They sat in silence, the only noise that could be heard over the beeps of the various machines was Arthur's sobbing.
The nurse gave Leon a chair and the couple sat in silence as the nurse continued to take reading and look after the figure in the bed. Several doctors came and went looking at the charts. After about an hour another nurse entered to tell them that Morgana had arrived. Arthur didn't react. Leon turned and left the room not realising that he had tears running down his face.
As he went to the waiting room he heard voices he wanted to turn and go back the way he had come but knew this had to be faced. As he entered he saw Morgana talking to a nurse. Leon hugged her and thanked her for coming she hugged him back crying on his shoulder.
"Oh my god he looks like the living dead….it's bad real bad Gana"
Leon sat down and explained to Morgana what the doctor had told them.
Hunith arrived with another policeman, and Leon went to find the doctor so she could talk to her. Morgana offered to go in with Hunith when the doctor spoke to her. They were taken into a separate room to speak. Afterwards they both went in to see Merlin leaving Leon sitting with Kay. Morgana was only allowed to stay for a few minutes and soon arrived back in the waiting room. She was shaking and white as a sheet. Leon put his arms around her and the sat in silence. A nurse followed a few minutes later with more tea and sat with them offering her silent support. The whole of the ITU staff were shocked by what they had seen.
Doctor O'Conner came back and went off with Kay who returned a bit later and told Leon that Merlin would be provided with police protection until all the kidnapers had been arrested. He also said that close family and friends could be told Merlin had been found but that they all needed to be careful not to spread the news as yet.
The doctor had privately made it clear to Kay that she didn't expect Merlin to last the night so it might be wise to let his friends come, so they could say their goodbyes. The press had yet to be informed and they wanted to keep it under wraps for awhile to give them chance to apprehend others involved. He also said that victim support would be in contact to help support family and friends. Kay then went back to London to make his report.
Leon rang Gwaine and told him of Merlin's rescue as he knew Arthur would want him to know first. He told him what the police wanted and they decided between them who to tell as Arthur was obviously in no state to make any decisions. Leon didn't give the full details of Merlin's condition over the phone wanting to tell him to his face. He did however tell Merlin's best friend that he was is a critical condition.
Gwaine had been with Lance when Leon phoned and he immediately contacted the others to arrange to go to Oxford. Gwaine had been terrified since speaking to Leon knowing that he wasn't being told the whole truth. He was so bad that Percy had insisted on driving not trusting Gwaine to keep anywhere near the speed limits.
Within a couple of hours Gwaine, Gwen, Lance, Eylan and Percy arrived at Oxford. They met up with Leon and Morgana in the waiting room. They were surprised to see Morgana and Leon with tears running down their faces. None of them had ever seen Leon cry before.
Gwaine looked petrified at what he was seeing; he knew Leon had not been telling him the full truth on the phone.
Leon looked at Gwaine and couldn't stop himself saying
"I'm so sorry Gwaine….it's bad real bad"
Then Leon sat down and explained what the doctor had told them, His voice kept breaking as he spoke.
"Arthur and Hunith are with him now"
They all sat with only the sound of Morgana and Gwen's crying breaking the silence.
Gwaine was as white as a sheet he paced up and down refusing to sit. After awhile he looked at Leon
"When can we see him?"
"I don't know perhaps later. They know you're all here so we will just have to wait"
Five minutes later the same nurse as before come in with a tray of drinks.
"I will ask someone to come and speak to you about visiting, Sister should be free soon. Mr Pendragon knows you're here"
After another half an hour Arthur and Hunith came into the room holding on to each other like it was the only thing keeping them upright. Arthur made Hunith sit in the only empty seat and Gwaine put his arm around her.
The Sister followed them into the room. Speaking to the new arrivals she said
"If you want to go in two at a time for 10 minutes each. The Doctor says it's ok this time but after that it's just Merlin's husband and mother who will be allowed visit until Merlin is at less risk of infection"
This was too much for Gwaine
"No way! he's my brother in all but name and your telling me I can't visit" Gwaine was clenching his fists'
The Sister looked at Gwaine and managed to speak calmly and quietly.
"The doctors may allow one other person if you are that that close, do you want me to enquire Mr Pendragon? They won't allow anybody else though"
"You bet he wants" Gwaine muttered, Hunith looked at him
"Keep calm Gwaine, that's not doing anyone one any good" she tutted.
Arthur knew how close Gwaine was to Merlin and knew he would force his way in if anyone tried to prevent him seeing Merlin. They had known each other since Merlin was eight years old nearly as long as Will.
"Please if you would. Gwaine is the nearest thing Merlin has to a brother"
Arthur looked at the others
"Sorry, but why don't you visit now and then we can go back in." With that he sat down as Morgana stood up.
Gwaine went in first with Percy and came back after 10 minutes. They were quickly followed by Gwen and Lance, after that Eylan went in. Once they had all visited Hunith and Arthur went back to Merlin's bedside. Both had aged in the short time they had been in the hospital. Hunith may be appearing to holding it together better than Arthur but you only had to look into her eyes to see the strain she was under. Merlin was all she had and she couldn't bare the thought of losing him.
No one knew what to say, they had all been shocked to the core and just sat there. It was just too much too take in. Each been so please when they heard Merlin had been found, thinking they could get back to normal. But now no one really thought he would make it, each sickened by that thought, and didn't want to be the first one to say anything.
They sat in silence until Leon decided that they should make an effort to move.
"There is a hotel just down the road and perhaps we should all try to get some rest."
