Chapter 20

The first time Merlin opened his eyes in over two and a half months, he awake to Gwaine yelling at the television as a game of soccer played. He was still groggy from his nap but he still wondered why Gwaine was in his room, and why his room smelled like bleach and flowers. There was an odd beeping sound under the sounds of the game.

There was the shrill of a referee whistle and Gwaine cursed.

"Come on, ref!" he said. "That was a foul!"

"Gw'ne?" Merlin voice came out cracked and dry, barely audible but the other man seemed to have heard it because he turned to Merlin in shock.

"Merlin! Thank God you're awake! Are you okay?" he said in a rush. Merlin looked at his friend confused.

" 'm okay," he said. "Where am I?"

Gwaine turned somber at the question.

"Merlin, you're…"

Before Gwaine finished his answer, the door to the room opened and Percival walked in with a box of pizza.

"Here's the pizza, and I did not have them put any M&M on your half. I don't care what you say, that's not a pizza topping."

"Percy, look."

Percival turned to the bed, and dropped the pizza box on the floor. He stared at Merlin in shock before recovering and going to the bedside.

"P'cy," said Merlin. "What happened?"

"You didn't tell him?" asked Percival looking at Gwaine.

"I was about to when you came in."

"Merlin," said Percival turning to Merlin. "You were in a bus accident. You're in the hospital."

Merlin's entire body shook at the information just given to him and the beeping increased as his pulse raced. Spots danced in front of his eyes.

"I think he's going to pass out!"

"Merlin!"

Everything went black.

XXXXXX

Arthur was having lunch with Hunith when he got the call. It took him a couple to seconds to decipher Gwaine's hurried speech before he understood what was happening.

"All right, slow down. Say again?" he asked.

"Merlin woke up!" said Gwaine excitedly. "He spoke!"

Arthur froze in shock, the phone still to his ear. His mind could only process two words at the moment. Merlin's awake. Merlin's awake. It seemed almost like it was happening to someone else. He only knew it was reality by Hunith shaking his shoulder.

"Arthur, honey, what's wrong? You're as pale as a ghost!"

"Merlin's awake," said Arthur softly, voicing the words that had been going through his head.

Hunith gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. Arthur hung up the phone and grabbed his car keys.

"Let's go," he said.

Hunith didn't question and followed Arthur to his car. He didn't know how he got to the hospital without crashing. It was like he was on autopilot. They drove to the hospital as quickly as they could and went to Merlin's room. Gwaine and Percival were already there and Gwen and Lancelot looked like they had just arrived. They turned at Arthur and Hunith's arrival. Gwaine immediately left the seat for Hunith to sit in and take Merlin's hand.

"The others are coming soon," said Percival.

Arthur nodded, still in a state of shock. Merlin still looked like he slept. His chest rose up and down with each breath he took and the monitors gave its steady beep. It looked like he was still in a coma.

Within a few minutes, the rest of the gang arrived and waited in Merlin's room for the doctor's arrival. By that time, Merlin started to stir again.

"Merlin," said Hunith happily. "Thank God you're awake!"

"Mum," said Merlin groggily. "What are you doing here?"

"You're in the hospital, honey. Do you remember what happened?"

Merlin paused for a minute, his face in sleepy concentration.

"No, what did happen?" he asked.

"Merlin, my name is Doctor Gray," said Gray. "I'm your doctor. What is the last thing you remember?"

Merlin paused in concentration again.

"Singing, I remember singing. I can just hear the words."

"Probably one of your songs," said Gwen with a laugh. Merlin shook his head.

"No. It's familiar, like I should have written it, but I didn't write it." He started to softly sing. "I knew I loved you before I met you/I think I dreamed you into life…"

No one saw Arthur's look of surprise. Everyone kept their gaze on the man on the bed.

"What do you remember before that?" asked Gray.

"Class," said Merlin. "Going to my afternoon class."

"It's not uncommon for crash victims to forget the trauma," said Gray. "Sometimes they'll remember it later on, sometimes they don't."

"When can I go home?" asked Merlin.

"As soon as your physical therapist deems you ready," said Gray.

Merlin looked at the doctor in surprise.

"But, we can't afford…"

"Oh, don't worry about it, Merlin," said Hunith. "Arthur's paying for everything."

"He is," said Merlin looking at Arthur.

"You're my friend, Merlin," he said. "I'd do anything to help a friend."

Merlin smiled at him and turned back to the doctor who was giving more details on Merlin's recovery but Arthur tuned them out. Merlin didn't remember the crash. He didn't remember the argument they had before it happened. Arthur didn't know if that was a blessing or a curse.

Horus later, when everyone had caught Merlin up on what had happened in the three months he had been asleep. He was overjoyed over Morgana's and Leon's engagement and they insisted he coordinate the songs for the wedding, which he gladly agreed to.

"I'm sorry, but visiting hours are almost over," said nurse toward evening. "Merlin needs his rest."

"Of course," said Hunith, albeit reluctantly. She turned back to Merlin. "We'll be back tomorrow, okay, dear."

"Okay, Mum," said Merlin smiling at her. "Can Arthur stay for a minute? I want to talk to him."

