Merlin was visited by the Dr Kilgarrah who started him on Prozac to help with his depression and the counselling sessions were to be continued. But even now if they touched on his treatment during his captivity he shut down and refused to talk.
Some good news was given to both Arthur and Merlin. Morgause was in custody in America and awaiting extradition. This wasn't expected to be a problem. Edwin had also been arrested. Unfortunately none of the four were willing to talk and all claimed to be innocent. Bail had been refused for all four defendants.
The police decided to remove the protection as all the perpetrators were now under arrest either in the UK or USA. Arthur however arranged for them to be replaced with private bodyguards. This caused some raised eyebrows in high dependency but the Sister went along with it as long as they didn't affect the running of her ward. Luckily Arthur had his team of ten in place and ready to start immediately, two would be on duty at all times.
It wasn't until a couple of weeks later when Arthur had left to take Hunith back to Wales that Merlin finally started to open up and told Gwaine some of what had happened to him.
Gwaine was going to spend the day with Merlin as Arthur would be away all day. Merlin had become distressed when Gwaine had come into the room and touched Merlin while he had his eyes shut. He had been leaning on his good ear and hadn't heard Gwaine's approach.
Gwaine felt really very guilty and apologised, and then Merlin started to tell Gwaine about some of the abuse he had suffered. Once the flood gates opened Merlin couldn't stop and talked and talked. He said he couldn't tell Arthur as he knew his husband felt guilty about what had happened.
Gwaine managed to convince Merlin to make a statement to the police. The whole thing seemed to help Merlin although it did trigger a series of bad nightmares which happened every time Merlin fell asleep.
They knew there was more to come out and that they would probably never know all that had happened in the two years, but at least Merlin had started the process.
When Arthur returned Gwaine told him what had occurred. The story caused Arthur a great deal of distress but he was pleased that Merlin had finally begun to tell his story. At least he now knew some of it and would be able to give better support to Merlin. As Merlin's statement would be used in the trial Arthur he was better knowing it, now although they decided not to let anyone else know for the moment.
The information did allow the psychiatric team to do more work with him, as they now understood some of what had happened. Over the next few months more of the story slowly emerged. It shocked everyone, and the clinical physiology team set up a support group for the staff who looked after Merlin.
What he told them helped to explain his hatred of needles; Edwin had stitched Merlin's wounds without any pain control, thus causing a great deal of pain. So when he saw anyone approaching him with anything slightly resembling a needle it brought back memories for him.
Gwaine was so angry at what he heard he wished once more he could be left in a room with the four kidnappers. He pictured in his mind all he would do with them.
It was believed that Morgause had thought she was safe, thinking that Merlin would die without naming them. The police also suspected that Valiant and Cendred didn't talk as they had worked for Mr Ailed for years and knew they would be well looked after once they had done their sentences and their families would be cared for if Morgause remained free.
It turned out that Edwin had started training to be a Doctor in his younger years, but had been thrown out for misconduct. He still had a yearning to practice, and was used by the underworld look after injuries that needed to be kept away from public notice. He enjoyed having people under his power so had been ripe for the work that Morgause need him for.
After three weeks in high dependency Merlin was transferred to a surgical ward. He was given a side room once more, and the move was planned for that weekend when it was normally less busy.
Arthur and Gwaine planned to be there for the move, as Merlin they knew he didn't cope with changes well. However all did not go to plan. Due to a major road traffic accident Merlin needed to be moved out of high dependency during Friday night, instead of waiting for the morning.
The Nurse in charge of the surgical ward overnight was not happy with the idea of the bodyguards and only reluctantly let them stay. First thing in the morning Boris, one of the bodyguards on duty, rang Arthur to let him know of the potential problem.
Arthur decided to go to the ward early to sort things out with the ward sister. Gwaine went as well; he had stayed the night in the penthouse so was there when the call came though.
They got to the ward at nine o'clock and were shown into the office. No sooner had they started to discuss the bodyguards when a scream was heard, and a nurse knocked on the door asking for the Sister saying that help was needed, it was Merlin.