CHAPTER 11 : LIKE SHIPS THAT PASS IN THE NIGHT

It was cold and rainy. Arthur remembered telling Merlin that should he want a lift to work to meet him in the courtyard at eight o'clock. So, he waited in their lobby from five to until five after eight. Merlin never came and Arthur sighed opened his umbrella and walked to the garage to get his car.

Fifteen minutes later, Merlin came rushing down the stairs. He'd overslept and then couldn't decide which tie to wear or where he had left his phone. He stopped at the lobby door before opening his umbrella and Jeanne the concierge's wife opened her flat door and said, "Le monsieur du troisieme étage, vous a attendu pendant dix minutes..."

Merlin's heart jumped, "He was waiting for me? Are you sure?"

"Oui, monsieur, il m'a demandé si je vous avais vu ce matin?"

"Merci, Madame," Merlin said with a smile. Suddenly the rain didn't seem so heavy, the Metro didn't seen so crowded and he felt that today might solve a few personal problems.

-0-0-

Arthur was on conference calls to New Zealand nearly all morning. There was a certain amount of interest as he had been there and he actually knew by sight the building in Auckland where the company office was.

The man on the other end of the phone said, "So, will we be seeing you in our office in the near future?"

Arthur's heart flipped, he was nowhere near considering leaving Paris let alone Europe until he'd sorted out this mess with Merlin. He said jokingly, "I'll be there when your department has a yacht for its employees. One thing I really enjoyed in your City of Sails was sailing."

The man laughed saying, "Farewell from Aotearoa, Arthur!" and they finished the call.

He'd not sooner finished the call than his supervisor wanted to further discuss some of the NZ numbers. They had a quick lunch in the conference room and Arthur returned with Tom to his desk to run up some figures for the next meeting.

A voice said, "Hiding away are you? Can't face the rat race each of us is living?"

Arthur smiled, "Gawaine, I've been on the phone nearly all morning to Auckland. I've had it up to here but the bosses seem pleased with our progress, " he said nodding in Tom's direction, "So, it wasn't an absolute waste of time and energy. What are you working on?"

"Well, by being rather devious, I managed to pass on my latest project to my assistant so that I can wander these hallowed halls and catch up with everyone else's love life."

Arthur scowled at him and Gawaine took the hint and decided to leave well enough alone by saying, "I'll be in Jack's if you and a certain chap with an Irish accent would like to…"

He was interrupted by a voice from the door saying, "Gawaine, where have you been all day? There's a run on one of our accounts, get on it!"

Gawaine left calling over his shoulder, "Nobody appreciates my sociability!"

Arthur had to grin as he heard Gawaine's superior saying, "I'll give you social abilities if you don't settle down and get some work done!"

Arthur was surprised a short time later, to look up and see that it was already dark outside, he checked his watch it was five thirty. He'd worked all day and felt irritable and tired. He just wanted to get home, pour himself a drink and collapse onto the sofa, watch some inane TV shows and finally fall into bed.

-0-0-

For the next couple of days work took precedence and there was less socialising around the office. Lance and Merlin had lunch together each day but nothing much was said about Arthur. Merlin clearly steered Lance away by encouraging him to talk about his move into Libby's flat. It was an easy conversation as he just looked interested saying, "Really…are you serious...that much room?" until lunch break was over and they returned to their respective desks.

Gawaine wasn't that easy to deal with and Merlin finally acknowledged that Arthur seemed really busy and he hadn't bumped into him. He thought about what he had said and felt stupid as there was nothing more than he would like to do than literally bump into Arthur. He knew that he would grab him to make sure that he didn't fall over and Merlin at that moment realised how much those physical touches were missing in his life. Arthur would have held him…would have hugged him…would have kissed him. He would have explained why he was keeping his distance and everything would have been well again… He still wasn't sure what had happened between them but he tried to keep an open mind that it was really because of work and not lack of interest on Arthur's part.

Gawaine for once made no comment but felt sad that what had seemed like a possible romance was off the rails. He'd be keeping an eye on the two of them as he knew that they were well suited and that Arthur was damned lucky that Merlin cared about him.