Everyone was surprised by Merlin's request, Arthur more than the other, but Hunith reluctantly agreed.

"All right," she said.

Leaning over, she kissed Merlin's cheek and stood and left. One by one the rest of the group made their good-nights as they left until just Arthur remained. Arthur stood nervously looking at Merlin.

Why did Merlin only want to talk to him? Did he remember something or was he just curious on what happened that day? What would Arthur say if Merlin asked that question? What would he do?

"Arthur, I feeling I'm missing something," he said. "Did something happen between us?"

Arthur had to force himself to breath. He knew this was going to happen.

"Yes," he said. "Something happened."

"What?"

Arthur drew a shaky breath.

"We had an argument. I forget what it was about." Liar. "But you were right, and I was wrong."

"Now I wished I remember," said Merlin with a laugh. "It's not often I get to one up you." He pauses. "The argument, how bad was it?"

"Bad," said Arthur. "One I don't think you'll forgive me for if you knew."

"Of course I'll forgive you," said Merlin smiling. "It's not like you caused me to get hit by a bus and go into a coma."

Arthur winced. He was glad Merlin didn't see his reaction or there would have been more to explain.

"I'm glad you're here, Arthur," said Merlin still smiling at him. "I'm glad you're my friend."

Arthur smiled back, and suddenly, the last three months came crashing down on him and he broke down. He barely registered Merlin pulling him into his arms as he cried. He cried for the friend he betrayed and almost lost. He felt Merlin rub his back and comb his fingers in his hair in comfort.

"I'm here, Arthur," said Merlin softly. "I'm okay."

"I'm so sorry," he said.

"For what?"

"Hurting you."

Merlin looked at him in surprise.

"Hurt me? Arthur, you never hurt me. I was on my way home. What happened was a series of unfortunate events. It couldn't have been stopped. That truck would have hit the bus whether I was on it or not."

Arthur didn't say anything as he registered what he heard. It wasn't exactly forgiveness but it was as close as he was going to get. He silently vowed that no matter what, Merlin would never find out what really happened that day. Never find out what they argued over, or Arthur betrayal. He would be the friend Merlin deserved.

An hour had passed before they realized it when a nurse arrived to change Merlin's bedpan. Her soft knock startled them and they turned to her kind smile.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Pendragon, but visiting hours are over," she said. "Mr. Emrys needs his rest."

"Thank you, Joy," he said smiling at her gratefully. "I'll be gone in a minute."

She nodded and left to allow them a minute alone. Arthur turned back to Merlin who was smiling at him in amazement and humor.

"Familiar with the staff, are we?" he said. Arthur laughed.

"Well, it has been over two months," said Arthur.

"I'm just surprised they didn't kick you out."

"They wouldn't, not with how much I donated to the pediatric ward."

Merlin looked at him in shock and Arthur wondered if he had said the right thing.

"You did that?" he asked. Arthur nodded. "Why?"

"My father was giving me money to try and get me back to his side," said Arthur. "I never wanted it, and I knew he would just send more if I sent it back, so I decided to do something with it. I gave it to the hospital."

"Arthur," said Merlin in awe. "You're amazing."

Arthur looked at Merlin in surprise before smiling.

"Really?" he asked.

"Yeah," said Merlin. "I don't know a lot of people who would do that. Most people I know would have taken the money and used it for themselves. You're an amazing man."

Arthur smiled at Merlin's words. He only wished he was worthy of them.

"I better let you sleep," he said. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay. Good night, Arthur."

"Good night, Merlin."

Arthur left the hospital and got into his car, but instead of going to Hunith's, he drove toward Lancelot's. By the look on his friend's face after opening the door, Arthur knew Lancelot was expecting him.

"Come in," he said.

Arthur walked in and sat on the couch as Lancelot went to his refrigerator and got a beer. He gratefully accepted the drink as Lancelot popped the top from a second one and sat in the chair next to the couch.

"He doesn't remember what happened," said Arthur after taking a sip of beer. "He doesn't remember the fight."

"And that's a good thing, Arthur," said Lancelot. "A guy like Merlin doesn't deserve the nightmares."

"I still can't forgive myself for what I did. I called him a liar. I drove him away, onto that bus…"

"Arthur, we've been through this. That wasn't your fault. That truck would have hit that bus whether Merlin was on it or not. Nothing you did made the truck hit the bus. It was just horrible coincidence that Merlin was on it."

"What if he asks about the fight?" asked Arthur. "What do I say?"

"The truth?" said Lancelot. "Apologize? You've been busting yourself up over this for two months. Merlin's fine. He's finally awake. Let it go."

"I can't let it go!" Arthur looked up at his friend in near desperation and anguish. "He's not fine. He may never walk again. He may never write music again, and that's my fault!"

Lancelot sighed. The friends knew that Arthur viewed the accident as his fault. It was no secret among them. It was evident from the look on Arthur's face every time he looked at Merlin. No matter how many times they told him, Arthur wouldn't get past the guilt he felt in his part of Merlin's injuries. Lancelot didn't know how to get Arthur past his guilt, and he thinks he one person who can can't even remember.

TBC