“That’s terribly sweet of you! All of it!” Impulsively she kissed Merlin on the cheek. “You, sir, are an amazing person. Is there anything I can do to help you out in exchange? I know some healing …” Summer tried to get up, but that turned out to be a mistake. Most of the muscles in her body screamed in protest, and a throbbing ache started in her head. “Or not,” she finished, falling back. “Sorry.”
An embarrassed blush spread across Merlin’s cheeks, and he wished that he didn’t have such fair skin. If you want to help, then please just rest for now. And you have nothing to apologize for.
Summer’s tone went wry. “It doesn’t look like I have any choice in the matter.” One hand rubbed at her forehead. An awkward silence fell. “Um … do you think I could borrow a book? Something to read, just to pass some time? I don’t want to keep you from anything you need to be doing.”
Oh, sure, smiled Merlin as he went over to one of Gaius’ bookshelves. Most of the books in here are medical books. Is that alright? And don’t worry about distracting me. I was just heading back here, anyway. He had planned to go to sleep once he’d gotten home, but he couldn’t just go to sleep while there was a patient and Gaius was out. It was irresponsible, not to mention rude.
“If … it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me about you, then? I can’t even think how you manage to survive /here/ of all places with,” Summer flourished a hand at him, “so much power. I mean, at least I can talk, I don’t have to resort to telepathy, so I can keep my powers hidden … ” She gave him an unintentionally appealing look. “I never found anyone else with magic.”