Let me love you | Merluca

9 - respect

A short chapter, but better than nothing... I hope 😅

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Meredith's perspective

...

Dr. Deluca's phone rang again. Meredith had noticed that it always went off about the same time and every time she saw him looking at it he turned more serious, seeming slightly uncomfortable, before he told her he had to go. At first she thought something had happened, maybe with his son, but then the more days passed she wasn't sure anymore. The only thing she was sure about was that it must be something important, the way she saw Andrew always looking at it.

She quickly shook her head, taking a deep breath before she put all her things together and decided to stop for the day. After Andrew had left she had continued for some more moments, finishing what she was doing, preparing some things to work on the next morning and then stopped as well.

She got up, turned the light off and looked for an on-call room nearby. After she passed two that were already occupied, she finally found one that was free. She thought. As she turned the light on, she saw Andrew there, wait Dr. DeLuca, looking at her very sleepily. Did he just go to sleep while she was working on their case?

"I'm sorry." She mumbled already on her way outside again.

"Is everything okay?" She heard him behind her, making her stop and turn around again. She could see the confusion, mixed with the concern that something might have happened with their patient through the sleep that was still visible on his face.

"Yeah... I'm sorry, I didn't... know... you were... here..." She answered slowly, not sure what to make of this situation. She knew he was always the one to do one more step than everyone else, always wanting the best for their patients... So, him just going to sleep didn't fit to the person she got to know.

"It's- I..." He started and stopped again before he said anything.

"I thought you needed to leave." She stated but looked at him questioning.

They looked at each other for some time, Andrew trying to find words inside him to give her an answer. But they never came out, leaving them in silence for long moments.

"I will just look for another room." She answered, turned around and was about to close the door behind her, leaving Andrew behind

"Dr. Grey. Mered-" He tried to call her, as she was already half way out again.

"It's okay, Andrew." She added more softly as she turned towards him one more time and tried to put on a smile, not completely succeeding before she left the room to look for another one.

Soon she laid down in another on-call room, trying to finally get some sleep as well, but her thoughts not letting her, keeping her awake. Even in the short time she had been able to teach him, he had proven over and over again that he did all he could for his work and his patients. He had earned her respect and trust to not just assume things, and yet, her thoughts didn't want to stop. It seemed so out of character for him.

...

Andrew's perspective

Meredith had left and what he should do was go back to sleep, but he couldn't.

I don't need to explain myself. I'm taking care of myself.

He told himself over and over again.

Why did her opinion matter to him so much? It's not like it would be the first time people would judge him...

...

respect / ri-ˈspekt / verb
to consider worthy of high regard

to respect someone

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I'm sorry, for disappearing 😅

Here is a short chapter and another short one will come later today...