he felt a bit woozy. He sat for a few minutes before starting to transfer to his wheelchair. As the reached over his hand slipped, he ended up half on the bed and half on the floor. He tried to drag himself back onto the bed but slipped further and fell completely onto the floor catching the side of his face on the brake of the wheelchair. He started to cuss.

In the spare bedroom Percy woke and heard Merlin. He got up and went into the other bedroom, just as Merlin fell.

"What are you doing Merlin?" he asked in exasperation.

"What does it look like!" he looked up at Percy. "What are you here for anyway?"

"After I got you to bed last night I thought I'd better stay, you were in a bit of a mess. Just as well I did. Come on let's get you up." Percy lifted Merlin as if he was a bag of sugar and put him in the wheelchair. "What were you going to do?"

"I've got a headache; I was going to get some water and painkillers. But I slipped."

"Well if you had looked on your bedside table you wouldn't have needed to get up."

Merlin looked to the other side of the bed and sure enough there were the very things he was getting up for. "Thanks, Well I best go to the bathroom now I'm up. Then I'll get you some breakfast I owe you that." He gave Percy a half smile.

"No problem you sort yourself I'll get the breakfast." Percy turned and walked towards the kitchen.

After Percy had eaten his breakfast and Merlin had picked his the two men has a talk about the night before. Merlin thanked Percy for getting him home and looking after him. Percy asked him what he was going to do about Valliant.

"Nothing it's not like I'm going out again anytime soon, then I'm off to Australia, by the time I'm back they will have found someone else to torment."

There wasn't much Percy could do so he dropped the subject. After making sure Merlin was ok, except for a red mark to his cheek, Percy left the young man sort himself out, advising Merlin to make sure he drank plenty of water.

Once Merlin was alone he sat and thought about what had happened. He should have known better than to have drank so much. He wondered what the others thought of him now. He drank some more water and went back to bed after setting his alarm for four hours when he would get up and get dressed.

Once up Merlin started to worry, he was just building up some friendships and didn't want to lose them. He had been a long time with just a couple of friends. He loved Gwen and Lance but they had each other, he didn't want to be a third wheel all the time. Percy was a friend but would be stay around once Merlin was settled into his new life. After all he was his case worker not a real friend as such. He hoped that Gwaine, Arthur and even Leon wouldn't be put off. Alright he knew Arthur was his boss but he liked to think they were becoming friends. He was much nicer that Merlin had first thought, under that sarcastic and privileged skin was a kind and thoughtful man. But at the same time Merlin knew he was a bit of a liability as a friend. The damn wheelchair, how he hated it.

Gwaine was also giving the nights events lots of thought. He felt that Arthur knew something he didn't, and was determined to find out what. He really liked Merlin and wanted to know him better, but something made him feel he needed to take it slow. He wanted to be just than a casual date and didn't want to mess up. Also he wasn't sure if Arthur was just protective, or also wanted to date Merlin. He didn't want to miss out because Arthur beat him to it.

When Merlin went to work Monday morning no one mentioned what had happened so Merlin kept quiet. Luckily his cheek hadn't bruised. He had no idea that the two men both fancied him. The next couple of weeks flew by and the date for Australia got closer. Gwaine drifted up to see Merlin several times during lunch breaks and he thought they were fast becoming good friends.