CHAPTER 17 : BABY STEPS

Dr. Mooney again repeated, "What is it, Arthur?"

Arthur clenched one fist, finally relaxing enough to say, "My father threatened to kill Merlin. His exact words were, 'I warn you, I will kill that man and that should bring you to your senses.' He is not exactly overjoyed with the lifestyle I have chosen. The really frightening thing is that I think he might do it. He's already attacked him once when I was on T5. I've experienced him in a rage and Merlin would be no match for him."

"Have you told the police?"

"No, I don't want them scaring Merlin, he doesn't even know. The only person who knows beside you is my friend Gawaine."

"I think it should be mentioned to the police in the light of the two previous attacks. Sooner or later Merlin will get wind of it and I think he will take it better if he is told by you. Isn't that what you would want if the shoe were on the other foot?"

Arthur nodded but didn't commit himself. How do you say to someone special, by the way my father blames you for my being gay and he is going to kill you to see if that will make me straight again. He wouldn't blame Merlin if he just up and left…who in their right mind would want to have a boyfriend whose father was an obvious mental case with homicidal tendencies?

"Think about it, Arthur, you know Merlin best and it will be easier for him if he hears it from you than from some chap at a police station. I will check over all the facts from security and what you have told me and also get someone to do a little digging on previous behaviour to see if maybe you father has a record for such threats. This is not something that will just go away; you need to be active in laying complaints with the right people.

"I'm going to prescribe a sleeping medication to ensure that you sleep," he smiled as he added, "…so you don't spend the whole night worrying. Also something for the daytime, to be used only if you think you need it. It will just take the edge off things and allow you to think more clearly. You have had a lot to deal with and it in no way reflects on you as a weakness if you need a little help.

"I'm going to leave you now but will be back the day after tomorrow, by then I want you to have told Merlin and we'll plan the next step together."

So saying, the doctor left.

-0-0-

A while later, Graham walked in saying, "It's a beautiful day and you need to get out of this room. Jennifer is working in the hospital today and I think you might be interested in seeing the work done in the Autism Clinic. I spoke to Merlin and he said that he will be in at lunchtime so I think the two of you should have lunch at one of the food outlets in the main building." Arthur's eyes lit up so Graham added, "Costa's, Prête, McDonald's but by the number of Costa cups in your room, I'm sure you're well aware of that."

"Well, Costa is Merlin's favourite and he told me that he really can't pass one without getting a Chai Latte. It's strange but I have never been anywhere with him that is outside the confines of the hospital."

Graham made sure that he was comfortable in his chair and said, "That will come. You'll be gallivanting all over London on your own two feet, that is if you keep up your exercises. Ready?" Arthur nodded. "Well, let's get this mini excursion under way!" he said.

Arthur knew that Graham as his nurse was privy to Doctor Mooney's added medications but he said nothing to him and Arthur was just happy to keep it that way.

Deep down, he blamed himself; feeling embarrassed that he couldn't cope and wondered if it were entirely his fault. Doctor Mooney hadn't said that but he couldn't help wondering if he was the problem and then he remembered that his father was the cause of all this recent trouble and he stopped blaming himself.

-0-0-

Arthur enjoyed being away from his floor. The Clinic he visited was interesting and he was impressed to see that other classes dealt with teenagers and adults with autism. He met Jennifer who was introduced to him as Dr. Barnet, she laughed easily and explained that was her professional name but as she linked her arm into Graham's, said that she was still Mrs Hythe at heart.

Arthur liked her, she was only too happy to explain her work and how she spent so many hours a month at the hospital but usually worked at an autism-specific school and was very interested in TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children). She then left to return to her patients.

Arthur and Graham watched a video for visitors and saw some of the classrooms where the students were working. It was noisy and reminded Arthur of his own primary school except that there were many teacher aids. There was a lot of one-on-one teaching and everything was said directly to each child as the teacher tried to get his undivided attention.

Suddenly Graham said, "Well, if you want to meet up with your boyfriend we should leave."

Later Arthur would have lots of questions to ask Graham but for now, he was happy to be seeing Merlin. He spied him sitting at a table with his IPad and once again he couldn't stop his heart from reacting. Graham pushed him across the area and Merlin saw them and stood up with a huge smile.

When Arthur reached him, he gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek and said, "We'll have to stop meeting like this!"

Arthur beamed.

"I'm handing my charge over to you, Merlin. Don't get yourselves into any trouble but should anything happen just call security." He nodded at Arthur and left.

Arthur's heart dropped but Merlin seemed oblivious to the cloud on the horizon and said, "Well, I've already had one Latte but I intend to have another for lunch. Do you know what you want?"

It was interesting sitting and watching all the other people having lunch. Once they had finished, Merlin said, "Anywhere else you would like to go, Sire?" He bowed slightly and said, "I am at your beck and call."

Arthur smiled then became serious as he said, "Merlin, there's a chapel with a quiet room on the next floor. Could we go there as I'd like a little chat just you and me?"

