Dreams and Reality
A/N: I got the idea for this story while watching an episode of Bones
I want to say a big thank you to Allthingsmagical which without her this story could not have been done. Thank you I love ya girl x
Rating M
WARNING ABUSE AND NASTY WORDS, DARK THEMES DON'T LIKE DON'T READ YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Chapter Four
Arthur blinked his eyes awake but closed them when the bright light hit them, when Arthur opened them again he found himself in a hospital bed with a machine beeping away, Arthur slowly tried to raise his arm but found it pinned down, turning his head Arthur gasped when he saw Merlin's head resting on the bed next to him holding his hand.
"Merlin" Arthur choked out
Merlin blinked his eyes, it had been two years since his husband had fallen into a coma and doctors had told him that Arthur may never wake up but being a doctor himself Merlin knew that he could wake his husband, they were meant to be.
Merlin slowly raised his head and couldn't stop his tears falling when he saw Arthur's blue eyes looking at him
"Baby your wake" Merlin sobbed climbing onto the bed and resting his head on Arthur's chest
"You're alive? How?" Arthur sobbed
Merlin raised his head and looked at his husband confused
"Arthur I need to ask you some questions before I get the nurse, it's a good thing Uther made sure I was your doctor" Merlin informed him
"Okay" Arthur said unsure about what was going on
"Can you tell me your full name?"
"Of course it Arthur Pendragon"
"That's right, can you tell me your age?"
"I'm 28 years old"
"What is my name?"
"Merlin Emrys"
"What is the name of our son?"
"Luke but he's not our son, not anymore"
"Why do you say that?"
"Because we're divorced but we were going to be a family again"
"I'll come back to that, why are you in the hospital?"
"Because my abuses boyfriend Cenred didn't like the fact that I was going to leave him"
"Why did you ask me how I was alive?"
"Because after Cenred stabbed me he made me watch as he cut your throat"
"Ok baby, now I need to tell you something's and I don't want you to interrupt until the end ok"
"Okay"
"Two years ago we had a fight about god knows what anymore, do you remember that?"
"Yes"
"What do you remember after that?"
"Umm I was coming out of the office when I was shot by someone and I remember people talking to me"
"That's right baby, we almost lost you twice that evening but you're a Pendragon, a fighter, but Lance was the one to save you, but baby you fell into a coma. Your been living in a dream world for the past two years"
"But it felt so real?"
"That it would baby it's meant to feel real so you won't want to leave"
"So I'm up now, I'm in the real world?"
"Yes Arthur"
"Has Gwen and Lance got married?"
"Yes I was talking to you about it, you took what I was telling you and added it your dream world"
"Who was Cenred? Why did I dream of being in abuses relationship with him?"
"Because Cenred was the last face you saw before passing out, he was the one that shot you because he was angry with you after you put him in jail"
"So none of it was real?"
"No baby."
"I am going to be okay and you are not going to leave me?"
"Never Arthur. And you are going to be just fine. You will have to stay in hospital for a couple of weeks. You have been through so much Arthur." Merlin said, giving his husband a kiss, a tear coming to his eye when Arthur kissed back, a feeling he had waited two years for.
Later that day Arthur's parents were allowed to visit while Merlin had some test run to make sure everything was alright.
"Oh my baby" Ygraine cried when she entered the room to find that her son was truly awake.
Ygraine rushed over to the bed and wrapped her arms round her son
"I've missed you baby boy" Ygraine sobbed
"I've missed you too mum" Arthur whispered
Uther walked over and sat down next to his son and took hold of his hand.
"You scared the shit out of all of us, I almost had a heart attack when I saw you laying there" Uther whispered
"I'm sor-"
"Now don't you start saying sorry, it's not your fault. That bastard is behind bars now where he belongs" Uther interrupted Arthur
"Merlin told us you were living in a dream world, but he couldn't really tell us anything about it. You know doctor patient confidentiality and all" Ygraine pressed
"You don't have to tell us son, your mother is just worried" Uther replied
"No, no I just don't know how to go about it, it's still weird to me" Arthur said
"Just take your time baby" Ygraine smiled
Arthur could feel the tears running down his face and tried to left his hand to wrap them away but nothing happened
"Here darling let me" Ygraine pulled out some tissue from the box and wrapped away her son's tears
"Why can't I move?" Arthur asked freaking out
"Because you have been in bed, laying down for two years and your muscles have grown weak, once I give you the all clear your be going to physical therapy to get your muscles strong again" Merlin said from the door
Merlin walked into the room and kissed Arthur's forehead
"If you could help me Uther we can have you sitting up" Merlin smiled
Uther helped Merlin left the top half of Arthur's body and lean him against the head broad on the bed.