Merlin went home and instead of going to the pub decided to do some laundry. He took his dirty clothes, a book and went downstairs. Supper time usually meant that the machines were empty. He wasn't hungry and he'd have something afterwards.

-0-0-

He met Gawaine on his way to lunch and his smile was greeted with a scowl, "Why did you do that to him, Arthur?"

"What?"

"Hit, Merlin!"

"I haven't seen him since Monday! What happened to him?"

"Well, I saw him last night at Jack's and he's sporting a nasty black eye and a grazed cheek..."

"He's what?"

"Don't play silly bugger with me, Arthur, he probably told you where to go and you let him have it!"

Arthur didn't even give Gawaine another glance but turned on his heel, making his way to the Legal Department. 'To hell with lunch!' he thought.

He saw Lance and rapped on the glass of his cubicle, "Where's Merlin?"

Lance shrugged his shoulders and said that he hadn't seen him yet today.

Arthur wandered over to the supervisor's desk and asked to speak to Merlin, "Pas ici! He phoned in sick and we really needed him today."

Arthur left the disgruntled man and made his way back to his floor. "Tom, have you seen hide or hair of Merlin?"

Tom looked at Arthur and shook his head. "He didn't meet me for lunch today so I thought he was working on a project and couldn't get away. Have you checked with Lance?"

"Yes. He hasn't seen him either. It's only that Gawaine had mentioned that he looked as if he were in a fight."

"You're kidding? Merlin's the last person to have an argument with anyone let alone a fight. Maybe, Gawaine was exaggerating and you got the wrong end of the story."

"Well, he phoned in sick, so as I have all my stuff up to date, I'll leave around three. Can you cover for me? I know where he lives, so on my way home, I'll check in with him. He might need some food or medication..." Arthur trailed off not wanting to make more of the matter than was necessary.

-0-0-

Arthur entered the lift and pushed five. He felt strange passing three as if he were entering into no-man's land. He reached five and slid open the interior door reaching for the exterior door realising that his mind was blank as to what he would say once or if Merlin opened his door.

Standing in the hall, Arthur had second thoughts; he didn't want to offend the man by checking up on him but knew deep down that he would regret not making the effort. He wasn't just taking advantage of the situation; he really felt the need to check up on Merlin. He knew it wasn't only because of Leon's admonition that he look after him but because he wanted to.

He tapped on the door and waited. No response. He rapped harder and called out, "Merlin, it's me...Arthur!"

He could hear movement inside and a muffled voice said, "I'm coming, hold on!"

The door opened and Merlin was standing there. Arthur breathed a sigh of relief, Gawaine had exaggerated; he didn't look too bad. Arthur walked into the flat and turning back to look at Merlin. He stopped mid-action; one whole side of his face was grazed and the skin around his eye was dark blue.

"Merlin, what happened? Who did this to you, I'll kill him...?"

Merlin gave a half hearted smile and said, "A wall and the edge of a table."

"When, what happened? Are you all right?"

"Wednesday...I fell...and yes, I'm a little bruised but all right. I just couldn't face the questions at work and my back and shoulder are a little sore."

"Where did you fall?"

"Laundry room, in the basement, I forgot the last step."

"That's it! No need to go down there again, I have a washer/drier in my flat and you're welcome to use it anytime. You won't need to worry about steps and walls. O.K.! Get your jacket. No, leave on your slippers, you're coming to my place for supper. You'll have to trust my cooking but we can eat and you can tell me exactly what happened."

"Arthur, it's not that interesting."

Arthur turned and gave him an encouraging smile, "Let me be the judge of that." He was pleased that Merlin had not refused to open the door to him and even better had considered coming for supper. Deciding to make sure that Merlin didn't feel uncomfortable he said, "Maybe, I should invite the others as well?" He waited for Merlin's decision and was awarded with a shy smile

"Could it just be the two of us?"

Arthur couldn't help but grin saying, "Certainly, that sounds just right." He held open the door and Merlin wrapped his jacket around himself, grabbed his phone and his keys and went to leave, backing away at the last moment.