They made there way and Arthur was pleased to see that it was deserted. Merlin knelt down, made the sign of the cross and said a few prayers. He then turned to Arthur saying, "I said an extra prayer for you."

Arthur smiled as his prayer had been, 'Dear God, give me the strength to tell him without frightening him too much!'

"I think we should go to the quiet room as other people might like to come and pray and we might disturb their prayers."

Merlin sat in one of the easy chairs after having manoeuvred Arthur's chair as close to him as he could. He looked at Arthur's serious face and his heart dropped. He knew that it had been too good to be true and that Arthur was now going to tell him that he really didn't need his friendship anymore.

Seeing the panicked look on Merlin's face, Arthur leant forward and ran the back of his fingers down his cheek and took his two hands in his one good one. He gave him a little smile, "Merlin, what I am going to say has really nothing to do with the two of us. I love you as much today as I did yesterday. You don't have to worry about that."

Merlin breathed a sigh of relief so Arthur continued, "Something happened the day before yesterday when my father came." Arthur took a deep breath, "You know that he doesn't approve of my going out with a man," Merlin nodded wide-eyed. "Well, he said some pretty disgusting things about us and…"

"Arthur, the day he attacked me he called me a faggot, I didn't want to upset you but I did tell my mother, she is worried about us."

"That is what I want to talk about. My father got really carried away and he said that he felt that if you were dead, I would revert to being straight."

Merlin's eyes grew around as saucers, "He said that to you, Arthur? I don't think it works that way…" he purposely left out the scary part about being dead. He suddenly felt sick, Uther could be anywhere, he could be watching them at this very minute. He would never be able to protect Arthur from him. He pulled his hands away from Arthur's and sat up straight.

Arthur reading the pulling away as Merlin's decision not to have anything more to do with him, got upset, "I knew I shouldn't have told you but Dr. Mooney said that it was better you heard it from me than someone else. I didn't want to tell you as I knew you would get upset and decide I wasn't worth the trouble."

Staring at him, Merlin realised that that was what Arthur thought. He was so wrong but how was he going to convince him of that. He reached for Arthur's hand again and kissed his knuckles, "You are so important in my life. I would willingly die to save you…well, maybe not be killed by your father but I would jump into the ocean or run into a burning house if you were caught. Now tell me verbatim, what he said."

Arthur did so and Merlin's face fell. It sounded to him like a death threat and it was frightening. Arthur held his hand saying, "It might be nothing as he's always been a bully and when he can't win an argument he turns to threats. I have been advised to tell the police and I think that would be the right move. What do you think?"

Merlin nodded, "I think you have to. I have also decided to press assault charges against him for what he did when he broke my collarbone. I wasn't going to but when I saw that he had beaten you up for the second time, I changed my mind. I spoke to the police this morning. Who else knows about what he said?"

"I told Gawaine yesterday and made him promise not to tell you. He also thought that I should tell the police. Honestly, Merlin, I can't see him going through with it but…"

"All right, we're going to report it but I can't let it rule my life. We have things to look forward to and one is getting you back into physio."

Arthur said softly, "I asked Graham how hard it would be to sit on the couch in my room and he said the sitting is easy, it's the standing and transferring back to my chair that is hard."

"Well, let's make that out next project. I would love to cuddle with you on the couch, Mr. Pendragon!" He laughed, "You know what? When I first came to visit, I always said that to you, 'Good Evening, Mr. Pendragon! It's Merlin to visit you.' Gawaine heard me once and said that you'd have a fit as out of work you only ever answered to Arthur. Glad he told me as you might never have woken up!"

Arthur smiled and levered himself unsteadily with one arm, Merlin anticipated the movement and leant forward and kissed him. 'I could do this forever!' thought Arthur but then his arm felt weak and he had to lean back again, so he said, "Merlin Emrys, you are the best thing which has ever happened to me and I look forward to spending my future with you!"

Merlin blushed then looking at his watch saying, "If we don't get back to your floor soon, the nurses will think that I have absconded with you!"

"Sounds rather promising…" Arthur said.

Merlin spun the wheelchair around and leant forward, dropping a kiss on his head.

-0-0-

Arthur got the go ahead to return to physio for leg work but he was hampered by the cast and was not allowed in the pool. His bruises were fading and in himself he felt fine. He was determined to work so hard that even with his cast they might consider allowing him to be an outpatient. The work had already begun on changing his extra bathroom into a wet room. Ellie and Tom had been in to visit and were able to give him an update on the work being done in the house. She had made him feel better as she mentioned that they had both noticed a great improvement in his demeanour since their first visit weeks ago.

The police were notified and the following day, two came to visit while Merlin was there. The officer taking the information was impressed that he had so much backup documentation. He said grimly, "This should make our job a little easier."

Arthur said, "I have notified the hospital of my intention to file a complaint with you and they have agreed to release any security reports as requested."

"When do you think Mr. Pendragon will be notified of the complaint?" Merlin asked. He felt safer in the hospital with Arthur than he did walking home and he had begun looking over his shoulders to see if he was being followed. Even his flat no longer felt a safe refuge as he was suddenly wary of strange sounds and other tenants' footsteps in the hallway.

