Arthur was sitting with Merlin one afternoon when he noticed Merlin kept looking at his in a strange manner. It was almost as if he wanted to ask something but was scared to. After awhile he looked straight at Arthur and started to speak.

"Can I ask you something?" Merlin muttered quietly

"Anything you want to, and I will do my best to answer."

In a very quiet voice, that Arthur had a job to hear, Merlin once more spoke.

"CanItouchyou?"

"Touch me?" Arthur asked in a puzzled tone. "We have been holding hands for the last hour."

"Can I touch your body?" Came the reply.

"Of course you can, where do you what to touch, and where do you want me to be?" Arthur was puzzled but went along with it.

"Can you crouch down in front of me? I want to touch your body." Merlin sounded worried and a bit scared.

Arthur did as he was asked. Up to now Merlin, had remained happy to hold hands and be kissed by Arthur and occasionally Arthur would put his arm around Merlin's shoulder but they hadn't had much body contact.

Merlin leant forward and put his damaged arm on Arthurs shoulder for support and gently put his right palm on Arthur's chest. Taking a deep breath the slowly moved his hand across Arthur's chest. Arthur hardly dared to breathe. This was obviously an important step for Merlin.

"Can I touch your bare chest?" Again, the voice was very quiet.

Arthur opened his shirt and Merlin very slowly put his hand back once more.

Arthur heard the door open behind him and cursed under his breath. Luckily whoever it was closed the door without saying anything. Merlin continued to move his hand and gradually a small smile appeared on his face. Merlin looked up at Arthur before moving his hand away.

"Thank you… that was nice" the quiet voice said

"Any time" Arthur replied not quite sure what to say or how to react. He knew how it had affected him and hoped Merlin didn't notice the obvious sign in front of him. He didn't want to embarrass or upset his husband. He stood up and sat down once more beside Merlin, putting his hands on his lap hiding the evidence.

"I had forgotten how nice it was" Merlin looked at Arthur "Sorry if it was strange."

"It was nice, I liked it. Ask anytime" Arthur smiled at his husband; it was obviously a big step for him. Thinking about it he realised that except for holding hands it was the first time Merlin had initiated any sort of bodily contact accept for throwing himself at Arthur when he had panic attacks and even then Arthur had been the one to put out his arms.

After a couple of minutes Arthur remembered the door opening and thought he ought to find out if anyone was waiting outside. Quickly thinking he said

"I'm just going to get some fresh drinking water for you, this is a bit warm."

He smiled at Merlin before moving to the door with the jug. Once outside he spotted Morgana sitting in the corridor opposite the body guards. He gestured her to follow him. Once away from the room he stopped

"Was that you earlier?"

"Yes, I saw Merlin leaning towards you and I thought you needed some privacy."

"Thanks" He went on and told her what had happened.

"That's great, he is obviously feeling the need for personnel touch once more. Just take it slowly."

The two of them continued to the ward kitchen and refilled the water jug before going back to the room.

"Look who I found in the corridor" Arthur said as they entered.

"Good to see you Morgana" Merlin smiled, totally unaware of what she had seen.

They sat and chatted until he evening meal arrived and then Morgana left. Arthur stayed until visiting time was over and then he left promising to come back next day. He kissed Merlin on the forehead as before leaving.

The next morning, Arthur contacted Dr Kilgarrah and told him what happened. The psychiatrist was pleased and reassured Arthur he had handled the situation well. And he told him to always to let Merlin take the lead, in such encounters.

A couple of days later Merlin asked Arthur to touch him on the chest. Arthur did the same as Merlin had done. In the following weeks they gradually touched each other more and more always on the upper body, arms and face. Never lower body or Merlin's back, although Merlin did touch Arthurs back. But it felt like good progress.

Merlin surprised Gwaine one day, Gwaine as usual had put his hand on Merlin hair and rubbed it, when saying goodbye and Merlin reach forward and put is arms round the other mans waist and hugged him. Gwaine's eyebrows went up and he glanced at Arthur, before slowly returning the hug, taking care only to touch Merlin's sides and not back. Later that night he had rung Arthur and he was still completely bowled over by what had happened. Arthur warned him to let Merlin take the lead in bodily contact but agreed it was progress.

Merlin gradually increased the amount of touching he both gave and allowed but only with Arthur, Gwaine and his mum when she visited. But he still hated his back and lower body regions touched. Although he had started to rest his hand gently on Arthurs thigh sometimes when they sat alone together.

Peter had returned to the ward and apologised to Arthur once more. He asked if he could visit Merlin when Arthur was there. He had read the medical notes and wanted to write one of his assignments on aspects of Merlin's care. He said he would not be asking Merlin any questions and the article would be completely anonymous. Arthur agreed and Peter struck up a friendship with Merlin. Even visiting him after Peter had moved on to his next ward. Gwaine continued to scowl at the young man but, at Arthur's insistence, said nothing.

The only other incident that occurred during Merlin's stay was when he received a broken toe. The physiotherapists were teaching Merlin how to transfer from bed to chair when he caught his left foot against the chair leg and it wasn't spotted before one of his toes was broken. Unfortunately he had reduced sensation in that leg due to damage to the nerves from the break and with his reduced bone strength it was over before it was spotted. The physiotherapists informed Arthur and a report was sent in. Arthur was upset but saw how it had happened.

Three months after his transfer to the surgical unit the hospital decided to send Merlin home for a few months. He still needed to build up his weight before he could have the operations on this wrist and leg. His open wounds were healing slowly but need skin grafts at a later date to completely heal. The plastic surgery needed for some of the scarring was a long way off into the future, if indeed Merlin decided on having any.

The Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists had maximised his mobility and function within his limitations. Fitting him out with an electric wheel chair, as has unable to put weight through his bad leg and couldn't use crutches due to his wrist. They made a splint for both his wrist and leg to minimise the pain and stop further damage. It had been agreed it would help his long term recovery to spend a while at home. So the plan was being made to send him home the following week.

The O.T. had visited the penthouse to check it was suitable and left equipment that would help with Merlin's care. They also left a carrying chair in case of fire as the lift would not be able to be used. As there would be two body guards there at all times this was felt to be safe.

The feeding tube was still in place, Merlin was now only being feed at for eight hours at night and this could be managed at home. Merlin was excited to be going home but also scared about how he would cope, he had been in hospital so long. He didn't want to be a burden to Arthur.