"It's alright" Gwaine declined. "I'll stay here and look after Hunith and Arthurs bags"
Recognising that he needed to be alone the others reluctantly went off saying they would be back in the morning before heading for home. As they weren't allowed to visit there it seemed no point in them all staying in Oxford, they could take it in turns to come back and give their support if it was wanted. Then when Merlin was fitter and they could all visit they could come back and stay. No one mentioned the possibility they wouldn't see Merlin alive again. No one could stand it.
Gwaine sat there for a couple of hours before Hunith came back out. He had been given some sandwiches by one of the nurses but they lay untouched on the table in front of him. He hadn't expected Merlin to look as bad as he did, even his trips to the brothels and the sex slaves held there hadn't prepared him for what he had seen. He knew that Merlin's face would haunt his dreams.
About an hour later Hunith came back into the room and looked at the man who was as good as a son to her.
"Arthur won't leave his side. The sister said they had a twin room downstairs, we can use if we don't mind sharing. That way we will be close if they need to call us"
"I'll just pop in and say goodnight to them both" Gwaine replied. He was unwilling to leave without seeing Merlin once more. He truly thought it unlikely that anyone that ill could still be alive. Hunith just nodded and sat down.
Gwaine wasn't long and when he got back just picked up the bags and with Hunith followed a porter down to their room for the night. Gwaine had never seen Hunith looking so old and tired although he was sure he didn't look much better. When they got to the room Gwaine made them both a drink, which they both forced down.
Neither of them got much sleep that night and by 9am the next morning they were sitting in the canteen pushing breakfast around their plates when the rest of the group arrived to find them.
By 10 they were all back in the small waiting room. Hunith and Gwaine went in to see Merlin and Arthur came out looking tired, crumpled and broken. He didn't speak before Morgana took him down to the room Hunith and Gwaine had used the night before, she made him shower and change. He insisted he didn't need to sleep as insisted he had dozed in the chair by Merlin overnight. She then took him to the canteen to get a drink and some breakfast that she made him eat. Even then, it was only by arguing Merlin needed Arthur to be strong right now.
They were both surprised to see Uther when they got back to the Intensive care waiting room.
Uther stood up as they entered and walked forward and gave his son a hug. Something Arthur hadn't expected and could not remember having from his father since he was a small child.
"I'm sorry son, they have just filled me in. Once he is stable we will get him transferred to London it will make it easier for you. I have spoken to the doctors and said if there is any other specialists that can help anywhere in the world I will get them here"
Arthur looked at his father but didn't trust himself to comment. He couldn't help but notice that his father still couldn't say Merlin's name. Arthur had only heard from his father a couple of times in the two years that Merlin was missing and not at all for 2 years prior to that. They had argued when Arthur wouldn't stop his relationship with Merlin. Uther just couldn't accept his son was gay.
The blonde nodded to his father he couldn't find it in himself to care what was going through his father's mind. Uther them spoiled his previous remarks and said;
"I don't pretend I will ever understand or approve of your relationship but I wouldn't wish this on anyone"
Arthur turned away in disgust not trusting himself to comment. Morgana moved towards her father and said in a low voice:
"Just shut up Uther this isn't the time or place for your bigotry. Just leave them alone!"
Leon pulled her away. Enough was going on in the hospital without a shouting match between Uther and Morgana.
"I will keep you informed Uther but I think perhaps you should leave Arthur for now" Uther looked at Leon before glancing at his son and daughter.
"As you wish" with that he turned at left.
Leon let out his breath that he hadn't even realised he was holding. He was just pleased that Gwaine was in with Merlin or he would have had to stop the volatile young man hitting Uther. That would have only made matters worse; particularly if the press ever got hold of it. Hitting a member of Her Majesty's Government, even if they deserved it, would have attracted media interest.
Leon wondered how Uther had heard of Merlin's release and admission to the hospital. But suspected it was via the police commissioner. He was surprised Uther had bothered to come but he supposed in his own way he must love his children, even if he did had a funny way of showing it.
"I need to get back to him, thank you for coming all of you" Arthur's words broke the silence.
Morgana looked at her brother
"We're going back to London but can one of you ring us once a day at least. If you just speak to one of us we can let the rest know." She took a deep breath before continuing, "Give Merlin a kiss from me" with that her voice started to crack and she turned to Leon and he hugged her into his side.
"I will do. I understand that there will be two policemen here all the time until they catch whoever else was involved but they will be by the outside door and not in the room so don't worry if you come and see them there. Thank you again" with that he turned and went back to Merlin's side.
It was a quiet journey back to London, no one broke the silence, what could they say?
The next day they all went back to work.
By then the story had been picked up by the press. Thankfully the full details of Merlin's injuries were not released. The official line being only that he was critically ill in hospital.
At both of the office blocks an air of sadness descended. Merlin was a very popular person and no one could believe what had happened to him. Leon and the other Q.C.s at the Pendragon Office found themselves thinking of their own families safety, in light of what had happened. But after much discussion decided that this was unlikely to happen again, who ever had organised Merlin's kidnap and treatment was clearly mentally ill, and wouldn't succeed again.
However, Leon made sure that he picked Morgana up from her office every day, and some of the other Q.C s took similar precautions. The whole episode had unsettled many of the capitals legal staff, even those at different offices.
The press didn't help as once the story broke as they printed as many details as they could get hold of. They even got hold of some photos of Merlin and of the room he had been found in although no one knew how they had got them. Lance was offered a large sum of money to sell what he knew which he strongly declined. One paper even approached Gwaine at the hospital canteen. The reporter involved received a broken nose for his troubles, it would have been worse but the police had just swopped in and pulled Gwaine off the reporter. No charges were pressed and the reporter left with his tail between his legs.
Arthur and Hunith were asked to do an appeal for information to be broadcast on the news. But both declined instead Arthur provided a statement to be read out.