The policewoman explained that everything took time but it would be at their senior officers' discretion. She smiled kindly, promising that everything would be done to get a solution as soon as possible. The first officer asked if there was anything else they would like to add and when Arthur shook his head, they put away their note pads, picked up the file Arthur had made for them and left.

Merlin breathed a sigh of relief. The two complaints had been filed separately but as the aggressor was the same person they would ultimately be linked.

Merlin looked at Arthur and gave him a sad smile, "I'm sorry it came to this. I know it is upsetting…"

"But not as upsetting as seeing you hurt. Merlin, if he walked in here now, I would quite happily take him on to defend you. Can I say something without your getting on your high horse?"

"Go ahead! I'll try to contain my wild side."

"I think you should check with your doctor about maybe getting a mild sleeping pill. You look tired and I don't like the way you jump at the slightest sound. Please consider it…"

Merlin nodded but he knew he wouldn't. Should he take a sleeping pill, he might miss the sound of someone trying to get into his place and then he'd be done for.

Arthur was worried about him. He was beginning to get dark circles under his eyes. He had to work harder at his physio so that he would get out of this dam place sooner. He had to be there to save Merlin should his father decide to do anything stupid.

-0-0-

Nigel Brooke's had been working away on Merlin's behalf. He had not met him but he had the necessary information provided by Arthur. There certainly seemed to be an unclear reason for dismissal as none of the company reports substantiated the fact that internal reorganisation had called for cancellation of positions. Nigel was convinced that it was just an excuse to get Mr. Emrys out of the company. The fact the Mr. Pendragon had previously offered Mr. Emrys money to stop seeing his son was also important and he had an affidavit from Mr. Emrys as proof. He wanted to settle the case without referring to that but should he not be able to; he would put it on the table. He needed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Pendragon's actions had been personally motivated and contrary to acceptable business practises. He would be demanding that the company pay his client retribution.

Arthur was pleased to hear from him and although he warned that it might take time he was glad to hear that Nigel was involved and with his superior had drafted an official letter which would be sent to his father stating the facts and calling his bluff. Merlin would be copied as would Arthur with a blind copy. He was beginning to feel vindicated in that Merlin would be treated justly and that his company would have done the correct thing.

The first inkling that something was fishy was a personal note from Mr. Uther Pendragon to Nigel stating that Mr. Merlin Emrys was being fired for insubordination but that Mr. Pendragon had graciously changed that, wanting him to be able to be re-employed without a blemish on his record. Therefore, Mr. Pendragon himself had changed the dismissal to termination without cause.

Mr. Pendragon also mentioned that felt that it was noble of him to do that as it also assured that Mr. Emrys would be paid for an additional month's wages.

Nigel shook his head thinking, 'Maybe it would have been nobler if you had just keep your own personal feeling out of your adult son's life." That handwritten note would come back to bite Mr. Pendragon as he had stepped outside his position and made a personal unsubstantiated decision. He thought, 'You might have got away with that in the good old days but not any longer, Uther!'

He felt quite positive that Merlin would be handed a healthy cheque for compensation and that the matter probably wouldn't reach the courts. Uther would fold and Nigel would have the satisfaction of being able to repay Arthur for his kindness to him in the past.

-0-0-

Later that day, Arthur explained how the situation was progressing. "I don't think that you will be going to court about it as it should be settled as an internal matter. I have no intention of suggesting that you demand a judge's decision; I would like to see it settled quickly. Does that seem fair, Merlin? It will be your final decision as basically you are Nigel's client and he is working on your behalf."

"I would like the whole thing to be settled quietly and without further fuss. I certainly, don't want to sit across a table from your father but I do feel that he should be held responsible for what he did, even if it is only at a Board Meeting. I'm not really a sackcloth and ashes type person."

Arthur grinned both at the thought of seeing his father standing outside a church in sackcloth and ashes, as well as Merlin's ability to forgive.

"I'll tell you one thing though, "Once we are out of here, the first time we have dinner together in a restaurant will be courtesy of your father's generosity! But more seriously, how did physio go this morning?"

"Well, things are looking up. My legs are getting stronger by the day and I managed to climb three steps with the help of a bar and an assistant. My cast was checked and everything is OK. Maybe another three weeks and it can be removed then I will need therapy for that as well. Honestly, Merlin, my life is just one long doctor's appointment!"

Merlin slipped to his knees in front of Arthur's chair and said cheekily, "With lots of Merlin time thrown in…" this caused Arthur to grin and he lowered his head, taking Merlin's chin in his good hand he kissed him gently at first but then with more passion.

Merlin responded before finally pulled away for air, saying, "To hell with therapy, I think we need to increase our 'Merlin time' don't you?"

Smiling at him, Arthur wondered if Merlin really understood the extent of his love for him. As far as he was concerned, he had brought him out of a coma and had supported him ever since. He loved him there was no question about that but was he ready to go beyond kisses? He wanted more and he was sure that Merlin probably felt the same way. He said, "I can't wait to get you somewhere where we can lock the door and be on our own…"