Feeling really disappointed, Arthur stopped in disbelief, Merlin had accepted his invitation why would he now change his mind. He looked at him enquiringly. Merlin just grinned back, reaching for the fridge to bring out a pie plate. He laughed, "Leon's mum sent me the recipe for banoffee pie…I made it, we can have it for dessert."

Arthur laughed, for a second he had been sure that Merlin had had a change of heart but he hadn't, the flat door was locked behind him and he was walking beside him to the lift.

-0-0-

Arthur suddenly realised he'd been holding his breath from the lift to his flat door. He took a deep breath and opening the door, stood aside to let Merlin enter.

Merlin's eyes almost popped out of his head. This was some flat. It was so spacious and the ceilings were high. Arthur threw open the door to the kitchen and pointed to the fridge. Merlin put the pie away and spun around. "How many flat mates do you have?"

"None! I have the place to myself...I'm here alone."

"Just you?"

"Yes, Merlin, that's what alone means", Arthur said as he laughed. It felt so exciting to have Merlin here with him but the feeling was tempered by the realisation that at this very moment, in this very kitchen, he was also responsible for Merlin as he was a guest in his flat. "I'll show you around the place then, we'll make dinner."

Merlin nodded in agreement as he felt a little uncomfortable in the confines of the kitchen, his breathing was acting up and his thoughts were positively X-rated.

Arthur led the way back through the large hall and they saw the dining room, the equivalent of a family room, a formal lounge, a bedroom/office and two more bedrooms. Arthur had put his hand on the last door knob and smiled saying, "…and my bedroom..."

"This is great, it's huge and it has an ensuite." Merlin was impressed; he wandered around and turned laughing, saying what first came into his mind. "Arthur, there's room here for me too!"

Suddenly, he realised what he'd said and wished for the floor to open up and worse than that, Arthur was watching him with a goofy smile on his face. He turned and hurried from the room making for the hall cupboard to get his jacket and leave. He felt so uncomfortable to have said such an asinine thing in front of Arthur. He'd never be able to look him in the eyes again. He was sad as he really liked him.

He reached the hall, opened the door and reached in for his coat, he reached further and further then looked around and he was in a toilet not the cupboard. He cursed his stupidity, locked the door and putting down the lid, sat on the toilet. He heard Arthur walking by and blushed again. Had he really said what he had? He would wait until he heard Arthur going to the dining room and then he'd make his escape back to his little cubby-hole on the fifth. He'd get his jacket later.

Arthur could hardly keep the smile off his face. Merlin was so cute and even cuter because he didn't realise it. The more Arthur knew of him, the more involved he became. He couldn't stop thinking about him but kept an ear open for when Merlin came out of the toilet which he'd obviously mistaken for a clothes cupboard. The chicken was ready and the vegetables would soon be. He went over what Merlin had said and a laugh escaped his lips. He put the veggies on the plates and went to get Merlin.

He knocked no answer, "Merlin? It's me, supper is ready!" He tried the knob and the door wasn't locked, he said, "I'm coming in." He waited...no response. He paused and then walked into an empty room. No Merlin!

-0-0-

Merlin breathing heavily after his escape closed and locked his flat door behind him and leant against it. He was still embarrassed but here in the safety of his room he could see the funny side of what he'd said. He'd invited himself to live in Arthur's bedroom. Suddenly, he fell on the bed laughing; Leon would never believe what he had done.

There was a tap at his door, he froze.

"Merlin, it's me! Supper is ready. Come back downstairs..."

"Go away, Arthur!"

"Open the door...I want to see you."

There was silence and then somebody moving beyond the door. The door opened a sliver and Arthur took the opportunity to slip his foot in. Merlin stood there and shook his head. "I can't Arthur, not after what I said…"

Arthur bent down and picked up a tray, "It's not a problem and I didn't take offence." His heart was bouncing around in his chest; he stopped himself from saying, 'It's what I would also like' and instead said, "I brought our supper with me."

Merlin looked at the covered tray and realised he was hungry and it seemed a shame to waste good food so he opened the door wide allowing Arthur in.