"Thank you" Arthur smiled
"Doctor Emrys, the lab wants you" A nurse said sticking her head throw the door
"Awe yes that should be your results, I'll be back soon, if you need anything don't be afraid to have the nurse come and get me" Merlin said giving Arthur a kiss before walking out of the room
"He hasn't left your side since they brought you in" Ygraine smiled running her fingers throw Arthur's hair
"I don't… it just seems so unreal." Arthur commented
"We know son, Merlin informed us that you might have trouble adjusting" Uther told his son
"It just felt so real, all those things he did" Arthur whispered
"Oh baby hush now you don't need to tell us" Ygraine said pulling her son into her arms
When Arthur had calmed down and fallen sleep Uther help to lay his son, before they both left to give Merlin and Luke some time with Arthur.
Merlin quietly walked into Arthur's room hold their son, and smiled when he saw Arthur resting.
"Is Papa still sleeping?" Luke asked
"Papa woke up today, he's just resting at the moment" Merlin informed their son
Merlin helped Luke onto the bed and make sure that he was nowhere near the many wires attached to Arthur.
"Daddy can you make Papa hold me like before?" Luke asked
"Sure baby" Merlin smiled and lifted on of Arthur's arms and wrapped it round their son, who rested his head on his papa's chest
"I can hear his heart daddy" Luke smiled
"Yeah what does it sound like?" Arthur asked smiling
"PAPA" Luke yelled
"Shh Luke" Merlin remind their son
"Sorry daddy" Luke smiled
"I love you Luke" Arthur smiled and kissed the top of his sons head
"I love you daddy Promise you're never leave" Luke asked looking up at Arthur
"I promise Baby boy never again" Arthur swore
Merlin smiled and watched as their son closed his eyes and fell asleep.
"Now that your tests have come back we're going to start rebuilding your muscles, Now I'm going to warn you that it's going to be a lot of hard work and you will get angry, annoy at some point during your physio and will want to give it, but I'm going to tell you now Arthur that you're a Pendragon and if you can bring yourself back from the brink of death then you can handle this." Merlin smiled as took Arthur's hand in his. "While doing your Physio you'll have to live here at the hospital until you're strong enough that we can move you to a wheelchair and as you work your muscles we'll move you on from the chair to crutches but that will only happen if myself and your trainer think you can handle it, from there it should be six months if you put your mind to it and then you'll be walking on your own without any support. Those you would be as strong as you once were and will have to a break every now and then. And Arthur you have to, okay once you're walking with or without crutches you will need to take a break every half hour and continue your Physio for a less another six months after you start walking by yourself."
"And my arms?" Arthur asked looking down at his son.
"The arms are a lot easier than the legs but still a lot of work. I know you can do this Arthur, you beat anything that stands in your way and I know nothing is going to stop you from holding your son or even playing with him. Luke has it all planned out for when you get better, and for almost everything on that list you're going to need your legs." Merlin informed him.
"I won't just be doing this for our son Merlin. I'll be doing this for us, having lived a nightmare for 2 years I don't want to waste a moment with you and our son." Arthur smiled and looked down at his hand that Merlin was holding.
"But for now you need to rest. Your trainer will be by tomorrow to go over a work plan with us." Merlin smiled.
That night was the first time Arthur (that he knew of) went to sleep with his Merlin sleeping next to him and he could have been happier, Arthur couldn't remember why he had been angry at Merlin 2 years ago but the only good thing that came from getting shot and living in a nightmare that ended with Merlin's death was that Arthur now knew what it would feel like not only to lose Merlin but to watch him die and Arthur could help be want to cry every time he opened his eyes to see Merlin alive and with him.
Please R&R, Thank you for reading