The next day remained fraught with neither man saying anything much to each other. Merlin tried to say sorry to Arthur but the other man just walked away. Gwaine tried to talk to Arthur but also got his head snapped off. So instead he talked to Merlin suggesting that the death of Arthur's dad when they weren't on speaking turns might have upset Arthur and for Merlin just to give Arthur time.. The trouble is that made Merlin feel guilty so he in turn then started to get quiet and unhappy. By the evening the atmosphere could be cut with a knife. By nine o'clock Arthur disappeared of into the other room. Merlin thought Arthur had gone to bed and followed shortly after. But Arthur wasn't in bed when Merlin got there. Merlin then tried to find Arthur, by now he was getting worried. Eventually he found Arthur in one of the spare bedrooms he appeared to be asleep. Merlin gave his husband a kiss on the forehead.
"Goodnight my love, I'm sorry." He left the room.
Arthur had been awake but just couldn't be bothered with Merlin right now. He just wanted to think and be alone. Merlin went back to the master bedroom and even the planetarium couldn't calm his nerves, so he went and got the two dogs from the bodyguard's office and let them lie with him. Merlin knew Arthur would be cross but by now he didn't care he needed their comfort. The two men had never spent a night apart in anger before.
When Merlin got up the next morning Arthur had already left the bungalow and gone to London. Merlin knew he must have come into the master bedroom to get his suit so was expecting an argument when Arthur got back as he must have seen the dogs. As the day went on Merlin became more and more worried. In the end he rang the office and spoke to Lance. Arthur was there and working, but Lance said Arthur wasn't happy. Merlin explained that they had had a row. At least now Merlin knew that Arthur was safe.
Arthur got back at six o'clock and went straight to his office and asked to be left alone. Merlin decided to take his husband something to eat and drink and went to see the other man. When he opened the office door he found Arthur asleep his head on the desk. Merlin went up to Arthur had put his arms round the sleeping mans shoulders he couldn't bear to be at loggerheads with Arthur. Arthur stirred and opened his eyes, as he focused on Merlin he realised the younger man was really upset and he felt guilty. He gave Merlin a half smile and that was all the encouragement Merlin needed. He kissed the other man and as Arthur sat up Merlin fell into his arms. Arthur sat there and held Merlin. He still felt tired and feed up but he needed that hug as much as Merlin did. Merlin then made him eat and drink before the two men went to bed and just cuddled up. They didn't speak but then neither of them worried about that.
Arthur continued to be snappy and short tempered for the next couple of days but every night he slept with Merlin. When Morgana visited that weekend she suggested he go to the doctors, Arthur refused saying he was just tired. In the end Morgana rang Dr Kilgarrah who said he would go to see Merlin and talk to Arthur at the same time.
Dr Kilgarrah spoke to Arthur at length and afterwards told Arthur that he was suffering from stress and depression. Dr Kilgarrah told Arthur that it was hardly surprising in the circumstances and that it had probably been building up for a long time. He explained to Arthur that he had been under stress for years as well as feeling guilty, now his father death had just been too much. After discussing things with him he managed to get Arthur to agree to counselling, something he had tried to get Arthur to do several times in the past. After a couple of sessions Arthur also agreed to go to group support sessions which really seemed to help him, and he continued these on and off for several years.
Everyone was surprised and in hindsight wondered how Arthur had managed so long. Merlin felt guilty once again, feeling he had caused Arthur's problems and needed support himself to stop him getting low in mood. In fact it was caring for Arthur that in a strange way, seemed to help Merlin to keep focused himself. Merlin felt he needed to be the strong one for once. The dogs now seemed to be helping both the men cope with life. Although Finna sometimes upset Hunith and Arthur by digging holes in the vegetable patch, Merlin would forgive his dogs anything. Arthur gradually got his life back on track and Hunith, Morgana, Leon and Gwaine made sure he always had support. Gwaine insisted that Arthur continue to go out with his once a week just to get a break.