Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
A/N: Hey look...I'm posting another chapter only two days later. I'm so excited. I've written so much today (and I'm not only talking about the little chapter here).
Thank you to my beta, jaqtkd, who made Gaius sound like Gaius.
Merlin perched on the end of a step watching Gaius inspect a large black beetle and several other objects, "Are you going to stare at that all day?" he inquired.
"Don't you have anything better to do, Merlin?" Merlin grinned sheepishly at his guardian.
"Not really. Are you any closer to figuring this thing out?" Merlin slipped off the seat and over to the table where Gaius was working.
"About as close as the last time you asked." He focused on his ward and raised an eyebrow. "Of course, this would all be very much easier if I wasn't being constantly interrupted."
"Fine, fine. I'm going. But, you know you'll miss me when I'm gone," he quipped.
"I'm sure I will." Gaius said distractedly already engrossed in his work again.
Several hours later, Merlin returned to find Gaius still crouched over his work bench. Several books were added to the ever growing stack in front of him. All opened to different pages.
"Gaius?" No response. Merlin sighed. "Gaius."
Gaius looked up, "Oh, there you are, Merlin," and stood, groaning as he did so.
"Have you been working all afternoon?" Merlin asked.
Gaius looked out the window at the dimming sun. "It would seem so."
"Have you figured out what is causing the crops to die?"
"Yes," Gaius' voice was grave.
"Well, what is it Gaius?"
Gaius pointed to an object on the table, "Fairly straightforward in the end, but much worse than I suspected. I fear for Camelot."